Who We Are
Maariyah Adam
Founder & Managing Director
Maariyah is the founder and managing director of Sacred and is responsible for the oversight of the organisation as well as designing and co-leading Sacred’s research projects.
She is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Glasgow, where her research investigates the interpretive use of Islamic-based texts in spiritual abuse, with a particular focus on the experiences of Muslim men. She holds a BA in Social Sciences, an MA in Islamic Studies, and an MSc in Public Policy, enabling her Her interdisciplinary grounding allows her to bridge theological and social research approaches to the study of abuse and communal wellbeing.
Maariyah’s research practice is grounded in decolonial methodologies, community-led knowledge generation, and survivor-centred ethics that prioritise self-representation and amplify minoritised voices. She has over two decades of experience working, consulting, and volunteering with community organisations. She remains committed to advancing ethical leadership, social justice, and community empowerment.
Dr Rahmanara Chowdhury
Co-Collaborator
Dr Rahmanara is a Chartered Psychologist currently working in academia. She has been involved with Sacred from its inception and offers her time as a Co-Collaborator on many of Sacred's Core strands of activities.
As a senior researcher she co-leads on the research projects undertaken by Sacred as well as being co-founder of the International Working Collective on addressing Spiritual Abuse in Muslim Contexts. Dr Rahmanara’s research explores domestic and spiritual abuse in Muslim contexts and inequities faced by minoritised communities across the criminal justice system. She has extensive practitioner experience, including developing a faith-informed recovery programme for Muslim women survivors.
She developed the Web Model of Domestic Violence and Abuse and the Reintegration Framework, which support holistic practice with abuse survivors and minoritised people in prison or probation. She further delivers specialist training and workshops. Her driving force is to help alleviate human suffering.
Dr Fatima Elashry
Specialist Clinical Psychologist
I’m a London-based Clinical Psychologist with a passion for community healing and justice. I’ve worked across NHS services for over six years, including in a national specialist trauma clinic supporting people with histories of abuse and complex trauma. Throughout my work, I have seen how spirituality is often overlooked in mainstream mental health. This inspired my doctoral research exploring Muslims’ lived experiences of spiritual abuse and their experiences of UK mental health services. Working with Sacred allows me to contribute to work that reflects my values, where Muslims can feel supported in a trauma-informed, culturally and faith-sensitive way.
Outside of work, I reconnect with my body as a run leader for a Muslim women’s running club and by playing netball, where I’m fiercely competitive and questionably accurate.
Mahrukh Adnan Shaukat
Senior Researcher
My area of expertise focuses on community-led initiatives and policy in practice. This has included gendered analysis of newly defined issues such as spiritual abuse and the improvement of support networks for marginalised individuals.
Sacred is a place where I can pour my skills and experience into supporting my community to heal and build its strength.
Aziza Dada-Ami
Web Designer & Social Media Co-ordinator
I am a UK-born Muslim who has always had a passion for art & design, and this eventually led me to work as a graphic designer & content creator for ummahdesign.com. I look after the social media & web design aspects of Sacred. Working with the Sacred team has inspired me. I feel blessed to be working towards something I believe in, and I enjoy making a difference in any way I can.
I love family time, reading, travel, exploring new cultures and immersing myself in new environments and cuisines, which you can read more about at ahlanwasahlan.co.uk.
Our Advisors
Nadeem Ishaque
Psychotherapist
I am a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with over a decade of experience working with a diversity of individuals and communities. My style of psychotherapy is goal orientated and I use a range of modalities in therapy including Psychodynamic, CBT and Attachment Theory. I continuously develop myself by keeping up to date with current psychological research in my private practice. I help individuals to heal from their suffering and over the last few years I have supported clients with depression, anxiety, trauma, anger management, relationship issues and addictions. I am also the co-Founder/Director of Urban Community Project based in Glasgow. I live at home with my wife, three daughters and Barfi, our spoiled pet cat.