Our Speakers
SH. Ibraheem menk
Shaykh Ibraheem Menk, born in Zimbabwe, began his first Islamic studies with his grandfather Sh. Musa Menk. He completed his hifdh under his grandfather and went on to study Arabic and other Islamic sciences with him.
He then furthered his studies at the Islamic University of Madinah where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in the Shariah. He currently resides in Harare where he is Imaam and teacher. He has spoken widely on the international circuit.
Ust. Yusha evans
He was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina in a very conservative Christian home. In his early teens he became heavily involved in the church near his home and in Young Life, a non-denominational youth oriented organization with the intention of becoming involved in the ministry of teaching and preaching.
He intended to enroll in Bob Jones University, a world-renowned Bible College in his hometown upon graduating high school, but in the summer of 1996 his life changed. Upon studying the Bible from cover to cover and realizing many things were askew, and a lot of what he believed his entire life was not in line with what his research found, he left Christianity and went in search of the truth. After many twists and turns, ups and downs and after looking at the many world religions searching for the tangible proof of the right way of life he encountered a Muslim and was given a Qur’an. After reading the Qur’an cover to cover, he accepted Islam in the winter of 1998.
He currently works as the Director of Education & Community Outreach at Masjid Salahadeen in Plano Texas
He has studied under numerous teachers and scholars in the various sciences of Islam and is a Psychology major. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the field of Islamic sciences with specialty in Da’wah (Islamic propagation) He is currently pursuing his doctorate under the tutelage of Shaykh Waleed Al-Menesse, one of the world’s foremost Scholars in the Qur’an and its various sciences.
Sh. jamal-udeen hysaw
Shaykh Jamal Ud-Deen Hysaw originally from Chicago, Illinois obtained his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University. In the summer of 1992, he accepted Islam and subsequently travelled to Damascus, Syria where he studied Arabic and Islamic Studies at Abu Nur and the University of Damascus for three years.
He continued his studies in Tarim, Yemen where he studied at Dar al-Mustafa for another five years. Prominent among his teachers were Habib Umar Bin Hafidh, Habib Abdur-Rahman bin Hafidh, Shiekh Umar Al Khatib, and Habib Ali Al-Jifri. During his studies Shaykh Jamal ud-Deen received permission from his teachers to teach and comment on books of Shafi Fiqh, Aqida, Hadith, Tafsir, and the Sciences of the Heart.
Ustadh Jamal was in the Dominican Republic, where he was working in the dawah and helping to develop the Muslim community in Santo Domingo. He was the Imam of Masjid Al-Hidayyah and lectured widely in Spanish too.
Shaykh Jamal ud-Deen presently resides in Atlanta and conducts regular learning programs, study circles, seminars, retreats and programs in the arts.
Dr. Shahrul hussain
Dr. Shahrul Hussain graduated in classical Islamic Studies and Arabic at a British Islamic seminary. He also possesses a BA in Islamic Studies accredited by Rabiytah Madaris al—Islamiyaah. After obtaining a scholarship to study at the prestigious Islamic University of Al-Azhar in Egypt he graduated from the Faculty of Islamic Jurisprudence and Law.
He holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen. Dr Shahrul has held various positions in the field of Education. He was a lecturer at Masters level at the Markfield Institute (affiliated with Gloucestershire and Newman University) and is currently a visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University. He is the founder of Ibn Rushd Centre of Islamic Excellence and has a great passion of for research. He has authored numerous books and journal articles.
Omar Esa
Omar Esa is an award-winning, chart topping, international nasheed artist who uses only his voice in all his nasheeds. His nasheeds are very versatile as he can write both contemporary and traditional sounding nasheeds Alhamdullilah.
Omar Esa was previously an R&B/Pop singer in 2011 and was guided by Allah to leave that world and start recording nasheeds. His new journey began with a simple dream, to show the world the beauty of Islam through his nasheeds.
His album ‘My Muslim Family’ charted no.1 on the iTunes world album charts, with a further 2 nasheeds singles ‘Tera Pyaar – Your Love’ (2018) and ‘Nikah’ (2019) both hitting the number 1 spot on the iTunes world chart alhamdullilah.
He strongly believes that Muslims and especially the youth need an alternative to mainstream music and the combination of art and Islam is a powerful dawah tool for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He regards his voice as a blessing from Allah and aims to use his nasheeds to forward the wonderful messages of peace, love and unity of Islam throughout the whole world In’shaa’Allah.
Qari Ziyaad Patel
Qari Ziyaad Patel was born South Africa. His early education spanned across various schools where he took up many leadership roles and was instrumental in initiating many structures for learners at schools in the region.
His Islamic path started at a young age. He completed his hifdh under the tutelage and guidance of his illustrious teacher, Mufti Goolam Hassan Saib in 1994 at the age of 14. He then returned to his hometown of Ladysmith to continue perfecting his Tajweed under the supervision of Hafiz Dr. Abdul Qadir Hansa. Thereafter Ziyaad proceeded to Cairo, Egypt to study Tajweed Al-Makharej at the Al-Azhar University under the tutelage and guidance of Sheikh Abdullah Attiya Bayomi, where he further underwent Qirah training.
He holds a degree in the field of Information Science from the University of Johannesburg, a Diploma in the field of Humanitarian Assistance from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom and an Advanced Diploma in Humanitarian Interventions from the Institute for International Political Studies (IPS), Milan, Italy.
Qari Ziyaad is also a renowned nasheed artist and has also released a few albums of nasheeds and many recordings of recitations from the Glorious Qu’ran. Many of his recitations are available on the Internet, especially on YouTube. These recitations have been uploaded by the many listeners who have been touched by his melodious and heart rendering recitations of the Noble Qu’ran.
