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Sheikh Yaseen Shaikh was born in 1982 to parents of Indian origin in Hackney, London, UK where he lived for much of his life. He obtained all of his religious education including memorisation of the entire Quranic text, Alimiyyah Studies (Rigorous Islamic Theology Program), and certification in issuing Fatwa (religious verdicts), from traditional seminaries in London. He completed a diploma and M.A in Islamic Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London. All of his education was received in London, UK.
Sheikh Yaseen has served as an Imam since 2002 in Stoke Newington, London, where he was also Head of Islamic Studies at a private school, Tawhid Secondary School. As an Imam, Sheikh Yaseen was involved with the spiritual activities of the Mosque, as well as outreach and civic activities, diversity training and working with various organizations on an advisory level.
In 2006, Sheikh Yaseen moved to the USA to serve at a Mosque in Dallas, Texas. Later he joined the Muslim Community in Baltimore, Maryland as Resident Scholar from 2013-2017.
As an Imam in the USA, Sheikh Yaseen engaged in spiritual and educational activities, catering to a wide range of members of the community. He was deeply engaged in multi faith dialogue and implemented initiatives to enhance the work and profile of the Muslim Community in the wider society. He also offered pastoral care and counselling to members of the Community.
In 2018, Sheikh Yaseen returned to the UK to be closer to his family. He served as an Imam and bereavement counselor at the largest and only dedicated Muslim Cemetery in the UK, Gardens of Peace. Here he performed the end of life rituals, offered bereavement counselling and support, and provided training on Muslim end of life matters to a variety of institutions.
Sheikh Yaseen very recently moved back to the Baltimore area with his wife and three daughters. He is an avid soccer fan and enjoys time with family and friends.
Sheikh Saad Baig serves as Head of School with the purview of Al-Rahmah School (ARS) and the Al-Rahmah Nursery (ARN). He joined ARS in 2018 as Director of Arabic, Islamic, and Quran Studies. Previously, he served as the Director of Religious Affairs for one of Illinois’ largest Muslim communities at the Islamic Center of the Quad-Cities.
He is a seasoned veteran providing leadership for religious-based organizations in areas of guidance, counseling, and academic instruction. Sheikh Saad has been a liaison to public schools on issues such as anxiety, trauma, depression, family and child issues, addiction, and transitioning migrant workers and their families to local communities. Sheikh Saad has established and promoted educational programs for adults and youth for more than a decade.
He is a chaplain, resident scholar, and assists with outreach for the Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB) with area churches and synagogues. Sheikh Saad completed his Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Augustana College and a Master’s in Mental Health from Western Illinois University.
In addition to his professional degrees, Sheikh Saad completed the seven-year Alim program at Darul Uloom Zakariyya University in South Africa in 2008.
Maryam Ismail is a student of the Islamic sciences and a Resident Scholar at ISB for the last few years.
Dr. Ra’id Awadallah received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1998. He joined Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the same year and he is currently a member of the principal professional staff. Over the last 23 years, he has led a team of researchers developing efficient numerical models for tropospheric propagation, electromagnetic scattering from randomly rough surfaces, radar cross-section of complex targets, pulsed propagation in complex urban structures, and characterization of thin-film metamaterials. Dr Awadallah is also an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins University Engineering Program for professionals where he teaches courses on basic and applied electromagnetism.
Prior and in parallel to his pursuit of the technical disciplines, Dr. Awadallah spent many years studying various Islamic disciplines such as Arabic Language, Tafseer, Fiqh and Hadeeth. He has been teaching these various Islamic disciplines, especially Arabic Language and Tafseer, at various masajid in the Baltimore area since 1998.