Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation
"Glorious Past, Brighter Future"
Overview about Al-Furqan
Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation is a not-for-profit Foundation registered in England and Wales (Company No. 2329628).
It was established in London, in 1988, by the Yamani Cultural and Charitable Foundation; the late Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani (may his soul rest in peace) was the founder and sponsor of both of these foundations.
The “Yamani Cultural and Charitable Trust” sponsors the projects, activities, and the works of the Foundation.
Al-Furqān’s Vision
To be a leading Foundation in preserving and studying the Islamic written heritage.
Al-Furqān’s Mission
To survey, preserve, study and publish the Islamic written heritage, as well as assist and promote the research in its fields.
Al-Furqān’s Aims and Objectives
- To initiate, promote and support research in the field of Islamic heritage
- To assist in the preservation and restoration of the Islamic written heritage
- To raise awareness of the richness of the Islamic heritage, its role and importance
To achieve its aims and objectives, the Foundation pursues the following activities:
- Editing and publishing Islamic manuscripts of particular significance.
- Publishing studies, bibliographical and encyclopaedic works in the field of Islamic heritage.
- Organising training courses on various aspects of Islamic heritage.
- Holding academic seminars, conferences and lectures in order to stimulate discussions and action in the field of Islamic heritage.
- Establishing a reference library with the main research tools necessary for the study of the Islamic heritage.
- Developing an online platform to enable the scholars, researchers and students of the Islamic civilisation and heritage all over the world easier access to the hidden treasures of the Islamic heritage.
Al-Furqān’s Motto
Glorious Past, Brighter Future
Al-Furqan Centres
Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation was established initially with the aim to document and preserve the Islamic written heritage, principally through its work in surveying, imaging, cataloguing, editing, studying and publishing Islamic manuscripts. But, with time, its scope of activity has expanded, and it has become a Foundation, consisting of three centres:
1. The Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts (Manuscript Centre)
The Founding Council of the Manuscript Centre was a body of outstanding academics and scholars in the field of Islamic written heritage, such as: history, history of science, exact sciences, codicology, palaeography and Islamic history. They gathered in London, in December 1991.
The Manuscript Centre's mission is to document and preserve the Islamic written heritage through surveying, imaging, cataloguing, editing and publishing Islamic manuscripts, which constitute a significant part of the Islamic heritage.
For further details about the Manuscript Centre, its Aims, Objectives, Projects, Activities, and Publications, please click here.
2. The Centre for the Encyclopedia of Makkah and Madinah (Mawsoa Centre)
The first meeting of the Encyclopaedia's Council of Consultants was held in Jeddah on 4 November 1994, under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani (may his soul rest in peace).
After a series of intensive meetings with consultants and academic councils, in Istanbul, Madinah and various other places inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, spanning a period of four years, work started on the encyclopaedia.
The Mawsoa Centre’s main goal is to acknowledge Makkah and Madinah’s scientific and cultural roles, as well as their significance throughout history.
For further details about the Mawsoa Centre, its Aims, Objectives, Projects, Activities, and Publications, please click here.
3. The Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law (Maqasid Centre)
The Founding Council of the Maqasid Centre was a body of outstanding academics and scholars in different fields of Islamic studies. They gathered in London, in March 2005.
The Maqasid Centre’s mission is to revitalise the knowledge of maqāṣid, in order to develop the process of ijtihad and the renewal of Islamic fiq’h, its fundamental theory (uṣūl), and Islamic thought in general. The Centre also aims to broaden the horizons of knowledge for the scholars of Shariah, researchers, and students of Islamic studies everywhere.
For further details about the Maqasid Centre, its Aims, Objectives, Projects, Activities, and Publications, please click here.
