Open Discussions in association with Gulf Cultural Club
invites you to a Ramadan Experience Discussion titled:
Fasting as a catalyst
for personal and world’s peace
Speakers
*Dr Isa Jahangir (Academic)
**Marigold Bentley (Peace activist with the Quakers)
*** Luqman Ali (Artistic Director, Khayaal Theatre)
Peace is what decent people aspire to achieve and what the world today desperately needs. In the midst of the turbulence of modern life, the lack of peace on personal and world levels has become endemic. Whether due to excessive materialism, traditional wars, political repression or terrorism there are deep feelings of unease among the inhabitants of this planet. Fasting is a practical way to tame the evil tendencies that often lead to tension, enmity and wars. The holy month of Ramadan provides the opportunity to achieve self-control, inner-cleansing, spiritual ascendance and peace with the self and the others. How can this practice be promoted to achieve personal and world’s peace?
Join us for the Ramadan Experience and Iftar for Peace
7.30pm, Tuesday, 22nd May 2018
Venue: Abrar House, 45 Crawford Place, W1H 4LP
*Dr Isa Jahangir studied Islamic studies at the Seminary of Qum and completed his BA and MA in Sociology, and a PhD in Culture and Communication Studies. He has taught different subjects regarding Islamic studies and Muslim social thought. Currently he is the principal of the Islamic College, London (An Academic Partner with Middlesex University). He has published many books and papers on Shia and Islamic studies.
** Marigold Bentley is a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has worked on behalf of Quakers nationally and internationally for over 30 years. Her work has included service work in the Occupied Territories and Egypt during the 1980’s, and at the Quaker United Office in New York. During the 1990’s she worked in peace education, particularly in Northern Ireland and the Former Yugoslavia. She currently Head of Peace Programmes and Faith Relations for Quakers in Britain. She is a member of the Rethinking Security Group.
*** Luqman Ali is CEO & Artistic Director, Khayaal Theatre. He initially trained in the sciences of Islam and the languages (Arabic, Persian and Urdu) and cultures of the Middle East and the Sub-continent. He spent a decade working for publishing houses in the USA and the UK. In 1997, Luqman co-founded Khayaal, the first professional theatre company of its kind offering audiences a fascinating experience of classic Muslim world culture through contemporary stagecraft. He went on to pioneer the theatrical interpretation of the tales of Jalaluddin Rumi and Fariduddin Attar producing numerous theatrical shorts including Four Mystics and a Merchant, Bad Beard Day, Between the Devil & Me and Tattoos in Qazvin. In 2004, he broadened the scope of his work adapting traditional tales from right across the Muslim world in Tales from Muslim Lands which included Peony Garden on Nanshan Mountain, Bling Bling Blind, Incey Witty Spider and Man Take Thy Flight.Luqman’s latest works are Sun & Wind, a spiritual reflection on extremism and Hearts & Minds, a theatre-in-education play for young people exploring issues of identity, citizenship and extremism. Luqman is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Ariane de Rothschild Fellowship and a member of the Concordia Forum.
Admission is Free. Please register for catering purposes –
