The Immam of Chesham Mosque

Arif Hussain Ashrafi was born to a landlord, Haji Abdul Ghani at a village near Chishtian some one hundred and fifteen miles from Multan on January 15, 1960. He is the first person from his family to become an Imam. Allama Saheb got education up to middle at his village school and passed examination of matriculation from Government High School Chishtian in 1975.

Then he went to Lahore for religious education and took admission in the famous religious institution of Ahle Sunnah, Darul Uloom Naeemia.

He received religious education there for ten years and did his Faazil Arabic, F.A and B.A as well as Ders-e- Nizami. After passing the examination of Tanzeemul Madris with distinction, Allama Saheb got his certificate from Jamia Naeemia.

This examination is equal to M.A. Islamic Studies and M.A. Arabic.

Growing Up : Giving details of his religious services in Pakistan, Allama Arif Hussain Ashrafi said that he started leading the Jum’a prayers at a mosque in Dharampura (Mustafa Abad) bus stop, Lahore when he was in the third year as Jamia Naeemia. He continued to serve at this mosque for seven years.

Working as Imam : Allama Saheb has been serving as Khateeb and Imam at the Central Jamia Mosque in Chesham near London since 1984.

Living in Chesham : Allama Al-Saeedi said that Chesham is located some twenty kilometres from London. There is only one mosque in the locality where Muslims perform their religious obligations. Anjumanul Muslimeen registered trust is responsible for the functioning of the mosque. Over one hundred and fifty children, boys and girls, are receiving religious education at this mosque.

Twenty-five students above the age of fifteen years are also receiving religious education here.