Between Muhammad Ali and Me
Strange as it might seem, growing up, I used to think that young Cassius Clay — or Muhammad Ali — was Bengali. It made perfect sense in my 8-year-old imagination.… Continue reading "Between Muhammad Ali and Me"
Category: History
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I, Relic: the story of my grandfather and the Bengalis of the East End
Whenever I walk towards the Brick Lane Mosque in the east end of London I always look at it as a continuation of a Dicken’s novel; from the Artful Dodger… Continue reading "I, Relic: the story of my grandfather and the Bengalis of the East End"
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The Caliph of Lisson Green
Muhammad al-Rifai was an unassuming figure who ended up as the nominal leader of the Muslim world. Opportunities to meet a caliph are pretty rare. Yet in London in the… Continue reading "The Caliph of Lisson Green"
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Night Letters: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and the Afghan Islamists who Changed the World- Book Review
When Kabul fell in 1992, Abdullah Anas recalls in his memoirs, To The Mountain: My Life in Jihad from Algeria to Afghanistan, that he encouraged Osama bin Laden to join… Continue reading "Night Letters: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and the Afghan Islamists who Changed the World- Book Review"
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Abdul Hakim Belhaj: Why I rejected bin Laden’s invitation to join al-Qaeda
“We need to do something!” the young Belhaj had said, brandishing the handgun. “What?” his university friend said puzzled. “I don’t know,” he replied. “What about when the bullets run… Continue reading "Abdul Hakim Belhaj: Why I rejected bin Laden’s invitation to join al-Qaeda"
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Lost Tribe Of Shabbaz
Obama’s election to the presidency in 2008 has been seen as the pinnacle of the civil rights movement in the US. It is easy to remember of iconic figures like… Continue reading "Lost Tribe Of Shabbaz"
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When Arabic and Hebrew Irregulars Worked Together
After the death of the Prophet Muhammed the early Muslim community became acutely aware of the need to preserve their Prophet’s legacy. This idea of preserving revelation became even more… Continue reading "When Arabic and Hebrew Irregulars Worked Together"
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Leo the African by Amin Maalouf
Review by Tam Hussein One of the hardest things for a writer is to inhabit a person of historical importance. Amin Maalouf with a mixture of erudition and eloquence has… Continue reading "Leo the African by Amin Maalouf"
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How Cervantes Lost His Left Arm
Article appeared in Emel magazine Issue 78 March 2011 reproduced with kind permission The brother of a merchant sailor inspired literature from the Spanish novelist and poet. Tam Hussein explores… Continue reading "How Cervantes Lost His Left Arm"
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Renaissance Translated
Article appeared in Emel magazine Issue 77, February, 2011. Reproduced by kind permission. Captivating the minds of writers, artists and scientists alike, Tam Hussein explains how the Renaissance emerged from… Continue reading "Renaissance Translated"