Bilal is a traditionally trained Shariah Scholar of Islamic Studies known as Dars-e-Nizami. This includes all branches of Shariah law and numerous other related disciplines as well as the languages of Arabic, Persian and Urdu. He commenced his studies at Darul Uloom Al Arabiyya Al Islamiyya in Bury, UK and then proceeded to Darul Uloom Karachi in Pakistan where he benefited greatly from the scholars including Justice (R) Sheikh Mufti Taqi Usmani.

He read law with LL.B (Hons) at the University of Leeds where he was awarded Student of the Year and completed his Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School, Leeds with specialisation in Public Takeovers & Equity Finance, Banking & Debt Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions. He has also completed an MA in Islamic Banking, Finance & Management with Distinction and published several articles on Islamic Finance. He will be commencing an MBA in Legal Services at BPP Business School, London (09/2011) and a Ph.D in Islamic Finance under Shariah Law and English Common Law at SOAS University of London (09/2011).

He presently holds the position of Executive Director at Islamic Finance Education Council, UK. He has recently lectured on the undergraduate law programme at Leeds Metropolitan University and is currently co-authoring several texts on Islamic Finance and Takaful.

He was recently presented with the 2011 Zaki Badawi Young Shariah Scholar of the Year Award at the 2011 London Sukuk Summit.

He has recently spoken at several international events in this calendar year including the following:

Securities Commission Malaysia – OCIS Roundtable in Oxford

6th Asian Takaful Conference in Singapore

Sukuk Summit in London

IFN Europe Forum in London

From September 2012, he will be joining the international law firm, Simmons & Simmons LLP, as a lawyer with a view to practising in Islamic Finance and Takaful. 

He can be contacted by email at bilalakhan@hotmail.co.uk