Scholars of Tradition. Thinkers of Our Time.

Explore our diverse faculty across Islamic Sciences, Philosophy, Politics, Arabic, Film, Cinema, and Applied Knowledge.

Shaykh Mehmet Usta

Founding Visionary

A seasoned educator and visionary with over 20 years of experience, Shaykh Usta has studied under 11 prominent scholars and holds degrees in Islamic Studies, Computer Science, and an MBA. As the founder of both the i3 Institute and Al-Ezz Academy, his mission is clear: to restore Ummah’s intellectual legacy by uniting sacred knowledge with real-world application. He is widely recognised for integrating Islamic principles with leadership and organisational excellence. As a transformative leader, Sheikh Usta’s innovative approach integrates Islamic knowledge with practical business strategies to empower Muslims globally. His holistic and evidence-based methods aim to address contemporary challenges and foster a united future for the Ummah.

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Department of Islamic Studies

Ust. Khaled Muhammad

Community Leadership

Khaled Muhammad is an Islamic activist and educator with 20 years of experience in Islamic movements. A software engineer for 15 years, he blends technical expertise with a commitment to nurturing a new generation of Muslims. His work focuses on building strong Islamic character and encouraging active, values-rooted engagement in both the Ummah and wider society.

Sh. Mehmet Usta

Islamic Studies Diploma

Shaykh Usta is a seasoned educator and visionary with over 20 years of experience, holding degrees in Islamic Studies, Computer Science, and an MBA. Founder of i3 Institute and Al-Ezz Academy, he combines Islamic knowledge with real-world application, empowering Muslims globally through leadership, innovation, and holistic education.

Sh. Abu Mustafa

Instructor | The Leadership Edge

With a BSc in Biochemistry, an MBA (Accounting), and a CPA designation, Shaykh Abu Mustafa also holds a Bachelor’s in Shariah from Mishkah University. His course, “The Leadership Edge”, prepares Muslim professionals to lead with prophetic values.

Ust. Adnan Khan

Instructor | Tazkiyyah

A multidisciplinary educator currently pursuing a BSc in Islamic Studies (Mishkah University) and MSc in Psychology & Islamic Counselling (IOU), Ustadh Adnan focuses on personal development and the Islamic worldview. He teaches Tazkiyyah, blending inner reform with outward action.

Ust. Ahmad Wahaj Yasin

Instructor | History of Legislation

With dual academic roots in biomedical science and Islamic education, Ustadh Wahaj is completing a BA in Hanafi Fiqh at WISE University while also holding degrees from Al-Azhar University and the University of Bath. He teaches History of Legislation and brings nuanced historical and legal depth to the classroom.

Sh. Sebghatollah Rasoul

Senior Qari & Tajweed Instructor

With more than 30 years of experience teaching Qur’an in Canada, Shaykh Rasoul holds multiple Ijazahs across various qira’at. His expertise in Tajweed and Qur’anic recitation has cultivated a generation of accurate, reverent Qur’an reciters.

Sh. Tarek Abu Sarhan

Instructor | Tafsir & Qur’anic Sciences

Currently completing a PhD in Tafsir at An-Najah National University, Shaykh Tarek also holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Tafsir and a Bachelor’s in Islamic Studies from Al-Kassemy Academy. He integrates a strong educational foundation with didactic clarity in Qur’anic Sciences.

Dr. Shaykh Alaa’ Halawa

Instructor | Fiqh & Usul al-Fiqh

Dr. Halawa holds a Bachelor’s in Fiqh and Sharia, a Master’s in Sharia Judiciary from Hebron University, and a Doctorate in Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh from the University of Malaya. He is also certified in the Tajweed. His combination of academic rigour and passion for judicial scholarship equips future jurists and legal scholars with advanced tools in Islamic law.

Dr. Shaykh Samir Matar

Senior Instructor | Fiqh, Aqeedah, and Islamic History

Dr. Matar is a graduate of Al-Azhar University, where he earned his PhD. He formerly served as Imam and Khatib at the esteemed Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. Renowned for his depth in Islamic legal theory and spiritual leadership, his sermons have moved and educated global audiences for decades. He brings senior-level expertise and mentorship to students pursuing depth in Aqeedah and Fiqh.

