LSE SU ISoc '09-10 Booklet

Contents

Welcome 3 Prayer Facilities 4 Prayer Room: Rules and Regulations 5 Education and Da’wa 6 Charity 7 Events 8 Mentoring 10 The Committee 11 Who’s Who in the World of LSE ISoc? 12 A Day in the Life of A Random ISoc Brother… 14 The Students Union 15 Now the Important Stuff – FOOD! 16 Contact Us, Join Us! 19

Welcome

Assalamu Alaikum - Peace be upon you all!

WELCOME to the LSE Student Union Islamic Society!

(More commonly known as ISoc)

The award winning LSESU Islamic Society is one of the most active and diverse societies. We offer a wide variety of services for Muslims and Non-Muslims; from talks, socials and sports, to interfaith and charity events as

well as mentoring and spiritual activities. An opportunity is provided to gain a greater knowledge and understanding on this much-discussed global

faith.

A Voice – Working For You

ISoc also aims to be the voice for the Muslim community of LSE. We work closely with the Students Union and the School to ensure and that your

needs are met - whether they be prayer facilities, Halal food or that your opinions are represented on the issues that matter to you.

We also strive to provide support to our members by facilitating a forum

whereby we can all engage with the teachings of Islam.

Our Members

Approximately 250 LSE Students sign up every year to be ISoc members and we maintain strong ties to our alumni who often visit. Our international and

diverse membership means you will never be short of interesting friends!

Open

We operate an open-door policy with our facilities and activities regardless of faith or non-faith.

So what are you waiting for…?

Come along - see what we are about for yourself!

LSE SU Islamic Society Freshers’ Booklet 09/10

Where are the prayer rooms? The prayer rooms are located in the basement of Lincoln’s Inn Chambers, across the street from the Library entrance. The brother’s prayer room is L08 and the sister’s is L09 (don’t worry, there are plenty of signs to direct you- otherwise, there are plenty of friendly ISocers wondering around campus, who would only be too happy to help!). Where can I do wudhu’ (ablution)? People give me strange looks when I wash my feet in the Library bathrooms. There are separate ablution facilities for both brothers and sisters- waterproof sandals included! What are the prayer rooms like? Student prayer rooms are always small and dingy! The prayer rooms (or PR for short), as you will soon discover, are the hub of the ISoc. Newly refurbished, they are spacious, clean and peaceful, and often double up as a common room or study area. Come down and have a look for yourself - it’s a great way to meet other ISocers!

With an extensive library of Islamic literature and academic books, as well as a CD collection available for members’ usage, the PR is also an ideal place for personal study and reflection. The PR also plays host to the weekly circles, Qur’an classes, as well as Iftar meals and the Tarawih Prayers during Ramadan. The notice boards in each of the rooms will help keep you informed about upcoming events in ISoc and on campus. What about Jum’a (the Friday prayer)? The Friday prayer is held in the LSE Badminton Court (basement of Old Building) every Friday at 1.15pm. Brothers and sisters are all welcome to offer their Friday prayers together. Mosques close by include…

London Central Mosque, a short walk from Baker Street Underground Station.

East London Mosque between Whitechapel and Aldgate East stations, as well as

The Muslim World League near Goodge St Station.

Prayer Facilities

4

Wait… “Rules?!”… Booooooring! Okay, so being dictated a set of rules may seem tyrannical, but we assure you, you’ll see the need as you begin to spend more time in the PR - it is the place to be. Where else could you sink into a pile of cushions whilst reading up on Islamic history or the latest copy of The Beaver ? Only 10 Golden Rules. So pretty please….

1. BE QUIET WHEN SOMEONE IS PRAYING! – That includes being quite in the corridor too. When others forget kindly remind each other. The PR is first and foremost a prayer room.

2. Rota – Maintaining the rooms is a

collective responsibility. Please find sign up sheets in the PR, we would like weekly volunteers to hoover and tidy up the shelves. Easy!

3. Storage - Leaving something for a few

hours is fine, but any longer and the room looks cluttered. Items will be removed if they are left lying around for too long. (If you need to store something important, please contact us).

