Director & Head of Research
Dr. Shaykh Muhammad Ashraf Petersen is a vibrant, dedicated and determined academic . Over a period of 19 years, he committed himself to this pursuit. After completing his degree in 2011 he was privileged to have passed his entrance exam to the Master's Degree at the Islamic University of Madinah, and thus became the first South African student to study at this level at this renowned institution. After successfully completing his Master's Degree with excellence and First Class Honors, he was humbled to learn he was one of only fifteen students globally to have been granted admission to the PhD program. At the end of 2022 he successfully completed his PhD with a GPA of 4.96 out of (5). His primary focus of specialization during his studies has been in Islamic Jurisprudence or Fiqh. He has always been passionate about Fiqh as it deals with practical and relevant matters that members of the community face on a day-to-day basis. He strives to contribute to the pursuit of finding new and innovative solutions to contemporary issues in the effort to advance our communities.
Director & Head of Training and Implementation
Sheikh Muhammad was born in Cape Town. After high school he received a scholarship to study at the Islamic University of Madina in Saudi Arabia and completed a Honors degree in Shariah Law. Upon returning to his homeland he pursued a MBA degree from the Nelson Mandela Business School with specialisation in Islamic Finance and Business Strategy.Sheikh Muhammad is also a khateeb for Friday sermons around the Bay and CT area, and acts as an adviser for various Mosques and community organisations. He is the founder of Alfurqan Institute for Adult learning. He previously held a position as Regional Islamic Finance Head for both ABSA and FNB for the Eastern and Southern Cape. Sh Muhammad is currently the head of Finance for iERA Africa.
Director & Head of Operations
Moulana Ebrahim holds an Honours degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Western Cape. He has also memorized the Noble Quran at a very young age. He has a passion for teaching and has held various teaching positions at Institutes around Cape Town. With a very specific interest in Languages Moulana has been lecturing in Saudi Arabia for the past year . He also teaches Quranic sciences at the Alfurqan Institute for Adult Learning.
Head of Compliance
Souliyat Sodjete is an Islamic Finance professional with years of specialized experience in Islamic capital market and Islamic banking. With a Master's degree in Islamic Finance Practice from the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) in Malaysia.Her expertise in Financial and Shari'ah Advisory is further validated by her certifications as a Certified Sharia'ah Adviser and Auditor (CSAA) and Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA). Her commitment to professional growth continues with her pursuit of the Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA) qualification. A notable achievement in her career is her contribution to structuring the first private green Sukuk in Africa, marking a significant milestone in sustainable Islamic finance. Her work has contributed significantly to the development of Islamic financial instruments and compliance frameworks in Nigeria. A multilingual with strong proficiency in English and French, she brings a valuable multicultural perspective in administering functions. Her passion for social, Islamic, and sustainable finance drives her efforts to advance innovative solutions in the financial sector, particularly in addressing contemporary social issues faced by the global Muslim community.
Compliance Officer
Moulana's educational journey began at Darul Uloom Zakariyya, where he completed the esteemed Aalim Faadhil course. He then dedicated himself to serving Florida's community as an Imam. Complementing his Islamic scholarship, Moulana enhanced his financial expertise through: - Completing a year of Iftaa studies - Earning a BCom in Financial Management from MANCOSA - Specializing in Islamic finance via The ETHICA Institute of Islamic Finance Moulana's unique blend of Islamic knowledge and financial acumen positions him as a valuable resource for the community. Moulana is a trainee in our Shariah Compliance department.