Islam In England
The Light (February 24, 1959)
(By our special Correspondent)
The Imam, The Shah Jehan Mosque, Woking, England, writes our U.K. correspondent, has a busy time giving interviews to visitors who want to know about Islam, giving talks on Islam, and answering enquiries about Islam. Of the latter, the following two are typical of the general trend towards Islam in the England. These and the answers thereto will be read with interest by the readers of The Light.
Uplands Ringwood,
Hants,
January 25, 1959.
The Imam,
The Shah Jehan Mosque,
Woking, England.
Dear Sir,
I saw your Mosque, with invitation to enquire about it, on a day trip to London last Saturday, and should be pleased to know something of Islam in this country.
It also occurs to me that it may be of interest to you that I am a deputy for Britain South (which includes Surrey) in the Commonwealth of World Citizens) H.Q. address: (13, Prince of Wales Terrace, London, W.8). Indeed it was to attend one of their meetings that I happened to be on that train to London.
I hope, therefore, that you will also be interested in what I am doing.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. J.P. Grant.
The Reply
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your letter dated January 25th, 1959.
This Mosque was built in 1889 by an Orientalist, Dr. Lietner by name, who had spent a life-time in Northern India, mostly Lahore, as a linguist and educationist. On return after retirement, he brought with him the idea of setting up a centre of oriental culture, with a Mosque, and a Temple, symbolizing the two main religions of India – Islam and Hinduism.
In 1912, a Muslim missionary, Khwaja Kamalud-Din by name, set up an Islamic Mission here, with a view to promoting better understanding of Islam among the British people. He started a monthly journal in English, “The Islamic Review” which today has a world-wide circulation.
During the years, as the misconceptions about Islam went on dispelling and the truth about it better known, people interested in religion discovered that the unity of Godhead and universal human equality and brotherhood which formed the two basic teachings of Islam, and the respect shown towards all other revealed religions and their Founders, especially Jesus, were just the echoes of their own hearts, and declared their faith in Islam.
Among them were men and women of all classes and social strata – common men and women, intellectuals, aristocrats, military and naval officers. Their numbers by now go into four figures. One of the earliest of the upper class converts was Lord Headley, followed years later by Sir Archibald Hamilton. Among the earliest converts from among the intellectuals was the late Mr. Marmuduke Pickthall, an author of repute who subsequently became Translator of the Holy Quran into English. Habibullah Lovegrove was the President of a Spiritualist Society in London. Quite a few number came from among the military and naval officers. One of the British Muslims, a Cambridge graduate, Mr. B. Pickard has named his very house at Hertford as Dar-al-Allah – i.e. The House of Allah. Another a University Professor, Mr. David Cowan, delivered the Khutba (Sermon) here at this Mosque at one of our annual “Id festivals” which are attended by about 3,000 people. A retired Commander of the British Navy, Mr. Robinson is a frequent writer to our organ, “The Islamic Review” on Islamic topics.
This in brief is the story of Islam in this country. But no letter can give the full picture, which you can get only by a personal visit. You will be welcome any day, should you care to come and see things for yourself.
Yours sincerely,
(Muhammad Yakub Khan)
Imam,
The Mosque, Woking, Surrey.
Okehampton,
Devon.
January 25th, 1959.
The Imam,
The Shah Jehan Mosque,
Woking, England.
Dear Sir,
On the rare occasions when I travel to London the train passes the Mosque at Woking, where there are notices asking people to call at, or write to the Mosque. On the strength of this I am writing because for many years Islam has appealed to me.
The basic principles of both Islam and Christianity appear to be the same, but the creed of Islam is simple and straightforward, whilst that of Christianity rather complicated and somewhat contradictory.
On the other hand I feel that Islam is the more difficult to live up to.
I have come to the conclusion that apart from upbringing, tradition and environment, religion is largely a matter of temperament.
When serving in ships which spent a good deal of time in Turkish waters between 1919 and 1923, I bought a certain number of books on the subject including an English edition of the Koran. I have recently been re-reading these books, but a great many changes have occurred since they were written.
At the moment my mind is in a muddle with the various conflicting emotions uncertainty brings.
I would be most grateful if you would advise.
Yours faithfully,
A.F. Fellowes,
Commander,R.N.
The Reply
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your letter of January 25.
The muddle-mindedness you find yourself in is exactly the state it is the object of the Quranic revelation to remove. It claims to be a healing for the mind, to dispel doubt, and lead from darkness into light. If you look up your copy of the Quran, you will find this promise held out in these very words. Indeed, a sure knowledge of God is the only cure for the daily growing mental conflicts and distractions. The modern man is suffering from what I should call the split personality. Of this is born much of his mental agony. What is needed is to explore what should serve as an integrating principle of life. A sure knowledge of God and faith in His all comprehensive Providence alone can give that integration. The Quran calls this integration as a “firm handle” which knows no breaking-down. That is what modern man needs. He can span the vast expanse of the space. But he has not been able to fathom the depths of his own being, its working, and how to ensure its smooth, harmonious working. That is the vacuum which the Quran, as the only sure, extant Word-of-God, can fill.
You are right that the basic teaching of Islam and Christianity are the same, if by Christianity you mean the way Jesus preached, not the creeds and rituals heaped thereon by the Church. Jesus wanted to extricate the spirit of religion from underneath the whole debris of rites and rituals which the Pharisees had heaped thereon. The Church did the same to his simple teaching, burying it under a dead weight of ceremonialism and formalism.
The Quran says it is a recapitulation of Jesus´s teaching, shorn of all subsequent man-made trappings.
Islam is not difficult to live up to, as you seem to apprehend. It is the just natural way of living a healthful life. The Quran says God does not want man to do anything which is beyond his capacity.
I am sending you under a separate cover, a copy of “The Teachings of Islam”, which, I hope, you will find of some help towards resolving the mental confusion you are experiencing.
If you could spare time, you may pay us a visit on a Sunday forenoon, when we have a small community gathering.
Yours truly,
(Muhammad Yakub Khan)
Imam,
The Mosque, Woking, Surrey.
