About Us

Bio

Mufti Ibrahim Kureshi was born in Toronto, Canada where he completed his secular studies. In 1987, he began his Islamic education in Cornwall, Ontario by starting the Hifdh of the Qur'an. Soon after, he moved to India to complete his Hifdh in 1992 Sufi Baagh, Surat. He then enrolled in the Alim program in Jamiah Al-Uloom Al-Islamia in Dhabel, Gujarat. In Dhabel, he studied Qira'at, Qur'anic sciences, Hadith, Hanafi fiqh, Usul-ul-fiqh, Arabic grammar and etymology under the guidance of some of the most prominent Islamic scholars in India, graduating in 2001. He further completed Iftaa in 2002 under the auspices of Mufti Saeed Motara Sahib at Madrasah Arabia Islamia in Azaadville, South Africa. He then taught the Alim course program in Ajax, Ontario for 7 years, along with privately teaching Alim course subjects to some of his students privately. He formally established Al Khalil Academy in 2012, after seeing the need for an institution which reconnected the Huffadh of GTA with the Qur'an. He also serves as the Imam of Masjid Noor in Toronto. Mufti Ibrahim presently teaches, counsels, issues fatwas and delivers lectures in various Islamic institutions around Toronto and abroad.

Bio

Mufti Abdullah Mangera grew up in Toronto, Canada. His journey to pursue higher Islamic knowledge began in the late 80's and the early 90's, traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana where he began his Hifz ul Quran. After which he traveled to Dewsbury, UK, and finally to Gujrat, India where he completed his studies in Jamiah Islamiyah Taleemud Deen, Dabhel, graduating from the aalimiyah and iftaa programs. He further acquired training in Qadha at Imaarate Shariyyah, Patna. He has served as an Imam and teacher at various masaajid and madaaris in the GTA.

Bio

Mawlana Mushtaq Shaikh was born and raised in Toronto and is of South Asian heritage. He travelled to the United Kingdom in the early 1990s to pursue advanced Islamic education at the Institute of Islamic Education in Dewsbury. In 1999, by the grace of Allah, he graduated from the institution’s rigorous eight-year Alimiyyah program, where he studied the core Islamic sciences, including Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir), the six canonical collections of hadith with ijazah (authorization), and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Mawlana Mushtaq remains committed to lifelong learning and professional development. He has completed extensive training in Islamic counselling, family and marital support, mental health, and contemporary social issues. His studies include Islamic Marriage Counselling, Islamic Psychology and Counselling, Intro. to Islamic Addiction Counselling, LGBT and Relationships & Sex Ed., and The Fiqh of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Counselling through Al Balagh Academy; Crisis in Faith: Dealing with Controversial Issues in Islam by Whitethread Institute; Levels 1 & 2 of the Gottman Method Couples Therapy; Mental Health First Response Training from Khalil Center; Intro. to Human Trafficking from CAMH; and specialized courses in domestic violence response, and fiqh of social media ethics, Muslim minority, gynecology, family planning, and related issues. Since early 2002, Mawlana Mushtaq has served as Imam and Khateeb of Masjid Bilal Muslim Association in Scarborough, where he provides religious leadership, delivers sermons, conducts halaqahs, and offers Islamic Counselling to individuals, couples, youth, and families. He also volunteers with the Nikaḥ Annulment Department of the Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians and previously served as a Second Line of Contact volunteer with Naseeha Youth Helpline.

Bio

Mawlana Hasan was born in Bangladesh and came to Canada in his infancy. He was raised in Ottawa and thereafter, Toronto. He completed Hifdh at the age of 10 (Masjid Taqwa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) in 2009. He subsequently enrolled into the ʿĀlim Program at Al Rashid Islamic Institute (Cornwall, Ontario, Canada). At the Institute, Mawlana Hasan completed a formal ʿĀlimiyyah Degree, graduating with Honors in 2017. After completing his hifz and ʿālimiyyah in 2017, Mawlana Hasan spent 1 year overseas in Tabligh. Upon his return in 2018, he joined Al Khalil Academy and has been serving as a teacher and administrator since November 2018. In this role, he has taught books in several subjects, including: Sarf, Nahw, Balāghah, ‘Aqeedah, Mantiq, Usul al-Fiqh, Fiqh, Hadith, and Tafsir. Mawlana Hasan has also served as an Imam for several years in various masajid across Canada and U.S.A., such as Islamic Society of Markham, Kelowna Islamic Center and American Islamic Center of Mobile. Furthermore, Mawlana Hasan earned a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering with Honors from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2024. He has worked as an engineer for several years in several companies, including Toronto Hydro, IESO and Util-Assist.

