About
Welcome to
The Foremost Institute
We are an educational and service institute designed to bring the authentic knowledge of Islam to young Muslim adults (age 15+ through University) and its application in the real world.
Based in Harrow, we are at the inception stage.
Our Vision
Our long-term vision is to support the next generation of thinking Muslims who are confident in their identity, nurtured with the value of service and the desire to create a positive change in the world.
We hope they achieve this whilst being rooted in their faith, and in the sound knowledge of Islam.
Our Team
Zayna Sheikh
Zayna is a second year University student. She supports the Institute by designing marketing materials and helps with publicity.
Fahad Khan
Fahad supports the design, development, and maintenance of the website, implementing secure and scalable architecture.
Our Teacher
After more than 15 years of Islamic learning, Sabeen set up the Institute to bring her knowledge of Islamic sciences to young Muslim students, delivering the first set of courses in 2025.
Sabeen started her sacred journey of seeking knowledge by enrolling at Nurul Ilm Academy in Dubai and graduating with an Alimiyya degree (Darse Nizami curriculum) in 2014. She expanded her knowledge of the Islamic sciences by actively taking courses at Cambridge Islamic College (CIC), Utrujj Foundation, Arabica Institute and recently at London College of Islamic Studies (LSI) and Basira Education. A student of Shaykh Haytham Tamim, Sabeen volunteers her time at Utrujj with transcription and copy-editing Shaykh’s lectures on Tafseer and the Arbaeen Nawawiyyah (40 Hadith of Imam Nawawi). In 2014, in collaboration with family and friends, Sabeen set up Sohba Saleha in Harrow, an after school club for local children in the community to build their Islamic identity and to make Islam, “fun” by bringing sports and leisure activities in a fun and safe environment. Along with her husband, Sabeen also ran and delivered a number of Islamic circles for teenage girls in the community over the last 7 years, delivering knowledge and opening conversations around many of the challenges faced by the youth in the current times. Sabeen is a volunteer teacher at Turning Point Academy, an education and social center for revert sisters. In 2025, Sabeen received her general ijaza in Hadith, Tafseer and Fiqh by Shaykh Haytham (Utrujj Foundation) and completed her Teacher Certification on the flagship course “Why Islam is True” from Basira Education.
An aware humanitarian with a Masters in Public Health, Sabeen brings to the Institute her long time passion for and non-profit experience in public health through her work in the health sector in the US, including assisting with global health projects at UNICEF and on cancer outreach and education.
Our Values
We draw our inspiration from the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet (pbuh)
The Sabiqun (The Foremost)
"As for the foremost, they will be the foremost"
Belief and good deeds
"And those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) and do righteous good deeds, they are dwellers of Paradise, they will dwell therein forever."
The Quran frequently pairs belief with good deeds, highlighting that faith must be accompanied with righteous acts. Such a state of the believer is loved and praised by Allah Almighty where He promises the reward of Paradise in the Hereafter.
Spreading good and forbidding evil
"Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Ma'ruf and forbidding Al-Munkar. And it is they who are the successful."
In building a just and righteous society, we are commanded to be active participants through our words, actions or holding positions of responsibility.
Changemakers and Reformers
"And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers."
Allah Almighty talks about Reformers and in this verse and He uses the word, Muslihoon (reformers) rather than Saalihoon (righteous) ones. The Saalihoon are those who do good but their actions are limited to themselves. The Muslihoon go a step further. Their righteousness is not just for their own selves and their families but they create change which ripples out to the community and beyond.
Be a Palm Tree
"See you not how Allah sets forth a parable? – A goodly word is as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky."
In a related hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) likens the believer to a palm tree. The palm tree has deep roots, it stands tall and strong, resilient to harsh weather. It bears fruits that are sweet, nourishing and beneficial and its branches spread out far and wide providing shade to all those around it.
We hope that the young people we nurture and educate will be like the date palm tree, strong, tall and upright in their character, deeply rooted in their belief in Allah and Prophetic character, bearing goodness that will be beneficial to their family, community and the society at large.