Maulana Dr Shahid Raza Naeemi (OBE)
Born in India, Maulana Raza earned a degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Agra in 1969. He then embarked upon post-graduate study at the University of Meerut in 1976. This was followed by an advanced degree in Islamic Studies from Jamia Na’imia Moradabad, one of the oldest and most prestigious theological seminaries in the Indian sub-continent.
When Maulana Raza arrived in England in 1978, he joined the Islamic Centre (Leicester) as the Principal Imam. After 40 years, he is still serving in this leadership capacity.
Maulana Raza is also a board member of the Muslim Law (Shariah) Council UK and has been the Executive Secretary and Registrar since that organisation’s launch in 1988. More recently, in October 2004, he has taken a leadership role and has become a founding trustee in the formation of new national Muslim body, the British Muslim Forum which represents over 300 mosques and other Muslim organisations in the United Kingdom.
Until its close Maulana Raza worked as Course Director for the training of British Imams at the Muslim College in London.
Mualana Shahid Raza was houroured in the Queen's new year honours list (2007) with an OBE for his services to the Muslim community.
Mualana Shahid Raza was instrumental in the formation of MINAB (Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board) and was elected chairman of this influential organisation in 2009.
Shahid Raza is the President of the World Islamic Mission of Europe. Aside from his other religious duties, he is devoting his scholarly attention to systematise a comprehensive educational programme for imams in the UK.
Dr Hafiz Ather Hussain al-Azhari
Dr Hafiz Ather Hussain al-Azhari is an Imam, writer and researcher. He began his Islamic education by completing the memorisation of the Holy Quran at the age of thirteen. After completing his GCSEs he moved to Jamia al-Karam, where he studied Arabic Grammar & Islamic Studies under the guardianship of Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada and Mawlana Abdul-Bari Sahib. in 1995, he travelled to Bhera Sharif in Pakistan and completed the traditional seminary course with First Class Honours.
Between 1996 and 1999, he studied at al-Azhar University in Cairo, the oldest seat of Islamic learning in the world. He specialised in Hadith Studies and graduated in BA Principles of Theology in 1999.
Upon returning to England, he joined the University of Birmingham to study BA Political Sciences, and he graduated with First Class Honours in 2003. In 2006, he completed his MPhil in Theology on the al-Jami of al-Khatib al-Baghdadi and in 2012, he completed his PhD in Theology (on the Nuzha of Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani), all at the same university.
He has translated serveral Islamic text from Urdu to English, most notably Tasfeer Imdad al-Karam (Volume one), by M.I.H Pirzada and Surah as-Fatiha by Allama Ghulam Rasul Sai'di.
In collaboration with Dr Allama Muhammad Shahid Raza Naeemi OBE, he has also written Towards Understanding Aqidah, Imam Hussain & the Tragedy of Karbala and Al-isra wal Miraj - An account of the Miraculous Night Journey. He continues to author including a new book on the Four Sources of Shariah.
Yassir Hussain
Graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science in 1998, Yassir Hussain embarked on a career in I.T starting as a programmer and now leads a large development team for a software house based in the East Midlands.
His longstanding interest in science and Islam lead Yassir to evolve an extensive understanding of the requirements around establishing dawn (Fajr) and dusk (Isha) and he is now responsible for the salaah time calculations and timetables for a number of mosques in the city of Leicester. The exploration of the issues around establish dawn as high latitudes has resulted in one of the most extensive dawn observation projects conducted in the UK using scientific equipment managed by Yassir Hussain. This passion for Islam and science has allowed Yassir to also publish a number works on the issue of moon sighting.
Yassir has always maintained a strong link with the local mosques as a volunteer where he enjoys arranging and supporting youth and madrassah activities. He maintains a number of Mosque websites and social media accounts as well as providing I.T support.
(Last Updated : April 2018)