Shaykh Abdullah Waheed was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. He commenced his studies at the age of ten in Toronto, Canada, where he went to memorize the Quran. He completed the memorization of the Holy Quran by the tender age of thirteen and then went on to study in the seven-year extensive Shariah program in Toronto, Canada. Shaykh Abdullah specialized in the Tafseer of the Quran. Shaykh Abdullah spent years studying the details and beauty of our Holy book since understanding and mastering the language of the Holy Quran was always the primary goal. Shaykh Abdullah is a co-founder and instructor at Miftaah Institute and is also the Director of Islamic Affairs at Flint Islamic Center.

Born and raised in Southern California and by Allah’s grace, he memorized the Quran at a young age. He studied in Cairo, Egypt in 2006 and in 2007 was granted a scholarship to study at the Islamic University of Madinah. He completed a degree in the Arabic language and then went on to graduate from the College of Shariah. He is currently a Seminary instructor at the Institute of Knowledge in Diamond Bar, California as well as an instructor at the California Islamic University in Anaheim, California. He also serves as the Religious Director at the Islamic Center of Cypress.

Ustadh Ubaydullah Evans is ALIM’s first Scholar-in-Residence. He converted to Islam while in high school. Upon conversion, Ustadh Ubaydullah began studying some of the foundational books of Islam under the private tutelage of local scholars. Since then he has studied at Chicagoland’s Institute of Islamic Education (IIE), in Tarim, Yemen, and Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, where he is the first African-American to graduate from its Shari’a program. Ustadh Ubaydullah also instructs with the Ta’leef Collective and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN).

Dr. Furhan serves as Dean of the Institute of Knowledge Seminary in Southern California, Seminary Instructor at the same institute, and University Chaplain at the University of California Irvine. He has authored a number of books, on topics such as tafsir, hadith commentary, and introductions to foundational Islamic disciplines, as part of the IOK Curriculum Series.

Shaykh Idris Nawaz started studying the Quran at the age of 7 and a half, and by the grace of Allah, he completed his Hifz in a year and a half at the age of 9. Qari Idris spent the next few years studying Tajweed and Qira’aat, and fully and completely by the will and decree of Allah SWT. Qari Idris participated in the International Quran Competition in Doha, Qatar, and out of 2000 participants from over 45 countries, he won 1st place, Alhamdulillah. He is a Michigan Islamic Institute Aalim student graduate.

Shaykh Musa Sugapong is the co-founder and president of Knowman Learning in Greater Cleveland, where he provides education rooted in Islamic knowledge. He also serves as a Religious Consultant at the Khalil Center, integrating psychology with Islamic theology, and formerly taught at Darul Qasim Institute for over a decade. Embracing Islam at nineteen, he studied Arabic locally while completing a BA in Sociology and Religious Studies at San Diego State University, later deepening his studies in Damascus and South Africa. Residing in Cleveland with his family, Shaykh Musa enjoys traveling, family time, and playing basketball and football.

TBD

Imam Taha Hassane currently serves as the imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego. Hassane graduated from the Institute of Islamic Sciences at the University of Algiers in his native Algeria. He served as a high school teacher and imam in Tenes, Algeria for 10 years before coming to the United States. In the U.S., he served as a youth counselor with the Colorado Muslim Youth Foundation. In addition to his regular duties at ICSD, he provides marriage and family counseling, youth programming and Islamic educational services. Hassane holds a Masters of Theology in Islamic Studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Ind.

Shaykh Mohamed Almasmari, of Yemeni descent, was born and raised in Michigan. He memorized the Qur'an at a very early age and after high school, left to study at Sana'a University. Soon after, he obtained his Bachelor/Master Degrees in Islamic Law & Islamic Science from Yemen. During his studies, he was able to obtain ijaazas in recitation & teaching of Al-Qur'an, Qur'anic Exegesis (Tafseer-ul-Qur'an), Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Sahih Bukhari & Muslim and Imam Nawwawi's works such as the commentary to Sahih Muslim and Riyaad-us-Saliheen. In 2007, he became the Imam of a local masjid in California few miles down from Shaykh Zaid Shakir, where he left a very high standard and tough shoes to fill. Then, In 2009, he was called upon to serve in Brooklyn in a community that was desperately in need of an Ameer (leader). Within two years, Alhamdulillah Shaykh Almasmari, by the Will of Allah swt was able turn that community around for the better. He has lead taraweeh prayers during the month of Ramadan since the age of 18. Now Shaykh Mohamed Almasmari is the Imam and Khatib at UMMA.

Currently serving as the Imam and Director of religious activities and outreach (dawaah). ​Shaykh Abel Jalil is the Imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego, California. He is known as a prolific and dynamic speaker, dedicating himself as a tireless supporter of the Islamic cause. Shaykh Mezgouri is known amongst Muslims in North America as a passionate supporter and speaker with Islamic Relief, MAS and many other Islamic organizations. He is know for his active dedication towards the Muslim youth of America.