His Eminence Maulana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (Rahmatullah Alaih)

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His Eminence Moulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqi Al Qaderi (RA)

Posted By: Dr. Wahid Ali March 9, 2008

Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui visit to Trinidad in 1950 accompanied by his student and secretary, Dr. Muhammad Fazlur Rahman Ansari al-Qadiri, lasted for six months as part of his world tour. The presence of His Eminence for such as sustained and intensive period had a profound impact on Islam in the West Indies and indeed it created a generation of highly skilled Muslim Theologians, Imams, leaders and intellectuals most of whom became the spiritual disciples (murideen) of His Eminence.

The work of World Islamic Mission (WIM) in Trinidad began with the arrival of His Eminence Maulana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui al-Qadiri at the opening of the Intercolonial Muslim Conference, held at the Jama Masjid Hall, Queens Street, Port of Spain in 1950.

Shaykh Maulana Shah Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddique al Qadiri (R.A) next to his son, Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddique al-Qadiri (R.A) .

His Eminence visited neighboring countries in the region including: Guyana (then British Guiana), Suriname, Barbados, etc.  The idea of the conference came from His Eminence himself and it gave birth to the Inter-colonial Muslim Organization. Officers of this organizations were:

  • Mohammed Hosein Shah (President – Trinidad)
  • Moulvi M.A. Nasir (Vice President – British Guiana)
  • Wahid Ali (Secretary – Trinidad)
  • Tawfiq-ur-Rahman (Ass. Secretary – Trinidad)
  • H.I. Hussein-Ali (Treasurer – Suriname).
 The welcome function for His Eminence was held at Queen’s Park Savannah on Sun. March 12th 1950.  Many thousands attended – Muslims and non-Muslims. In the audience there were government representatives and members of the diplomatic corp. At this event a soul stirring recitation of al-Qur’an was rendered by Br. Ali Bin Khamis of Zanzibar who then became a regular at His Eminence’s gatherings.  Another regular was Br. Jameel Bin Ahmed of Malay (now Malaysia). Both were students at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture at St. Augustine (now part of the University of West Indies).  After graduating they returned to their respective countries and both became highly acclaimed leaders.

Haji Yusuf Mitchell

Throughout his stay in Trinidad, and through tireless effort and dedication, Islamic propagation was always at the foremost priority and to the Muslim masses His Eminence expounded on the the principles of the Ahl Sunna wal Jamaah. In particlular, His Eminence Maulana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui made a significant contribution to Islam in the following areas:

1. Hundreds of non-muslims embraced Islam. Prominent amongst them were Haji Yusuf Mitchell, Ahmed Rifae Scope, Abu Bakr (a humble shoe maker of Santa Cruz) and Sr. Muriel Donawa Mc Davidson.
2. His Eminence’s lectures captivated Muslims, Christians, and Hindus who paid glowing tributes to him as the “Roving Ambassador of Peace”.

3. His regular dars (Islamic classes) at Jama Masjid Hall, Port of Spain, produced some of the leading thinkers in the Muslim community. Amongst his students were:

  • Haji Mohammed Ibrahim (President of Anjuman Sunnah wal Jamaah Association – ASJA)
  • Haji Mohammed Yusuff Mitchell (Government architect and prominent Islamic worker)
  • Haji Kamaluddin Mohammed (long standing govt. Minister and acting Prime Minister)
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