The AMSS UK is pleased to announce that its prestigious 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented to two recipients at the A Common Word Between Us and You: A Global Agenda for Change Conference, 6-8 October 2009 at the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, USA. The Award was presented by Dr. Ibrahim Kalin, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey, and Shaikh Amr Khaled on behalf of Dr. Anas S. Al-Shaikh-Ali, CBE, Chair, AMSS UK. Click here for the Awards Press Release (pdf).

Professor John L. Esposito, Founding Director, Prince Alwaleed Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding, USA, in recognition of his outstanding academic contributions and pioneering work in developing the academic study and understanding of Faiths and their relations.

Professor Charles E. Butterworth, Emeritus Professor, University of Maryland, USA, in recognition of outstanding scholarly service to the study of Islamic political philosophy and medieval Arabic giving academic prominence to advanced Islamic philosophical discourse and its relevance for the current era.

Dr. Anas S. Al-Shaikh-Ali, CBE sent the following message to the conference:

I would like to express my deep thanks to President DeGioia, Prince Ghazi, and Professor Esposito for their kind invitation to attend the conference. Although I was looking forward with keen interest to take part in such an important event it is unfortunate that my Visa, although already issued, has not yet been delivered with my passport even as late as Wednesday morning. I much regret therefore that I will not have the privilege to be with you.

The Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre is a superb initiative which aims to build stronger bridges of understanding between the Muslim world and the West as well as between Islam and Christianity. It is groundbreaking that it has come together with A Common Word (the largest Muslim interfaith initiative towards Christians to date), to focus on global issues and initiatives for change and develop concrete proposals to advance global peace and security between Muslim and Western societies.

My colleagues at the AMSS UK Executive Committee join me in sending our warm congratulations to Professor Esposito and Professor Butterworth on receiving the AMSS Life Achievement Award 2009. We are honoured to present this Award as a tribute to two exceptional scholars who have shown great dedication and vision throughout their career.

I wish the Conference every success.

Dr. Anas S. Al-Shaikh-Ali, CBE

The AMSS UK is pleased to announce that its prestigious Building Bridges Award for 2009 has been jointly given to the British Council, in recognition of the 'Our Shared Europe' project which seeks to generate awareness and better understanding of Muslim contributions to European culture and society; and to 1001 Inventions - Muslim Heritage in Our World, in recognition of the notable contribution of the 1001 Inventions educational project to reveal the rich heritage that the Muslim community share with other communities in the UK, Europe and across the World. Both awards were presented during the third AMSS(UK) Annual Zaki Badawi Memorial Lecture held on 5th June 2009 at the University of Westminster, London, UK.

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[1] Award presented by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left) to Professor Mike Hardy (right), who received it on behalf of the British Council's 'Our Shared Europe' project, [2] Award presented by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left) to Professor Salim al-Hassani (right), who received it on behalf of 1001 Inventions - Muslim Heritage in Our World, [3] Group photo: Professor Salim al-Hassani (left), Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali (centre), and Professor Mike Hardy (right).

The AMSS UK is pleased to announce that its prestigious Building Bridges Award for 2008 was presented to ‘A Common Word’ project on 3rd November 2008 on the occasion of the 1st Catholic-Muslim Forum Conference, 4th-6th November, Vatican City. The Award was presented by Dr. Anas S. Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS (UK). The importance of A Common Word Between Us and You, and Pope Benedict XVI’s esteemed support, signal a new era of mutual respect and harmony between the Abrahamic faiths. Living and working together in diversity is a challenge and religious beliefs and differences in cultures can sometimes give rise to deep-seated negativities. The Common Word project is a superb initiative to not only generate awareness, understanding, and respect, but also, and most importantly, establish trust through promoting interfaith dialogue, conflict resolution and intellectual discourse. Click here for full press release (pdf), click here for press release flyer (pdf), or click here for: press releases page. Click here to read article on the awards in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper (external link).

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[1] Award presented by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left) to Dr Muhammed Hashim Kamali (right), who received it on behalf of A Common Word project, [2] Dr Muhammed Hashim Kamali (right), Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (centre), also pictured with Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr (left), [3] Audience, [4] Presentation announcement delivered in Italian, [5] Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK meeting His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, [6] His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI meeting delegates.

