
The ARC of London.
The Ahlul Bait Revert Community of London is a registered organization formed in 2006 by a group of reverts to Islam for the advancement of the Islamic faith, spiritual healing and to promote social unity within our communities.
As a group we have identified that although the current Muslim institutes are tying their best to serve the needs of the Muslim community they really do have alot to try and do. There are individuals who have found that some of these institutes are not catering fully for the needs of their attendees and as a result there is an urgent need for extra programs, facilities and support for the Muslim communities relevant to the time we are living in, the place where we live and the language of the land.
Hoping to fill that void and to try and help cater for our communities needs we felt it necessary to form our own organisation to try and tackle some of these issues. Our organisation hopes to:
(1) Promote an understanding and awareness of Islam based on the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad and his Ahlul-Bait, and to correct false stereo types, misinterpretations and confusion concerning Islam.
(2) Encourage good relationships and mutual understanding between people of different religious views or non-religious views, opinions and backgrounds (whether nationalistic, class orientated, political or secular etc).
(3) To oppose racism, sexism, classism, terrorism and antisemitism, and to address illiteracy amongst the young. To help to reduce, crime, drug abuse, violence and anti-social behaviour in the London boroughs. As well as addressing the injustice, oppression and ill treatment of vulnerable members of society.
(4) To provide a community centre, community care and service for individuals, children/youth and families, the socially excluded, the mentally challenged and the disabled. Based on counselling, spiritual healing, education of self, citizenship and the responsibility of the individual to society.
As reverts to the religion of Islam and being brought up in this country we have found that there are many intrinsic problems within the Muslim communities that are the result of outside influences such as cultural practices and even the desire to integrate into western society in a way that compromises the tenets of the Islamic faith. These influences result in a situation of culture often being confused with practice. Quite often we are faced with the challenge of trying to differentiate between the 'cultural' and the 'religious' aspects of the Islamic faith.
This is mostly due to the fact that our perception of the Islamic faith is normally through the culture of the person presenting Islam to us. When we want a better understanding of the Islamic faith we often have no choice but to visit a mosque or institute that will more often than not have cultural attachments. Wherever that attachment comes from or whatever that attachment is there will always be a process of trying to eliminate the cultural and personal version of Islam from the 'Faith' of Islam.
Our organisation aims to provide an understanding of Islam with minimal cultural impact and paradoxically establish our own cultural identity within the U.K. as British Revert Muslims.
We in no way shape or form separate ourselves away from the wider community of Muslims, Ahlul Bayt or otherwise, in fact we welcome one and all.
United in the faith of Islam.
The ARC
If you feel you would like more information, can contribute any time as a volunteer, donate or help our organisation please contact:
thearcoflondon@gmail.com
Thank you and God bless.