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Mahmood was born in Zanzibar in 1956, the fifth in a family of six of two sisters and three brothers. His parents, Husein Abdulrasul Datoo and Zainab Ahmed Lakha were both also born in Zanzibar. In the late 60s, he moved to Dar-es-Salaam and then to UK in the mid 70s. He is now settled in London, UK, is married and has two teenage sons.
In 1967, he moved to Dar-es-Salaam, to complete his primary and secondary education at the Forodhani School. He went to London, UK, studying A-Levels in Pure Maths, Applied Maths and Physics, and got straight As. In 1977, he went to Leeds University, UK, to study Civil Engineering, where he graduated with a first in 1980. He was awarded a full scholarship by Leeds University to pursue doctorate studies and in 1983, he was awarded a PhD in Structural Engineering. He then worked for two years in industry in Scotland, UK, before taking up a lecturing post at Cranfield University, UK, in 1985. In 1990, he moved to London South Bank University where he is presently lecturing in Structural Engineering. He is a UK registered Chartered Engineer and is a professional member of the three major UK Institutes of Engineering - Aeronautical, Mechanical and Civils.
He was the President of the Milton Keynes Jamaat (1986-88). As a committee member of the London Jamaat (1991-92) he edited the revived bi-monthly newsletter, and set-up the Burial Fund, of which he is now one of the three-members team in administering it. He set-up and is co-ordinating the News of Death Network for London Jamaat and is a member of its Ghussal-Kaffan committee. He is one of the two-members team producing the biennial catalogue of graves for London Jamaat. He was one of the two-members team in initiating, setting up its template and until recently, compiling the annual London Jamaat calendar.
He is a recipient of the Husaini Medal from London Jamaat (1994) and an Appreciation Award from CoEJ (2000). He has been involved in teaching A-Levels Maths at the Stanmore Tuition since its inception. He has set-up and participated in all the CoEJ GCSE and University Study Skills courses, and the Revision Courses. He has participated in all the European CoEJ Camps, the Dar-es-Salaam Tabligh Camps and the revived Toronto camps. He has authored one engineering text book and two Islamic books – Mukhtar and the Concise Biography of Prophet Muhammad (saww). He has recited English Majalis during Muharram at Birmingham, Brampton, Dar-es-Salaam, Edmonton, Hyderi, Idara, Miami, Milton Keynes, Minneapolis, Peterborough, Stanmore and Toronto. He also recites occasionally at Stanmore outside the Muharram period.
He enjoys reading Islamic history literature, popular fiction and indulges in lateral thinking and quizzes. |
