'I'm one of Britain's youngest Imams - one day I want to have my own TV show'

30 June 2023 , 08:58

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Sabah Ahmedi, 29, spent seven years and thousands of hours of study training to be an Islamic worship leader before he graduated (Image: GERARD FARRELL)

One of the UK's youngest Imams has spoken of how he is challenging stereotypes through his Instagram - and would even like to have his own TV show one day.

Sabah Ahmedi, 29, spent seven years and thousands of hours of study training to be an Islamic worship leader before he graduated from London's Jamia Ahmadiyya institute in 2018.

Committed to spreading the word of his religion, he decided to take his message to social media for the first time the year after - where he now reaches thousands of people a week from all types of backgrounds.

Based at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in South London, Sabah says he enjoys being able to speak to Muslims and non-Muslims from around the world on his Instagram page, where he is known as the 'Young Imam' and has amassed some 11,500 followers.

Sabah says he enjoys being able to speak to Muslims and non-Muslims from around the world on his Instagram page (GERARD FARRELL)

It allows him to connect with people and challenge stereotypes about Islam, Muslim men and even what an imam 'should' look like.

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Opening up on what he loves about his work online, he told the Mirror: "Being on social media allows people to see what life is like as a young, British Muslim.

"You can come to have a laugh - some of my content's quite funny, I'll post videos of my kids and whatever - but it also creates a safe space for conversation and dialogue for people to ask questions, and we really need a platform for people to just ask whatever they want.

"The stereotype of what an Imam should be like is a really old, super serious man with a long white beard - that misconception is still there, so I'm just trying to stay in shape and keep my dark hairs for as long as I can!"

'Eid is about helping people'

Sabah said that Eid prayer has to be done as a congregation (GERARD FARRELL)

Thursday marked Eid al-Adha, the second and largest of the two Eid festivals, with events held across the country until the weekend.

It's observed every year to mark a passage in the Koran where Allah commands the prophet Abraham to offer his son Ishmael as a sacrifice, before revealing it to be a test of his faith.

The story is one that also features in the Bible and the Torah. For Muslims, it's celebrated with gifts and the traditional slaughter of an animal, which is then usually distributed to members of the family and those in need as an act of kindness.

"Bearing in mind the cost of living crisis, a lot of people still donate the whole thing to people in need," he explained.

"I've paid £75 for an animal to be sacrificed in Africa, so that meal is then given to people who need it. There are stories of people who haven't had any meat in two years, so it really is about helping people."

Sabah wants to show others what life is like as a young British Muslim (GERARD FARRELL)

Sabah at the Mubarak Mosque in Tilford, Surrey (GERARD FARRELL)

Like millions of Muslims across the globe, Sabah will mark the occasion by starting the day with breakfast, holding prayers at his local mosque and then praying together with the community.

He'll then go and see family later in the day, and will then do something with his kids in the afternoon - "maybe trampolining or going for ice cream, because the kids love ice cream".

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"The Eid prayer is special because it has to be done in congregation, so you can't offer that prayer on your own - and what's so good about that is the coming together, and the unity and bond you get across a community," he added.

Eid al Adha is celebrated every year to mark a passage in the Koran where Allah commands the prophet Abraham to offer his son Ishmael as a sacrifice, before revealing it to be a test of his faith (GERARD FARRELL)

"We live in a world of people finding faults in other communities, and what this congregational prayer does is bring people together from all walks of life to stand side-by-side and shoulder-to-shoulder to pray."

"Even growing up, it was always a really special time," he said. "You get new clothes, you exchange presents - it's like Christmas, and a big celebration for Muslims across the world.

'Ask me anything'

Sabah would love to have his own TV show one day (GERARD FARRELL)

Sabah wants people in Britain to know that this kind of festival is one that's symbolic of his faith, rather than the negative depictions he sees so often.

He said: "Muslims aren't scary you know - we're nice people, and a lot of people have just never met a Muslim, they have those misconceptions.

"And Muslims are really open to talk about their faith - we're open to having questions asked, and having people learn about what we do. Like going to prayers, and how we incorporate our faith into our everyday lives. 'I'm a Muslim - ask me anything!'."

In the future, Sabah wants to continue spreading the world of Islam to people of faith and those who are simply curious about what we do and our daily routine.

Sabah marks Eid by starting the day with breakfast, holding prayers at his local mosque (GERARD FARRELL)

An avid "coffee lover" and food fanatic as well as a religious, he even hopes one day to take his mission to new places, and said: "I'd love to have my own TV show called a 'Kebab with an Imam'. Just having food with people, and having a chat about life. I'd love to do that."

But for now, he's happy to have been focusing on Eid celebrations and prepare for a busy day ahead of him - with a big shopping list for the family topping his priorities.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas