Our Teachers

Our Regular and Visiting Teachers are devoted to the service of education and teaching, and are a source of blessings for those that are fortunate to learn from them.

Regular Teachers

> Shaykh Ibrahim Osi-Efa Shaykh Ibrahim was born and raised in Liverpool, England. He was blessed with the opportunity to study several classical disciplines at the hands of some of the holders of the tradition such as Murabit al-Haj, al-Habib Umar b. Hafiz and Shaikh Hassan al-Hindi. Initially studying for three years in Syria and Mauritania, Ustaz Ibrahim was then blessed with the opportunity to spend over six years in the illuminated city of Tarim, Hadramaut where he studied under the qualified hands of teachers such as al-Habib Kazim al-Saqqaf, al-Habib Ali al-Jifri and al-Shaikh Umar Husain al-Khatib. He was one of the founders of several Islamic initiatives including the Ibn Abbas Institute, Starlatch Press, Badr Language Institute and the Greensville Trust. He currently resides in Liverpool, England with his wife and two children.

> Shaykh Haroon Hanif Shaykh Haroon studied Arabic for one year in France. Thereafter he returned to Liverpool and studied for over 10 years under the tutelage of Shaykh Siraj al-Deen. In 2007 he travelled to Syria to further his education where his teachers include Shaykh Muhammad Jum'ah, Shaykh Muhammad Derwesh and Shaykh Anas al-Hibri, Shaykh Samir an Nass.

> Shaykh Sa'ad al-'Attas Abu Shu’ayb Sa’ad Peters al-’Attas, a South African with roots extending to Yemen. He is a grandson of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). He currently resides with his family in Keighley. He graduated from the Shari’a institute run by the Tahdhib wa Ta’lim endowment. He was in the four year, accelerated program. His studies there included the following: Arabic (nahu, sarf, balagha, adab, insha), Quran (memorization, tajwid, tafsir, ayat al-ahkam, ’ulum al-quran, usul al-tafsir), Hadith (memorization, commentary, mustalah al-hadith, takhrij, rijal, ahadith al-ahkam), ’Aqidah, Fiqh (Shafi’i and some comparitive), Usul al-Fiqh, Tarbiyyah, Sira (fiqh al-sira, sirat of the Khulifa al-Rashidin), Mantiq and Khitaba. Some of the more important books read during that time include: Ibn Hisham’s Shudhur al-Dhahab and one year from Mughni al-Labib Shadhr al-’Arf al-Balagha al-Wadhiha Zakiriya al-Ansari’s commentary on the Jazariyya Half of the Jalalayn, al-Sabuni’s tafsir in Ayat al-Ahkam Dr. Nur al-Din ’Itr’s ’Ulum al-Qur’an al-Nawawi’s Irshad Tulab al-Haqa’id ’Umdat al-Ahkam with its commentary Ihkam al-Ahkam al-Sawi ’ala al-Jauhara, Dr. al-Buti’s book on contemporary paradigms ’Umdat al-Salik, Kifayat al-Akhiyar al-Mahalli ’Ala al-Waraqat, Dr. al-Zuhayli’s al-Wajiz, half of al-Luma’ and Muftah al-Usul Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin Nur al-Yaqin, Itmam al-Wafa, Fiqh al-Sira Dhawabit al-Ma’rifah His graduation thesis involved an extensive commentary on the hadiths concerning al-amr bi-l-ma’ruf wa al-nahi ’an al-munkar. He defended his thesis and passed his oral examinations in ’aqidah and fiqh, conducted by Shaykh ’Abd al-’Aziz al-Khatib, the imam of Jami’ al-Darwishiya and director of the school. Outside of this institute Shaykh Sa’ad concentrated on Shafi’i fiqh. He read with Shaykh Hussayn Darawish for three years. During that time he completed Zakariya al-Ansari’s Tuhfat al-Tulab with most of al-Sharqawi’s marginal notes. He also complete nearly the first third of the same author’s Fath al-Wahhab with additional notes from al-Bujayrami’s marginal notes. While doing this he also read al-Shirazi’s al-Tanbih with al-Suyuti’s commentary, Sharh al-Yaqut al-Nafis, portions of al-Suyuti’s al-Ashbah wa al-Natha’ir, I’yanat al-Talibin, and others. His concentration on the Shafi’i madhhab allowed him to dive below the surface of simply learning rulings [ahkam] and descend into the depths of understanding the madhhab itself [fiqh]

Visiting Teachers

> Shaykh Al-Habib Kazim Ja'far Muhammad al-Saqqaf Al-Habib Kazim Ja‘far Muhammad al-Saqqaf was born in Tarim, Hadramaut in 1960. He was taught the Qur’an and other Islamic disciplines by his eminent teachers at the famous school of Qur’anic Literacy and Memorisation, Abu Murayyim, and the prestigious school of classical learning, the Ribat of Tarim. After graduating from the two aforementioned institutions, he continued his studies at the hands of some of the most qualified scholars and teachers of Tarim. He thereafter travelled in search of knowledge to the northern Yemeni city of Bayda, registering at the famous Ribat of Bayda where he was blessed to study with some of the greatest scholars of recent times such as al-Habib Muhammad b. Abd-Allah al-Haddar, al-Habib Ibrahim b. Aqil b. Yahya and al-Habib Zain b. Sumait. He then returned to Tarim were he continued his studies as well as embarking upon the continual task of da‘wah. He was appointed the principal and head teacher of the Ribat of Shihr, occupying that post for the next six years, thereafter transferring to the Ribat of Mukalla once again as principal and head teacher for a further two years. He has taught internationally in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. He currently teaches at the prestigious Islamic institute Dar al-Mustafa in Tarim as well as sitting on the Council for Legal Verdicts at the same establishment. He is also extremely active in all parts of Hadramaut, regularly lecturing and participating in conferences.

> Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad (Dr Tim Winter) Born Timothy J. Winter in 1960, Abdal Hakim studied at the prestigious Westminster School in London, UK and later at the University of Cambridge, where he graduated with first class honours in Arabic in 1983. He then lived in Cairo for three years, studying Islam under traditional teachers at Al-Azhar, one of the oldest universities in the world. He went on to reside for three years in Jeddah, where he administered a commercial translation office and maintained close contact with Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad and other ulama from Hadramaut, Yemen. In 1989, Sheikh Abdal Hakim returned to England and spent two years at the University of London learning Turkish and Farsi. Since 1992 he has been a doctoral student at Oxford University, specializing in the religious life of the early Ottoman Empire. In 1996, he was appointed University Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge. Sheikh Abdal Hakim is the translator of a number of works, including two volumes from Imam al-Ghazali Ihya Ulum al-Din. He gives durus and halaqas from time to time and taught the works of Imam al-Ghazali at the Winter 1995 Deen Intensive Program in New Haven, CT. He appears frequently on BBC Radio and writes occasionally for a number of publications including The Independent and Q-News International, Britain's premier Muslim Magazine. He lives with his wife and children in Cambridge, UK.

> Shaykh Umar Al-Khatib Biography coming soon...

> Shaykh Abdul Karim Yahya Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Shaykh Abdul-Karim Yahya embraced Islam in 1989 in his home city. In 1996, having been inspired to study religious knowledge by the books of Imam Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) and the call for the revival of Islamic knowledge, he traveled with his family to Damascus, Syria where he embarked on a course of active pursuit of knowledge. During his two-year stay in Damascus he focused his attention on the acquisition of an elementary knowledge of the Arabic language and Quranic recitation, studying the latter under the tutelage of the highly respected Shaykh of Qur’an Abu Anas (may Allah preserve him) at the Rawda Mosque in Damascus. Thereafter he moved on with his family to Tarim, Hadramawt where he currently resides.

> Shaykh Faiz Ul Aqab Siddiqi Shaykh Faiz ul Aqtab Siddiqi Naqshbandi Hijazi hails from a family that enjoys a historic position for its services to the cause of the Ahle Sunnah wal Jam’ah and Islam. He is the eldest son of the late Shaykh Allama Muhammed Abdul Wahab Siddiqi and the grandson of Shaykh Maulana Muhammad Umar Icharvi. His family lineage as well as his spiritual teachings trace back to the Prophet through Sayyidina Abu Bakr Siddique (ra). He is the Principal and founding Trustee of Hijaz College Islamic University (HCIU) in Warwickshire and resides at the campus. Shaykh Faiz has dedicated his life’s work to HCIU and the mission of Hijaz Community Trust and currently lectures on the Science of Hadith at the College. As the President General of the International Muslims Organisation (IMO) he is working for the religious and social betterment of Muslims globally and has established offices in 23 countries worldwide. This work includes the setting up of schools, mosques and social centres across the globe to serve the Ummah. An Islamic Centre constructed in Toronto under the auspices of the IMO cost five million dollars to build and is the largest centre of its kind in Canada and North America. Similarly as President of IMO, he commissioned the construction of the largest mosque in Holland, built at a cost of seven million Guilders. All funds have been generated from the generous donations of the public free of state funding. He is head of the Naqshbandi Hijazi Sufi Order, which was led by his father the late Shaykh Mohammed Abdul Wahab Siddiqi and traces back to the Prophet through Sayyidena Abu Bakr Siddique. The order (silsila) has a following of thousands and mureeds are trained to discipline their minds, bodies and souls in seeking Allah. The Shaykh offers spiritual guidance in this regard to all those that seek, from the Blessed Seat situated at Hijaz College on most Sundays. Shaykh Faiz ul Aqtab Saheb is currently dedicating his efforts in designing a social regeneration model for the Muslim youth, known as Hijaz Community, to serve as a means to empower the muslim identity of the individual and nurture their love and reverence for their Prophet pbuh. Also as part of this societal rehabilitation programme is the development of a strategy of da’wah work to take the true meaning of Islam to the wider community. Shaykh Faiz ul Aqtab Saheb is the National Convener of the Muslim Action Committee (MAC), which was responsible for articulating a response to the derogatory cartoons of the Holy Prophet pbuh published in 2006. The Committee consisted of over 500 scholars from all backgrounds of religious learning and created a platform for thousands of Muslims in the UK to voice their concern at a civilised and peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar Square London. In campaigning for the principle of Global Civility the Muslim Action Committee has since been involved in responding to the provocative remarks made by the Pope in autumn 2006. Over the years Shaykh Faiz ul Aqtab has earned the respect of the Muslim community in the UK and overseas as a loyal and uncompromising voice for Ahle Sunnah wal Jam’ah and Islam. By profession Shaykh Faiz ul Aqtab Siddiqi is a Barrister at law in England and Wales and a member of Lincoln’s Inn, currently practicing commercial law and conflicts of law. His practice is limited to 3 days per month which he finds is sufficient to meet his material needs and he devotes the rest of his time to his work for Islam. Over the years the Shaykh has: Conducted several TV/radio debates on Classical Islamic thought as well as on many contemporary issues and has represented the Muslim community in the British, European as well as international media. Delivered inspiring lectures at numerous conferences across the world in order to spread the message of Islam in an articulate and effective manner to Muslims and non Muslims. Written in many journals on the contemporary dilemmas facing the Muslim Ummah. He is currently writing various books on reinvigorating the beliefs of current Muslims in their faith and love for Allah the Exalted. Provided his service to guiding a multitude of young people in both outwardly forms of worship as well as the inner disciplining of the soul.

