LOCATION
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND
May 23 to May 25, 2026
The opinions expressed by the ICNA Convention speakers are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) or the Muslim American Society (MAS).
Saad Kazmi
Br. Saad Kazmi, Current President of ICNA National, a pharmacist by profession, resides in Murphy, TX, and is a proud father of four. His leadership journey is rooted in a deep commitment to ICNA’s mission of building a society grounded in morality and God-consciousness.
OMAR SULEIMAN
Dr. Omar Suleiman is the President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a professor of Islamic Studies at Southern Methodist University. He’s also the resident scholar of the Valley Ranch Islamic Center, and Co-Chair of Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square, a multi-faith alliance for peace and justice. Originally from New Orleans, LA, he began his journey of traditional Islamic learning in the year 2000 and has spent years studying in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Malaysia, etc. Upon becoming certified in various traditional sciences, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic law, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, a Master’s degree in Islamic Finance, a Master’s Degree in Political History, and is in the process of completing his PhD from the International Islamic University of Malaysia in Islamic Thought and Civilization.
SIRAJ WAHHAJ
Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Imam of Masjid Taqwa in New York is well known among Muslims in North America as a dynamic speaker and tireless supporter of Islamic causes. Imam Siraj Wahhaj, currently the Imam of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Brookyn, New York, accepted Islam in 1969. He received Imam training at Ummul Qura University of Makkah in 1978 and has gone on to become a national and international speaker on Islam.
Mokhtar Maghraoui
Shaykh Dr. Mokhtar Maghraoui is a distinguished scholar and spiritual educator who uniquely bridges modern academia with traditional Islamic sciences. Born in Algeria to a lineage tracing back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he possesses a diverse academic background, holding a PhD in Electrical Engineering and an MA in Physics from Syracuse University. Professionally, he has lectured at Union College and Syracuse University in fields ranging from mathematics to religion.
Simultaneously, Shaykh Mokhtar mastered the sacred sciences under distinguished masters. He studied Hadith with the late Shaykh Mustafa al-Azami and received Ijāzah (authorization) in spiritual guidance and sacred knowledge from the renowned Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er.
Formerly a member of the Fiqh Council of North America and an Imam across the United States, he currently serves as the Senior Scholar at Al-Madina Institute. Leading the intensive Ṣuḥba Program in Istanbul, his teachings emphasize Tazkiyat al-nafs (purification of the self) — reconciling the intellectual with the spiritual to foster genuine Divine connection and refined character.
Suhaib Webb
Imam Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American Muslim Imam, thought leader and educator. After his conversion to Islam, Webb left a career in the music industry and pursued his passion in education. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education from University of Central Oklahoma. After serving as Imam and resident scholar in various communities across the country, Imam Webb enrolled at the world-renowned Al-Azhar University to study Islamic Law. After years of study in the Arabic Language he was appointed head of the English translation Department at Dar al-Ifta al-Masriyah as a Mufti (Jurist). Imam Webb has completed the memorization of the Quran and holds a number of licenses from traditional scholars in various Islamic sciences. Imam Suhaib Webb strongly advocates for an authentic articulation of the American Muslim identity. He is a proponent of understanding the various challenges facing the American Muslim community and finding solutions based on an authentic American Muslim experience.
Abdool Rahman Khan
Sh. Abdool Rahman Khan is a graduate of the Islamic University faculty of Shari’ah (Islamic Jurisprudence).
He is currently the chairman of the Shari’ah Council of ICNA and a member of the Fiqh Council of North America.
He also is the Director of Programs in the Tarbiyah Department of ICNA.
Leqaa Kordia
Leqaa Kordia is a Palestinian Muslim woman whose life has been marked by profound loss, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice, dignity, and truth. Shaped by the loss of many family members to the ongoing genocide against her people, and further strengthened by a year in ICE detention after exercising her right to free speech, she moves through the world with courage, integrity, and deep faith. Grounded in her values yet full of life and curiosity, she finds renewal in travel, nature, and exploring new cultures, carrying forward a spirit defined by strength, compassion, and an enduring belief in the beauty of living.
Nahela Morales
Sr. Nahela Morales is a dedicated, passionate Mexican Muslim convert, humanitarian, award-winning activist, international public speaker, community organizer, and a mother of one.
She is the co-founder of Embrace, an initiative created for Reverts by Reverts. Their mission is to empower, integrate, and serve our Muslim convert community by providing social and educational space in which to encourage growth, shape Islamic identity, and equip them with the knowledge needed for their life journey. She currently serves as the Dallas Chapter lead and Marketing Director.
She has had the opportunity to speak in countries like Sweden, Columbia, Brazil, and her native Mexico. She has represented a variety of oppressed demographics through her years as an activist and humanitarian. Since 2019 she has served on the board of CAIR-Central North, whose mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. Her dedication and discipline enable her to also mentor and serve on other boards throughout the country including ISPU, and World Hijab Foundation to name a couple. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Divinity at Bayan Islamic Graduate School accredited through Chicago Theological Seminary.
At the end of the day, Sister Nahela Morales is simply a servant of Allah."
ABDUL NASIR JANGDA
Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda is the founder, director, and an instructor at Qalam. He is a faculty member at the Qalam Seminary where he teaches Sahih Bukhari, advanced Tafseer, Usul, Fiqh, and Balagha. He has completed an extensive study of the life of the Prophet ﷺ in the Seerah Podcast. He annually teaches the Seerah Intensive and leads groups on the Seerah Umrah tour and a visit to Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Born and raised in Dallas, he currently resides there with his wife and three children. He memorized the Qur’an in Karachi at an early age. After high school, he returned to Karachi to study the Islamic sciences full-time at Jamia Binoria where he specialized in Fiqh and Tafsir. He graduated from the rigorous ‘alim program in 2001 at the top of his class. He also attained a B.A. and M.A. in Arabic from Karachi University while completing a Masters in Islamic Studies from the University of Sindh. After returning home, he taught at the local university and Islamic schools and served as the Imam in the Dallas area.
Born and raised in Dallas, he currently resides there with his wife and three children. He memorized the Qur’an in Karachi at an early age. After high school, he returned to Karachi to study the Islamic sciences full-time at Jamia Binoria where he specialized in Fiqh and Tafsir. He graduated from the rigorous ‘alim program in 2001 at the top of his class. He also attained a B.A. and M.A. in Arabic from Karachi University while completing a Masters in Islamic Studies from the University of Sindh. After returning home, he taught at the local university and Islamic schools and served as the Imam in the Dallas area.
Khalid Latif
Imam Khalid Latif is Executive Director and Chaplain (Imam) for the Islamic Center at New York University (NYU). In 2005, Imam Latif was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at NYU. At NYU, Khalid initiated his vision for a pluralistic American Muslim community, rooted on campus and reaching out to the city. In 2006, Imam Latif was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at Princeton University. In 2007, Imam Latifs position was fully institutionalized at New York University, and so he committed himself to that institution and the building of a Muslim life institution. Today Islamic Center is a leader among American Muslim organizations, uniquely shaped to contribute to the future of Muslim practice in the West.
Imam Latifs exceptional dedication and ability to cross faith and cultural boundaries on a daily basis brought him recognition throughout the city, so much so that in 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg nominated Imam Latif to become the youngest chaplain in history of the New York City Police Department. He was 24. Since then, Imam Latif has dedicated himself to Americas largest Police Department, and has developed tremendously valuable skills as a spokesperson for co-existence, mutual understanding and productive relationships between cultures, communities and religions.
At NYU, Imam Latif has not only managed to build a strong Muslim institution at NYU, but he has offered his experience and awareness to the U.S. State Department, various institutions, corporations, mosques and other communities in the United States, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Egypt. He is a highly sought-after speaker, offering to diverse audiences his unique blend of motivational speaking, leadership insights, spiritual development and religious awareness.
Imam Latifs exceptional dedication and ability to cross faith and cultural boundaries on a daily basis brought him recognition throughout the city, so much so that in 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg nominated Imam Latif to become the youngest chaplain in history of the New York City Police Department. He was 24. Since then, Imam Latif has dedicated himself to Americas largest Police Department, and has developed tremendously valuable skills as a spokesperson for co-existence, mutual understanding and productive relationships between cultures, communities and religions.
At NYU, Imam Latif has not only managed to build a strong Muslim institution at NYU, but he has offered his experience and awareness to the U.S. State Department, various institutions, corporations, mosques and other communities in the United States, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Egypt. He is a highly sought-after speaker, offering to diverse audiences his unique blend of motivational speaking, leadership insights, spiritual development and religious awareness.
Yaser Birjas
Sh. Yaser Birjas is the Head of our Islamic Law and Theory Department. Often described as the fatherly figure by students, Shaykh Yaser exudes a calm, gentle, and caring demeanor that welcomes students to ask questions with awe and respect. Shaykh Yaser started his career in Electronic Engineering in the UAE, then in Madinah where he graduated as class Valedictorian with the highest honors from The Islamic University of Madinah’s College of Shariah (Fiqh and Usool) in 1996.
He learned from various highly respected scholars such as Shaikh Ash-Shanqitee and Shaikh Al-Uthaimeen (rahimahu Allah).
KHALID GRIGGS
Imam Khalid Fattah Griggs accepted Islam in 1972. He is the Imam of The Community Mosque of Winston-Salem in North Carolina. This is a position he has held since 1984. He is also co-chairman of the North Carolina-based Black Leadership Roundtable of Winston-Salem-Forsyth County. A Political Science and English graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., Imam Griggs has been active in the Muslim and African-American communities. He was part of the anti-Vietnam war movement in the late 1960s and was also involved with the Islamic Party in North America in the 1970s after his conversion. This group, composed of predominantly Muslim African-Americans, was active in Dawa to the African-American community. Imam Griggs co-founded the Institute for Islamic Involvement in the early 1980s and edited its journal, Vision, for six years. More recently, he served as editor of The Message magazine. Imam Griggs currently hold board chair position for ICNA Council for Social Justice.
Zaynab Ansari
Zaynab Ansari spent a decade studying Farsi, Arabic, and traditional Islam, sitting with male and female scholars in seminaries in the Middle East, including traditional scholars in Damascus in the 1990s. Upon her return to the United States, she earned degrees in history and Middle Eastern Studies from Georgia State University.
Since 2014, Zaynab Ansari has served as a scholar-in-residence for Tayseer Foundation, offering enrichment courses and halaqahs to women and youth in the Muslim Community of Knoxville, and working on interfaith dialogue. She is currently an instructor at Tayseer Seminary, which features a one-year intensive in Islamic Studies, drawing students from Tennessee and all regions of the United States.
SAAD TASLEEM
Shaykh Saad Tasleem, born and raised in the USA, is highly in tune with today’s youth struggles and pressures, while grounded with education in traditional Islamic Sciences. In his early years, Shaykh Saad tasted the alternative life as the lead singer of a punk rock band. Moving on from that lifestyle, Shaykh Saad still skateboards, snowboards, and rocks his Converse sneakers. After studying Art History, Modern Art, Graphic Design, and Psychology at the University of Maryland, he decided to take his life in a brand new direction.
Mikaeel Smith
Fatima Lette
Ustadha Fatima Lette is an instructor at Qalam. She is a faculty member at the Qalam Seminary where she teaches Ulum Al Quran, Usul Al Tafsir, and Tafsir. She conducts classes and workshops online. She is a regular teacher at Qalam Intensives.
Ustadha Fatima Lette graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.A. in Psychology. She went on to graduate from the ‘Alimiyyah program at the Qalam Seminary. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, she continues to serve her community as a teacher at the Roswell Community Masjid. She is a teacher at the Roots Community Space.
Hussain Kamani
Mufti Hussain Kamani is an instructor at Qalam. He is a faculty member at the Qalam Seminary where he teaches Sahih Muslim, Mishkat Al Masabih, Fiqh, and Tazkiya. He gives lectures, conducts seminars and workshops, and teaches Intensives and leads Hajj & Umrah groups at Qalam. You can listen to the numerous series that he has recorded on the Qalam Podcast.
He currently resides in Dallas, TX with his wife and four children. He also serves as a resident scholar for the Islamic Association of Carrollton (Masjid Al-Rahman).
Mufti Hussain Kamani was born and raised in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. His journey to pursue sacred Islamic knowledge began at age 6. By the age of 9, he completed the memorization of the Holy Quran. To further advance his studies in the Islamic Sciences, he traveled to the United Kingdom and pursued formal Islamic authorizations (ijazahs). For 7 years, Mufti Kamani studied a rigorous curriculum covering the Arabic language and literature, Islamic jurisprudence, Tafseer of the Holy Qur’an, Hadith, Islamic Philosophy, and Aqeedah. Afterwards, he was selected for a post-graduate level course in Islamic Law and Legal Verdicts, which he completed within two years. He later earned his graduate degree in Business Management from the University of Coventry in the UK.
He currently resides in Dallas, TX with his wife and four children. He also serves as a resident scholar for the Islamic Association of Carrollton (Masjid Al-Rahman).
Mufti Hussain Kamani was born and raised in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. His journey to pursue sacred Islamic knowledge began at age 6. By the age of 9, he completed the memorization of the Holy Quran. To further advance his studies in the Islamic Sciences, he traveled to the United Kingdom and pursued formal Islamic authorizations (ijazahs). For 7 years, Mufti Kamani studied a rigorous curriculum covering the Arabic language and literature, Islamic jurisprudence, Tafseer of the Holy Qur’an, Hadith, Islamic Philosophy, and Aqeedah. Afterwards, he was selected for a post-graduate level course in Islamic Law and Legal Verdicts, which he completed within two years. He later earned his graduate degree in Business Management from the University of Coventry in the UK.
Tom Facchine
Imam Tom Facchine (fuh-KEEN-ee) converted to Islam in 2010. He finished his BA in Political Science from Vassar College in 2011 and was granted the opportunity to study at the Islamic University of Madinah from 2015-2020, where he obtained his BA from the Faculty of Shariah.
Imam Tom is currently the Research Director of Islam and Society at the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. He is also resident scholar of Utica Masjid (Utica, New York), as well as the Imam of Hamilton College where he does chaplaincy work. He also teaches Tafseer to middle-schoolers online through Legacy International Online High School.
Madiha Tahseen
Dr. Madiha Tahseen is the Research Director and a Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research expertise is in positive youth development amongst Muslim-American youth, particularly focusing on the role of cultural and religious contexts in character development among minority populations. She has received intramural and extramural grants to support her research. She has served as a subject-matter expert in numerous spaces, including on panels organized by the White House, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education. Dr Tahseen has published in a variety of scientific journals as well as community-based platforms.
Dr. Tahseen is committed to uplifting the community and supporting Muslim youth. She has been a community organizer for more than a decade serving the American Muslim community in varying capacities, and has previously served as Executive Board member of Stones To Bridges, a non-profit organization that provides an anonymous online platform for Muslim youth to address their emotional, social and behavioral needs. She is based in Baltimore, MD and has three beautiful children. She loves sports,and wishes she was an NBA player in her spare time.
Dr. Tahseen is committed to uplifting the community and supporting Muslim youth. She has been a community organizer for more than a decade serving the American Muslim community in varying capacities, and has previously served as Executive Board member of Stones To Bridges, a non-profit organization that provides an anonymous online platform for Muslim youth to address their emotional, social and behavioral needs. She is based in Baltimore, MD and has three beautiful children. She loves sports,and wishes she was an NBA player in her spare time.
Ayman Hammous
Dr. Ayman Hammous, lives in Dallas, TX and married with five children. He holds a doctorate degree in Physical therapy from Stoney Brook University. He is the current Executive Director of MAS National.
MOHSIN ANSARI
Dr. Mohsin Ansari served as the ICNA President from January 2021-2025.
Dr. Ansari has been with ICNA, serving in different capacities for the past three decades. He previously served as the Chairman of ICNA Relief and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD).
