Our teachers

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Born and raised in Liverpool, England. Ustadha Nagebah Hayel left the UK at the age of 19 to study Arabic in Damascus Syria. After completing Damascus University’s Arabic Language programme, she moved with her family to Tarim, Yemen studying at the prestigious Dar al-Zahra for six years. Ustadha Nagebah also served as a teacher at Dar al-Zahra for two years before returning to the UK in 2006.  

 Her teachers include Hababa Nur bint Muhammad al-Haddar, Ustadha Zaynab al-Khatib, Ustadha Halimah al-Aydarous and other female scholars of the Hadramout valley.  

Ustadha Nagebah is currently a resident teacher at Greensville Trust, UK and Dar al-Zahra, Liverpool. 

Hubaba Mona al-Kaff is from the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and is therefore one of his blessed great granddaughters.  

Born in Makkah Al-Mukarramah during the blessed month of Ramadan to two noble parents from the progeny of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, Hubaba Mona al-Kaff has been raised to love knowledge, the scholars and the righteous. The first person to nurture her soul and intellect, to show a concern for her, and with whom she studied many books of the pious predecessors was her father, the late Shaykh ibn Abū Bakr ibn Sādiq al-Kaff who was taught the religious and spiritual sciences with a continuous chain back to the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, by the scholars of Tarim. After the gnostic, the erudite scholar and guide al-Habib Abdul al-Qadir ibn Ahmad as-Saqqaf came to the Hijāz (Saudi Arabia), her father always kept his company, so she grew up under his guardianship, studying and obtaining authorisation in da’wah - calling to Allah.  

Studying under the guidance of the erudite scholar and guide al-Habīb ‘Umar ibn Salim ibn Hafiz, Hubaba Mona al-Kaff received authorisation to read the books of the Pious Predecessors and to call to Allah. She had studied many of his books and attended many of his classes and Dawrats (courses) both in Tarim and online. 

Her teachers include al-Habīb Husayn ibn Abdul Qadir as-Saqqaf, whose classes and circles she attended since he came to the United Arab Emirates in 1998.  From the books which she has studied with him are: 

• al-Aqa’idu from The Revival of The Religious Sciences  
• The Tenants of Faith from The Revival of The Religious Sciences 
• Adāb us-Sulūk ul-Murīd: The Manners of Wayfaring for The One Who Desires Allah 
• al-Wasiyya: The Counsel 
• as-Sīrat un-Nabawiy: The Prophetic Biography 
• al-Hikam: The Wisdoms of Imam al-Haddad 
• Sifatu Salat il-Muqarabin: The Description of the Prayer of Those Drawn Nigh  
• al-Fusul ul-Ilmiyyah: The Erudite Chapters 
• Iydahu Asrar Ulum il-Muqarabin: An Exposition of the Secrets of The Sciences of Those Drawn Nigh.  

From the texts also studied are: 

• Saḥiḥ Muslim  
• al-Tadhkirāt ul-Hadramiyya: The Reminders from Hadramawt. 
• The books of Imam al-Gazāli  
• The books Imam al Haddad in “Sulūk” and “al Aqīdah”.  

Hubaba Mona Sheikh al-Kaff has worked in the field of teaching for many years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  Upon moving to Abu Dhabi, she served as founder and director of al-Bashaa’ir Private School in Abu Dhabi from 1993 to 2000. She also served as the head of the Mothers’ Council at Shaykh Zayed Academy for girls from 2000 to 2004. 

Hubaba Mona has undertaken da’wah trips to many countries including the USA, UK, Cape Town (South Africa), Arab States including Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Far East including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia for the propagation of Islam.  

Additionally, she has delivered many lectures about teaching, learning and wayfaring in schools, universities and women’s leagues in the United Arab Emirates under Department of Endowments license in Abu Dhabi, supervises a number of courses for children, young girls, and Women in “Dar a-l Isnad” over 35 years. 

She continues to do her utmost to serve in the field of da’wah while asking for sincerity from Allah, divine success and acceptance for her and for all of the Muslims.  

