Shaykh Sulaiman Moola [may Allah preserve him] began studying the sacred sciences at an early age. After having completed the memorization of the Quran at the age of 14, for the next seven years he would go on to study Arabic [and all its related sciences becoming especially fluent in Arabic poetry], Tafsir, Hadith, Aqidah and Fiqh [specializing in the Hanafi School].

Having studied under senior ulama from South Africa and the Indian Subcontinent and receiving ijazah from them, he went on to teach at various Madaris in South Africa including Dar al-Uloom Zakariyya.

Imam Tahir Anwar is an American Muslim Imam (religious leader) who has been around Imams since the day he was born. Namely his father and grandfather (his first teachers), and his two brothers, who are also both Imams in California.

Born in London, Imam Tahir moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983 and made San Jose his home. Upon completing his religious studies in India, he has been serving as the Imam of one of the oldest masjids in the country, the Islamic Center of San Jose, since 2001. He is also the head of the Islamic Studies Department, and a teacher at Granada Islamic School in nearby Santa Clara, an institution in its 26th year.

Dubbed the “voice of a generation,” Boonaa Mohammed is a critically acclaimed award winning writer and performer with accolades including a playwright residency at Theatre Passe Muraille, a short story published in a Penguin Canada anthology called “Piece by Piece” and various slam poetry titles credits including winner of the 2007 CBC Poetry Face-Off “Best New Artist” award. As an Artist he has toured and traveled across the world and frequently conducts writing workshops and seminars, sharing his experience and expertise in social justice based story telling with mainly youth from all walks of life.  

Shaykh Zahir Mahmood was born in England and has gained licences to teach (Ijaazas) in many Islamic Sciences including Quran, Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Traditions (Hadith) of The Prophet (Peace be upon him) from various Shuyukh.

Following the completion of his formal state education at the age of 16, he enrolled at Dar al-Uloom al-Arabiyya al-Islamiyya, Bury, where he initiated his studies of the Alimiya course. Thereafter, he studied 3 years in the prestigious seat of learning al-Jamia al-Islamiyya, Karachi, Pakistan.

Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari is a young traditionally trained scholar who studied in different parts of the world. Born in Leicester, UK and raised under the guidance of his illustrious father, Shaykh Mawlana Adam, he started learning about Islam from a very young age and memorized the Qur’an at a very tender age of nine. He initially studied the Arabic Language and various other traditional Islamic Sciences at Darul Uloom, Bury, UK, under many Shaykhs notably, Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Motala (may Allah preserve him) and received authorizations (ijazas) in various books including the six major books of Hadith. He also took part in a one year course of specialization in the science of giving legal verdicts (Iftaa).

Shaykh Bilal Ali Ansari was born and raised in Chicago, IL. After studying two years of computer engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL, his desire for Islamic knowledge drove him to the Indian subcontinent, where he decided to pursue an education in Islamic studies.

Shaykh Bilal started his Islamic studies at Jami‘a al-Hasanayn in Faisalabad, Pakistan under the auspices of the famous orator and da‘i of Islam, Mawlana Tariq Jameel. There, he spent nearly four years in the company and service of his beloved and talented teacher, Shaykh Ramzi al-Habib al-Tunisi al-Maliki.

Dr. Munir El-Kassem was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1955. He was educated at Al-Maqasid Islamic Institute where the Foundation of his Islamic knowledge was established. He was the top student to be admitted in the Premedicine program at the American University of Beirut. Following his migration to Canada, he continued his studies at the University of Western Ontario earning a Masters Degree in Medical Genetics thereafter joining the University of Toronto to graduate as a dental surgeon in 1986. After spending 15 years in general practice, he joined the University of Western Ontario as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

Shaykh Yusuf Badat was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He has studied under some great scholars, receiving several formal authorizations in the sacred sciences with top honors. His commitment to the sacred sciences began early in his life when Allah blessed him with the ability, by age 14, to complete the memorization of the Holy Quran. He completed a rigorous 6-year Alim course at Darul Uloom Zakariya, South Africa where he achieved his masters in the Islamic sciences, which included but was not limited to, language, exegesis (tafseer) and jurisprudence (fiqh). He earned authorizations in Hadith under the Grand Mufti of South Africa- Shaykh Radha-ul-Haq. Shaykh Yusuf Badat is an Ontario registered minister of religion & licensed marriage officer. He also holds a diploma in Network Administration from the Toronto School of Business.

Standup & Live Appearances

Being in high demand, Ali has been traveling the world doing stand-up to a wide range of Muslim and non-Muslim audiences. He has spent the past two years traveling to over 30 cities and has performed all over the US, UK and Canada. Performing for audiences as large as 37,000 and for all ages including youth as young as nine, Ali has received rave reviews in the NY Times, USA Today and the LA Times as well as been featured in seven episodes of Direct TV's "The Fizz News."

Talib al-Habib is a vocalist, teacher, author and medical doctor. He was born in London and grew up in Manchester, before emigrating to South Africa with his family for a ten year stay. It was here that he met his spiritual guide, Shah Ghulam Muhyi ad-Din Kazi, and began traversing the path of traditional Islam - the methodology of uniting the practical, intellectual and experiential facets of religion - under his instruction. He later returned to the UK in early 2002. All his nasheeds are written with vocal harmonies and daff percussion only. His distinctive style is influenced by the mystical poetry of the Chishti spiritual order, as well as his ten year childhood association with the Manchester Boy’s Choir, where he received vocal and technical training. He began composing spiritual poetry and songs at the age of sixteen, and has continued to do so ever since.