4. Food - Providing no mess is left behind,

you are allowed to snack in the PRs. Hoorah! But if we feel too much mess is being made, we will ban food in the PR. No one wants to make sujood (prostration) on crumbs! (Brothers have banned food completely).

5. Rubbish/Recycling - Always ensure

you take your rubbish with you. Waste and recycling bins at the foot of the stairs leave no excuse for not throwing rubbish away on your way out.

6. Saving electricity - If you are the last

one out please switch off all plugs, switch off all lights and make sure the door is locked.

7. Shoes - go on the shoe racks. Simple as – no compromises!

8. Wudhu’ (ablution) area – Mop up

after yourself, the floor can get very wet after heavy usage.

9. Door codes – Memorize them. They

are written in the PRs, or contact us.

10. Security - The L Building main entrance shuts at 6pm, after which time you can only get in with a validated card. Ask the security desk in the LSE main building reception for this. The PR is also used by office workers and non-students. Please stay vigilant and report anything suspicious to LSE Estates / Security.

The PR is the heart of the Muslim community at LSE - let’s treat it with RESPECT! 'Surely God loves those who repent and He

loves those who are always clean and pure.'

- (2:222)


Prayer Room: Rules and Regulations

5

Circles and Tarbiyyah Seeking knowledge is a duty upon all Muslims, so here at the LSE ISoc we encourage our members to seek knowledge, teach and learn from each other. Weekly brothers’ and sisters’ circles and the weekly tarbiyyah circle provide a vehicle where the practices and principles of Islam are taught and discussed in a welcoming, friendly and understanding environment. Tarbiyyah is held every week in the brother’s prayer room, and both brothers and sisters are welcome. If you’re lucky, you might get to sample one of our ‘Tarbiyyah Breakfasts’- hot, home cooked breakfasts courtesy of our generous attendees! Some of the famous ones included the American Breakfast, a Somali Breakfast and a Bengali Breakfast to name but few- mmmm. Tarbiyyah circles are presented by fellow undergraduate and postgraduate students who have researched their topics thoroughly, taking turns in leading topics which they find particularly interesting. Circles are often given by qualified students and they are posted up on the ISoc website so that people can consolidate their notes or catch up on missed lessons.

Da’wa As part of our aim to increase awareness about the teachings of Islam and to help others gain a greater understanding of Muslims, we host a twice-weekly Da’wa (Outreach) Stall on Houghton Street. As well as providing introductory literature and free Qur’ans, the Da’wa Stall aims to encourage dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims, and creates a means through which we can answer people’s questions regarding Islam. In recent months, the Da’wa Stall has become increasingly popular- almost legendary- for the delicious coffee and free food we offer to our patrons! So make sure you get there before it all runs out!


Education and Da’wa

6

Giving sadaqah or charity is one of the most important teachings in Islam and we at the ISoc ensure that this is a priority. The majority of our fundraising occurs during the Friday prayers, so make sure you have your wallet with you! However, we often have themed Charity Weeks- from our Build A Well Campaign, to taking part in ULU Isoc Charity Week, and the LSE SU RAG (Raising and Giving) Week, as well as hosting charity auctions at some of our bigger events. Some of last year’s campaigns: ULU ISoc Charity Week for Orphans around the World [Islamic Relief]: £11,583.81 Gaza Appeal [Medical Aid for Palestinians]: £1724.85 RAG WEEK [Joint fundraising with JSoc and Christian Union]: £300 approx Weekly Juma’ah Bucket collections Grand Total - £27,076.69 ALHAMDULILLAH! (All praises be to God) Campaigns in previous years include: Build A Well Campaign [Two wells in Cambodia and Somalia; Muslim Aid]: £1749.06 Sponsor a Child [Jiborah Bicycle Campaign]: £1248.07 Palestine Appeal [Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Interpal, Medical Aid for Palestine]: £1845.77 Iraq Appeal [Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid]: £1540.96 Somalia Appeal [Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Somalia SABAR Project, Hiran Community Project]: £1435.61

‘Build a Well Campaign’


