| Islam Channel | |
|---|---|
| Launched | March 2004 |
| Owned by | Mohamed Ali Harrath |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | Channel 813 |
| Freesat | Channel 693 |
| Astra, 2A, 2B | 28.2°E 12,523 H SR 27500 FEC 2/3 |
| Eurobird 1 | 28.5°E 12,523 H SR 27500 FEC 2/3 |
| Hotbird | 13°E 12,303 V SR 27500 FEC 3/4 |
| Internet television | |
| Broadband | Live Internet Broadcast |
Islam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising[1] and donations[2]. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 97.3% of Muslims watched the channel [3]. It broadcasts across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and is streamed live on the internet – it is soon to commence broadcasting in North America. Islam Channel began broadcasting on March 2004 on Sky Digital channel 836,[4] but subsequently moved to channel 813. In April 2010, it launched on Freesat channel 693.
The channel was the original effort of Mohammed Sajid, Shaheen Akhtar, Salauddin Ali, Ibrahim Rashid, Faisal Nazir and Asif Malik. Since its launch, the channel has expanded its range of programming, including programmes regarding current affairs, education, Islamic values, Islamic doctrine, as well as domestic, financial and community related topics. The channel is watched by 59 per cent of Britain’s 1.6 million Muslims[5] and by other viewers abroad: its target audience is mainly English-speaking Muslims.
There are a number of programmes enjoying significant popularity amongst Muslims globally which cover entertainment, current affairs, community activities, women's issues as well as Islamic education.[6]
Perhaps the most watched programme on the channel, now that the 'Agenda' discussion programme has been taken off-air.
Islam Channel News is the first-ever attempt to provide global Islamic news in the English language.
Pick of the Month
This is a monthly show, presenting few of the best shows broadcasted each month.
Hassan as-Saleemi and Habibah Ellahee are married co-hosts of this light social affairs programme. They are widely known among Muslims as "Hassan and Habibah", their show is entitled 'The Hassan and Habibah Show'. The show is described as a "unique show..live husband and wife talk show discussing issues with different guests. This refreshing weekly discussion show examines social issues that deal with family, marriage and various other topics".[7]
They are noted for challenging mainly South-Asian cultural perceptions on the nature of Islam, dealing with topics such as: forced marriage, domestic violence with the Muslim women's helpline, depression with the Muslim Youth Helpline, and infertility problems with Dr Mohammad Taranissi.[8][9]
They have on occasion dealt with more serious topics—specifically, on the 25 December 2004 in a 2-hour special, they did a show entitled "Prisoners of Iman" discussing cases of Muslims that have been imprisoned for their faith, or political activity. They interviewed the wife of Ian Nisbet, one of the "Egypt Three".
IslamiQA is a program during which viewers phone in and ask Islamic Scholars questions.
Ustad Abu Eesa Niamatullah explains Imam Bukhari's masterpiece on good manners, conduct and etiquette.
A series of lectures explaining the meaning of the Quran by Shaikh Suhaib Hasan.
This is a show about Muslim sisters and how they ahould be treated!
A show by Yasir Qadhi in which he discusses the basic theological beliefs of Islam.
A program in which children take part in a Qur'an recital competition.
This program, presented by Abrar Hussein, considers different mosques in Britain in an effort to find the what it considers to be the best.
Interfaith quiz show, devised by Abrar Hussain and hosted by Jeff Mirza.
"Stories from the Seerah: Lessons and Morals" is presented by Yasir Qadhi. It discusses the seerah or biography of the Prophet Muhammad and extracts benefits and morals from them.
A discussion of events that affect the Ummah, or Muslim community.
A light weekly show which covers Islamic events in and around the UK, presented by Abdul Akbar, a qualified teacher and IT Consultant.
A show dedicated to Muslims within Education. Usually hosted by Babar Mirza, a secondary school qualified teacher and director of education for a nationally recognised educational trust in the UK.
Is the Islam Channel's flagship light entertainment show hosted by Sajid Varda, the longest serving presenter on the channel. The show appealed to both young and old and showcased some of the country's best new talent.
Born and raised in the UK, Sajid first began his career in music where he performed for many years as part of an internationally renown boys choir. An accomplished singer, Sajid performed as a key soloist on many occasions and has worked with many of the world’s most famous conductors and orchestras and featured on three records.
From a young age, Sajid had a keen interest in drama and it was at the age of 15 that his career in film and television began, when he was awarded one of the lead roles in a Channel 4 comedy series. Following on from this he won the leading role for one of the BBC’s flagship programmes which achieved great reviews and has since worked for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5.
He has since interviewed guests from all walks of life that are making a difference. Some of the more well known guests include James Caan, sporting personalities such as Danny Williams and Frederic Kanoute, scholars, artists as well as musicians such as Jermaine Jackson whom he has interviewed on several occasions. He hosted a special show with Aaqil Ahmed the BBC's new Head of Commissioning for Religion and Ethics. Sajid hosted the Global Peace & Unity Event and continues to host events and participates in good causes both in the UK and abroad. In March 2008, Jermaine Jackson was the guest of honour at the Muslim Writers Awards in Birmingham, where he was interviewed live on stage by chat show host Sajid Varda, which received rave reviews. A new season of SNL is set to return to Islam Channel shortly.
The Global Peace and Unity event is a large-scale event first run in 2005, attended by around 50,000 Muslims and Non-Muslims in 2010, at the ExCel arena in London. The aim of the event according to the organisers is to bring together people from all spheres of the British society in order to inform and educate them about Islam and Muslims, and through this help to bridge the gaps between Muslims and non-Muslims. Guest speakers have included:
Live performances by Muslim entertainers Zain Bhikha, Ahmed Bukhatir, Jamal Uddin Marcell & The Fletcher Valve Drummers, Junaid Jamshed and Najam Sheraz have also been given.
The Islam Channel convened a televised conference on Islamophobia held in Copenhagen on 13 May 2006.[10] The conference was attended by 150 participants from countries around the world, with an audience of about 1,000, mostly Muslims. Speakers included CEO of Islam Channel Mohamed Ali Harrath, Mayor of London Ken Livingston, political analyst and journalist Yvonne Ridley, Shaykh, Yusuf Estes and Jamal Badawi.
In 2010 it was reported that Islam Channel had in 2009 carried advertisements for DVDs of radical al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki's sermons and for at least two events at which he was due to be the star speaker via video link.[11]
In November 2010 the channel was censured by Ofcom for allowing presenters to advocate marital rape and marital abuse. A presenter is reported to have said during one programme: "it shouldn't be such a big problem where the man feels he has to force himself upon the woman", while in another a speaker told a viewer who was phoning in: "In Islam we have no right to hit the woman in a way that damages her eye or damages her tooth or damages her face or makes her ugly. Maximum what you can do, you can see the pen over here, in my hand, this kind of a stick can be used just to make her feel that you are not happy with her." The channel was not fined but Ofcom stated: "the advocacy of any form of violence (however limited)... is not acceptable" and that "it was highly likely that any advocacy and support at all of forced sexual relations would be offensive"[12]