Our Advisors
At the Islamic Council America, we have a specialist team of advisors from a variety of backgrounds. Additionally, the Council has a large board of advisors who sit regularly to finalize legal rulings and adjudications.
Our advisors have extensive experience in the Arab, South-Asian and American communities.
Shaykh Dr. Ali Ahmed
Shaykh Dr. Ali Ahmed has been active in the American Muslim community, from California to New York, since 2000. After receiving his B.Sc. in Biochemistry and working in the Biotech field for several years, he started travelling to various parts of the world to further his Islamic knowledge to better serve and help the Muslims in the West.
After studying for more than 10 years, Shaykh Ali obtained a Bachelors in Sharī’ah, Master’s in Fiqh & Uṣūl al-Fiqh with Summa Cum Laude, and a PhD in Islamic Judiciary (Qaḍā), with a special focus on Arbitration and Mediation in Muslim Family Law. He has authored books and several academic papers relating to Fatwa, Muslim Family Law, Islamic Judiciary system and its effects on the Muslims living in the West as minorities.
Currently, Shaykh Ali is a Resident Scholar & Advisor and part of several Islamic organizations in the US, UK and Malaysia providing guidance and advice on their EOS, VTOs and organizational structures.
Shaykh Farid Haibatan
Shaykh Farid Haibatan graduated in Electronic Systems Engineering and holds a bachelor’s in Engineering (B.eng) from the University of Essex. After graduation, he spent a number of years at the Islamic University in Madinah, where he studied the Arabic Language and other religious sciences.
Since his return from Madinah, he has been involved in Islamic Da’wah and has for many years taught the Arabic language and Islamic Studies. He has also translated Arabic works into the English Language.
As well as focusing on Family Law cases, he is part of the leadership team at the Council and heads its training department.
Shaykh Muzzammil Ahmad
Muzzammil Aḥmad currently serves as an Imam at the East London Mosque in London, UK, and as an Advisor with the Islamic Council at MRDF. A native of Bihar, India, he grew up in the United States where he started his Arabic and Islamic studies. He then graduated from Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow in 2017 and Al-Azhar University, Cairo in 2021. He completed his MA in Islamic Law at SOAS, University of London in 2022, writing his dissertation on Islamic criminal jurisprudence.
He has memorized the Qur’an and is traditionally licensed in the major works of various Islamic sciences. He also teaches at several institutions locally and online, while engaging in other research and translation projects. Beyond work, he is pursuing a PhD in Ḥanbalī studies at KU Leuven, Belgium, and completing his MA dissertation in legal theory (usul al-fiqh) at Al-Azhar.
Shaykh Dr. Sajid Ahmed Umar
Shaykh Dr. Sajid Ahmed Umar initially pursued a first degree in IT. He went on to successfully open an IT business. Alongside his contemporary studies, Shaykh Sajid was a student of a Qur'an academy till the age of 18. Subsequently, he turned his attention towards Islamic Studies.
He completed a 3-year University Diploma in Arabic language and Islamic Sciences at Imam Muhammed bin Saud Islamic University. He later attained a Bachelor’s degree in Sharī'ah and thereafter a Master’s degree in Judiciary (Qaḍā), with honours, from the Higher Institute for Judiciary Studies (Ma'had al-'āli li'l- Qaḍā). He trained as a judge and successfully completed a thesis on the topic of Liquidity Management using the famous Repurchase Agreement (REPO) contract, as well as its rulings and permitted alternatives.
He attained a PhD from the Higher Institute of Judiciary at Al-Imam University in Comparative Islamic Law and Judiciary, and his two-volume dissertation thesis was in relation to Sharī'ah solutions in the area of Financial Risk Management.
Shaykh Sajid has played an integral part in Islamic academic and project development worldwide.
He has authored several articles and dissertations in both Arabic and English pertaining to the various Islamic Sciences; is an Associate Professor at Knowledge International University, and a lecture with AlKauthar Institute and Sabeel, and is currently the chair of the Panel of Scholars at the Islamic Finance Advisory, and the Sharī'ah Governance Officer for the National Waqf Fund.
Islamic Council America - www.icamerica.org