Charity

Bissau Mosque Appeal: £1197.46 Darfur [Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid]: £696.68 Myanmar Cyclone [Muslim Aid]: £998.05 Bangladesh Flood Appeal [Oxfam, Muslim Aid]: £991.91 Chechnya [Medical Aid and Relief for the Children of Chechnya]: £775.15 Pakistan Orphan Appeal [Muslim Aid]: £459.48 Bosnia Appeal [Muslim Aid]: £366.75 HIV/AIDS Million Penny Drive: £330.09 Show Box Appeal [Great Ormond St Hospital]: £200

7

The Islamic Society is one of the most active societies on campus. Our committee and members work tirelessly throughout the year to bring you a range of events. Some of the highlights from last year’s events;

Annual Dinner – 110 ISocers dressed up to celebrate the end of another amazing ISoc year. A talk by Jamal Badawi, lively charity auction and delicious Asian food made this a night to remember!

‘The World Banking System in Disarray:

What does Islam have to say?’ – Beautiful Quranic recitation opened the packed event where Tarek El Diwany discussed the alternative to the capitalist system that contributed to the economic crisis we are now facing.

‘Soul Crunch’- Moez Masud talked to a fully

packed audience about how building the right relationships can help you survive in troubled times.

‘Discover Islam Week’- This annual week

long event is an opportunity for non Muslims and Muslims alike to find out more on Islam. This years DIW featured talks on contemporary Islam, calligraphy classes, a mosque trip, hajj exhibition and a balloon launch phew!!

Some of our previous speakers have included:

- Prof. Tariq Ramadan - Prof. Norman Finklestein - Rageh Omar - Sarah Joseph - AbdurRahman Malik - Luqman Ali - Peter Sanders - Mizan Raja - Imam Ajmal Masroor - Dr. Jesser Auda - Zahid Abu Ghudda - Moez Masud - Tarek El Diwany - Jamal Badawi - Dr. Usama Hasan - Dr. Kemal Helbawy - Dr. Umar Abdullah - Shaykh Idris Tawfiq - Shaykh Haitham Al-Haddad - Shaykh Hasan Ali - Shaykh Hasan Al-Banna - Shaykh Muhammad Al-Shareef - Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Balloon launch- Discover Islam Week

Tarek el Diwany, ‘The World Banking system in Disarray’


Events

8

Joint Events We also do a variety of joint events with other societies and SU themed weeks, whether they be interfaith events with the Christian Union or Jewish Society, or our recent ‘Islam and the Environment – Faith in the Planet?’ event as part of the SU Environment and Ethics week. Socials But it’s not all work and no play - even Muslims like to relax with friends now and again! The ISoc hosts some great social events, from dinners and paintballing to Pro-Evo tournaments and outdoor ice skating at Somerset House. Upcoming Events The year begins with our own Al-Freshers Week, where you’ll have ample Meet ‘N’ Greets. Our Al-freshers Welcome Dinner is certainly not to be missed – just check your weekly ISoc email for details. And be sure to come to our AGM so you can vote for your new committee! Needless to say, as a member of the ISoc you will always find something interesting to get involved in for the whole year!

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani (Toronto, Canada), ‘Spiritual Awakening’

Prof. Tariq Ramadan (Oxford University), ‘Muhammad: The Greatest Leader’


Events (cont.)

9

What we offer: 1) Mentoring Sessions Whether regular weekly sessions or whenever the Mentee requests them, these sessions are given by experienced Mentors, to help, guide and motivate the Mentee throughout the year on their degree. They are usually based on topics that the Mentee requests and therefore offer a level of flexibility. 2) Mentoring Events Last year we had… Crash Course in IT – Doesn’t turn you into

a computer geek but does what it says on the tin. Essential for every student wanting to survive LSE – where everything runs by e-mail and computer.

How To Write Good Essays – Does what it

says on the tin (de ja vu?) The Buzan Et. Al Method Of Study – So

much to do, so little time…how do we become efficient and studious? What is the most effective way of studying? This event reveals all.

