IIQRA
Trust is a leading Muslim educational charity, established
in 1988. It is independent, non-political and works
on behalf of all Muslims in the UK.
It aims:
To
promote a greater understanding of Islam among Muslims
and non-Muslims alike.
To
encourage Muslims to participate positively and
fully in all aspects of British life while adhering
to the teachings of their faith.
IQRA Trust has been working in UK education for 17 years.
It has published a model syllabus for RE (Islam), and
a range of educational books, teaching packs, model
kits, essays, work-cards, activity magazines and guides
to help Muslims in the state education system and teachers
who have Muslim pupils.
Samples of
these are included in their Islamic Resource Pack. To
order IQRA publications
click here
Professor Dawud
Noibi OBE helped IQRA compile a database of Islamic information on
nearly 200 topics, which is kept on their server, and many teachers,
trainee teachers and school pupils, when making enquiries, have
benefited from this knowledge and his expertise. Various educational
publishers have also used IQRA’s expertise as Islamic consultants.
Many Muslims also
remember the IQRA Radio Programme which was broadcast daily on
Spectrum Radio (London) for several years, with explanations of the
Qur’an and Hadith, and Islamic law, children’s programmes, science and
the environment, nasheeds (Islamic songs) and interviews with
Muslim charitable organisations.
In 1995 IQRA worked
with Ealing LEA to produce The Islamic Experience, a multi-media,
interactive exhibition for schools, which received an enthusiastic
welcome from all those who visited and participated in it. Roger
Butler, RE Inspector for Ealing, who commissioned the exhibition
in 1995, wrote afterwards: ''The extent and quality of what IQRA
produced exceeded my wildest expectations.' Here are a few of the
pupils' comments so far: 'Usually exhibitions are either educational
or interesting but this one was both.' 'I had a great time', 'Thank
you for your brilliant exhibition', ‘More exciting than a PE
session.' Teachers said: 'I have gained a lot of information from
this exhibition on Islam, Western stereotypes exist everywhere but
this exhibition has helped us gain a better understanding.' '...
Very well presented. Well laid out, very visual. It's been great to
see it all.’ ‘It's given the pupils an insight into ... a religion
they don't come into contact with. Coming from a very rural school
they very rarely see a Muslim but they're already asking lots of
questions.'
The Islamic Experience
toured many LEAs in the UK and Ireland, with several repeat visits,
welcoming over 40,000 visitors. IQRA Trust has hundreds of thank you
letters and feedback forms that bear witness to the success of the
exhibition. It gave rise to several local Muslim school visitors’
projects.
After a major upgrade,
in October 2003 Tony Howell, Birmingham’s Chief Education Officer,
opened The Islamic Experience as a permanent
exhibition in Birmingham. Courtesy of IPCI, its new home is at
432, Coventry Road, B10 0UG. The exhibition has five sections: Faith
and History, the Five Pillars, Science and the Environment, Family and
Social Life, and Activities. Trained Muslim stewards explain each
section. Workshops on the Islamic dimensions of various curriculum
subjects, such as art, history, drama, and citizenship, can be
arranged in schools, or professional development centres, or at the
exhibition. Exhibits include models, videos, audio-visuals, posters,
demonstrations, artefacts, hands-on activities and computer programs,
and there is a resource and souvenir shop.
