Chief Executive Officer
Sh. Muhammad Ariefdien is a respected Shariah advisor, Islamic finance specialist, and business leader with a passion for bridging the principles of Shariah with the realities of modern commerce. His career has been dedicated to helping individuals, businesses, and financial institutions uphold ethical standards while achieving sustainable growth. His academic journey reflects his commitment to excellence. He holds a BA Honours in Shariah from the Islamic University of Madinah, and an MBA from the Nelson Mandela Business School. He has also completed professional qualifications in Financial Advisory (RE Licence) and a Retail Banking certification from the United Kingdom, equipping him with a unique combination of scholarly knowledge and industry expertise. Before leading MJC Shariah Advisory Services, Sh. Muhammad held senior leadership positions with two of South Africa's leading banking institutions, serving as Regional Head of Islamic Banking. During this time, he played a key role in developing and implementing Shariah-compliant financial solutions while advancing the growth of Islamic finance across the region. Beyond the corporate sector, Sh. Muhammad is deeply committed to education and community development. He is the Founding Principal of Alfurqan Institute for Adult Learning, with campuses in Cape Town and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), where he has helped hundreds of adults deepen their understanding of Islam and contemporary issues. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Sh. Muhammad is currently pursuing a PhD in Development Finance, continuing his research into the intersection of ethical finance, economic development, and Shariah governance. His vision for MJC Shariah Advisory Services is: to establish a trusted centre of excellence that delivers world-class Shariah advisory, promotes ethical business practices, and contributes to the growth of the global Islamic economy.
Senior Shariah Advisor
Mufti Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib is a highly respected Shariah scholar and Islamic finance specialist with extensive expertise in Shariah governance, advisory, audit, compliance, product development, and Sukuk structuring. His experience spans the banking, Takaful, non-banking financial services, corporate, NGO, and educational sectors, where he has advised institutions on implementing robust Shariah governance frameworks. He is a registered Shariah Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and holds internationally recognised Certified Shariah Advisor & Auditor (CSAA) and Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA) qualifications from AAOIFI. His expertise also extends to emerging areas of Islamic finance, including fintech, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), ESG, Islamic REITs, tokenisation, and financial inclusion. In addition to his advisory work, Mufti Shoaib is an accomplished educator and trainer in Islamic finance. He has delivered numerous training programmes and workshops for professionals, students, and financial institutions, contributing significantly to the development of Islamic finance awareness and Shariah governance practices. As Senior Shariah Advisor to MJC Shariah Advisory, Mufti Shoaib provides strategic guidance on Shariah governance, advisory, review, audit, and compliance, supporting the organisation's commitment to delivering internationally aligned Islamic finance solutions grounded in sound Shariah principles.
Chairman Shariah Board
Chief Financial Officer
Sh. Muhammad West is a Chartered Accountant (SA), Islamic scholar, and experienced financial leader who brings together expertise in finance, governance, and Shariah. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) and Chief Financial Officer of the MJC Halaal Trust, providing strategic financial oversight and governance within one of South Africa's leading Islamic institutions. A graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah with a degree in Theology, Sh. Muhammad combines traditional Islamic scholarship with professional accounting expertise. He is a lecturer in the College of Accounting at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and serves as Head of Finance for the International Open University (IOU) as a member of its Global Senior Management Board. In addition to his academic and professional responsibilities, Sh. Muhammad has served as the Imam of Boorhaanol Islam Masjid for over 15 years and is an Executive Board Member of the Imam Development Programme (IDP), contributing to the development and training of religious leadership. As a Shariah Board Member of MJC Shariah Advisory, he contributes his expertise in Islamic governance, finance, risk management, and institutional oversight, supporting the delivery of credible, ethical, and Shariah-compliant advisory, review, audit, and certification services.