Birmingham Man Charged After 16-Year-Old Hafiz Dies in Crash

A 47-year-old Birmingham man has been charged after 16-year-old Muhammad Ismail Alum, a Hafiz and pupil at Darul Uloom Islamic High School, died following a collision while cycling home from Fajr prayers in Small Heath, Birmingham.

Muhammad suffered serious injuries when he was struck near the junction of Cattell Road and Templefield Street at around 5.25am on Friday, 28 August. He was taken to hospital but died the following day.

The teenager had been cycling home after attending Fajr prayers at Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre when the collision occurred.

West Midlands Police arrested Clyde Carey, 47, in connection with the incident. He has since been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene and causing death while uninsured.

Carey appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 31 August and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 28 September.

Muhammad’s death has prompted tributes from his family, school and wider community, with teachers remembering him as an exceptional student whose achievements extended across religious studies, education and charitable work.

Hammaad Azhar, deputy headteacher at Darul Uloom Islamic High School, described Muhammad as “a remarkable young man” who was “respectful, resilient, responsible and deeply caring”.

The school said Muhammad was a much-loved son, relative, friend and student who enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing sport and dedicating himself to his studies.

By the age of 16, Muhammad had memorised the entire Qur’an. He had also earned two ijazahs recognising his Qur’anic recitation, led Taraweeh prayers, achieved outstanding GCSE results and participated in fundraising activities supporting people in need.

Azhar said Muhammad’s kindness could be seen in the way he treated those around him and in the encouragement he offered to others.

“Although his life was tragically short, what he achieved and the example he set will leave a lasting legacy,” he said.

Darul Uloom had previously celebrated Muhammad completing his hifz during Ramadan in March 2024.

At the time, the school described his memorisation of the Qur’an as a “truly extraordinary” achievement, particularly given his young age and the fact that he completed it during Ramadan.

Muhammad was also recognised by his school for his work ethic and character. He was among the leading house-point earners, an achievement associated with perseverance, consistency, hard work and good actions.

His teachers have since described the loss of the teenager as “immeasurable”, highlighting not only his academic and religious accomplishments but also his character and willingness to help others.

West Midlands Police continue to support Muhammad’s family while enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the collision remain ongoing.

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information or footage to come forward.

Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to contact West Midlands Police on 101, quoting log 580 of 28 August.

The next significant development in the case is expected to be the defendant’s appearance at Birmingham Crown Court on 28 September.