She obtained her Higher Diploma in Islamic Studies from Al Azhar University in Cairo, Master's Degree in Islamic Studies from UAE’s Zayed University, and Master's Degree from UAE’s Mohamed Al Khamis University (Morocco). 

• She is the Author of Children Islamic Books. Three books published; “Ahlan Ramadan” in Arabic 
• “Habibi wa Qudwati Ya Rasul Allah” in Arabic  
• “My Beloved and Ideal Model - O’ Messenger of Allah” (English translation of above) 

Hubaba Mona currently teaches online for Meadows of al-Mustafa and is a teaches on Dar Al-Zahra's Ramadan and Becoming Women of God Program’s.  

Hubaba Talhah (Umm Muhammad) bint al-Habib Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Haddar,  Rahimahu Allah.  

The presence of Hubabah Talhah in this earthly realm began in the blessed city of al-Baydha in Northern Yemen. She was born into a completely pure Prophetic bloodline and was raised in a family distinguished by its knowledge and practice, noble character, dawah and deep concern for the Ummah.  

Her father was the erudite scholar and caller to Allah, Habib Muhammad Abdullah al-Haddar, and her mother was the pure Hubabah Salma bint Habib Ibrahim bin Umar Bin Yahya. Hubabah Talhah's maternal grandfather was one of the foremost scholars of his generation and teacher of her father, Habib Muhammad.  

Hubabah Talhah’s early years were spent growing up in the family home attached to the Ribat al-Haddar (Islamic Sciences Seminary) built by her father. Her days were spent listening to the dhikr, classes, prayers and all the activities that took place in the Ribat which were broadcast into their house. The family was busy with guests, students, classes for the women and the general education of the girls and younger children. She learnt quickly and began teaching classes at the age of 14. She also learnt how to manage family life and was married to one of Habib Muhammad al-Haddar’s best students, Habib Ahmad Salih al-Saqqaf, who is also from the al-Haddar family on his mother’s side.  

In around the year 2000, the family moved to Abu Dhabi, UAE. After settling, Hubaba quickly established classes, mawlids, children’s programs and annual events in her local area. She herself had a mentor in one of the older Hubaba's who encouraged her to expand her dawah activities to other women throughout the city, and Hubaba Talhah became the most active caller to Allah in Abu Dhabi. Until the occurrence of recent events, Hubaba would be out almost every night of the week at mawlids, funerals, commemorations, classes, dhikrs, the Burdah, weddings, engagements and wherever she was called. Her energy and motivation for dawah and reminding people with wisdom and good speech, as well as her love for the Ummah, is endless. She has affected and changed the lives of countless people with her warmth, acceptance, keen interest and generosity, and she always has the right words for every heart that is guided to her presence. May Allah protect and preserve Hubabah Talhah and her family as they are truly pillars of the community.  

Hubaba taught her father's book The Quest for Virtuous Character, as part of Dar al-Zahra's Becoming Women of God Programme. 

May Allah Ta’ala allow us to benefit from her wisdom and knowledge and strengthen her and our connection to the Prophet ﷺ and the pious predecessors through our connection to her – a living example of a Woman of God. 

Ustadha Mia (Umm Abdullah) accepted Islam in 1999 in Melbourne, Australia.  She is a student of knowledge, translator and teacher. She has studied the Islamic sciences extensively in Syria, Jordan, Yemen and the UAE and has graduate and postgraduate degrees in education and social sciences. Umm Abdullah is known to translate for the women scholars of the Ba'Alawi tradition. She has taught and produced podcasts for women on textual and contextual competence with MISK Women. She is currently living in Abu Dhabi.  

Ustadha Mia has served as a translator for various courses as part of Dar al-Zahra's Becoming Women of God courses.  

Ustadha Zaynab bint al-Habib ‘Umar bin Hafiz was born and raised in the blessed city of Tarim in Hadramawt, Yemen.  

She was nurtured and given the best upbringing by her parents, from whom she received training in sacred knowledge, Prophetic etiquette and calling to Allah.  

She studied the Noble Qur’an and the Islamic sciences at the Dar al-Zahra Institute in Tarim.  