Bio

Mohammed Hassan Ali began his Islamic studies after completing high school by enrolling at Darul Uloom Dewsbury, UK. He then travelled to India, Dabhel to study at Jamia Islamia Ta'leemuddin, where he pursued studies in ʿĀlimiyyah and Qirāʾah under the supervision of late Qari al-Muqri Aḥmadullāh ibn Maʿārifullāh al-Karīm al-Balghalpūrī. Thereafter, he continued his studies at Jamiatul Ilm Wal Huda Blackburn, where he completed a formal ʿĀlimiyyah Degree in 2002. During his studies in Blackburn, he simultaneously pursued Information Technology studies and earned a BA in IT from University of Manchester. He is also the author of Al-Durar Al-Hasaniyah, a commentary on the classical tajwīd text Al-Jazariyyah.

Bio

Mawlana Naqash Ahmed completed the ʿĀlimiyyah program at Al-Khalil Academy as part of its second graduating cohort. Since September 2020, he has served as a faculty member at the institute, teaching a range of Islamic sciences including Fiqh, Uṣūl al-Fiqh, Qurʾān, Naḥw, Ṣarf, and ʿAqīdah.

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Mawlana Ebrahim is a Toronto-born and raised Islamic scholar and Registered Social Worker. His pursuit of advanced Islamic education began in 2011 with informal studies under Mufti Ibrahim Kureshi, transitioning into formal studies with the launch of Al Khalil Academy. As one of the founding team members of the academy, Mawlana Ebrahim served as the Head of Registrarial Services from its inception until 2020, the same year he graduated from the institution's Alimiyyah program. Upon graduation, he joined the academy's faculty as a teacher. Alongside his theological training, he earned a Bachelor of Social Work from York University. He currently serves the Toronto community as a Registered Social Worker, primarily supporting victims of crime."

Bio

Mufti Abid Hassan was born in Bangladesh and came to Canada at the age of four, where he was raised in Toronto’s Regent Park community. He memorized the Quran at the age of 12 and shortly thereafter enrolled at Al-Rashid Islamic Institute near Cornwall, Ontario. He spent nine years at this renowned institution, completing a two-year intensive Quran review program followed by the seven-year Alimiyyah program. After graduating in 2019, Mufti Abid Hassan traveled to South Africa to further specialize in the field of Islamic jurisprudence and legal verdicts (Iftaa). He completed a two-year Iftaa specialization at Darul Uloom Zakariyya under the guidance of Mufti Rada ul-Haq, earning formal authorization in Islamic jurisprudence (Ifta).

Bio

Born in 1998 in toronto , Mufti Ma’az Jahir completed his Hifz of the Qur’an at Madinatul Uloom Academy in 2009 at the age of 11. He began his Alim studies in 2013 at Darul Uloom Canada and later completed the Alimiyyah program in 2019 at Darul Uloom Fiji. He further specialized in Islamic jurisprudence, completing his Ifta in 2022. Since then, he has been actively engaged in teaching and serving the community through Islamic education.

Bio

Mawlana Saad Mahmood graduated from the eight-year ʿĀlimiyyah program at Al Khalil Academy in 2024, where he studied the core Islamic sciences under the guidance of senior scholars. Alongside his Islamic studies, he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Master of Information Management Systems from Harvard University. Professionally, he has worked in engineering, planning, and project leadership roles for over a decade. His unique combination of traditional Islamic scholarship and modern professional experience enables him to present Islamic teachings in a manner that is both authentic and relatable to contemporary audiences. He currently serves as a teacher and contributor to various educational and publication initiatives at Al Khalil Academy.

Bio

Mawlānā Ahmad Wardak was born and raised in Scarborough. He completed the memorization of the Qurʾān at the age of fourteen. He then completed the ʿĀlimiyyah degree at Darul Uloom Azaadville in South Africa in 2020 and went on to specialize in the field of Ḥadīth. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminology from Toronto Metropolitan University. He serves as the Religious Director at Subhan Islamic Association in Ajax. He is also the founder and lead instructor at Fitrah Academy, an instructor in the ʿĀlimiyyah program at Al Khalil Academy, and a student clinician at Ruh Care. Furthermore, he is currently pursuing advanced studies in the four-year Iftāʾ program at As-Suffa Institute, a three-year program in Islamic theology through Kalam 3.0 at Basira Education, and a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto. He is on track to become a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO.

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Mawlana Yakub Desai was born and raised in Toronto. He completed the memorization of the Qurʾān at the age of 11 and completed a formal ʿĀlimiyyah Degree at Darul Uloom Canada at the age of 19. After completing his hifz and ʿālimiyyah, Mawlana began to pursue a secular education in information technology alongside teaching and doing imamat at various institutes in the Greater Toronto Area.

