Meet the Darul Arqam Team
Shaykh Muhammad Zaqir
After graduating from Manchester University with a BA (Hons) in Politics and Economics, Shaykh Muhammed Zaqir studied in Damascus, Syria, for 8 years at the Prestigious Abu Noor Institute and studied several classical disciplines of Islamic knowledge at the hands of some of the most prominent holders of the tradition.
He has also been blessed with the opportunity to spend time in the illuminated city of Tarim, Hadramaut; where he studied, and later taught, at the eminent Institute Dar ul Mustafa, under the qualified hands of some of the most illustrious guides of knowledge. Being classically trained in the sacred sciences he has attained formal ijazahs in various Islamic Disciplines, including the Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbalis schools of Law, although having attained iftaa in the Hanafi Madhab. Despite his extensive knowledge in all these areas, his specialism is in the sciences of Islamic Theology.
Shaykh Zaqir is currently the founder and director of Darul Arqam Educational Trust, and also Revive which is the humantarian relief branch of Darul Arqam, moreover he is also the founder of many other grass root organisations and initiatives.
Ustadaha Munira
“Munira Apa comes from Yorkshire and has a wealth of experience in teaching Islamic schools and in an educational setting. She gained her experience over the course of six years, in a reputable Islamic Seminary base in Yorkshire and Lancashire. This includes studies in the Arabic language and literature, jurisprudence islamic beliefs, seerah and tafseer, culminating an intensive two years of study and narration of the six canonical books of hadith including Bukhari and Muslim. She completed this together with her role as a mother of five children.
Her love of children and tarbiya inspired her to teach in a primary school and organise various workshops and activities. She was instrumental in inspiring and entrusting the children that some have continued their studies in further islamic education.
She presently teaches Quranic Arabic at DA- both long term and short term intensive courses – and has taught seerah in the past. She has a particular knowledge and enthusiasm for issues revolving around relationships and upbringing of children, which has allowed her to run her coffee mornings for the past few years to educate and inspire women on these matters.
Shaykh Wael al-Hanbali
Born in Damascus, Sheikh Muhammad Al Wail descends from the Al Qadi Ibn ul Faqhar Ibn Salman, a Hanbali qadi. He graduated from the prestigious institute of Mahd AlFath in 2000, as the 5th youngest ever student to enter the institution, not yet even in his teens. He thereafter continued his studies in the Islamic university Al Azhar in the faculty of Usul udeen (the theological principles of our faith specialising in the sciences of Hadith).
He also studied at the hands of the great scholars of Damascus such as the Shaykh the linguist the Mufassir Ahmed Naseeb Al-Mahameed. Also studying under the great scholars such as Abdul Razaaq Al Halabi and Al Qadhi Murshid Aabideen.
He took the sciences of the Quran from Shaykh Muhammad Bakli and Muhammad Sukur. He has travelled extensively throughout many countries in order to continue his studies and his research into the sciences of Hadith and manuscripts. This included visiting the national library of Berlin to access its manuscripts collection. He also has been instrumental in establishing Shari’yah schools in various parts of Africa and beyond.
Shaykh Wail Hanbali has received licences to narrate the 9 books of Hadith from various Hadith masters from around the Islamic world. He has a wealth of knowledge concerning Islamic Manuscripts – working with them for more than two decades. He was also from the key staff of printing a new verified edition of the sacred law enclycopedia of the Hanafi School – al-Hashiyah Ibn Abideen. This was printed in more than 14 volumes. He has also printed various works from the manuscripts and adding beneficial marginal notes. He is also involved in distributing aid to orphans and needy Scholars of Syria especially those who are related to scholars and callers to Allah.
Shaykh Suleiman Desai
Sheikh Suleiman graduated from Darul Uloom Bury with the Aalimiyah Shahadah Qualification. While studying there, the esteemed Sheikh Yusuf Motala acknowledged the talent of Molana Suleiman in the field of writing and therefore encouraged him to take a professional course of Islamic Calligraphy in Pakistan.
