Speakers & Bio

Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf (UK)

Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam (UK)

Sh Ahmed Ali (UK)

Sh Hasan Ali (UK)

Imam Nafis Bhayat (CDN)

Sh Hasan Shaikh (CDN)

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra (UK)

Shaykh Imran Khan (CDN)

 

Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf:

Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera has been studying traditional Islamic sciences and authoring scholarly works for many years. Training initially at Darul Uloom Bury, UK, he memorized the Qur'an by age 15 and completed a Shari'ah program. He graduated with certifications (ijazah) in numerous disciplines, including Arabic, Islamic jurisprudence, and hadith (with emphasis on the 6 authentic books of hadith (Sahih Sitta) & Muwattas of Imam Malik and Imam Muhammad). 
 
In South Africa he gained specialized training in answering legal questions (ifta), completed a B.A. with honours in Islamic Studies, and gained ijazah after reading Mulla 'Ali al-Qari's Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar. 
In India, Mufti received authorization to issue legal rulings (fatawa), after studying many classical jurisprudential texts, including, Ibn Nujaym's Al-Ashbah wa 'l-naza'ir and 'Allama Haskafi's Al-Durr al-mukhtar (along with its commentary, Radd al-muhtar, by 'Allama Ibn 'Abidin al-Shami). 
 
To date, Mufti Abdur-Rahman has written and translated many texts including Fiqh al-Imam: Key Proofs in Hanafi Fiqh (1996), Reflections of Pearls (1995), & Imam Abu Hanifa's Al-Fiqh al-Akbar, along with its commentary. 
 
He is currently in the UK and continues to work on scholarly publications. Some of his lectures can be found at www.zamzamacademy.com and www.al-rashad.com. His books can be found at www.whitethreadpress.com 

Mufti Muhammad Ibn Adam al-Kawthari

Shaykh Mufti) Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari is a traditionally trained scholar who studied in different parts of the world. Born in Leicester, UK in 1976 and raised under the guidance of his illustrious father, Shaykh Mawlana Adam, he started learning about Islam from a very young age. He memorized the Holy Qur’an at a very tender age of 9.  

At the age of 12, he enrolled into one of the famous Islamic institutions in Britain, Darul Uloom in Bury, and studied the Arabic Language and various other Islamic Sciences under many Shuyukh notably, Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Motala (A great scholar of Hadith & Tasawwuf, and the senior disciple of the famous Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandahlawi). He received Ijazas in various books including the six major books of Hadith. He also took part in a one year course of specialization in fiqh (Ifta).

After graduating from the Dar al-Uloom, he travelled to Karachi, Pakistan, where he studied under one of the greatest living Scholars, Shaykh Justice Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Vice Chairman, International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Jeddah) and others.  

In the year 2000, he travelled to Damascus, Syria, where he increased in experience and knowledge by studying under the great Ulama of Sham ( Syria). Among those from who he has Ijazah are Shaykh Abd al- Razzaq al-Halabi and Shaykh Doctor Abd al- Latif Farfur al-Hasani.  

His works include The Issue of Shares, Birth Control & Abortion, Simplified Rules of Zakat, The Importance of Growing a Beard (Arabic) and Discussions in the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah (Arabic).

He presently resides in Leicester, UK, where he teaches students the various Sciences of Islamic Knowledge at Jamiah Uloom al-Qur’an, and helps people with their queries and problems with the Darul Iftaa. 

Shaykh Hasan Ali

Sheikh Hasan was born and brought up in the West Midlands of England and his early years were spent in secular education in state schools. Thereafter embarked upon studying Islamic sciences. First he memorised the Qur'an during GCSE studies and then began to learn the Arabic language together with many other sciences (known as the Dars Nizami). 
 
In 1997, after nine years of studying in boarding schools and graduating with an Aalimiyyah (MA Islamic Studies) he became the Imam of London Islamic Cultural Society in North London (www.lics.info). Here, he served the community for several years by holding several classes in addition to the duties of an Imam. These classes consisted of Tafseer, Hadith, Arabic, Tajweed etc and were taught to all age groups. 
 
During his post as Imam at LICS, Sheikh Hasan Ali also set up Safar Academy (www.safar.org.uk), a weekend Islamic School. To this date he is still actively involved in teaching and running the school. The school currently has 17 members of staff and 250 students (between the age of 6-16) who are taught Tajweed, Fiqh, Islamic General Knowledge, Aqeedah and Quranic Arabic. The Sheikh is currently authoring a syllabus for such Islamic schools (makatib). 
 
