Imams & Sheiks Bio

Sheikh Yahya Safi is the senior Imam of Lakemba Mosque, one of Australia’s most prominent Islamic centers, where he has served for over 27 years. A dedicated scholar, he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Fiqh and Usul Al-Fiqh at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, focusing on the Australian family unit from an Islamic perspective.

Sheikh Yahya holds a Master’s Degree in Quranic Interpretation from Al Jinan University in Lebanon, where he also earned a Diploma in Islamic Shariah Studies. He completed his undergraduate studies in Islamic Jurisprudence at the University of Tripoli. In addition to his Islamic education, Sheikh Yahya has also pursued studies in Arabic Literature and English, obtaining a Certificate IV in English for Academic Purposes from TAFE in Australia.

As a leading figure in the Australian Muslim community, Sheikh Yahya has played a crucial role in religious guidance, including overseeing marriages, divorces, and community conflicts. He has lectured on Islamic jurisprudence and has been a religious marriage celebrant since 1996.

In 2019, Sheikh Yahya founded the Fiqhi Council of Australia and serves as its president. He has authored a book on personal development titled Establishing a Framework for Personal Change, aligning its principles with Quranic teachings. Sheikh Yahya also established the Al-Azhar project in Australia, offering Azhari secondary certificate to local Shariah students through a partnership with Dar al-Fatwa Lebanon.

Sheikh Yahya is widely respected for his scholarship, community leadership, and efforts in fostering interfaith harmony and peace.

Sheikh Jamal-Ud-Din El-Kiki was born and raised in Sydney, Australia by his Egyptian father (Dr Tarek El-Kiki) and Anglo-Australian mother (Shaykha Umm Jamaal ud-Din), and is the eldest of five siblings. His esteemed parents tirelessly nurtured him from a young age to love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, to be connected to the Quran (which he finished memorising at the age of 14), and to be fluent in the Arabic language.

Sheikh Jamal graduated with an Honours degree in Psychology from the University of Sydney in 2014, and has since acquired other qualifications and experience in the related areas of counselling and chaplaincy. 

In 2017, Sheikh Jamal travelled to Madinah, where he immersed himself in the study of the Sacred Sciences for four years as a student at the Islamic University there. In early 2021, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Law, topping his cohort.

Over the years, he has obtained three separate ijazahs in his memorisation of the Quran according to the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim. As of late 2021, Sheikh Jamal has been serving as one of the resident imams at Lakemba Mosque and the Lebanese Muslim Association.

Through this position, he has been assisting and advising the local community on an extensive range of religious matters, especially those pertaining to family law, funerals and conversions to Islam, alongside leading prayers and delivering sermons.

Sheikh Emad graduated from Al-Azhar University in Egypt in 2004 with a degree in Islamic Studies in English. Since then, he has completed multiple specialist courses and gained extensive experience in teaching, particularly focusing on primary-aged students and delivering structured lessons to adults. Over the past 17 years, Sheikh Emad has honed his skills in Islamic education and community leadership.

A “Hafiz” of the Quran, Sheikh Emad served as the Imam of Cabramatta Mosque (OBA) for nearly seven years, where he was instrumental in guiding the community and leading religious activities.Currently, Sheikh Emad resides in the township of Young, NSW, where he plays a pivotal role in the Islamic community. As the full-time Imam of Young Mosque, he oversees all Islamic dawah and educational programs. His efforts have been crucial in the reform and development of the mosque, which is on its way to becoming the largest mosque in any regional city in Australia.

In addition to his religious and educational duties, Sheikh Emad enjoys the outdoors and is an avid sports enthusiast. He often participates in youth sporting events and camps, maintaining close ties with the youth of the Muslim community and the congregation of the mosque. His involvement in these activities underscores his commitment to fostering a strong, connected, and active Muslim community in the region.