The Muslim Institute

The Muslim Institute is an intellectual organisation based in London, United Kingdom. Established in 1973, the organisation was re-launched in 2009 as a fellowship society and was modelled on "futawwah" clubs, groups that promoted a virtuous life based on knowledge, humility, magnanimity, hospitality, social work and the service of humanity during the Islamic Golden Age. The Institute promotes pluralism, innovation and creativity while also encouraging open debate and discussion on issues pertaining to Islam, Muslims and Muslim societies.

The Muslim Institute was established in 1972 as a research body devoted to drawing up detailed conceptual maps and operational plans of a Muslim civilization of the future. The initiative was led by Kalim Siddiqui, a journalist who worked for The Guardian; Ziauddin Sardar, a writer, futurist and economist; and Iqbal Asaria. The Institute was established as a charitable trust under the title, "The Muslim Institute for Research and Planning", and Siddiqui became its director.

The founders and their associates were concerned about the decline and decay of Muslim societies. They argued that past Islamic civilizations were based on knowledge, and they were keen to rebuild this foundation of knowledge and innovation. They emphasised the urgent need for an and rationally satisfying tradition of Muslim scholarship and argued that Muslim intellectuals had the potential for "recreating fully operational social, economic and political systems of Islam in all Muslim societies".

Initially, the Muslim Institute organised seminars and courses on four main areas: the philosophy of science, Islamic Economics, the study of Islamic movements and foundations of Islamic civilisation. Later, it embarked on a project called The Road to Medina, a three-volume study on the contemporary relevance of the life of Muhammad. The project was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia, but it was never completed. The Institute was more successful in producing new work on science and technology, which included Ziauddin Sardar's book Science, Technology and Development in the Muslim World. The funding from Saudi Arabia was used to purchase a building for the Institute at 6 Endsleigh Street in London, UK. The building served as the main office of the Institute for several years.

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