Event Speakers for Blessed Summit 2025

Brother Hassan has been actively involved in Hijaz Community since 2005. He currently resides in Qatar and is engaged in various charity and social initiatives, particularly mentoring with young people and community development. He is a devoted husband and father.

Razia Sultana Shabnam obtained a degree in East Mediterranean History from the University of Birmingham in 2009 covering themes and subjects revolving around the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. Her degree covered ancient civilisations as well as modern geo-political history, focussing around the Middle East. She then continued her studies through to a Master’s degree in Modern East Mediterranean History. This culminated in a thesis discussing the relationship between Turkey and the EU. Sister Shabnam is a qualified primary school teacher having completed her primary PGCE at Birmingham City University in 2014. Sister Shabnam has pursued her Islamic education to an intermediate level with notable teachers in Birmingham and has undertaken different short Islamic courses over a number of years. Having worked for several years at various schools, Sister Shabnam is now kept busy raising three young children. 

With a career in education spanning 30 years, Mrs Zahra Shah began her professional journey by obtaining her PGCE from the University of Wolverhampton, and working as a primary teacher in Birmingham. After gaining a Master of Education, she became a Specialist Teacher. She supported children with special educational needs, English language needs, and refugee children from Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia. For over a decade, she worked for Birmingham City Council as a Teacher Consultant, delivering training and support to schools across the city. Her passion for service is rooted in her BA in Islamic History and a Master’s in Persian (Farsi) from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, where her research focused on the writings of the Awliyah (Friends of Allah). 

Maulana Mohammed Shabaz is a graduate of Hijaz College and a teacher of Quran Shareef, Hadith Studies and Islamic Kalam. He received his Islamic qualifications at the age of 22 years in 2010. He is responsible for the Post Production of various Islamic platforms, including Wise Compass, bringing children’s stories to life through videos and narrations and Poetry Decoded, which reimagines Sufi Kalaam for a modern audience. He is an avid reader, researcher and student of many Islamic spiritual works and is involved in translation works on Islamic subjects. He is a dedicated and beloved member of Hijaz Community and has been serving the Muslim community as a teacher for over a decade and is well loved by all of his students. 

Graduate of Hijaz College, Maulana Asim completed his LLB at University of London while he was studying at Hijaz College, attaining an MA Islamic Law and Theology in 2009. He is a qualified solicitor working in Birmingham. He is a Hafiz of the Quran, and has been teaching Islamic Theology since his graduation. He is also the curriculum convener for the Hijaz Diploma course. He is happily married and a father of three beautiful children.

Maulana Arif Awan is an early graduate of Hijaz College. Since qualifying as a Solicitor, he worked in law firms before establishing his own, which specialises in property and commercial law. Maulana Arif has taught at Hijaz College and the Hijaz Diploma course over the years and has often been an inspiration to students at Hijaz for advancing in his religious and secular studies. Maulana Arif is married with enjoys spending his free time with his family.

Imran Khan works as a Regulatory Affairs Consultant within the Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Industry, having graduated as a Molecular Biologist from University College London. Imran is involved in the building of a new Islamic youth centre which aspires to serve the local community in Watford. As part of his servitude to Creation, Imran also contributes his time and skills to Hijaz Community delivering project work and mentoring within London. He is happily married to Dr Saira Awan, who assists the sisters’ youth projects and they have three beautiful children. His hobbies include reading poetry and associated devotional music.

Haajan Amatul Wahab, or Baaji Adeeba, as she is affectionately referred to within the Hijaz community, is the only daughter of Mujaddid Murshid Abdul Wahab Siddiqi (RA). Having grown up within a household of servitude, she offers much wisdom and reflection upon the experiences and teachings of her father, which she actively offers to members the community. She is a devoted mother, wife and daughter of the astaana.

Since reading BA (Hons) in English at the University of Leicester, Farzana went on to teach English at secondary school and has taught at Hijaz College for several years. Farzana provides consultancy in education from KS1 to KS4 alongside various educational initiatives outside the National Curriculum, including Wise Compass. She has been involved with projects developed by Hijaz Community for over fifteen years and enjoys training younger volunteers in their personal development and event planning. Since becoming a Trustee in 2017, Farzana undertakes a senior administrative role in the management of Hijaz and its projects. She sits on the board for the Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation for Leicestershire County Council and is involved in various community partnerships to promote bridge-building with wider society. She is happily married and enjoys spending time with her family during her free-time. 

