Shaykh Dr. Ahmed Saad is known for his deep scholarly knowledge, extensive international experience, and dedication to making traditional Islamic knowledge relevant in the contemporary world. He continues to contribute to global Islamic scholarship through teaching, writing, and speaking engagements.

Born in the month of Ramadan 1398 – August 1978, in the northern Egyptian governorate of Menoufiyyah in the Nile Delta to a scholarly family with a Prophetic lineage through Imam al-Hasan. He lives in the UK and teaches and travels internationally.

Academic Education:

Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad’s educational path took him through Al-Azhar University, where he earned his BA in Islamic Studies in English in 2001, followed by postgraduate studies in 2004. His pursuit of knowledge led him to the University of Erfurt in Germany and the University of California, Santa Barbara as a Fulbright scholar in 2005. He later completed his PhD in the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, UK, focusing on the dynamic interactions between traditional Muslim scholarship and modernity in the colonial and post-colonial Muslim world, particularly through the lens of Habib Abu Bakr al Mashhūr.

Traditional Studies:

Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad started studying Arabic language sciences like grammar, morphology, rhetoric, literature, prosody with his father from a very early age. He also studied modes of recitation (qirā’āt), ash’ari theology (kalam and ‘aqīdah), tajwīd, Islamic astronomy and prayer timing (falak and tawqīt), Maliki jurisprudence (fiqh), logic (mantiq), Hadīth terminology (mustalah), Quranic hermeneutics (tafsīr), Tasawwuf, legal theory (usul al-fiqh) with a wide circle of teachers from Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Mauritania, Madīnah and Ahsā. This included memorising mutūn (at least one main text) in these respective sciences in addition to thousands of lines of poetry from pre-Islamic to modern poetry including the mu’allaqāt. Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad has traditional ijazāt with unbroken chain of riwāyah in the six Hadith books, Muwatta, Shama’il, Shifā, Alfiyat al-Iraqi in Sīrah and musalsal hadith collections. His sanad in the Quran is one of the shortest among his peers in the narration of Hafs.

Early Education Achievements:

In his secondary certificate he was one of the top ten students in Egypt and was honoured by the governor of Menoufiyyah. In his university years, Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad always topped his class, was named best student in Al-Azhar University in two consecutive years. In his last year in university, he was hosted, by King Fahad and the the Saudi Ministry of Hajj alongside 100 students from 10 Muslim countries as King’s guest.

Professional Experience:

In the early stages of his career, Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad served various institutions, including the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. His role as an Imam took him to Canada, Malaysia, and the UK, where he settled in North London in 2007. His impactful contributions have been recognized by prominent figures such as the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and the Islington Faith Forum.

Educational Initiatives:

Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad is also the founder of Ihsan Institute UK, an organization dedicated to making traditional Islamic knowledge accessible and relevant. Ihsan Institute has an international counterpart in Singapore, reflecting his global vision and commitment.

Global Engagement:

In teaching and speaking capacities, Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad worked with many communities across the world travelling to Argentina, Austria, Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Qatar, Morocco, Gambia, South Africa, Turkey, Uruguay, Canada, USA, Sweden, Norway, Spain and Germany, enriching communities with his deep understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives.

Teachership:

Besides his late father Shaykh Mohamed Saad, his teachership include; Habib Dr. Abu Bakr al-‘Adni b. Ali al-Mashhūr, Shaykh Shibl Matar, Shaykh Dr. Ali Gomah, Shaykh Dr. Abdel-Hamīd Al-Mubarak, Shaykh Ahmad Mawlūd b. Muhammad al-Mustafa al-Yaqūbi al- Shinqīti, Shaykh Dr. Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Abdul-Fattah Madkour, Shaykh Ali Tawfīq al-Nahhas, Shaykh Abdul-Rahman al-Kittani, Habib Zayn b. Sumayt, Shaykh Abdel-Basit Hashim, Shaykh Yahya al-Ghawthani, Shaykh Ahmad al-Surti, Shaykh Yahya al-Mulla, Shaykh Dr. Ahmad Sharīf al-Manbiji, Shaykh Muhammad al-Baqqāli, Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim Abdel-Ba’ith Al-Kittani and others who including Shyūkh of riwāyah exceed 85 teachers.

Special Interest:

Shaykh Dr Ahmad Saad specialises in the Maliki Fiqh, Arabic grammar, rhetoric and literature, Tafsīr and qirā’āt.

Authorship:

He has authored a number of books in Arabic and English including Contemplating the Quran and Forty Parables from the Quran in addition to two anthologies of poetry and some didactic poems.