Messages from the Minbar

In the passing of the Queen we are reminded of the words of The Ever Living, “Wherever you may be, death will catch up with you, even if you are inside high castles” [Qur’an 4:78]. Though the optics of opulence are not from the faith, they can – and have – served the faithful over the course of Muslim history. The story of the King of Ethiopia from the life and times of the Messenger ﷺ illustrates the Prophetic recognition of nuance, and the value of highlighting similarities rather than differences – something that the new King, Charles III, has been doing for many decades as Prince, in regards to Islam and the West. The full speech delivered by the then Prince of Wales titled 'Islam and the West' delivered in Oxford in 1993, an excerpt of which is read at 21:52, can be found here: https://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speech/speech-hrh-prince-wales-titled-islam-and-west-oxford-centre-islamic-studies-sheldonian