Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘Prince Philip exemplified loyalty and fortitude in his support of Queen and country’

‘Prince Philip exemplified loyalty and fortitude in his support of Queen and country’

By Dr Qari Asim

Imam of Makkah Mosque, Leeds, and senior editor, ImamsOnline


By Dr Qari Asim Dr Qari Asim

THE Duke of Edinburgh dedicated his life to tire­less service of both the Queen and the country.

I join the whole nation and the Commonwealth in offering my deepest condolences to Her Majes­ty the Queen and the royal family on the loss of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

He lived a long and distinguished life with a deep commitment to public service.

As the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch, his consistent support for the Queen during their 73 years of marriage helped our nation maintain continuity and stability through changing and difficult times. From his military service to providing unwavering support to Queen and country, Prince Philip exemplified quiet reserve, loyalty and fortitude.

I had the pleasure of meeting Prince Philip, and found him warm, interesting, and knowledgeable about other religions.

He promoted inter-faith dialogue and urged greater understanding between communities for the common good. He was a man of faith and deep curiosity about others’ religions and beliefs. His longstanding interest in environmentalism is also said to have been connected to his faith.

His interests in religion and environmentalism have been passed on to Prince Charles, who is a strong conservationist and who has said he wants to be “defender of faiths” when he becomes Brit­ish monarch.

Some may remember Prince Philip as a man who was often blunt, sometimes to the point of giving offence. But he will be remembered for public service. As a faith leader, I am grateful for Duke of Edinburgh’s service to our nation.

Putting others before oneself – whether it be one’s spouse, family, community or country – is at the core of many religions. In our Islamic tradi­tion, we have a saying: “The one who does good to others will not fall, but should he fall, he will al­ways find something to lean on.”

The community being greater than the individ­ual, and individual fulfilment being attained through that process is an idea that has been ap­preciated by social psychologists for some time.

Prince Philip championed many charitable or­ganisations in his lifetime, from spreading literacy in Africa to saving pandas. His passion was to up­lift young people’s aspirations, in particular those who were under-privileged.

He leaves behind a fitting reminder of his in­credible work in the form of the Duke of Edin­burgh Awards scheme, founded in 1956. The pro­gramme continues to provide opportunities to young people of all backgrounds and have im­pacted and inspired millions of young people across the Commonwealth.

I am aware of many young people from black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds whose lives have been transformed through participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

His memory invites us to redirect ourselves to the values to which he devoted his remarkable life, in particular the value of service to others.

I am confident his legacy of faithful service will continue to be an inspiration to all those who work for reconciliation and cooperation between people of different faiths and communities.

The Queen and the royal family are very much in our thoughts at this time of immense sorrow.

More For You

Voices of Faith - Day 2: A profound confluence of spirituality, music, and dialogue

Barnaby Rogerson in conversation with Anthony Sattin (L) on day 2 of Voices of Faith

Voices of Faith - Day 2: A profound confluence of spirituality, music, and dialogue

Mahesh Liloriya

The second day of Voices of Faith unfolded with an enchanting blend of music, philosophy, and intellectual exploration at the Barbican Centre, London. This inaugural festival, curated by Teamwork Arts—the force behind the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London—has been made possible by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners, amplifying the festival’s reach and resonance.

Session 1- Echoes of eternity: The timeless notes of Kabir

Keep ReadingShow less
starmer-immigration

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

UK returns 24,000 illegal migrants since July, highest in eight years

THE UK government has returned over 24,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the country since July, marking the highest rate of removals in eight years, prime minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Aga Khan dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism'

Baroness Patricia Scotland speaks at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London (Photo: The Ismaili National Council for the United Kingdom)

'Aga Khan dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism'

THE outgoing head of the Commonwealth has paid tribute to the late Prince Karim Aga Khan, describing him as a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication to service, peace, and pluralism has left a lasting impact on the world.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London last Wednesday (26), Baroness Patricia Scotland, who steps down as Commonwealth secretary general on 1 April, reflected on her personal connection with the Aga Khan, recalling their meetings during Commonwealth Day celebrations at Westminster Abbey.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Myanmar-quake-rescue-Reuters

Rescuers carry the body of a victim during search and rescue operations, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30. (Photo: Reuters)

Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 1,700, UK pledges £10m in aid

RESCUE efforts continued in Myanmar as residents searched for survivors in collapsed buildings in Mandalay, two days after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country. The disaster has killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and 17 in neighbouring Thailand.

The quake hit near Mandalay on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The tremors caused widespread destruction, damaging buildings, bridges, and roads in the city of more than 1.7 million people.

Keep ReadingShow less