Meet The Team

RELIGIOUS ADVISOR

Beacon Awards Most Impactful Imam 2025

Shaykh Saalim graduated from St.George's Medical School, University of London in 2007 before completing his Arabic studies in Egypt where he obtained a diploma in Arabic rhetoric from the Egyptian ministry of education and was the top ranking student.

He then joined the prestigious Al-Azhar University and graduated from the secondary school with a rank of excellence and was awarded for his academic achievement before joining the faculty of Shariah where he graduated in 2016 with honours and the highest rank in his year.

Shaykh Saalim has licenses in multiple sciences, including Hadith, Hadith classification, Fiqh, Aqidah, and Sirah. A number of these are in classical texts, including Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

He has been a longstanding khateeb in London, including the biggest mosque in the UK and appeared on a variety of TV channels and programs such as Islam Channel Q&A for a number of years. He has also edited several books for both children and adults, including the first book ever written on the purification of the heart.

Having grown up in the MCWAS area, Shaykh Saalim now serves as our religious advisor.

RESIDENT SCHOLAR

Shaykh Muhammad Ziyad is a traditionally trained scholar with an Alimiyyah degree and ijazahs in the Six Books of Hadith, the Ten Qira’at, and other core disciplines of Islamic scholarship. He studied under scholars in the UK, Egypt, and Syria. He also completed an MA in Islamic Studies at SOAS University of London, holds Qualified Teacher Status, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Qur’anic Studies.

Based in London, he has led the iGCSE Islamic Studies and safeguarding departments at a Muslim secondary school. He is also active as an editor of Islamic texts, contributes articles to various online platforms, and has led Tarawih prayers abroad in countries including Australia and the United States. He judges national Qur’an competitions and is a frequent guest on Muslim television channels.

After volunteering with MCWAS for a couple of years after moving into the area, he officially joined us as resident scholar in September 2025.

PRINCIPAL IMAM

Born in Turkiye, Imam Ersan attended Imam training high school while also completing his memorisation of the Qur’an at a course affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).

Later, he completed his Qira’at training in Istanbul and received his certificate. He also received training in morphology, syntax, and various Islamic sciences. In 2016, he started working as an Imam in a village in Bingöl. In 2018, he continued his duties as an Imam in Karabük for one year. In 2019, he graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Theology. Between 2019 and 2022, he completed his specialisation training at the Ankara Religious Higher Education Center. In 2022, he was appointed as a preacher in Ovacık District of Karabük Province. In 2022, he completed a 3-month training program for Guidance Instructors (Arabic and Islamic Studies Course) organised by the Religious Affairs Academy. For approximately 6 months, he served as a Preacher in the Specialised and Vocational Training and Education Programs and Coordination Departments affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs. He completed his Master's degree at Ankara Social Sciences University, with his thesis titled "The Relationship Between Self-Regulation, Life Satisfaction, and Conception of God in High School Students".

In 2023, he was appointed as an Instructor at the Gaziantep Hacı Ahmet Ziylan Religious Higher Specialization Center before joining MCWAS in September 2026.

CENTRE MANAGER

Youseff has served as the Centre Manager of MCWAS since officially taking on the role in 2021. His relationship with the centre spans over two decades, having been actively involved as a volunteer since 2004, particularly in youth development and wider community initiatives. This long-standing commitment reflects his deep passion for MCWAS and its mission.

In his current role, Youseff oversees the day-to-day operations of the centre and supports the delivery of a broad range of youth, community, educational, and health and welfare services. He coordinates centre activities, manages community events, and ensures programmes are delivered efficiently and to a high standard. Acting as a primary point of contact for participants and volunteers, Youseff plays a key role in community engagement, including liaising with local residents, schools, and visiting groups.

Youseff is also closely involved in the practical and operational aspects of centre management, including communications, logistics, and outreach initiatives, representing MCWAS across a range of community-facing activities. Through his dedication, experience, and hands-on approach, he helps ensure the centre operates smoothly and remains a welcoming, well-organised hub for worship, learning, and social support.