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The OA Muslim Network
Thirty Years of the Muslim Community at Dulwich College
In the early 1990’s, the then-Master Anthony Verity (himself an Arabist as well as Classicist by training) wished to provide facilities for the growing Muslim presence at the College, principally for the weekly Jummah prayers observed on Friday lunchtimes. It was, as Head of Religion and Theology, my privilege to set this up and is a group to whom, even after 30 years I remain committed. From the outset we recruited the good offices of a local retired Imam Mr Qumruddin to lead the prayers and preach the Kutbah sermon for the some 60 students attending. Jummah was held for some years in one of the main exercise rooms within the Sports Centre and was, and continues to be, an unobtrusive but meaningful witness to the spiritual dimension of College life. Student demography has changed but the community has maintained its presence up to the present day, now convening in the Laboratory as the modern-day Islamic Society, or ISoc. It is most encouraging that boys from the Junior School right through to the Upper School feel that they are welcome to attend. One of the most impressive features of this community is the way the students themselves have taken responsibility for organising the meetings. In particular they have shown real empathy when initiating new and younger members into the tradition. When denominational assemblies operated, Muslim Assemblies attracted noteworthy outside speakers, as did the formerly-named Society for the Study of Islam. When religious controversy raged internationally, as with Salman Rushdie’s writings, this community made their disquiet peacefully and effectively known. One of the continuing blessings of College life has been the mutual respect shown for the many different religious traditions represented in the student body, and for a number of years an annual ‘Hand of Friendship’ soccer match between Muslim and Hindu boys was a regular feature of the charity calendar. Observing most of these events over the years as a staff presence, I retain with affection a number of memories, none more impressive in its quiet way than hearing at one end of Michaelmas term assembly, a young Muslim student chant the Adhan call to prayer with a sure, unwavering treble voice. It was as valid a testimony to the positive uniting power of religion in this divided world as the carols being sung in the College Chapel down the road. Thanks are due to previous Chaplains who have all shown interest in and support for the community, none more so than the present incumbent Reverend Tim Buckler. I trust that the College Muslim community will continue to flourish in years to come, enriched by the recently set up OA Muslim Network. I am very grateful for all the shared experiences and support I have received for what, within HMC schools, must serve as a flagship activity; a beacon of what is best and positive in a faith community within our great institution.
We are pleased to announce the creation of the OA Muslim Network this year - starting strong with 29 members! The Islamic Society at Dulwich College has had a long history of bringing together the Dulwich Muslim community and all those interested in Islam. Going back to my own years at the College, it was more than just our weekly Jummah prayer; we were able to bond through our shared experiences and struggles. The community served as an invaluable support system during Ramadan and, indeed, for any other problems during those awkward years of self-discovery. The close bonds that I formed at the College have endured to this day, and it seems there are many who shared the same experiences and retain the same love for that community. An informal network naturally started to form, stretching across the last fifteen years of College leavers. This year, with the creation of the OA Muslim Network, we hope to widen the sense of community and create a forum to share our memories. I have immensely enjoyed starting to connect with those who have already got in touch since our initial outreach. Going forward, the OA Muslim Network will formalise these strong ties with events that promote networking between Muslim OAs who are achieving in every sphere of society. These events will be a space to socialise with existing friends and make new ones, all while sharing memories of our time at the College. Additionally, we maintain a strong relationship with the existing Islamic Society at the College, supporting boys who are keen for advice from mentors who have navigated similar challenges to the ones they face. These events will also occur continually throughout the year. Still young in our creation, we invite all those interested in Islam and the community to get in touch and join our mailing list by sending me an email at the address below. We will soon be sending more details about our first event in the new year.
Uzair Ismail Malida (10-17) OAMuslims@gmail.com
Robert Weaver
The OA Muslim Network is all the more important considering the great work the current Islamic Society is still doing and given the requests from alumni for updates and offers of support. Ever since I joined the College in Year 7, being part of the ISoc (Islamic Society) community has been an integral part of my growth as a student; not only acting as a setting for guidance but also a fraternity of kinship and unity. Today we have opened the ISoc to the younger year groups, with boys as young as Year 3 attending. We have also started to have Muslim OAs come in for some of our sessions, where they help with everything from basic academic advice to more enticing debates on contemporary issues. I have been very grateful to the College for supporting us as a community and look forward to the future that the ISoc holds.
Bilal Azami President DC Islamic Society
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