Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi (born 1967) is a Muslim scholar, principal of the Hijaz College, founder of Hijaz Community, founder of Hijaz Expo, national convener for the campaign for Global Civility, National Convenor of the Muslim Action Committee (MAC), President General of the International Muslims Organisation, Grand Blessed Guide of the Naqshbandi Qadri Hijazi Sufi Order, Chairman of Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, international lecturer in Islam, and a barrister at law.
Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi 12 July 1967 |
| Religion | Islam |
| Parent |
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| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Movement | Barelvi |
| Tariqa | Naqshbandi (Hijazi) |
| Website | blessedsummit |
| Arabic name | |
| Personal (Ism) | Fayḍ al-Aqṭāb فيض الأقطاب |
| Patronymic (Nasab) | ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn ʿUmar ibn Amīn ibn ʿAbd al-Mālik بن عبد الوهاب بن عمر بن أمين بن عبد المالك |
| Toponymic (Nisba) | aṣ-Ṣiddīqī الصديقي al-Itsharwī الإتشروي |
Family of Religious Scholars
editShaykh Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi is the eldest son of the late Murshid Abdul Wahab Siddiqi and the grandson of Maulana Muhammad Umar Icharvi. Murshid Siddiqi's bloodline traces its origins directly to Murshid Abu Bakr Siddiq, the first Caliph of Islam and one of the closest companions of the Muhammad. He studied under his father and many other Shayukh of the time. Later he studied at Al-Azhar University in Egypt[1]
Murshid Siddiqi's father, Late Murshid Maulana Abdul Wahab Siddiqi's mausoleum and final resting place is in Nuneaton, UK. According to the British Pilgrimage Trust,[2] the mausoleum where Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Wahab Siddiqi lies, which is based at Hijaz College, is one of the most significant religious sites of pilgrimage in all of Western Europe.
Head of Global Naqshbandi Qadri Hijazi Spiritual Sufi Order
editMurshid Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi is the leader of the Naqshbandi Qadri Hijazi Spiritual Sufi Order, a branch of Sufism with followers in over 34 countries. These followers have pledged their spiritual allegiance to Siddiqi and seek his guidance, which is offered based on individual needs and circumstances.
National convener for the campaign for Global Civility
editDuring the Danish cartoon controversy, a meeting of Islamic scholars in the United Kingdom took place in which Murshid Faiz ul Aqtab Siddiqi was chosen to represent the perspectives of British scholars and Muslims. The meeting aimed to foster dialogue around freedom of speech, particularly addressing concerns regarding the potential harm caused by unrestrained expression.
As part of this initiative, an organisation of scholars advocated for what they termed "global civility," proposing the establishment of a standard of civility in public discourse. Murshid Siddiqi authored a Declaration of Global Civility, which called upon world leaders to support the notion that mutual respect, rather than insults or vilification, should be the foundation of a civil society.
In April 2006, a peaceful demonstration was held in London, where an estimated 50,000 Muslims gathered in support of this initiative.
Principal of Hijaz College
editHe is the principal and founding trustee of Hijaz College[3] in Nuneaton, England, where he resides on campus.
Champion of Muslim Unity
editShaykh Siddiqi is a signatory to Charter 3:103 based on the verse of the Qur'an which urges Muslims to remain united despite sectarian differences.[4]
Convenor of the Muslim Action Committee and Muslim Action Forum
editSiddiqi convened the Muslim Action Committee, an umbrella organisation of Sunni and Shia Islamic scholars and Islamic political groups such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission and Hizb ut-Tahrir to organise a demonstration against the repeated publications of the Danish cartoons of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. The demonstration was the largest in Europe and the largest within the UK since the Salman Rushdie incident. The organisation works to combat attacks on Islamic religious symbols.[5]
Founder of Hijaz Community
editMurshid Siddiqi is the founder of Hijaz Community, which is an international network of over 10,000 professionals, focused on contributing to community enrichment through a various initiatives. The community has developed a mentoring approach that encourages individuals to explore their beliefs and achieve self-realisation through reflective questioning.
Murshid Siddiqi emphasises the importance of such questioning in fostering a deeper understanding of one's beliefs, rather than accepting them without thought. He argues that individuals who adopt beliefs without personal reflection may become disengaged, potentially leading to issues such as depression, anti-social behavior, or susceptibility to extremist ideologies.
A team of 150 Hijaz community volunteers delivered over 1700 food parcels[6] to key workers, including police and medical workers, in the towns of Hinckley and Nuneaton during the coronavirus pandemic. Chief Constable, Simon Cole, said: “We are very grateful to the Hijaz Community for their generous donation and appreciation at a time when our staff has faced additional pressures during the pandemic.”
Profession as Barrister
editMurshid Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi is a barrister under English and Welsh law, and as such is a member of the Lincoln's Inn[7] since 1991 and practiced law for over a decade. While his primary focus has since shifted towards humanitarian and community work, he continues to maintain connections with the legal profession. Murshid Siddiqi has expertise in several areas of law, including commercial, civil, Islamic, professional negligence, charity, and insurance law. He has also served as an expert in International Comparative Law, as well as in legal matters related to Pakistani and Middle Eastern law.
