Latest news with #FarhanNizami
ITV News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
King Charles opens wing named after himself at Oxford's Centre of Islamic Studies
ITV News Meridian's Wesley Smith has been in Oxford to find out more. King Charles described the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies as a 'beacon of Islamic scholarship' when he visited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the institution. Crowds gathered to watch the King open a new wing named after himself. His Majesty, who is a patron of the centre, was welcomed by its director, Dr Farhan Nizami and Lord Hague, the new Chancellor of Oxford University. The wing will host the 'King Charles III Programme', a new initiative to consolidate key activities inspired by his beliefs. Founded in 1985, the centre evolution has been closely followed by the King, even being granted a Royal Charter by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2012. The centre hosts a 'young Muslim Leadership Programme,' as well as conferences focused on global issues like the environment and sustainability, both close to the King's heart. Addressing the congregation, His Majesty said, "In this milestone anniversary year, I can only say that it is with enormous pride and admiration that I join you all here today to pay tribute to this remarkable centre. "The centre's ongoing commitment to objective scholarship and international co-operation, underpinned by principles of dialogue, deep understanding and mutual respect, is more imperative than ever in today's world." The visit was rounded off with a reception in the aptly named, King Charles III Garden with a chance to meet interfaith representatives, academics and trustees. The King has a history with co-founder of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Dr Farhan Ahmad Nizami, as they first met when the king visited in 1993. The then-Prince of Wales gave a passionate lecture at the Sheldonian Theatre about the need for religious tolerance. Many saw it as a milestone in race relations. Speaking in 1993, he said, "If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. "It is a failure which stems, I think, from the straitjacket of history which we have inherited." Since then, the centre has found it important to work on the international stage to improve islamic relations. The centre's director Dr. Farhan Nizami said, "That is why we need these occasions more and more and that is why the relevance of the centre has increased over time. "There is now a bigger responsibility upon us but equally, this is a mark of the importance of these times that need to be addressed."
Arab News
16-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Celebrating 40 years of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. In 1983, Dr. Farhan Nizami and David Browning decided to lobby Oxford University to establish a centre for Islamic studies. After much give and take with the university, it ultimately agreed and followed all the requirements to establish the centre. In 1985, the centre was formally registered with the Charity Commission as an educational charity. It is a nonprofit institution. The founding trustees were Sheikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, Dr. Abdullah Omar, Dr. Nizami's father, the late Professor K.A. Nizami, Sheikh Sultan Al-Qassimi, and Tariq Shafiq. Professor Keith Griffin was the first nominee to represent the university. All other board members represent themselves. The first donation was £10 ($13), five from Dr. Nizami and five from Browning. There was one staff member, a secretary, and the first budget amounted to £70,000, donated by Sheikh Sultan. It was housed in a small hut on one of Oxford's side streets. King Charles became patron of the centre in 1993, when he gave a landmark lecture titled 'Islam and the West.' He elaborated his view that Islam and the West should and can work together to meet the challenges facing humanity. His Majesty continues to be the patron and will preside over the 40th anniversary. The centre is an independent educational institution and is presided over by a board of trustees made up of luminaries from the Muslim world, the UK, a representative of Oxford University, and others. Dr. Farhan Nizami was its director from 1985 and is now secretary to the board of trustees. Enhancing Muslim and non-Muslim understanding has been the underlying ethos of the centre. Prince Turki Al-Faisal The activities of the centre are all-encompassing, from teaching fellowships, publications, conferences, scholarships, seminars, workshops, lectures, and student sponsorships. The centre received a grant from the late King Fahd to construct its building. Grants for three fellowships in the names of the late King Abdullah, the late Prince Sultan, and King Salman followed. Generous support from other Muslim countries and individuals also added to the centre's building and fellowships. In 2012, the centre became the first British Muslim institution to receive a royal charter from the late Queen Elizabeth. Enhancing Muslim and non-Muslim understanding has been the underlying ethos of the centre. The building that houses it, designed by the famous Egyptian architect Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil, with its dome and minaret, has blended quite beautifully with Oxford's skyline and has become a landmark, visited by many visitors to the city. The centre's relationship with Oxford University will grow and it will strive to continue to serve all of humanity in harmony and understanding.
