Interfaith - IAPD

An evening with Islamic scholar Dr. Naznin Hirji

With a series of monthly interfaith events, the UPF’s Interfaith Committee has been exploring spirituality from many different traditions. Our February event featured author and Islamic scholar Dr. Naznin Hirji, who talked about how to create the right conditions to experience “the sacred,” a subject at the heart of her doctorate.

“According to the polishing of one’s heart can see the hidden meaning of things,” she said, quoting the 13th Century Persian poet Rumi as saying. The sacred could be found in “the silence that speaks” and “a thread that extends from the heart to the lips.”

Dr. Hirji also pointed to the features within Islamic architecture that symbolised and even facilitated a path towards spiritual experience and transcendence. She then joined attendees to discuss their own personal experiences of the sacred and spirituality.

The UPF has explored a number of religious and spiritual traditions at our monthly interfaith events, featuring talks about mystics and visionaries and even guided meditations. There have been book launches by interfaith figures such as Rev Dr Marcus Braybrooke, that have focus on influential spiritual thinkers, or the search for spirituality.

The UPF Interfaith Committee includes:
Dr. Ghayassudin Siddiqui
Dr. Christoph Von Luttitz
Mr. Sukhbir Singh
Mrs. Joyce Suda
Dr. Raheem Khan
Imam Mahmadou Bocoum
Imam Nabel Haidari
Mrs. Karen Szulakowska
Ms. Brenda Hodgson
Mr. Amarjeet-singh Bhamra
Mr. Ujjwal Banga
Mr. Robin Marsh

For more information, please contact:

Joyce Suda, UPF Director, Interfaith Committee Chair, Tel: 0208 467 3035
Robin Marsh, Secretary General, Mob: 07956 210 768
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Office Tel: 020 7262 0985