Muslim scholar Sheiykh Allama Moalana Shahid Raza Naeemi OBE answers your questions

This week, while visiting to our offices, the chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board answered as many of your questions as possible. Over the next two weeks, we share his responses.

Do you feel some Muslim communities segregate themselves from the rest of society?

“Some of my colleagues may not agree but I certainly feel that maybe there’s a very small part of the community which feels comfortable living segregated.

“It could be language that might push them away, a lack of understanding of the British culture and society, a lack of citizenship knowledge, but also fear.

“It’s not a major issue but definitely Islamaphobia is there. There’s a fear within a certain section of the community who maybe don’t feel comfortable travelling on public transport or who don’t feel comfortable mixing because they are afraid of something.

“What we need to emphasise is a joint effort. Everything shouldn’t be expected to come from the Muslim community. We need to come together to bring those Muslims out of their fear.”

How often are children expected to go to mosque after school and can this mean they miss out on opportunities to mix with non-Muslim children through sports team and other after school clubs?

“It’s a very important issue for the whole Muslim community that we feel that our children are over-stretched. They go early in the morning to school and in some cases, without any space, they need to go to mosque for their religious education.

“Muslims feel very strongly that it’s their responsibility to teach their children about their religion, culture and values. I’m 100 per cent in support of education but it shouldn’t be at the cost of children’s physical or mental health.

“A break could be more relaxing for the children, but also the parents and even the Imams and religious tutors because children who have had this break pay more attention in class in the evening. I hope that some sort of mechanism is designed locally to organise the classes a bit later, a bit less frequently or on the weekend.”

Would it be better for Muslims to spend the time they devote to prayer on charitable work instead?

“Like all religions, Islam prescribes some particular prayers for its followers. That doesn’t stop involvement in voluntary work, charity work or other social activities. Islam sees all such work and services as an act of worshipping God.

“Christianity is recognised for practising charitable work all over the world but they have a Sunday service. Similarly, Jews do a lot of charitable work but Saturday is a prescribed day for them.

“I don’t see any conflict between prayers and charitable work. Often, what I’ve seen is that the Muslims who are quite regular in their prayers are also quite keen and passionate about charity work and service because they’ve developed a religious attitude for everything.”

Do you feel the full face veil can make others feel unable to approach or communicate with the women who wear them?

“After speaking to various groups, I believe that generally other communities do feel it’s hard to communicate and approach these women. I believe they have a genuine concern.

“Those Muslim women who have chosen full hijab or veil must have been given that religious education. They would consider it as an obligation and a part of their faith. I don’t think there’s anything other than religious reasons involved.

“My own advice to all our Muslims sisters is always that you must remain a Muslim wherever you live but at the same time it’s our responsibility that wherever we live, we must avoid anything that may create problems for the Muslim community or that may bring misunderstanding about the religion itself.”

Does it say anywhere in the Qur’an that a woman must cover her face with a veil?

“The Qur’an does not mention the covering of the face anywhere. There’s no single word that means face in respect of the rules and regulations. It’s a matter of interpretation.

“There are scholars who have interpreted verses in a different way but the Qur’an itself has not used any word that indicates that the face covering is an obligation for a Muslim.”

Why do some Muslims feel the need to practise female circumcision?

“Muslims belong to the same religion but they have different cultures and traditions which are geographical. In the region I come from, the Indian sub-continent, there’s nothing like that practice existing among Muslims. It was only when I arrived in this country that I learned some rural Egyptian or Somalian communities were practising it.

“Male circumcision is a tradition imposed in Sharia law for Muslims, like Jews, but I’ve examined books on Sharia law and have seen no support in for female circumcision.”

Would a Muslim be allowed to marry a non-Muslim?

“Many religions prefer marriages within the same faith. It’s a general feeling that Christian parents or Jewish parents would love their children to get married within their own faiths.

“The Islamic law gives a clear guidance on this. Muslim men are allowed to marry women of Christian or Jewish backgrounds but Muslim women are not allowed to marry anybody but a Muslim man.

“Muslims believe marriage is the foundation of family life. For that reason, perhaps, Islam prefers not to bring conflict into that relationship.

“But Islam recognises the phenomenon of welcoming and incorporating shared values into family life. By marrying Christian women, Muslims allow mothers of another faith for their children.”

What looks like a large Star of David is permanently marked on the ground inside the entrance to Batley mosque. Is it true that this was place there so worshippers could demonstrate their contempt for Jews by walking over it or does the geometric shape have another significance in Islam?

“I have not visited this particular mosque but I would advise the mosque management to clarify this for everybody. I really don’t know why that symbol is there. It might not be a Star of David. It could be a mere coincidence.

“I do feel it my responsibility though to assure readers that Islam teaches us to live with dignity, understanding and respect with all communities, including Jews.

“We are not allowed to undermine or insult any religious symbols belonging to any religion. It’s a very powerful teaching.”

Are there any basic requirements for someone to be accepted as a genuine Muslim?

“For somebody to be a Muslim, there’s a very simple requirement. He must believe in the oneness of God and at the same time believe the Prophet is the last messenger of God and must accept all his teachings.

“It’s so simple but like all other religions, there are many levels of faith. Some people can be very pious and very particular in observing all details of the teachings and some people live a relaxed life.”

If someone is gay, can they be considered a Muslim?

“It’s an issue not only in Islam, but in many major world religions. Many consider it’s against their religious teachings but someone who is gay will remain Muslim unless he accepts himself a non-Muslim or refuses to believe in the fundamentals of the faith.

“Muslims are not a perfect community. There are Muslims who drink, gamble and dance. There are good Muslims and bad Muslims but they are all Muslims.”

Pick up a copy of next week’s paper to see the second part of the interview.