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Faculty

At DarusSalam Seminary, our mission to develop well-rounded Islamic leaders has translated into measurable success and widespread influence. Our graduates are making a difference in communities across the country and beyond.

Meet our Staff

Striving for ihsan in every aspect of education, administration, and community service.

Our Faculty

Mufti Minhajuddin Ahmed

Imam, Principal, Lecturer

Minhajuddin Ahmed serves as the Principal of the Academy as well as one of the institute’s directors. Born and raised in Illinois, he memorized the entire Qurʾān at a young age. Later in life, when he reached college age, he opted to dedicate his life to Islāmic Studies and traveled to South Africa.He studied the eight-year ʿālimiyyah and iftāʾ program graduating with teaching licenses and the permission to issue fatwā in the Ḥanafī School.

Upon returning to the United States, he served as the director of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis for several years before becoming involved at Masjid DarusSalam. He oversees the administration of the institute. His passion for knowledge and dedication to providing a high-quality institute to serve the North-American Muslim community is phenomenal. Along with imparting knowledge to students in the classroom, he envisages creating a brilliant beacon of knowledge that will inspire future generations by offering an opportunity to study Islām in a way that is relevant in contemporary contexts while holding fast to tradition. Along with teaching and overseeing the institute’s administration, he serves as the imām at Masjid DarusSalam.

Mufti Azeemuddin Ahmed

Imam, Lecturer

Azeemuddin Ahmed serves as director of Masjid DarusSalam. He was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. At a tender age, he memorized the Holy Qurʾān. Thereafter, he traveled to South Africa where he studied a rigorous eight-year ʿālimiyyah and iftāʾ course. During his studies, he was blessed with the opportunity to spend extensive time in the company of one of the world’s elite jurists and scholars. After graduating with top honors from South Africa, he went on to earn a BA in Psychology from Elmhurst College. He served as the director of AIA Masjid in Frankfort, Illinois from 2006 to 2012.

Azeemuddin’s dedication and passion for Islāmic education is unparalleled. He is continuously in the service of both scholars and students. An individual with sincere love for scholarship, he strives to ensure that everyone at the institute is well and benefiting from the program. His love and enthusiasm bring the classes he teaches to life, every class conveys priceless points that enrich and benefit those in attendance. As well, he serves as an associate Imām at Masjid DarusSalam.

Mawlana Ahteramul Haquec

Lecturer

Ahteramul Haque grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan. From a young age, he was passionate about Islām and earnestly desired to sit with the scholars and study. He embarked on this mission by enrolling at Dār al-ʿUlūm Detroit. With Detroit’s skyline in the background, he memorized the entire Qurʾān at the age of eleven.
Thereafter, he traveled to the distant land of South Africa in pursuit of sacred knowledge. There, he enrolled in an eminent institute of higher learning. He meticulously studied the full seven-year ʿālimiyyah program. During his studies, he sat under the expert scholar al-Qārī Ayyūb b. Ibrāhīm Iṣḥāq from whom he received authorizations in the Holy Qurʾān and its modes of recitation. After graduating, he returned home and took a teaching position at Dār al-ʿUlūm Detroit while also serving as the Imām of the Canton Islamic Center. He moved to Chicago when the Takmīl Institute requested him to join the team of instructors. He brings an incredible amount of talent and knowledge to the program. His love, passion, and dedication to scholarship are witnessed by all those attending his lectures and his thoughtfulness and excellent etiquette are inspirational for all those who sit with him.

Shaykh Ali Godil

Lecturer

Ali Godil was born and raised in the United States. He began studying the Islāmic Sciences with scholars in the Chicagoland area. Upon finding an intense and burning desire to pursue Islāmic Studies, he set out to Egypt. Initially, he traveled to Alexandria where he studied Arabic. Thereafter, he enrolled in Egypt’s prestigious al-Azhar University. For the next five years, he resided in Cairo studying in the Faculty of Ḥadīth, College of Uṣūl al-Dīn. During these years, he read intensely, mastering the material in the university while also sitting with some of Cairo’s eminent shuyūkh in both public and private lessons.
After graduating from Azhar, he returned to Chicago. DarusSalam was honored to request him to join as an instructor. His enthusiasm for knowledge and academic prowess are remarkable. Students attending his classes find countless opportunities to be exposed to in-depth Islāmic knowledge.

