The Islamic Council of Europe (ICE) this week embarks on expanding its Knowledge-share and collaboration portfolio as it supports and participates in a ‘Week of Knowledge & Development’ series in Perth Australia, courtesy of Islamic Centre of West Australia.

Sh. Dr. Sajid Umar, a senior scholar & adjudicator with ICE, and the Chair of the Scholars’ Panel of the Islamic Finance Advisory (IFA), a division of ICE, will be representing ICE in this collaboration and conducting lectures, seminars and workshops covering the topics of faith, family, community & finance development from an Islamic perspective.

May Allah Almighty bless this effort and make it count in both this life and the next for organisers, attendees and everyone involved. Ameen.

For further information regarding collaboration with ICE, please email [email protected]

Understanding the dynamics of living with in-laws

Many couples have difficulty balancing the relationship between their spouse and their extended family. This webinar is vital in understanding how we make the best of our situations.

Delivered by Shaykh Farid Haibatan, a senior advisor at the Islamic Council of Europe with years of experience in dealing with domestic issues within the Muslim community. 

Here’s what you’ll discover in this live webinar:

#1:Adopting a Pragmatic Approach

#2:How to Achieve Win-Win Solutions

#3: Rising above Reciprocity and Mediocrity

Improve your relationship with your in-laws!

All praise belongs to Allah and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His messenger, his family, companions and followers until the last day.

Since the Islamic Council was set up, it has supported over 1,000 cases of marriage reconciliation, and has empowered couples with approaches rooted in safe & secure marriages.

We have dealt with over 800 cases in the last two years. Our reach across the UK has widened and over 7000 people have directly engaged and benefitted with our webinars and workshops.

We now support a growing international base of clients, and have begun expansion into the USA and as well as into Germany.

We now support so many more businesses and charities. Last year we officially launched the Islamic Finance Advisory and towards the end of the year we published our Zakat framework.

Our advisors and judges are helping train others in how to apply Islamic Guidance into everyday solutions. In 2022 we achieved a new milestone by moving into the international training sector with our first training programme for lawyers in Malaysia.

الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين

All praise belongs to Allāh and may Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon His messenger, his family, companions and followers until the last day.

Standing members of the committee:

• Shaykh Dr Haitham al-Haddad
• Shaykh Dr Sajid Umar
• Shaykh Fuad Abdo
• Shaykh Dr Ali Ahmed
• Umer Suleman

In this document The Islamic Council is presenting a set of principles, practices, and procedures that a charity organisation will need to follow and adhere to in the collection, allocation and distribution of Zakāh funds. Due to the diversity of Zakāh donors, the multiple locations a charity organisation may operate projects in, and the modern nature of finance and poverty, this policy is designed to be as encompassing and accommodating as possible from a Muslim legal perspective. This policy seeks to adopt scholarly positions that would be readily accepted by the majority of Islamic scholarship in most scenarios and circumstances.

Download full policy document below:

ICE – Zakat Policy v1 (Mar 2022)Download

Charities wishing to review their current policies and/or adopt this policy are requested to book a consultation with one of our Shari’ah advisers to discuss further. Please book a consultation for ‘Fatwa Related to Project’:

Whether the spats and fights you have with your spouse are big or small, the number one thing every party must keep in mind and practice is, to have Taqwā (fear/consciousness of Allah). This might prove to be difficult when you are in the heat of an argument, but if you train yourself from the beginning, then it will help you to be reminded of it when a dispute does arise.

The Islamic New YearSat 30-Jul-22 (1 Muharram 1444)

The Islamic New Year has come upon us – but why do we still consider and follow this calendar when everything around us revolves around the Gregorian calendar?

The Hijrī calendar is not just any calendar, it is an extension of our Islamic faith and continuation of our Islamic heritage. The calendar marks one of the greatest incidents to have occurred in the history of Islam and even the world, serving as a turning point for Muslims and humanity as a whole; the Hijrah (Migration) of our beloved Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) from Makkah to Madīna. This momentous Hijrah laid down the foundation for an Islamic State that would eventually spread its beautiful and monotheistic message throughout most of the known world. In the centuries to follow, it would spread its civilisation, scientific and technological advancements, peaceful coexistence, tolerance and freedom for non-Muslims to practice their religion to countries that were still living in the Dark Ages. It presented itself and model of justice, equality and good governance for many other civilizations.

When ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb became the Caliph of the Muslim Ummah, he consulted the senior Companions regarding having an official Islamic calendar for the Ummah. ‘Umar, a man with foresight and vision for the Ummah, understood that a calendar is a crucial identity marker of a nation. He refused to adopt the calendars of any other nation as that would further their civilisation, advancement and standing in the world. After many suggestions from the Companions, ‘Umar announced that the year in which the Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) migrated would mark the beginning of this new Islamic calendar. The calendar would begin with the month of Muḥarram and end with the month of Dhul-Ḥijjah.

Muḥarram is not only the 1^st  month of the Islamic Calendar which marks the New Islamic Year but also one of the four sanctified months of the year. As Allāh says in the Qur’ān:

 “Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh[from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allāhis with the righteous [who fear Him].” (Surah al-Tawbah, 9:36)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Time has come back to its original state when
Allāh created the Heavens and the Earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred. Three of them are in succession; Dhul-Qa‘dah, Dhul-Ḥijjah and al-Muḥarram, and (the fourth being) Rajab Mudar (named after the tribe of Mudar as they used to respect this month) which stands between Jumādā (al-Thanī) and Sha‘bān.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī Ḥadīth No 7447)

The significance of the Islamic Calendar is evident by the fact that many Islamic rituals, obligations, acts of worship and even personal matters (marriage, divorce, age of majority, etc.) are connected to it. For example, the three pillars of Islam are based on the Hijrī Calendar; Fasting, Zakāh and Ḥajj. The age of majority (bulūgh) of a child, menstrual cycle of a woman, waiting period (‘Iddah) of a divorcee are calculated and determined based upon the Hijrī Calendar, whose months are based on lunar cycles, as opposed to solar or luni-solar. Allāh says in the Qur’ān: “They ask you, [O Muḥammad], about the crescent moons. Say, “They are measurements of time for the people and for ḥajj [pilgrimage]”.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:189).

It is for the above reasons that Muslims all over the world should use and promote the Islamic Calendar. The following are some practical examples and tips that can help the Muslims keep this importance Islamic heritage and faith alive:

1. Always write the Hijrī date next to the Gregorian whenever possible.
2. The Hijrī Calendar should be adopted in all Masjids, Islamic Centres, websites, newsletters etc.
3. Islamic scholars, Du‘āt and speakers should use the Hijrī Calendar whenever possible.
4. Buying and supporting digital watches, smartphone apps, etc. that have the Hijrī Calendar and using it in our houses so families can also get used to referring to it.

In conclusion, the revival, preservation and promotion of the Hijrī Calendar is one of the ways that the Muslims can protect their Islamic identity. In a world and a time where Muslims’ identity are threatened and conflicted, it behoves us to re-establish and hold up, proudly and confidently, the various signs of the religion and faith that will help the Muslims to stay strong, unique and steadfast upon the way of Islam.