Speakers’ Profiles:
UMME ZAKARIYYA (Romessa Mirza)
Alimah Umme Zakariyya was born and raised in Pakistan. In 2008, she received her Bachelors in Business Administration and Accounting from IBA, Karachi, and after working for a few years, she did her MBA from LUMS, Lahore. Over the years, she has worked with several multinational corporations, including Unilever. Her areas of expertise were brand management and equity research. However, with time, she realized her true passion lies with ilm. In 2013, she left corporate work to focus on classical Islamic learning and pursued the six-year course of Dars-e-Nizami, completing her alimiyyah through Wifaq ul Madaris.
Currently, Umme Zakariyya lives in the US with her husband, mother-in-law and son. She has immersed herself in imparting ilm and engaging in local community work. She began teaching in local Islamic schools, while teaching on-line classes in various Islamic disciplines to aspiring Alimahs. She has also been engaged in da’wah work such as daura-e-Quran and conducting halaqas to guide women on the spiritual path to become closer to Allah (swt).
BINTE ABDUL GHAFUR (Maham Tabassum)
Ustadha Binte Abdul Ghafur is a passionate teacher who’s been connected to Classical Islamic Knowledge for the past 11 years. She is currently a final year student of the Alimiyyah Programme. She has also completed a rigorous 8-month Arabic Grammar course under personal tutorship of Maulana Muhammad Qasim (Jamia Ashrafia, Pakistan). For several years she has served as an instructor of Classical ’Arabic, Qur’an, Islamic Studies and Tarbiyyah, both formally and informally, at local schools, universities and homes; her students have ranged from about 10 to 60 years of age.
Binte Abdul Ghafur secured a gold medal in BSc Environmental Science from University of the Punjab, and distinctions across all modules in MSc Sustainable Energy from the University of London. She was the first scholar from Pakistan to receive the ESED Masters Scholarship and also received the Excellence in Engineering Scholarship in London. At the completion of her dissertation, she was awarded the London Draper’s Award of Excellence in Scientific Research.
On returning to Pakistan, she worked for 3 years as a Lecturer at the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Punjab University, before dedicating herself entirely to her real passion: acquiring and sharing the spiritual teachings of Islam. Currently, she resides in Canada with her husband.
BINTE MAROOF (Hijab Maroof)
Binte Maroof was born and raised in Karachi. She did her Computer Systems Engineering from Hamdard University in 2015. She is currently in 5th Year of Darse Nizami.
Binte Maroof has worked in tech sector and academic side both. Currently, she is working for different tech companies and clients remotely. She is also doing dawah since 3 years, covering Tafsīr and giving uplifting and motivational talks. She has worked with Zaynab Academy as well as multiple other insitutes.
She is a strong supporter of creating mental health awareness in Muslim women. She is also an aspiring life coach and Hafidha. She is currently pursuing Islamic Psychology and Counseling Diploma from Al Balagh Academy, UK. She has also done multiple intensive courses of Tajwīd and ’Arabic.