'Sheffield has lost remarkable businessman & community champion' with loss of Mohammed Shabbir Mughal
Sheffield’s Lord Shaffaq Mohammed has paid tribute to local businessman and Islamic radio founder Mohammed Shabbir Mughal, who died on October 23.
Sheffield has lost a remarkable man. The passing of Mohammed Shabbir Mughal over the weekend is a sad moment for our city, particularly for the many people whose lives he touched through his business, his generosity and his tireless commitment to helping others.
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Shabbir was a successful businessman and a familiar figure in our community. But to remember him only for his business achievements would be to tell only half the story. His greatest legacy was the difference he made to the lives of others.
Shabbir arrived in the United Kingdom from Kashmir in 1972, settling initially in Bradford. Like so many people who came to Britain in search of opportunity, he worked hard to establish himself, building a successful business through determination, enterprise and a willingness to take risks.
In the early 2000s, he brought that entrepreneurial spirit to Sheffield, establishing the now-famous Karachi Store in Attercliffe. Sadly, the store eventually closed after Shabbir was taken ill. However, its place in the memory of the local community remains, reflecting the contribution independent businesses make to our neighbourhoods, high streets and local economy.
Yet it was Shabbir’s community work that truly set him apart.
One of his most significant contributions was helping to establish and run Radio Ramadan, which became an important feature of the holy month for Muslims across Sheffield and beyond. The station provided companionship, spiritual reflection and a sense of connection for listeners, while encouraging people to embrace Ramadan’s values of compassion, generosity and service to others.
Crucially, Radio Ramadan was also a powerful force for charitable giving. Shabbir understood that Ramadan was not simply a time for personal reflection, but an opportunity to translate faith into practical action. Through fundraising and community engagement, he helped mobilise people to support those facing hardship, both here in South Yorkshire and across the world.
His contribution following the devastating Pakistan and Kashmir earthquake in October 2005 stands as a particularly powerful example.
Working alongside the then Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Roger Davison, Shabbir joined a group that included Muhammad Ali, then chair of the Pakistan Muslim Centre in Sheffield, to organise a joint appeal for earthquake victims.
Together, they raised an impressive £30,000 to help those affected by the disaster. The money helped fund the building of a school in Ghori, near Muzaffarabad, named Sheffield High School, providing a lasting educational benefit for children in the area.
Shabbir and Mr Ali travelled to Kashmir to formally open the school. It was a remarkable gesture, transforming the generosity of Sheffield residents into something tangible for children and families facing the devastating consequences of the earthquake.
For me, this is one of the most enduring parts of Shabbir’s legacy. At a time when people in Kashmir had lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods, the people of Sheffield reached out to help. The school became a lasting symbol of friendship and solidarity between our city and the people of Kashmir in their time of need.
His generosity was never confined to international causes. Shabbir also supported the Sheffield Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal and helped raise funds for residents affected by the Sheffield and Rotherham floods.
Whether responding to a disaster thousands of miles away or helping families in our own communities, he understood that when people are suffering, we all have a responsibility to help.
Shabbir embodied the very best of Sheffield: enterprise, compassion and a willingness to stand alongside others. His contribution went far beyond business, helping build connections between communities and demonstrating how much can be achieved when people work together.
My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who worked alongside him. His loss will be deeply felt, but his legacy will live on in the charitable causes he supported, the school built in Kashmir and the many lives he touched.
Sheffield is a better city because of people like Mohammed Shabbir Mughal. He will be greatly missed, but the example he set deserves to endure.
May he rest in peace.