Our Team
The People Behind Imdadiyyah
Imdadiyyah has grown through generations of teaching, service and community. Meet some of the people who teach, organise and help make its work possible.
Founders & Leads
Principal & Co-Founder
Shaykha Shamim Akhtar
Shaykha Shamim Akhtar co-founded Imdadiyyah's Madrassah around three decades ago and has been involved in its teaching and development since its early years. She serves as Principal, overseeing the women's and children's side of the Madrassah and continuing to play an active role in its educational work.
Principal & Co-Founder
Qari Hafiz Mohammed Ali
Qari Hafiz Mohammed Ali co-founded Imdadiyyah's Madrassah around three decades ago and has been involved in its teaching and development since its establishment. A Qari and Hafiz of the Qur'an, he serves as Principal and oversees the men's side of the Madrassah and its Qur'anic education.
Director
Shaykh Mohammed As'ad Ali
Shaykh Mohammed As'ad Ali is an Islamic scholar and the Director of Imdadiyyah. He studied at Jamia Al-Karam in Nottinghamshire, completing the Advanced Diploma in Islamic Sciences & Traditional Scholarship and later the Higher Diploma of Specialisation in Islamic Law. His studies have also included classical training at Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah.
Alongside teaching, Shaykh As'ad has served as an Imam at a number of institutions in the UK and delivers lectures and programmes to communities internationally. Today, he leads the educational and community direction of Imdadiyyah, bringing together traditional Islamic scholarship, teaching and community service.
Teaching
Teacher
Aalimah Rubab Anwar
Aalimah Rubab Anwar completed the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum at Jami'a Khadijah in Pakistan in 2010 and continued her Islamic studies under the guidance of Allamah Syed Shah Turabul Haq Qadri رحمه الله.
Alongside her Islamic studies, she holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from DePaul University in Chicago. She teaches across Imdadiyyah's women's educational programmes, with a particular focus on Seerah, Qur'an and practical Islamic education, and has taught classes, courses, seminars and workshops for women in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Her recent teaching at Imdadiyyah includes Through Her Eyes and Virtues & Vices.
Madrassah Teacher
Ustadha Attiyah
Ustadha Attiyah teaches within the children's Madrassah, supporting pupils in Qur'an recitation and Hifdh.
Areas: Children's Qur'an recitation, Hifdh
Madrassah Teacher
Ustadha Alisha
Ustadha Alisha teaches Qur'an recitation within Imdadiyyah's children's Madrassah.
Areas: Children's Qur'an recitation
Burdah & Recitation
Our Sisters' Burdah is brought to life each week by the women who lead and support its recitation.
Lead Burdah Reciter
Sister Aaliyah
Sister Aaliyah is the lead reciter for Imdadiyyah's Sisters' Burdah, helping lead the weekly gathering through the recitation of the Qasidah al-Burdah and other devotional poetry. Through her recitation, she contributes to the atmosphere of remembrance and love for the Prophet ﷺ that sits at the heart of these gatherings.
Burdah Team
Sister Falak
Sister Falak is part of Imdadiyyah's Sisters' Burdah team and has also been a student at Imdadiyyah. Having grown through the community as a student, she now contributes to its weekly Burdah gatherings and wider sisters' programmes.
Burdah Team
Sister Safaa
Sister Safaa is part of Imdadiyyah's Sisters' Burdah team and is also a Hifdh student, continuing her own journey of Qur'anic learning alongside her service to the community. She contributes to the weekly Burdah gatherings and supports Imdadiyyah's sisters' programmes.
Management
Trustee / Management
Sister Sahir
Working behind the scenes to support the organisation and delivery of Imdadiyyah's programmes.
Volunteers
Powered by Community
Alongside our teachers and organisers, Imdadiyyah is supported by volunteers who give their time to help make our classes, gatherings and community programmes possible.