Board of Trustees

Farooq Rafiq is an active volunteer and currently the Chair of Trustees. His passion is in developing centres and creating spaces to meet the evolving needs of the community.

In his current role as Chair, Farooq is responsible for ensuring the effective functioning of the Charity and setting its strategic direction alongside the trustee board.

He is a planning professional with over twenty years experience in the property and development sector, having worked in Government and the private sector. His background provides valuable insight into strategic planning, infrastructure development, and sustainable growth, which he brings to his leadership within the charity.

Key responsibilities: Board oversight, Redevelopment, The Hive

Mohammad Saeed Akhtar is a British pharmacist and dedicated community leader, serving as a Trustee and Director of The CMA Welfare Trust since its inception on April 10, 2003. Based in Cheadle, he brings decades of professional experience and civic engagement to his role in the trust.

Professionally, Saeed Akhtar has held directorships in several healthcare and community-focused organizations, including Heald Green Pharmacy. His background as a pharmacist underscores his commitment to public health and well-being.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Akhtar is actively involved in local community initiatives. He is associated with Cheadle Masjid, where he contributes to the mosque’s governance and outreach efforts.

Through his longstanding service with The CMA Welfare Trust, Akhtar has played a pivotal role in supporting charitable activities that benefit both local and international communities. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to social welfare, healthcare access, and community development.

Key responsibilities: Education, Operations, Worshipper liaison

Umar Aziz serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of Cheadle Masjid (The CMA Welfare Trust). Appointed to the Board of Trustees in September 2016, Umar brings a wealth of financial expertise to his role, ensuring the Masjid's financial operations are managed with integrity and transparency. ​

As a qualified Chartered Accountant, Umar oversees the financial stewardship of Cheadle Masjid, aligning the Masjid's fiscal practices with UK charity law and best practices. His responsibilities include budgeting, financial governance and preparing financial statements that provide a true and fair view of the charity's financial position, as mandated by the Charities SORP and UK accounting standards. ​

Professionally, Umar has built his career at KPMG (Big 4 Accounting Firm) and has extensive experience in financial management, corporate finance and commercial strategy. He has held leadership roles in major organisations, where he has been instrumental in driving financial planning, risk management, and operational efficiency. His professional insight enhances his ability to guide Cheadle Masjid’s financial decisions with a forward-thinking, sustainable approach.

Key responsibilities: Treasurer, Financial development, Governance

Usman’s passion is to see the positive development of Masaajids to meet the growing needs of the communities they serve, as a place of worship in the holistic and Prophetic sense. Masaajids are not only a place of prayer, but a place of education, a hub of community support, the list goes on. He serves the Masjid through the Education and Community Events committees.

He feels blessed in being able to work with the many dedicated Masjid volunteers that are the life blood behind the plethora of activities we see at Cheadle Masjid.

His interest in Islam came through his exposure to Manchester University Islamic Society in the late 90s – it was these life changing times where he experienced how active a united group could become and be a source of positive change for the many students and the community beyond.

His day job is as a GP, practicing in this field since 2006 and he brings across many of the interchangeable skills in this role to his position on the Masjid board and management.

Key responsibilities: Community engagement, Education and Operations

Nasar has been an attendee at Cheadle Masjid since the establishment of the first Masjid on this site in 2003 and he was invited to become a Member when that category was first created.  In his voluntary role he has supported the Masjid over any years including helping with securing the Planning Permission for the new Masjid Building through his professional work and Council relationships. He has been a Trustee since March 2024.

Professionally, Nasar is a Chartered Civil Engineer and is a Director with one of largest Technical Consultancy firms, providing advice to Local and National Government in relation to transport infrastructure investment. Over his 40-year career, has been an expert witness at numerous public inquiries and has given evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee. Nasar has held various roles outside his professional life which have included being a School Governor and a Non-Executive Director of an NHS Hospital Trust.

Nasar brings this wealth of experience to the Board – in particular, his knowledge of Council working and relationships with senior officers has been to the benefit of the Masjid. He is actively involved with several areas of work including improving the provision of local Muslim Burial facilities, Council Relations, Highway and Parking issues, Police Liaison and Refugee Support. He is also our Deputy Registrar, licensed to perform Civil Ceremonies.

Key responsibilities: Government Engagement, Travel management

Atif has been a trustee since 2016 and was privileged to serve as the chairman between 2017 and 2023.  He is a regular volunteer at various masjid events and enjoys serving the community.

Atif takes the lead on the masjid’s Umrah and Al Aqsa trips supporting Shaykh Abid in providing an enriching experience for our travellers.

In addition, Atif is our lead on the ghusl facility and, as part of a team, is involved in developing our funeral service.  More recently Atif has been involved in the development of the Sharia Council enabling both husbands and wives to reconcile in the event of a martial breakdown, and if reconciliation is not possible, issue a divorce on the request of either party in accordance with the Sharia.

He is a practicing solicitor since 2004 specialising in commercial disputes and commercial landlord & tenant matters, and manages his own firm in very close proximity to the masjid. Through this experience Atif is able to provide legal advice to the board of trustees.

Key responsibilities: Governance, Funeral Services and Shariah Council

Fawzi Haffar plays a key role in overseeing financial operations at Cheadle Masjid. He is responsible for procurement, evaluating purchases before any payments are approved and distributing payments to suppliers. His responsibilities also cover the disbursement of salaries and expenses for all teachers at the Madrassah across both Masjid sites, as well as staff salaries and operational expenses for the charity.

In collaboration with the Treasurer, Br. Umar Aziz, Fawzi manages a dedicated finance team that are responsible for bookkeeping and collecting and allocating donations to the appropriate area. These funds are then distributed either to partner charities or designated internal projects as needed.

Beyond his financial and operational duties, Fawzi actively volunteers at Masjid functions, supports parking management efforts, and liaises with local authorities and the police to address any community concerns.

Professionally, Fawzi is a qualified textile engineer with extensive experience in the textile industry dating back to 1983. He manages his family's textile manufacturing and raw material merchanting operations in the UK and Europe and leads the procurement and sourcing department of their overseas manufacturing business in Nigeria.

Key responsibilities: Finance and Operations

Saima holds a degree in Mathematics and Statistics and has been working as a teaching assistant in various schools across Stockport since 2012.

Saima also completed a two-year Diploma in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester. Having lived in the Middle East for eight years, Saima developed a deep passion for understanding the Qur’an in its original language. This inspired her to study Arabic grammar, Tajweed, the Seerah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ, and Qur’an memorisation through various institutes, with the aim of deepening my knowledge and connection to the Deen.

Sharing this knowledge has become a core part of Saima’s life and she is passionate about helping fellow Muslims and the wider community connect with Allah (SWT) and His Messenger ﷺ, so they may lead a life guided by the Qur’an and Sunnah. Saima has taught in numerous Masajid, including Altrincham, Heaton Mersey, Dar al-Uloom, Madina Masjid, and Cheadle Masjid.

In addition to teaching, Saima has been actively involved in fundraising for charitable causes, enjoys reading widely, including non-Islamic literature, to broaden her understanding of life, and benefits from listening to both traditional and contemporary scholars.

Saima considers herself a lifelong student of knowledge, striving to attain the pleasure and divine mercy of Allah (SWT) by implementing the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah in her own life, and by guiding her family and community to do the same.

Key responsibilities: Education