The Association of British Muslims (AoBM) is the oldest organisation of its kind in the UK, established in 1889 as The English Islamic Association by Shayku-l Islam Abdulla Quilliam Bey (William Henry Quilliam), a Liverpool solicitor. Since 2010, under the leadership of Sheikh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong and Mohammed Abbasi, the AoBM has worked with Muslims across the UK to develop the British Muslim community, encourage dialogue, promote education and bring about community cohesion.
AoBM has developed diverse grassroots support of people from all backgrounds working towards a brighter future for Islam, British Muslims, and the United Kingdom.
The Association of British Muslims affirms the equal worth of all human beings, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, creed, sexual orientation or ability.
Amir
Shaykh Daoud lives in Islay, Scotland.
He is a follower of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order and of the Shafi’i Sunni school. He is fluent in Malay (both Jawi and Rumi), and a couple of other languages. He studied diniyyah, fiqh, tajweed, and tasawwuf with Shaykh Ahmad Labib (Azhari) and Ustad Muhammad Dahlan Arshad (Azhari).
He first became involved with the Naqshbandi Sufi Order in Malaysia, with Shaykh Daud Abdullah of Ulu Selangor, and in Turkey with Shaykh Mehmed efendi Kotku hazretleri; and later through sultanu-l awliya Shaykh Abdullah Daghistani hazretleri.
He has various ijazahs – in fiq’h and diniyyah through Shaykh Ahmad Labib, and mashayakhah in tasawwuf through Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani. He is the khalifah for the British followers of Qibrisli Shaykh Mehmed Nazim Adil efendi Haqqani.
He has been a long-time friend of the late Dr Said Ramadan and Dr Muhammad Zaki Badawi KBE (rahmatu-Llahi ‘alayhima) and of Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed and Dr Ja’far Sheikh Idris, although dissenting from them on many matters.
He is an alumnus of SOAS (where he read Arabic and Malay), the University of Kent (where the subject of his Research was “The American Colonial Government of the Southern Philippines, 1898-1946”), and the Cordwainers’ Course in Saddle, Bridle and Harness-making.
He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, and a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
He has done various things such as being a regular officer in the British Army (active service in Brunei at the end of the Azahari Rebellion, and in Sabah, Singapore, and Peninsular Malaysia, during most of the Confrontation War), a professional journalist, a schoolmaster teaching history, an academic historian, and a saddler. He currently makes leathergoods, specifically sporrans and other highland regalia.
He has translated some of the short surahs of the Quran into Scottish Gaelic.
Co-Director
Sheikh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong is a director, scholar and broadcaster based in the United Kingdom. After officially embracing Islam on 1 March 2000, Sheikh Paul continued to study religion and spirituality for the past 16 years. For over a decade, he has been serving the community as an imam and murshid (spiritual teacher).
Since embracing Islam, Sheikh Paul has learned from scholars and murshids that include; Sheikh Sufi Muhammad Abdullah Khan, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Hanson, Sheikh Daoud Rosser-Owen, Imam Zaid Shakir, Sheikh Muhammad Amin-Evans, Sheikh Abu Muntasir (Manwar Ali), Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad, Imam Abdassamad Clarke, Sheikh Tahir-ul-Qadri and Sheikh Hisham Kabbani, along with studying the works of Imam Malik, Imam Ali, Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Zayn Al Abidin, Imam Ghazali and the writings of more contemporary scholars, such as the aforementioned and in addition, works by Sheikh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, Sheikha Hajjah Amina Adil, Sheikha Aisha Bewley, Bilal Philips and others…
In addition to current positions as Co-Director of the Association of British Muslims, Director of KhilafahOnline, and Director of Heruset; previously Sheikh Paul was a trustee of Wolverhampton Inter-Faith & Regeneration Network for a period of 6 years, during which time he was actively involved in the work of the organisation; currently Sheikh Paul is also a trustee of BME United Ltd / Step Up (WM) CIC, and back in 2007 he founded Wulfruna Sufi Association.
