Respected Islamic Scholar Dr M.A.M. Shukry Left A Legacy For Next Generation
Dr M.A.M Shukry
Latheef Farook
Around mid-1970s respected Sri Lankan Islamic scholar Dr M.A.M.Shukry spoke on the significance of Ramadan at an Ifthar party organized by the Muslim Majlis of Law College. He dealt with every aspect of Ramadan, from modern point of view, citing verses from Holy Quran in Arabic providing English translation.
It was a very enlightening speech. After the party the newly arrived Libyan Ambassador to Sri Lanka Abdus Salam Miladi took me to a side and asked me who is this Dr Shukry and what his background
I briefed him and asked him why. He said I am an Arab, Arabic language is my mother tongue and I did Arabic language for my degree, but ashamed to say that I can’t speak the classic Arabic which he spoke. This young scholar is not only an asset to Muslims in Sri Lanka but worldwide.
This in a nutshell sums up the intellectual caliber of Dr Shukry early in life.
Those days Muslims used to invite speakers from Tamilnadu for Holy Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebrations. However with the emergence of Dr Shukry, late M.B.M Maher and others this trend disappeared.
Dr Shukry was one of the finest and popular debaters in the Peradeniya University together with Dr Ameer Ali who, even today, does a yeomen service writing on burning Muslim and national issues of Sri Lanka from Australia.
His batch mate and former banker Muhammad Jaleel told me that in view of Dr Shukry’s popularity he invited him to Jaffna in 1962 for a Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) birthday meeting which was held at the Five Junction at main Manippai Road .Even today people talk about this lecture during which Dr Shukry compared Islam and communism shedding light on subjects which were not even thought about by others.
He was the only student who did Arabic honors under Professor Dr S.A.Imam. Thus whenever the two were seen in functions his colleagues used to say there the Arabic faculty is there.
A fine product of Colombo Zahira College under eminent educationist A.M.A Azeez, Dr Shukry, after graduating with first class honors, went to Edinburg University in Britain where he obtained his PhD.
On his return he lectured at Peradeniya and Kelaniya universities before joining the non-fee levying Jamiah Naleemia in Beruwala, brainchild of late A.M.Azeez, where he made significant contribution to produce much needed Muslim graduates with Islamic background suited to serve the needs of the country in many fields.He remained there till he left us on 19 May 2020, regarded as one of the holiest days during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
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