{{short description|Islamic religious scholar}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Multiple issues| {{COI|date=June 2020}} {{Unreliable sources|date=September 2020}} }} {{Infobox religious biography | religion = [[Islam]] | website = [https://www.amerjamil.com/ amerjamil.com] | Madh'hab = [[Hanafi]] | birth_place = [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]] | denomination = [[Sunni]] | education = {{unbulleted list|[[University of Strathclyde]]|[[University of Wales]]|{{nowrap|Abu Noor University (Syria)}}|{{nowrap|al-Fath Islamic Law institute (Syria)}}|[[Dar al-Mustafa]] Institute (Tarim)}} | honorific prefix = Shaykh | occupation = [[Ulama|Islamic scholar]] | name = Amer Jamil | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1977}} | creed = Maturidi | jurisprudence = [[Hanafi]] | era = Modern era | citizenship = [[Scotland]] | image = | founder = [[iSyllabus]] }}
'''Amer Jamil''' is an [[Islamic scholar]] and co-founder of the Solas Foundation and [[iSyllabus]] programme, the latter of which he is currently the Project Director.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=3 June 2020|title=Shaykh Amer Jamil|url=http://www.abuzahra.org/teachers/shaykh-amer-jamil/|website=Abu Zahra Foundation}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Hamill|first=Jasper|date=20 June 1010|title=Imams Urged to Condemn Domestic Abuse|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12631891.Imams_urged_to_condemn_domestic_abuse/|website=The Herald}}</ref> He holds a (LLB) law degree from the [[University of Strathclyde]] and BA (Hons) in Islamic studies from the [[University of Wales]]. He was also previously the Muslim Chaplain at [[Glasgow Caledonian University]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Institute for Social Policy and Understanding|date=1 June 2010|title=Tackling Muslim Radicalization: Lessons from Scotland|url=https://counterideology2.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/tackling-radicalization-scotland.pdf}}</ref>
==Education== Jamil holds an (LLB) law degree from the [[University of Strathclyde]].<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Jamil|first=Amer|title=Shaykh Amer Jamil's profile|url=https://www.alburujpress.com/teachers/teacher/90/|website=Al Buruj Press}}</ref>
After travelling to [[France]], he travelled to a wide range of Muslim countries seeking sacred knowledge from a wide range of Muslim scholars.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} He first travelled to [[Syria]], attending the Abu Noor University, founded by [[Ahmed Kuftaro]] (1912 - 2004). Whilst in Syria he also attended private classes with scholars from both the Abu Noor University and the al-Fath Islamic Law Institute, where Abd al-Fattah al-Bizm was the leading scholar.<ref name=":2" />
He later travelled to [[Yemen]], where he studied in the [[Dar al-Mustafa|Dār al-Mustafa Institute]], [[Tarim, Yemen|Tarim]] under [[Habib Umar bin Hafiz]] and [[Habib Ali al-Jiffri]].<ref name=":2" /> Whilst there, he studied the science of [[Tazkiah]], religious dialogue and family law, the latter of which is now his primary field of interest.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} He has studied family law from the perspective of all 4 schools of [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]];{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} he studied the [[Maliki]] and [[Shafi'i]] schools of thought in Yemen, and the [[Hanafi]] and [[Hanbali]] schools of thought in Syria.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
==Career== Jamil is authorized to teach Islamic sciences include [[Arabic]] jurisprudence ([[Fiqh]]), principles of law ([[Usul Al-Fiqh]]), Qur'anic exegesis ([[Tafsir]]), Sufism ([[Tasawwaf]]), the life of [[Muhammad]] ([[Seerah]]), beliefs and doctrine, legal maxims, family law, the science of [[Hadith terminology]], and inheritance law.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />
