Qari Ziyaad Patel, a recitor of the Noble Qur'aan-e-Kareem, A Nasheed artist and a Humanitarian by profession

Qari Ziyaad Patel was born in Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. His early education spanned across various schools where he took up many leadership roles and was instrumental in initiating many structures for learners at schools in the region. During this period, he was elected chairman of the Representative Council of Learners at Windor Secondary School, was also a member of the youth sector of the school’s governing body and was an executive member of the African National Congress Youth League in the Ladysmith/Mnambithi region. Ziyaad also schooled at a Roman Catholic school in Ireland-Dublin.

His Islamic career path started at a young age. He began memorising the Holy Quran at the tender age of 11. He completed his Hifz under the tutelage and guidance of his illustrious teacher, Mufti Goolam Hassan Saib in 1994 at the age of 14. He then returned to his hometown of Ladysmith to continue perfecting his Tajweed under the supervision of Hafiz Dr. Abdul Qadir Hansa. Thereafter Ziyaad proceeded to Cairo, Egypt to study Tajweed Al-Makharej at the Al-Azhar University under the tutelage and guidance of Sheikh Abdullah Attiya Bayomi, where he further underwent Qirah training.

He was awarded a Shahdah from Sheikh Abdullah Attiya Bayomi, which was endorsed by Sheik Sayed Ali Tantawi, the most senior Sheik at Al-Azhar University. He has also benefited immensely under the guidance of Qari Ayoob Essack, the senior most lecturer in the field of Qirah at the world-renowned institute, Darul Uloom Zakariyya, South Africa.

Qari Ziyaad Patel has been associated with the Al-Imdaad Foundation since it’s inception some 17 years ago and is from the organization's founding trustees.  He is a trustee of the Al Imdaad Foundation and has been responsible for its international relief operations.  He has personally headed many complex humanitarian missions worldwide and is well known to the humanitarian fraternity.  Ziyaad is a guest lecturer at the DHA Africa (Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance) which is in conjunction with the University of Witwatersrand Graduate School of Public & Development Management (Wits P&DM).  He is also a guest lecturer at Stenden University.

He is also the head of the Al-Imdaad’s school initiative unit which visits schools across South Africa to teach learners disaster preparedness and disaster management.  Qari Ziyaad has also been trained in United Nations Sphere Standards. He has also been invited to address many disaster management, social cohesion and community building conferences worldwide. 
 
Qari Ziyaad is also a renowned nasheed artist and has also released a few albums of nasheeds and many recordings of recitations from the Glorious Quran. Many of his recitations are available on the Internet, especially on You Tube. These recitations have been uploaded by the many listeners who have been touched by his melodious and heart rendering recitations of the Noble Quran.

Sheikh

Abu Bakr Al Shaatri

Qari
Ziyaad Patel