Shaykh Yaqub Abdurrahman

Lecturer

Yaqub Abdurrahman was born and raised in Michigan. He converted to Islām in his late teens and shortly thereafter traveled in pursuit of sacred knowledge. He traveled to South Africa to study an intense six-year ʿālimiyyah program at Dār al-ʿUlūm al-ʿArabiyyah al-Islāmiyyah under the guidance of Mufti Ṭaha Karaan. Upon graduating, he taught in the same institute as he pursued post-graduate studies. Then, he traveled to Egypt and resided there for several years taking private lessons with local scholars and doing research.
After returning home, he joined the Takmīl Institute’s team of instructors as head of the Research Department.

Mawlana Muhi Khan

Lecturer

At the age of eleven, Muhiuddin Khan memorized the entire Qur’an. He then spent the next few years revising it while completing his high school education. During this time, he also studied at Dar al-Hikmah. Thereafter, he enrolled in the ‘alimiyyah program at the Institute of Islamic Education in Chicago, which he successfully completed. Upon graduation, he was requested to teach there on a part-time basis while continuing to study theology and tafsir.
After that, Muhi traveled to Dar al-Ulum Deoband for post-graduate level studies in the science of hadith. Hadith has always been his passion and focus, he received licenses to teach the books of hadith from the senior scholars of the Deoband Islamic seminary, including Shaykh al-Hadith Mufti Sa’id Ahmad Palanpuri, Bahr al-Ulum Mawlana Ni’matullah al-A’zami, Allamah Mawlana Qamruddin Gorakhpuri, Shaykh Abdul Haqq al-A’zami, and Mawlana Abdullah Ma’rufi. He strives to provide a high-quality and thorough educational experience to students who attend his classes. Bringing the Islamic sciences to life in a way that is engaging, inspiring, and relevant.

Mawlana Salman Khan

Lecturer

Salman Ali Khan was born in Louisiana and moved to New York City at a young age. He found a burning passion to study Islam and began memorizing the Quran while studying the primary Islamic sciences. The more he studied, the more his passion for knowledge grew. This lead him to travel to South Africa and Zambia where he pursued intensive ‘alimiyyah studies covering a vast array of subjects; most especially, the subject of fiqh. He studied diligently and graduated at the top of his class. Throughout his studies, he sat at the feet of some of this era’s most notable ulama. He joined the Takmil Institute’s teaching team in 2017.

A young and ambitious scholar, his zeal for Islam is seen in both his manners and thought. He strives to maintain the legacy by serving its masters and those who pursue it.

Shaykh Akef Habbal

Lecturer

Shaykh Akef Habbal was born in Montreal, Canada. He graduated from a six-year program at Madrasah Khusrufiyyah in Aleppo, Syria. Thereafter he earned his bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Damascus, where he then continued to study master’s level courses in theological and religious studies. Shaykh Akef then went on to study various subjects including tafsir, fiqh, nahw, and usool under various scholars in Aleppo.

Upon returning to North America, Shaykh Akef began teaching Arabic and Islamic studies at various institutions. He currently serves as an Arabic instructor at DarusSalam Academy.

Mawlana Yousuf Ghouse

Lecturer

Yousuf Ghouse was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. He completed his memorization of the Quran at the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, IL. After graduating from UIC with a degree in Mathematics, he pursued Islamic studies full time – initially at DarusSalam and later in Johannesburg, South Africa. After graduating, he spent some additional time pursuing further studies in South Africa.

Mufti Saad Rauf

Lecturer

Saad Rauf was brought up in the Detroit Metro Area. During his teenage years, he became deeply concerned about the deteriorating faith of the Muslims around him, especially his fellow youth. He observed that there was a lack of Islamic leaders raised in America who could relate to the troubled and confused population of young Muslims.

With a yearning desire to help fill that void, Saad began studying the Islamic Sciences under the tutelage of the senior scholars living in the Detroit area. After a few years, he moved to Chatham, Ontario where he diligently completed the six-year ʿālimiyyah program at Dār al-ʿUlūm Canada and graduated with the highest honors. The following year, he moved to the Chicagoland area and began specializing in Islamic Jurisprudence under the founder of the American Fiqh Academy: Mufti Abrar Mirza. After completing this specialization course, Saad was invited to join the Darus Salaam team of instructors and has been teaching there ever since.

