Students Revive Authentic Islam

Additionally, crucial to Salafism’s development as a revivalist group was the fact that it coincided with the study and return of several British students from the Islamic University of Madinah (IUM) in Saudi Arabia, such as Abu Talhah Burbank (discussed further below), Abu Hakim Bilal Davis as well as those who travelled to the great Hadīth scholar, Muqbil Ibn Hādī al-Wādiʿī (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) in Yemen, such as Abu Abdullāh Bilāl Hussain, Abu Fudayl Abdur-Raqeeb Francis, Abu Tasneem Mousaf, and others. Devoted to the sole aim of reviving authentic Islam, these students of knowledge from diverse racial, social, and cultural backgrounds—some of whom were converts to Islam, would go on to play an important role in propagating and strengthening the Salafi Daʿwah in Birmingham and beyond. Their thorough understanding of Islam and the Sunnah and their firm commitment to the ʿAqeedah (the Creed of Islam) and Manhaj (Methodology) of the Salaf would serve as an excellent example and guidance to those ‘lost’ or upon deviated beliefs and practices. Consequently, they would also become a huge source of pride as leaders of their local Salafi communities—especially those members with whom they shared similar sociocultural traits and who ‘belonged’ to an otherwise disenfranchised community of (Muslim or non-Muslim heritage) post-colonial descendants.