City of Norwich Islamic awareness week March 2015

The young women arrived in Norwich for the launch of the Islamic awareness week

so there was lots to do hosting large groups of children from local primary schools and also the public cooking lunch and serving the guests who arrived at the Ihsan. A good chance to start to put into practice the things embodied in Morocco.       photographic display of Caribbean Muslims in Norwich

Interesting and interactive open panel debate with local police and city council on new PREVENT law and how the community felt it would affect the lives of the local community.

Students from Madrassa Sharif Al Wazzani/Wazania Academy serving the local community

Reflections

After almost seven months in Morocco we have spent the last two months living in Norwich. We are not living together because we are in different houses, but we spend the most of the time together as we meet during the week  to study Arabic, English, Religious studies, and Sirah classes in The Black Stone Foundation building.

This part of the course has been really different from what we got used to in Morocco. Being in a non-Muslim country can sometimes be difficult because one must make a bigger effort as a Muslim, but at the same time we have the ease of being in Europe.

Being surrounded by the community is something that we all are all really enjoying. Every day that we spend with our host family is very special. They have welcomed us warmly and from the beginning everyone has treated us really well.

Alhamdulillah I am aware of what an incredible gift this is; having these incredible people teach us every day. It is a truly unique opportunity.

The days are passing very quickly and we are near the end of the course so I intend to make the most of this situation and enjoy it as it could be the last time we are all together in this way.

A Student of The Madrassa, Granada, Spain

Sirah class with Shaykh Abdalhaqq Bewley

Norwich itself is worlds away from Larache, Morocco; yet we have recreated some of the aspects of the Madrassa here in the Ihsan Mosque. It’s been so lovely being in my hometown and at home with my family. In addition to this it’s amazing that the madrassa girls are here to continue our studies and continue our adventure. Morocco was a new experience for all of us; many had never been to Morocco before and we stayed there for 6 and half months. Now we have a Spanish teacher, Nadia. I am so happy to have had the girls here, to see our community and I know the community feels blessed by their presence. I felt it was so important to experience both the madrassa in Morocco and Norwich. Moroccan life was tough without the community support that Norwich has. Both situations have benefitted us and I would not change anything even if I could.

I would like to thank our school director firstly. She has shown me an education that has changed me, the importance of a good teacher and given me the opportunity to learn Qur’an in the traditional way. Thanks also to Hafidha Naima and Nadia for the Qur’an they have taught me. What an amazing feeling every time they utter the words ‘Yes, wash it!’. Thank you very much to Hajj Abdassamad Clarke, Hajj Uthman Morrison, Hajja Aisha Bewley and Shaykh Abdalhaqq Bewley for passing on knowledge to us that insha’Allah I will never forget.

Abdiya Meddings, Norwich, England

Greetings to All From Norwich

The students, Director and Arabic teacher of the Wazania Academy outside the Ihsan Mosque, Norwich

After 6 and a half months in Larache Morocco studying at the Madrassa Sharif al Wazzani, the next part of this journey has taken us to Norwich, where we study at the Wazania Academy. Our two month stay here is coming to and end, but we would like to share with you our thoughts, experiences and some of what we have learnt.

Our warmest greetings from Norwich