Mufti Mohammed Pasha

Lecturer

Mohammed Pasha was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his memorization of the Quran at his local Masjid in Brooklyn. Thereafter, in pursuit of a higher education in Islamic studies, he traveled to South Africa where he completed the Alimiyyah program in 2017. After completing the Alimiyyah program, Mohammed Pasha enrolled in the Iftaa program (Specialization in Islamic Jurisprudence) at the same institute, and completed the program in 2019.
After completing the Alimiyyah program, Mohammed Pasha enrolled in the Iftaa program (Specialization in Islamic Jurisprudence) at the same institute, and completed the program in 2019. During his studies in South Africa, Mohammed Pasha had the great fortune of studying under renowned scholars such as Shaykhul Hadith Moulāna Fadhlur Rahman Sahib and Mufti Sa’eed Motara Sahib amongst many other esteemed scholars. Upon returning home, he served as an after-school teacher at Masjid Quba in Brooklyn for a few months, before relocating to Lombard, Illinois as an instructor at DarusSalam Seminary.

Mawlana Ahsan Syed

Lecturer

Ahsan Syed was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. At the age of 12, he enrolled at the Institute of Islamic Education for the memorization of the Quran. After completing his memorization, he went on to complete high school. While studying at the College of DuPage, he began taking part-time Arabic classes with his teachers at IIE.
His desire for Islamic knowledge compelled him to join the full-time ʿālimiyyah program. After a rigorous six years, he graduated with honors. His studies included Arabic grammar, Islamic jurisprudence, theology, ḥadīth sciences and methodology, and Qur’anic tafsīr. Ahsan has been teaching the ʿalim course for the past six years teaching an array of subjects including Arabic, Islamic jurisprudence, Hadith studies, and Qur’anic tafsir. He taught for two years on Darul Uloom Online, and taught as a full-time instructor at his alma mater for four years

Mawlana Saqib Azhar

Instructor

Mawlana Saqib Azhar was born and raised in Pakistan. Upon completion of his secondary education, he began his journey of memorizing the Holy Qurʾān, completing at age 18. He went on to pursue Islamic Sciences and completed his ʿālimīyah degree from Jamia Arabia Ishaatul Qurʾān in Hazro, Pakistan.
In 2009, Mawlana Saqib joined DarusSalam Seminary as a full-time Taḥfiẓ instructor and has since been a pillar of the program.

Mawlana Usman Akhtar

Director of Tahfiz Academy

Usman Akhtar completed the memorization of the Quran at Darul Uloom New York and then went on to study in South Africa. He completed the six-year curriculum under the guidance of world renowned scholars and earned authorizations in Hadith from many scholars. Upon graduation he traveled to Egypt to further his studies and received authorizations while studying privately under many Ulama.
Upon return from Egypt, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Psychological Sciences and served as the Imam & Director of Religious Affairs of the Danbury Masjid|ISWC in Connecticut from 2013 to 2018. He was also a weekend academy instructor at Darul Uloom New York where he taught Arabic and other subjects. He is certified in mental health first aid and is a certified crisis counselor.

Mawlana Taufiqur Rahman

Instructor

Mawlana Taufiqur Rahman grew up in Toronto, Canada where he completed the memorization of the Qurʾān at the age of fourteen. Upon graduating from high school, he went on to pursue Islamic Sciences under the tutelage of local senior scholars in the Greater Toronto Area. After completing his initial two years of the ʿālimīyah program at Jamia Islamiyah Abu Bakr, he enrolled in the world renowned Darul Uloom Zakariyya in South Africa. Here, along with his ʿālimīyah studies, he was granted ijāzah in the Qurʾān and its different modes of recitation by Qari Ayoob Essack.

 He returned to Canada after graduating and continued to serve the community there for a few years as an instructor at Jamia Islamiyah Abu Bakr. In 2021, he moved to Lombard, Illinois to join DarusSalam Seminary.

Hafiz Yasir Laliwala

Instructor

Hafiz Yasir Laliwala was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. He traveled to India and completed his memorization of the Qurʾān from Jamiah Islamiah Talimuddin in Gujarat, India in 1991. Upon his return, he began teaching the Qurʾān and has continued teaching for more than 10 years.
He has led different communities in various capacities as an imām and teacher and his exemplary dedication is known to all. In 2021, he joined DarusSalam Seminary as an instructor of the Taḥfīẓ Program.

Mawlana Sahil Vahora

Instructor

Mawlana Sahil is a distinguished graduate of DarusSalam Seminary’s 7-Year Takmil Alim Program, where he also completed his postgraduate studies in Hadith. Furthering his academic journey, he pursued advanced studies in Tafsir and Fiqh under the guidance of Mufti Radha ul Haq at Darul Uloom Zakariyya, South Africa.
Currently, he serves as an instructor of Taḥfīẓ and is concurrently pursuing specialization in the Advanced Islamic Jurisprudence program at Darul Iftaa Chicago under the mentorship of Mufti Abrar Mirza.

