Sheikh Mohamad Abdelzaher, the resident Imam at the Othman Bin Affan (OBA) Mosque at Cabramatta in southwestern Sydney, is one of many Egyptian-born Sheikhs who have spent time in various religious roles in Australia over the past 40-50 years.
The best known is undoubtedly the late Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilali, a former Grand Mufti of Australia and Imam of the iconic Lakemba Mosque for a record 31 years.
Sheikhs from Egypt are known for their expertise in Islamic theology, jurisprudence and other religious sciences, making them appealing candidates to lead religious services, provide guidance to the community and educate their fellow Muslims.
The 37-year-old Sheikh Mohamad is a fine example of this, being a graduate of Cairo’s famous Al-Azhar University, one of the oldest and most prestigious Islamic educational institutions in the world.
“I studied at Al-Azhar University for five years in the department of Language and Translation, graduating as a Muslim preacher,” Sheikh Mohamad told AMUST.
“Sheikhs in Egypt are invited by the Awqaf Minister to sit for examinations to test their suitability for postings in countries like Australia, America, Germany and Japan.”
“I passed these exams and in 2019 I was advised that I had been assigned to a post in Australia, although I didn’t travel to Sydney until May 2023 owing to extensive delays due to the COVID situation.”
Sheikh Mohamad (right) at a recent Youth Night at OBA Cabramatta Mosque with LMA religious affairs administrator Salim Allouche and guest speaker Sheikh Taha Laalaa.
Sheikh Mohamad quickly fitted into the Cabramatta Mosque community and is now heavily involved in all activities at the masjid, including youth events and other programs such as Qur’an and other Islamic study classes.
“I am extremely grateful that the community at Cabramatta have made me feel so much at home,” he said.
“I already have some close friends here including Salim Allouche, the Lebanese Muslim Association’s (LMA’s) religious affairs administrator and Salah Jindi and his family.
“I really enjoy being part of the social activities at Cabramatta including the barbeques, sporting events and camping trips with the brothers as these activities give me the opportunity to know everyone better.”
“I admit that it is a challenge living in Australia while my wife and three boys including my new-born remain in Cairo and I’m really looking forward to returning to Egypt next year to visit them.”
“Cabramatta Mosque is one of three masjids owned by the LMA and I must applaud what the Association offers to the youth in terms of the different lectures and presentations from various scholars who have been invited to address the community including the world-renowned Nouman Ali Khan.”
“As well as lecturing at their Azhar Australia, my frequent visits to the LMA’s head office have allowed me to spend time with Lakemba Mosque’s Imam Sheikh Yahya Safi.”
“I’ve also learned a great deal from Sheikh Bilal Ali with regards to relationship reconciliation between married couples, what to do if two parties come in to ask for a divorce and how to prepare a marriage contract.”
Sheikh Mohamad with Young Mosque Committee Chairman Abdullah Sultan.
“Because Egypt has so many Muslims and so many sheikhs, the role of an imam over there is far more specialised and my job was principally delivering khutbahs and leading the community in prayer.”
“But in Australia, you have to have a much broader knowledge as you may also be required to be involved in marriages, divorces, funerals and much more, in order to serve the community.”
Asked the main challenges that young Muslims face in Sydney, Sheikh Mohamad answered without hesitation that more emphasis needs to be placed on Islamic learning.
“It is important that the youth here are taught the basic principles of Islam and get to learn the Qur’an and the Arabic language.”
“Studying these things in a non-Muslim country isn’t always easy for kids and it is our role as teachers to help instil Islamic principles in them, which in turn will help them face the challenges of their future lives.”
“Mosques play an important role in doing this and we must do our best to get young people back to the mosque.”
“When you enter a mosque you feel comfortable and happy and the masjid is a great meeting place as well as being a place for worship and learning.”
Despite the physical distance from his family, Sheikh Mohamad is nonetheless enjoying his time in Sydney.
“Being a Sheikh has countless blessings….Allah pointed my heart in this direction many years ago and I consider this role as a gift from Him so I strive my utmost to please Him and do my best for the Muslim community.”
Sheikh Mohamad relates a very uplifting story concerning a young lady by the name of Sophia who called into Cabramatta Mosque a few months ago.
“She dropped in and told me that she was interested in Islam, asking me several questions which of course I was happy to answer for her.”
“Two weeks later, she returned and made her Shahadah which was fantastic as it was the first time since I’ve been in Australia that I’ve had the chance to take a new Muslim through this process.”
“I didn’t see or hear from Sophia for quite a while but around three months later, she returned to the mosque with her friend, who also accepted Islam.”
Like so many other Egyptian-born Sheikhs before him, Sheikh Mohamad Aldelzaher is a very intelligent and highly educated man of God.
Respected Young Mosque Imam Sheikh Emad Hamdy is another Egyptian-born and educated sheikh in the LMA ‘system’.
His best advice to Australian Muslims – and especially to young Muslims – is a message he conveyed earlier in this article.
“Keep coming to the mosque, keep reading your Qur’an and keep on learning….when it comes to Islam, we are all learning until the day we die.”
Sheikh Mohamad Abdelzaher is one of three Egyptian-born imams currently in the LMA ‘system’, along with Lakemba Mosque’s Qari Sheikh Mohamed Harby and Young Mosque’s Sheikh Emad Hamdy, whom Sheikh Abdelzaher succeeded at Cabramatta.
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