Meet Our Featured Speakers
Dr. Salah Al-Sawy
Dr. Salah Alsawy is an Egyptian-born scholar and jurist specializing in Islamic law. He currently serves as the President of Mishkah University and the Secretary General of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA).
Dr. Yasir Qadhi
Dr. Yasir Qadhi is a world-renowned Pakistani-American theologian, scholar, and intellectual. He is widely considered one of the most influential Muslim figures in the West, known for bridging traditional Islamic sciences with modern academic rigor. He currently serves as the Dean of The Islamic Seminary of America (TISA) and the Resident Scholar at the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) in Texas.
Sh. Omar Suleiman
Shaykh Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and an adjunct professor of Islamic Studies. He is internationally known for his lectures, writing, and advocacy on faith, service, and spiritual renewal.
Dr. Hatem Al-Haj
Dr. Hatem al-Haj is a distinguished scholar and the Dean of the Islamic Studies Department at Mishkah University. An integral part of the institution since its founding, he has served as a former dean and a core member of the Academic Committee, where he oversees curriculum development
Imam Siraj Wahhaj
Siraj Wahhaj is an influential African-American imam and the leader of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Brooklyn, New York. Born Jeffrey Kearse, he transitioned from the Nation of Islam to Sunni Islam in 1975 and later studied at Umm al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia. He is widely recognized for leading a successful anti-drug campaign in Bedford-Stuyvesant in 1988 and for becoming the first Muslim to deliver an invocation before the U.S. House of Representatives in 1991. A former vice-president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Sh. Waleed Basyouni
He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Islamic Sciences from Al-Imam Muhammad University, KSA; did his Masters in Islamic Theology, World Religions and Modern Religious Sects from Al-Imam Muhammad University; and acquired a Doctorate in Theology.
Shaykh Waleed has Ijaazahs in reciting the Holy Qur’an and in several books of Hadeeth, awarded by various scholars. He studied under great scholars of our time such as Shaykh Ibn Baz, Abdul-Razzaq Afify and others.
Pastor Bob Roberts Jr.
Dr. Bob Roberts Jr. is a renowned pastor, author, and bridge-builder dedicated to promoting religious freedom and civil engagement worldwide. As the founder of GlocalNet and the Institute of Global Engagement (IGE), he has spent over 30 years mobilizing the local church to use their professional skills for global and local transformation. Dr. Roberts is the Founding Global Pastor of Northwood Church in Texas and co-founder of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), an organization recognized by the White House for its grassroots work in building relationships across faith groups. He holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary and continues to be a featured voice in global forums on peacemaking and faith in the public square.
Sh. Main Al-Qudah
Dr. Main Alqudah holds a PhD in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University, American Open University in Virginia, an MA in Islamic Economics from Al Yarmook University in Jordan and a BA in Economics from Al Azhar University in Egypt. He is an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Finance with more than 18 years experience. Dr. Main is a national speaker about Islamic finance,
interest-bearing transactions, and Zakah. He is the President & Co-founder of Guidance College, Houston.
Pastor Troy Jackson
Dr. Troy Jackson is a Cincinnati-based pastor, author, and community organizer known for his work in racial and economic justice. He served as senior pastor of University Christian Church (UCC) for 19 years and co-founded Undivided, an organization focused on racial reconciliation. He holds a PhD in US history,
focusing on Martin Luther King, Jr
Rev. Gregory Edwards
Rev. Dr. Gregory James Edwards is a prominent American minister, community activist, and progressive politician who serves as the Executive Director of POWER Interfaith, Pennsylvania’s largest multi-faith organizing body dedicated to racial and economic justice. A graduate of Geneva College and Drew University, he earned his Doctorate in Ministry from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and founded the Resurrected Life Community Church in 2002. Dr. Edwards is a dedicated advocate for education and civil rights, having established the Resurrected Life Children’s Academy and the James Lawson Freedom School.
Imam Ayman Sulaiman
Imam Ayman Soliman, M.Div, Ph.D., is a Muslim Chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and a member of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America. With over 24 years of experience as an imam in Egypt and the U.S., he specializes in Islamic law, biomedical ethics, and interfaith work. He has previously served as a chaplain at
Northwestern University and within correctional institutions.
Br. Azhar Aziz
Azhar Azeez is the Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), a role he stepped into on January 1, 2026. With over 25 years of experience, including a previous term as ISNA President, he is a veteran leader in the Muslim nonprofit sector known for his expertise in operations, fundraising, and community engagement.
Dr. Abdulhakim Mohamed
DR. Mohamed is a lifelong advocate for Imams and Masajids in the US. He has been involved in establishing many Islamic Schools and Masjids as well as National Organizations in the US. Hosted radio and tv shows throughout the years. Dr. Mohamed is the Chairman of Global Imams and Scholars Council and the CEO of North American Imams Fellow.
