Although the invitation stressed that the conference sought to highlight and examine the complexities of the teaching of Islam and other related issues not only at universities but in private Muslim institutions as well, no government department in the UK responded to our invitation to attend or speak at the event. Yet a few months after the appalling events of 7/7 the Department of Education commissioned a report on this very same and specific issue-a reaction rather than a carefully thought-out and strategically planned action! Knee-jerk reactions, however, will always be problematic and may aggravate any given situation rather than resolve it appropriately.

Today we have a fairly volatile set of trends fuelling an alarming rise in Islamophobia, and in the West a growing fear of Muslims and of Islam increasingly perceived in monolithic political terms. It is most unfortunate that things have reached such a precipice. A climate of fear, however, should not be replaced by a climate of despair. What can be done to address all these challenges and produce long-term, multi-dimensional lasting change? If I may quote a well-worn phrase but inject it with clear-sighted determination, yes, that can be done through: Education, education, education.
 
A recent key proponent of this vision is a report published in June 2006, by a UK think-tank, the Focus Institute on Rights and Social Transformation, underlining the need to address racist attitudes and behaviour from an early age -in nurseries and children's centres and schools-and the positive impact of such an approach in combating racism throughout society. The report, entitled Right from the Start, calls for the adoption of "a national strategic approach" across all levels of the government to foster racial equality in early years services and settings.

Fourteen hundred years ago, a wise Arab (most probably a woman) stressed: "Learning in childhood is like engraving in stone" — that is, destined to leave an enduring mark, hopefully for good! This is what Dr. Zaki as an educationist strongly believed in and promoted.

Therefore, in Education, there is hope. The concepts of human dignity, citizenship, democracy, co-existence, plurality, and shared values can be better taught, and better understood and realised. It is true that some action has been taken; but none to my knowledge has focused exclusively on education as the prime force for long-term change. We need to educate the younger generation to understand the value and importance of other cultures and faiths, and to instil respect for humanity in general. This global vision of our planet will allow future generations to tackle, if not all, but most forms of intolerance and seek real, durable solutions to complex problems.

Dr. Zaki put his concept of education on the map by setting up The Muslim College. It was a far-sighted approach. Also discerning was his vision for The College to teach courses on other cultures and faiths. To ensure fairness these were I might add taught by their own practitioners rather than by Muslims, so the course on Judaism was taught by those of the Jewish faith, and the course on Christianity by Christians. We hope that the College will continue to maintain the standard he set. Incidentally, Dr. Zaki would be delighted by the u-turn, which those in the community who used to criticise him have since made, and who moreover seek to mimic his example. In fact he once wryly noted that the "new moderates are making us, the traditional moderates, look like radicals!" I only hope that they manage to do so with some of the knowledge, wisdom, vision, and charisma which he had.