He regularly contributes to national newspapers such as the ''Scotsman'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jamil|first=Amer|date=2012|title=Act to help victims of forced marriage|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/shaykh-amer-jamil-act-to-help-victims-of-forced-marriage-1-2671733|access-date=15 November 2019|website=The Scotsman}}</ref> ''Sunday Herald,''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hamill|first=Jasper|date=20 June 2010|title=Imams urged to condemn domestic abuse|work=Sunday Herald}}</ref><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Hamill|first=Jasper|date=15 July 2010|title=Imams urged to condemn domestic abuse|url=https://progressivescottishmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/07/imams-urged-to-condemn-domestic-abuse.html|website=Progressive Scottish Muslim}}</ref> and the ''BBC''.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Taneja|first=Poonam|date=1 May 2012|title=Forced marriage campaign targets mosques in Scotland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17908548|website=BBC}}</ref> He is a frequent contributor to local radio programmes.<ref name=":2" /> In 2012, he addressed the [[Scottish Parliament]] with a short reminder on the importance of morally righteous behaviour, particularly for those who are in positions of authority.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 July 2012|title=Scottish {{sic|Parli|ment|hide=y}} - Shaykh Amer Jamil delivers an important reminder|website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kvb-BHF0H8}}</ref> In 2016, he appeared on the Islamic site Seekers Guidance, where he talked about the issue of black magic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rabanni|first=Faraz|date=2 December 2016|title=Jinn, Black Magic and How to Protect Yourself, by Shaykh Amer Jamil|url=https://seekersguidance.org/articles/prophetic-guidance/jinn-sihr-black-magic-protect/|website=Seekers Guidance}}</ref> In 2017, he appeared on a series of podcasts for the ''Deenspiration'' podcast show.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jamil|first=Amer|date=17 June 2017|title=A Very Easy Way To Purify Your Heart|url=https://deenspiration.com/easy-way-to-purify-your-heart/|website=Deenspiration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jamil|first=Amer|date=3 August 2017|title="But it's only a Sunnah!"|url=https://deenspiration.com/its-only-a-sunnah-shaykh-amer-jamil/|website=Deenspiration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Majid|first=Usman|date=4 May 2018|title=Preparing for Ramadan - a Heart 2 Heart with Shaykh Amer Jamil|website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zrj629IPWU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Majid|first=Usman|date=4 May 2018|title=EP 24: Preparing for Ramadan – feat. Shaykh Amer Jamil|url=https://deenspiration.com/preparing-for-ramadan-shaykh-amer-jamil/|website=Deenspiration}}</ref>
==Work on domestic violence== He has spoken against forced marriage in the Asian community,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Humza|first=Yousaf|date=8 June 2011|title=Humza Yousaf: If extremism is to be conquered, the Muslim community must be given tools for the job|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/letters/humza-yousaf-if-extremism-be-conquered-muslim-community-must-be-given-tools-job-1673707|website=The Scotsman}}</ref> stating "the practice has no place in Islam".<ref name=":7" />
In 2007, he authored the booklet ''What Islam Really Says About Domestic Abuse''.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=Shaykh Amer Jamil|url=http://www.shaykhpedia.com/view/amer-jamil.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603042029/http://www.shaykhpedia.com/view/amer-jamil.html|archive-date=2020-06-03}}</ref> The booklet methodically explains topics such as "The concept of harm in Islam", "The example of the [[Muhammad]]" as well as clarifying the often misunderstood verse in the Qur'an about hitting, explaining that domestic violence is irrefutably not allowed in Islam. The work was supported by the [[Strathclyde Police]] and [[Scottish government]]. It was translated into 5 other languages and 8,000 copies were distributed to various women's groups, social work and the police as well as other relevant organisations.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Rahila|first=Bano|date=21 July 2010|title=Domestic abuse campaign targets mosques in Scotland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-10702041|website=BBC}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|last=Jamil|first=Amer|date=2007|title=What Islam Really Says About Domestic Abuse|url=https://masjidkhazra.org/downloads/585_what_islam_really_says_about_domestic_abuse.pdf}}</ref>
