From Yemen and Sylhet to Whitechapel - reflecting on Shah Jalal

Monday, 02 June 2008 10:30

Over 500 local youngsters flocked to the London Muslim Centre earlier this month (8 May) to hear about Shah Jalal, a saint of Bengal and celebrated scholar and leader.

The event was organised by Radical Middle Way, a Muslim initiative supported by Tower Hamlets Council which aims to encourage a mainstream understanding of Islam, particularly for young people.

Fuad Nahdi, Director of Radical Middle Way, introduced the event, explaining how Shah Jalal’s journey of integration and adaptation still holds lessons for today’s modern world. He was followed by main speaker, scholar Shaykh Habib Ali al Jifri, who encouraged young local Muslims to learn from Shah Jalal’s history.

He said: “We can all take a lesson from Shah Jalal’s community activism. You should all be active in your own local community.”

Lead member for Community Cohesion at Tower Hamlets Council, Councillor Ohid Ahmed, welcomed the event as a way of encouraging young people to think about their own lives.

He said: “Shah Jalal balanced spirituality and struggle in a life dedicated to service of others. These lessons are still as important in today’s busy world. It is really positive that this kind of event is encouraging young people to think about their role in their community, how they can contribute and how we can all make Tower Hamlets a great place in which to work and live.”

The event at the London Muslim Centre was followed by a session at the Brick Lane Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the borough.

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