Imam Hassan Abdulrahman

Instructor | Tajweed & Qur’an Memorisation

Imam Hassan Abdulrahman is a Qur’an educator and institution builder based in Saskatoon, Canada. He holds multiple ijazat in Qiraʾat and is completing full certification in all ten, along with Hadith training. With over 15 years of experience, he has mentored youth, founded madrasah programs serving 200+ students, and currently teaches at i3 Institute while establishing a Qur’an Institute to train the next generation of Qur’an-centered leaders.

Department of Philosophy, Political Science and Economics(PPE)

Dr. Amine Ayad

Instructor | Strategy, Systems, and Research Methodology

Dr. Amine Ayad is a Scholar-Practitioner and business leader with extensive experience in strategy and process improvement. Fluent in multiple languages, Dr. Ayad combines his executive expertise with scholarly research to develop practical management theories. His work includes numerous journal papers and books, with a focus on action research and its application in management. He earned his PhD in management from Colorado Technical University and graduated as a Civil Engineer from Oklahoma State University. As a scholar-practitioner, he fuses Islamic leadership principles with systems thinking, training students in strategic application.

Ust. Abdullah Al Andalusi

Instructor | Western Philosophies I

Abdullah al Andalusi is an international speaker and intellectual activist specializing in Islamic thought and contemporary issues. As Head of the Department of Occidentology at The Quran Institute and co-founder of The Muslim Debate Initiative, he engages in rational argumentation to promote Islamic beliefs and solutions for modern challenges.

His expertise includes Islamic theology, comparative religion, and critiques of secularism. Abdullah has appeared on major media platforms and authored numerous articles, fostering critical dialogue and understanding within the Muslim community.

Ust. Joel Trono-Doerkson

Instructor

Joel holds a BA and MA in History from the University of Winnipeg and Manitoba, specialising in pre-colonial Algerian modernity.

A convert to Islam since 2008, he has read over 1,300 books and currently works at the Winnipeg Public Library. His teaching explores colonialism, reform, and how history shapes Muslim identity, empowering students to reconnect revelation with reality.

Ust. Ali Harfouch

Instructor

Ali S. Harfouch, an analyst and critic based in Beirut, specializes in geopolitics and Islamic thought. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut and has authored numerous insightful articles on Islamic thought and politics, contributing significantly to the academic discourse in these fields.

Sh. Mustafa Mohamed

Instructor | Introduction to Politics

Ustadh Mustafa Mohamed brings a unique blend of deep Islamic scholarship, decades of teaching experience, and professional leadership to our faculty. Having studied Islam and politics with esteemed scholars from Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan, he combines traditional learning with a keen understanding of contemporary issues.

With over 25 years dedicated to teaching Islam and serving communities, Ustadh Mustafa has inspired countless students through his knowledge, mentorship, and commitment to holistic education. Alongside his Islamic work, he has also built a successful career as a corporate engineering manager, allowing him to bridge faith, ethics, and modern professional life seamlessly.

Department of Arabic Studies

Ust. Akhtar Hussain

Qur’anic Arabic

Akhtar Hussain is an academic and educator with over 15 years of university-level teaching experience in Computer Science across various countries. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to teaching, mentoring, and helping students develop strong academic foundations.

Alongside his professional work in higher education, he has a deep interest in teaching the language of the Qur’an. For the past five years, he has helped learners build the essential tools needed to understand Qur’anic Arabic. His special focus is on students who can read the Qur’an but lack an Arabic background and cannot yet understand its meaning directly.

His teaching approach is clear, interactive, and practical, aiming to make Qur’anic Arabic accessible and meaningful for learners from all backgrounds.

