Lote Tree Foundation

Ustadh Karim Kocsenda is a product of both traditional Islamic pedagogy and Western academic training, positioned at the intersection of classical scholarship and contemporary academic inquiry. He holds traditional ijāzāt (teaching authorisations) in Arabic grammar from al-ʿAllāmah Muḥammad ad-Dīn al-Ābbayrī al-Shinqīṭī (Mauritania) and Ḥanafī jurisprudence from both Muftī Shāh Jahān al-Hāshimī (the Ḥanafī Grand Muftī of Dubai) and Sayyid Najīb Sharīf (Pakistan). His asānīd (chains of transmission) in the narrative sciences are on the authority of the renowned Damascene historian and linguist, Dr. Muḥammad Muṭīʿ al-Ḥāfiẓ. Ustadh Karim completed his PhD at the University of Nottingham (UK), with research focused on Shaykh al-Islam Muṣṭafā Ṣabrī and debates about human freedom and theodicy in 20th century Islamic thought. He has contributed to academic discourse for over a decade, authoring numerous scholarly articles and participating in conferences and roundtable discussions on Islamic theology, psychology, and philosophy. Ustadh Karim’s teaching experience spans diverse settings, including advanced naḥw and ṣarf in a year-long Arabic specialisation program and private instruction in logic, kalām, and fiqh. He excels in curriculum development, creating engaging materials which emphasise critical thinking and scholarly rigour. Beyond his academic contributions, he is deeply committed to mentoring and coaching young adults, combining exceptional interpersonal skills with cultural fluency to foster their intellectual and personal growth.