In Appreciation of Shaykh Zaki Ismail
A Chance Encounter
It was the first time I personally met him—at a bus stop on the way to work—knowing that he had married my Malaysian school friend, who was a year older than me. There were only four or five Malaysians in my whole school, and we all knew each other because our parents knew each other through the small Malaysian community in London. My father invited him and organised Islamic gatherings on the weekends for the parents.
The Beginning of a Journey
At that time, I was in my early 20s. Born and raised in London, I was going through tests and trials at that age. Seeing him give lectures in Malay about Islam to my parents, aunts, and uncles with so much passion and love made me want to gain this knowledge, too! I attended a few of these gatherings, but I didn’t understand Malay.
So I asked him if he would give me and my friends lessons on Islam and our deen in English, as I knew a few Malaysian brothers and sisters around my age who also couldn’t understand or speak Malay, having been brought up here. That was when we started his first Islamic fiqh class in English above Tukdin restaurant—Alhamdulillah.
About five to ten of my Malaysian brothers and sisters, whose first language was English, attended his classes every week. Then, my local British Muslim brothers heard about our gatherings and started attending as well. From 10 people, it grew to over 50, and eventually, our living room could no longer fit everyone. More and more people wanted to join—Alhamdulillah. That’s when we all decided we needed a bigger space.
My early days with Shaykh Zaki even included participating in his traditional Qasidah/Nasheed group - Al Qiblah Ensemble. Through this group we travelled up and down the country performing in unique venues and gatherings as it was such a rare type of performance group to have in the UK.
The Birth of Suffa
So, he opened Suffa with the support of its patron, Dato’ Haji Muhammad Fuad bin Kamaludin—a place where the Malaysian community from all over the UK, not just London, could gather. It became a centre for Friday prayers, Ramadan Tarawih, Eid celebrations, tahlil, and various other events.
It was amazing to see everything he accomplished—from a small gathering above a Malaysian restaurant in central London to a thriving community hub. We Malaysians are close-knit, not only because of our heritage but also because of our shared faith.
A Guide and Mentor
Shaykh Zaki has always been the person I turn to when I need advice on Islam, my deen, and even personal matters like marriage difficulties, offering counselling based on what Allah has commanded us. I have even referred others to him when they needed the same guidance.
He organised and taught us about Tahnik when my daughter and my friends’ children were born, arranging gatherings for this. Now, my daughter is nine years old and living in Malaysia. I’ve signed her up for most of The Suffa Educational Foundation’s online classes—where she learns Qur’an, Solah, and English. It’s not just for children, but for adults too—my wife and I also join the online classes! Suffa’s Online Madrasah (KAFA Online) now has 200 children studying from across Europe, mainly in the UK.
Being There in Good and Hard Times
He has been there with me through the good times—he officiated my nikah, and he has married many of my Malaysian Muslim brothers and sisters here in London. But he has also been there in the hardest times—supporting us when we lost loved ones.
When Arwah Tukdin passed away, he was there for me at the right time and in the right place, ensuring everything was handled smoothly and with dignity. He had already prepared us with the necessary knowledge, so when the time came, we were able to give him his final rites in peace. He guided us through the process of the ghusl (ritual washing) and burial—something that not many people get to experience firsthand due to the rush of burials in London. I was blessed to have learnt this from him, as it was something he had already taught us at Suffa. He also arranged and led the tahlils before and after Tukdin’s passing, making sure that we could honour and pray for Arwah properly.
Tukdin and our family have always supported Shaykh Zaki and Suffa. He always encouraged his friends here and in Malaysia to support Shaykh and even asked his network to try help secure a permanent building for Suffa. He believed in what Suffa stood for and did whatever he could to push the community to contribute to its growth.
A Closing Reflection
The work Shaykh Zaki has done is not just about the present—it is about the future of our community. It is about our children, our grandchildren, and the generations that will come after us. Suffa is more than a centre; it is a foundation that will ensure that Islam remains strong in our homes and in our hearts, no matter where we are in the world.
He is not just an Ustaz or a teacher to me—he is like a brother and a friend, always here to help and remind us of Allah and what is truly important in life, especially for us Muslims in central London and the UK. I know the whole Malaysian community here feels the same way—we all need him.
Thank you, Shaykh Zaki.
Everyone, please help Suffa stay open by donating and sharing their fundraiser everywhere—contribute towards building and sustaining an Islamic body for the Muslim Malaysian and wider Nusantara community for generations to come. We would be lost without it.
Save Suffa from closing down! Please help us raise £100K by 31 March 2025. Donate Now!
May Allah bless this effort.