He completed his pediatric residency at Metro health Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He continued to broaden his training and experience at the same institution in the capacity of a Chief Resident. Dr. Ansari then did his pediatric specialization and fellowship in Neonatology (Newborn and Premature baby care) at Metro heath Medical Center. Dr. Ansari is currently licensed to practice medicine in several states. He is also an author of multiple research papers published both in national and international medical journals. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five sons.
Dr. Ansari has been with ICNA, serving in different capacities for the past three decades. He previously served as the Chairman of ICNA Relief and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD).
He completed his pediatric residency at Metro health Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He continued to broaden his training and experience at the same institution in the capacity of a Chief Resident. Dr. Ansari then did his pediatric specialization and fellowship in Neonatology (Newborn and Premature baby care) at Metro heath Medical Center. Dr. Ansari is currently licensed to practice medicine in several states. He is also an author of multiple research papers published both in national and international medical journals. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five sons.
Nihad Awad
Nihad Awad is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest non-profit Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. He has been frequently interviewed on national and international media such as CNN, BBC World Service, PBS, C-SPAN, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Voice of America and Al-Jazeerah. CAIR news releases are disseminated to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide on a daily basis.
After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Mr. Awad flew to Oklahoma to aid in the relief effort. He personally met with Governor Frank Keating and gave the governor a sizable donation for the victims’ fund on behalf of the American Muslim community. In 1997, Mr. Awad served on Vice President Al Gore’s Civil Rights Advisory Panel to the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security.
In his professional capacity, Mr. Awad has also personally met with former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Colin L. Powell to discuss the needs of the American Muslim community. Numerous law enforcement agencies and Fortune 500 companies — including Nike and DKNY — have benefited from CAIR educational seminars on Islamic traditions and culture. In addition to resolving employment discrimination issues involving American Muslims, Mr. Awad has also conducted over 100 public relations and media training seminars nationwide.
For the 2000 presidential election, Mr. Awad was a key figure in the American Muslim Political Coordinating Committee (AMPCC), an umbrella organization of the largest American Muslim organizations, which helped to create the first Muslim voting bloc for a presidential election. Mr. Awad is a regular participant in the U.S. Department of State’s “International Visitors Program”, which welcomes foreign dignitaries, journalists and academics who are currently visiting the President of the United States.
A few days after September 11, 2001, Mr. Awad was one of the few American Muslim leaders invited by the White House to join President Bush in a press conference at the Islamic Center of Washington, the oldest mosque in Washington DC. Mr. Awad has testified before both houses of the U.S. Congress, most recently at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on matters involving Muslims in America. He has also spoken at prestigious educational institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins Universities. He was also a featured speaker at the 2002 Reuters Forum on global cooperation at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
In addition, he actively works with local and national interfaith leaders and organizations in the interest of promoting positive relations among people of diverse faith communities. Mr. Awad is also featured in Silent No More by former United States Representative Paul Findley (R-IL), a book chronicling the history of the American Muslim community.
Javaid Siddiqi
Br. Javaid Siddiqi is currently the CEO of Helping Hand USA and the former President of ICNA. He's an engineer by profession, Javaid holds a Master's degree in electrical engineering.
As a resident of Lexington, KY he is a regular Khateeb in his area masaajid.
Altaf Husain
Dr. Altaf Husain is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and lives currently in Northern Virginia with his wife and children. He serves as Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Howard University in Washington DC.
His research interests include the mental health and integration of immigrant and refugee families, and especially Muslim adolescents, in the United States.
He serves as Vice President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and an advisory board member of the Peaceful Families Project -dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence.
He feels honored to have spoken at ICNA conventions since 1998.
Mobeen Vaid
Mobeen Vaid is a Muslim public intellectual and writer. A contributing writer for muslimmatters.org, his writings center on how traditional Islamic norms and frames of thinking intersect the modern world. In recent years, he has focused on Islamic sexual and gender norms.
Vaid also serves as an advisor to Muslim college students, and is a campus minister for the Muslim community at George Mason University. He has reviewed The Study Qur’an for the Journal of Islamic Sciences and published “Can Islam Accommodate Homosexual Acts? Qur'anic Revisionism and the Case of Scott Kugle” for the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS).
Sabeel Ahmed
Dr. Sabeel Ahmed is the Executive Director of the GainPeace Project, an outreach project of Islamic Circle of North America. As a Director of GainPeace, Dr. Sabeel's aim is to bring out the commonalities and build bridges between people of various faith, races, and nationalities and share the beautiful faith of Islam with our fellow Americans. Some of the projects of GainPeace include advertising the message of spirituality via Bus, Billboards, Trains, TV, Radio and Newspapers. Dr. Sabeel had given many outreach presentations and workshops in various cities in the USA on the topics of Shariah, Freedom of Speech, Comparative Religion and Youth Empowerment. After completing his medical education from the Carribean, he decided to dedicate his time as a full-time (daee) educator of Islam to tackle Islamophobia and to convey the peaceful message of Islam. He is married with three children and resides with his family in Morton Grove, IL, USA. Dr. Sabeel is being featured on many local and national media news outlets.
Naeem Baig
Mr. Naeem Mohammad Baig is the former President of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA).
Mr. Baig has served as the Executive Director for “ICNA Council For Social Justice” between 2009 - 2012, and as the Secretary General of the Islamic Circle of North America from 2000 to 2004, and later from 2006 to 2008.
He is a board member of Interfaith Workers Justice (IWJ). He is actively engaged in the interfaith work and is currently serving as the Moderator for Religions for Peace USA and co-chairs the Muslim-Christian Initiative.
He is also a co-coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic Muslim Dialogue.”
Arshia Ali-Khan
Sr. Arshia Ali-Khan is the interim CEO of the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) a nonprofit organization that funds legal work and programming to defend Muslims and Muslim organizations against injustice in American courtrooms, prisons, and communities.
Jawad Ahmed
Imam Jawad Ahmed graduated from International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan with a Bachelors (with Honors) degree in Usool-uddin (Islamic sciences) with specialization in Tafseer and Hadith.
He received Arabic Language Certification and Teaching License for Islamic Studies & Arabic from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
He graduated from University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Sciences.
Currently he is Imam of Islamic Society of North Jersey in Budd Lake NJ. He is also Coordinator of 877-Why-Islam Dawah Hotline for last 15 years, managing team of 25 daees over phone 24/7 hotline.
Abdullah Oduro
Abdullah Oduro is a first generation Ghanian native that converted to Islam in 1997. He graduated from the College of Islamic Law from the University of AlMadinah in 2007. He conducts public speeches, sermons, lectures, and workshops around the US on Islamic Law, self-improvement, and convert life. He is currently the Imam at the Islamic Center of Coppell and Lewisville in Dallas, TX.
He resides in Dallas, TX with his wife and four children. Having recently joined Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research as a Scholar, Shaykh Abdullah leads a team providing unique and comprehensive resources for new Muslim converts and institutional convert care
RAMI KAWAS
Rami Kawas specializes in the areas of management and organizational psychology. He currently serves as the Executive Director and a trainer for Oaktree Institute, a leadership consulting organization for nonprofits. He has served in various leadership positions for local and national nonprofit organizations, with extensive experience delivering educational and training programs. He has a passion for learning and developing content in the areas of leadership, team management, and organizational performance.
Rami holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Harvard University focused on human development and organizational psychology, is a graduate of the Qalam Islamic Seminary and resides in the New Jersey area.
Rami holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Harvard University focused on human development and organizational psychology, is a graduate of the Qalam Islamic Seminary and resides in the New Jersey area.
Sameera Ahmed
Dr Sameera Ahmed is the founder of The Family and Youth Institute and served as its Executive Director from 2006-2025. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Ahmed is a leading expert on American Muslim youth and has produced numerous groundbreaking publications, including The State of American Muslim Youth, Uplifting Black Muslim Youth, Prevalence of Risk Behaviors of US Muslim College Students, and Alcohol Use Among US Muslim College Students.
Dr. Ahmed is known for her contributions in promoting Muslim mental health through many avenues, including the publication of Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions, the most cited academic book on Muslim Mental health. She has been invited as a subject matter expert to events organized by the White House, Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), and the Department of Education (DOE). She has been referenced in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. She also serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Muslim Mental Health.
Dr. Ahmed is committed to supporting mental health practitioners and psychology students, and has taught classes at several universities nationwide. Dr. Ahmed has been a community activist at the grassroots and national levels for over 30 years, including serving as Vice-President for MSA-National and as a Muslim American Society (MAS) board member. She is based in Michigan, where she has a private clinical practice. For fun, she enjoys playing floor hockey, water sports, and eating good food.
Dr. Ahmed is known for her contributions in promoting Muslim mental health through many avenues, including the publication of Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions, the most cited academic book on Muslim Mental health. She has been invited as a subject matter expert to events organized by the White House, Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), and the Department of Education (DOE). She has been referenced in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. She also serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Muslim Mental Health.
Dr. Ahmed is committed to supporting mental health practitioners and psychology students, and has taught classes at several universities nationwide. Dr. Ahmed has been a community activist at the grassroots and national levels for over 30 years, including serving as Vice-President for MSA-National and as a Muslim American Society (MAS) board member. She is based in Michigan, where she has a private clinical practice. For fun, she enjoys playing floor hockey, water sports, and eating good food.
Majed Mahmoud
Majed Mahmoud earned a bachelor's degree in Islamic Jurisprudence & Legal Theory from Al-Madinah International University, as well as a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a master's in business administration, and has since traveled worldwide, lecturing about different aspects of Islam, from prophetic stories to Islamic personal conduct. Residing in Michigan with his wife and children, Shaykh Majed is an engineer by profession, whilst also teaching classes year-round in his community on topics such as the seerah, the lives of the khulafa, and reasons for revelation (Asbab an Nuzul).
Asif Hirani
Dr. Asif Hirani completed his Bachelor's of Business Administration in Fashion designing before switching gears to the pursuit of Islamic Studies. He has completed his Masters in Islamic Studies (Usul-ud-din) from Karachi University and attained his PhD from Al-Madina International University in Tafsir & Uloom-ul-Quran.
Salman Khan
Salman Khan is a PhD student in Education Policy & Program Evaluation, a PIER-IES Fellow, and a Stone PhD Scholar in Inequality and Wealth Concentration.
His research seeks to investigate the challenges that disadvantaged (typically low-income, first generation, and minority) students face as they progress through their educational pathways. This manifests into researching how inequalities in access and preparation for higher education manifest into inequalities in the labor market, as well as focusing on the future of work as it relates to the effects of automation on the labor supply.
Prior to his doctoral studies, Salman served as a school counselor in NJ, supporting students through the college application process. Since then, he has worked with the Palo Alto Unified School District’s Research, Evaluation, and Assessment office, the Stanford Admissions Office, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He also served as a Data Fellow for the Strategic Data Project (SDP) Fellowship at the Connecticut RISE Network, where he led projects related to Grade 9 on-track strategies, college and career readiness efforts, and data dashboard development for ten low-performing school districts.
Salman earned his BA from Rutgers University and his MA from Stanford University. He also earned a Certification in College Counseling from UCLA Extension.
His research seeks to investigate the challenges that disadvantaged (typically low-income, first generation, and minority) students face as they progress through their educational pathways. This manifests into researching how inequalities in access and preparation for higher education manifest into inequalities in the labor market, as well as focusing on the future of work as it relates to the effects of automation on the labor supply.
Prior to his doctoral studies, Salman served as a school counselor in NJ, supporting students through the college application process. Since then, he has worked with the Palo Alto Unified School District’s Research, Evaluation, and Assessment office, the Stanford Admissions Office, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He also served as a Data Fellow for the Strategic Data Project (SDP) Fellowship at the Connecticut RISE Network, where he led projects related to Grade 9 on-track strategies, college and career readiness efforts, and data dashboard development for ten low-performing school districts.
Salman earned his BA from Rutgers University and his MA from Stanford University. He also earned a Certification in College Counseling from UCLA Extension.
Noor Salem
Noor Salem is an author of five books and a speaker who holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health with a concentration in Human Clinical Nutrition from the Maryland University of Integrative Health.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan within two years, she successfully received her graduate certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world’s largest educational institution for nutrition. Noor has been working with clients for years through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition.
She conducted workshops, lectures, and group coaching classes in countless faith-based organizations, conventions, and universities nationwide, including MAS-ICNA, AlMaghrib Institute, and ICNACON. Noor recently conducted a 4-hour workshop with AlMaghrib Institute’s chapters, Qabeelah Ittihaad.
She authored Sunnah Superfoods, Sunnah Superfoods for KIDS, Sunnah Superfoods for Baby: Arabic Version, and Sunnah Superfoods: The A to Z of Eating Healthy.
Her hobbies include photography, hiking, and poetry, Imam al-Shafi’s Diwan being amongst her favorite.
Yassine Daoud
Yassine J. Daoud, M.D., is assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer eye institute at Johns Hopkins university. Dr. Daoud grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon between 1976-1993 and witnessed the Lebanese civil war.
He was awarded full scholarship to attend the United World College for high school. He then attended Amherst College in Amherst on a full merit based scholarship and then received another scholarship to receive his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School.
He was selected to the prestigious Doris Duke Fellowship. Dr Daoud is a frequent speaker at different area mosques during Jumuah khutbah's, Eid prayers and ramadhan khateerah's. He co- founded Harvard Longwood Muslims (HLM) over 15 years ago at Harvard Medical School, and "BRIDGE America" to help settle new Muslim refugees to the united States.
He also leads multiple halaqas in the area and is very active in volunteer efforts in the DMV area. He is a mentor and advisor to Muslim student groups at college and university campuses.
Yousuf Raza
My name is Yousuf Raza and I am a Consultant Psychiatrist, with a Master’s in Psychology, a Diplomate in Logotherapy, and currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate at the University of West Georgia. Continue reading
My experience as a public speaker for the last 12 years and clinical experience for the last 10 years has shaped me as both a psychiatrist and coach. Academically, my interest in the relationship between religion and psychology has led me to focus on pragmatism, psychoanalysis, and Allama Iqbal. This translates to community teaching programs aimed at strengthening families and relationships, as well as individual consultations designed to promote optimal mental health.
Laila El Haddad
Laila El-Haddad is an award-winning Palestinian author, social activist, policy analyst and journalist. She frequently speaks on the situation in Gaza, the intersection of food and politics, her own personal journey as a Palestinian mother and journalist, as well as on contemporary Islam. She has written for numerous newspapers and magazines, including the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, International Herald Tribune, The New Statesman, The Daily Star, Le monde diplomatique, and has appeared on many international broadcasting networks, including NPR, CNN, Aljazeera, and CCTV.
She is the author of Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Parenting, and Everything In Between and, co-author of the critically acclaimed The Gaza Kitchen: A Palestinian Culinary Journey, which was the recipient of ‘Best Arab Cuisine Book’ award from Gourmand magazine, and a finalist at the 2013 MEMO Palestine Book Awards. She is also the co-editor the anthology Gaza Unsilenced.
From 2003-2007, El-Haddad was the Gaza correspondent for the Al Jazeera English website and a regular contributor to the BBC World Service, during which time she covered such events as the Gaza Disengagement and the 2006 Palestinian elections. She also co-directed two Gaza-based documentaries, including the award-winning Tunnel Trade.
She is the author of Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Parenting, and Everything In Between and, co-author of the critically acclaimed The Gaza Kitchen: A Palestinian Culinary Journey, which was the recipient of ‘Best Arab Cuisine Book’ award from Gourmand magazine, and a finalist at the 2013 MEMO Palestine Book Awards. She is also the co-editor the anthology Gaza Unsilenced.
From 2003-2007, El-Haddad was the Gaza correspondent for the Al Jazeera English website and a regular contributor to the BBC World Service, during which time she covered such events as the Gaza Disengagement and the 2006 Palestinian elections. She also co-directed two Gaza-based documentaries, including the award-winning Tunnel Trade.