She has been very active in the field of developing spiritually grounded children's education and character building. Under the guidance of her father, she has revised and deepened her research in the field and has delivered educational courses and activities both online and locally in Tarim and Abu Dhabi.  

Ustadha Zaynab taught the Raising Children course as part of Dar al-Zahra's Becoming Women of God Programme. She is also working with Dar al-Zahra to publish a book based on the lecture series she presented.  

Born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Southern California, Ustadha Mona Elzankaly graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Mathematics in 1994.  

In 1998 Ustadha Mona began seeking sacred knowledge at the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward CA. She later travelled internationally seeking sacred knowledge. She has studied under many eminent scholars such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Khatri, Shaykh Abd Allah b. Bayyah, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Salik b. Siddina, Habib Umar b. Hafiz, Habib Ali al-Jifri and other scholars from Syria, Yemen and Egypt. 

Ustadha Mona obtained different Ijaazahs in Tajwid, different books of hadith, Aqidah, and Maliki Fiqh.  In 2008 She completed the four-year Zaytuna Seminary pilot program and received a baccalaureate degree in Islamic Studies. In 2014 she completed a four-year Islamic Shari’a program at al-Azhar University in Cairo Egypt.  

Ustadha Mona began teaching in 2002 both privately and publicly. She has taught for Zaytuna Institute, Sisters Deen Intensive, Dar al-Zahra, The Rahmah Foundation and Meadows of al-Mustafa.  She currently teaches at The Rahmah Foundation FOH program, and Nur al-Iman an Islamic studies program for ladies.  

Ustadha Genan Dadoun completed her BA Communications degree with UTS in 2004. She then travelled to Tarim, Yemen where she was honoured to study the various Islamic Sciences at Dar Al-Zahra under the tutelage of many great female scholars. In her 10 years abroad Ustadha Genan had the honour of translating for many female scholars as well as teach at Dar Al-Zahra.  She has taught the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and co-ordinates a youth program called SAYIT, focusing on the Islamic Identity of young Muslim girls in Australia. In her private and public classes, she addresses many of the challenges that face Muslim women living in a pluralistic society. 

Ustadha was born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ustadha later travelled to Liverpool and acquired a BEng. in Environmental Engineering. Whilst residing there studied Hanafi Fiqh with the eminent late scholar Shaykh Sirajudeen Chaudry and his student Shaykh Haroon Hanif, Shaykh Ibrahim Osi-Efa and Ustadha Nagheba Hayel.  

Ustadha then travelled to the blessed land of Tarim in Hadramout, Yemen to complete the Shariah Program which included sciences of Hadith, Arabic, Seerah, Tafsir, Fiqh, Usul and in the esteemed women’s madrasa set up by Sayyid Al Habib Omar bin Hafidh alongside supplementary classes with; Hubaba Aishoon, the daughter of the Mufti of Tarim (Al Habib Ali Al-Mashoor) ; Ustadha Zaynab, the daughter in law of the Mufti of Taiz – Habib Sahl bin Aqeel and Ustadha Muneera (principal of Dar Az-Zahra).  

Ustadha Thameena then returned back to Liverpool where she taught women in the northwest for many years under the guidance of Ustadha Nagheba Hayel.  

Ustadha then travelled again to Morocco where studied under the late Muhaditha Shaykha Bahiyya Al Filaliyya and Sayyid Badr Al Miftahi in Meknes.  She studied chapters of the great Diwan of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Habib Al-Darqawi from his late wife Shaykha Lalla Zuleikha. Ustadha also acquired a certification in Permaculture and Design in Marrakesh.   

Ustadha then travelled to Granada, Spain and studied the Shama’il with Shaykh Abdur Rahman son of the late Shaykh Murabutul Hajj of Mauritania.  

Currently living with her family and teaching locally in Crawley, West Sussex.    

Ustadha Thameena is a regular teacher on Dar al-Zahra's annual Ramadan Programme. 

