In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the Most Merciful
The British Board of Scholars and Imams (BBSI) unequivocally stands in solidarity with Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha Muhammad, a highly respected scholar whose life’s work has been dedicated to fostering harmony, understanding, and justice within our diverse society. We are deeply troubled by the recent allegations against him, particularly those published by The Telegraph, which misrepresent his words and intentions, unfairly casting aspersions on his character and contributions.
Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha is widely respected for his commitment to justice and compassion, rooted in Islamic teachings, and for his tireless efforts to bridge divides and build cohesive communities. His work has brought peace, understanding, and hope to countless individuals, and to suggest otherwise is not only false but profoundly unjust. The portrayal of him as promoting hatred is entirely at odds with his life’s mission and a gross distortion of reality.
However, beyond the professional and public implications, these baseless accusations take an immense personal toll. Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha and his family are now bearing the weight of a campaign that unfairly maligns his reputation. For someone whose life has been defined by service to others, the sting of seeing one’s integrity questioned is deeply wounding. For his family—his parents, his spouse, his children, his loved ones—this ordeal has been distressing and deeply unsettling. They are forced to navigate the anguish of seeing a son, husband, father, and role model vilified in the public eye.
The allegations in question also conflate legitimate political critique with incitement, a deeply troubling trend. Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha, like many others, has exercised his moral duty to highlight injustices and the suffering of innocents, including through criticism of state violence. It is essential to distinguish between this form of principled critique and the incitement of hatred. Criticising the actions of any state, including Israel, cannot and must not be conflated with anti-Semitism.
The remarks cited in The Telegraph were taken entirely out of context. They represent a spiritual suplication for divine justice, a practice deeply embedded in faith traditions. To mischaracterise these words as a call to violence is both dishonest and harmful.
As a society, we must reflect on the broader consequences of such portrayals. They perpetuate a climate of suspicion and hostility, not only towards Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha but towards entire communities. They threaten to erode trust and understanding between communities, undermining the very fabric of our multicultural society.
We also appeal to the media to recognise the human cost of their narratives. The misrepresentation of Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha not only impacts him personally but also endangers his family’s sense of security, dignity, and peace. In an era where trust in public institutions is fragile, irresponsible journalism risks exacerbating divisions and creating unnecessary pain.
We urge all stakeholders—journalists, commentators, and the public—to exercise fairness and integrity in their words and actions. At the heart of this issue is not just the reputation of one scholar, but the need for a society that upholds justice, protects its citizens, and values truth over sensationalism. Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha Muhammad’s contributions to our society deserve recognition, not vilification, and his family deserves the peace and respect that any family should be afforded.