Britain’s most senior Muslim clerics are planning to set up their first national council to issue religious rulings that promote a progressive interpretation of Islam, The Times has learnt.
It will be the first central religious authority for British Muslims, delivering edicts on Islamic doctrine and providing a national voice on social issues. It would state clearly that “regressive cultural practices” such as forced marriages and “honour” killings have no place in Islam or in British society.
Unlike the Church of England, there is no hierarchical structure to Islam in this country, with most mosques operating independently. Many Sunni Muslim countries, by contrast, have a grand mufti and national religious bodies. Many are crying out for leadership, Qari Asim, chief imam of the Makkah Mosque in Leeds, said. “There’s a lack of an authoritative public voice to speak out on issues such as terrorism and Islamophobia.”
Mr Asim, 39, is one of the UK’s most prominent imams. He is seen as a progressive voice, condemning terrorist attacks and campaigning against forced marriage. He is an adviser to a Commons inquiry into Sharia councils. He was appointed an MBE in 2012.
He said that imams from groups such as the British Muslim Forum and Imams Online were discussing setting up a theological group of senior imams to deal with “interpretational issues”. Imams from different denominations would be nominated to this board by their mosques.
“The conversation is taking place,” he said. “There is a need and internal pressure as young Muslims want to see more clarity.” He said the board must “speak out against any regressive cultural practices of the community itself that are against universal human values”.
Mr Asim said: “The board must take a progressive stance that is in line with Islamic principles and embedded in a British context. For instance, Islam strictly prohibits ‘honour killing’ and forced marriages, but misogynistic cultures have disempowered women.
“The board must also champion and be proactive on issues that affect the Muslim community as much as the remainder of the community, for example climate change and taboo issues such as mental health and obesity.” The board could insist that gay Muslims “should not be persecuted or ostracised”.
Existing bodies such as the Muslim Council of Britain and the dormant Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board are umbrella bodies and do not rule on religious doctrine. Successive governments have broken off relations over concerns about controversial views expressed by affiliated members.
Mr Asim, who described yesterday’s attack in Barcelona as depraved, said an imams’ board would include conservative views, but take a progressive stance. He said there would be mixed feelings about the board, but there was a need for a sensible voice.
Times data shows that there are more than 1,200 mosques in Britain. A minority belong to local “councils”, but most issue their own rulings.
Mr Asim said that a board would provide more authoritative rulings, with imams expected to engage with the wider community. It could be welcomed as an authoritative Muslim voice by the government and media and could amplify the efforts of individual mosques that condemned extremism but often did not receive national media coverage.
He said that imams needed to “do their homework” and could ask other faith groups for advice.
Who speaks for British Muslims?
- There are 2.8 million Muslims in Britain, mostly from a Sunni background, but also from Shia and Ahmadi denominations. There is no single religious leader for British Muslims and no universally recognised group to speak for all.
- Several umbrella groups exist, inviting mosques to sign up as affiliated members, to co-ordinate community projects and issue public statements.
- The Muslim Council of Britain has 500 affiliated members and is run by a lay secretary-general, Harun Khan. The council was embraced by the Labour government after the 2005 terrorist attacks, but relations were cut in 2009 when a senior member signed a declaration in support of Hamas. Relations resumed in 2010, but were not rekindled by the coalition. It founded the annual Visit My Mosque Day project.
- Minab, the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, was founded with ministers’ backing in 2006 to promote good governance. Public money was stopped in 2014 over concern about some of its 500 members. Its founder said it was better to engage with those holding controversial views. The group is dormant, but floated plans to reform last year.
- The British Muslim Forum has about 500 members. It issued a fatwa in 2005 against terrorism after the July 7 attacks. The group aims to promote cohesion between communities and focuses on social issues.
- Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra and Moulana Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi were invited to represent Sunni and Shia communities at a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey with the Queen last year. Imam Qari Asim appeared with the Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster and the chief rabbi at a vigil for victims of the Westminster terrorist attack.