Introduction
Ustadh Salem Azzam’s concern for the Ummah included the betterment of the Muslims in the United Kingdom and the development of their community. Thus in 1971, along with his long-time colleague Ebrahimsa Mohammad, Ustadh Salem secured funding to purchase the FOSIS Hotel and Head-Quarters in Kilburn which is still in use to this day. Additionally, in 1973 it was Ustadh Salem Azzam who opened the first purpose-built Mosque in Manchester in Victoria Park demonstrating the longevity and depth of his assistance to the Muslim community.
It likewise should not be under-estimated the empowerment the Islamic Council of Europe gave to the nascent, largely impoverished, under-represented and discriminated-against Muslim community. Whether it was being the only Islamic organisation to hold an Islamic conference in the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, usually reserved for concerts and the high-profile activities of the establishment, the Islamic Council was confident and bold promoting Islam across the United Kingdom as a solution in English. Through the Islamic Council, London became a hub for the Islamic Movement with its leaders from across the Globe trekking to attend conferences or to visit the Office of the Islamic Council at 16 Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1. Those visiting the Office ranged from the Esteemed Murshid of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mustafa Mashhur to Prime Minister of Turkey, Necmettin Erbakan. It is also of note that when Maulana Maududi travelled London it was Ustadh Salem who organised his visit demonstrating the strength of bond and closeness of the Islamic Council to Jammat e Islami. The Islamic Council also convened two seminars in 1978 and 1980 on Muslim minorities publishing a work entitled ‘Muslim Communities in Non-Muslim States’. Additionally, in 1983 the Islamic Council established the ‘Muslim Workers Unit’ in order to address the increasing denial of political, economic and social rights of Muslim workers in Europe as well as to deal with the discrimination they were facing.
Another important role the Islamic Council played was the translation, publication and distribution of seminal Islamic literature in English to a British audience. At a time when the Muslim community had not fully developed the institutions needed to ensure an intellectual revival of Islam amongst its youth or the ability to promote Islam to a non-Muslim audience, the Islamic Council was distributing the writings of the likes of Maulana Maududi, Ismail Al-Faruqi, Sayyid Qutb as well as many others. Works ranged from ‘Concept of an Islamic State’ to ‘Islamic and the Contemporary Society’. From a ‘Children’s Book on Islam’ published in English German and Dutch to ‘Islam and the Problem of Israel’. The Islamic Council also distributed cassettes relating to Islam these included:
- Islam as a way of life – a 14 audio cassette collection
- A 12-cassette collection entitled ‘Issues vital to the Islamic world’ with recordings from prominent Islamic scholars
- A collection of narrated Prophet (SAW)’s Prayers which also available in book form
- And a film called ‘The Battle for Beirut’ about the Israeli Invasion of Lebanon
It should further be remembered that Media bias against Muslims is by no-means something new in the West, therefore the Islamic Council would issue press statements about Islam raising awareness with regards to the causes of the Muslims and also responded to hostile coverage by the media with regards to Islam and Muslims. To support the empowerment and representation of Muslims in Britain the Islamic Council convened a meeting to launch the ‘Muslim Electoral Registration Campaign’ to promote Muslim engagement in UK elections and to amplify the voice of Muslims in Britain.
Gallery - Visit of Maududi to the UK with Ustadh Salem Azzam, Professor Khurshid Ahmad and Ustadh Muhammad Qutb
