Our Team

It is with immense gratitude to Allah ﷻ and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to Madrasah Vali.

When we opened our doors in September 2023 with our very first cohort at the Girls Madrasah Campus, we carried with us a conviction that had been building for years: that every Muslim child in our community deserves an Islamic education that is nurturing, inspiring, and rooted in excellence. We did not set out simply to establish another madrasah. We set out to build a home — a place where children do not merely attend, but where they belong, they grow, and they thrive.

The name “Vali” carries a twofold significance that encapsulates everything we aspire to be. It honours the late Vali Issa (Raḥimahullāh), a man whose life was defined by compassion, humility, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. It also speaks to the Qur’anic concept of a walī (وَلِيّ) — a close friend of Allah. These two meanings are not separate; they are intertwined. To serve people selflessly, as Vali Issa did, is to walk the path of those whom Allah draws near. Our goal is to raise a generation of young Muslims who embody both: knowledgeable in their faith and compassionate in their service to others.

By the grace and mercy of Allah ﷻ, what began as a single intake has blossomed into one of Blackburn’s most vibrant Islamic educational communities. In just over two years, Madrasah Vali has grown to serve over 475 students — from children as young as three to adults up to the age of sixty-five — across more than 35 classes, supported by over 40 dedicated staff and 80 volunteers. We have welcomed over 500 families into our community, nurtured more than 400 adult learners, and seen 65 students embark on the noble journey of Ḥifẓ al-Qur’ān. Over 1,540 teaching hours have been delivered, more than 16 in-house publications have been authored and produced, and over 100 weekend children’s events have been organised and enjoyed. None of this was inevitable. Every number represents a trust placed in us — by parents, by families, and above all by Allah ﷻ — and it is a trust we do not take lightly.

Our vision is built upon a beautiful truth: to be a friend of the Qur’an is to be a friend of Allah. We seek to connect every pupil, every teacher, every parent, and every community member to the Qur’an in a way that is meaningful and transformative — not simply to read it, but to love it, understand it, live by it, and share it, in the way shown to us by the Prophet ﷺ and his noble companions. This journey begins in early childhood and continues for a lifetime — from cradle to the grave.

Our curriculum is holistic by design. Structured around the three pillars of Ta’līm (learning), Tazkiyah (spiritual refinement), and Da’wah (sharing), it encompasses Qur’an and Qā’idah recitation, Ḥifẓ, Islamic Studies, Arabic language, Qur’anic understanding, and weekly Īmān Circles. We teach through our own “Read Like a Wali” publications and in-house resources, ensuring that what our children learn is thoughtfully crafted and perfectly aligned with our vision. Our pedagogy is interactive, multi-sensory, and discussion-rich, and we operate with smaller class sizes overseen by dedicated Heads of Department to ensure every child receives the individual attention they deserve.

But a madrasah is far more than a place of instruction. We see ourselves as serving six interconnected purposes: Tarbiyah (nurturing), Ta’līm (education), the preservation of Islamic knowledge, living Islam in daily life, building community, and raising the future pillars of our Ummah. Our experiential learning programme takes children beyond the classroom into the natural world, Sunnah sports, educational trips, and community service — because we believe that true Islamic education is as much about doing and feeling as it is about knowing and reciting.

Our staff are the beating heart of this institution. We are blessed with qualified Islamic scholars — ʿĀlims, ʿĀlimahs, and Ḥuffāẓ — alongside early years specialists, language teachers, and experienced educators. Every member of our team undergoes enhanced DBS checks and participates in ongoing professional development. They are driven by the same four values that guide our entire institution: Passion — a deep love for Islamic education; Willingness — an open heart and readiness to serve; Competency — professional excellence in everything we do; and Togetherness — building bonds around the Qur’an between pupils, teachers, parents, and the wider community.

I am also deeply proud of the generosity of our community. From our very first year, giving back has been at the core of who we are — a direct reflection of the values of the late Vali Issa. Together, we have raised over £182,000 for charitable causes spanning the globe: humanitarian relief in Gaza, orphan sponsorship in Palestine, educational projects in Indonesia, Kenya, Albania, and Malawi, and local Zakāh distribution right here in Blackburn. This spirit of giving is not an add-on to our mission; it is inseparable from it.

Guided by our Madrassah Wali Standard Framework (MWSF), we strive for iḥsān — excellence and perfection — across every dimension of our institution: in our management, in our teaching, in our administration, and most importantly, in the hearts and minds of every child entrusted to our care.

Every classroom, every lesson, and every du’ā recited within our walls continues the legacy of a father who believed that the most powerful thing you can do is bring people together. What began in September 2023 is now, by the grace of Allah ﷻ, a thriving institution that educates, nurtures, and serves — and we are only just beginning.