Interfaith
Week at NULC
20.11.13
An Islamic Scholar attended college to meet four groups
of Early Years students as part of the college’s celebrations to mark National
Interfaith Week 2013.
Isa converted to Islam in 2009, lives in Middlesbrough
and was born to an English father and a Greek mother. He is a graduate in
Biomedical Science and is currently studying Law, as part of his pursuit for a
greater understanding of his faith, he performs at a variety of speaking events
across Britain, meeting people of all faiths and none to explain Islam and help
communities to understand his religion.
Students had the opportunity to ask about the
requirements Islam places on those who practice it and on the community as a
whole. Isa helped students to explore
what following his faith meant for the practices he undertook during his day to
day life. He explored the Quran, its
intent and the ways that this would impact the families students will meet as
they gain employment and provide services to the community as Early
Years/Childcare providers.
Isa answered questions regarding the need for food to be
Halal, women and their cultural dress and their position in the family, the
right to access medicine, arranged marriages, whether he is allowed to
celebrate Christmas, where cultural and religious boundaries overlap, the
variety of interpretations of the Quran and the reality of what it is to be a
follower of the faith in a modern British society.
If you would like
further information regarding Religion & Belief at NULC contact the
colleges Equality & Diversity Advisor theresa.kirkhamblair@nulc.ac.uk or the college
Chaplain martin.ball@nulc.ac.uk
We'd like to thank Iftikhar Ahmed from Stoke-on-Trent
City Council's Community Cohesion Team for helping us to arrange this
worthwhile activity