"Whosoever follows a path to seek knowledge, Allah will make a path to paradise easy for him”

[Muslim]

Being at one of the best academic institutions in the world is a blessing from Allah that requires us to be thankful and to make good use of this blessing - by excellence and hard work.

The ISoc mentoring scheme is here to help you fulfil your potential at LSE, by giving a ‘heads up’ on

the road ahead of your next 3 years here. We help you do your best by providing the information and advice that you might otherwise not have had - and motivating you along the way too!

3) Mentoring Reminder E-mails Whether they be motivational reminder emails or humorous ones, these are sent to all Mentors and Mentees to keep them going throughout the year. 4) An Opportunity To make new friends on your course from all years as well as the chance to gain advice and support, which will inshaAllah help you have a stable and enjoyable year! SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL AT LSE! Join now by emailing [email protected] with your name, year, degree and modules to be studied.


Mentoring

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Headed by the ‘Executive Committee’, the ISoc Committee is the engine that keeps the society moving. The ISoc Exec, elected at the AGM, steers the society and are responsible for maintaining the administrative side of the society.

Who does what? President: The big cheese. If you manage to track him down he should be busy steering the ISoc ship, as he’s responsible for the overall running of the society. General Secretary: The Gen. Sec is the brains behind this operation. Duties include managing the day-to-day running of the ISoc, dealing with all emails and keeping the other Committee members on the straight and narrow.

Treasurer: A true professional, the treasurer finds creative ways to fund ISoc adventures and charity projects. He/she is most often found repeating the phrase, ‘No, we can’t possibly afford that’, but has been known to put together an Eid dinner on a shoe-string.

Head Sister: The role of the Head Sister is to maintain the sisters’ prayer room, organize the weekly sisters’ circles and socials and ensure that the sisters’ needs are met!

The rest of the Committee

The Committee includes other important posts (see diagram below). We hold weekly Committee meetings where we discuss our direction and events and ISoc members are welcome and encouraged to make suggestions to the committee.


The Committee

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The Brothers Talha Ghannam, 2nd Year, Maths and Economics The Don - It’s the ISoc’s very own Mr. T Whether it’s shooting a few hoops, attending NUS conferences or being snapped up for interviews on BBC News and Radio 4, you can bet this brother does just about everything… and he still finds the time to watch The Apprentice. [email protected] Masood Ullah, 2nd Year, Law The Mullah - If you think you’re sociable, think again. You don’t even know the meaning of the word till you’ve met this brother. Tired? Uni stress getting to you? Well, fear not for he is the bro who teaches others how to chill, single-handedly preserving the brotherhood. (Warning: side-effects of extensive chilling include a severe reluctance to return to lectures and an overwhelming urge to stop at Chicken Cottage every time you pass.) [email protected] Imran Khan, 2nd Year, Economics The Prince - The guy who finds it impossible to tell a good joke, but tries his best anyway. Often cited for being excessively posh, he refuses to eat anything unless presented with a 10-piece cutlery set. Also known for his tendency to take forever when choosing from a menu, you’d never guess he was charged with co-heading the Annual Dinner last year. Apparently knows tae-kwon-do but has never known how to use it. [email protected] Dilwar Islam, Accounting and Finance The Beefcake - Owner of the most sought-after beard in the ISoc. Nothing gets this guy down. Why? Because he’s a machine, waking up at the early hours of the morning putting up posters and setting up stalls. And if you’re fortunate enough to see that academy-award-winning grin, you’ll agree that Colgate ads really have been missing out. [email protected]

