By Irfan Khan

Reading, listening or watching the latest news headlines it seems to me that there is always yet another brand that I as a Muslim can fall into. Apart from fundamentalism, terrorism, Islamism (which genius came up with that one?!) etc.

I can also fall in to the wider category of 'Moderate' or 'Extremist'. The media has attached so many labels to Muslims that I myself am beginning to wonder what type of Muslim I am.

Am I not just a Muslim? Are not all Muslims the same and don't we believe in the same message and read the same Quran?

The Revival has travelled across the UK to speak to young Muslims about the role of Islam in their everyday lives:

NB: Some personals details have been changed or ommitted to ensure anonymity

Name: Sara Age: 21 Location: Bolton

Islam is my passion. My life revolves around my Islamic commitments, even Uni and work is set around my Islamic timetable. On a weekly basis I attend/lead Islamic circles, manage Islamic websites, organise Islamic programmes and write Islamic articles.

The World Cup. Its great innit! We all fool ourselves that our national team is gonna win. We all support the underdog. We all support teams like Nigeria in their matches against European rivals. We all shout ingerluund! ingerluuuund! iinggggerlundddd!

But lets face it, we all know Brazil is gonna win. (EDIT - hindsight is 20:20. Just imagine we said Italy!)

So what really matters is which players makes a name for themselves, which nations are disgraced (2002: France- no goals!), and which TV Channel has the most viewers! All in the name of footballing glory.

Mohammed is the guy Muslims worship innit?

No. Muslims do not worship Muhammad (peace be upon him) or any other prophets. Muslims believe in all prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Moses and Jesus. Muslims believe that Muhammad(pbuh) was the last of the prophets. They believe that God alone is to be worshipped, not any human being.

So then who was he?

In brief, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca in Arabia in the year 570 AD. His ancestry goes back to Prophet Ishmael, son of Prophet Abraham.. His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was six. He was raised first by a nurse as it was the custom in those days, and then by his grandfather and uncle.

By Irfan Khan and Dawud

In the Mosque, after a talk has been held, everyone is sitting down to eat, food is being served. Jamal sees Ali and makes a bee line for him and sits across from him.

Jamal: As Salaamu alaykum Ali, its a very pleasant surprise to see you here.

Ali: W-S

Jamal: Huh? Double-you ess?

Ali: I said 'Wa Salaam.' And it's good to see you too.

Jamal: Aww thanks, really though it's amazing that you're here.

Ali: Its nothing, I got a text saying there was food and … the rest is history.

Jamal: Well the important thing is that you're here; just being in a Mosque is a rewardable act.

By Alveena Salim

Culture, what exactly is it? Well even though you might think it's got nothing to do with you; you are in fact surrounded by culture all the time – be it the culture of your parents/grandparents or the western 'British' culture.

Culture is the outward expressions of your values, beliefs, lifestyle etc. So from that point of view if culture is just basically your way of doing things then Islam can be your culture right? Yep too right it can and so it should be!

In a dark dark world there was a dark dark country. In the dark dark country there was a dark dark newspaper. In the dark dark offices of the dark dark newspaper, the dark dark Editor had a dark dark idea.

He decided to set up a dark dark competition to make some dark dark caricatures of the Prophet of Islam. His dark dark intentions being to test whether Muslims would be able to accept this dark dark vision.

Enough of the fairy tale! The Muslim reaction was anger. Understandably so. Yes some Muslims went too far with their protest by rioting, threatening, kidnapping and hijacking! However, the thing most non-Muslims did not understand was why the reaction was two months down the line.

[Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari, Dar al-Iftaa; Darul Uloom; student of Mufti Taqi Usmani]

With the Name of Allah, and in Him we seek assistance, and the praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah alone, without any associate, and there is nothing comparable to Him. And I testify that Muhammad is His servant and final Messenger.

In the current climate, many brothers and sisters in Britain have become preoccupied with the issue of the coming elections and debating the question of whether Muslims are allowed to vote and which party is most deserving of our vote. In reply, I would like to present the following clarification and advice.

The following article describes in a simple and clear manner the requirements and method of the Islamic marriage ceremony.

Mutual Agreement of Bride and Groom

Marriage (nikah) is a solemn and sacred social contract between bride and groom. This contract is a strong covenant (mithaqun Ghalithun) as expressed in Quran 4:21). The marriage contract in Islam is not a sacrament. It is revocable. Both parties mutually agree and enter into this contract. Both bride and groom have the liberty to define various terms and conditions of their liking and make them a part of this contract.

Mahr

The marriage-gift (Mahr) is a divine injunction. The giving of mahr to the bride by the groom is an essential part of the contract.