about us
The Zawiya Trust has its roots in an informal community association set up in 1984 by local residents living in the inner city of Birmingham. They shared a keen interest in the vibrant unitary teachings of the Sufi masters of North Africa that quenched a thirst for authentic spiritual experience and helped to cultivate good character and an ethic of community service. The Qardiri Boudchihe Tariqa based in the east of Morocco, had a particularly important guiding influence in how to live in harmony and peace in diverse cultures.
As numbers grew various premises were rented but were always outgrown leading to the purchase of the Zawiya in 1990 which at the time was just the shell of an old community hall that had been gutted by fire. The first activities began at -4C by candlelight!
Sidi Ataullah
Chairman
Asma Ajaz-ali
Operations Manager
Nasaar Khokar
Centre Manager
Mohammed Imran
Youth Co-ordinator
what we do
Since those early days the Zawiya has run a wide range of social welfare activities run out of the building by the Trust, including employment projects, youth activities, interfaith engagement and sharing, local environmental projects including a community allotment and health and wellbeing advice.
Throughout this period of growth , the one constant has been, weekly traditional Sufi circles of Divine remembrance, that bring refreshment to the soul, rest to the mind and peace to the hearts.
The Zawiya community kitchen provides around 5000 free community meals every year reflecting the important role that hospitality plays in Sufi culture. Sufi arts and cultural activities are an integral part of our annual programme of events, that has included a Sufi choir that performed around the UK and range of performances in the Midland Arts Centre.
The Zawiya is open to all, from all faiths and no faith, who share our vision of a life lived with meaning and purpose, love, humility, and respect for all.
The current Pandemic has been a very challenging time as the Zawiya activities have had either to go on-line or to be put on hold. We have found these testing times to also provide an opportunity to become a virtual community for the first time. We look forward to meeting you somewhere in the real or virtual world.
