Since the death of Asad Shah at his shop on Minard Road in Shawlands on Thursday evening, Glaswegians have rallied round to pay their respects to a popular and well-regarded figure in the Southside community. Here Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald pays his tribute to the "friendly" and "gentle" shopkeeper.

His charm and friendliness were indisputable.

As reliable as clockwork, Asad Shah was always at his counter with a smile, ready to serve. For him, running his shop on Minard Road was not a commercial business: his business was people.

Shah's store stands out from the many soulless supermarkets filled with anonymous people throwing that night's dinner into a basket without much notice for those around them, ending in angry exchanges with a robotic till telling you there's an unexpected item in the bagging area.

In Shah's you were much more than a transaction, you were a visitor. To him it was a privilege to serve those who had chosen to go to his small part of the world to fill their grocery basket.

I had spent my Thursday night like many others. Having had a long week at work, I got home and had a gin and tonic, caught up with my partner and invited a friend over for dinner. We spent the evening catching up, telling jokes and laughing. Unknown to me at the time was that Mr Shah was dying less than ten minutes from my front door.

When I woke to the news early on Friday morning I was gutted. Not only that a man of such gentle character was to be taken from our community, but I had no idea what lay ahead. I feared the worst.

I visited Minard Road on Friday morning. I spoke with locals who had turned out to lay flowers and others who just stood in shock at what had happened.

The media scrum which often accompanies scenes such as this was also to be found, and people were sharing their stories of a man who they were proud to call a friend. It seemed like everyone was on his Christmas card list.

By the afternoon there was a community organised vigil arranged for that evening. An online crowd funder has raised over £20,000 for his family. That Southside spirit of solidarity was coming into its own.

At nine o'clock that night I joined hundreds of Southsiders in a silent vigil outside Mr Shah's store. We stood as one, in silence, to remember our friend and stand in solidarity with his family.

The grief was palpable as people came forward to lay flowers, candles and cards with messages of peace. My earlier anxiety had turned to pride in my neighbours. Pride laced with sadness.

That wee shop, where many of us have dropped in over the years, is a darker, smaller place having lost its friendly proprietor. It didn't matter who you were or what you were in for - whether it was the rolls and the milk, the morning papers, change for the bus or the paracetamol needed to clear away the night before - Mr Shah was thankful for your visit to his wee shop.

You entered a customer but you left as a friend.

We may have lost one of the Southside's most warm-hearted souls, but there are local shops across the country run by men and women just like Mr Shah. Loyal. Friendly and dedicated to the community.

These people provide a service. Be kind to them and show them your thanks next time you pop in.

Stewart McDonald is the MP for Glasgow South.