In his inaugural lecture as Patron of the Centre, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales spoke of the Centre's potential to be an important and exciting vehicle for promoting and improving understanding of the Islamic world... as an institution of which the University and scholars more widely will become justly proud.
click to hear HRH The Prince of Wales

During his visit to the Centre, Mr Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa, gave a lecture in which he said, I am most grateful to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for the invitation to share ideas with you... That encourages me to add my humble contribution to the Centre's commitment to the promotion of understanding, tolerance, and co-operation as essential conditions for advancing the welfare of all.
click to hear President Mandela

Inaugurating an exhibition of the work of the Centre at the Houses of Parliament, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, now Prime Minister, said, The Centre makes a great contribution not only to Oxford but to the culture of our world. I do believe that you are not only playing a part now in building the strongest possible relationships between the Western and Islamic worlds but will be playing an even greater role in the future.

World events during the past decade emphasize the need for, and value of, an academic institution in the West dedicated to the dispassionate and objective study of the Islamic world, its religious beliefs, social and moral values, cultural traditions, and contemporary challenges and opportunities... I am confident that, having been welcomed by the University of Oxford and having engaged the interest and support of many throughout the world, insha'Allah the Centre will continue to make an intellectual and educational contribution to the benefit of all.
S Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi

The picture shows the late S Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, Founding Chairman of the Trustees, with the former Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Neill of Bladen QC.

Mr Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General of the United Nations, also visited the Centre and presented a lecture on "The Dialogue of Civilisations and the Need for a Global Ethic".

Muslim communities are an essential part of Western society today… Their presence makes possible a dialogue of civilisations – or at least of traditions – within the West… And it must be a dialogue of mutual respect. The aim is not to eliminate differences between human beings, but to preserve and even celebrate them as a source of joy and strength. That is the world ethic that we need: a framework of shared values – a sense of our common humanity – within which different traditions can co-exist.
Click here to hear Mr Kofi Annan.

A real pleasure to visit this hugely important Centre. Your new Centre will be a real asset to the University and will greatly help to improve cross-faith and cultural understanding.

Bill Rammell, Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, here seen with the Director (left).

The University looks forward to developing the strong research, teaching and outreach linkages and associations with OCIS in its capacity as a Recognised Independent Centre of the University of Oxford.

Dr John Hood, Vice Chancellor, Oxford University

Rabindranath Tagore once described Oxford as a symbol of the undying spirit of man. That spirit is reflected in the activities of this Centre, whose proclaimed objective is to increase the mutual knowledge and understanding between the Islamic and the western world.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi

It is my hope that the Centre will continue to flourish as a premier institution for the study of the Islamic world. Malaysia will continue to support the Centre in many of its initiatives, especially towards creating a greater understanding of Islam in the West.

Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia

The Centre is for the benefit of the Muslims in Europe and the world, and indeed for the benefit of all others. I want to extend my full suppport and ask all those who can to do so.

Mr Alija Izetbegovic, former President of Bosnia & Herzegovina

I wish you every success in this very important endeavour, for building a better future for all humanity.

Ahmed Zewail, Nobel Laureate