Ibrahim Jaaber
Ibrahim Jaaber serves as the full-time Youth Director at IECPA, where he is responsible for leading and overseeing various youth programs and initiatives while fostering growth and development among young members of the community. His journey in youth enrichment and education is backed by a solid educational foundation, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania as well as an Executive Master’s Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and Cross-Cultural Dialogue from the ADR Fellowship of Cambridge and Cornell University. In addition, Ibrahim holds a Certificate in Positive Youth Development from the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA). Before joining IECPA, Ibrahim studied Arabic, the Quran, and various Islamic sciences in Cairo, Egypt, for three years. He is also a former professional basketball player and Philadelphia Basketball Hall of Famer.
Aqil Ingram
Yousef Bakeer
Sheikh Yousef Bakeer is a dedicated scholar and youth worker with over 15 years of experience serving the youth community. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, he graduated from Al-Azhar University with a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies. Fluent in multiple languages, Sheikh Yousef has traveled extensively, sharing his profound knowledge and insights.
Currently, he serves as the Youth Director for Valley Ranch Islamic Center and is a respected teacher at the Manara Institute. He also plays a crucial role as an educator and advisor for Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD), where he contributes his expertise to various humanitarian initiatives. In these roles, he mentors Muslim youth, guiding them to develop a deeper understanding of their faith.
Sheikh Yousef holds an ijaza in Quran and is pursuing advanced degrees in Islamic Studies and chaplaincy. His extensive education and hands-on experience make him an invaluable resource to the Muslim community. Sheikh Yousef's unwavering dedication to youth work has inspired countless young individuals to lead lives of service and faith, embodying the principles of Islam.
Currently, he serves as the Youth Director for Valley Ranch Islamic Center and is a respected teacher at the Manara Institute. He also plays a crucial role as an educator and advisor for Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD), where he contributes his expertise to various humanitarian initiatives. In these roles, he mentors Muslim youth, guiding them to develop a deeper understanding of their faith.
Sheikh Yousef holds an ijaza in Quran and is pursuing advanced degrees in Islamic Studies and chaplaincy. His extensive education and hands-on experience make him an invaluable resource to the Muslim community. Sheikh Yousef's unwavering dedication to youth work has inspired countless young individuals to lead lives of service and faith, embodying the principles of Islam.
Muhammad Khan
Shaykh Muhammad Khan is a graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah, Faculty of Shariah. He currently serves as the Assistant Imam and Youth Director at the Islamic Center of Charlotte, where he actively mentors and engages the community's youth. In addition, he is the Head of the Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies Department at Charlotte Islamic Academy and also leads the Islamic Studies program at Intellicor Academy. Known for his grounded scholarship and ability to connect with youth, Shaykh Muhammad continues to serve as a passionate educator and community leader in Charlotte, NC.
Kaiser Aslam
Chaplain Kaiser Aslam serves as the first full-time Muslim Chaplain at Rutgers University through the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU), he serves as the only full-time Muslim Chaplain at any public university in the country. Kaiser has studied classical Islamic sciences in his studies stateside and abroad and holds a Masters degree in Islamic Studies from Hartford Seminary. In addition to his campus work, Kaiser served as the first Muslim Chaplain at Hartford Hospital, as the Muslim Chaplain of Wesleyan University and as a youth director and resident scholar at various Islamic centers. Kaiser has worked with many educational and service-based organizations. Most notably, he has served as the National Coordinator of Young Muslims, the largest Muslim youth group in North America.
Rania Awaad
Dr. Rania Awaad M.D., is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab, Associate Chief of the Division of Public Mental Health and Population Sciences, and Co-Chief of the Diversity and Cultural Mental Health Section. On a community level, she is the Executive Director of the holistic mental health nonprofit Maristan.org. In addition, she serves as the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls, and as a Senior Fellow at Yaqeen Institute and ISPU. She has previously served as the founding Clinical Director of the Khalil Center-San Francisco as well as a Professor of Islamic Law at Zaytuna College. Prior to studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria and holds certifications (ijaza) in Qur’an, Islamic Law and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Follow her @Dr.RaniaAwaad
Daoud Nassimi
He is a professor of Islam and a member of Shari’ah Council of ICNA. He has a unique and combined educational background in Engineering and Islamic Studies.
Initially, he did his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in electrical engineering and worked in telecommunications for many years. Then, because of his passion to serve Islam and the community, he decided to first change his career to Islamic Studies by studying Arabic in Saudi Arabia.
Later, he did a second Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Birmingham in England. His Ph.D. thesis was on a comparative review of English translations of the Qur'an.
Eaman Attia
Dr. Eaman Attia is a dedicated community leader, educator, and spiritual mentor who has spent over two decades focusing on the personal and spiritual development of the American Muslim community. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Muslim American Society (MAS) Dallas-Fort Worth chapter, where she plays a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant community rooted in service, faith, and family values.
Widely recognized for her expertise in Tarbiya (comprehensive spiritual and personal cultivation), Dr. Attia recently concluded a high-impact tenure as the National Director of Tarbiya for MAS National. In this capacity, she spearheaded national initiatives designed to empower individuals with the spiritual tools necessary to lead lives of purpose and social responsibility. Her reflections on the Quran and Islamic character have reached a broad audience through the acclaimed series In the Shade of Ramadan, where her insights on the Names of Allah and Surat Al-Buruj offered profound guidance to viewers globally.
Dr. Attia’s work is defined by her ability to bridge classical Islamic spiritual concepts with the lived experience of Muslims in the West. She is a committed advocate for youth empowerment, family wellness, and community justice. Whether leading board initiatives or delivering a spiritual reflection, Dr. Attia remains focused on the MAS mission of moving people and the world toward a just and virtuous society. She frequently contributes to conventions and retreats across North America, sharing the beauty of the Prophetic tradition to inspire hearts and call others to meaningful action.
Carl Sharif El-Tobgui
Carl Sharif El-Tobgui holds a B.S. in Arabic Language from Georgetown University and a Master's and Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from McGill University and currently serves as Associate Professor Arabic & Islamic Studies and Director of the Arabic Language Program at Brandeis.
He previously taught for five years at Harvard University as Preceptor of Arabic, and has also taught at the Middlebury College Summer Arabic Language School. Prof. El-Tobgui's scholarly expertise lies in the field of Islamic thought, with a concentration on theology, law, and jurisprudence.
He is particularly interested in questions concerning the relationship between reason and revelation in the Islamic tradition and has published on the manifestations of this tension in the fields of classical Islamic jurisprudence and Qur'anic exegesis. His first monograph is an extensive study of Ibn Taymiyya's (d. 1328) 10-volume magnum opus, "Refutation of Contradiction Between Reason and Revelation" (published Open Access by E.J. Brill, 2020).
In addition to his expertise in Islamic thought, Prof. El-Tobgui has a deep love of language in general and of Classical Arabic in particular and has enjoyed for many years exploring the intricacies of Arabic grammar as well as classical literature and poetry with his students.
Delouer Hussain
Imam Dalouer is the National President of the Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA). He is also the Imam and Khatib of Baitul Mamur Masjid, Brooklyn, NY. He served as a Shura member and executive director of MUNA on several terms. Imam Dalouer obtained his Master's in Hadith Studies from Madrasha Board in Dhaka and a Master's in Theology and Islamic Studies from the Islamic University of Khostia, Bangladesh. He has published many books on Islam, most notably "Taqwa and Muthaqi," and several Islamic research articles published in newspapers and magazines. He is a frequent speaker at Islamic events and has emerged as one of the renowned Islamic scholars in the Muslim Community.
Gyasi McKinzie
Shaykh Gyasi (Ja-see) Mckinzie was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Memphis, TN. He accepted Islam in 1991 while he was still in high school. He is a graduate from the Islamic University of Madinah, Faculty of Dawah and Usool ul Deen and also holds a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University in Theological Studies.
He has over 20 years of experience providing Islamic leadership to schools and organizations. Besides having served as Imam of the Muslim Society of Memphis and as chaplain at two federal prisons, he has been the Youth Director of the Youth and Dawah Center in Memphis, TN. He has also served as an Islamic Studies teacher and school counselor at Pleasant View School and the Islamic school of Irving, respectively.
He currently works as an Associate Manager of Marketing and Outreach at Helping Hand for Relief and Development, as well as serves as the Director of Education for Embrace.
He has over 20 years of experience providing Islamic leadership to schools and organizations. Besides having served as Imam of the Muslim Society of Memphis and as chaplain at two federal prisons, he has been the Youth Director of the Youth and Dawah Center in Memphis, TN. He has also served as an Islamic Studies teacher and school counselor at Pleasant View School and the Islamic school of Irving, respectively.
He currently works as an Associate Manager of Marketing and Outreach at Helping Hand for Relief and Development, as well as serves as the Director of Education for Embrace.
Hasan Shah
Ustadh Hasan Shah is a tenured Islamic Studies Instructor at the Islamic Society of Baltimore – Masjid Al-Rahmah, since 2011. He is also a frontline Da’ee with ICNA’s National Why Islam Team, serving as a national phone-rep for the 1877-Why-Islam Hotline since 2014. He is also the Founder & Executive Chairman for Islam200.org Project, serving as an Islamic Life Coach for addressing Islamic issues faced by troubled Muslims. Ustadh Hasan also serves the role of an Imam at the Harford County Prison Detention Centers as a rotational Khateeb. He is also engaged in several Masaajids in Baltimore as a Media/Public Relations Manager, lending his expertise on web-development and Masjid social media presence. Overall, he is always lending his expertise to strengthen the Ummah in one way or another.
Islamic Education:
Ustadh Hasan completed his formal & informal Islamic Education from ICNA (Jamaica NY) under the tutelage of the (late) Maulana Naseem (ICNA Pioneer-Imam) & 2-year trial Hifz Program at Flushing Masjid NY under world renowned Qari: Hafiz Faheem Ahmed. He also completed Islamic coursework in Islamic Ethics and Quran-tafseer from (late) Imam Khalil (graduate from Al-Azhar University).
Islamic Education:
Ustadh Hasan completed his formal & informal Islamic Education from ICNA (Jamaica NY) under the tutelage of the (late) Maulana Naseem (ICNA Pioneer-Imam) & 2-year trial Hifz Program at Flushing Masjid NY under world renowned Qari: Hafiz Faheem Ahmed. He also completed Islamic coursework in Islamic Ethics and Quran-tafseer from (late) Imam Khalil (graduate from Al-Azhar University).
Arif Hussain
Dr. Arif Hussain is a practicing physician and dedicated educator with a strong background in Islamic studies, youth mentorship, and community leadership. He began his journey in social activism and youth development as an active member of Young Muslims (YM), where he served in multiple leadership roles including Neighbornet Coordinator, Chicago City Coordinator, and National Coordinator. He is also a founding member of the Islamic Learning Foundation in Chicago, where he contributed to the development of curriculum for the faculty of Arabic studies. Dr. Hussain further pursued advanced Arabic training at the Qortoba Institute in Cairo, Egypt, completing a rigorous course of study. With a deep interest in Islamic theology and spiritual sciences, Dr. Hussain has received certification to teach the “Why Islam is True” course under the instruction of Shaykh Hamza Karamali (Basira Education). He is currently continuing his studies in the Alimiyyah program at Al-Salam Institute under the guidance of Dr. Akram Nadwi.
Through his work, Dr. Hussain combines professional excellence with a commitment to education, faith development, and community service.
Through his work, Dr. Hussain combines professional excellence with a commitment to education, faith development, and community service.
Ovamir Anjum
Dr. Ovamir Anjum is the Imam Khattab Endowed Chair of Islamic Studies at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Toledo.
His work focuses on the nexus of theology, ethics, politics and law in Islam, with comparative interest in Western Thought. Trained as a historian, his work is essentially interdisciplinary, drawing on the fields of classical Islamic studies, political philosophy, and cultural anthropology.
Abdul Al-Sayed
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, public health expert, and progressive activist. He is the Chair at Southpaw Michigan. His forthcoming book, “Healing Politics” (Abrams Press) diagnoses our country’s epidemic of insecurity and the empathy politics we will need to treat it, and he is the host of “America Dissected,” a podcast by Crooked Media, which goes beyond the headlines to explore what really matters for our health.
In 2018, Abdul ran for Governor of Michigan on an unapologetically progressive platform, advocating for universal healthcare, clean water for all, debt-free and tuition-free higher education, a pathway to 100% renewable energy, and to rebuild the barrier between corporations and government. His bid was endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, The Nation, and Current Affairs. And though he earned over 340,000 votes, he finished second of three in the Democratic Primary.
Prior, he served as Health Commissioner in the City of Detroit, appointed to rebuild the City’s health department after it was privatized during municipal bankruptcy. He was the youngest health official in a major US city. Responsible for the health and safety of over 670,000 Detroiters, the Detroit Health Department became a state and national leader in public health innovation and environmental justice, in one of the fastest municipal public health turnarounds in American history. He was awarded “Public Official of the Year” by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and “40 under 40” by Crain’s Detroit Business.
As a professor at Columbia University's Department of Epidemiology, Abdul became an internationally recognized expert in health policy and health inequalities. He was Director of the Columbia University Systems Science Program and Global Research Analytics for Population Health. He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications that have earned over 1200 citations, including a foundational textbook on Systems Science & Population Health (Oxford University Press, 2016).
Abdul holds a doctorate in Public Health from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, as well as a medical degree from Columbia University, where he was a Medical Scientist Training Program Fellow and a Soros New Americans Fellow. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Highest Distinction from the University of Michigan, where he was chosen to deliver the student commencement speech alongside President Bill Clinton.
He is a native Michigander who was born and raised in Metro Detroit, where he lives with his wife, Sarah, a mental health doctor, and daughter Emmalee. He enjoys good people, good coffee, good food, sports, and the University of Michigan Football. He is a proud member of UAW Local 1981 and AFT Local 477.
In 2018, Abdul ran for Governor of Michigan on an unapologetically progressive platform, advocating for universal healthcare, clean water for all, debt-free and tuition-free higher education, a pathway to 100% renewable energy, and to rebuild the barrier between corporations and government. His bid was endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, The Nation, and Current Affairs. And though he earned over 340,000 votes, he finished second of three in the Democratic Primary.
Prior, he served as Health Commissioner in the City of Detroit, appointed to rebuild the City’s health department after it was privatized during municipal bankruptcy. He was the youngest health official in a major US city. Responsible for the health and safety of over 670,000 Detroiters, the Detroit Health Department became a state and national leader in public health innovation and environmental justice, in one of the fastest municipal public health turnarounds in American history. He was awarded “Public Official of the Year” by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and “40 under 40” by Crain’s Detroit Business.
As a professor at Columbia University's Department of Epidemiology, Abdul became an internationally recognized expert in health policy and health inequalities. He was Director of the Columbia University Systems Science Program and Global Research Analytics for Population Health. He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications that have earned over 1200 citations, including a foundational textbook on Systems Science & Population Health (Oxford University Press, 2016).
Abdul holds a doctorate in Public Health from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, as well as a medical degree from Columbia University, where he was a Medical Scientist Training Program Fellow and a Soros New Americans Fellow. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Highest Distinction from the University of Michigan, where he was chosen to deliver the student commencement speech alongside President Bill Clinton.
He is a native Michigander who was born and raised in Metro Detroit, where he lives with his wife, Sarah, a mental health doctor, and daughter Emmalee. He enjoys good people, good coffee, good food, sports, and the University of Michigan Football. He is a proud member of UAW Local 1981 and AFT Local 477.
MOHAMMAD ELSHINAWY
Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy is a Graduate of English Literature at Brooklyn College, NYC. He studied at College of Hadith at the Islamic University of Madinah and is a graduate and instructor of Islamic Studies at Mishkah University. He has translated major works for the International Islamic Publishing House, the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America, and Mishkah University
Oussama Jammal
Oussama Jammal is the Secretary General of the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), an umbrella organization of national, regional, and local Muslim organizations. Mr. Jammal served in different capacities including former president and chairman of the Board of the Mosque Foundation, Bridgeview, Illinois; Interfaith Advisory Board of the Department of Homeland Security – Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS-FEMA)- Cook County, Illinois; member of the strategy board of the Metro-Industrial Areas Foundation (Metro-IAF), one of the largest community organizing in the United States; the National Director of MAS-PACE, the Public A/airs and Civic Engagement Division of the Muslim American Society; former President of Fox Valley Muslim Community Center, Illinois; former president of the Council of Arab Organizations; and former chairman of the Steering Committee for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Annual Convention.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell
Edward Ahmed Mitchell is an attorney and former journalist who serves as the Deputy Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.
