السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Monday 3rd February 2025 / 4 Sha’bān 1446H
A Beautiful Jumu’ah in Rotherham
There are some towns and cities in the UK, which have been given negative headlines, due to the bad actions of a few. One such town is Rotherham, located in South Yorkshire. When I was studying at Dārul Uloom Bury from 1982 to 1991, there were quite a number of students from the other side of the Peak District. Leeds, Sheffield, Rotherham, etc.
One of my very close classmates, Mawlānā ‘Abdul Kabir, graduated from Dārul Uloom Bury and has been serving as the head Imām in the largest Masjid in Rotherham, Markaz ul-Uloom al-Islāmiyyah. Every year before Ramaḍān, we visit Rotherham to collect donations for our Albania projects.
Last Friday, 31st January, my 2 colleagues and I were very warmly welcomed at the Markaz ul-Uloom, Chapel Walk, and Milton Rd Masjids. After Jumu’ah, we collected over £3,000 in Lillāh donations, .مَا شَآءَ الله
The purpose of this message of mine is to remind ourselves that we should never ever judge the population of a whole town or city just because of the bad habits of a few. Never tar everyone with the same brush.
There will be a few bad apples everywhere. I have been visiting Rotherham for over 5 years now, مَا شَآءَ الله, and found the people to be very receptive, welcoming, and extremely generous. They open their hearts when it comes to donations. Suffice to say, the vast majority are very good people.
Credit also goes to my colleague Mawlānā ‘Abdul Kabir and other Imāms, ‘Ulamā and Mu’allimaā for their dedication and hard work in nurturing and looking after their communities. All in all, it was a beautiful, memorable Jumu’ah in Rotherham, .مَا شَآءَ الله
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala