| Recently, Faith Together in Leeds 11 won an award for Excellence in Community Relations from the Muslim News, from which the following article is taken. |
Winner: Faith Together in Leeds"Faith Together in Leeds 11 is partnership of eight local and community organsiations working to address social exclusion and urban deprivation in the city. FTLS11 provides culturally-sensitive community facilities, training, healthcare and a forum for better understanding of the religious and cultural diversity in Leeds." |  |
Category: Al-Biruni"When the Uzbek astronomer Abu Rayan al-Biruni Muhammad ibn Ahmed was born in 973 CE, the world of Islam extended from Spain to India. But the religion was in danger of losing an integral part of its identity: respect for the beliefs of others." |
"Sir Richard Wilson (left), Cabinet Secretary, presenting the award said: 'I believe that we need champions and role models. Awards such as these are important because they recognise both, in particular high achievers from the Muslim community.' Receiving the award Hanif Malik on behalf of Faith Together in Leeds said: 'We are over the moon that a community based project has received such encouragement. We just hope we can live up to expectations.' (Photo: Konta Productions/Muslim News)" |
"For ten years in India, as chief advisor and astronomer to Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna, al-Biruni was in a prime position to see not only the movements of the stars but also the rise of attitudes that stood in the way of tolerance. "A prolific poet, philosopher, historian and mathematician in his own right, al-Biruni also searched tirelessly for that elusive discipline: mutual understanding. He absorbed and paid due recognition to the scientific and cultural developments made by the people of other cultures, to this end he was a keen student of Sanskrit and Hindu astronomy. |