Head of Innovation
Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal is the Head of Innovation for the Association of British Muslims. She works for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills around the Counter Terrorism strategy Prevent., primarily with colleges and universities. Hifsa previously worked at Staffordshire University, where she completed her Masters in Philosophy before taking up the role of Equality and Diversity Officer and then Stakeholder Engagment Manager. She is a well known figure regionally and nationally and uses her position to raise awareness of and promote equality and diversity across many community groups and professional forums. Hifsa chairs both the North Staffordshire Forum of Faiths and Communities Against Crimes of Hate, a multi agency partnership for reporting hate crime. She is also Vice-Chair of the Standing Advisory Council for RE in Staffordshire and National Lead for the annual Islam Awareness Week, an initiative of the Islamic Society of Britain. Hifsa’s publications include ‘The changing spirituality of Muslims dying in the UK: A personal and communal journey’ in Spirituality and End of Life Care Edited by Peter Gilbert (2012), ‘Caring for Elderly Muslims’ in Oxford Handbook of Nursing Older People Edited by Beverley Tabernacle, Marie Barnes and Annette Jinks (2010) and The Absent Minority - Access and Use of Palliative Cancer Services by Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in Leicester in Nursing Research in Cancer Care Edited by A. Richardson and J. Wilson Barnett (1995). In 2011 Hifsa was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire and received an MBE in her Majesty’s New Year’s Honours List for services to community cohesion.
Head of Intra-Faith Relations
Dr. Talib Warsi is a British citizen. He arrived as an oversees medical graduate to UK in 1974. He further studied and trained at the Leeds media school. Dr. Warsi finally settled down in Derby as a general medical practitioner, though has since taken retirement. From very early on, he sat in the Magistrates Court as a Justice of the Peace and now he has taken his leave from the bench.
Dr. Warsi is a well known peace activist, for over forty years he devoted his time and energy promoting Human Rights issues throughout the world, especially Human Rights issues affecting Muslim communities around the world. From the time of apartheid in South Africa to the present day plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, he has relentlessly highlighted their causes at every opportunity. He has promoted intrafaith and interfaith dialogue through his television show called “Faith Forum” where he spends time in discussions and interviewing Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith leaders and personalities.
As a journalist, Dr. Warsi writes for various international papers, magazines and news agencies. As a political analyst and commentator, he’s very often on various radio and television channels including BBC radio, several channels on the UK’s Sky platform, CCTV, and some Middle Eastern channels.
As a public speaker he’s frequently travelling and appearing in international conferences presenting his views and papers. Dr. Warsi’s role in the Association of British Muslims is very critical and important one. As one of the directors of this association, he plays a key role striving to build bridges, bringing understanding warmth among different faiths and cultures in our multifaith, multicultural society, called the United Kingdom.
As Director for Intrafaith Relations at the Association of British Muslims, Dr. Warsi is one of our leading spokespersons. Through his speeches and articles on behalf of the association, his endeavour is to live up to our shared belief that we are all born equal to share the bounties of this planet with each other, promoting equality and justice for all, encapsulated in our Quranic moto, “Hold fast, all together, by the rope of God and be not divided… He united your hearts in love...” (Quran 3:103)
Head of Culture
Muhammad Abdullah Hamzah [ Celt Islam ] Embraced Islam in 1989 and is a member of the Darqawiiya/Shadhillya Sufi Tariqa under the instruction of Shaykh AbdalQadir As Sufi [ Ian Dallas ] Dervish Shaykh Aziz Schaller al Mevleviyya [ra] ,Shaykh AbdalHaq Bewley and Shaykh Umar Vadillio in Granada Spain in which holds the largest convert Sufi Muslim communities in Europe.
Celt Islam uses a fusion of music from Dub / Electro Dubstep / Drum & Bass and collaborates it with Islamic/world grooves to create a Dub driven dance crossover. The unique sound of Celt Islam is a fusion of western and middle eastern influences combined with a futurist Islamic dub attitude. Open the doors of your mind and soul to Electro Sufism!!
Celt Islam has played at various Festivals in UK and Europe alongside Public Enemy's Bomb Squad { Hank Shocklee } , Youth, Eat Static , DJ UMB, The Orb, Hardfloor , Engine Earz, DJ Bobby Friction, DJ Pathaan ,Inder Goldfinger { Ian Brown-Natacha Atlas-Apesta} Mick Reed { 1919 , Ship of fools and Nine Invisibles } , Oova Matique , Dr weevil [ Desert Storm/ DMC] , Peppery aka Bongo Chilli , D Bo General and DanMan { Iration Steppers }.and was chosen by the BBC to perform at the BBC Introducing stage Glastonbury 2010. [www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2010/artists/celtislam/]
Celt Islam creates music in quite a diverse range of styles and genres. His Sufi inspired Global Grooves create a sometimes Meditative Dub transfixing all who comes across it. Celt Islam is probably best known to date for his work in the genre of his creation – Sufi-Dub – which he singlehandedly developed and continues to define. He does so in collaboration with well known names such as Inder Goldfinger, tabla player for Stone Roses legend, Ian Brown’s band and Natacha Atlas and Dawoud Kringle who has recorded and performed with the likes of Lauryn Hill.
