Sheikh Seraj Hasan Hendricks was an internationally recognised leading Islamic scholar who was appointed khalīfa of the distinguished al-Sayyid Muhammad b. ‘Alawī al-Mālikī. He was Resident Sheikh of Azzawia Institute in Cape Town, and holder of the Maqasid Chair at the International Peace University of South Africa. He was previously head of the Muslim Judicial Council’s Fatwa Committee (which often led to him being described as the ‘Mufti of Cape Town’), lecturer in fiqh at the Islamic College of Southern Africa (ICOSA), and lecturer in the Study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). 

Sheikh Seraj was a member of the Stanlib Sharī‘a Board, and chief arbitrator (Hakīm) of the Crescent Observer’s Society. Sheikh Seraj was actively engaged in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa during the 80’s and early 90’s.