Between 2000 and 2003 he was the Imam, Head of Islamic Studies and Head of Arabic Studies and a member of the school's Senior Management Team at Yusuf Islam's Brondesbury College for Boys in Kilburn, North London. The Sheikh, here, devised an entire Islamic Syllabus for this secondary school and also contributed largely to the gapping of the physical and spiritual life of both staff and students. 
 
In March 2003, together with other educationalists, he set up the Ebrahim Community College in East London where he is serving as the Director of Human Resources and also teaches A Level Religious Studies, Philosophy of Religion, Usul al-Fiqh, Translation of the Quran in English and Seerah. 
 
In 2006 he completed a MA in Education (Psychology) at the Institute of Education, University of London. Furthermore, he is the Senior Religious Advisor for Media4insight and we would like to take the opportunity here to thank the Sheikh for his invaluable time and his intuitive vision. 
 
His upbringing in the UK combined with his knowledge of Islamic and Western Sciences makes him a unique and inspiring lecturer. Consequently, in his talks to Muslims and interfaith work with non-Muslims he focuses on real issues concerning Muslims and non-Muslims alike and desires a positive change in the lives of people. He wants Muslims to advance in all aspects of their lives and be models as individuals in society, in their homes and at their workplace representing a true and pure image of Islam. 
 
He has lectured on a wide range of inspiring and relevant topics throughout mosques, universities, colleges and in the media both in the UK and abroad including Belgium, Holland, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates among other countries. 

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra: 

Ibrahim Mogra is an Imam in Leicester and chair of the high profile Masjid and Community Affairs Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain. He has been trained in classical theology and the traditional sciences of Islam. He holds religious credentials from Dar-ul-Uloom, Holcombe as well as advanced theological qualifications from the world famous Al-Azhar University in Cairo. In addition, Shaykh Mogra has undertaken a postgraduate degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He is one of an emerging generation of theological leaders and Muslim Imams who seek to project a new understanding of Islam in the United Kingdom. He is in the forefront of reinterpreting the faith for today’s needs while also calling for greater and more effective Muslim integration into British society. 
 

Shaykh Ahmad Ali

Shaykh Ahmad Ali emigrated from Pakistan to the United Kingdom at an early age. After completing his secular studies, he enrolled at Darul Uloom Al-Arabiya Al-Islamiya, a madrasa located in Northern England. There, he successfully completed the traditional Islamic studies course under the guidance of some of the best scholars in England. Shaykh Ahmad Ali focused his attention on the sciences of aqidah, fiqh, hadith and tafseer. After graduating, Shaykh Ahmad Ali established the al-Mahad Al-Islami in Bradford, England. This institution provides Islamic counseling, education and guidance to youth and university-age students in the area.

Shaykh Ahmad Ali has also authored a number of books, given lectures at numerous institutions, including a special series on the signs of the Day of Judgment. Popular for his dynamic style of speaking, Shaykh Ahmad Ali has traveled across the United Kingdom and to the West Indies to spread the message of Islam

Shaykh Imran Khan

Shaykh Imran Khan commenced his pursuit for Islamic knowledge by the memorization of the Holy Quran and completing it in 1994. He then pursued his desire for sacred knowledge by enrolling in a degree for Islamic Sciences at the prestigious institute Darul-Uloom Al-Madania in Buffalo, NY. He completed his studies in 2002 and served as an instructor at Darul Uloom from 2002- 2007.

Shaykh Imran Khan has been an Imam and Instructor at Islamic Society of Markham since 2007. He is a dynamic speaker and leader of the community. Sheikh Imran Khan has joined our team of scholars to assist us in spiritual guidance.

Imam Nafis Bhayat

Imam Nafis Bhayat was born in India and moved to England in his early childhood. His quest for Islamic knowledge began at a very young age. He completed the memorization of the Quran at the tender age of 13. Thereafter, he continued his Islamic studies at Darul Uloom Bury, UK, for the next six years in the field of Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh, Aqaid and the Arabic language.

Since graduating with a degree in Islamic theology in 1992, Imam Nafis has been serving as the head imam and director of religious services at the Islamic propagation centre of Ontario, also known as Jame Masjid Mississauga, Canada, until this present day. His weekly Tafseerul Quran class attracts the attendance of over 200 participants.

Imam Nafis is an executive member of the Canadian Council of Imams, Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians, teacher at Alfajr Institute and a member of Islamic finance advisory board. He is frequently invited to deliver khutbahs and lectures at various Masajids and religious institutions.

He resides in Mississauga with his wife and three sons.