Sarwar Zaman, 2nd Year, Law The Joker - The funniest guy in the ISoc. Period. Don’t mess with this guy – he’s got a black-belt in sending people into hysterics (just ask that brother who ended up hospitalised last year.) Fondly remembered from last year’s Annual Charity Dinner as ‘The Auctioneer to end all auctioneers’, this guy should seriously consider auditioning for Bargain Hunt. [email protected] Adam Mustapha, 3rd Year, Economics The Malaysian Don - A.k.a. Mr Ex-Treasurer, a.k.a. Mr Ex-ex-Annual-Dinner-Head ak.a ISoc veteran. Legendary status within the ISoc for being one of the many with an incredible Qur’an recitation, some first years accidentally passed out when he spoke to them for the first time. If you’re nice, he might even get his housemates to cook up some irresistible Malaysian cuisine. Our advice: be nice. [email protected] Sayed Khan, 3rd Year, Sociology The Sage - Was considered for the main role in the next Superman movie, but was deemed to be too cool for the part. Revered for his seemingly limitless array of talents, ranging from designing state-of-the-art posters to bringing in world-famous speakers, this Jack-of-all-Trades seems to never run out of steam. [email protected] Usman Qureshi, 3rd Year, Maths and Economics The Brainbox - If Einstein was around, let’s just say he’d have some serious competition. Renowned for his unparalleled mathematical abilities which were shared when he was mentoring ISocers, he can compute a restaurant bill faster than you can say ‘I never ordered a moose!’ On top of that, his mentoring expertise is unrivalled – you know you’re covered when Usman Q’s in the house. [email protected]


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Who’s who in the World of LSE ISoc?

The Sisters Shaheena Baig, 3rd Year, Accounting and Finance Continuing the cherished historical presence of South London ISocers, Shaheena’s first ISoc year was spent in the Annual Dinner Team and her impressive organisational skills have enabled her to fulfil her Gen Sec role during her second year. Although now retiring to the ISoc Retirement home other wise known as the PR or the library, she is still a friendly face when you need one. [email protected] Shahima Begum, 3rd Year, Economic History Hard-working with a big heart - last year Shahima helped to raise thousands of pounds for various charitable causes as Head of Charity. This sister’s determination and passion enabled charities to receive some big bucks (Alhamdulillah), while also serving as great qualities to cheer a person up! [email protected] Mubbien Hayat, 2nd year Social Policy Rumoured to be a future Political Head honcho, this girl is nothing of the stereotypical sort - rather she is honest and clear. Mubbien spent her first year on the Annual Dinner team, writing out the minutes. If that was not enough, she is also on the C & S (Constitution and Steering) Committee and a member of the Beaver Marketing team. So if you ever need any SU political know how or just a nice chat, look no further than Miss Hayat. [email protected] Farah Hossain, Economics This Mancunian is one of the most approachable people you can meet and be sure to find Farah concentrating away over figures and curves. Genuine, friendly and sociable when she is not intellectually stimulating her mind, you will find her counting out the bucks from the Friday Jum’a collection and therefore fully engaging in numbers once again. [email protected]

Sultana Zesmin, 2nd yr, Sociology Sultana, another fellow Charity team member is just as hardworking and persistent. If you ever need a spiritual perk me up or even just a friendly face- Sultana is the one to look out for. Quiet and reflective she may be, but when Dawa Stall duty calls she’s ready to talk! [email protected] Tasnim Begum, 2nd year Social Policy with Government This sister is guaranteed to have read all the books- from Plato to Rawls, so if you are ever in need of a quick history/ politics lesson recap, Tasnim is almost always on campus…or the PR. Intelligent and opinionated – you don’t want to mess with this girl! Tasnim’s ISoc work from Charity to Events also makes her an invaluable ISoc member and ISoc jewel. [email protected] Soraya Zahid, 2nd yr, Government One of the rare West Londoners in the ISoc family, from the outset Soraya has coped fantastically well with the pressure of LSE as within her first couple of weeks she found herself being giving the esteemed task of co-chairing the AD team. If ever advice is required about performing under pressure then Soraya no doubt will be able to give you a word or probably even three of invaluable and practical advice. [email protected]


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Who’s who in the World of LSE ISoc?