President General of International Muslim Organisation (IMO)
editMurshid Siddiqi is the President General of the International Muslim Organisation (IMO), founded in 1980 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, aims to address the religious, social, and cultural needs of the global Muslim community. The IMO focuses on establishing Islamic centres, mosques, schools, and research institutions, as well as organising conferences on issues relevant to the Muslim Ummah. Since its founding, the organisation has expanded to over 35 countries.
The IMO works to develop innovative and proactive strategies to support the Muslim community while promoting peaceful coexistence with broader society. The organisation has offices in 23 countries and oversees several prominent mosques and centres in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Controversy
editOver Sharia courts in the UK
editSiddiqi was among the guests on the Law in Action programme aired on 28 November 2006 which discussed the issue of Sharia courts in the UK, which was covered by many newspapers and other media. Siddiqi made the following observation about the issues:[8]
"Because we follow the same process as any case of arbitration, our decisions are binding in English law. Unless our decisions are unreasonable, they are recognised by the High Court."
Siddiqi was also involved in a debate in London in February 2008 entitled KINGDOM OF GOD: the Archbishop, the Sharia and the Law of the Land in response to a speech by Archbishop Rowan Williams, in which Siddiqi defended and advocated the use of Islamic Family Law in the UK and showed hope that in the future a more educated and spiritual Muslim community in Britain would be able to live under all aspects of Sharia Law.[9]
Siddiqi launched the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal Archived 12 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine to deal with the issue of forced marriages within the Muslim community.[10]
Siddiqi delivered a lecture within the walls of Temple Church entitled "Family Law, Minorities and legal Pluralism: Should English Law give more Recognition to Islamic Law?" in November 2008 which sparked media controversy over its endorsement of polygamy. [11]
Chairman of Muslim Arbitration Tribunal
editThe Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (M.A.T) was established in 2007 as an alternative dispute resolution body for the Muslim community in the United Kingdom. It provides a forum for resolving disputes according to principles of Islamic law within the legal framework[12] of England and Wales. MAT’s establishment aimed to offer a culturally specific means of addressing civil disputes, which can sometimes be costly and lengthy in traditional litigation settings. Decisions by MAT are structured to be enforceable through the same legal mechanisms available to other forms of arbitration in the UK.
In addition to arbitration, MAT has led campaigns addressing social issues, including forced marriages, domestic violence, and honour-based violence, particularly within communities affected by these challenges.
International Lecturer
editMurshid Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi has delivered keynote speeches internationally on topics related to social cohesion, spirituality, and community empowerment. He has also served as a visiting lecturer at various educational institutions. Notable engagements include an address at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, attended by members of the UK judiciary, as well as lectures at institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania in the United States and the universities of The Hague and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Mecca via Wall Street
editSiddiqi has recently launched Hijaz Community with a series of events entitled Mecca via Wall St. The events have been on the concept of civic, social and corporate responsibility. With partners in the corporate sector, mainly through a new insurance company, called 'Muslim Insurance' these events have been organised in order to raise money for charity and promote the work of Hijaz Community. Muslim Insurance itself is a charitable company that donates 50% of its profits to charity, and is supported by over 700 Islamic scholars.[13]
References
edit- ^ Pages 78-9, Ulama-e-Ahle Sunnah, Mashaikh & Sufis in UK, Khalid Athar, PPA Publications, Lahore ISBN 969-8587-07-1
- ^ "Britain's Holy Places - British Pilgrimage Trust". www.britishpilgrimage.org. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Souza, Naomi de (6 January 2021). "Inside Hijaz College, Nuneaton's Islamic University". Coventry Live. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "A charter for Muslim unity". Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
- ^ "Global Civility". www.globalcivility.com. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Dawson, Nick (16 June 2021). "Islamic community provides 1,700 meals for key workers". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Online Barrister, Civil Law, Milton Keynes, Warrington, Worcester, London, UK". Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ "The end of one law for all?". 28 November 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Video of: 'KINGDOM OF GOD: the Archbishop, the Sharia and the Law of the Land'". Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
- ^ "Birmingham Post politics news plus reports council and Government issues affecting Birmingham, the Black Country and the West Midlands". www.birminghampost.net. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Freedman, Rosa (19 November 2008). "Rosa Freedman: Is there really any place for polygamy in English law, as a leading Muslim figure recently argued?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "School of Law and Politics". Cardiff University. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Mecca Via Wall Street Website". Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
External links
edit- Hijaz College
- Mecca via Wall Street
- Hijaz Community[permanent dead link]
- International Muslims Organisation
- Naqshbandi Hijazi Sufi Order
- Blessed Summit
- A Speech in Pennsylvania on Islam and Democracy
- Launch of Muslim Arbitration Tribunal
- Muslim Arbitration Tribunal Website Archived 12 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine