Syed Mohammed Tanzeem Wasti being presented with the The Muslim News’ Al-Bīrūnī Award for Excellence in Community Relations by Sir Trevor Phillips, then Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality. 2005, London, UK.
(Credit: Konta Productions/The Muslim News)
Syed Mohammed Tanzeem Wasti: August 13, 1938 – April 29, 2023
Veteran community activist and charity advocate Syed Mohammed Tanzeem Wasti passed away earlier this year at the age of 85. Between 1951 and 1953, Syed studied at the University of Karachi, earning a bachelor’s in science and a master’s in arts. Throughout his university education, he remained active in student politics, and in 1964, he decided to migrate to the UK.
He was the first elected Secretary General of the UK Islamic Mission, which was created in 1962 to cater for the needs of a growing Muslim community, and he served in this post, as well as a variety of other top capacities and as a member of the Executive Committee, for more than 40 years.
In this post, he was involved in organising events at local, regional, and national levels, including weekly activities for youth and adults, seminars, exhibitions, and collaboration with Muslim and interfaith groups across the UK.
Over 40 mosques were created, and more than 5,000 youngsters receive an Islamic education annually because of his efforts spanning over five decades. In recognition of this work, the Lifetime Service to the Muslim and Pakistani Community Award was presented to him by the UK Islamic Mission at their fiftieth-anniversary ceremony in 2012. New Muslims converted by the UK Islamic Mission number in the thousands, but Syed was proud to have led 10 people to accept Islam.
He experienced similar successes in his other charity work, such as the Muslim Solidarity Committee, which works on humanitarian issues affecting the Muslim community both nationally and globally.
As its Secretary General since 1975, Syed has promoted unified communication between Muslim NGOs and governments, the media, and the public, as well as international bodies like the UN, NATO, and the Organisation of Islamic Countries. Through this work, he travelled to Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Sudan, and Afghanistan during times of armed conflict and organised demonstrations for many of these issues in London.
Through his work with the Islamic Council of Europe, Syed organised and attended conferences and meetings with many heads of state and foreign ministers to advocate on behalf of the British Muslim community. He served as a member of their executive committee for many years and participated in five international conferences in various countries.
Throughout his life, Syed was committed to serving his community as well as the wider interests of society. He was involved in the founding and management of numerous charitable organisations, including the UK Islamic Mission, the Muslim Solidarity Committee, the Islamic Council of Europe, the Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Aid, and the Agency Afghan Press, to name a few.
He also represented different international organisations on behalf of the Muslim community in the UK at hundreds of national and international conferences and seminars in over 60 countries. He was invited to meet with many heads of state, foreign ministers, and government representatives.
In the late 1990s, Syed co-founded the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs. This organisation focused on the response of the Muslim community in the UK to the book The Satanic Verses, written by Salman Rushdie. He organised one of the biggest Muslim demonstrations under the banner of the Muslim Solidarity Committee and the UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs to defend the honour of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his wives. Ultimately, Syed succeeded in getting Iran and Saudi Arabia to agree to a very strong resolution against Rushdie’s Satanic Verses.
Syed was also a founding member of the Muslim Council of Britain. As its elected chair of the International Affairs Committee, he represented the Muslim community to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary. The most visible and successful culmination of their regular meetings was seen by the world at the now permanent Eid in the Square, organised annually on Eid al Fitr by the Muslim Council of Britain and the Greater London Authority, attended by the then-Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and supported by more than 25,000 people.
His other notable achievements include being appointed the Olympic Community Ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics and co-authoring the book, Muslims in London, alongside the Mayor of London and the Muslim Council of Britain.
In 2005, he was also presented with The Muslim News’ Al-Bīrūnī Award for excellence in community relations.
With a smiling face and a wonderful sense of humour, Syed will be remembered as a soft-spoken and generous brother. He is recognised globally as an outspoken orator in his service to Islam and leaves behind a legacy.
Syed leaves behind his wife, Mehr Sultana Wasti, and children Salman, Adnan, Farhan, and Farah.
Zahra Rajwani