Celt Islam’s Sufi-Dub work has appeared on some best selling compilations including two by UK global music tastemakers Shisha Sound System. Offers are currently on the table from other tastemakers and labels for licensing of his works for compilations.He is also beginning to gain greater exposure in the UK as BBC Radio 1xtra and BBC Asian network's DJ’s like Bobby Friction, Yasser and Nihal make his music a regular feature on their shows.
Celt Islam is one of the most gifted producers of his kind. We can trace his melodies and samples back in the most progressive part of Islam: Sufism. He is on a mission to unleash the Sufi spirits in the world of 2016; a philosophy which is essentially inclusive, tolerant to difference and other religious systems as well as borderless by default .
Celt Islam website: https://soundcloud.com/celt-islam
Co-ordinator of AoBM London
Aneeqa Malik is a freelance Management Consultant running her own consultancy, The Loop Global Management.
The Loop Global Management bridges the gap between local communities and new businesses. It works with Diaspora-led Communities and creates a niche brand for creative inter, multi-cultural and social activities.
She is a trained Action Learning Training and Research Facilitator. She is also an Associate in aCooperative Inquiry Circle for iSEED (Integral Spiritual Ethical Enterprise Development) at Liverpool Hope Business School, Liverpool Hope University
A multi-disciplinary social innovator with an ingrained passion for community and social work having multi-functional experience in a wide variety of business settings and sectors.
We are an organisation of Muslims, but all are welcome to explore Islam. The accuracy and honesty of people's faiths is between them and God and is of no concern either to the State, nor any other individual.
We treat everyone equally regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, creed, sexual orientation or ability. We are committed to working towards creating an inclusive society that provides the same political, social, educational and economic opportunities for all.
We believe that freedom of conscience is a basic right and integral to the Qur’anic view of humanity (Holy Qur’an 2:256). We believe that the independence of government from religious interference and conversely the protection of religious institutions from being politicised, is the only way to achieve the Islamic ideal of freedom from compulsion in matters of faith. Essentially, we believe in the rule of law, implemented in a just, benevolent, equitable and fair manner.
We support freedom of expression and the freedom to dissent whether that be on political, artistic, social or religious grounds, even if it’s considered to be offensive or blasphemous. Nobody should be prosecuted, imprisoned or detained for voicing unpopular views apart from if they incite hate.
We are endowed with reason and conscience and should always behave towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. We fully endorse and uphold the civil and human rights of everyone, regardless of race, colour, sex, sexuality, language, religion, political belief, birth, origin or any other status.
We support equality for women and their self-determination in every aspect of their lives and believe they should be empowered to participate in society at every level.
We are committed to protect everyone’s private and family life from interference from the state, corporations or anyone else. What happens in private is no one else’s business.
We encourage critical engagement with Islamic scripture, traditional jurisprudence and current Muslim discourse. Our belief is that critical thinking is essential to spiritual development and we promote interpretations that reflect basic Qur’anic principles of tolerance, inclusiveness, compassion and fairness.
We affirm that justice and compassion should be the guiding principles for everything we do. We renounce militarism and violence in all its forms and on every level.
We embrace religious diversity, and encourage people to embrace social justice and believe that one’s religion is not the exclusive source of truth. To that end we engage with a wide range of philosophical and spiritual traditions in pursuit of a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.
1889: Shaykhu-I Islam of the British Isles. HE Shaykh Abdullah Quilliam Bey (born William Henry Quilliam in 1857) founds the English Islamic Association.
1914: After spending some years in the Ottoman Empire, Quilliam returns to England and renames his organisation the British Muslim Society, based at the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking.
1924: The group undergoes another name change. It is renamed as the Western Islamic Association.
1927: The Association relocated to Notting Hill in London, and Friday prayers were often led by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, who famously translated the Qur’an into English.
Late 40s: Following the death of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the Association lay dormant for many years.
1975: Rashid Craig, Daud Relf and Daoud Rosser-Owen re-establish the organisation as the Association of British Muslims with Rosser-Owen as Amir.
1978: On the advice from Yusuf Islam and others the organisation becomes The Association For British Muslims with Hajji Abdur Rasijd Skinner as Amir and Abdullah Ibrahim, rahmatu-Llahi’alayh as secretary.
2010 – Present day: Sheikh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong and Mohammed Abbasi come on board to grow and develop the AOBM and see its popularity and influence increase within the British Muslim community and beyond.