Mawlana Shoumik Hussain

Instructor

Mawlana Shoumik Hussain was born and raised in New York where he completed the memorization of the Qurʾān at Darul Uloom New York. He then continued into the ʿālimīyah program and after completing his initial four years of the ʿālimīyah program at Darul Uloom New York, he enrolled at DarusSalam Seminary where he completed his ʿālimīyah degree in 2019. Mawlana Shoumik joined DarusSalam Seminary in 2019 as an instructor of the Taḥfīẓ program.
While alongside continuing a specialization in the Advanced Islamic Jurisprudence program at Darul Iftaa Chicago under the tutelage of Mufti Abrar Mirza.

Mufti Tahmid Hussain

Instructor

Mufti Tahmid Hussain was born in Bangladesh and raised in New York, where he completed the memorization of the Qurʾān at Darul Uloom New York. He then continued into the ʿālimīyah program and completed his ʿālimīyah degree in 2020. Alongside the ʿālimīyah program, he was granted ijāzah in the Qurʾān in the recitation method of Imam Hafs ‘an Asim. He then enrolled at Darul Iftaa Chicago where he completed a specialization in the Advanced Islamic Jurisprudence program at Darul Iftaa Chicago under the tutelage of Mufti Abrar Mirza in 2022.

He joined DarusSalam Seminary in 2022 as an instructor of the Taḥfīẓ and Tafhīm Program.

Mawlana Jibril Mohammed

Instructor

Mawlana Jibril Mohammed was born and raised in Florida. He completed his memorization of the Quran in 2014 from Islamic Center of Broward (presently known as Madinatul Uloom Institute). He then further pursued Islamic studies and obtained his ʿālimīyah degree from Madrasah Arabia Islamia in South Africa. His dedication to scholarship led him to enroll in a two-year post-alimiyyah hadith specialization program at Madrasat al-Ulum al-Shariyyah in South Africa, where he successfully completed his studies in 2023.
Upon his return to the United States, Mawlana Jibril joined DarusSalam Seminary as a Taḥfiẓ instructor. This role allows him to share his knowledge and devotion to the Quran with others, guiding students in their journey to memorize and understand the Quran.

Mawlana Mustafa Ali

Instructor

Mawlana Mustafa Ali was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. He completed his memorization of the Quran in 2016 from Furqaan Academy in Bolingbrook, Illinois. He then further pursued Islamic studies and obtained his ʿālimīyah degree from DarusSalam Seminary, where he successfully completed his studies in 2023. Alongside the ʿālimīyah program, he was granted ijāzah in the Qurʾān and its different modes of recitation.

Following his graduation, Mawlana Mustafa joined DarusSalam Seminary as a full-time Taḥfiẓ instructor. This role enables him to share his knowledge and profound devotion to the Quran, guiding students on their path to memorizing the Quran.

Mufti Junaid Ajmeri

Instructor

Instructor Mufti Junaid Ajmeri was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and began his Islamic studies with the memorization of the Quran at DarusSalam Seminary (Lombard, IL) at the age of 10. After completing his hifz, he continued his studies at the same institution by enrolling in the seven-year ‘Alimiyya program. In parallel, Mufti Junaid was also completing his high school education at DarusSalam, which he finished in 2019. He graduated the ‘Alimiyya program with honors in 2022.

He was accepted into Darul Iftaa Chicago in the same year to specialize in the field of fiqh and issuing legal verdicts (iftāʾ) under the tutelage of Mufti Abrar Mirza (may Allah ﷻ accept and reward him), which he completed in 2024. He currently serves as a Taḥfiẓ and Tanwir instructor at DarusSalam Seminary.

Mufti Mohammed Hifzur Rahman

Instructor

Mufti Mohammed Hifzur Rahman was born and raised in Warren, Michigan, where he memorized the Qurʾān at Darul Uloom Detroit. He pursued his ʿālimīyah degree, which he completed in 2020 from Darul Uloom New York. Alongside the ʿālimīyah program, he was granted ijāzah in the Qurʾān in the recitation method of Imam Hafs ‘an Asim. He then enrolled at Darul Iftaa Chicago where he completed a specialization in the Advanced Islamic Jurisprudence program at Darul Iftaa Chicago under the tutelage of Mufti Abrar Mirza in 2022.
From 2022 to 2024, he served as an Imam and Instructor at the Sacred Learning Center. He is currently an instructor for the Taḥfīẓ Program at DarusSalam Seminary.

