Born Hedley Churchward, his name was changed to Mahmoud Mobarek after he converted to Islam. Born in Aldershot, England. Died 1929, Johannesburg.
Churchward came from one of England’s most prestigious families. He spent some of his early years at Queen Victoria’s court. He was educated at Kilburn College. His artistic talent was recognized while he was in his teens and eventually became a mainstay of London’s circle of artists. His expertise was in the field of theatre painting and his theatre sets were famous.
Churchward was first attracted to Islam when he visited Spain and saw the Alhambra and the Cordoba Musjid. He made a difficult journey to Morocco where he spent some months, eventually adopting Islamic garb. He announced his conversion to Islam and traveled to Australia and South Africa as well.
He visited Cairo and was asked to decorate a Musjid. He became a student at Al Azhar University for several years and married the daughter of one of the leading Shafi jurists. He preached sermons at a small Musjid, and was appointed a lecturer in Sirah at the Qadi’s Academy.
Hedley and his wife settled amongst the Cape Malays of South Africa. In 1910 Hedley left Johannesburg to become on the first Europeans to go on Hajj.
In South Africa his art gained him the patronage of Cecil Rhodes and the favour of the Randlords. His intercession with President Paul Kruger resulted in the construction of the first Musjid on the Witwatersrand. He is buried in Johannesburg cemetery and a large number of his paintings and drawings are preserved at the University of Witwatersrand.
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