Ustaad Assad Koshul
Adjunct Instructor, Boston Islamic Seminary A lifelong advocate for social justice, Assad has held leadership roles as the Treasurer for the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA) and WISER, and is the founder of Criterion Concepts LLC. He holds several premier
certifications, including CPA, CSM, CPTD, and is PROSCI certified in Change Management. At the Boston Islamic Seminary, he teaches Conscience, Opposition and Leadership, drawing on lessons from the Prophetic Seerah to empower the next generation of leaders.
Sh. Mutaaz Alabd
Mutazz Alabd is an Assistant Lecturer of Arabic and Islamic Studies and the Arabic Department Chair at Universal High School. He has a BA in English Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He also earned a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. In 2020, Mr. Alabd received the University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award!
Sh. Hassan Aly
Sheikh Hassan Mostafa Aly is the founder of the Qiam Institute and the former Imam and Director of Religious Affairs at The Mecca Center in Willowbrook, Illinois.A graduate of the prestigious
Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, Sheikh Aly holds a degree in Islamic Studies and Sharia. He also possesses Sanad (Ijazah) in both Qur’an and Hadith, with an unbroken chain of transmission
(isnad) reaching back to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Dr. Akram Kassab
Dr. Akram Kassab, born on November 25, 1970, is an Egyptian Islamic scholar specializing in Islamic thought and advocacy. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Da’wah from Al-Azhar University in 1992, followed by a Master’s degree in Usul al-Din from Wadi Al-Nil University in 2005, and a Ph.D. from Makkah Open University in 2010.
Sh. Waleed Maneese
Dr. Waleed was born in Alexandria, Egypt and is currently residing in Minnesota. Currently the shaykh is a senior member of the Permanent Fatwa Committee, of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA), vice president of the Islamic University of Minnesota, Member of the Educational Committee at the American Open University, Imam and president of the board of trustees of Dar-al-Farooq Islamic Center.
Sh. Mohammad Qatanani
Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Hasan Qatanani is the Imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC) in New Jersey, one of the largest Muslim communities in the United States. Born in Palestine and educated in Jordan, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Jurisprudence from the Jordanian University. Since migrating to the U.S. in 1996, Dr. Qatanani has become a prominent leader in interfaith dialogue, frequently speaking at churches and synagogues to promote mutual understanding. He is also a member of the Fiqh Council of North America and is widely respected for his community leadership.
Sh. Kifah Mustafa
Sheikh Kifah Mustapha is the Imam and Director of The Prayer Center of Orland Park and serves as the appointed representative for the Lebanese Ministry of Religious Affairs (Darul Fatwa) in the USA. A prominent leader in the Illinois Muslim community, he chairs the Illinois Council of Imams and Scholars and has held pastoral roles at the Mosque Foundation and the American Islamic College. Beyond his congregational leadership, he is a dedicated educator, youth mentor, and interfaith advocate, earning recognition such as the CAIR-Chicago Mobilizer Award for his commitment to community service and social transformation.
Imam Mohamed Haj Magid
Imam Mohamed Magid is a prominent Sudanese-American Islamic scholar and Executive Imam of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center in Sterling, Virginia, one of the largest U.S. mosques. A renowned leader in interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and human rights, he is the former President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and a co-founder of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network
Abdulahi Farah
Abdulahi Farah is a Minnesota-based Muslim community organizer and faith leader who serves as Lead Organizer at ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota, directing their Muslim Coalition of more than 40 mosques and Islamic institutions working for racial and economic justice in the state. A prominent figure in Minnesota’s East African and Muslim communities, he focuses on leadership development, grassroots organizing, and systems change, with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector.
He is also one of the faith leaders at Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, and serves on the board of Sakan Community Resource, where he supports affordable housing initiatives and faith-based financial solutions for local families. Farah is frequently involved in civic engagement campaigns, voter organizing, and educational programs that mobilize Muslims to advocate for their rights and build stronger, more equitable communities across Minnesota.
Mohamed Omar
Imam Mohamed Omar is the executive director and imam of Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, which serves a large East African refugee and Muslim community. A Somali refugee himself, he has become a prominent community organizer and co-founding leader of the Muslim Coalition within ISAIAH/Faith in Minnesota, mobilizing Muslims for civic engagement and social justice across the state.
Shaykh Yaser Birjas
Shaykh Yaser Birjas is the Resident Imam at Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Texas and a lead instructor at AlMaghrib Institute. A graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah, he is globally recognized for his expertise in marriage counseling and family dynamics, most notably through his famous “Fiqh of Love” seminar. Combining traditional Shariah scholarship with a background in adult education, he focuses on providing practical, faith-based solutions for the modern Muslim family.
Sh. Dr. Muhammed Nur Abdullah
Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah is a prominent Islamic scholar and former President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He is recognized for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence in
North America, often discussing topics like justice, forgiveness, and contemporary issues affecting the Muslim community.
Imam Tom Facchine