So by now you know how busy the ISoc is. So what is life really like for a Muslim student on campus? Dear Diary, What a crazy day. It began rather unceremoniously, with my face immersed in the armpit of a middle-aged man for the greater part of the morning rush hour tube journey to Holborn- rats, that certainly spoilt my appetite for Tarbiyyah breakfast. And today was Belgian Waffles too! As I was already late to Tarbiyyah, I tried to cause as little distraction as possible when I walked into the brothers prayer room. So, I took a seat at the first empty space I could find. Excellent- subtle as a ninja! Unfortunately, the group of sisters next to me seemed to feel that this position was not exactly appropriate, and I was forced to scurry off into the far corner of the prayer room while trying to ignore the not-so-repressed snickers of everyone else. The lecture actually proved to be very useful. We learnt about the importance of supplication and of the five daily prayers. In fact, I might be one step closer to throwing out my copy of the Pussycat Dolls’ new album. A class and a hand cramp later, I was relieved to be able to meet my Mentor Ziyaad – I mean, things were simple in the first week then it all went downhill! Sure, Ziyaad won’t ever give me the answers, but he has some damn good advice - over one heck of a cup of coffee too! Then it was already time for Friday Jumu’ah prayers. This meant anarchy in the prayer room area, with about a million people wanting to do ablution at the same time, whilst dozens of prayer mats are being transported to the badminton courts and soon enough I’m given the task of carrying two huge prayer mat rolls. I attempted to maintain a graceful yet masculine aura, yet somehow ended up striking an innocent bystander to the ground. Oops. I turned around to apologies, only to realize that it was only Omar, the ISoc President! He didn’t look too happy, but he’s probably still annoyed about his sore loss in the Pro Evo Competition last week. The badminton court was packed to the brim,

which provided perfect opportunity for the speaker to talk some sense into all of us. He talked about the importance of thanking God for our immense blessings and His love for us. That Pussycat Dolls album is definitely in the bin now… heck, maybe next week I’ll burn my Spice Girls poster too… After prayers, it was time for lunch- perfect timing, as my stomach was on the verge of consuming itself. Some of the guys suggested the Halal food in the Brunch Bowl, or the huge portions available in the Underground Bar. But in reality, there was only ever going to be one outcome, and that was Chicken Cottage. The greasiest, yet tastiest food in town, and all within a five-minute walk from campus. Who could ask for more? As we made our way there, we passed the ISoc da’wa and charity stalls, set up on their usual place on Houghton Street. They’re a bit hard to miss, seeing as they’re nearly always surrounded by vast numbers of pashmina-clad Muslim girls. They seem to be pulling in a good crowd- no surprises there, since we’ve become one of the most active societies on campus, and not to mention in the Student Union. Chicken Cottage was par excellence, which is nothing out of the ordinary. The fifteen guys in the small space behind the counter might not have a Michelin Star between them, or a Visa for that matter, but they have my respect. On my way out I managed to have a short encounter with a gaggle of glammed up girls on their way to Fresh. My mate Johnny is with them, and calls me over. He asks if I want to go with them- d’oh! How can I get out of this one? I’ve always managed to squeeze my way out of it using the general excuses: ‘I’m allergic to sweat’ or ‘I have severe lactose intolerance which accumulates and manifests itself specifically on Friday nights’. Yeah I think I’ve been pretty tactful. One of these days I’ll get around to telling him about the evils of alcohol. Or maybe I’ll just direct him towards the Da’wa stall. Now I’m sitting outside the library, and all I have lined up for the weekend was the weekly shopping and laundry chores back in my halls. Then again, I hear the ISoc are planning a paintballing trip…muahaha- Omar, watch out!


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A Day in the Life of a Random ISoc Brother …

The ISoc is one of the societies that make up the larger Student Union (SU) body. The SU is a fully democratic institution aimed at representing and advancing students’ interests, welfare and social life. If you want to get involved in student life, make changes and voice your views, then the SU is where it’s at!

The SU holds a weekly UGM (Union General Meeting) where students’ issues are discussed, changes are proposed through ‘motions’ and matters are voted on. All LSE students are welcome, and everyone’s vote matters because this is where SU policies and direction are decided. The UGM takes place at 1pm in the Old Theatre every Thursday.

The SU is run by four Sabbatical Officers and ten Executive Officers. Sabbatical Officers are elected each year in the Lent Term. They are

employed full time for a year to run the Union on a day-to-day basis. Committee members are elected in week five of the Michaelmas term. All representatives are either current or former students, and some of the representatives that were elected last year were either ISoc committee members or highly-active members of our ISoc.