Muslim belal
Muslim Belal is a renowned spoken word artist, public speaker, and community mentor known for his powerful storytelling and transformative journey from street life to Islam. Formerly a grime artist in London’s underground scene, Muslim Belal embraced Islam in his early 20s and has since used his voice and platform to inspire others, especially youth navigating similar paths.
With raw honesty and emotional depth, Muslim Belal combines poetry, faith, and real-life experiences to speak on topics such as identity, repentance, purpose, and the challenges faced by young Muslims today. His work has taken him across the UK and internationally, performing and speaking at mosques, universities, conferences, prisons, and schools.
Beyond the stage, Muslim Belal is actively involved in community projects, prison outreach, and youth mentoring. His message resonates across generations, offering a bridge between the streets and spirituality, and reminding audiences of the redemptive power of faith.
SH. Shady Alsuleiman
Shaykh Shady Alsuleiman was born in Sydney, Australia to an Arab-Palestinian family that migrated to Australia in the late 1960’s. He completed his school certificate in Sydney before embarking on an eight year journey to seek knowledge in the Islamic world.
He initially obtained an Ijaza with Sanad (complete chain back to the Prophet S.A.W.) in complete and sound memorisation of the Qur’an in Sind, Pakistan. He then travelled to Damascus, Syria, where he spent six years studying Islam and Arabic studies at numerous Islamic institutions and was under the mentorship of many well-recognised scholars. His studies resulted in specialisation of Arabic and Comparative Fiqh (Islamic Law/Jurisprudence), as well as receiving numerous Ijazas in Fiqh, Usul Al Fiqh, Hadith and other Islamic sciences. He also holds a master’s in Sharia’a Islamic Studies.
Shaykh Shady currently lives in Sydney with his wife and two sons and is heavily involved with the Muslim community. He is the founder of the United Muslims of Australia (UMA), Australian New Muslims Association (ANMA), Sydney Islamic College, Islamic Media International and other active Dawah organisations and initiatives.
SH. Abdurrahman anwar
Born in San Jose, California and raised partly in the UK, Imam Abdurrahman Anwar studied at an Islamic seminary in India, completing his studies in 2006. He then served as an Imam and taught at an Islamic school in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to London in 2011.
He now lives in East London, where he is a regular Khateeb at Edmonton and Cann Hall Masajid and teaches part-time adult courses at Ebrahim College and his local mosque. He spent over a decade with Ummah Welfare Trust supporting humanitarian work worldwide and advises several Muslim charities on Shariah matters.
He currently works as a Muslim Chaplain with Barts Health NHS Trust, working closely with the Palliative Care team to offer spiritual support to patients and their families.
UST. Ameena blake
Ustadha Ameena Blake embraced Islam in 1992 and has been active in da’wah and education since 1994. She holds an MA in Islamic Studies, an MSc in Leadership and Management and a postgraduate qualification in teaching, and has studied under scholars including Dr Jamal Badawi, Sh Abdul Aziz Atiq of Yemen, Sh Faisal Manjoo and Dr Ataullah Siddiqui.
Her roles have included Vice President of MAB, Assistant Secretary General of the MCB and head teacher of a girls’ Islamic school. She is founding director of the EHUK women’s refuge project, lectures at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, sits on mosque boards and is an Islamic advisor on Halal Guide.
She speaks on tazkiyah, women in the Qur’an, da’wah and Seerah, delivers regular live interactive lectures online, and has appeared on Channel 4, Sky TV, the Islam Channel, BBC radio and Iqraa TV.
UST. KAMRAN TARIQ
Ustadh Kamran Tariq turned to full time study of the sacred sciences after an earlier career in design, completing his Qur’an hifdh and tajweed certification in 2016. He studied at the Institut Européen des Sciences Humaines (IESH) in Château Chinon, France, taking a Diploma in Classical Arabic before graduating from the institute’s Imam Course with a BA equivalent in Islamic and Arabic Studies. There he received his ijazah in the recitation of Imam ‘Asim, holding one of the shortest chains of Qur’anic transmission in Europe, and was certified in the Jazariyyah in 2022. He later completed a year of intensive Arabic study on the AROMER and Bayyinah programme in Istanbul.
He served as Assistant Imam at IESH Château Chinon from 2021 to 2024, leading prayers and Friday khutbahs, teaching Qur’anic studies and hadith, and leading Taraweeh and Qiyam al-Layl. He spent his earlier years there as the institute’s Design and Marketing Producer, including exhibition work for the annual gathering at Le Bourget. Since 2025 he has been Imaam and Khateeb at Walsall Masjid and Da’wah Centre, where he leads prayers, delivers the weekly khutbah with tafseer, and oversees Tarbiyyah and pastoral care.
Ustadh Kamran teaches Qur’an, tajweed and Arabic to students internationally, guiding them through hifdh alongside tafseer, seerah and hadith. He is the founder of @NeedTajweed, producing Islamic motivational content aimed at reconnecting audiences with the Qur’an, and is a regular guest khateeb across the UK. He speaks English, Arabic, Urdu and French.
U S A M A
A fresh voice in the UK nasheed scene, U S A M A brings together soulful vocals, powerful words and uplifting Islamic messages to create performances that resonate far beyond the stage.
Performing entirely without instruments, his distinctive style is rooted in simplicity — heartfelt lyrics, captivating vocals and messages designed to inspire, reflect and connect. Whether performing for young audiences or wider communities, U S A M A uses the beauty of the voice to tell stories that matter.
Beyond nasheeds, U S A M A has spent years working with young people, empowering communities and inspiring the next generation. His journey has also included studying under scholars and activists, shaping a thoughtful and holistic approach to faith, character and youth development.
A talented nasheed artist and gifted Qur’an reciter, U S A M A brings more than a performance — he brings a message.
One voice. Powerful words. A generation worth inspiring.