Mufti Minhajuddin Ahmed

Imam, Principal, Lecturer

Minhajuddin Ahmed serves as the Principal of the Academy as well as one of the institute’s directors. Born and raised in Illinois, he memorized the entire Qurʾān at a young age. Later in life, when he reached college age, he opted to dedicate his life to Islāmic Studies and traveled to South Africa.He studied the eight-year ʿālimiyyah and iftāʾ program graduating with teaching licenses and the permission to issue fatwā in the Ḥanafī School.

Upon returning to the United States, he served as the director of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis for several years before becoming involved at Masjid DarusSalam. He oversees the administration of the institute. His passion for knowledge and dedication to providing a high-quality institute to serve the North-American Muslim community is phenomenal. Along with imparting knowledge to students in the classroom, he envisages creating a brilliant beacon of knowledge that will inspire future generations by offering an opportunity to study Islām in a way that is relevant in contemporary contexts while holding fast to tradition. Along with teaching and overseeing the institute’s administration, he serves as the imām at Masjid DarusSalam.

Mawlana Usman Akhtar

Director of Tahfiz Academy

Usman Akhtar completed the memorization of the Quran at Darul Uloom New York and then went on to study in South Africa. He completed the six-year curriculum under the guidance of world renowned scholars and earned authorizations in Hadith from many scholars. Upon graduation he traveled to Egypt to further his studies and received authorizations while studying privately under many Ulama.
Upon return from Egypt, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Psychological Sciences and served as the Imam & Director of Religious Affairs of the Danbury Masjid|ISWC in Connecticut from 2013 to 2018. He was also a weekend academy instructor at Darul Uloom New York where he taught Arabic and other subjects. He is certified in mental health first aid and is a certified crisis counselor.

Mawlana Arif Syed

Instructor

Arif Syed is a Takmīl student at DarusSalam from St. Louis, Missouri. He is currently in his fourth year. He finished his memorization of the Holy Qurān at Darul Quran Foundation, St. Louis, at the age of 15.
He plans on finishing the ʻĀlimiyyah program as well as continuing his studies post-graduation inshā’Allāh.

Mawlana Mustafa Ali

Instructor

Mawlana Mustafa Ali was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. He completed his memorization of the Quran in 2016 from Furqaan Academy in Bolingbrook, Illinois. He then further pursued Islamic studies and obtained his ʿālimīyah degree from DarusSalam Seminary, where he successfully completed his studies in 2023. Alongside the ʿālimīyah program, he was granted ijāzah in the Qurʾān and its different modes of recitation.

Following his graduation, Mawlana Mustafa joined DarusSalam Seminary as a full-time Taḥfiẓ instructor. This role enables him to share his knowledge and profound devotion to the Quran, guiding students on their path to memorizing the Quran.

Mawlana Osama Rayyan

Instructor

Osama Rayan is a Takmīl student at DarusSalam. He is currently in his second year. He finished his memorization of the Holy Qurān and high school at FurQaan Academy, Bolingbrook, at the age of 17. 

He plans on finishing the ʻĀlimiyyah program as well as continuing his studies post-graduation inshā’Allāh.

Dr. Rafi Ali

Tadris Director, Instructor

Yaqub Biese

Gym Instructor
yaqub.biese@darussalamfoundation.org

Yaqub Biese is a dedicated educator with a passion for promoting physical fitness and wellness among young students. He holds an Associates Degree in Sociology and Anthropology and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree alongside taking classes of the Takmil program at DarusSalam Seminary.

. Br. Yaqub has a 200-hour certification in teaching Physical Education and has experience teaching at many youth camps. Additionally, he was a three-year varsity soccer captain in high school.

Harethah Alrousan

LAMP Instructor
harethah.alrousan@darussalamfoundation.org

A recent graduate from Elmhurst University, Br. Harethah holds a Bachelors in Math and Secondary Education. His prior teaching experience at Public Schools has equipped him with valuable insights. Having been born and raised within our DarusSalam community, Br. Harethah deeply understands and embodies the values we uphold. We are truly privileged to have him on board as an instructor.

If you wish to get in touch with him, feel free to reach out at harethah.alrousan@darussalamfoundation.org. He will be more than happy to assist you in any way he can.

Mawlana Osama Rayyan

Instructor

Osama Rayan is a Takmīl student at DarusSalam. He is currently in his second year. He finished his memorization of the Holy Qurān and high school at FurQaan Academy, Bolingbrook, at the age of 17. 

He plans on finishing the ʻĀlimiyyah program as well as continuing his studies post-graduation inshā’Allāh.

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