In a first of its kind, Muslim Activist and Researcher Ahmad Hamid published “Will to Survive – History of the Muslims in Guyana”

Will to Survive is a comprehensive study of the history of Muslims in Guyana, focusing primarily on the period between 1930 and 2000.

Organized into thirteen sections and 114 short chapters, the book examines key areas including education, politics, language, organizations, slavery, and indentureship.

This work is likely the first book devoted exclusively to the Muslim experience in Guyana. While references to Muslims appear sporadically in other historical accounts — often inaccurately — Will to Survive provides a dedicated, accurate, and detailed exploration.

Representing approximately 7% of Guyana’s population, the Muslim community faced significant struggles to maintain their faith, culture, and identity. This book seeks to document their resilience and contributions within the broader context of Guyanese society.

About the Author:

Ahmad Hamid has nearly sixty years of experience serving Muslim communities in Guyana and New York through organizations, Jamaats, and leadership roles. He is a founding member of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), where he served as Director of Education and Dawah from 1979 to 1995, and editor of its official journal, Al-Bayan.

After migrating to New York, he continued his work through journalism and education. He contributed regularly to The West Indian News and served as editor of the magazine Nur-Ul-Islam. He also held the position of principal at Al Noor School, one of the largest and most respected Islamic schools in New York, serving a student population of over 650.

He currently serves as the Ameer of the Islamic Research and Dawah Center / Masjid Abu Ubaidah in Brooklyn, where he remains active in community building and Islamic education.

You can get a copy of the 492-page book from Amazon in three formats, Kindle, Soft-Cover or Hard-Cover.