OUR TEAM

Dr Shoaib Malik

(BEng PGCE MSc PhD) 
​Director of FEIISP, Researcher and Lecturer

Dr. Shoaib is from Pakistani heritage but was born and raised in Kuwait. He went to the UK for his studies in Chemical Engineering. He topped his batch and graduated with honours in his undergraduate program at the University of Bath in 2010. Afterwards he was awarded a fully funded PhD Scholarship in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham which he completed in 2015. On completing his scientific studies, Dr. Shoaib decided to pursue further studies in Islamic theology and philosophy. He temporarily studied under Avicenna Academy where he obtained ijaazahs in hadith and aqeedah and is currently under the tutelage of Sh. Ali Larakhi under the Meem Institute. He is also completing his MSc of Philosophy of Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh. He currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of the Natural Sciences at Zayed University in Dubai. 
INTERESTS
Islamic Theology (kalam and usool), New Atheism, Islam and Science

Dr Edward Omar

(BA PhD) 
Researcher and Lecturer

​Edward Moad is Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities, Qatar University, where he established the university's first philosophy program.  He earned his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 2004.  His reseach in Islamic philosophy, metaphysics, and comparative moral epistemology has appeared in more than a dozen international journals edited volumes.  Find out more at edwardmoad.wordpress.com.

Shaykh Usman Ali

(BSc MSc CSci MIBMS
​PhD Candid. dār al-‘ulūm Graduate) 
Researcher and Lecturer

Sheikh. Usman Ali holds an Alimiyyah degree and has taught at various Islamic Institutes. He is also an Associate Lecturer and a PhD candidate at the University of Portsmouth and holds a Chartered Scientist Award. Currently, he works as a Senior Specialist in Haematology with clinical laboratory and research roles.​

INTERESTS
Evolution, Intelligent Design, Science and Islam

Shaykh Hamid Mahmood

(BA MA PGCE 
​dār al-‘ulūm Graduate) 
CEO of Fatima Elizabeth,
Researcher and Lecturer

Founder & Director of Fatima Elizabeth and the Head Teacher of Fatimah Elizabeth Cates Academy

​Dr. Safaruk Chowdhury 

(BSc PhD 
Al Azhar Graduate) 
​Researcher and Lecturer

​Dr. Safarukh began his academic studies with studying Philosophy for higher education at Kings College London. After graduating with honours in 2002 in addition to completing the A.K.C. certificate, he travelled to Cairo to pursue his formal Islamic training enrolling in al-Azhar university, faculty of Shariah. Whilst in Cairo, he also completed a diploma in Arabic awarded from the Ministry of Education. He returned in 2006 completing the MA Islamic Studies program with distinction at the School of Oriental Studies (SOAS) and then proceeded onto the doctoral program finishing in 2015.

INTERESTS
Sufism, Kalam, Philosophy of Religion

Sabreen Syeed

(BSc) Media Manager
Researcher and Lecturer

Sabreen Syeed is from Kashmir. She studied Mechanical Engineering from Chennai, India. At 18, she studied Arabic Grammar, which she resumed after completing her formal education, along with Quran memorization and Tafsir. She has been a part of a Muslim EdTech company KNOW in Nottingham UK since 2014. With KNOW that conducted annual conferences with local and international scholarship, she interviewed leading experts of Islamic Eschatology and Legislation. Currently she has spearheaded a media project called the Second Golden Age with KNOW, highlighting the role the Quran and Islamic Science played in building Modern Science, which includes, a YouTube series, online courses, ebooks and documentaries. She has collaborated with a media house from the UAE to produce high quality Islam and Science documentaries covering areas like Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Mechanics and the Multiverse. She featured in a science documentary - Flat Earth and the Golden Age of Islam. 

INTERESTS
Islamic Science, Quantum Physics, Eschatology, History of Science

​ Sidra Naeem

(BSc MSc PGCE 
​dār al-‘ulūm Graduate) 
Chaplain, Researcher and Lecturer

Sidra was born and raised in the UK. Her degree was completed in Biotechnology after which she worked as a scientist and researcher in the laboratories of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. She later completed her Post Graduate education training and an MSC in Special Educational Needs, working as a qualified teacher, specialising in supporting & coordinating provision for students with Special Educational, medical, social & emotional, Mental Health and wellbeing needs.
Sidra has additionally completed an Aalimah course and other courses in Arabic language and Tajweed due to her deep interest in religion, especially comparative religion. This has enabled her to work in weekend Islamic schools, community centres and mosques to teach Islamic studies and deliver lectures on Islam. Due to her scientific background and interest.
INTERESTS
Science and Islam, Mental Health, Jurisprudence and Spirituality.

​ Shaykh Hilal Patel 

(dār al-‘ulūm Graduate) 
Researcher and Lecturer

Hilal Mehmood was born and raised in England. He went to Darul Ulum al Arabiyyah al Islamiyyah an Islamic seminary in Bury, North England where he completed the memorisation of the Qur’an.  Thereafter he went on to complete a six-year alimiyyah program covering numerous Islamic disciplines, including Arabic, Islamic jurisprudence, tafsir and hadith. After graduating from the alimiyyah program he undertook specialized training in answering legal questions (ifta’) at the same institute. He is currently studying the ifta course at Whitethread Institute with the purpose of being able to proficiently research and formulate legal responses to both complex and everyday issues. This includes the various religio-legal challenges which modern scientific development's pose to Muslims.

INTERESTS
Islamic Jurisprudence, Jurisprudence of Medical Developments, Islamic Bioethics, Islamic Family and Marital Law.

Shehroze Khan

(BSc) 
Video Producer and Director

Shehroze is a multiple-award winning filmmaker, creative director, and writer of narrative dramas and documentary films. He has produced / directed 5 short films, which have won awards at Oscar-accredited festivals such as TriBeca, Flickerfest and Hamptons, as well as two short documentaries that were broadcast on the Middle East’s largest broadcaster, MBC. Having been selected on Channel 4's Trainee Scheme, he worked as a Researcher with Channel 4 and the BBC. Currently, he has set up a videography branch called SK Films, focusing on dramas and commercials. With a BSc in Mathematics, 2 years’ experience within project management and communications, and a freelance videography business, he is currently developing his debut feature film and aspires to move into writing/directing feature films and TV Drama.
INTERESTS
Media Studies 

Muhammed Rusydi

(BSc) 
Graphics Designer

Rusydi, originally born in Ipoh, Malaysia, was raised and schooled in the UK countryside, in Wiltshire, which established his love and passion for nature and the outdoors. After attending the University of Nottingham for an MEng in Architecture and Environmental Engineering, he quickly realised what he was looking for wasn’t in the traditional education system and eventually left and moved to London to become a Graphic Designer, using knowledge and skills he’d taught himself during his university years. He now balances being a father, growing his freelance design company mradesign, and working full-time as an In-House Designer in the world of all things tech startup and digital disruption related. His dream is to positively impact the world, particularly in areas of nature conservation and supporting oppressed communities, through design.

INTERESTS
Nature conservation