Mercy to Mankind
Conference

Aasim Rashid

Mufti Aasim Rashid is a distinguished Muslim scholar, speaker and educator (the title ‘Mufti’ indicates his expertise and authority in Islamic law). He is devoted to the study and explanation of Islamic sacred texts and their relation to the modern context. His lectures, delivered at conferences and institutions around the world, are known to be inspiring and pertinent to the issues and pressing questions of the day. Mufti Aasim is the founder of the Al-Ihsan Educational Foundation, which has initiated the ‘Islam Unravelled’ project.

Abdul Nasir Jangda

Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda is the founder, director, and an instructor at Qalam. 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. 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 Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, worked with various Islamic schools and served as the Imam at the Colleyville Masjid in the Dallas area.

Yasir Qadhi

Dr. Yasir Qadhi, PhD, is a resident Scholar of the Memphis Islamic Center, a professor at Rhodes College in the Department of Religious Studies, and is the Dean of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib Institute. He graduated with a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, and studied at the Islamic University of Madinah where he completed a BA from the College of Hadith and Islamic Sciences followed by a MA in Islamic Theology from the College of Dawah. He then returned to the United States, and completed a PhD in Religious Studies from Yale University. He is one of the few people who has combined a traditional Eastern Islamic seminary education with a Western academic training of the study of Islam.

Abdullah Waheed

Shaykh Abdullah Waheed was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. Sheikh Abdullah commenced his studies at the age of 10 in Toronto, Canada where he went to memorize the Quran. He completed the memorization of the Holy Quran by the tender age of 13 and then went on to study in the 7 year extensive Shariah program in Toronto, Canada. Sheikh Abdullah then continued his research and studies, which took him on global journeys, such as Pakistan, Kuwait, and England.Sheikh Abdullah specialized in Tafseer of the Quran. Sheikh Abdullah spent years to study the details and beauty of our Holy book since understanding and mastering the language of Holy Quran was always the primary goal.Sheikh Abdullah is serving as an Instructor at Miftaah institute and is also the Director of Islamic Affairs at Flint Islamic Center. Sheikh Abdullah travels across North America for khutbas, workshops, and seminars. He is known for his motivational and enthusiastic style of speaking which leaves the audience focused and learning.

Haifaa Younis

Yaser Birjas

Shaykh Yaser Birjas is currently the Head of the Islamic Law and Theory Department at the Al-Maghrib Institute and the Imam at Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Irving, Texas. Shaykh Yaser started his career in Electronic Engineering in the UAE, than 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. In 1997, he went to work as a relief program aide to rebuild a war-torn Bosnia. In 2000, he immigrated to the U.S. where he served as an Imam at Islamic Center in El Paso, Texas and a director of English programs in Da’wah and outreach for the Orland Park Prayer Center in Illinois. He went on to earn his masters in Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix in 2013. His specialty in the subject of marriage and relations made him a highly sought marriage counselor for the Muslim community.

Furhan Zubairi

Shaykh 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.

Mohamed Almasmari

Imam Mohamed Al-Masmari 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). Sheik Mohamed Al-Masmari is the Imam and Khatib at Muslim Unity Center in Bloomfield Hills Michigan.

Abdul Rahman Waheed

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. Within a year, he completed the memorization of the Qur'an. He was known to be from among the most intelligent students in the school. He continued his 7 year Shariah program in which he studied a variety of subjects such as Hadith, Tafseer, Usool al-Hadith, logic, rhetoric by the age of 18. 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. He is legally permitted to pass a Fatwa or verdict.He is known for his passion and dedication to learning and teaching the lost history of Islam and provides detailed insight on how Muslims lived throughout the different eras of history. Mufti Abdul Rahman gives insight to various literature in the Islamic world. 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.

Suhaib Webb

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.

Abdul Aziz Waheed

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Waheed was born in East Lansing, Michigan. He began Islamic studies at Jaamiah al-Uloom al-Islamiyyah, where he became a Hafiz.Upon the completion of his memorization of the Quran, Shaykh Abdul Aziz decided to continue his studies in Islamic sciences . He started his 7 year Shariah program in Toronto, Canada. Shaykh Abdul Aziz Waheed graduated with honors and went on to receive Ijazzat for teaching Hadith from prominent scholars from around the world. He also travels extensively across North America for Dawah purposes. Throughout his travels, Shaykh Abdul Aziz addresses communities across the United States – and particularly in Michigan – on a wide range of Islamic topics and Inshallah, continues to do so with the Tawfiq of Allah SWT . Shaykh Abdul Aziz is a Co-founder of Miftaah Institute and also serves as Dean of Academic Affairs at Michigan Islamic Institute.

Abdul Wahab Waheed

Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed started his studies at Al Ihsan institute located in Vancouver, B.C., specializing in Islamic Jurisprudence and Iftā’ under his professors while simultaneously teaching Fiqh and Hadith in the same school. During this time period, he was also serving as a Kateeb and lecturer in the province of British Colombia. Mufti Abdul Wahab is a Co-founder at Miftaah Institute and also is a Co-Founder and Director at Michigan Islamic Institute. ‍

Suleiman Hani

Shaykh Suleiman Hani is the Director of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib Institute, a research scholar for Yaqeen Institute, and a resident scholar 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.

Mikaeel Smith

Imam Mikaeel Ahmed Smith is an instructor at Qalam Seminary in Dallas, Texas and has a Degree in Islamic Studies from Dar ul-Uloom Canada in Chatham, Ontario. He is passionate about meeting the needs of Muslim converts, building Islamic literacy among youth, and striving for social justice. He recently published his first book, a translation of a classical Arabic text on Islamic pedagogy. He currently lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife and three young children.

Navaid Aziz

He lectures on current and relevant topics from an Islamic perspective. His workshops focus on best practices in sensitivity and diversity training for those engaging with Muslims. He shares his expertise on Muslim extremism, the history of Muslim extremist groups, and community based intervention and prevention with the courts, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement.

Majed Mahmoud

Majed completed a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Windsor, a Bachelor’s in Islamic Studies in Islamic Jurisprudence and Legal Theory from Al-Madinah International University, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Wayne State University. He currently teaches Islamic Studies at the Islamic Center of Detroit and is an instructor at AlMaghrib Institute.