Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

10 May 2025

3-minute read

AbdulMaalik Tailor, the visionary founding CEO of Halal Tourism Britain, and Britain’s first professionally qualified Muslim tour guide is a trailblazer in the world of halal tourism. He is recognised by Visit Britain, the government’s national tourism office, as the world’s leading expert on halal tourism.

Originally born into the Hindu faith in a semi-Jewish neighbourhood in London, AbdulMaalik Tailor had no exposure to Islam until 30 years ago, when taking his dog for walks in the early mornings, he noticed Muslim men “with big bushy beards” going to the mosque every day. It struck him that “these people are praying at a time to their Lord that they wanted to pray, as opposed to me praying to my Bhagwan at a time I wanted to pray.”  After doing some comparative studies on religion, he learnt from a Muslim friend that “the Creator cannot be like the created,” and his spiritual quest led him to embrace Islam, a decision that transformed his life. His reversion to Islam brought him to researching Britain’s Muslim heritage and thereafter he put together some walking tours and founded Halal Tourism Britain. His central London tour, among other sights, takes people on a tour of Parliament, an Arabic school close by that was run 400 years ago, and Scotland Yard.

Some unique aspects of Muslim history and culture that visitors can explore through his tours in the UK include Trafalgar Square with the word Trafalgar being Arabic in origin, meaning ‘edge of the cave,’ named after the coastal battle of Spain in 1805. The Square also houses the Muslim prison that has been there for over 200 years. There are Turkish canons dotted around Britain with one in the Tower of London. King Henry the 8^th had Turkish ornaments, upholstery and clothing during his reign. In 1894, the first publicly known Eid Fest was held, and a plaque was put on the building where it took place. Additionally, there are about 15-17 plaques around Britain, says AbdulMaalik.

The British National Museum boasts an Islamic gallery funded by the Al-Bukhari Foundation from Malaysia. Within the museum itself, there are many objects related to Muslim heritage, although none from Britain itself. Entrance to the museum is free, although there is a paid package by a tour guide that one can take for a better understanding of these artefacts. AbdulMaalik started a Muslim Mobile Museum to showcase items of Islamic heritage he collected from around Britain.

An interesting fact that he relates in his tours is that London’s First Mosque was opened by a Muslim man from Cape Town named Haji Mohammed Dollie when he came to Britain after having established two masaajid in Cape Town. Halal food can be found in many Muslim-owned restaurants throughout Britain with a few independent hotels serving halal food and no alcohol. AbdulMaalik encourages visitors to take a tour package when visiting the UK, and for those on a budget, he suggests taking one without food as it works out less expensive.

Listen to the full interview here.