Al-Ghadeer library project is one of the most successful projects undertaken by the Islamic Cultural Affairs (ICA ) committee of CoEJ whereby Mo’mineen from various Jamaats took part in this very noble cause by donating A£50 towards a set of books to be placed at various institutions including prisons, hospitals and public libraries. The package includes a set of books that have been carefully selected to give a good balanced theoretical and practical overview to the Shia faith, including:

•    The Koran Translation – By Tahrike Tarsile  Quran , Inc.
•    Peak of eloquence (Nahjul Balagha)
•    Discovering Shiaism  in Islam by Shaikh Shomali
•    Pearls of Wisdom - by Marhum Mulla Asghar
•    Religious Pluralism by Shaheed Mutahhari
•    Jesus on Ethics-Published by IEB of WF KSIMC
•    The Message Of Islam- Dr Maqsood Jafri
•    Shia Political Thought- Ahmed Vaezi (Published by Islamic Centre of England)
•    Islam: Doctrines, Practices & Morals- M. A. Shomali
•    Islam and religious Pluralism second edition- Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari
•    Unity in Islam Reflections and Insights- Tallal Alie Turfe
•    Faith and Reason- Compiled by the porch of Wisdom Cultural Institution, Translated by A Group of Muslim Scholars.
•    Perspectives on faith and History; A Collection of Analytical Essays- Bashir A. Datoo PhD
•    The Quran-Translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Living in the west, this was an attempt to do our duty to spread the message of the Ahlulbayt to our host communities.
Overall we have had a great response to the Al Gadheer Library Project. A lot of hard work has been put in this project by the CoEJ ICA Team, CoEJ Secretariat Staff and also students who worked at CoEJ during their school holidays or on internships. The process involved sending letters to various institutes across the United Kingdom. By November 2008, letters had already been sent to Universities and Libraries across the UK. The response was excellent. In total 20 Al-Ghadeer packages were sent to universities and 17 to libraries. Universities and libraries who did not accept the books did acknowledge and call us to recieve some more information. This book drive has spread to university student societies and several requests from various youth groups in Europe have also been received.
The next step was to take this project further, and in the year 2009 letters were sent to prisons and UK hospitals. Much to our surprise this was greeted with much interest, especially from the chaplaincy departments enquiring if they are limited to only one set of books. The office sent out more than 16 book sets to Hospitals and more than 13 to Prisons. By the end of 2009 it was decided that the project was still to progress and had to be taken to a further level. Thus, a database of all schools and colleges across the UK was prepared by the office, this included a database of more than 3000 schools in the whole of UK. Letters and book sets have been received by many and are still being sent. The ICA have also requested all member Jamaats and Shia organisations in Europe to see if they would like to use the Al-Ghadeer book package for lending to members in their individual Jamaats
On a separate note, the Al Gadheer Library Project was not only limited to United Kingdom. Youth groups from Europe and Africa have approached us, as well as non-Shia organisations, university societies and Islamic centres, all wishing to make use of the Al- Gadheer books.

Two weeks ago this project was taken even further by sending out letters to multi faith rooms in UK Airports and we have already received two requests.

Insha’Allah With all your contributions and efforts, we hope to continue this project for years to come. If you know of any Organisation or institution that will accept and lend this set of books out, please contact the CoEJ office with the relevant details. You may also partake in this “Thawaab-e-Jaaria” by donating the sum of A£50 for one set of books in the name of your marhumeen.

To donate towards the Al-Gadheer Library Project click here
We would like to thank all the volunteers and the secretariat, who contributed so much time and effort towards this project. Special thanks go to ICA Team for initiating and overseeing this project.
For more information click here.

ICA