Mr. Mitchell previously served as the Executive Director of CAIR-Georgia from 2016 to 2020. During that time, the civil rights organization resolved numerous cases of anti-Muslim discrimination, opened its first office, and expanded its staff to include a paralegal, a staff attorney, legislative aides, and a communications director. In 2016, the chapter received CAIR National’s Chapter of the Year award.
Before joining CAIR-Georgia, Mr. Mitchell practiced law as a criminal prosecutor for the City of Atlanta and worked as a freelance journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He has also served as vice president and secretary of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers, an editor of Atlanta Muslim, a member of the Georgia Association of Muslim Lawyers, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta.
Mr. Mitchell is a 2009 graduate of Morehouse College, where he served as captain of the school’s American Mock Trial Association team, president of the Honors Program Club, and editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper.
He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he won first place in the law school’s annual Trial Advocacy Competition, served as editor-in-chief of The Georgetown Law Weekly, and was elected president of the Muslim Law Students Association.
Amber Haque
Dr. Amber Haque earned his master’s in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University and his Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. After working in Michigan as a psychologist for more than twelve years, he went into academia and taught as a professor of psychology at the International Islamic University Malaysia, UAE University, and Doha Institute for Graduate Studies for 25 years.
In addition to serving as Department Chair and Director of Clinical Psychology of Programs, he served as Visiting Scholar at Cornell University. He is currently a researcher at the Muslim Mental Health Consortium, Michigan State University, and non-resident faculty at Cambridge Muslim College, UK. Dr. Haque edited nine books and authored more than sixty articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Fahad Tasleem
Fahad Tasleem is a research fellow and instructor at The Sapience Institute. He is the author of the book, "No Doubt: Finding Certainty in an Age of Uncertainty". Fahad's research areas at Sapience focus on Islamic Theo-Philosophy & Spirituality.
He holds a BA in Economics from Michigan State University, an MSc in Business from the University of Southern California and Graduate Studies in Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on Islamic Theology from the University of Texas at Austin. Fahad is a student, researcher teacher of various Islamic sciences and is currently pursuing his Phd in Islamic Thought from the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
He holds a BA in Economics from Michigan State University, an MSc in Business from the University of Southern California and Graduate Studies in Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on Islamic Theology from the University of Texas at Austin. Fahad is a student, researcher teacher of various Islamic sciences and is currently pursuing his Phd in Islamic Thought from the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
Sami Zaharna
Sami Zaharna wears multiple h̶a̶t̶s̶ kufis in his role as Acting Imam and MFC Board Member. Sami is a native of Maryland from Palestinian heritage. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Computer Science, he began his journey of learning the traditional Islamic Sciences.
He holds multiple Ijazah (religious licenses) across the different disciplines of the Islamic tradition, including the memorization of the Quran, the study of Hadith, and Islamic Jurisprudence. He completed his Seminary studies and received a Shahadah Alamiyyah from Al-Salam Institute under the tutelage of Sheikh Akram Nadwi.
Sami is passionate about reviving the Prophetic model of Tarbiyah (nurturing) in community development. He believes that growth happens when everyone is in the same space and is forced to interact with one another.
Sami is married with 4 beautiful children.
Hafiz Inayatullah
Hafiz Inayatullah is a graduate of International University Islamabad Pakistan. He currently serves as the Imam of Alhedaya Islamic center of ICNA GA.
Mohammad Yunus
Dr. Mohammad Yunus served as President of ICNA for 17 years during 1977 – 2000. He has been a member of ICNA’s General Assembly since 1971. He is a successful cardiologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Florida State University, College of Medicine. He is also a scholar of Islam and the Imam/Director at Masjid Dawah in Bonifay, FL. Dr. Yunus has eight children and 25 grandchildren.
Ismael Essa
Arqum Rashid
Member, CAIR-Philadelphia Advisory Board
Arqum is the Resident Scholar and Imam at the Islamic Society of Central Delaware and an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore. He serves as the current director for Riwaq Institute. Arqum is a graduate of al-Azhar University with a degree in Islamic law and of Delaware Law School with a law degree.
He has completed a Master’s in Interreligious Studies with a specialization in Islamic Studies at Hartford International University (previously Hartford Seminary) and he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies there as well.
Arqum is the Resident Scholar and Imam at the Islamic Society of Central Delaware and an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore. He serves as the current director for Riwaq Institute. Arqum is a graduate of al-Azhar University with a degree in Islamic law and of Delaware Law School with a law degree.
He has completed a Master’s in Interreligious Studies with a specialization in Islamic Studies at Hartford International University (previously Hartford Seminary) and he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies there as well.
Farhan Abdul Azeez
Dr. Farhan Abdul Azeez was born and raised in Michigan. He attended Michigan Islamic Academy, a full-time Islamic school, from KG-12th grade. His passion for Islam led him to study Arabic and Tajweed during the summer of 2004 in Egypt. He later served as an Islamic Studies teacher to High School Grades at the same school. Farhan has studied extensively with Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan, Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda, and others at the Bayyinah Dream program, wherein he graduated and earned a diploma in the Arabic language. He is also an avid student with AlMaghrib Institute, having taken classes with them since 2004.
He has fundraised extensively for Islamic Relief USA, as well as Helping Hand USA and other masajid and social service organizations. He also travels around the US to give talks at youth groups, MSAs, Masjids, community events, and conferences.
Farhan completed his undergraduate studies from Michigan State University (MSU) in 2006, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. During his time there, he served as Public Relations head and later President of the Muslim Students Association. He also went to medical school at MSU, graduating from Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. He currently is a medical resident specializing in Emergency Medicine.
He has fundraised extensively for Islamic Relief USA, as well as Helping Hand USA and other masajid and social service organizations. He also travels around the US to give talks at youth groups, MSAs, Masjids, community events, and conferences.
Farhan completed his undergraduate studies from Michigan State University (MSU) in 2006, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. During his time there, he served as Public Relations head and later President of the Muslim Students Association. He also went to medical school at MSU, graduating from Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. He currently is a medical resident specializing in Emergency Medicine.
Suleiman Hani
Imam Suleiman Hani is the Director of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib Institute, a research scholar for Yaqeen Institute, and a resident scholar and adjunct lecturer in Michigan. At the age of 14, Suleiman completed a 10-month Qur’an memorization program and began his intensive studies under numerous scholars, earning dozens of traditional religious certifications in the process.
He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Jordan’s College of Shari’ah, ranking first in his class, and a master’s degree from Harvard University, where he studied religions, philosophy, political science, and psychology. Over the past decade, he has served as an Imam and community leader in Michigan, lectured in dozens of countries, published a number of books and articles, and was featured on the largest Islamic TV stations worldwide.
Hatem Bazian
Hatem Bazian is a co-founder and Professor of Islamic Law and Theology at Zaytuna College, the 1st Accredited Muslim Liberal Arts College in the United States. In addition, Prof. Bazian is a lecturer in the Departments of Near Eastern and Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
In addition to academic work, Dr, Bazian is a weekly columnist for the Turkish Daily Sabah Newspaper and Turkey Agenda online magazine. Dr. Bazian is founder and national Chair of American Muslims for Palestine, board member of the Islamic Scholarship Fund, Muslim Legal Fund of America, President of Dollar for Deen Charity, and Chair of Northern California Islamic Council."
Ammar AlShukry
Sh. Ammar AlShukry is from Sudan via Queens New York. He holds dual Bachelor degrees in Islamic Studies and Marketing, and is currently a Director at AlMaghrib Institute and an Imam at Clear Lake Islamic Center. He is the author of the poetry collection “What the Pen Wrote: The Collected Poems of Ammar AlShukry”, and his course A Mindful Salah is currently available online at AlMaghrib.
Shaun King
Shaun King was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the 25 most important people in the world online. He is Co-Founder of Real Justice and The Action PAC. Previously he was the Senior Justice Writer for the New York Daily News, a Senior Columnist for The Intercept, and Writer in Residence at Harvard Law School. King served as a pastor, teacher, and motivational speaker in Atlanta’s juvenile justice system. In 2019, King launched the media platform The North Star, as well as the popular news podcast The Breakdown. He lives in Brooklyn with his family.
Tariq Musleh
Shaykh Tariq Musleh is a graduate from the prestigious Madinah University where he attained his Associate degree in Arabic and Bachelors Degree from the College of Sharia. He completed his memorization of Quran at the age of 13 and went on to receive ijaza from Palestine. He studied Classical Arabic at the Fajr Center in Egypt. Shaykh Tariq has worked as a part time instructor for Islamic Learning Foundation Chicago, where he taught Quran and Arabic studies. He has served in Young Muslims (YM) for many years as a coordinator and murrabi. Shaykh Tariq has also served as the Youth Director for the Islamic Center of Naperville in Chicago and became the Youth Director and Assistant Imam of Mecca Center in Willowbrook, Illinois in July 2017.
Maryam Amir
Ustadha Maryam Amir received her master’s in Education from UCLA, where her research focused on the effects of mentorship rooted in Critical Race Theory for urban high school students of color. She holds a bachelor’s in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University. She holds a second bachelor’s in Islamic Studies from AlAzhar University and has memorized the Qur’an. She is a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and writes for virtualmosque.com and aljumuah.com. Maryam is a lecturer with Hikmah Institute and frequently travels to work with different communities on topics related to spiritual connections, social issues and women’s studies.
Fatima Lette
Ustadha Fatima Lette is an instructor at Qalam. She is a faculty member at the Qalam Seminary, where she teaches Ulum Al Quran, Usul Al Tafsir, and Tafsir. She conducts classes and workshops online. She is a regular teacher at Qalam Intensives. Ustadha Fatima Lette graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.A. in Psychology. She went on to graduate from the ‘Alimiyyah program at the Qalam Seminary. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, she continues to serve her community as a teacher at the Roswell Community Masjid. She is a teacher at the Roots Community Space.
Mohamed AbuTaleb
Dr. Mohamed AbuTaleb serves as Dean of Administration at Boston Islamic Seminary and Senior Fellow at Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. Previously, he transitioned from a successful career in technology leadership at a Fortune 100 company to serve the community full-time at the helm of one of the largest Islamic centers in the South, serving as Imam, Religious Director, and Member of the Board for seven years. Dr. AbuTaleb has been featured in media coverage from outlets including National Geographic, NPR, ABC11, Religion News Service, and WRAL; and lectured at a number of universities including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Duke, and Georgia Tech. He co-founded Oaktree Institute, Muslim Link Newspaper, and Capital-Area Islamic Library. Dr. Mohamed has a background in both Islamic studies along with science & technology. He completed his Ph.D. and Master’s in Electrical Engineering from MIT, Alimiyyah degree (License in Islamic Scholarship) from Al-Salam Institute, and multiple diploma programs at the Cambridge Islamic College. He also holds degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Maryland. Dr. AbuTaleb has traveled extensively as a lecturer, trainer, and educator. He shares his love of learning with audiences at an array of universities, community centers, and houses of worship. His style enables audiences to couple transformative understanding with relevance to daily life, and to cut across labels and divisions through scholarship and dialogue. Dr. AbuTaleb has sought to mirror the marriage of sacred and worldly sciences found in earlier generations of Muslim scholars. Complementing his service record in youth work, education, and ministry, Dr. Mohamed has worked in technical engineering positions spanning academia, government, and industry.
YASIR QADHI
Dr. Yasir Qadhi is the Resident Scholar of the East Plano Islamic Center. He is also the Dean of The Islamic Seminary of America. He is one of the few people who has combined a traditional Eastern Islamic seminary education with Western academic training in the study of Islam.
Yasir graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, after which he was accepted as a student at the Islamic University of Madinah. After completing a diploma in Arabic, he graduated with a B.A. from the College of Hadith and Islamic Sciences and then completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology from the College of Dawah. He then returned to America and completed a PhD in Religious Studies from Yale University.
He has authored several books, published academic articles, and appeared on numerous satellite and TV stations around the globe. His online videos are of the most popular and highly-watched Islamic videos in English.
Abdulazeez Abdulraheem
Dr. Abdulazeez Abdulraheem is a Professor of Petroleum Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, with nearly 250 publications in geomechanics and AI applications. Recognized among the top 2% of scientists by Elsevier in 2022, he is also dedicated to teaching Qur'anic Arabic. He developed and delivered the "Understand Al-Quran – the Easy Way" course to over 10,000 people globally. His courses are implemented in around 25,000 schools, with a significant media presence and a large online following. He has personally taught nearly 12,000 students and has over 375,000 YouTube subscribers.
SUZY ISMAIL
Dr. Suzy Ismail is the Founding Director of Cornerstone, a nonprofit, faith-based communication intervention organization with several locations around the world that focus on youth, family, marriage, identity, socioemotional wellness, and relationship rebuilding.
She is the author of many books including "Modern Muslim Marriage," "9 to 5," "When Muslim Marriage Fails," and several other works. She specializes in educating and empowering women, youth, and vulnerable populations by presenting a range of workshops, lectures, programs, diversity seminars, and corporate trainings both nationally and internationally.
As a Visiting Professor for over a decade in the Communication Departments of Rutgers University and DeVry University, Dr. Ismail has researched, written, and presented extensively on the intersectionality of education, faith, communication, and culture.
She has also served for many years as a student adviser, teacher, and board member of a local private school. Dr. Ismail has been interviewed on numerous media outlets and is often featured on talk shows, radio and television broadcasts and podcasts regarding her work. She has presented on the topics of marriage, family, parenting, identity, and teens at many public and private universities around the world such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, NYU and many more, as well as at the World Meeting of Families during Pope Francis’ first visit to the US. She has traveled to the border of Syria to work in refugee camps with women, families, and orphans and continues her work with resettlement and relief agencies providing integration intervention.
For many years, Dr. Ismail has served as an executive officer and director on several nonprofit boards, commissions, and organizations. Her humanitarian work has been recognized with numerous awards including the Ambassador for Peace Award and the Visionary Muslim Award. She holds an MA in Communication and in Human Services and a PhD in Family Studies & Intervention Strategies. Dr. Ismail currently resides in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband and three children.
Majed Mahmoud
Majed Mahmoud earned a bachelor's degree in Islamic Jurisprudence & Legal Theory from Al-Madinah International University, as well as a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a master's in business administration, and has since traveled worldwide, lecturing about different aspects of Islam, from prophetic stories to Islamic personal conduct. Residing in Michigan with his wife and children, Shaykh Majed is an engineer by profession, whilst also teaching classes year-round in his community on topics such as the seerah, the lives of the khulafa, and reasons for revelation (Asbab an Nuzul).
Zara Khan
Dr. Zara Khan is an educator and researcher who studied Political Science and social justice at the City University of New York. Having specialized in comparative political philosophy and critical theory, her main hope is to contribute to the Islamicization of profane knowledge, particularly in education, politics, culture and economics.
Dalia Mogahed
Dr. Dalia Mogahed is the Director of Research at ISPU where she develops, leads and executes ISPU’s community-focused research strategy.
Mogahed is former Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, where she led the analysis of surveys of Muslim communities worldwide.
With John L. Esposito, she coauthored the book Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think. President Barack Obama appointed Mogahed to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in 2009.