The Beaver, a free weekly student newspaper, is also run by the SU. It is produced by a collective of students each term, and last year one of our committee members gained a place on the editorial staff! Copies of the newspaper can be found in the LSE SU reception, on the 4th floor of the Old Building restaurant, library foyer and around campus.

For more information, visit the SU website: www.lsesu.com

‘Voting at the UGM’


The Student Union

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When our forefathers came to setup home in London, fortunate for you and I, they brought with them their kebab skewers, clay ovens, woks, spice racks and butter chickens. Today, outside of the Muslim World, London offers you the most extensive restaurant choice for Halal eating. Since you might want to eat some food whilst at LSE, we’ve complied for you a quick restaurant guide. KEY (for a main meal and drink) £ = £5ish, ££=£10ish, £££= £10-15ish, ££££=£15+ On campus (all £ or below) · Wrights Bar - Lovely folks, but watch how

they serve your chips, sometimes they mix the utensils. Next to the Old Building main entrance. And Hot Chocolate for 60p – mmmm.

· Fourth Floor Restaurant – (Previously known as the Brunch Bowl) - Newly refurbished, spacious and clean, offers some great tasting Halal and veggie options - 4th floor, Old Building.

· Cafe Pepe - In Clement House (D building), which serves up great Paninis.

· Quad Cafe - Basement of East Building, host to good food and a great atmosphere. And they do a mean Halal Caesar salad, as well as some great veggie options, and sushi!

· Garrick – one of the priciest places at LSE. · Plaza Cafe – Some Halal options and

conveniently outside the library for those studious postgrads (or undergrads)!

Walking distance from LSE (all £ or below) · Chicken Cottage –A classic. “One who has

not eaten at the cottage has not lived “. It’s your regular Halal fried chicken and chips

Two of your Isoc staples: legendry chicken at the cottage…


· located on High Holborn, opposite Sainsbury’s. 10% discount for students! – Just show your LSE ID card.

· Subway – Along Kingsway. Not Halal but the tuna or veggie fillings are delicious.

· Sticklers - At the bottom end of Kingsway, cross the road and walk briefly along Aldwych to arrive. Halal samosas, pastries, biryani and spring rolls- hot, cheap and delightfully greasy.

· Café Amici - On the opposite side of Kingsway to LSE. Not Halal but they serve great Jacket potatoes and pasta but can be a bit pricy at times.

· Ola Café and Bistro - Located at the end of Shaftesbury Avenue and around the corner from High Holborn halls. A bit pricier, but good food.

· Sushi Hiroba- Located between LSE and Holborn station, this place is good for a change from the usual. They serve a variety of sushi dishes and hand rolls

16 Now the Important

Stuff …

…and ‘Somali Tea’: Try make the resident Somali bring some in.


… FOOD!

Restaurants near LSE · Bali Bali (High Holborn/Indonesian,

Malaysian) ££ · Sofra (Covent Garden/ Turkish) £££ · Just Falafs (Covent Garden/Veggie) £ · Scoop (Covent Garden/Italian Ice-cream) £ · Souk Medina (Covent Garden/ Moroccan)

£££ !CAUTION! Avoid Friday evening disturbing belly dancer

· Chutney Raj (Chancery Lane/Bangladeshi) £££

· Melati (Piccadilly Circus/Malaysian) £££ !STAR! Typical friendly Malaysian service & worth a visit just to see the nice bathroom.

· Hair and Tortoise (Russell Sq/ Japanese) £ !STAR! Wonderfully hearty portions

· Icco (Goodge St/Italian) £ Huge thin crust pizzas for a couple of quid

· Tinsel Town (Farringdon/ American Style Diner) ££ Two words: Oreo Milkshake

· Jerk City (Tottenham Court Road/Caribbean) ££

· Grand Bazaar (Bond St/Turkish) £££

A bit further out by train… Edgware Rd - Also called “Little Arabia”, you can find many Halal Arabic and Persian restaurants. It’s a short walk from Marble Arch station, on the Central line, and a stone’s throw from the lively Oxford Street · Al Arez ££ Free baklava, excellent food · Patogh ££ Big portions, decent priced

Iranian fare · Al Dar ££ · Beirut Express £ - excellent shawarma and

always busy! · Abu Zaad - £ - lovely people, Syrian and

Moroccan dishes · Restaurant with the green neon lights ££

- extremely cool interior, includes Egyptian dishes!

