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Muslim peercalls for English in mosque sermons
Sermons in mosques should be delivered in English to help stop young Muslims being drawn towards radical preachers of hate, a South Yorkshire peer said.Muslim peer Lord Ahmed of Rotherham said that imams - Islamic preachers - should conduct their Friday prayers in English and translate sections which have to be spoken in Arabic, so that youngsters who may not understand do not feel isolated. He said extremists such as Omar Bakri had used the isolation of young people within some mosques to draw them to their own breakaway meetings where they were radicalised. Lord Ahmed wants to set up an advisory body which would provide training for all imams and set up certain standards. He told fellow peers during a debate in the House of Lords: "While some mosques have been used as an effective vehicle for social change by providing moral, social and spiritual development of individuals through worship education and recreation, unfortunately many are still run as tribal and regional centres, disconnected from the local British Muslim community and from the mainstream of British society. "For instance we know that an overwhelming majority of British Muslims attend Friday prayers but 60 per cent of those who are British born are disconnected in many ways because of the language spoken. "Sermons are delivered in Urdu, Arabic or another language." "Of course all the religious teachings have to be done through the Koran and the Hadith, which are in Arabic, but I think we should ask everyone to deliver their sermons in English and to translate everything into English so that they can connect with young people," he added. He said he still faces resistance from some quarters on the speaking of English in sermons. "Things have not changed much and we need to put pressure on Muslim leaders to ensure they connect with the British Muslim youth." Posted by: ryuge 2006-05-23 |
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