Jimmy Jones
Dr. Jones is the Executive Vice President of the Islamic Seminary of America and Professor of Comparative Religion and Culture. He is also Professor Emeritus of World Religions and former Chair of both the Dept of World Religions and the African Studies Program at Manhattanville University (Purchase, NY). Dr. Jones’s research focuses on the socio-cultural impact of prejudice and the intersectionality between sexism and racism. He has a DMin from Hartford Seminary (Christian- Muslim relations) and a MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School. He is President of the Malik Human Services Institute, a marriage counselor for more than two decades, and a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Yasmin Mogahed
Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed is known for her gift of captivating an entire audience with her thoughts and insightful reflections. She is a Psychology graduate, and attained her Masters in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As a skilled creative writer, her literature speaks from the heart and is felt by millions around the world. After completing her graduate work, she taught Islamic Studies and served as a youth coordinator. Currently she’s a writer for the Huffington Post, a highly sought-after international speaker, and author who focuses most of her work on spiritual and personal development. She is well known for her book available worldwide, Reclaim Your Heart: Personal Insights on Breaking Free From Life’s Shackles.
Her ability to relate all intervals of life to one’s relationship with the Creator is a remedy for those seeking comfort and solace in this dunya. She has the honour of being AlMaghrib Institute’s first female instructor.
As a skilled creative writer, her literature speaks from the heart and is felt by millions around the world. After completing her graduate work, she taught Islamic Studies and served as a youth coordinator. Currently she’s a writer for the Huffington Post, a highly sought-after international speaker, and author who focuses most of her work on spiritual and personal development. She is well known for her book available worldwide, Reclaim Your Heart: Personal Insights on Breaking Free From Life’s Shackles.
Her ability to relate all intervals of life to one’s relationship with the Creator is a remedy for those seeking comfort and solace in this dunya. She has the honour of being AlMaghrib Institute’s first female instructor.
Seema Imam
Dr. Seema Imam is the founder of the Universal Knowledge Institute. Dr. Imam believes there is tremendous need to advance world harmony through knowledge and understanding. She strongly believes that in today’s global society, a world-class education requires familiarity with the Quran. Similarly, as a founder of Universal Knowledge Institute, Dr. Imam is committed to the notion thatwe simply cannot, as a nation and as a world, deny the need for dialogues to take place. That is, dialogue of Muslims with Muslims and Muslims with others. The self-esteem for Muslims stands to be damaged from the ‘negative public curriculum’ (mass media) that chips away at the identity of Muslims as individuals, the Muslim family and Muslim community.
Knowledge is a powerful element needed to promote understanding of Quran, sensitivity toward Islam and Muslims, improve public awareness and increase harmony in the world. Dr. Imam currently serves in a variety of roles that seek to enhance world and community understanding. As an American with a Midwestern upbringing, and one who embraced Islam as a teenager at the age of 17, she values the American dream and the American experiment in freedom and democracy.
She hopes that freedom of religion, which we so courageously boast about, will be realized for all Americans and the need to bash Islam will subside. Even after becoming a Muslim, she has not left behind the ideals of her American homeland, and she has never discounted the strong values she attained as a young Christian child from her parents’ home and her small farm town community in Illinois. With over four decades of living as a Muslim in America she finds no conflict in being Muslim and American.
Knowledge is a powerful element needed to promote understanding of Quran, sensitivity toward Islam and Muslims, improve public awareness and increase harmony in the world. Dr. Imam currently serves in a variety of roles that seek to enhance world and community understanding. As an American with a Midwestern upbringing, and one who embraced Islam as a teenager at the age of 17, she values the American dream and the American experiment in freedom and democracy.
She hopes that freedom of religion, which we so courageously boast about, will be realized for all Americans and the need to bash Islam will subside. Even after becoming a Muslim, she has not left behind the ideals of her American homeland, and she has never discounted the strong values she attained as a young Christian child from her parents’ home and her small farm town community in Illinois. With over four decades of living as a Muslim in America she finds no conflict in being Muslim and American.
Fatima Barkatulla
Fatima Barkatulla is an 'Alimah (Islamic scholar), author, and award-winning international lecturer on Islamic law and thought. She is studying English Law, having recently completed her Masters degree in Islamic Law, with Distinction from SOAS, University of London. She's also presenter of the IlmFeed Podcast and IslamiQA on Islam Channel.
Sami Hamdi
Sami Hamdi is the Managing Director of the International Interest, a global risk and intelligence company. He advises government institutions, global companies, and NGOs on the geopolitical dynamics of Europe and the MENA region, and has significant expertise in advising on commercial issues related to volatile political environments and their implications on market entry, market expansion, and management of stakeholders. Sami is a frequent guest on Aljazeera (Arabic and English), Sky News, TRT World, and other outlets.
Abu Zayd
Abu Zayd holds a degree in Islamic studies from the School of Islamic and Arabic Studies as well as traditional licenses (Ijazah) in the ten modes of Qurʼānic recitation, books of hadith, and many Islamic texts.
He has authored The Children's Bequest, a popular textbook on Tajweed that has been used to teach hundreds of students.
He currently teaches courses in Qurʾān and Ḥadīth via the Qur’an Literacy Institute in central NJ and is the director of religious programming at Masjid al-Wali in Edison, NJ.
He was a founding member of Young Muslims and a long-standing member of ICNA.
Ghassan Hitto
CEO and board member of Syrian Forum leads the organization in sustaining, supporting, and rebuilding Syrian lives.
For more than 20 years, Ghassan worked as a business executive in the United States. Until 2011, he served as executive vice president at Inovar Technologies, a telecommunications solutions provider.
In the wake of the Syrian conflict, however, Mr. Hitto decided to dedicate himself to supporting fellow Syrian through humanitarian aid and development. He co-founded and served as vice president of the Coalition for Free Syria and Shaam Relief Foundation.
In 2013, Mr. Hitto joined the Syrian Forum, where he continues to lead comprehensive initiatives focused on critical relief and long-term development in Syria. He also continues to serve as a member of the Syrian American Council’s national board. Ghassan earned bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Indiana Purdue University, Indianapolis.
For more than 20 years, Ghassan worked as a business executive in the United States. Until 2011, he served as executive vice president at Inovar Technologies, a telecommunications solutions provider.
In the wake of the Syrian conflict, however, Mr. Hitto decided to dedicate himself to supporting fellow Syrian through humanitarian aid and development. He co-founded and served as vice president of the Coalition for Free Syria and Shaam Relief Foundation.
In 2013, Mr. Hitto joined the Syrian Forum, where he continues to lead comprehensive initiatives focused on critical relief and long-term development in Syria. He also continues to serve as a member of the Syrian American Council’s national board. Ghassan earned bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Indiana Purdue University, Indianapolis.
Mohamed Rida Beshir
Dr. Beshir is a leading expert in the area of Islamic parenting and family, and has authored several best-selling books on the subject, among them: Parenting in the West, Blissful Marriage, and Parenting Skills. Many of his books have been translated into several languages. He is a regular contributor to family sections of various Muslim magazines and websites. Dr. Beshir has conducted thousands of workshops on parenting and marriage throughout the world. He is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. He is the recipient of the City of Ottawa Certificate of Appreciation for 2003 for his volunteer work in the area of Education. His experience on Islamic activity in North America extends over 4 decades working with MSA, ISNA, MAS, ICNA and MAC.
Ieasha Prime
Ieasha Prime converted to Islam more than 20 years ago after being a Youth Ambassador to Morocco and Senegal. There she studied Aqeedah, Quran, Hadith, Arabic, Jurisprudence (Fiqh), Islamic law, Purification of the Heart, and other religious-related learning.
She has received several scholarly licenses (ijaza). Ieasha Prime is a proud wife and mother of three children.
Saima Sandhu
Dr. Saima Sandhu embarked on a remarkable career journey, transitioning from genetics to psychology, demonstrating adaptability and passion. Alongside her Master's Degree in Computer Science, she obtained advanced degrees in psychology, earning both a master's and Ph.D. Dr. Sandhu is a global advocate for mental health, addressing stigma through public speaking engagements and emphasizing awareness. Through digital platforms like YouTube, she shares insights and fosters community, expanding her influence. Her book, "The 50 Whys of Men," contributes valuable perspectives on male psychology, solidifying her as a leading voice in mental health advocacy. Dr. Sandhu's achievements underscore her visionary role in advocacy and her commitment to global impact.
Paul Williams
Abdurahman Hejazi
Dr. Abdurahman Hejazi, a dynamic figure with a rich tapestry of experiences, has spent the last quarter-century contributing to various facets of Islamic community leadership across the USA and Canada. Hailing from Syria and nurtured in Saudi Arabia, he received early accreditation in Quran and Hadeeth, laying the foundation for his impactful journey. Under the tutelage of eminent scholars, including grand Muftis, he delved deep into Shariah and comparative Fiqh.
Parallel to his religious pursuits, Dr. Hejazi pursued academic excellence, earning a Master's degree from Johns Hopkins and a PhD from Ottawa, both in computer science. Currently, he serves as an engineering management director while also imparting knowledge as an adjunct faculty professor in graduate programs.
Dr. Hejazi's commitment to professionalism and leadership extends across all realms of his engagements, emphasizing the highest standards in Islamic organizations and educational initiatives. Particularly devoted to nurturing youth leadership, he invests fervently in shaping future leaders of the nation.
Presently, Dr. Hejazi holds the position of religious director at PGMA, a prominent Mosque in Maryland, while also lending his expertise to various other mosques in the area in consulting and management capacities. Through his multifaceted contributions, he continues to enrich the Islamic community while bridging diverse domains of knowledge and leadership.
Parallel to his religious pursuits, Dr. Hejazi pursued academic excellence, earning a Master's degree from Johns Hopkins and a PhD from Ottawa, both in computer science. Currently, he serves as an engineering management director while also imparting knowledge as an adjunct faculty professor in graduate programs.
Dr. Hejazi's commitment to professionalism and leadership extends across all realms of his engagements, emphasizing the highest standards in Islamic organizations and educational initiatives. Particularly devoted to nurturing youth leadership, he invests fervently in shaping future leaders of the nation.
Presently, Dr. Hejazi holds the position of religious director at PGMA, a prominent Mosque in Maryland, while also lending his expertise to various other mosques in the area in consulting and management capacities. Through his multifaceted contributions, he continues to enrich the Islamic community while bridging diverse domains of knowledge and leadership.
Jonathan Brown
Dr. Jonathan Brown is Associate Professor and Chair of Islamic Civilization at Georgetown University. He is the editor in chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Law, and the author of several books including Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenges and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet’s Legacy.
Abdalla Idris Ali
Abdalla Idris Ali served as imam and director, and founded the first full-time Islamic school in Toronto, Canada. He served as the principal of ISNA Islamic Community School for 17 years. He also served on ISNA’s Executive Council, Majlis Ash-Shura, Youth and Education Committee and as president of ISNA for two terms. He is the chair of the Islamic Media Foundation, a member of NAIT Board, a founding member of CISNA, and chair of ISNA Education Forum. Sheikh Abdalla was appointed director for CIENA in Kansas City, Missouri. He served on the board of trustees of IBERR, which serves minority communities. He is currently working as the executive director of ISNA Canada.
Syed Salman Ali
Salman presently holds the position of Senior Division Manager for Corporate Sales and the Southern Division at Guidance Residential. Salman brings over two decades of expertise in banking and financial services, with a remarkable 13-year journey at Guidance Residential. His fervor for Islamic Financing drives him to enlighten others on the topic. Beyond finance, Salman is a Virginia-based history aficionado, relishing in the collection and study of historical artifacts.
Rukhmah Ziamir
Rukhmah Ziamir is a recent graduate of the National Study Circle taught by Sh. Yusuf Rios. She is also a graduate of ICNA’s Institute of Islamic Sciences in New York where she studied Tafseer, Seerah, Hadith, and Islamic Literature. She is from New York and has been part of YM since 2013.
She was the former YM National Coordinator and also served in various leadership positions nationally, regionally, and locally. She currently serves as the Secretary General of the YM Board.
She graduated with her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from St. John’s University and her Bachelors in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. She currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist and provides therapy services in a Middle School.
Mohammad Hasan
Mohammad Hasan is a senior organizational and talent strategist at Slalom, working with Fortune 500 companies to startups. He is a licensed psychotherapist, formerly serving as the director of a mental health and addiction clinic. Additionally, he is an executive coach focusing on personal and professional relationships, and communication. Hasan is a leadership advisor with Oaktree Institute serving muslim leaders, imams and activists. He also consults Muslim organizations and institutions on strategy and management.
Emad Hamdeh
Dr. Emad Hamdeh received his Phd in Islamic and Arabic studies from Exeter University in 2014. He specializes in modern Muslim reform movements and is author of "The Necessity of Ḥadīth in Islam". He is the founder and chair of the Institute of American Muslim Youth (IAMY), and serves as the youth director at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Paterson NJ. Dr. Hamdeh is currently an Assistant Professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at Embry Riddle University in Daytona Beach FL.
Aamir Rehman
Aamir A. Rehman is a Senior Fellow at the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy at Columbia University. His contributions to the Center focus on investors’ ESG considerations and the public aspects of private investments.
Dr. Rehman is a partner at Princeton Stone House Capital, a strategic investment office. He is also an advisor to Fajr Capital, a private equity group of which he was a co-founder and managing director. In addition to his work in investment management, Dr. Rehman is Senior Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a Consultant to the World Bank Group’s Finance and Markets Global Practice.
Dr. Rehman is the author of the books Dubai & Co.: Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States (McGraw-Hill, 2007) and Gulf Capital & Islamic Finance: The Rise of the New Global Players (McGraw-Hill, 2009). He is also author of numerous articles on international business strategy, the Gulf states, capital flows, and socially responsible investments.
Dr. Rehman serves on the boards of directors of Dinar Standard, an advisory and research firm, and Fajr Capital Advisors, a member of the Fajr Capital Group. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Mercer County Community College Foundation. Additionally, he is a member of the Angel Investor Network at the Harvard Business School Club of New York City.
Dr. Rehman’s work has been published and featured in journals including the Harvard Business Review, McKinsey on Society, and the Wharton Leadership Digest. He has presented at events hosted by the United Nations, the World Bank, the CFA Institute, the Global Impact Investment Network, and numerous universities.
Dr. Rehman holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School, and a doctor of education (Ed.D.) degree from Columbia University. He was born and raised in New York City and resides with his family in Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Dr. Rehman is a partner at Princeton Stone House Capital, a strategic investment office. He is also an advisor to Fajr Capital, a private equity group of which he was a co-founder and managing director. In addition to his work in investment management, Dr. Rehman is Senior Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a Consultant to the World Bank Group’s Finance and Markets Global Practice.
Dr. Rehman is the author of the books Dubai & Co.: Global Strategies for Doing Business in the Gulf States (McGraw-Hill, 2007) and Gulf Capital & Islamic Finance: The Rise of the New Global Players (McGraw-Hill, 2009). He is also author of numerous articles on international business strategy, the Gulf states, capital flows, and socially responsible investments.
Dr. Rehman serves on the boards of directors of Dinar Standard, an advisory and research firm, and Fajr Capital Advisors, a member of the Fajr Capital Group. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Mercer County Community College Foundation. Additionally, he is a member of the Angel Investor Network at the Harvard Business School Club of New York City.
Dr. Rehman’s work has been published and featured in journals including the Harvard Business Review, McKinsey on Society, and the Wharton Leadership Digest. He has presented at events hosted by the United Nations, the World Bank, the CFA Institute, the Global Impact Investment Network, and numerous universities.
Dr. Rehman holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School, and a doctor of education (Ed.D.) degree from Columbia University. He was born and raised in New York City and resides with his family in Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Yousef Bakeer
Yousef Bakeer is a scholar and youth worker who has dedicated the last 15 years of his life to serving the youth community. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, he graduated from Al-Azhar University with a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies. He is fluent in several languages and has traveled the world to share his knowledge.