Bayswater · Lagenda (Malaysian) £££ Go eat some

food in Malaysia and then try Legenda, it’s almost as authentic! Buffet, Friday and Saturday evenings

· Al-Waha (Lebanese) £££ · Alounak (Iranian) £££ · Khans (Indian) £££ Popular restaurant

with top reviews · Ginger Restaurant (Bagladeshi) £££ · Oscars (Mexican) £££ · Nando’s * see below (Portugese) ££ Ladbroke Grove · Maramia (Palestinian) ££ ½ It’s

Palestinian. Go give the brother some business!

Shepherds Bush · Abu Zaad (Syrian) ££ Some of the best

Arab food and tea in London · Blue Ocean (Somali) ££ Quality Somali

fare, with even more legendary Somali tea! · Red Sea (Somali/Yemeni/Eritrean/Ethiopian)

££ Same as above

17


(and more) FOOD!

London Bridge · Georgetown (Malaysian) £££ Camden · Anwar (Indian/ Warren St Station) ££ Cheap

Indian food, popular with students · Zamzama (Indian/Euston Sq ) Hammersmith · Mehdi (Iranian) £££ Knightsbridge · Masgouf ( Iraqi) ££££ Central London,

but not a bottle of wine in sight! Excellent food and the mint tea will knock you out.

· Ishbilia (Lebanese) £££ East London - There are lots of Halal Indian Restaurants and fried chicken shops, and it is very cheap as well! All you need to do is hop on the District line at Temple station to Whitechapel or take the Bus No.25 from High Holborn. · Brick Lane - Take your pick from a host of

curry houses (Cafe Naz is quite popular) but our faves are two restaurants a few roads away from Brick lane...

· Tayyabs (Indian) ££ Arguably some of the best curry in London, decently priced

· Maida Grill (Turkish) £££ You actually feel as if you’re in Turkey, before the secularist fundamentalists came in, and spacious cubicles for private dining

· Maida (Asian) ££ · Baraka (Indian) £££ Stoke Newington: · Yum Yum (Tai) ££££ So this place is

nowhere near LSE, but for special occasions, few restaurants can beat its decor and cuisine!

Some websites which provide a list of halal restaurants: www.Toptable.co.uk www.Zabihah.com www.Londoneating.co.uk The Small Print · Note on Subway: Various Halal Subways

have also opened shop (Edgware Road/Walthamstow...)

· * = Contact Nandos and their suppliers to find out which branches serve Halal meat.

· Please note we are in no way suggesting the restaurants themselves are “Halal”, just that they do serve some Halal meat options

· General Note: Always ask beforehand if the meat is Halal. In some of the restaurants only a few selected meat dishes on the menu will be Halal.

· Say Bismillah (In The Name of Allah), and tuck in.

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Without your help, the ISoc would not be able to convey the message of Islam, cater for LSE Muslims’ needs or be an active contributor to LSE student life! How do I get involved?

1) Vote for your representatives at the AGM.

2) Become a volunteer – join our volunteers’ mailing list to find out how you can help - from events and publicity to da‘wa and charity.

3) Contact any of the ISoc representatives to make suggestions – we read ALL the emails we receive!

If you have any ideas or wish to get involved, please contact: [email protected] Or have a look at our website, lseisoc.com for more information about the ISoc, upcoming events, prayer times and more! So Join Us!

In joining the Islamic Society you will be introduced to many positive and welcoming people from all around the world, make many fulfilling friendships and learn new and exciting things, essentially what the university experience is all about! So enrich your student life by joining us!


Contact Us, Join Us!

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Documents

LSE SU ISoc '09-10 Booklet