Draft:Mohammad Hashir Faruqi
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Mohammad Hashir Faruqi |
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Muhammad Hashir Faruqi (January 4, 1930 – January 11, 2022) was a British-Pakistani journalist, scientist, and community activist. He was the founder and long-time editor of Impact International, a journal dedicated to news and analysis on Muslim affairs. Faruqi played a significant role in Muslim community development in the United Kingdom and was a founding figure behind several major Islamic organisations in the country.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Faruqi was born on January 4, 1930, in Ghazipur, British India. As a student, he was actively involved in the Pakistan Movement and served as the secretary of the Muslim Students Union at Kanpur Agricultural College, where he earned a B.Sc. in Entomology.[2]
After the partition of India, he migrated to Pakistan and worked in senior positions in the Department of Agriculture. In 1960, he moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Ph.D. at Imperial College London.[3]
Career
[edit]Journalism
[edit]In 1971, Faruqi founded Impact International, a bi-monthly journal focused on Muslim affairs. The publication aimed to promote a deeper understanding of Islam among English-speaking audiences worldwide.[1] Despite limited resources, Faruqi maintained high editorial standards for over four decades, making Impact International one of the longest-running British Muslim publications.
He conducted interviews with prominent Muslim leaders, including Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, Yasser Arafat of Palestine, President Suharto of Indonesia, and Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia.[2]
In 1980, Faruqi became one of 26 hostages during the Iranian Embassy siege in London, having visited the embassy seeking a journalistic interview. His calm demeanor during the crisis was widely noted.[1]
Community involvement
[edit]Faruqi played an instrumental role in the three-year nationwide consultation process under the title National Interim Committee for Muslim Unity (NICMU), which led to the founding of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) in 1997.[4] Although he never held a formal position in the MCB, he was a key advisor to its early leadership and is often credited as one of its principal architects.[5]
He was also involved in founding several significant Islamic organisations in the UK, including the UK Islamic Mission, the Islamic Foundation, the Muslim Educational Trust, and Muslim Aid.[3]
Recognition
[edit]In 2013, Faruqi received the Editor’s Lifetime Achievement Award from The Muslim News in recognition of his contributions to journalism and the British Muslim community.[6]
Death
[edit]Faruqi died peacefully at his home in London on January 11, 2022, at the age of 92. He is remembered as a pioneering figure in Muslim journalism—a thinker, humanist, and voice of reason who helped shape the discourse on Islam in the English-speaking world.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Sherif, Jamil (14 March 2022). "Hashir Faruqi obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b Khan, M Ghazali (17 January 2022). "Hashir Faruqi: Pioneer of Muslim journalism in the West leaves a legacy behind". Siasat.com. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b Saleem, Mohamed (January 2022). "Muhammad Hashir Faruqi: Pioneer of Muslim journalism in the West". The Muslim News. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ Ameli, Saeed (2020). "The Muslim Council of Britain: Progressive Interlocutor or Redundant Gatekeeper?". Religions. 11 (9): 473. doi:10.3390/rel11090473.
- ^ "How was the MCB founded?". Muslim Council of Britain. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Editor's Lifetime Achievement Award". The Muslim News. 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2025.