As the Youth Director for Valley Ranch Islamic Center and a teacher with Manara Institute, he mentors Muslim youth and helps them develop a deeper understanding of their faith. He holds an ijaza in Quran and is pursuing advanced degrees in Islamic Studies and chaplaincy. Sheikh Yousef's education and experience make him a valuable resource for the Muslim community, and his dedication to youth has inspired many to pursue a life of service and faith. He is currently a mentor and educator with HHRD
As the Youth Director for Valley Ranch Islamic Center and a teacher with Manara Institute, he mentors Muslim youth and helps them develop a deeper understanding of their faith. He holds an ijaza in Quran and is pursuing advanced degrees in Islamic Studies and chaplaincy. Sheikh Yousef's education and experience make him a valuable resource for the Muslim community, and his dedication to youth has inspired many to pursue a life of service and faith. He is currently a mentor and educator with HHRD
Mohamed Shallan
Mohamed graduated from Rutgers University with a double major in Marketing & Accounting and went to complete his MBA from New Jersey Institute of Technology specializing in Marketing. He worked in major tech companies such as HP and Samsung and currently works for Google as a Global Marketing Research manager. His role at Google informs the branding and marketing strategy for the Android platform and its ecosystem to ensure it resonates well with target audiences.
Mohamed gained Islamic education through institutions such as AlMaghrib Institute and is currently a third year student at Mishkah University pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Islamic Studies. He studied under many scholars such as Dr. Salah Elsawwy, Dr. Hatem Al-Haj, and Sh Waleed Basyouni. He works as a Northeast Outreach Coordinator for Syrian Forum USA and leads the national YM Travel team.
Mohamed gained Islamic education through institutions such as AlMaghrib Institute and is currently a third year student at Mishkah University pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Islamic Studies. He studied under many scholars such as Dr. Salah Elsawwy, Dr. Hatem Al-Haj, and Sh Waleed Basyouni. He works as a Northeast Outreach Coordinator for Syrian Forum USA and leads the national YM Travel team.
Suhail Mulla
Shaykh Suhail Mulla is the Director of the Los Angeles branch of the Khalil Center – a community spiritual and psychological wellness center.
Shaykh Suhail currently serves as a Resident Scholar at the Islamic Society of West Valley in Canoga Park, CA. He also serves as the IOK Muslim Chaplain at both, UCLA and CSUN.
Shaykh Suhail has worked as a social worker in LAUSD and Sylmar Juvenile Court, has served as an Imam at the Islamic Society of Orange County, and as Interim Executive Director and Director of Mental Health at Access California Services.
Shaykh Suhail has served on various Interfaith Councils in Greater LA and is an advocate of the integration of spirituality and mental health. He currently serves as a member of the LA Department of Mental Health’s Clergy Roundtable Project.
Shaykh Suhail earned his Bachelor’s Degree in African-American Studies from CSUN, his Master’s in Social Welfare from UCLA, and another Bachelor’s Degree in Shari’ah (Islamic Law) from one of the world’s most prestigious Islamic seminaries – Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He also completed a two-year Islamic Studies program at Al-Asheera Al-Muhammadiya in Cairo, Egypt where he studied privately with numerous Azhari scholars.
Shaykh Suhail resides in Los Angeles with his wife and four children. He is a student of the outdoors and enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, woodworking, and gardening in his free time.
Jihad Saafir
Dr. Saafir earned a Master of Arts in Islamic Studies and Leadership from Bayan, and then completed his Ph.D. at Claremont School of Theology in Practical Theology. He is the resident Imam and the Founding Executive Director for Islah Academy, a K-8 Islamic private school based in Los Angeles. In 2018, Imam Jihad was awarded with the prestigious KCET Local Hero’s Award and the South Coast Interfaith Council recognized Dr. Saafir as its “2022 Faith Leader of the Year.
Mohamud Mohamed
Ustadh Mohamud Mohamed is a PhD candidate in History and Islamic Law at the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focuses on Islamic thought and intellectual history in the Horn of Africa, the Hijaz, and the wider Indian Ocean world. He holds a diploma in Islamic Studies from Abubakar As-Siddique Islamic Center, a BA in History from Augsburg University, and an MA in Heritage Studies and Public History from the University of Minnesota. Alongside his academic work, Ustadh Mohamud has studied with and received ijazat from scholars across the Muslim world, including in Somalia, Morocco, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. He previously served as a Muslim chaplain at the University of Minnesota and as an instructor in the Muslim Life Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves as Associate Editor of Ihya: The Journal of Islamic Thought, teaches at the Roots community space within the Qalam Institute in Dallas, and hosts the Islamic History X podcast. Born and raised in Minnesota, his work bridges traditional Islamic learning, historical research, and public education and scholarship.
Youssra Kamel Kandil
Youssra Kamel Kandil is a motivational speaker whose goal has been to bring focus back to the Quran and Sunnah. One of her objectives is to reconnect the hearts back to the spirit and light of Islam. She spent her childhood in Kenya and Zimbabwe before moving to Egypt, where she worked with world renowned preacher, Dr. Amr Khaled and was part of the weekly Islamic show, “Parables of the Quran”. After moving to the United States, she continued her studies while teaching Quranic studies and Islamic history to children at a prominent Islamic school. She has completed the Uwaylim Scholarship track with Sh. Shadee El Masry, and is currently working on hifz. Sister Youssra believes it is everyone’s duty to convey even the littlest bit of knowledge and that’s what drives her to continue filming inspirational videos and give lectures around the world, in hopes of fulfilling what our beloved Prophet Muhammad(s) stated, “Convey from me even if it’s one verse". Source: Muslim Central
Youssra Kamel Kandil
Ustadah Youssra Kamel Kandil is a motivational speaker whose goal has been to bring focus back to the Quran and Sunnah. One of her objectives is to reconnect the hearts back to the spirit and light of Islam. She spent her childhood in Kenya and Zimbabwe before moving to Egypt, where she worked with world renowned preacher, Dr. Amr Khaled and was part of the weekly Islamic show, “Parables of the Quran”. After moving to the United States, she continued her studies while teaching Quranic studies and Islamic history to children at a prominent Islamic school. She has completed the Uwaylim Scholarship track with Sh. Shadee El Masry, and is currently studying at Jannah Institute under the tutelage of Dr.Haifaa Younis. Sister Youssra believes it is everyone’s duty to convey even the littlest bit of knowledge and that’s what drives her to continue filming inspirational videos and give lectures around the world, in hopes of fulfilling what our beloved Prophet Muhammad(s) stated, “Convey from me even if it’s one verse".
Nakibur Rahman
Kouthar Muttardy
Ustadha Kouthar Muttardy was born and grew up in Northern Virginia. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis in human development from George Mason University and has completed a Master of Arts in education from Marymount University. Kouthar has worked as a K-12 teacher, teacher trainer, & curriculum development specialist for over 20 years. Ustadha Kouthar has been studying traditional Islamic sciences including tajwid, tafsir, aqeedah, seerah, hadith, and Hanbali & Shafi’i fiqh since high school. Kouthar completed her Islamic Studies Teacher Certification at the Ribaat Academic Institute in 2020 and is currently in pursuit of a doctoral degree in Islamic Studies.
Jihad Saafir
Dr. Saafir earned a Master of Arts in Islamic Studies and Leadership from Bayan, and then completed his Ph.D. at Claremont School of Theology in Practical Theology. He is the resident Imam and the Founding Executive Director for Islah Academy, a K-8 Islamic private school based in Los Angeles. In 2018, Imam Jihad was awarded the prestigious KCET Local Hero’s Award, and the South Coast Interfaith Council recognized Dr. Saafir as its “2022 Faith Leader of the Year.
Afia Yunus
Afia received her B.A. degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law with a Certificate in Public Interest Law.
She is the founder of Yunus Law P.C., an immigration law practice with offices in Chicago, Philadelphia, and NJ. She represents clients around the country and abroad in family-based and employment-based immigration and removal defense.
As a passionate immigrant justice advocate, Afia is a Board Member of the One America Movement, a South Jersey Leader for Faith in New Jersey, a Member of the Cherry Hill Human Relations Commission, a Board Member of the Cherry Hill Mosque, serves as legal counsel for ICNA’s Center for Social Justice hotline, and hosts regular workshops, seminars, and Facebook LIVE webinars to advance and enhance the rights of immigrants nationwide.
Abdul Wahab Waheed
Executive Director - Instructor
Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. He began Islamic studies at Jaamiah al-Uloom al-Islamiyyah in Canada where he became a Hafiz at the age of 11. He started his 7-year Shariah program in Toronto, Canada, and went even further to pursue higher education of Hadith in Karachi, Pakistan. Throughout his travels, Mufti Abdul Wahab addresses communities across the United States on a wide range of Islamic topics and Inshallah, continues to do so with the Tawfiq of Allah SWT. Mufti Abdul Wahab is a Co-founder at Miftaah Institute and also is a Co-Founder and Director at Michigan Islamic Institute.
Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. He began Islamic studies at Jaamiah al-Uloom al-Islamiyyah in Canada where he became a Hafiz at the age of 11. He started his 7-year Shariah program in Toronto, Canada, and went even further to pursue higher education of Hadith in Karachi, Pakistan. Throughout his travels, Mufti Abdul Wahab addresses communities across the United States on a wide range of Islamic topics and Inshallah, continues to do so with the Tawfiq of Allah SWT. Mufti Abdul Wahab is a Co-founder at Miftaah Institute and also is a Co-Founder and Director at Michigan Islamic Institute.
Jimmy Jones
Dr. Jones is a member of the American Academy of Religion, Prof. Jones holds a bachelor's degree from Hampton University, a master's degree from Yale Divinity School and a doctorate in ministry from the Hartford Seminary.
Dr. Jones is a professor of world religions with a concurrent appointment in the African studies program. A member of the American Academy of Religion and the North American Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies, Prof. Jones appears frequently in the media and is often invited to speak about religion, Islam, African American studies, and diversity in the United States and abroad.
Overseas venues where he has either taught, lectured, or served as an institutional consultant include Bahrain, Bosnia, Bermuda, Egypt, India, Jerusalem, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. In addition to his work as a higher education professional, Prof. Jones has a background in civil rights advocacy, community and family mediation, diversity consulting and training, and prison chaplaincy.
He has been chairman of administrative hearings on student discipline for his local public school board, and served as dean of the annual in-service training program held for chaplains and clergy at Yale University since 2011.
Daniel Hernandez
Imam & Religious Director
Background and Unique Advantages:
Imam Daniel was born in Queens, New York, of Puerto Rican descent. Imam Daniel has the unique ability to understand the challenges of Muslims living in America.
He embraced Islam in 1999, and being raised in America gives him a different perspective. He is tri-lingual, and his cultural intelligence helps him in dealing with people of diverse backgrounds. He grew up in America and Puerto Rico. He experienced many of society's challenges as a youth in this country. Which gives him the ability to better understand and guide our youth from a Juristic perspective while taking into consideration their realities.
Education:
Imam Daniel was blessed with studying at Al Azhar University, where he learned Arabic and Islamic Sciences. He obtained his Master's from the Islamic University of Minnesota and is currently working on his PhD. Imam Daniel's specialization is in Islamic Jurisprudence, authorized by his teacher, Shaikh Muhammad Saad Al Khattab from Dar Ifta in Egypt.
Imam Experience:
Imam Daniel has over a decade of Imam experience serving as imam in the USA, including the Islamic Society of Triplex and Pearland Islamic Center where he served for the past eight years as the Imam. Before his career as an Imam, he served as an Islamic school teacher and principal.
Lobna Mulla
Ustadha Lobna Youssef Mulla is a motivational speaker and community educator. She is best known for her optimistic, positive and engaging style with audiences. Lobna is the former National Tarbiya Director of the Muslim American Society, where she is still an active member. She has been working as a youth mentor for the past two decades in multiple capacities. Lobna has organized youth camps, led study circles, taught classes in her community, and lectured extensively, nationally and internationally. Additionally, Lobna serves as an IOK Muslim Chaplain at UCLA. In addition to being a mentor and orator, Lobna has written for myvirtualmosque.com and the MAS Blog. Lobna is a recent graduate of Chapman University with a Masters of Fine Arts in Screenwriting. She is the creator of the YouTube channel, Double Shot Mocha Productions, where she strives to promote social awareness through humor. Lobna was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from California State University, Northridge in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. She worked as an accountant for ten years until she began her career as a mother. Lobna moved to Egypt for three years with her husband, Shaikh Suhail Mulla, and her children and studied Arabic, Qur’anic Recitation and Islamic Sciences under Azhari scholars. Lobna Mulla currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and four children
Iman Saymeh
Ustadha Iman Saymeh is an experienced educator and mental health professional dedicated to promoting emotional well-being and holistic development. She provides mental health services through individual, couples, and group counseling, with a focus on accessible and culturally responsive care.
She holds dual master’s degrees in Instructional Leadership in Education and Clinical Social Work and is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education.
Ustadha Iman has served as a resident counselor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Education. There, she supports future educators and practitioners in bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world impact.
She holds dual master’s degrees in Instructional Leadership in Education and Clinical Social Work and is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education.
Ustadha Iman has served as a resident counselor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Education. There, she supports future educators and practitioners in bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world impact.
Zahra Billoo
Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest CAIR chapter office. Since joining in 2009, Zahra has led the organization through a period of six-fold growth. Today, she manages one of the largest CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing.
Under Zahra’s leadership, CAIR-SFBA has filed lawsuits against the United States Department of Justice, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Southwest Airlines, representing American Muslims facing discriminatory treatment. CAIR-SFBA has also significantly expanded its capabilities to provide know-your-rights sessions on a nearly weekly basis to mosques and community members in the San Francisco Bay Area, while also providing direct legal representation to Bay Area residents facing numerous civil rights violations, including FBI interviews, employment discrimination, airport harassment, school bullying, and hate crimes.
Zahra’s advocacy has included media appearances in local and national media, including MSNBC, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even FOX News. Among her awards, she received the 2017 Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers and the 2018 Community Builder Award from People Acting in Community Together (PACT). She was also listed by the San Jose Mercury News as a “Woman to Watch” in March 2017 for Women’s History Month, as well as by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in their January 2018 cover story on millennials who lead.
She is currently a fellow with Levi Strauss Foundation Pioneers in Justice, a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum’s Silicon Valley Chapter, and an alumna of Rockwood’s Fellowship for a New California, Leader Spring’s Executive Directors Fellowship, and USC’s American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California.
Outside of her work with CAIR, Zahra bakes birthday cakes for foster children through Cake4Kids and is a coordinator for Project Feed, a monthly homeless feeding effort in downtown San Francisco. She lives in Milpitas with her two cats, Justice and Peace.
Wesley Lebron
Imam Wesley Lebron currently serves as the Imam and Director of Programs and Education for MAS NY Reverts Reconnect. He is also the Co-Founder and President of the 3 Puerto Rican Imams which is a 501c3 non profit humanitarian org servicing United States, the Caribbeans, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, and much more.
Saadia Z. Yunus
Saadia Z. Yunus, MA, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist, motivational speaker, and community leader. She has extensive experience helping individuals, couples, families, and groups, is trained in trauma and gives presentations and workshops throughout the country.
She is a graduate of the Institute of Islamic Sciences, a teacher of the Quran, and a mental health columnist. She owns a private practice in Deer Park, NY, and is the co-founder of Muslimahs of Long Island. She is on the advisory board of Dolan Family Health Center in Huntington, NY. Born and raised in Bonifay, Florida, Saadia Z. Yunus now resides on Long Island, NY with her husband and four children.
She has an active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube and can be contacted via her website: www.saadiazyunus.com
Joshua Salaam
Joshua Salaam has strong roots in the American Muslim community. He started attending national Muslim youth camps at the age of 12 and continued as a participant, counselor, and speaker for over 30 years. Joshua entered the U.S. Air Force in 1995 and served as a Police officer for four years.
He was a key contributor in establishing Friday prayer services on base for Muslim military members and went on to serve as an Imam in Goldsboro, NC for several years. After the military, Joshua immersed himself in community activism.
He managed the Civil Rights department for the Council on American-Islamic Relations from 2000-2004 and helped oversee a Baltimore Muslim community and neighborhood development project from 2004-2007. Before starting at Duke in July 2018, Joshua worked with youth and families for 11 years at one of the largest Muslim communities in America.
His diverse background gives him a unique perspective on many issues and helps him connect with students. He holds a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Doctorate of Ministry from Hartford Seminary.
