Today marks the public launch of our new global think tank on Muslim affairs, with the express intention of trying to work towards creating a better Muslim world.  A world that is free from conflict, division, hatred, and suffering.  The Ayaan vision is to see a Muslim world that is united, independent, prosperous, and strong; and to encourage Muslims to practically work toward that vision.  To do this requires independent analysis, critical self-reflection, fresh thinking, new ideas and approaches.

The Muslim world now represents a quarter of humanity with 1.8 billion adherents and 53 Muslim majority states.  There are also huge numbers of Muslim minorities living among non-Muslim majorities.  Central goals of Islam such as practical unification and brotherhood, in the contemporary world will require new and creative thinking and energy.  A failure to do this will lead to more misery for the Muslim world.

It is not enough to talk about and imagine the Muslim world as we want it to be, we must help remake it.  Yet our starting point must always be the world as we find it.  We also have a duty to reflect on the direction of the non-Muslim world and what our role and contribution to wider humanity and solving its many social and political problems should be.

We have launched the new Institute with a strong, committed and growing team, drawn from different backgrounds, but united by our shared vision.

For those who will ask, we are not funded by any state.  We wish to remain independent of states or movements and any linked  political bias and thought, although we hope to influence them and many others.  Ayaan has been started through the humble efforts of a few committed people towards the goals we have identified and set ourselves.

To stimulate discussion, new ideas, and start on what will inevitably be a long journey we today publish our discussion paper “Creating a New Civilisation of Islam”. It can be downloaded from our website or it can be read online.  Our website is also now live.

For those of you who have over many years enjoyed my articles and comments on social media, and often contact me to offer support and encouragement, I will now be posting short opinion pieces and articles on the Ayaan website www.ayaaninstitute.com.  Please do keep checking regularly and support us and follow us on social media.

My latest article The challenges of a rise in secular religion is available on the website.  We also welcome articles in those areas which can further our objectives.  For the media our launch press release is also on the website.

I would like to thank all the team at Ayaan who have motivated each other and helped get us this far, and those individuals and academics who offered input along the way, as well as many well-wishers. For myself this is very much a legacy project, something that I hope others will continue long after I have gone Insha’Allah.  Ayaan invites all Muslims and friends of Muslims to support us and join us on this journey.

Ayaan and our report has been a year-long effort. We ask for your forgiveness in advance for any failings and shortcomings and thank Allah SWT for any goodness that may come from this initiative.

Yours in Islam

Jahangir Mohammed 

Co-Founder & Director of Ayaan Institute