Faiha is a Computer Science & Mathematics graduate. Whilst living in London, she has worked in Pearson Publishing, followed by Congestion Charge. She has been involved in various Hijaz projects over the years, including setting up and maintaining websites and data management. Currently, Faiha is an Executive Assistant, providing support across a range of projects, including the newly launched Wise Compass and Poetry Decoded. Faiha is also a qualified NLP Practitioner and her areas of interest include reflexology, going for walks & attempting to keep up with her children when they are on their cycles! 

My name is Dr Samina Khalil. I qualified as a doctor from the University of Liverpool with honours in 2007 and completed my GP training in Bradford. I currently work as a freelance GP across practices in West Yorkshire and mainly in and around Bradford. I also work as an out of hours doctor providing care and advice over the telephone, visiting patients in their homes and working from the hospital setting. I have a keen interest in geriatric medicine and in particular raising awareness of depression amongst the elderly. I am the project lead for Muslim Health Service’s ‘Community Companions’ having successfully received funding from Bradford’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to work in partnership with Mind In Bradford. This project is designed to reduce social isolation and loneliness in those over the age of 65 years in Bradford. I am also the examinations content writer for Hijaz World. I currently reside in Bradford with my family and enjoy spending time and travelling with them.

Dr Saira studied Medicine and graduated from the University of Birmingham. Currently she is working as the Principal Partner for a GP surgery within Watford. She actively supports a local charity called Watford Muslim Youth Centre, which is building a new community centre, by organising various fundraising activities and helping to deliver community projects. In her remaining time, Dr Saira is raising three beautiful children and enjoys spending time with her family.

Saiqah Azad is a General Practitioner based in Watford. She completed her undergraduate training at the Royal Free and University College of London Medical School in 2006. In addition to her medical practice, Dr. Saiqah contributes to projects with Hijaz Community and Hijaz World, and serves as a Trustee for the Watford Muslim Youth Centre. Lastly, but she is a mother to three wonderful children.

Dr Safwan Tayyab is a GP principal based in Staffordshire. He is a GP trainer and appraiser. He is involved with the local PCN. He is also a keen photographer and a Trustee of Hijaz. 

My name is Abid Iqbal. I work as a GP in Bradford, West Yorkshire. I completed my undergraduate training in Manchester and my postgraduate GP training in Bradford where I now reside with my family. I work as a portfolio GP and am a training programme director (TPD) for the Bradford GP training scheme. I am passionate about GP training and education. I also work as an Independent GP advisor to the North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and have an interest in commissioning the best possible primary care services for the community. I recently qualified as a life coach and thoroughly enjoy supporting colleagues during key transitions in their lives through professional coaching with Health Education England. I also have a role as a GP specialist advisor (GP SpA) for the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Baji Nabeeha, our youngest speaker at the Blessed Summit event, is growing up in the esteemed household of her noble father and is also the youngest granddaughter of Mujaddid Murshid Abdul Wahab Siddiqi (RA). She is in the process of completing her Primary school education and is an avid reader. Nabeeha loves to participate in the service of others.

Sister Ammarah Hannan is an English Graduate from the University of Birmingham. She works as a private tutor for young children and has been involved with many of the dedicated educational projects of Hijaz over the last decade, including delivering lessons for the Fun Factory classes which teach young children about Islamic topics and Islamic Mindfulness. She has also researched and developed lessons for various educational platforms, including the stories in the Wise Compass. She is a longstanding member of Hijaz Community and devoted to serving the community. 

Aisha Awan (formerly Priya Patel), BSc (Hons), MCOptom, is a highly experienced optometrist with nearly three decades dedicated to providing excellent eye care. Originally from Kenya and raised in Brighton, Aisha achieved a First Class Honours degree in Optical Management and Dispensing from Anglia Ruskin University before completing her Optometry degree at Aston University, qualifying in 2001. Her professional journey includes working within an independent optical group and as a locum, culminating in the establishment of her own practice in the Midlands. Known for her compassionate, patient-centred approach and interest in holistic care, Aisha’s personal journey, including her reversion to Islam in 2005, has cultivated a uniquely empathetic and inclusive perspective that informs both her professional and personal life.

Aamna is the Director of Leaf Coaching CIC, a Social Enterprise designed to run support and advocacy services for minority communities in England. Aamna works as a trauma informed relationship coach through Leaf Coaching, using a faith-based approach when working with individuals, couples and groups. Aamna has over 2 decades of experience in the field of Psychology, Coaching and Mentoring, employing a wide range of skills including NLP, CBT, Perspective Taking and Effective Listening. Aamna is also a published author, and is currently working on a book about Trauma Recovery. Prior to this, Aamna taught in an inner-city secondary school in London, and ran a charity working on educational reform in Pakistan. Aamna has delivered keynote speeches at various organisations such as The House of Lords, Accenture, Waltham Forest Council, amongst others.