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Muhammad Abdul Bari

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Muhammad Abdul Bari
BornError: Need valid birth date: year, month, day
Bangladesh
Occupation(s)Physicist, author, educator, community figure
Years active1978–present
Known forSecretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain; chairman of the East London Mosque; secretary of Muslim Aid; president of Islamic Forum of Europe
Notable workMultiple books on Muslim identity, parenting, and social issues

Muhammad Abdul Bari (; born October 1953) is a British physicist, author, educator, and community figure originally from Bangladesh. He has held prominent roles including secretary of Muslim Aid, chairman of the East London Mosque, and secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain. During the formative years of the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), Bari acted as its president, mobilizing professionals from the Bangladeshi diaspora across Europe. In addition to his consultancy engagements, he has contributed articles to outlets such as The Huffington Post and Al Jazeera, and has written multiple books.

Acknowledged as one of the most impactful Asian Muslims in Western Europe, Time Out ranked him seventh among London’s influential leaders in 2006. His leadership has also been recognized in The 500 Most Influential Muslims publication.

Early life and education

Abdul Bari began his career in 1978 by joining the Bangladesh Air Force after completing studies at Chittagong University. He married in 1981 and departed from the Air Force a year later. Upon relocating to the United Kingdom, he attained a PhD in physics from King's College London in 1986 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he also engaged actively in community initiatives.

He earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from King's College London in 1991 and spent five years teaching science at a secondary school located in Haringey, London. In 1997, he took on a role with Tower Hamlets Education Authority specializing in support for special educational needs.

Career

TELCO has since become part of Citizens UK (CUK), a coalition of community organizing groups operating throughout London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Milton Keynes, and Nottingham. Abdul Bari serves on CUK’s National Council and contributed to its Commission on Islam, Participation, and Public Life formed in 2015 to combat increasing Islamophobia following the 7 July 2005 London bombings.

He was a board member of the LOCOG, involved in managing preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

In 2014, he introduced Head2heart, a platform for sociopolitical commentary, alongside his business site AmanaParenting, which offers parenting consultancy and support. The following year, AmanaParenting expanded into a bilingual YouTube channel providing parenting guidance tailored for diverse societies. By 2018, Dr Abdul Bari merged these initiatives into his personal blog DrAbdulBari, delivering insights on social, political, community matters as well as parenting advice.

Awards and recognition

Abdul Bari was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire during the 2003 New Year Honours. He became a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2005 and was granted an honorary fellowship by Queen Mary University of London in July 2008.

In 2009, the London Evening Standard named him among London’s top 1,000 influential individuals. His contributions to Islamic affairs and community relations were acknowledged by British Bangladeshi Who's Who, and he appeared in the 2013 edition of the British Bangladeshi Power 100.

The University of East London awarded him an honorary doctorate in education in November 2012, recognizing his leadership as Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (2006–2010) and his impact on East London's cultural landscape. In March 2013, he received the Iman wa Amal (Faith and Action) Special Award at The Muslim News 11th Muslim Awards Ceremony.

In July 2016, Abdul Bari was appointed deputy lieutenant within the Greater London Lieutenancy.

Views

Since the 11 September 2001 and the 7 July 2005 incidents, Abdul Bari has engaged with British media on topics of Muslim integration and the fight against fundamentalism. In an article for The Daily Telegraph, he attributed the surge in Islamophobia to specific media narratives and political discourse, highlighting how certain police forces and media outlets portray Muslims as terrorists, thereby intensifying societal biases.

He drew a comparison to the historical treatment of Catholics in the UK, emphasizing, "We never labeled the IRA as Catholic terrorists," and urged caution against branding entire communities with negative stereotypes. Abdul Bari also expressed concerns over government counter-extremism strategies, suggesting they exacerbate divisions within Muslim populations and the wider society, warning of rhetoric that echoes the divisiveness found in 1930s Nazi Germany.

As a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and Al Jazeera English, Abdul Bari addresses issues spanning family dynamics, social challenges, politics, and global affairs. He promotes the importance of engaged parenting from both mothers and fathers as essential to nurturing future generations.

In April 2016, ISIS propaganda materials listed Abdul Bari among five Western Muslim leaders in the UK targeted on a hit list.

Personal life

Abdul Bari has a passion for reading and travelling. He speaks both Bengali and English fluently and is married with four children.

Books

  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2002). Building Muslim Families: Challenges and Expectations. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-041-0
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2002). The Greatest Gift: A Guide to Parenting from an Islamic Perspective. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-044-1
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2005). Race, Religion, & Muslim Identity in Britain. Renaissance Press. ISBN 978-0-9543294-7-1
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2007). Marriage and Family Building in Islam. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-083-0
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2011). Addressing Adolescence: A Guide to Parenting in Islam. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-125-7
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2012). British, Muslims, Citizens: Introspection and Renewal. Consilium Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62095-097-5
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2013). Meet the Challenge, Make the Change: A call to action for Muslim civil society in Britain. Cordoba Foundation. OCLC 855349248
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2015). Cherishing Childhood: A Guide to Parenting in Islam. Ta-Ha Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84200-154-7
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2018). The Rohingya Crisis: A People Facing Extinction. Kube Publishing. ISBN 9781847741240
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2018). A Long Jihad: My Quest for the Middle Way. Kube Publishing. ISBN 9781847741172
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2021). Muslim Parenting. Guardian Publications. ISBN 9789849537083 (Bangla edition)
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2022). Preparing for Life: How to Help One's Children Become Mature and Responsible Adults. Kube Publishing. ISBN 9781847741875

eBooks

  • Abdul Bari, Dr Muhammad (2022). Saving Our Planet: How citizens can thwart a climate calamity. Amazon. ASIN B0BQZ96ZNM
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2021). How to bring justice for Palestinians. Amazon. ASIN B09J95SZBR
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2021). Chaotic Global Politics: Muslims in the News: Collected Writings of a British Muslim Leader 2011–2017. Kube Publishing. ASIN B09N2ZGDYM
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2021). Going to Extremes: Muslims in the News: Collected Writings of a British Muslim Leader 2011–2017. Kube Publishing. ASIN B09N2Z719W
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2021). British & Believing: Muslims in the News: Collected Writings of a British Muslim Leader 2011–2017. Kube Publishing. ASIN B098D84N1S
  • Abdul Bari, Muhammad (2021). Reflections of British Society: Muslims in the News: Collected Writings of a British Muslim Leader 2011–2017. Kube Publishing. ASIN B09N317RXS

See also

External links

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