AboutExecutive Committee Profiles

The Executive Committee:

Dr. Haitham al-Haddad
Chairman

Based in London, Dr. Haitham al-Haddad has been studying the Islamic sciences for over 15 years with a special interest in Islamic law and legal theory having graduated with a BA in Islamic Law. He went on to write his doctoral thesis on Islamic jurisprudence in reference to Muslim minorities and was awarded a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London). Dr al-Haddad has studied under the tutelage of various senior scholars such as the late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Shaikh Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baaz, Shaikh Abdullah Ibn Jibreen, the former chief judge of Riyadh and the retired Head of the Kingdom's Higher Judiciary Council Shaikh Abdullah ibn Aqil, Shaikh Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen (for a short period) as well as various other senior scholars. He has taught Manar al-Sabeel (legal text) and currently teaches comparative Islamic jurisprudence through the text Zad al-Ma'ad. He has taught a core group of students on a private basis and has completed Ibn Abi al-Izz’s commentary on al-Aqidah al-Tahawi (Islamic doctrine), Rawd al-Murbi’ with Ibn al-Qasim’s commentary (legal text), Mudhakkirah fi usul al-fiqh (legal theory), Mukhtasar Rawdah an-Nadhir with the author’s commentary (legal theory), al-Muwafaqaat (legal philosophy), as well as other texts. He also delivers courses on Qur'anic and hadith sciences, Islamic legal theory, and theological studies - all of which are offered through MRDF's Sabeel program. Dr al-Haddad currently serves as a judge at the Islamic Sharia Council in London, acts as an advisor to various organisations, and serves as a trustee and chairman for MRDF.

Yunus Abdullah
Managing Director

Yunus has served as the president of East London University’s Islamic society and still contributes to the Isoc delivering the Friday sermon at the university on a regular basis. He has studied Arabic and Islamic studies in Cairo as well as furthering his studies in the UK. He is currently the chairman for an after school project for Muslim children (ASPIRE) and on the board of trustees for the London Islamic society which acts as an umbrella organisation for university Islamic societies. Yunus is a trustee of MRDF and leads the administrative department.

Mujahid Khalid
Senior Strategy Consultant

Mujahid served as the president of Cambridge University Islamic Society whilst studying there. Upon graduation, he embarked on a career in the Petroleum Industry whilst also being actively involved in various da’wah organisations. Thereafter he completed an MBA at INSEAD in France and returned to the UK where he worked in Business Development and Strategy and became a founding member of MRDF.

Farid Haibatan
Head of Development | Head of Sabeel Project

Having graduated in Economics from the University of Essex, Farid studied at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia where he completed an Arabic Language diploma and enrolled for the BA in Islamic Propagation. Since his return, Farid has been involved in propagation, teaching Arabic and various Islamic subjects, and publishing Islamic titles. He is a member of SIAP, a community organisation that manages numerous projects and services for the local community both Muslim and non-Muslim, and manages the education and development wing of MRDF.

Asif Uddin
Assistant to Head of Development

Asif read a Masters at Brunel University and has spent time studying Islamic subjects in Mauritania, Egypt and Qatar. He gives weekly circles on Islamic creed and Qur’anic exegesis. Asif’s main work in MRDF revolves around the Sabeel project which focuses on developing Muslims with leadership skills.

Abu Taher Chowdhury
Head of Finance

After having graduated in Economics from the University of Essex, Abu Taher studied at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia where he completed an Arabic Language diploma and enrolled for the BA in Islamic Propagation. Whilst in Madinah, he attended the circles of leading scholars and studied the core Islamic sciences. Abu Taher has been involved in da'wah (propagation) since early 1990 and has translated several books into English as well as teaching various Islamic topics.

Shafiq Shafi
Head of Project Management

Shafiq studied at Imperial College thereafter travelling to several countries including Yemen and Egypt to study Arabic and various Islamic subjects. As well as working as a manager for a global management and consulting outsourcing company, he also teaches Arabic and religious texts at the al-Taawun Institute.

Aman Paul Dhaliwal
Head of Flagship website | www.islam21c.com

After graduating from King's College (University of London), Aman worked as a teacher in a state-funded Muslim primary school. He has studied Arabic in Cairo and the core Islamic sciences in the UK, and has a special interest in the study of comparative religion, namely Sikhism and Islam. He has taught at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah and currently teaches at Umm al-Qura University in Makkah.

Yaseen Abdullah
Head of Media | Manager of Sabeel

Having been a member of MRDF from its inception, Yaseen made his way to Cairo where he has studied Arabic and the core Islamic sciences. He joined Huda TV and served as a programming director for the channel, and now works with MRDF as well being engaged in various da'wah projects.

Jamil Rashid
Senior Media consultant

Having gained extensive operational experience working as a business operations manager, Jamil turned his efforts to Islamic propogation and serves as a manager for one of the UK's largest Islamic charities. He has previously worked as a senior presenter for Huda TV, an Islamic TV channel where he presented several shows including the flagship ‘Ask Huda’. He is also a trustee of MRDF.