Shaykh Abdul Sattar
Abdul Sattar Ahmed has studied the Islamic sciences formally at Darul Qasim College since 2007, studying Arabic, Fiqh, Aqidah, Tafsir, Hadith, and the other Islamic sciences. He has also studied the Islamic sciences at Al-Salam Institute and with other teachers privately, completing various books in the ‘ulum. He continues to study in the ‘alimiyyah program at Darul Qasim College and is also a student in the Al-Amin Ethics Institute, which trains professionals to represent Islamic civilizational values in their fields.
Abdul Sattar is a member of ICNA and part of the board at the Islamic Learning Foundation. He is an instructor and curriculum chair for the MDP - Murabbi Development Program. He also serves as an advisor to Young Muslims of North America on matters of Islamic studies and Tarbiyah, where he was a member for over a decade, serving in roles at the local, regional, and national levels.
He graduated in 2007, double-majoring in Finance and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is currently working as a software engineer. His interests include Tafsir, Law, and the Kalam Creedal tradition.
Abdul Sattar is a member of ICNA and part of the board at the Islamic Learning Foundation. He is an instructor and curriculum chair for the MDP - Murabbi Development Program. He also serves as an advisor to Young Muslims of North America on matters of Islamic studies and Tarbiyah, where he was a member for over a decade, serving in roles at the local, regional, and national levels.
He graduated in 2007, double-majoring in Finance and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is currently working as a software engineer. His interests include Tafsir, Law, and the Kalam Creedal tradition.
Dania Ayoubi
Honorable Judge Dania Ayoubi
In 2021, Dania Ayoubi was appointed an administrative law judge for the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings, becoming the first Muslim American to hold the position. She previously served in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for seven years. She initially worked as counsel before being named senior counsel in 2018.
Judge Ayoubi has also worked as an attorney-adviser for the Federal Communications Commission, as a judicial law clerk to Chief Judge Eric T. Washington at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and law clerk for Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. She earned her Juris Doctor and bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, graduating magna cum laude.
Fouad Elgohari
Shaykh Fouad Elgohari is a faculty member and Senior Director of Academic Affairs at Bayan. As a student of fifteen years in the classical Islamic sciences under senior scholars of Al-Azhar, with a specialization in systematic theology (kalam), Fouad has served as an instructor, academic consultant, and research fellow on various international councils, institutes, and educational programs.
Zainab Chaudry
"Zainab Chaudry is Spokeswoman and Maryland Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. She is the first known Muslim to be appointed to the Maryland State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights – an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress in 1957 that is charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters. She is a Fellow of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute and graduated from the Maryland Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellows Program at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.
Sr. Abrar Omeish
" Abrar currently serves as a School Board Member At-Large in Fairfax County, overseeing a three-billion-dollar budget for 1.2 million constituents right outside of Washington, DC. She is the first Libyan ever elected in US history and the first Muslim and youngest ever elected in her role, earning over 161,000 county votes. Abrar co-founded an organization providing thousands of underprivileged youth with free tutoring and mentorship in 20 locations over the past ten years. After serving in several appointed capacities locally and working as a senior organizer at the DNC, Abrar served as a legal fellow at a human rights and immigration law firm in Northern Virginia and has been a spokeswoman for the #NoMuslimBanEver campaign. Abrar was most recently a Virginia Co-Chair for the Bernie Sanders campaign and a Virginia PLEO and Rules Committee member to the Democratic National Convention. She holds a double bachelor'ss with honors from Yale University and is a current dual MPP/JD candidate at Georgetown."
Steve Downs
"Steve graduated from Amherst College (1964) and Cornell Law School (1969) after serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in India (1964–66). He was the chief attorney of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct from 1974–2003, part of the defense team in U.S. v. Yassin Aref (2006–2007), and a founder of Project SALAM (2008). He was executive director of the Coalition for Civil Freedoms (CCF, formerly called National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms) from 2012-2013, and is currently Chair of the CCF Board.”"
Amy Doukoure
Amy Doukoure is a graduate of Wayne State University with a degree in English Language Arts. Prior to obtaining her J.D., Mrs. Doukoure worked for over ten years as an educator in the Detroit area. Many of those years were spent teaching general studies at many of the area’s Islamic Schools.
Mrs. Doukoure went on to obtain her Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. While at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Mrs. Doukoure was the President and one of the founding members of the Muslim Student Lawyers' Association.
Mrs. Doukoure is passionate about community service. Prior to attending law school she worked on many public service projects and successfully wrote for grants to open a soup kitchen in the Brightmore Community in Northwest Detroit. After graduating from law school, Mrs. Doukoure engaged in several internships focused on public service, and civil rights, including working as a pro bono legal associate for the Detroit Center for Family Advocacy, and an internship with the ACLU of Detroit.
Kia Jahed
Dr. Kia Jahed is a former collegiate basketball player, personal trainer, biomedical engineering researcher, and currently a physician practicing Musculoskeletal Radiology and Interventions. After converting to Islam in high school, he has been passionate about Islamic Studies and holistic interpretations of scripture, especially as they bear relevance to modern times. He has been to Egypt and Syria, as well as various places in America for traditional and contemporary approaches to Arabic and Islamic studies with world renowned scholars, and to Turkey and Greece for comparative religion studies. He’s been an active khateeb, lecturer and community activist.
Justin Sadowsky
Justin Sadowsky is a trial attorney with the Council on American-Islamic Relations. As part of CAIR’s civil rights team, Justin helps lead CAIR’s strategic litigation in support of religious, free speech, and equal protection rights of Muslims in the United States, including as employees, incarcerees, and activists. As part of that practice, Justin has briefed and argued multiple cases challenging the federal terrorist watchlist and its effects in federal district and appellate courts. In addition, Justin spearheads CAIR’s amicus practice before the Supreme Court, where CAIR briefs have been cited in both opinions and at oral arguments.
Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah
Mohamed T. Khairullah has devoted his life to the service of others. Fleeing his homeland of Syria in 1980, Mayor Khairullah sought to shape a new meaning of hope through civic engagement and grassroots activism. As an immigrant son of hardworking parents, Mayor Khairullah’s upbringing has sharpened his values and molded his commitment to help others. Leading by example, Mayor Khairullah works immensely hard to bring innovative progress and change that would improve the quality of life in and out of his town. Mayor Khairullah, recently inducted into the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Mayors Hall of Fame, is the longest-serving Arab and Muslim elected official currently in the State of New Jersey, having served as Mayor for 14 years and previously as Councilman for three years. Prior to elected office, Mayor Khairullah was a volunteer firefighter and volunteered at his local hospital which inspired him to always serve others. Mayor Khairullah is a recipient of many accolades and awards at the local, state, and national level that recognizes his remarkable achievements in public service. He is continuously being sought after to speak locally, nationally and globally on issues of refugees and local government. Mayor Khairullah has been featured on many state and national media outlets for his work nationally and internationally. Claiming the hearts and minds of many, Mayor Khairullah’s passion to learn and educate is embedded in his efforts to not only lead, but lead by example.
Dawud Walid
Joram van Klaveren
Joram van Klaveren is a former Dutch politician. As a member of the Party for Freedom he was an MP from 17 June 2010 until 21 March 2014. He subsequently was an independent until his term in office ended on 23 March 2017.
He focused on matters of desegregation, employment-to-population ratio, egalitarianism, and emancipation. Before he went to parliament he was a City Councilor (March 2006 – July 2009) and worked as a Social Affairs and Education Policy officer.
From March 24th, 2011 until June 11th, 2014 he also was a member of the States-Provincial of Flevoland. He became well-known for anti-Muslim comments. In October 2018, he converted to Islam halfway through writing an anti-Islam book. After becoming a Muslim, he decided to rededicate his book to his search for religiosity and the subsequent conversion to Islam.
He recently founded the Anthony Janszoon Association. This organization tries to restore the often incorrect image of Islam in the West.
Dunia Shuaib
Sr. Dunia is a psycho educator, author, internationally renowned speaker, and host of Deen with Dunia. She has a passion for helping people, and continually strives to do so by providing high-quality psychoeducation in a way that is easily accessible to the entire Ummah. She is on a mission to empower Muslims by integrating the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah, as well as principles of psychology. Her efforts have given way to the development of tools, seminars, and the growth of a spiritually conscientious and inclusive environment for the community to support one another.
Ali Sulaiman Ali
Dr. Ali Sulaiman Ali was born in Ghana where he spent his childhood studying with various Muslim scholars. He then moved on to Saudi Arabia where he enrolled in Medina’s Islamic University. His curriculum included all the traditional Islamic sciences and in 1979 he graduated with a degree in both Islamic Studies and Arabic. Dr. Ali pursued further scholarship at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) where he received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Islamic Studies. Dr. Ali’s dissertation on Tafsir bil Ma’thur dealing with the question of Hujja (the question of authority of or binding proof) was a seminal study in an important field.
Dr. Ali’s passions center on learning, teaching, and community service. He has taught Islamic Studies, Muslim World Studies, Arabic, and the Science of the Qur’an at the University of Detroit-Mercy (Detroit, MI), Wayne County Community College, and American Open University. Dr. Ali currently teaches Fiqh, Ulum al Hadith, and Arabic at the Islamic American University (Southfield, MI). He has served the community in several capacities as the assistant Imam at the American Muslim Society and Mu’adh ibn Jabal Masjid, as the Imam at the Islamic Center of Detroit, and as the current Imam of the Muslim Community of the Western Suburbs (Canton, MI). Additionally, Dr. Ali serves as the Director of Muslim Family Services (Detroit, MI), a social services organization dedicated to helping Muslim families flourish.
Zahid Bukhari
Dr. Zahid H. Bukhari serves as Executive Director of the ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ). Since 2004, he has also been serving as Executive Director of the Center for Islam and Public Policy (CIPP), Washington, DC. Previously, he worked as Director, American Muslim Studies Program (AMSP) at the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim- Christian Understanding, Georgetown University, Washington, DC. From 1999-2004, he also worked as Director, Project MAPS: Muslims in American Public Square, which examined the role and contribution of the Muslim community to the American public life.
Dr. Bukhari’s research interests focused on Islam in the West; Muslims in America; religion and politics; and religion, humanitarian aid and development. He is also editor of the Project MAPS volume: Muslims’ Place in the American Public Square: Fears, Hopes and Aspirations; and the CIPP volume: Observing the Observer: The State of Islamic Studies in American Universities.
From 2009-2012, Dr. Bukhari also served as National President of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). Dr. Bukhari has a Masters in Economics from the University of Karachi, Pakistan and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, USA."
Danial Farrukh
Danial Farrukh was born and raised in New Jersey. He currently serves as the National Coordinator of Young Muslims (the largest national Muslim Youth organization in the nation) and has been in the position since 2019. He joined YM in 2011 and has served in numerous local, regional, and national roles.
He is also a National Shura member and an MGA of ICNA. Danial currently mentors youth groups and MSAs all over the country and regularly travels giving lectures, khutbahs, and halaqas while providing strategic guidance to communities. He was a student of the late Maulana Yusuf Islahi, and is currently a student of Dr. Imam Asif Hirani and Dr. Abu Zayd, studying at the Quran Literacy Institute in NJ.
He graduated from Rutgers University in 2018 with a double major in Human Resource Management and Information Technology. He is currently working full-time as a Senior Program Manager and is also currently enrolled in a Master's degree program on Strategic Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Rameez Abid
Rameez Abid graduated from George Mason University with a B.S. in Information Technology. He has a B.A. in Islamic Studies from Islamic Online University. Rameez worked in the IT field from 2008-2014. In 2014, he became Director of Communication & Outreach for ICNA's Council for Social Justice. Rameez initially joined ICNA as a volunteer in 2008 on various projects including as a community organizer and fundraiser. He served as the Youth Coordinator for two years and then as the president of the ICNA Mosque in Alexandria, VA for two more years before joining ICNA-Council for Social Justice in 2014.
Hasan Mohammad Shah
Ustadh Hasan Shah is a tenured Weekend learning Islamic Studies Instructor for the Islamic Society of Baltimore – Masjid Al-Rahmah for over 13 years. He is also a frontline Da’ee with ICNA’s Why Islam Team, serving as a national phone rep for the 1877-Why-Islam Hotline for over a decade. He is also the Founder & Executive Chairman of Islam200.org Project, serving as an Islamic Life Coach for addressing Islamic issues faced by troubled Muslims. Ustadh Hasan also serves the role of an Imam at the Harford County Prison Detention Centers as a rotational Khateeb. He is also engaged in several Masaajids in Baltimore as a Media/Public Relations Manager, lending his expertise on web development and Masjid social media presence. Overall, he is always lending his expertise to strengthen the Ummah in one way or another.
Abdul Rahman Waheed
Dean of Academic Affairs - Instructor
Mufti Abdul Rahman Waheed was born and raised in Lansing, MI. As a youth, he displayed zeal and enthusiasm to involve himself in the religious sciences. At just 9 years of age, Mufti Abdul Rahman went to Toronto, Canada to pursue his dreams of becoming a Hafidh of the Holy Qur'an. Thereafter, Mufti Abdul Rahman traveled to Pakistan to continue his passion to seek knowledge where he completed his 2 year Iftaa program which specializes in Islamic Jurisprudence and Law. Mufti Abdul Rahman is serving as a principal and is a full-time instructor at Michigan Islamic Institute, the brother organization of Miftaah Institute. He travels across North America as a khateeb and lecturer. He is well-known for his calm and down-to-Earth demeanor.
Mufti Abdul Rahman Waheed was born and raised in Lansing, MI. As a youth, he displayed zeal and enthusiasm to involve himself in the religious sciences. At just 9 years of age, Mufti Abdul Rahman went to Toronto, Canada to pursue his dreams of becoming a Hafidh of the Holy Qur'an. Thereafter, Mufti Abdul Rahman traveled to Pakistan to continue his passion to seek knowledge where he completed his 2 year Iftaa program which specializes in Islamic Jurisprudence and Law. Mufti Abdul Rahman is serving as a principal and is a full-time instructor at Michigan Islamic Institute, the brother organization of Miftaah Institute. He travels across North America as a khateeb and lecturer. He is well-known for his calm and down-to-Earth demeanor.
Quran Reciters
Ismet Akcin
Shaykh Ismet Akcin is an experienced Imam and dynamic scholar with over two decades of experience. He was born in Turkey and completed his Hifdth and Alimiyah schooling there before moving to Egypt to study Shariah and Qiraa under world-renowned Shaykh Ahmed Nuaina. He holds a degree in Sharia from Al-Azhar University and a Master's Degree in Inter-Disciplinary Studies from Niagara University in New York. In January 2018, Shaykh Ismet Akcin joined the Islamic Society of Baltimore as an Imam. He has also served as the Director and Imam of the following: Islamic Cultural Center of New York, Manhattan, Islamic Center of Greater Miami, Florida, Islamic Center of El Paso, Texas, Rochester Islamic Center, NY. Sheikh Ismet also served as the Imam at the Akev Islamic Center of Gumusyaka in Istanbul, Turkey. Sheikh Ismet is known internationally as a Qari whose precise recitation of the Glorious Qur'an penetrates the hearts of those who are fortunate enough to hear him. His masterful control of tajweed and intonation and his exceptional delivery of Allah's words have made him a world renowned Qari. Sheikh Ismet received his diploma in Hahfizul Qur'an in 1981 from the Institute of Tahfizul Qur'an in Rize, Turkey. He then spent the next eight years studying at the Khatib Islamic Middle and High School in Samsun, Turkey where he was awarded an Imam Khatib diploma. He furthered his Islamic education at one of the oldest and the most prestigious Islamic institutions in the world, the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt where he graduated with degrees in Shariah (Islamic Law) and Tafseerul-ul-Qur'an (Commentary). At Al-Azhar, he was quickly recognized as one of their finest reciters of the Holy Qur'an which is an outstanding accomplishment. While a student at Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ismet's learning was constant. From 1991 to 1995 he studied with Ahmed Nainah who is regarded as one of the most famous Qaris in the world. Shiekh Ismet also studied traditional Ijazah with Egyptian Quranic scholar and Qari, Sheikh Hasan Salih.
