London Chair - Feb-March 2011

As salaam alaykum all!

Firstly, if you are reading this on the FOSIS website, then you will no doubt be aware that this is the first London Chair blog since September 2009. We are now in March 2011. You might be asking where that year and a bit went, well good question. All I can do is assure you that the work has been happening behind the scenes, even if it’s not being as well publicised as it should be. But inshallah that is changing and will continue to in the time to come with FOSIS London. (Just have a look at our past newsletters for a brief glance as to what we have been doing for the past year).

Right so, I’ll keep this short. This month is big for FOSIS, and especially FOSIS London. Not only do we have our “ground breaking”, “first of its kind” conference on March 11^th in conjunction with UCL ISoc- on Freedom of Expression and radical thought; but we also have the regional finals of the National Student Qira’a competition on Wednesday 16^th – and then the week after we will be holding our AGM on the 23^rd. Let me take them one by one.

Radical Thinking Conference- this is an event bringing together a vast array of opinions and contributors ranging from Dr. Abdul Bari of the MCB to David Knowles from PREVENT- and everyone in between. Inshallah it promises to be an interesting evening where for once we could say that this issue will be discussed in a measured manner, away from the media sensationalist spotlight. And surely we believe that once we start discussing these issues in such a temperate way then common sense and fairness will prevail. Please look at our facebook page for more details.

National Student Qira’a Competition – this will be held in Goodge St Mosque on the 16^th March, between 3 – 6pm. Alhamdullilah we have already got a few competitors signed up, and inshallah the recitation will be of a high standard, to reflect the increasing love that I am witnessing towards the Qur’an amongst London ISocsers. Even if you are not competing then do just come and watch and listen to the recitation. There will also be a speech delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on how we can transform and revive this Ummah, and how that is already being done- through and with the Qur’an. Really not to be missed!

AGM- will be held at Imperial College, between 2.30-6pm on the 23^rd March. This is the chance for every Muslim student to come and ask what we as the FOSIS committee have done and not done this past year. Essentially holding us to account, which is a necessary part of how an organisation like FOSIS can effectively serve the Muslim student population. For too long I’ve heard the same old, “oh what does FOSIS actually do?”- well aside from the fact that we do actually do a fair bit- but even if we did not – who do you think FOSIS is? It is you! And as an Ummah we have to start taking responsibility for ourselves- and not just demanding things that we need, but going out there, working towards them and achieving it ourselves. So if you are unhappy with the way things are going or have gone, then good! Because there is much to be improved- but then also come along to the AGM and share your thoughts, and maybe even commit to becoming a part of FOSIS to change it!

On that note, I bid you farewell.

Fee Amanallah,

Asif Hussain