Bio

Born and raised in Toronto, Ustadhah Raabia graduated from the alimiyyah program at Ashraful Uloom in Toronto in 2015. She later completed a Bachelor of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has taught at various Islamic institutes across the GTA and is passionate about creating a nurturing learning environment for her students. Alongside teaching, she continues to study different Islamic subjects.

Bio

Born and raised in Birmingham, UK, Ustadha Maimoonah began her journey in Islamic studies at Green Oak Academy Madrasah, where she enrolled in the seven-year ʿĀlimiyyah Program. During her studies, she trained in the core Islamic sciences and by the will of Allah swt, she graduated in 2014. Among her most notable teachers was the late Mufti Abu Zafar (raḥimahullāh), a direct student of Qārī Muḥammad Ṭayyib, former rector of Dārul ʿUlūm Deoband. She also studied under various teachers connected to Mawlānā Salim Dhorat. After completing her ʿĀlimiyyah, she pursued advanced specialization (Takhassus) in Fiqh, while also teaching at Green Oak Academy for five years. Upon relocating to Canada in 2020, she continued her teaching at Al Khalil Academy, where she teaches various Islamic sciences including Qurʾān, fiqh, uṣūl al-fiqh and ʿaqīdah. She is also actively involved in maktab education for children. Alongside her teaching and Islamic work, she runs a graphic design studio.

Bio

Born and raised in Toronto, Ustadhah Amina graduated from the alimiyyah program at Ashraful Uloom in Toronto in 2015. She later completed a Bachelor of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2025. She has taught various subjects at Al Khalil since 2021.

Bio

Ustadha Maria completed her Alimiyyah course from Ashraful Uloom in Toronto in 2015. She has been teaching at Masjid Al Jannah for over 10 years and has been leading the high school evening madrassah class there for the past 5 years. She has also taught Qur’an and Islamic Studies in various Islamic schools and currently teaches at Al Khalil while completing her secular studies.

Bio

Alimah Sarah Ahmed was raised in Toronto, Canada. She recently graduated from the rigorous seven year ‘Ālimiyyah program at Al Khalil Academy and has obtained ijāzah in the six canonical books of Hadith. Alongside her ‘Alimiyyah studies, she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health from the University of Toronto in 2021. She is passionate about mental health and Islamic integrated therapy and aims to help bridge the gap between spiritual care and psychotherapy. She currently teaches Qur’ān, Fiqh and other primary subjects at Al-Khalil Academy whilst furthering her Islamic and Secular education.

Bio

"Umm Muhammad was born in Jhelum, Pakistan and grew up in Toronto, Canada. After completing her high school diploma at Madrasatul Banaat al-Muslimaat (Etobicoke), she earned her B.Sc. (Biomedical Science) in 2014 from York University followed by her Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering) in 2019 from University of Toronto. Being passionate about Islamic heritage and the Arabic sciences, she commenced her 'Ālimiyyah Degree online at Emahad, completing it on-site at Al-Khalil Academy in 2024, under the auspicious tutelage of Mufti Ibrahim Kureshi, Mufti Tayyab Patel and Mufti Abdullah Mangera (حفظهم الله). She continues to pursue her Iftā' specialization at Al-Khalil Academy, under the esteemed tutelage of Mufti Muhammad Chotia (حفظه الله) of Sirajul Uloom Institute, Barbados. Concurrently, she is also pursuing her Qirā'ah specialization at Al-Fatihah Learning Academy. She is an avid homeschooler and a mother of fantastic five, whom she prays will become beacons of light for generations to come.

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Bint Abdul Jabbar was born and raised in Punjab, Pakistan. After finishing her college in secular studies she enrolled in alimah course in Jamia Farooqia Lilbinaat and completed a tajweed course. She completed her aalimah course and developed a perspective about Islam that not only catered to soul but for her determined the way of life as well. She developed a strong connection with deen, after finishing aalimiyyah in 2022, with mercy of Allah she was given the chance to teach as well. After moving to Canada, through her deeply rooted islamic upbringing, along with her longing for a soulful environment, Allah graced her with an opportunity to teach at Al Khalil.

Bio

Ustadha Rasma completed the seven year Alimiyyah program at Al Khalil Academy, graduating in 2024. Alongside her alimiyyah studies, she pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, where she graduated in 2023 with a double major in Neuroscience and Human Biology. She currently teaches at Al Khalil Academy and has been teaching Islamic sciences to youth for nearly 10 years. She is actively involved in organizing masjid programs and community events for Muslim women and youth. Alongside her teaching and community involvement, she is currently pursuing a career in pharmacy while continuing her studies and educational work.

Bio

Ustadha Bint Mohamed completed her formal 'Ālimiyyah studies at Al-Khalil Academy. Thereafter, she was honoured with the opportunity to teach at the institute.