On taking the advice of Sheikh Yusuf Motala, he studied under the tutelage of the late Shah Sayyid Anwar Hussain, who was a world renowned Calligrapher who sat on many international panels and his Calligraphy is displayed all around the world. Molana Suleiman received Ijaza from Shah Sayyid Anawar Hussain in 1986 and as a result is authorised to teach different styles of Islamic Calligraphy, namely: Naskh, Ta’liq, Thuluth, Diwani, Riq’a and Nuss ta’leeq. Since returning from Pakistan Molana Suleiman has taught Calligraphy at Darul Uloom Bury, and after moving to Leicester he has been in engaged in designing logos for business, Masajid and other organisations.
Furthermore he has taught at the Leicester Darul Uloom and does Calligraphy for charity events. Sheikh Suleiman is currently the lead Calligraphy intstuctor at Darul Arqam Educational Trust, he has ran this class for 15 years, in addition to having revived this beautiful Islamic Tradition, hundreds of students have benefitted from his artisitic experitse, some of whom have gone on to the level of mastering the art and taking the tradition forward from other parts of the world.
Shaykh Amin Buxton
Shaykh Amin Buxton is a UK-born scholar who converted to Islam in 1999. He earned a BA in Arabic and Islamic Studies from SOAS, London, in 2003 before continuing his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Hadramawt, where he remains engaged in learning, teaching, and translation.
Shaykh Amin has travelled across Europe teaching Islam, both independently and as a translator for leading scholars such as Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Habib Kazim As-Saqqaf. He also provides live Arabic-English translations of Habib Umar’s speeches at major events.
He is the main administrator and writer at Muwasala.org, an English-language da‘wah platform following the methodology of the Hadramawt tradition. His translations include works like Imam al-Haddad’s “If You Wish for Felicity” and Shaykh Umar bin Hussein al-Khatib’s “Prophetic Guidance.” He is also the author of Imams of the Valley.
Shaykh Muhammad Kassar
Shaykh Kassar is a Syrian-born scholar whose roots are deeply grounded in the rich intellectual and spiritual traditions of his homeland. Raised and educated in Syria, he pursued advanced studies at one of the country’s most eminent universities, where he developed a strong foundation in Islamic scholarship and community leadership.
Guided by a commitment to service and compassion, Shaykh Kassar has dedicated much of his life to humanitarian work. He is actively involved in providing relief and support to vulnerable communities, working in partnership with Revive Darul Arqam to deliver essential aid and assistance. Through his efforts, he continues to embody the values of knowledge, service, and mercy, striving to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need.
Hafiz Muhammad Shaikh
Muhammad Shaikh is an academic core trainee in psychiatry with a strong interest in cognitive neuroscience and human behaviour. He trained in medicine in the UK and has worked across a range of clinical settings, including emergency care and specialist hospital services. He has also been involved in research at the University of Cambridge, contributing to studies exploring psychosis and neurodegenerative conditions.
Alongside his medical career, he has a longstanding commitment to Islamic education. He is currently pursuing the Alimiyyah programme, continuing to develop his knowledge of the Islamic sciences. He has several years of experience teaching Arabic reading and is known for his strong proficiency in tajweed, through which he also offers private tuition to students seeking to improve their recitation.
He remains actively engaged in teaching and mentorship, combining his academic, clinical, and educational experience in service of the community.
Hafiz Abdullah Wasim
Hafiz Abdullah Waseem is a dedicated servant of the Qur’an and an active member of the community. Having memorised the Qur’an at a young age, he has since remained closely connected to its teaching and recitation.
He has had the honour of leading Taraweeh prayers at Darul Arqam, where his recitation has been appreciated by congregants. Alongside this, he has contributed to the madrassah as a teacher, helping students develop their Qur’anic reading and understanding.
Hafiz Abdullah continues to stay actively involved in community initiatives, supporting educational and religious programmes and striving to serve with sincerity and consistency.