Our Founders

The Islamic Academy was founded through the vision and dedication of three distinguished figures, all of whom served as founding trustees of the Academy. We remain deeply indebted to them for their foresight, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to Islamic education.

Professor Syed Ali Ashraf (1924–1998) was a Professor of English and founder Vice-Chancellor of Darul Ihsan University. He served as Director General of the Islamic Academy from its founding until his passing in 1998, guiding its scholarly direction with great wisdom and devotion. His legacy continues to inspire all who carry this work forward.

Shaykh Ahmad Salah Jamjoom (1925–2010) was a minister in the Saudi government and a founding patron of King Abdulaziz University, whose generous support and ardent promotion of education made the Academy’s establishment possible.

Dr Abdullah Omar Nasseef (1939–2025) served as President of King Abdulaziz University and Vice-President of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. We mourn with deep sorrow his recent passing.

Professor Shaikh Abdul Mabud succeeded Professor Ashraf as Director General and continues to lead the Academy today, building upon the enduring foundations laid by its distinguished founders.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support Muslim scholars in advancing research across all branches of knowledge and learning, to promote public education rooted in Islamic principles and sound moral foundations, and to share the fruits of that research widely through publication and teaching.

Our Objectives

We are committed to:

• Developing, reforming and improving educational theories and teaching methods grounded in Islamic thought, so that Muslim students everywhere receive an education that is both academically rigorous and spiritually enriching.
• Supporting the next generation of scholars by organising and funding research that leads to the publication of textbooks, academic journals, and articles.
• Fostering dialogue with other religious communities to advance moral and religious education for all, and to build bridges of mutual understanding.
• Providing financial and practical assistance to Muslim students in need, enabling them to complete or further their education.
• Organising research projects, seminars, dialogues, conferences, and meetings that bring together educators, scholars, and policymakers.

Activities & Achievements

Over more than four decades, the Islamic Academy has built a remarkable record of impact in education, scholarship, and community engagement:

• Curriculum research & policy: Conducted in-depth research on curriculum development and participated in government consultations on draft GCSE syllabuses — covering science, history, geography, and personal, social, and health education — issued by the UK Department of Education.
• Teacher training across three continents: Trained teachers in the UK to teach Islam in British schools, and delivered training programmes in the USA, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, equipping educators to teach all subjects from an Islamic perspective.
• Publications: Published more than forty books and conference reports addressing key educational issues, providing a lasting resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers worldwide.
• Muslim Education Quarterly: Edited and published this internationally respected academic journal, providing a forum for Muslim and non-Muslim educationalists alike to exchange ideas on educational theory and practice.
• University of Cambridge partnership: Organised over a dozen seminars on educational issues in collaboration with the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education, strengthening ties between Islamic scholarship and mainstream academia.
• International public lectures: Invited eminent scholars from the USA, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and beyond to deliver public lectures, bringing global perspectives to Cambridge and beyond.
• Interfaith dialogue: Organised structured dialogues with Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists to promote faith-based education and social harmony in the UK’s multifaith, multicultural society.
• Academic supervision: Islamic Academy officers have served as supervisors and examiners of master’s and PhD students in several countries, directly mentoring the next generation of scholars.
• Schools and higher education: Established primary schools and a university to extend Islamic education from the foundational years through to graduate study.