Our Teachers
Ustazah Nazeerah Shaik Alwi
Nazeerah Shaik Alwie, received her Diploma in Usuluddin (Islamic Foundation) majoring in Tafsir from Insaniah, located at Kedah, Malaysia. She then continued her Degree in Al-Azhar University in Egypt and graduated with Honours in the same specialization. Earlier this year, she graduated with a Distinction from the American Open University of Cairo in Masters Programme (MA) majoring in Da’wah.
Her transition as an educator started as early as her secondary school years, where she offered tuitions for her juniors in Alsagoff Arabic School as well as various learning centres teaching kids and youths Islamic Studies and the Arabic Language. Nazeerah believes in being a friend-cum-guider rather than a literal teacher in the journey of educating and moulding her students.
Ustaz Muhammad Tarmizi Bin Abdul Wahid
Upon completing his pre-university studies at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, he took a Diploma in Islamic Jurisprudence at MARSAH, an Islamic higher institution in Malaysia. Received the Mufti of Johor Award upon completing his studies there. He then pursued his Degree in the field of Islamic Law at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo and graduated in 2006.
Immediately upon his return to Singapore, he was employed by Muis and gained two years of rich experience working as an Executive at the Office of the Mufti in Muis handling matters regarding Fatwa and its administration, production of Friday sermons and religious queries among other things.
Ustaz enjoys reading and writing during his free time. He strongly believes in the right to ask when learning and promotes two-way interaction for the benefit of all. He is the founder and co-owner of Safinah.
Ustaz Abdul Mateen Bin Abu Bakar
Abdul Mateen Abu Bakar Hashim completed his Pre-University at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah in 1998. The following year, he traveled to Al-Azhar University to pursue his studies. He was active in the Students’ Society acting as a chairperson in the Sub-Committee Education Department Unit during his 2nd year onwards. In 2002, he decided to take a gap year to work as a teacher and also to pursue other interests.
He received his Diploma in Usuluddin (Foundations of Islam) specializing in Tafsir at Ma’had Ihsaniah in Penang, Malaysia in 2005 and the next year, continued to study the same course as a final year student at Al-Azhar University in Egypt where he was also appointed again by the committee then to be the chairman of the Education Department Unit.
His transition to the role of educator began in 1997, instructing pre-schoolers in basic Tajwid at a local mosque. Since 2002 up till now, he has been teaching Arabic Language and Islamic Studies to adults, young adults and teenagers at various organizations and companies.
Recently he has been involved with the Youth a.L.I.V.E program, working ad-hoc as content developer and trainer for one of the core modules. He believes in being a perpetual knowledge seeker and oftentimes thinks himself as being a guide rather than a teacher during his class lessons.
Ustaz Taufiq Radja Nurul Bahri
A recent graduate from Al-Azhar University in Cairo in the field of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence, he is currently awaiting confirmation for his Masters degree at another University. Taufiq received his early education at Madrasah al-Arabiah and then moved on to Madrasah al-Junied for his Secondary and Pre-University education.
Taufiq participated actively in school activities. He used to be part of Madrasah Aljunied’s debate team and had represented Aljunied and Al-Arabiah in inter-school quiz, Quranic recitation and memorization competitions throughout his school years which he won most of the time.
Some of his achievements thus far include winning the Top Student Award for the Muis Thanawi Examination in 2004. And recently he was also chosen by the Singaporean students union (Perkemas) in Al-Azhar to be their President for the 2008/2009 academic year.
He appreciates looking at beautiful art and enjoys reading and writing during his free time. His love and passion for writing even bagged him an award once for Best Script in a local film-making competition in 2008.
Ustazah Fazidah Bte Manap
Fazidah loves children and is strongly passionate about providing them with the proper education they need in today’s context. At only 23, she has a lot to contribute in her given area of specialization and interest.
A fresh graduate from al-Azhar University, she previously gained her earlier education at Madrasah al-Irsyad (Primary/Secondary) and Madrasah Wak Tanjong al-Islamiah (Pre-U). She has led and organized several programmes during her stint in Cairo for the Singapore students union (Perkemas) throughout her 4 years there.
She’s had several teaching experiences at other centres prior to joining Safinah. She honestly believes that educating our younger generation about religion is important in ensuring that they become successful and principle-centred individuals in the future. One way to make education more interesting, she feels, is by approaching it in a more interactive setting which constantly challenges the child to think.
Fazidah currently leads our Safinah Kids department and conducts the lessons at our new branch at Woodlands.
Ustaz Muhd Noor Bin Deros
His thirst for deep and intellectually simulating knowledge & ideas
led him to graduate from the faculty of Theology of Al-Azhar
University with a specialisation in Creeds,beliefs & Philosophy.
During his 4 undergraduate years, he was given the confidence to be in
the Executive team of PERKEMAS for 3 consecutive years; from The
Honorary Treasurer to Vice President and in his 3rd year he lead the
organisation as the President.
Upon graduation he was employed by En-Naeem mosque as the Islamic
Thinkers Department Executive, where he promotes the culture of
knowledge and thinking to the society.
The passion for teaching in him started very early,immediately after
he graduated from Madrasah Al-Junied’s Pre-U level he was given the
trust by the school to teach the upper primary.
Now, he receives frequent invitations to give talks and lectures on
Islam from various instituitions.
Ustaz Muhd Noor loves to be immersed in the world of ideas, therefore
reading,discussing & swimming are very close to his heart.
Ustaz Ma’az Bin Sallim
Ustaz began his educational journey in 1991 when he enrolled into one of the full time Madrasahs in Singapore, namely Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah. He completed in 2002.
He then pursued his studies to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Jurisprudence at the highly prestigious Al-Azhar University for 4 years. In his 3rd year, he was in the cohort to receive from the faculty an award for the Jayyid Jiddan grade which he obtained from the previous year.
During his time in Cairo, he was actively involved in the student club, PERKEMAS, and held various positions such as Head of Education Unit and Head of Sports Unit.
Upon his graduation in 2007, he served temporarily in the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) in the Office of Mufti’s Department for a few months.
In wanting to realise his dreams, he then furthered his Masters education in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) majoring in Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Heritage,Jurisprudence and Its Principles and is expected to graduate soon.
Ma’az Sallim has a wide experience of teaching religious classes. Back in 2002 while waiting for his departure to Cairo, he was a teacher at Khalid Mosque as well as a private centre called Pusat Pendidikan Azhar. At the present time, apart from being a Safinah teacher, he is also a teacher/trainer for the A.L.I.V.E programme for teens year 2 in Kassim Mosque. He is also a part-time teacher in Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS).
Ma’az Sallim enjoys sharing of thoughts and would love to learn from others. That is one of the reasons on why he joined Safinah.
He is of the opinion that in our journey of Faith, Wisdom and Spirituality, one must constantly seeking knowledge and to learn it with adab and maturity. He also believes that one of the keys is to ask the right person with the right intention and sincerity.
Ma’az Sallim has passion on sports,specifically football. He has been organizing the monthly football friendly matches for the Alumni of Madrasah Aljunied for the past year until its current time.