Asim Yusuf

Shaykh Dr. Asim Yusuf is one of the most senior English-speaking Islamic scholars in the United Kingdom. He is also a full-time consultant psychiatrist, an accomplished author, a poet, and a traditional nasheed singer under the name Talib al-Habib. His unique combination of classical Islamic scholarship and Western medical expertise places him at the forefront of contemporary Islamic thought, particularly in the fields of metaphysics, psychology, and spirituality. Dr. Asim Yusuf has studied under numerous eminent scholars across the Muslim world. He holds ijazahs (authorizations to teach) in multiple disciplines and is regarded as a leading authority in Islamic psychology and its philosophical foundations. His expertise also extends to Islamic bioethics, astronomy, and theology. His Islamic education spans a broad spectrum of classical sciences, including advanced theology (kalam), philosophy, Hanafi jurisprudence, hadith sciences, Quranic hermeneutics, Arabic grammar, logic, and Sufism (tasawwuf). Since 2014, he has led a deep and ongoing commentary on Imam Al-Ghazali’s *Ihya Ulum al-Din*, aiming to complete all forty books in the series. His teaching style bridges tradition with relevance, offering his students spiritual insight and academic rigour. He has taught many of the disciplines he studied and continues to be active in scholarly circles and public education. Beyond academia, Shaykh Asim Yusuf is the author of several books, including the widely respected *Shedding Light on the Dawn*. As Talib al-Habib, he has produced three nasheed albums blending spiritual poetry with traditional melodies. Despite his artistic work, his main identity remains that of a scholar and teacher. In recognition of his services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaykh Asim was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee honours in 2022. He was also chosen as the Sunni Muslim representative to meet King Charles III upon his accession to the throne—a testament to his standing in the Muslim community and broader society.