LONDON, ENGLAND —— A gust of cold wind greeted me the moment I stepped out of Heathrow Airport. February in London is indeed still marked by bone-chilling temperatures, yet my heart felt warm. A new adventure had begun. As a Da’i Ambassador sent by Dompet Dhuafa to the UK, Bahrul Ulum carried not only a mission of da’wah but also a deep sense of curiosity: what is the true face of Islam in Queen Elizabeth’s realm? That was the big question on his mind.
Bahrul Ulum recounted that the journey to central London in the luxurious vehicle of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia served as the perfect introduction. Along the way, my eyes were treated to quintessentially English scenery that I had previously only seen on screen. Rows of Victorian-style houses with neat red brickwork, small windows with white window sills, and occasionally a traditional pub with a signboard swaying in the wind. It was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, which he had temporarily left behind.
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“What caught my attention the most wasn’t just the architecture of the buildings. At some street corners, I began to see unexpected sights. There were women in modern hijabs wearing winter jackets strolling casually while pushing baby strollers. Then there were also halal restaurants lining the streets. There were even neighborhoods where the residents were of Arab origin, or Pakistani neighborhoods,” Bahrul Ulum told the Dompet Dhuafa team on Tuesday (February 24, 2025) evening.
He went on to share that there was something he found particularly heartening: a Madurese restaurant whose customers were Westerners, serving traditional Madurese and Indonesian dishes. The words “Subhanallah” slipped out in his heart. It was as if London wanted to immediately present itself as a Muslim-friendly city. Indonesian culture and cuisine were even firmly established in one of its corners.
Text and Photos: Bahrul Ulum, Dompet Dhuafa Ambassador assigned to the UK
Editor: Taufan YN