Ismael Essa
Shaykh Ismael Essa is the Founder & Director of Tarteel Academy at MCGP: the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton. He is an Al-Azhar graduate with specialization in Qur’anic Sciences and the Ten recitations. He holds many Ijazaat (chain of transmission) to the Prophet (ﷺ) for both reciting and teaching the Qur'an in its ten modes. Shaykh Ismael has taught Tajweed, Qira’at and Qur’anic Sciences in Egypt, UK, and Ireland. He has won many Qur’an competitions, locally and internationally. He started leading Taraweeh at the age of 13 and was one the youngest Imams at masjid Amr Ibn-ul-‘Aas عمرو بن العاص (The first mosque was built in Egypt and Africa)
Ibrahim Asif
Sheikh Ibrahim Asif was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and completed his Ḥifdh at the age of 14 at the Al-Rahmah Qur’an Academy. Following high school, he enrolled in the Alimiyyah program at DarusSalam Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. He later traveled to Pakistan to complete his final year of study at Jaamiah al-Uloom al-Islamiyyah, where he received ʾijāzāt in Hadith from renowned scholars. Sheikh Ibrahim now travels extensively across North America for Dawah, with a focus on community building, youth engagement, and contextualizing classical Islamic scholarship for the next generation. His areas of interest include Qirā’āt, nashīd, and contemporary Islamic thought.
Qari Nazrul Islam
Quickly becoming one of New York’s prominent Islamic figures, Sheikh Qari Nazrul Islam graduated as an Alim from Madrasah Taleemuddin of the Islamic University of Isipingo Beach, South Africa in 2012.
Sheikh Qari Nazrul Islam is expected to graduate as a Mufti from Darul Ilm, Birmingham, UK in the summer of 2023.
Shiekh Qari Nazrul Islam is also one of the most distinguished students of Qari Ismail Essack in Quran recitation.
Shiekh Qari Nazrul Islam has mastered the 7 and the 10 Qiraat of the Qur’an Al Kareem and has received multiple Ijazahs and Sanads.
Heavily involved in Dawah work and education, he has played a key role in starting multiple educational institutions and organizations.
He continues to serve the community as the Imam and resident scholar of Shelter Rock Islamic Center in Long Island, NY.
Al Munthir Elhabashy
Al Munthir Elhabashy completed the memorization of the Holy Quran at the age of 10, under Sh. Ali Tos at The Diyanet Center of America Hifzh School. He has also won several national and international Quran competitions, including placing 2nd in the world in Germany and 3rd in the world in Tanzania. Al Munthir has been leading congregational prayers since he was 9 years old, and has ijazaat in Hafs from Sh. Hasan Abunar and Sh. Saleh Abdul Maqsood Saleh. He is currently pursuing the study of the Seerah along with the Ten Qira’at, and is a Quran teacher at AQSA at Dar Al Taqwa.
Ismael Essa
Graduated from Al-Azhar University, with an Ijaza for Specialization in the Qur’anic Sciences and the ten recitations.
Many Ijazaat with connected Sanad - Chain of Knowledge - for reciting the Holy Qur’an and teaching it according to the narration of Hafs from `Asim and the authentic ten recitation styles.
Used to oversee and teach in several Qur’an programs in different Masjid and Islamic Centers in Egypt, UK and Ireland.
Leading Traweeh prayer at masjid Al-Birr, London UK for 7 years before coming to United states in 2012.
Work as a Director of Tarteel Academy at MCGP.
Abdellah Marhoum
Sheikh Abdellah Marhoum's study of the Quran started from an early stage of his life “making him a Hafiz” at the young age of 14. He followed the narration paths tracing back to the noble individuals mentored directly from the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Sheikh Marhoum obtained Ijazza in reciting The Quran in seven different ways. He has been taught different schools of thought in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Quranic intonation by renowned Scholars and Sheikhs including Hussein Merdas, Al-Samadi, and Al-Aeshi.
Serving as an Imam in Boston from 2008-2009, Sheikh Marhoum garnered popularity in leading prayer due to his resonating recitations. Subsequently, he was invited by an established Islamic Center in the Washington D.C area to lead prayers during Ramadan. His Family became attached to the vibrant Muslim community in the D.C area and have been residing there ever since. Sheikh Marhoum has been blessed with leading congregational prayers for communities from Boston to Charlotte and in collaboration with notable top Shuyukh. Given the opportunity, Sheikh Marhoum has lectured, recited in major universities and conventions attributing all praises to Allah.
He relishes the opportunity to teach the Quran to anyone interested. Sheikh Marhoum focuses on simplifying Tajweed rules for all generations to read the Quran in its proper form. He strives to teach the Quran in methods that are commensurate with our current time. Sheikh Marhoum encourages all generations to use the Quran as a moral compass for their daily decision-making. He wishes to gain his reward in Jannah by preserving the Quran as a vivid, present possession for anyone to have.
May Allah guide us all to His righteous path.
Serving as an Imam in Boston from 2008-2009, Sheikh Marhoum garnered popularity in leading prayer due to his resonating recitations. Subsequently, he was invited by an established Islamic Center in the Washington D.C area to lead prayers during Ramadan. His Family became attached to the vibrant Muslim community in the D.C area and have been residing there ever since. Sheikh Marhoum has been blessed with leading congregational prayers for communities from Boston to Charlotte and in collaboration with notable top Shuyukh. Given the opportunity, Sheikh Marhoum has lectured, recited in major universities and conventions attributing all praises to Allah.
He relishes the opportunity to teach the Quran to anyone interested. Sheikh Marhoum focuses on simplifying Tajweed rules for all generations to read the Quran in its proper form. He strives to teach the Quran in methods that are commensurate with our current time. Sheikh Marhoum encourages all generations to use the Quran as a moral compass for their daily decision-making. He wishes to gain his reward in Jannah by preserving the Quran as a vivid, present possession for anyone to have.
May Allah guide us all to His righteous path.
Haroon Baqai
Sh. Haroon Baqai has been teaching the Quran and Tajweed for many years. He has an Ijazah in the mode of Hafs an Asim, which he received in Saudi Arabia after studying under Sh. Muhammad Ali Haqqan.
Sh. Haroon is the Principal of a full-time school, Al Huda, in College Park, Maryland. He has also produced two CDs on Quran recitation, “The Healer of Hearts,” which is a recitation of the 29th and 30th Juzz; and “Ahlul Quran Gear”, a guide to memorizing short surahs.
Sh. Haroon has also written a book titled “Let’s Beautify Our Recitation: A Complete Handbook of Tajweed.”
Qari Nazrul Islam
Quickly becoming one of New York’s prominent Islamic figures, Sheikh Qari Nazrul Islam graduated as an Alim from Madrasah Taleemuddin of the Islamic University of Isipingo Beach, South Africa in 2012.
Sheikh Qari Nazrul Islam is expected to graduate as a Mufti from Darul Ilm, Birmingham, UK in the summer of 2023.
Shiekh Qari Nazrul Islam is also one of the most distinguished students of Qari Ismail Essack in Quran recitation.
Shiekh Qari Nazrul Islam has mastered the 7 and the 10 Qiraat of the Qur’an Al Kareem and has received multiple Ijazahs and Sanads.
Heavily involved in Dawah work and education, he has played a key role in starting multiple educational institutions and organizations.
He continues to serve the community as the Imam and resident scholar of Shelter Rock Islamic Center in Long Island, NY.
Hamzah Elhabashy
Hamzah Elhabashy completed the memorization of the Holy Quran at the age of 10, under Sh. Muhammad Nahavandi at Al Huda Hifz School, and has won several national and international Quran competitions, including placing 2nd in the world at the 19th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award when he was 13 years old. Hamzah has ijazaat in Hafs and in the 10 Qira’at (dialects/ways of recitation). He has memorized the 40 Hadith Nawawi, recorded the full compilation of Sahih Hadith, and is currently pursuing the study of the Seerah of the Prophet (SAW), and Mutoon of Qira’at and Arabic grammar: As-Shatibiyyah, and Al-Ajurrumiyya. He is one of only three people known to have ever recorded the entire Quran from start to finish in all 10 Qiraat). He also had the privilege of being the first American to recite at Hagia Sophia and leading salah in Masjid Suleiman Qanooni in Istanbul.
Maryam Masud
Maryam Masud is an American Muslim social media influencer, studying in 11th grade and living in New Jersey, USA. She is the President of a newly formed Climate and Environment protection organization “Nourish Our Earth”, and recipient of a special US Congressional Award in 2022. She has memorized the entire Holy Qur’an at the tender age of 9. She is the host of a very popular kids program “Quran With Maryam” with her young sister Hafiza.
Fatima Masud [7 yrs] on her social media platforms of 5 million followers. Maryam has participated in various national and international competitions, a lot of which she has won.
She has collaborated with many different multi-national organizations and TV channels and produced programs in order to motivate the young generation to love the Holy Qur’an and get involved with Social and Humanitarian activities. Maryam is working with the Australian-based One4Kids channel (Zaky TV) as well as the Malaysian-based streaming platform Durioo+.
Maryam is working with many Charitable Organizations in USA to help the Orphan children of the world. Most recently she raised 50 thousand US dollars for the Orphan children of Syria and Yemen through Facebook and LaunchGood pages for MuslimAid USA. Maryam is involved with many interfaith humanitarian activities.
Entertainment
Sheikh Waleed Elbatrawish
Shaykh Waleed Elbatrawish is a respected leader in the American Muslim community, he currently serves as the Imam of Darul Islah in New Jersey and is the Director of Hifz Academy NJ, where he mentors the next generation of Huffadhd leaders and Qur’an scholars in the American Muslim community.
Shaykh Waleed is widely recognized as one of the most esteemed Qur'an judges in the United States, and his contributions have been heard far beyond the masjid—he has served as a guest speaker at the United Nations, spoken at numerous masajid across the U.S., and has been featured as an international Qur'an reciter on radio and television. In addition to his work in the masjid and educational settings, he serves as a Muslim chaplain in hospitals and prisons, providing spiritual guidance and support to those in need.
Known for his deep scholarship, beautiful recitation, and sincere character, Shaykh Waleed continues to inspire audiences locally and internationally with his dedication to the Qur’an and service to the Ummah.
Shaykh Waleed is widely recognized as one of the most esteemed Qur'an judges in the United States, and his contributions have been heard far beyond the masjid—he has served as a guest speaker at the United Nations, spoken at numerous masajid across the U.S., and has been featured as an international Qur'an reciter on radio and television. In addition to his work in the masjid and educational settings, he serves as a Muslim chaplain in hospitals and prisons, providing spiritual guidance and support to those in need.
Known for his deep scholarship, beautiful recitation, and sincere character, Shaykh Waleed continues to inspire audiences locally and internationally with his dedication to the Qur’an and service to the Ummah.
Siedd
Abdellah Marhoum
Sheikh Abdellah Marhoum's study of the Quran started from an early stage of his life “making him a Hafiz” at the young age of 14. He followed the narration paths tracing back to the noble individuals mentored directly from the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Sheikh Marhoum obtained Ijazza in reciting The Quran in seven different ways. He has been taught different schools of thought in Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Quranic intonation by renowned Scholars and Sheikhs including Hussein Merdas, Al-Samadi, and Al-Aeshi.
Serving as an Imam in Boston from 2008-2009, Sheikh Marhoum garnered popularity in leading prayer due to his resonating recitations. Subsequently, he was invited by an established Islamic Center in the Washington D.C area to lead prayers during Ramadan. His Family became attached to the vibrant Muslim community in the D.C area and have been residing there ever since. Sheikh Marhoum has been blessed with leading congregational prayers for communities from Boston to Charlotte and in collaboration with notable top Shuyukh. Given the opportunity, Sheikh Marhoum has lectured, recited in major universities and conventions attributing all praises to Allah.
He relishes the opportunity to teach the Quran to anyone interested. Sheikh Marhoum focuses on simplifying Tajweed rules for all generations to read the Quran in its proper form. He strives to teach the Quran in methods that are commensurate with our current time. Sheikh Marhoum encourages all generations to use the Quran as a moral compass for their daily decision-making. He wishes to gain his reward in Jannah by preserving the Quran as a vivid, present possession for anyone to have.
May Allah guide us all to His righteous path.
Serving as an Imam in Boston from 2008-2009, Sheikh Marhoum garnered popularity in leading prayer due to his resonating recitations. Subsequently, he was invited by an established Islamic Center in the Washington D.C area to lead prayers during Ramadan. His Family became attached to the vibrant Muslim community in the D.C area and have been residing there ever since. Sheikh Marhoum has been blessed with leading congregational prayers for communities from Boston to Charlotte and in collaboration with notable top Shuyukh. Given the opportunity, Sheikh Marhoum has lectured, recited in major universities and conventions attributing all praises to Allah.
He relishes the opportunity to teach the Quran to anyone interested. Sheikh Marhoum focuses on simplifying Tajweed rules for all generations to read the Quran in its proper form. He strives to teach the Quran in methods that are commensurate with our current time. Sheikh Marhoum encourages all generations to use the Quran as a moral compass for their daily decision-making. He wishes to gain his reward in Jannah by preserving the Quran as a vivid, present possession for anyone to have.
May Allah guide us all to His righteous path.
Abdullah Jasim
Umer Zaman
Ibrahim Asif
Coming soon
Nasheed
Umer Zaman
Omar Regan
DALIA FAHMY
Dr. Dalia Fahmy is Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University where she teaches courses on US Foreign Policy, World Politics, International Relations, Military and Defense Policy, Causes of War, and Politics of the Middle East. Dr. Fahmy is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Policy in Washington DC, and a Visiting Scholar at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights and UNESCO Chair at Rutgers University for 2018. Dr. Fahmy's books include The Rise and Fall of The Muslim Brotherhood and the Future of Political Islam (forthcoming), and two co-edited volumes Illiberal Intelligentsia and the Future of Egyptian Democracy, and International Relations in a Changing World. Dr. Fahmy has published several articles in academic journals focusing on democratization and most recently on the effects of Islamophobia on US foreign policy. She has given several briefings on the future of democracy in the Middle East. She has been interviewed by and written editorials in various media outlets including ABC, CBS, CBC, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, the Huffington Post, the Immanent Frame, the Washington Post, and appears often on Aljazeera. She has presented her research in various venues including Columbia, Georgetown, Harvard, Princeton, UCLA, The Middle East Institute, The Asia Society, The World Bank, The Wilson Center and The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy. Dr. Fahmy has won several academic awards and fellowships for her research. In 2014, Dr. Fahmy was one of the recipients of the prestigious Kleigman Prize in Political Science, was the 2016 recipient of the Newton Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2017 was named NPR’s "Source if the Week."
Joe Bradford
Joe Bradford is an entrepreneur and an American scholar of Islam. He holds a Master of Islamic Law from the University of Medina and has studied traditionally in the Muslim world for the past 20+ years. He was a VP and Senior Shariah Consultant for AlRajhi Bank, the largest Islamic Bank in the Middle East. Joe is sought after as an Ethical Finance Advisor to individuals and institutions at home and abroad.
Joe is one of the few experts on issues involving Muslims and Finance in North America. While his expertise spans many areas, he has focused his efforts on creating companies that allow people of faith and conviction to align their values with their finances.
As a co-founder of MyWassiyah.com, he has leveraged his extensive knowledge of Islamic Inheritance (Far’idh) to create a world-class product that bridges the gap between traditional Islamic knowledge and the requirements of the US legal system.
As Shariah advisor to Zoya.Finance, Joe has contributed in bring values to life, creating an app that makes halal investing easy by helping you build and monitor a shariah-compliant investment portfolio with confidence and clarity.
As the principal of Moneycoa.ch, Joe works with businesses and individuals to build a comprehensive overview of financial health, goals, and values allowing his clients to take the steps needed to achieve financial success and align their business and personal finances to their values as Muslims.