The AMSS UK is pleased to announce that its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2008 was presented to Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr on 3rd November 2008 on the occasion of the 1st Catholic-Muslim Forum Conference, 4th-6th November 2008, Vatican City. The Award was presented by Dr. Anas S. Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS (UK). The Award was given to Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr in recognition of long and distinguished service in the field of Islamic thought, science and spirituality. Seyyed Hossein Nasr is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, prolific writer, foremost expert on comparative religion, and one of the world’s leading scholars on Islamic science and spirituality. Professor Nasr has devoted his life to the intellectual study of Islam, writing extensively on various disciplines including Islamic philosophy, history, civilization, exposition of Islamic spirituality, the philosophy of science, the environmental crisis, interreligious understanding, and Islamic art. His invaluable attempts to foster greater global understanding of Islam and Muslims, through numerous works, studies, and essays, have made him one of the leading Muslim thinkers of today. Click here for full press release (pdf), or click here for: press releases page. Click here to read article on the awards in Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper (external link).

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[1] Award presented to Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left), [2] Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr (left), Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (centre), also pictured with Dr Muhammed Hashim Kamali (right).

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[1], [2] Award presented to Dr Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left),[3], [4] Dr Ceric delivering the 2nd Annual Zaki Badawi Memorial Lecture.

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[1] Award presented to HE Professor Ihsanoglu (right) by Dr Jeremy Henzell-Thomas, Executive Committee of AMSS UK (left).

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[1] Award presented to Recip Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS (UK) (left), [2] Award presented to Juan Luis Rodriquez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS (UK) (centre), [3] J.L.T. Zapatero speech (left), [4] Video of award presentation (click to watch).

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[1] Award presented to Professor Muhammad Abdel Haleem (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left).

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[1] Archive photo of Professor Fuat Sezgin.

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[1] Award presented to Dr Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left).

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[1] Archive photo of the late Dr Martin Lings.

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[1] Award presented by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left) to Michel Abdul Messih, QC (centre), who received it on behalf of the late Edward Said, also pictured with Dr Zaki Badawi (right).

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[1] Award presented to Karen Armstrong (right) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (left).

In September 2002, at the Muslim Education in Europe conference held in Bonn Germany, AMSS (UK) were honoured to present the AMSS (UK) 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Zaki Badawi. The award was received on behalf of Dr Badawi by Dr Bassam Saieh of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Dr Badawi is currently Principal of The Muslim College in London. His interests are Islamic Theology, Muslim Jurisprudence and the History of Muslim Law and he frequently writes and broadcasts on Muslims affairs. He has been Director and Chief Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre and Regent's Park Mosque and Director of the Islamic Finance House, London. He is Chairman of the Imams and Mosques Council UK and of the Muslim Law (Shariah) Council UK, Vice Chairman of the World Congress of Faiths, Advisor to the Templeton Foundation and Director/Trustee of the Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism (FAIR). He is a Member of the Central Religious Advisory Committee at the BBC and ICT Commissioners. He has held a variety of academic posts around the world and is involved with numerous international academic and religious organisations. His qualifications are Al Aliyah & Al Alimiyyah (Al Azhar University, Cairo) and BA PhD (London University).

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[1] Archive photo of Dr Zaki Badawi (left) pictured with Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (right).

On Thursday 20th June 2002 at the Moses Room, House of Lords, UK, the AMSS (UK) were honoured to present Charles Le Gai Eaton with the 2002 Building Bridges Award in recognition of his achievement in bringing to light the universal and authentic message of Islam.

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[1] Archive photo of Charles Le Gai Eaton.

In recognition for a distinguished career and service to the field of Islamic thought and international politics, the AMSS (UK) was honoured to present the 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award to Alija Izetbegovic. As well as former President of Bosnia-Herzegovina Alija Izetbegovic is also a respected scholar and writer. He is best known for his book Islam Between East and West which was originally published 1984 when he was a political prisoner in Communist Yugoslavia. The book has gone on to become a European bestseller and hailed by many as a landmark analysis of the human condition and the West's relationship to Islam.

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[1] Archive photo of H.E. Alija Izetbegovic.

On Wednesday 14 June 2000 Professor Ali Mazrui, a leading African academic and intellectual, made history by becoming the first African to launch a book and address a distinguished audience at the Moses Room, House of Lords, UK. The Chairman of the AMSS (UK), Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali marked the occasion by presenting Professor Mazrui with the AMSS's first and newly established award for important academic achievement.

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[1] Award presented to Professor Ali Mazrui (left) by Dr Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK (right).