Ustadha Farhana was born and raised in Singapore. After completing her secular education in Singapore, she attended the Arabic Summer Intensive programme at Zaytuna College in the US before spending a year studying Arabic in the institution of Abu Nour in Damascus, Syria. She thereafter married and travelled to Tarim, Yemen with her husband where she spent 4 years studying at Dar Az-Zahraa in Tarim before returning to Singapore in 2017.  

Her teachers include Hababah Nur Al Haddar, Ustadha Zaynab Al-Khateeb, and Hababah Maryam bint Habib Ali Mashhur. She is currently a free-lance teacher, serving under various education institutions in Singapore. She currently resides in Singapore with her husband. 

Ustadha Farhana has also taught on Dar al-Zahra's Mother and Daughter and the Becoming Women of God Programme.  

After 5 years of teaching in Singapore, Ustadha has now moved back to Tarim to study further and as continues to teach both in Tarim and online.  

 Ustadha Shaista started her studies as a teenager in Queens, NY, under the tutelage of Sh.Abdullah al-Adhami. She has also studied with Sh.Muhammad al-Yaqubi in the USA. She did several learned and taught basic Hanafi fiqh - Nur ul Idah, while she was in NY. ​

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Ustadha travelled to Damascus, Syria where she spent 10 years studying advanced Arabic and Islamic sciences. She studied under numerous teachers of the highest calibre, amongst them: Sh.Adib al-Kallas, Sh.Samir al-Nass, Sh.Muhammad al-Jum’uah, Sh.Mazin Bakeer, and Sh.Na’eem al-Arqsusi. Ustadha has received a license in tajweed from the late Sh.Abul-Hassan al-Kurdi (may Allah have mercy on him).​

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She has studied the Shafi’i and Maliki schools, though her specialty is in the Hanafi school. She is authorized to teach and give fatwa. She has a passion for sirah and hadith. Including having read (heard) the 6 canonical books of Sunnah, she has read numerous other books in hadith, seerah and shama-il. She has heard the Shamail of Tirmidhi eight times and Sahih Bukhari three times. She is currently reading the Majma' al-Zawaa-id. ​

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She studied seerah with the late, great author of the Prophetic Seerah, Anisa Sameerah Za-id, may Allah have mercy on her. As well as hearing it from Sh.Samir al-Nass, Sha. Tamara Gray, and Sh.Gibreel al-Haddad. She has listened to Habib Umar’s seerah online as well.​

Ust. Shaista is an expert in the fiqh of menstruation in the Hanafi school) which she would teach in Syria to other Arab students as well as the wives of her shuyukh.​

In May, 2011, just as protests were starting to break out, Ust. Shaista left Damascus with her newborn baby. She is a teacher and founder of N'imah which aims to empower women not only with strong traditional knowledge, but also focuses on their connection to Allah and His Beloved ﷺ. ​

She currently resides in Albany, NY with her husband and four children.

Ustadha Rummana initiated her Aalimiyya Dars at the age of sixteen. Endeavouring through the traditional sciences under the prestigious tutelege of the eminent Shaykh Riyadh and Shaykh Naveed Jameel ash-Shaami, she prosperously graduated from Mohiuddin Girls College, Burnley, UK. Subsequently, Ustadha progressed to further studies under the guidance of the renowned and authoritative Mufti Ashfaq Ahmed Ridawi (May Allah grant them Jannah) at Sayyida Khadija Institute, Nottingham, UK. 

In 2018 Ustadha travelled to Tarīm in Yemen to the famous Dar al-Zahra which is a school founded by the great Habib Umar bin al-Hafiz. 

Many sisters have accepted Islam at the hand of Ustadha Rummana, throughout Ustādha’s student life she was a intuitive role model to fellow students; encouraging and promoting servitude to the religion and thereby left as a remarkable example for the students of upcoming generations. She is oriented with vigilance and spirit which allows her to grasp the minds of lost individuals and accordingly inspire them towards the truth. A charismatic individual, who beholds great passion to gather the bewildered youth towards the path of Islam and plant within their hearts the seed of love for Allah (the most high) and His beloved messenger, peace be upon him.