New ways to protect Muslim heritage

Emdad Rahman

Launch of first ever guide for archiving specifically aimed at Muslim institutes
First conference to discuss archiving Muslim heritage
Launch of one-off special edition of 105-year-old Islamic Magazine

The Everyday Muslim Heritage and Archive Initiative (EMHAI), in partnership with The National Archives, has launched the first ever guide to archiving for Muslim institutes at the country’s very first conference on archiving for mosques, called “Preserving the History and Heritage of Mosques and Muslims in Britain”.

The pioneering event, which took place at the Shah Jahan mosque in Woking, Surrey, also launched a special “revival” edition of the Islamic Review magazine – originally published at Britain’s first purpose-built mosque in February 1913.

The archives guide for mosques, madrasahs, and Islamic schools; the Shah Jahan’s own archives – which include historic copies of The Islamic Review; and the special edition were part of an 18-month project by the EMHAI called “Preserving the History and Heritage of Britain’s first Purpose-Built Mosque”.

The project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, also included the collation of local oral histories and the development of a travelling exhibition, a heritage trail and educational resources.

The conference concludes EMHAI’s work at the Shah Jahan, but founder, Sadiya Ahmed, believes there is still much work to be done. “The mosque and this area, which includes the country’s first Muslim cemetery and military burial ground, is home to some of the most important British Muslim history, and we are extremely proud and honoured to have played a small part in preserving and disseminating it to the public. However, what we have learned is that there is so much that still needs exploring and preserving. We have only scratched the surface.”

Much of what the project has achieved was revealed at the conference, where a limited number of printed copies of The Islamic Review Special Edition were distributed. The homage to the magazine, which ceased publication in Woking in 1971, features articles written by academics, experts, locals and those involved in heritage work.

The Special Edition includes contributions from the biographer of famous Liverpool convert, Abdullah Quilliam; Professor Ron Geaves, British Muslim expert; Professor Humayun Ansari, author of The British Mosque: an architectural and social history; Shahed Saleem and the former Commissioning Editor of Kube Publications and academic Yahya Birt, who was also the one-off magazine’s Editorial Consultant. Many of them also gave talks at the Conference.

“As well as mapping some of the key histories of Islam and Muslims in Britain in an accessible and readable way, the magazine’s articles also reveal tantalising links to Woking with global figures like T E Lawrence and Muhammad Ali,” said editor of the 2018 Islamic Review Tharik Hussain, who was also co-Project Manager for the overall project.

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