In the week coinciding with the first Fatimiyyah period, we visited the Labaik Ya Zahra Institute in London, which has a longstanding history of cultural activities in Europe. Dr. Syeda Umme Farwa, the head of this institute, shared some of the cultural achievements of the organization in an interview with Friday Bulletin.

Q1. First, please tell us when and where you started your cultural activities. “Labaik Ya Zahra” is one of the successful institutions in cultural affairs in England.
Q2. Could you speak about the activities of this institution and the philosophy behind the choice of the name of Lady Zahra(sa)?

وَ مَا تَوْفِيْقِي اِلاَّ بِااللهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ اِلَيْهِ اُنِيْبُ

Alhamdulillah, I am deeply grateful to Allah (SWT) for the opportunities I have received throughout my life. It is a great honour for me, as a servant of Ahlulbayt (pbut), to have earned 48 Awards for excellence in Quranic services during my school, college, and university years. Inspired by the teachings of the great leader Imam Khomeini (RT), I founded the Labaik Ya Zahra organization in 1997 while pursuing my Howza studies. As the founder, I have been blessed by Allah (SWT) to receive numerous accolades, including the Educational Outstanding Services Award from various TV channels, the Mujahida e Islam Award from the World Ahlulbayt Assembly. Iran. The Gohar Shad Award from Astan e Quds Imam Reza (pbuh), and the Quranic Ahlulbayt Tafseer Services Award from the World Ahlulbayt Assembly,Iran. These honours are the fruits of my sincere efforts on the path of Ahlulbayt, dedicated to serving Allah (SWT).

Our organization is rooted in the philosophy of wilayat e Fatimi (sa) Ayah Tathir, Ayah Muwaddah, the Hadith

لو لاك لما خلقت الافلاك
‘Lawlaka , Lema Khalqatul Aflak,

and the Hadith regarding Imam e Al-A’immah Hujjat Khuda on imams ،Syeda Tu Nisa Al- Alameen, Fatima Zahra (SA), is truly our leader in both this world and the hereafter.

لو لا فاطمه لما خلقتكما
“She is the reason the entire universe came into existence! Without her, I would not be. How could my life not be dedicated to her? Labaik Ya Zahra (pbuh)!”

Q3. As a woman, do you face challenges at home and within the family while dedicating so much time to cultural activities? What are your solutions?

اَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تَدۡخُلُوا الۡجَـنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعۡلَمِ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيۡنَ جَاهَدُوۡا مِنۡكُمۡ وَيَعۡلَمَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏
Surah Alay Imran 142
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ
Surah Baqaraa Ayat 241

Yes of course, as a human everyone has these all challenges but the above Ayaat are my energy and “I find myself consistently ready for any challenge. As our journey as believer along the path of jihad, striving to bring positive changes then it is essential to remain steadfast and patient, because Allah’s promise is unwavering. We must recognize that the true essence of victory (Nasr) lies in Fatima Zahra (SA), who inspires us with her light and energy, especially after overcoming hardships.

My approach to managing family duties while actively working and serving the community involves several key solutions. First, it is vital to prioritize responsibilities, with an emphasis on effective time management! I have learned to be willing to sacrifice material desires for the sake of my family and community commitments.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ

Additionally, maintaining patience when navigating family matters is crucial for promoting harmony and understanding.

Q4. As a Muslim woman who has been active in the West for many years, what challenges have you encountered and how have you resolved those issues?

Observed Problems:
1. Misinformation about Islam.
2. Families suffering due to cultural differences and language barriers.
3. Misconceptions regarding practicing Islam, often labelled as extremism.
4. Lack of knowledge to differentiate between Islamic culture and family traditions.
5. Disunity within families.