
Imam Daud Haqq
Imam Daud Haqq, originally from Barbados, is a respected Islamic scholar and community leader. A graduate of the University of Madinah, he has lectured on religion and human development across the Caribbean and served as an imam and advisor in various communities. Now based in Newark, New Jersey, he is the imam of NIA Masjid & Community Center, President of Muslim Outreach for Anti-Violence (MOAV), and an active member of several leadership councils. renowned speaker and counselor, Imam Haqq continues to inspire and guide communities.
Sr. Sumara Khan
Sumara Khan is the cofounder of the Quran Literacy Institute and an Islamic studies and Arabic teacher in NJ. She graduated first in her class from the Abū Nūr Institute in Damascus and holds a Master’s in Uṣūl al-Dīn from the American University for Islamic Sciences. Sr. Sumara has memorized the Qur’an, receiving Ijāzah from Shaykh Waleed Edrees al-Meneese, and holds Ijāzah in Quranic recitations and classical texts from several renowned scholars. She is also the founder of Iman Roots, a women’s Islamic education forum, and directs the Sisters Ḥifdh Program at the Quran Literacy Institute.


Chaplain Khalid Latif
Imam Khalid Latif is the University Chaplain and Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, where he made history as the first Muslim chaplain in 2005. A leader in interfaith dialogue, he has worked alongside figures like Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama, and has raised millions for humanitarian causes worldwide. Imam Latif co-founded Honest Chops, NYC’s first all-natural halal butcher, and Pillars of Peace, a nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence, particularly within the Muslim community. He is a recognized global leader, featured in major media outlets and honored with numerous awards, including an Honorary Doctorate of Theology. Through his work, he fosters inclusivity, social justice, and the celebration of young American Muslim identities.
Dr. Abu Zayd
Dr. Abu Zayd is the founder and director of the Quran Literacy Institute. He holds degrees in Islamic Studies, including a Bachelor’s from the School of Islamic and Arabic Studies (American Open University) and a Master’s from the Islamic University of Minnesota. He also holds a Diploma in Classical Islamic Texts from Cambridge Islamic College and an Advanced License in Islamic Scholarship (Shahādah al-ʿĀlimiyyah) from Al-Salam Institute, UK. With Ijazah in ten modes of Quranic recitation and expertise in hadith and classical texts, his work focuses on bridging traditional scholarship with contemporary education, fostering Muslim unity, and promoting tolerance.


Sr. Eman El-Badawi
Eman El-Badawi, a Rutgers University graduate and mother of six, runs a family sheep farm in Cranbury, NJ. With roots in Egypt, Bangladesh, and India, she speaks four languages. She is the Outreach Director for the Islamic Network Group (ING) and actively participates in interfaith initiatives, including the Sisterhood of Salam Shalom and local food insecurity efforts. For seven years, she has supported refugees, particularly Afghan military families. In her community, she is involved in wellness, library, and planning initiatives. In 2022, she became Cranbury’s first Muslim Township Committee member, later making history as NJ’s first Muslim Mayor in Hijab in 2024. For 2025, she serves as Deputy Mayor.
Imam Jawad Ahmed
Imam Jawad Ahmed is a highly respected Islamic scholar and community leader, holding a Bachelors (Honors) degree in Usool-uddin from the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan, a B.Sc. in Physical Sciences from the University of Maryland, and a certification in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University in Cairo. With over 20 years of experience, he has served as an Imam, Director of Religious Studies at Al-Ghazaly Islamic High School, and is a founding member of the National Dawah Organization 1-877-WhyIslam, where he has facilitated over 200 Shahadahs. A pioneer murabbi of ICNA’s Young Muslims organization since 2001, Imam Jawad is currently the Religious Director at the Muslim Community of New Jersey in Fords and Masjid Wali in Edison, NJ, where he continues to lead khutbahs and lectures, inspiring and educating the community


Mayor Khairullah
Mohamed T. Khairullah, Mayor of Prospect Park, NJ, has dedicated his life to public service, civic engagement, and humanitarian efforts. Fleeing Syria in 1980, he became a U.S. citizen in 2000 and was elected to office a year later. After serving as Councilman, he was unanimously chosen as Mayor in 2005 and has been re-elected for five consecutive terms. With a background in community activism, Khairullah has led initiatives to improve public safety, infrastructure, and local economic development. He’s also a champion for refugees, having worked on relief efforts in Syria, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, and continues to collaborate with nonprofits to support resettlement and aid. A passionate advocate for democracy, he mentors youth and encourages civic engagement.
Dr. Suzy Ismail
Dr. Suzy Ismail is the Founding Director of Cornerstone, a nonprofit focused on faith-based communication interventions. She holds advanced degrees in Communication and Human Services, including a PhD in Family Studies & Intervention Strategies. A seasoned author and speaker, Dr. Ismail specializes in empowering women, youth, and vulnerable populations through workshops, lectures, and training programs. She has served as a Visiting Professor in Communication at Rutgers and DeVry University for over a decade, with research and presentations on the intersection of education, faith, communication, and culture.


Imam Safwan Eid
Imam Safwan Eid, Director of Religious Affairs & Youth Development at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, is a distinguished Islamic scholar and community leader committed to fostering spiritual growth, interfaith dialogue, and youth development. With a strong academic foundation—including degrees in Economics, Human Rights, and Islamic Studies—his expertise spans Quranic exegesis, Islamic law, mental health counseling, and rational theology, enriched by mentorships with renowned scholars. His leadership experience across various Islamic institutions, including the Islamic Institute of Boston and the Islamic Center of Saginaw, reflects his dedication to building knowledgeable, inclusive, and service-oriented communities.

Sr. Fatima Abbasi
Sr. Fatima Abbasi is a teacher, former principal, mother of 2, Special needs mom and founder of 2 businesses, Edchievement (an educational consultancy) & Chai Pearls (a chai confection company). She grew up in NJ, has a Masters in Education from Fordham University, and has completed a post graduate credential in School Leadership & Administration. She is a proud YM alumna, having attended her first halaqa in YM Jersey City at the age of 12. She later went on to serve on the National Shura. In recent years, she has worked as a Coordinator for the ICPC’s Clifton Masjid and Supervisor for MYCC Summer Camp in North Jersey. During her free time, she enjoys a good game night & has a passion for problem solving and community development.
Chaplain Kaiser Aslam
Chaplain Kaiser Aslam is the Muslim Chaplain at Rutgers University and holds a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies & Muslim-Christian Relations from Hartford Seminary. He has served as Chaplain at Hartford Hospital and as a youth director at several Islamic centers. Formerly the National Coordinator for Young Muslims, North America’s largest Muslim youth group, he is a public speaker on Islam, Muslim youth, interfaith work, and culture. In his free time, he enjoys exploring popular culture, reading scientific journals, comics, and nature.
