The Influence of His Eminence Maulana Shah Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (Rahmatullah
Alaih)
in Trinidad & Tobago
by Dr. Wahid Ali al-Qadiri
Introduction
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
more to follow....
From left to right: Maulana Yunus Ashrafi -
Imam of Masjid Noor-ul-Haram (WIM Canada),
Haji Sohail Akbar al-Qadiri - Exec. member of WIM Canada, His Excellency Dr. Wahid Ali -
former Senate President of
Trinidad and
Haji Hakeem Ali - head of ASJA Schools Trinidad.
Picture taken in The Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Reference Library, Oakville,
Canada,
May 2006.
Islamic Research & Publications Ltd.
Sweet Briar Road, Port of Spain,
Trinidad, West Indies