> Imam Muhammad Arshad al-Misbahi Imam Muhammad Arshad al-Misbahi is the Chair of AKSA (Al-Karam Scholars Association) and has been serving at Manchester Central Mosque Victoria Park since 1997 as the Khatib, Imam and Headteacher. He was born in 1968 in India. He comes from a well-respected and learned family. His father, Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Miyan Maleg, has been serving Islam for the last three decades in Birmingham. Imam Muhammad Arshad began his studies at Jamia Al-Karam where he studied under Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada and Abu’l-In’am ‘Allama ‘Abd al-Bari. Later he travelled to Pakistan as well as India to pursue further and higher education. In Pakistan, he had the opportunity to study with the late Diya’ al-Ummat, Justice Shaykh Muhammad Karam Shah al-Azhari (ra) and in India, he studied at al-Jami’a al-Ashrafiyya at Mubarakpur. Upon his return from India, he began teaching and serving as head of religious studies at Jamia Al-Karam. He completed Tahfeez-ul-Qur’an in Bradford. He is the founder and patron of the Sunni Society at the University of Manchester. He has extensively travelled to many countries delivering lectures and seminars. Due to his tireless service to the propagation of Islam, more than five hundred people have accepted Islam at his hands in the mosque where he serves. In 2001, he was awarded the ad-Dir’ul Mumtaz award from the Al-Azhar University of Cairo, Egypt.

> Shaykh Atabek Shukurov Nasafi At the young age of ten, Shaykh Atabek Shukurov Nasafi began his religious studies in his native Uzbekistan. He studied under local scholars such as Shaykh Sayyid Karim Namangany and Shaykh Mohammed Jaan, under whose guidance he began to memorise the Qur’an. He completed his studies at the age of 21 in various subjects including Arabic Language, Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir and Tajwid at Madrasa Abul Qasim and Jamia Islamia in Uzbekistan. In 1998 he moved to Damascus, Syria, for higher studies with some of the finest scholars of our time. He enrolled on a four year “al-Ijaza al-Alimiyya” programme at the Takhassus Institute which is affiliated to Al Azhar University, Egypt. During this time his studies included: Sharh Ibn Aqeel with Sh. Atiyya, Sharh Fiqh al-Akbar with Sh. Adeeb al-Kallas, Lubab with Sh. Abdullah Rabiah, Aqida with Sh. Saeed Ramadan al-Buti, Risala Qushariyya with Sh. Abdul Fatah Bizm, Hadith with Sh. Sadiq Darwish, Da’wa with Sh. Tawfiq al-Buti. Whilst continuing his studies at the institute he also focused on intensive private lessons with Shaykh Muhammed Adnan Darwish and covered Fath Bab al-Inaya and the Mu’atta Imam Malik. He also studied Shudhoor al-Dhab, Sharh Qatar al-Nida, Thufatal Mureed and Mukhtasar al-Bukhari with Shaykh Rushdi al-Qalam. He graduated in 2003 after spending the final year at Al Azhar University and was given certification by the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy.

> Shaykh Muhammad Umar Muhammad Umar is the Chairman of Ramadhan Foundation and Executive Director of Ramadhan Productions. He became the youngest person to be interviewed on the World’s renowned BBC HardTalk to discuss the July 7th terrorist attacks in London and the response from the Muslim community in the UK. With a high media profile focused on imparting Islamic knowledge to both Muslims and non Muslims alike. He has delivered lectures throughout the world on a variety of topics including the Muslim role in the west, interfaith and peaceful co-existence. One of his central messages is to promote tolerance and peaceful co-existence. His search for the truth has taken him to various places of the world from the deserts of Mauritania to Morocco, Egypt and Europe. As Chairman of the Ramadhan Foundation he has taken the message of unity around the globe. Currently he resides with his family in Greater Manchester.

Forthcoming Events