People mourn the death of Sheikh David [Daoud] Rosser-Owen, a ‘true gentleman’ and a military veteran who helped set up the Association of British Muslims.
“It’s been so wonderful to read all of the tributes flooding in about David. Most remember him as a true gentleman, a man of strong principles, and as someone to enjoy a good conversation with,” Rosser-Owen’s family said, Wales Online reported.
“It seems very fitting to be laying him to rest in Swansea and that his funeral should be taking place at the former church he attended as a boy.”
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Born in Swansea in 1943 to a Welsh-Scottish family, Rosser-Owen grew up as a devout Christian. Converting to Islam, he established, alongside others, the Association of British Muslims in 1976.
Tribute
Messages of support to his family poured online to mourn the renowned Muslim figure.
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioun. We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Shaykh Daoud Rosser Owen, who was a war veteran and served as the Amir of the Association of British Muslims (AoBM). Daoud dedicated decades of service to AoBM, British Muslims and our country. pic.twitter.com/DJQnetYRlF
— Association of British Muslims 🇬🇧 (@aofbm) December 5, 2021
Some photographs of the late Daoud Rosser-Owen, including one with Sheikh Nazim, and two in black and white of the late Daoud Musa Pidcock on the campaign trail in 1992 in Bradford. Both returned to their Lord yesterday, may God have mercy on them. pic.twitter.com/sfW3ieW5NS
— Yahya Birt (@YBirt) December 6, 2021
The Association of British Muslims (AoBM) began in Liverpool, England as the English Islamic Association, founded by Abdullah Quilliam, a 19th-century convert to Islam who opened one of England’s first mosques during the same year.
As of April 2010, Shaykh Daoud Rosser-Owen was Amir of AoBM. As of February 2011, Paul Salahuddin Armstrong and Mohammed Abbasi were the Co-Directors of AoBM.