I enjoyed this talk a lot, more than I thought  I would.  Islam gets a bad press in the UK,  I would say thanks to barbaric punishments in Saudi Arabia for example, 9/ll, homophobia and perceived attitudes to women.  The kind of liberal Islam that Tayba was talking about and works with however deserves respect and understanding  I would say.

I particularly appreciated Tayba’s  explanation and unpacking of the Five Pillars of Islam: Assertion of Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting and Pilgrimage.  How so very different from the pillars of the mainstream secular consumerist culture in the UK. What would the five pillars of the secular consumerist culture be I wonder!

Tayba drew a parallel between the five pillars of Islam and the NHS five keys to well being. The NHS keys of giving to others (charity), paying attention to the present (a kind of ‘prayer’?) and connecting with other people seem to be included in both the NHS keys and the Muslim pillars.

Tayba talked too about the tradition of mental health work and research within Islam in the past and currently, and she also tried to redress some negative views about how Islam views women.  I do know it is true from my own experience of Muslim families that the mother in Muslim families is hugely respected.

Clearly if you are working with a Muslim client, it is important to know something about Islam and how it impacts on your client.  Of course whoever your client is, it is important to know what his or her value system is. Does their value system help or hinder their mental health?  What work might that prompt?  Muslim teachings are certainly at odds with British liberal values regarding homosexuality however.

All in all, Tabya’s talk helped me to realise the importance of values and community in our lives and how religions often provide both.

Thank you Tayba for an informative and well-delivered talk, prompting some useful reflections.

David Brown