109 Fulham Palce Road
London W6 8JA, UK
Tel: 020 8563 1995
Fax: 020 8563 1993
The Muslim Institute London, is the UK's well respected and oldest Muslim think-tank.
The Institute was established in 1973 by a group of academics and activists to revive the tradition of scholarship in Muslim society. The group was headed by Dr. Kalim Siddiqui marhum. He, together with a small preparatory committee, organised seminars and courses to highlight the need to counter stagnation and produce problem-solving research in the fields of political and economic organization and social engineering.
Amongst Muslim academics and intelligentsia the intellectual arena is changing as a result of changes in the global intellectual environment. Issues like democracy, interaction with the Other, religion and politics, gender equality and the role of the Shari'a are subjects of ongoing debate within the current intellectual climate in the Muslim world.
Hundreds of years of cultural decline coupled with widespread illiteracy has widened the gap between the reality that the Islamic world exhibits today and modernity. The absence of dialogue, or even of common terms of reference, i.e. a language in which to conduct dialogue, has rendered the two worlds mutually incomprehensible.
The Institute is now re-embarking to create a genuine forum of debate and discussion. The purpose of the Institute's website is to talk about the problems constructively and to celebrate whatever deserves to be celebrated. Our aspiration is to provide a balanced view of developments taking place around us. We propose to monitor active websites, blogs and printed material to give our users a more informed view of the world. We shall also highlight any progress Muslims themselves are making to make the world a plural, tolerant and equitable place to live in.
The Institute is now led by Dr. Ghayasuddin Siddiqui (no relation of the late Dr. Kalim Siddiqui).
The Institute celebrates diversity of thought and ideas and welcomes contributions, comments and criticism from our readers.
Managing Editor: Farida Abdullah, PhD