Ust. Aghyad Alshawaf

Instructor | Classical Arabic & Qur’anic Grammar

Ustadh Aghyad, a native Arabic literature graduate, has had a lifelong passion for the Arabic language, becoming a renowned poet in Syria. Since moving to Canada, he has taught Arabic at various levels for 15 years and holds an Ijazah in i’rab of the Qur’an.

Ust. Akhtar Hussain

Qur’anic Arabic

Akhtar Hussain is an academic and educator with over 15 years of university-level teaching experience in Computer Science across various countries. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to teaching, mentoring, and helping students develop strong academic foundations.

Alongside his professional work in higher education, he has a deep interest in teaching the language of the Qur’an. For the past five years, he has helped learners build the essential tools needed to understand Qur’anic Arabic. His special focus is on students who can read the Qur’an but lack an Arabic background and cannot yet understand its meaning directly.

His teaching approach is clear, interactive, and practical, aiming to make Qur’anic Arabic accessible and meaningful for learners from all backgrounds.

Ust. Aghyad Alshawaf

Instructor | Classical Arabic & Qur’anic Grammar

Ustadh Aghyad, a native Arabic literature graduate, has had a lifelong passion for the Arabic language, becoming a renowned poet in Syria. Since moving to Canada, he has taught Arabic at various levels for 15 years and holds an Ijazah in i’rab of the Qur’an.

Department of Film & Cinema Studies

Dr. Yasser Shahin

Instructor | Intro to Film

Dr Yasser Shahin is a professor, filmmaker, and published author with an MFA in Television and Screenwriting and a BA in Film. He has taught screenwriting, worked with Al Jazeera, and consulted for Hollywood productions. A Qur’an reciter with ijazah, he bridges art and spirituality, training students to tell stories that uplift, educate, and inspire.

Ust. Omar Ashmawey

Instructor | Film & Cinema Studies Program

Omar Ashmawey is a filmmaker, director, and screenwriter committed to reshaping how Muslim and Middle Eastern characters are portrayed in media. He holds a minor in Film Studies from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. His work spans film and television, including his distributed directorial debut Boiling Pot (2015) and Oblivium (2025), with recognition at festivals such as SXSW and the Catalina Film Festival. He currently serves as Director of Media at Yaqeen Institute, focusing on authentic, community-rooted storytelling that challenges Hollywood stereotypes.

Dr. Yasser Shahin

Instructor | Intro to Film

Dr Yasser Shahin is a professor, filmmaker, and published author with an MFA in Television and Screenwriting and a BA in Film. He has taught screenwriting, worked with Al Jazeera, and consulted for Hollywood productions. A Qur’an reciter with ijazah, he bridges art and spirituality, training students to tell stories that uplift, educate, and inspire.

Ust. Omar Ashmawey

Instructor | Film & Cinema Studies Program

Omar Ashmawey is a filmmaker, director, and screenwriter committed to reshaping how Muslim and Middle Eastern characters are portrayed in media. He holds a minor in Film Studies from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. His work spans film and television, including his distributed directorial debut Boiling Pot (2015) and Oblivium (2025), with recognition at festivals such as SXSW and the Catalina Film Festival. He currently serves as Director of Media at Yaqeen Institute, focusing on authentic, community-rooted storytelling that challenges Hollywood stereotypes.

Guests

Research Supervisors & Guest Lecturers

We also welcome seasonal guest scholars and researchers contributing to our Islam & Power, Film & Cinema Studies, and Philosophy curricula.

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About our faculty

Academic Excellence Meets Mission-Driven Mentorship

Each member of our faculty not only teaches but mentors. Our scholars are deeply committed to shaping students not merely for exams or essays, but for impact, as writers, researchers, da’wah leaders, community builders, and visionary educators.

Whether you’re exploring Islamic law, preparing for Arabic fluency, or entering the new frontier of Islamic media, your teachers at Al-Ezz are your companions in both ilm and action.

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Ready to write your own success story with Al-Ezz Academy?

Al-Ezz Academy is more than a school; it’s a movement to reinvigorate Islamic scholarship and produce leaders of integrity. We invite you to be part of this mission, and together, shape a brighter future for the Ummah.

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