Carlos III, the King “defender of the faith” in an increasingly Muslim United Kingdom

In a hushed atmosphere, a dozen Muslims of all ages waited to sign a book of condolences for the Queen isabel II during a interdenominational ceremony organized in the great mosque Baitul Futuhin the south of London.

“I am a first generation Muslim in this country” and “here we can practice our faith under the protection of our” monarch, he says Danial Saed19 years old.

In the United Kingdom, the king is not only head of the Anglican Church, but also “defender of the faith”

This title was originally addressed to the Christendom Y Charles III was proclaimed king on Saturday as “defender of the faith”, but in the past he had already said that, upon ascending the throne, would be held responsible for upholding all faithsin a Britain that became so much more multicultural during the reign of his mother.

“Our loyalty to the king” will be “as strong as that which we show to her majesty the queen,” he says. Rafiq Hayatpresident of the british muslim community Ahamdiyyain this act that includes a prayer.

“We live in a country where freedom of religion is real. (…) Both the monarch and the government perpetuate this freedom of expression, of belief,” he said. Hayat to Afp.

In the 70-year reign of Isabel II «We have seen how our society became multicultural and multi-denominational“, he claimed Charles III in his first speech as king on September 9, the day after his mother’s death.

“A secular post-Christian nation”

This Friday, the monarch was to receive at the Palace of buckingham representatives of the main religions of the United Kingdom.

The british monarchy It has its roots in Christianity. This religious character is strongly symbolized in the coronation ceremony – whose date is yet to be determined – in which the king will be anointed with blessed oil for him Archbishop of Canterbury.

However, he tells the Afp Ian Bradleyprofessor of theology at the St Andrews University“the role of the monarch is to hold the nation together in every possible way, especially in terms of faith.”

Rami Rangerpresident of the British Sikh Associationbelieves that as a monarch over political parties, religions or the origins of her subjects, Queen Elizabeth gave everyone “an enormous sense of security”.

The British monarch has a role as the “spiritual heart” of the nation and this “somewhat unconscious” spiritual bond has manifested itself, according to Bradleyin “the religious terms often chosen by many to express their feelings towards the queen”.

Maybe the United Kingdom has become “largely a post-Christian secular nation, but many people still appreciate that the sovereign has a religious aura,” he adds Bradley.

Orthodox, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus

“Some of the strongest supporters of the monarchy are members of religious minorities, such as Jews, Sikhs, Hindus,” he insists. Bradley.

And remember that even Charles III it’s a practicing christian who “goes to church every Sunday,” is also “interested in the Islam and in spirituality in general.

Carlos III goes to church every Sunday [y también está] interested in Islam and spirituality in generalIan Bradley,Professor of Theology at St Andrews University

Just as his environmental advocacy resonates with the concerns of younger people, this interest in religions in general could make Charles III a monarch in tune with the United Kingdom current.

Between the christianshas shown a special predilection for the orthodox religionmaking several retreats to monasteries of the Mount Athos in Greece.

He moved the British Jewish community by visiting Israel – something his mother never did – even if it was not on an official visit

He also commissioned portraits of survivors of the Holocausta much appreciated gesture of remembrance.

He has also had “a wonderful relationship with the world Muslim as a prince, praising the teachings of Islam and referring many times to the verses of the Koran,” he says. Hayat.

“We think it will be a very good leader for muslims and that will bring together the different confessions”, especially because given his stature “when he speaks, people listen” and “this will have a lot of weight in the relations between the Muslim world, the Christian world and the Jewish world», he concluded Hayat.

Carlos III, the King “defender of the faith” in an increasingly Muslim United Kingdom