Questions of Authority
Some Reflections on the Practice
of Muslim Chaplaincy
Context
• Based on a 60 hour placement as a
trainee Chaplain in a large, multi-campus
South Wales University
• Responsible to the University Chaplain,
and given one campus as a base
• Building relationships with key groups
was set as my main task …
1. Muslim and non-Muslim students
2. Muslim and non-Muslim staff
3. The University as an institution
Building Relationships
• Time and effort are essential in attempting to
build relationships, in any environment
• This is true within the context of Muslim
Chaplaincy
• In this context, questions of what I have chosen
to call ‘authority’ are also of some significance
• This is a broad topic and so I want to spend a
few moments exploring two specific issues
• These questions both arose during my
placement
• As such, they are worthy of broader reflection
Reflecting on Authority
•
•
What is authority?
Although the Collins Dictionary defines
authority in a number of ways, the following
are of significance
1. ‘the power or right to control, judge, or
prohibit the actions of others’
2. ‘such a power or right delegated, esp. from
one person to another’
3. ‘the ability to influence or control others’
The Authority of Language
• What I mean here, is that in explaining my role as a
Muslim Chaplain, I was often asked to explain (or
perhaps translate might be nearer the mark) the
term
• Many felt the term ‘chaplain’ was alien to the
Islamic tradition
• Possible alternatives?
• Muslim Advisor?
• Imam?
• Da’ee?
• Chaplain?
The Language of Authority
• Here, I am referring to the authority with
which others may treat our words as
chaplains
• As is well known, the Quran exhorts Muslims
to ‘Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and
those charged with authority among you’
(4:59, trans. A. Y. Ali)
• There is thus reason to offer our opinions on
matters affecting individual personal lives
with great care and forethought
Student Y
• A 20 year old female undergraduate
student
• Having difficulties with degree scheme,
relating to wider issues of meaning and
family
• Interested in spirituality within an Islamic
setting (Sufism in other words)
• I offered her my understanding of different
view points
• When asked for my own opinion, I gave it
Reflections
• Inadvertent guidance
• Exploring differences of thought, practice
and belief is difficult
• Differences in a Muslim environment
• Wider emotional/mental health issues
• We must understand, and take seriously,
our clients’ perceptions of our authority
• Indicating differences as differences
• Humility
Questions