28/04/2024
TO CANONIZE THE 1084TH ANNIVERSARY OF AL-AZHAR, A CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN ZIA-UL-UMMAH CENTRE BY THE ALUMNI OF AL-AZHAR
To commemorate the 1084th anniversary of the establishment of the historic institution of Al-Azhar Egypt, the Alumni of Al-Azhar UK- the UK Branch of the World Organisation for Al-Azhar Graduates- held a conference on Saturday 13th April 2024. The special meeting of scholars and Imams was chaired by Maulana Bakhtyar Pirzada (vice principal of Jamia Al-Karam)and hosted by Imam Shahed Tameez (Zia-ul-Ummah Centre Birmingham UK), to mark this occasion and seek dialogue and collaboration. Zia-ul-Ummah Centre is in fact named after the Azharite scholar, Zia-ul-Ummah Justice Shaykh Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari (ra), who was one of the first scholars from the Indian subcontinent to graduate from Al-Azhar in the middle of the 20th century.
The event brought together scholars and Imams from the first, second and third generations of British Muslims from different cities and towns of the UK.
During the meeting, a presentation was given on the important global work of Al-Azhar and its impact in the UK in building community cohesion and scholarly decorum; the various institutions of Al-Azhar working towards countering extremism and wrongful interpretation of the tradition of Islam, as well as relevant electronic and printed material being produced by Al-Azhar University that is beneficial to the British Muslim community and its wider context. During the gathering, Maulana Bakhtyar Pirzada al-Azhari who is the Vice-President of Al-Azhar Alumni UK, highlighted the role of Al-Azhar scholarship in the West, challenges of modern times and steps worth taking in building a better future for Muslims and non-Muslims in the UK by recognising the role of true leadership.
Scholars and Imams in attendance shared their views and thoughts, and a roundtable of meaningful dialogue continued.
The meeting was attended by several alumni of Al-Azhar University in the UK, graduates of Jamia Al-Karam, and various local scholars and Imams. Participants included Shaykh Pir Syed Farooq Shah (Jamia Qamarul Islam, Birmingham), Shaykh Nadi al-Hanafawi al-Azhari (Egypt), Dr Muhammad Nasrullah (Al-Burhan Grammar School, Birmingham), Qari Abu Adam al-Azhari (Darul Qurra, Birmingham), Imam Muhammad Zahoor Chishti al-Azhari (Madina Mosque & Islamic Centre, Oldham), Allama Sultan Mahmood al-Azhari (Wycombe Islamic Mission, High Wycombe), Maulana Gul Muhammad al-Azhari (Al-Azhar Alumni UK, Retford), Maulana Mahboob Hussain al-Azhari (Al-Azhar Alumni UK), Ustadh Arfan Shahzad al-Azhari (Jamia Mosque, Bradford), Imam Abu Baqar Ali al-Azhari (Dar Abdullah Ibn Umar, Bradford), Mr Imran Hussain (Bright Sparks Education, Birmingham), Maulana Mushtaq Hussain al-Azhari (Jamia Al-Karam, Retford), Ustadh Jamil Akram (Jamia Al-Karam, Retford), Imam Amar Hafiz al-Azhari (Darul Qurra, Birmingham), Imam Mansoor Mahmood (Al-Karam Mosque, London), Maulana Muhammad Adam Raza (Jamia Al-Karam, Retford), Imam Haider Ali Khan (Madina Mosque, Wakefield), Imam Hakeem Shakeel (Hanfia Ghousia Mosque, Bedford), Imam Awais Hussain (CMC, Cambridge), Ustadh Zagham Ali Mohammed (Muslim Charity, Retford), Imam Wasif Mahfooz (Burton-on-Trent), Imam Muhammad Umar Nawaz (Madina Mosque, Cardiff), Maulana Issarar Hussain al-Azhari (Islamic Centre, Nottingham), Ustadh Namaan Habib (Zia-ul-Ummah Centre, Birmingham), Ustadh Nabeel Ahmed (Stoke-on-Trent), amongst others.
