“Hold the Line!” rang loud during the special community hero tribute to Al Hajj Naim Shah Sr. “I had no idea Naim Shah Sr. was so revered to that degree by his family,” one attendee said. Sister Bridges, a prominent community activist, said, “First let’s give honor to Papa Shah’s mother because she laid the foundation to enable him to do the work he started and then pass it on to his brother (i.e. Khalid Shah)”.  Brother Sidney Cosby, Director of TRIO Talent Search at Los Angeles Southwest Community College, expressed what an honor it was to have the event hosted at his college. We owe him and the college a special acknowledgement for all their support.

While speaking Al Hajj Naim Shah Sr. acknowledged his “teacher trainer friend”, the late Imam Ali Rasheed, he honored his brother Khalid Shah, his family, and all the community members present. He reminded the community of a verse in the Quran, chapter Al-Furqan, verse 74  that says, “Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous”. According to the commentary of this verse by Ibn Kathir, the leader given the grace to lead the righteous are those that want to share their religious virtues with their families and utilize the gifts bestowed upon them by God for the betterment of society. Several post event acknowledgements were shared by the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, and the UMMA Clinic. Special thanks to Study Al–Islam and the Muslim Journal for national event promotion.

 Ronnie Johnson is quoted saying, “Papa Shah is a light sent down from the heavens to shine bright in the community”.  Dr. Imam Jihad reminded us of the depth of Al Hajj Naim Shah Sr.’s character when he said, “I thank the creator to live during the era of Papa Shah and the blessing it is to watch prophetic masculinity embodied”.  Others who shared words of inspiration were Sister Kenyatta Bakeer, Fareed Farukhi of Harmony Bites, Aaron Shakoor of Shakoor Reality, Aquil Basheer, and Imam Muwallat.

Khalid Shah, founder of Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation and event organizer, acknowledged the presence of our dear Imam Saadiq Saafir, Founder of ILM Foundation, and  Minister Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad of the Nation of Islam. London Carter, a community violence prevention activist, shared how Naim Shah Sr. brought a Nation together, including the rolling 20s, 30s, 60s, and Hoover gang members during a community empowerment course that taught them how to effectively think in the streets to save lives. His son, Sharrieff Shah, reminded that Papa Shah’s distribution of love and equity at home was just. His life work stretched over six generations; however his grandson, who memorized the entire Quran by heart, opened the program, reconnecting the family to a pre-slavery Western African Islamic tradition.  The Quran verses recited were translated by his granddaughter Bayinnah K. Shah, who is currently an honor student at Los Angeles Southwest Community College.  

Dr. Adel Syed, reminded us that Papa Shah’s activism footprint is also in the health equity landscape in Los Angeles. Naim Shah Sr. was a former board member of the UMMA Clinic who presented him with a lifetime achievement award. Award acknowledgements were also presented by the honorable Emma Sharif Mayor of Compton, Senior field representative at California State Assembly, Herb Wesson III, Br. Shafeeq Shamsid-Deen of Cair LA,  Omar Ricci of the Islamic Center of Los Angeles, Associate Manager Community Impact-Relations of the Los Angeles Rams Ghalee Wadood, and Dr. Ahmed Soboh, Board Chair of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.

Mr. Rey Liggins, Executive Director of Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation, Darmesha Shah, Director of Operations of Dawah 2000, Alicia Hamilton, Imam Hateem Shareef, and Resident Imam of Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah. did an excellent job organizing the event. The event ended with over twenty community awards distributed to local activists for their remarkable efforts. Please take time to view the e-version of the event program booklet here and the event video of Al Hajj Naim Shah Sr., here.

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you” (Quran Chapter 49:13).