Al-Madina Institute

Shaykh Muhammad Bin Yahya Ninowy was born in Syria and began his study under his father, acquiring knowledge in many disciplines, including Aqeedah, Fiqh and Hadith, with numerous licenses to teach. He attended Al-Azhar University and also studied with prominent scholars in Syria, the Hijaz and North Africa. He is one of the leading scholars in North America and has been a core Al-Madina Institute instructor since its inception.

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui is one of the most well renowned scholars in North America and an instructor for Al-Madina Institute. Originally from Algeria, he is thoroughly versed in the Islamic sciences and holds a doctorate joined between the fields of physics and engineering. His expertise includes the disciplines of Tazkiyah and Fiqh, and he is best known for his enlightening retreats and seminars empowering Muslims on their spiritual quest.

Imam Mohammed Magid is originally from Sudan and studied at the hands of his father and other notable scholars, gaining ijazas in several disciplines. He serves as the vice president of ISNA and full time Imam of the ADAMS Center in northern Virginia.

Shaykh Mohsen Al’Najjar has traveled over the world taking knowledge from many great scholars of our time. A student of leading scholars in the Hijaz, he specializes in Shafii and Hanafi fiqh, among many other disciplines. He currently resides in the United Kingdom.

Shaykh Sadullah Khan is currently the Executive Director of Religious Affairs at the Islamic Center of Irvine, California. Originally from South Africa, he was a student leader active in the anti-apartheid struggle. Shaykh Khan has been a public speaker since the age of 12, a public reciter of Quran since age 6, a chanter of melodious odes in praise of the Prophet since 8, and an experienced teacher at colleges and universities in South Africa and the USA. He completed studies in Law at University of Durban, South Africa, Journalism (UK) and Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

Shaykha Zainab Alwani is a PhD in Islamic Studies. Her research interests have focused on Islamic studies (Fiqh & Usul al fiqh), and family and women’s issues. A few of her publications include: Al-Ghazali and his Methodology in Fiqh Legislation, Aisha’s Commentaries and Their Methodological Premises in Hadith Sciences, What Islam Says about Domestic Violence: A Guide for Helping Muslim Families, and others. Currently, she teaches Islamic and Arabic Studies along with the Culture of Middle East at Northern Virginia Community College and the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She also serves on the Fiqh Council of North America.

Shaykh Abdullah Bin Hamid Ali studied with multiple scholars and graduated from the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, with ijaza to teach the Islamic sciences. A native of Philadelphia, he has taught many classes and seminars, and has also translated several classical Islamic texts.

Imam Zaid Shakir was born in California and is amongst the most respected and influential Muslim scholars in North America. In addition to degrees in International Relations and Political Science, he has studied the Islamic sciences throughout the Muslim world. He has translated several Arabic books into English including “Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance”.

Khalid Yahya Blankinship is Director of Graduate Studies and a professor in the Religion Department at Temple University. In addition to Master’s Degrees in Islamic History from Cairo University and Teaching English as a Foreign Language from American University in Cairo, Dr. Blankinship holds a PhD in History from the University of Washington. He has lived and travelled widely in the Middle East and specializes in Muslim religious and political history, the influence of rhetoric on the interpretration of the Qur’an and its translation into English, and Islamic law, focusing on Maliki jurisprudence.

Ustadh Moutasem Atiya has been actively involved in the Metropolitan DC communities through classes, speaking engagements, and Friday khutbahs on a regular basis for the past 10 years. He has studied the Islamic sciences from three of the luminaries of our time, Shaykh Mohsen An-Najjar, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui, and Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy.