Al Wali

Al Wali departed this life on February 15, 2026, at the age of 79 years. In his late teens he was introduced to the Nations of Islam by the late Brother Solomon Ali who was also the founder of High Light Magazine in Cincinnati Ohio. He learned the business from Brother Ali and continued publishing the magazine in the mid 1970's. In the 1980's Al Wali also published the High Light magazine in Gainesville Florida.

In the early 1970's Gainesville Florida had a small Muslim community. Bro. Wali was a very active member. He helped brothers and sisters and was well known. He later settled on photography and enjoyed taking photos of weddings and other special events.

He is surpassed in death by his father, Thomas Penland and his mother Pearl Robinson. Wali was born in Cincinnati, and his grandmother Jannie Penland raised him and his late sister Carolyn. Wali has loving stepbrothers and stepsisters who are from the Penland and Ardley sides of the family.

Wali from his previous marriage to Jacqueline Kelly, had surviving five children. The children are Idris, Wadooah, Akillah, Chania and Rahman. He is also the grandfather of seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, 8092 Plantation Dr, West Chester, OH 45069, on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, at 1:00PM. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery.