Muslim History (UK)
This section contains external resources to help acknowledge Muslim Heritage Month. It is also an opportunity to discover more about Muslim history in Britain.
The Islamic world’s influence on William Morris
Artist William Morris principal founder of Britain's Arts and Crafts Movement. He produced hundreds of patterns for wallpapers, furnishing fabrics, carpets and embroideries which were inspired by Islamic art.
Source: Waltham Forest Echo
Date: 27th July 2024
Billy Ibadulla - one of Warwickshire's all-time greats
Billy Ibadulla played the vast majority of his cricket career at Warwickshire in the 1960s. He made 14,766 runs including 17 centuries, and took 418 wickets.
Source: BBC Sport
Date: 14th July 2024
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Mehemet and Mustapha - Turkish servants of King George I
In 1714, King George I brought with him had two Turkish personal servants, Mehemet and Mustapha, who have portraits on the King’s Grand Staircase at Kensington Palace. Mehemet rose to a position of considerable wealth and influence and was rewarded for his service with the noble title: 'Mehemet von Koenigstreu' ('True to the King').
Source: British Museum
Date: 1 June 2024
The social contribution of British Muslims
The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) conducted two surveys to compare responses from the general population and British Muslim on social belonging, attitudes towards family and community.
Source: IIFL
Date: 5th March 2024
Marmaduke Pickthall's Life by Sam Bartlett
Presentation on the life of Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall's as a part of the Islam in Victorian Britain conference held by the London Central Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre.
Source: Youtube - London Central Mosque
Date: 18 Dec 2023
How did Victorian Muslims celebrate Christmas?
An earlier generation of Muslims, looking to spread the word of Islam through finding points in common rather than things to argue about.
Source: Al Jazeera
Date: 15th Dec 2023
Liverpool is Britain's unlikely cradle of Islam
In the late 1800s, the northern English city developed a distinctive Muslim community after a remarkable string of events.
Source: The National News
Date: 12th Oct 2023
The forgotten first Mosque at Kew Gardens
In the 18th century, Kew Gardens featured a decorative "Turkish mosque" designed by William Chambers.
Source: MyLondon
Date: 5th February 2023
Arab Hall, Leighton House
Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896) was a leading Victorian artist. He was fascinated by the Middle East. He had Arab Hall built as an extension to his home, which included a gold dome with, crescent moon, mashabiyas (Arab oriel windows with lattices), and mosaics tiles with Quranic text e.g. "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."
Source: Middle East Eye
Date: 10th Jan 2023
Fatima Cates: The forgotten woman who helped build British Islam
Francess Elizabeth Murray was born in 1865, helped found the UK's first recorded mosque and became the first known woman to convert to Islam on British soil.
Source: BBC
Date: 20th Nov 2022
The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic world
The British Museums Islamic collection comprises a broad and diverse spectrum of the material culture produced from the seventh century to the present day in the Islamic world
Source: British Museum
Date: 14th Oct 2022
Britain's Unseen Muslim History
Tharik Hussain explores five British-Muslim sites: Shah Jahan Mosque and Peace Garden, Royal Pavilion Brighton, The Arab Room, Cardiff, Abdullah Quilliam Mosque, Liverpool and Muslim Burial Plot 1, Surrey.
Source: The Times
Date: 14th Oct 2022
Queen Victoria’s Mini Quran
In 2020 a highly bejeweled miniature Quran that belonged to Queen Victoria went on display for the first time. It was a part of an enameled gold necklace which probably belonged to Zinat Mahal, wife of final Mughal emperor, before being gifted to the Queen.
Source: Finebooks
Date: Dec 2020
Black and Muslim in Britain
The Black and Muslim in Britain Project was initiated in October 2016 with the intention of addressing the lack of faith representation during Black History Month in the UK.
Source: Black and Muslim in Britain
Date: 15th Oct 2018
Islamic Gardens in the UK
Evidence suggests that botanic gardens were likely to be inventions by early Muslims. Research by University of Cardiff explores Islamic inspired gardens in the UK highlighting Muslim gardening traditions and heritage.
Source: University of Cardiff
Date: July 2010
Documenting Muslim Heritage in the UK
This long-term initiative collects and documents the presence and contribution of Muslim life in Britain through images, interviews and documents; to provide a comprehensive and unmediated portrayal of Muslim life in Britain.
Source: Everyday Muslim
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Muslim Medical Heritage
An online short CPD course exploring how the Islamic civilisation developed a system of healthcare that had a profound impact on surrounding cultures, notably the European university medicine as it developed from the twelfth century onwards.
Source: University of Manchester
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The National Muslim War Memorial Trust
An initiative to commemorate the service of Muslim personnel to Britain’s Armed Forces during the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts.
Source: The National Muslim War Memorial Trust
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Historic records of the Woking Muslim Mission
The Woking Muslim Mission ceased to operate from the Woking Mosque in 1967–68. The website Woking Muslim website was created in 2005 to preserve and publish the historical record relating to the Woking Muslim Mission, in particular its origins, foundation, work, recognition and achievements. The website also contains a photographic archive.
Source: Woking Muslim
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Scottish Islamic Tartan
The official Scottish Islamic Tartan was registered on 29 June 2012. The blue represents the Scottish flag, green colour of Islam, 5 gold lines for 5 pillars of Islam, 6 gold lines for 6 articles of faith and the blacks square for holy kabah
Source: Islamic Tartan
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How Islam shaped British architecture
Quintessential landmarks from Big Ben to the Durham Cathedral owe their inspiration to Muslim-designed buildings centuries ago.
