Our Team

At Utrujj, we deeply value the dedication and contributions of our volunteers, without whom our work would not be possible. Every effort, large or small, plays a vital role in our mission and is greatly appreciated. Join us in making a difference! Sign up as a volunteer today and be a part of our mission at Utrujj.

Ayesha Khan

Head of Operations

Ayesha Khan oversees the operations at Utrujj, while providing support to Shaykh Haytham. Responsible for the smooth running and growth of Utrujj, her real passion lies in collating, disseminating and preserving sacred knowledge to help people grow spiritually while finding practical benefit in their lives.

Ayesha Khan has been a student of Shaykh Haytham since 2012. After studying English Literature and Language at Oxford University, she spent 18 years in the charity sector, as well as an international women's organisation. In addition, she delivered regular educational presentations on Islam to secondary school children for 8 years.

Samia Ahmed

Advisor to the Board & Events Manager

Samia joined Utrujj in 2003 and has held various leadership and managerial positions over the years. She has served as Head of Operations and Volunteers, overseeing key organisational functions. She has also been responsible for running a number of retreats and producing educational resources.

Having graduated with a BSc Hons in Management and Systems, Samia Ahmed also holds a Master’s in Islamic Studies. She has worked in the charity sector for the past 25 years, focusing on teaching, education, and development education for Islamic Relief. She has also taught in a primary school and now teaches both children and adults.

Hana Khan

Technical Support, Transcriber & Volunteer

Hana has been volunteering since 2017, providing IT support and troubleshooting, managing videos, and assisting at events. She also transcribes Taraweeh reminders each Ramadan, contributes to graphic design, and helps ensure smooth operations across various tasks.

Hana Khan graduated from the University of Cambridge in Engineering and now works as a structural engineer. She has a strong interest in social justice and is also an active volunteer with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Sabeen Sheikh

Transcriber and Copyeditor

Sabeen volunteers at Utrujj by attending and transcribing Shaykh's weekly online Tafseer classes. She is also helping with the transcription of Shaykh's lectures on Arbaeen Nawawiya, (Imam Nawawi's 40 hadith recordings) and delivering the knowledge.

Sabeen Sheikh holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters in Public Health from US universities. She has experience working in health projects at UNICEF, New York and Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Sabeen began her online studies in Arabic grammar and Islamic sciences leading to an Alimiyya degree in 2014.

Rose Roslan

Transcriber

Now retired, Rose continues her pursuit of knowledge and has supported Utrujj by transcribing Shaykh Haytham’s lessons since 2017—a spiritually rewarding experience that constantly humbles her how much she has yet to learn and the vastness of Allah’s love.

Rose Roslan has been a student of Shaykh Haytham for over 20 years. His teachings have influenced her deeply, since she began learning Tajweed, attending Tafseer classes. She has particularly enjoyed the Utrujj retreats which are a source of fresh energy for seeking more knowledge.

Nimni Sultan

Graphic Designer

Nimni has been the creative force behind the much-loved Daily Gems since 2017, using her designs to uplift, inspire, and connect knowledge with action. Her work helps bringing deen and wisdom into daily life.

Nimni Sultan’s background is in dentistry, but beyond the dental field, she has a love for travelling, cooking, and engaging in dawah. As an active student of Islam, her spiritual journey began with Utrujj.

Ayesha Malik

Senior Volunteer

Ayesha Malik first experienced Utrujj in 2001 as a student of knowledge. She was later responsible for coordinating the Tajweed Centre, organising the delivery of Tajweed courses in Central London as well as online private tuition. She has helped organising a number of Utrujj courses and family events in London.

Ayesha Malik is a qualified Time to Think Coach, Facilitator and Consultant.

Yaqoob Johnson

Proofreader and Arabic Language Editor

Yaqoob plays a key role in proofreading publications, applying his keen eye for detail, strong language skills, and expertise in accurately translating Qur’anic verses and hadith into clear, precise English.

In the 1970s, Yaqoob Johnson encountered an English Muslim couple who, by Allah's grace, helped to set him on the path to Islam. He subsequently gained a reasonable grasp of Arabic with the help of many people, though he worked in teaching English as a foreign language, then computer programming.

Abu Shama

Advisor

Abu Ibrahim Shama has been a close student of Shaykh Haytham Tamim since 2003. He has been a guest speaker with Utrujj on a number of occasions. He is frequently sought for advice on writing, graphic design, history, and Islamic studies, contributing his expertise across various fields.

Abu Ibrahim holds a Masters in IT from Queen Mary and a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. He spend seven years in management consultancy before entering the teaching profession at a London secondary school. In addition to his academic and professional background, he has trained as a life coach and spent the past few years researching and writing.

Jasmine Ansari

Content Curator

Jasmine volunteered to sort and categorise a thousand blogs for the website, including khutbahs, articles, and an extensive series of lectures on Al-Ghazali. While this has been a challenging task, she has enjoyed every moment, exploring topics on self-development, common misconceptions, and family & community.

Jasmine Ansari came to London in the 1960s from Pakistan. Her first introduction to Islam was through the Federation of Students Islamic Society (FOSIS). She learnt about the rich and diverse history and culture and traditions of the Muslim world through FOSIS gatherings and Islamic talks.

Saania Bhatti

Medical Advisor

Saania Bhatti is a GP by profession and the main medical advisor to Utrujj. She has been a student and volunteer since 2001.

Dr Saania Bhatti has a special interest in mental health, neurodiversity and wellbeing; she is trained in NLP, mindfulness and lifestyle medicine. She loves to connect maintaining health and well-being, afiya to being a worshipful servant. Saania lives in London with her husband and children.

Jamila Sherif

Senior Volunteer

Jamila has been a student of Shaykh Haytham Tamim since 2001 and has actively volunteered for Utrujj, supporting retreats and other initiatives. In 2015, she helped establish a biweekly Hadith class in Watford, where Shaykh Haytham taught until 2020, completing the Forty Nawawi.

Jamila Sherif is an NHS GP, trainer, and appraiser, leading patient engagement and participation at her practice. She serves as the clinical lead for a local NHS project aimed at improving life chances for young children in deprived communities.

Siaf and Sazeda Alam

Senior Volunteers

Husband and wife team, Siaf & Sazeda volunteer with their children at Utrujj events. They also run reflection-based sporting activities for children at our retreat and have organised a family fun day, involving many games and delicious food.

Siaf is a lawyer and is passionate about working with the youth. He co-founded Fitzrovia United (a reflection-based football club), which delivers weekly football sessions in central London to help children develop skills that they can apply on and off the pitch such as teamwork, dealing with pressure and so on.

Zayna Sheikh

Volunteer

For Utrujj, Zayna Sheikh is currently the youngest volunteer. She enjoys transcribing talks and helping at events.

Zayna Sheikh is studying PE, Biology and Maths in her second year of A Levels, looking to study Physiotherapy at university. She enjoys sports, learning languages and travelling.

Mona Naem

Photographer

Mona also takes photos for Utrujj, bringing her skill and creativity to provide images for the website and blogs.

Mona is a family and wedding photographer based in North London, with a passion for natural light photography and capturing real connections. A former teacher, she now combines her love for photography and education, teaching children, teenagers, and adults.
Website

In addition we have many other volunteers who help support and advise us. We are very grateful for their assistance.