In 2010, he launched a national campaign on raising awareness and tackling domestic abuse in the Muslim community.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> In the same year, he co-authored the work, ''Islam and Domestic Violence: A Commentary''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jamil|first=Amer|title=Islam and Domestic Violence: A commentary|publisher=White Ribbon Campaign|year=2010|isbn=978-0956745903}}</ref> with Louise Riley. In 2013, he was asked by the [[Scottish government]] to share his views on the proposal put forth to criminalise forced marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jamil|first=Amer|date=16 December 2013|title=Justice Committee: Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill|url=https://www.parliament.scot/S4_JusticeCommittee/General%20Documents/ASB17._Amer_Jamil.pdf|website=Scottish Government}}</ref> In the same year, the Assistant Chief Constable, Iain Livingstone, invited him to speak at a conference regarding honour-based violence.<ref>{{Cite web|last=The Newsroom|date=26 September 2010|title=Police plea to victims of 'honour' crimes|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/police-plea-victims-honour-crimes-1702885|website=The Scotsman}}</ref>
Jamil is also the leader of Unity Family Services, a [[Glasgow]] based charity that focuses on family support and guidance in the Muslim population. Its primary aims are to prevent and tackle forced marriages and domestic abuse, as well as solving wider societal family issues and providing support for social workers on how to engage with Muslim clients.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Family Support Consultant - Shaykh Amer Jamil|url=https://www.unityfamily.co.uk/people.html|website=Unity Family Services}}</ref>
He also signed his name alongside over 30 religious leaders across Scotland, voicing his rejection of forced marriage in Islam. The campaign was backed by the Scottish government and The West of Scotland Religious Equality Council.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=1 June 2020|title=IMAMS AGAINST FORCED MARRIAGE|url=https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/factsheet/2015/04/imams-against-forced-marriage-statement-2015/documents/imams-against-forced-marriage-statement-english-pdf/imams-against-forced-marriage-statement-english-pdf/govscot:document/Imams%20against%20forced%20marriage%20statement%20(English).pdf|website=Scottish Government}}</ref> He is currently conducting PhD research on the relationship between Islamic family law and Scots family law.<ref name=":2" />
==Literary works == * ''What Islam Really Says About Domestic Abuse'' * ''Islam and Domestic Violence: A Commentary'' * ''Reminder'' (leaflet)
==Awards== {| class="wikitable" |+ List of Awards Amer Jamil has been nominated for !Award !Year !Result |- |British Muslim Awards - "Religious Advocate of the Year" <ref>{{Cite web|last=Asian Image Reporter|date=31 January 2014|title=British Muslim Awards 2014 winners|url=https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10978079.british-muslim-awards-2014-winners/|website=Asian Image}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=13 January 2014|title=Nominees for British Muslim Awards 2014|url=https://www.theasiantoday.com/index.php/2014/01/13/nominees-for-british-muslim-awards-2014/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604134829/https://www.theasiantoday.com/index.php/2014/01/13/nominees-for-british-muslim-awards-2014/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 June 2020|website=The Asian Today}}</ref> |2014 |{{Won}} |- |British Muslim Awards - "Religious Advocate of the Year" <ref>{{Cite web|date=15 January 2017|title=Finalists are revealed for the 2017 British Muslim Awards|url=http://oceanicconsulting.blogspot.com/2017/01/}}</ref> |2017 |{{Nominated}} |}
==References== <references />
{{Hanafi scholars}} {{Maturidi}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jamil, Amer}} [[Category:21st-century Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:21st-century Scottish theologians]] [[Category:21st-century imams]] [[Category:Hanafi fiqh scholars]] [[Category:Muslim chaplains]] [[Category:English Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Hanafis]] [[Category:Maturidis]] [[Category:Islamic scholars in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Dar al-Mustafa alumni]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Wales]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Strathclyde]]