Manwar Ali (also known as Abu Muntasir) is one of the few scholars in the UK who has been directly involved in jihad. For around fifteen years he radicalised, recruited, fundraised and fought in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Burma. Now he draws on this experience in his work with the UK's Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service.

Ali is a Muslim scholar who teaches Islam to restore balance, enhance human values and address issues of extremism through education, social projects, charitable events and open discussion. He works to foster peaceful coexistence through mutual understanding, good-neighborliness and caring engagement.

Ali founded the UK Muslim educational charity JIMAS and pioneered Zakat distribution in the UK. For more than 30 years he has had extensive experience in teaching Islam. He has helped make British Islam relevant and important to life now, preparing many students for life and leading the way in practicing civic engagement as an Imam.

Ali holds a B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. in Computer Science, an MA in Islamic Studies and a Diploma in Arabic.

The Shaykh has been actively involved in da’wah and ta’leem in the UK for almost 30 years. He has established many study circles across the UK and has delivered countless lectures through these years to thousands of people. Hundreds of young Muslims have been blessed by Allah with guidance through his efforts.

The Shaykh is the serving Academic Director for the Sacred Sciences Curriculum, delivering courses in his specialisations of Seerah, Hadith, Ihsan studies and Muslim family life. He is well known for his thought provoking interactive style.

TED, Homeland Security & Terrorism, Political, Geopolitics