FACULTY

Founder, Executive Director

Mufti Abdullah Aijaz was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he completed his memorization of the Quran under the tutelage of Qari Muhammad Zahid at the age of nine.

After a few years, he enrolled at Darul Uloom New York. He completed four years of the ‘Alim course, thereafter completing the final two overseas at Madrasah Arabiyyah Islamiyyah (Azaadville, South Africa) in 2014.

Immediately upon graduating, Mufti Abdullah dedicated one year to da’wah domestically and internationally in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Upon returning from his da’wah activities, Mufti Abdullah decided to pursue his education further, enrolling at Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah in Durban, South Africa to specialize in the field of issuing legal opinions (Iftaa) under world-renowned scholars Mufti Ebrahim Desai and Mufti Husain Kadodia (may Allah lengthen their lives) for the next two years. Simultaneously, he also completed a degree in Islamic Financing, Banking, and Law from Regents Business School (Durban, South Africa).

Currently, Mufti Abdullah resides in Baltimore, Maryland where he serves as the Ameer and Executive Director of INK Foundation and the Secretary General for the DMV Ulama Council. He is also a member of the American Fiqh Academy.

Vice Principal, Dean of Student Affairs

Mufti Syed Haneef Ahmed grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and pursued his initial years of higher traditional Islamic learning (Alimiyyah course) locally in Darul Uloom New York. After six years at the institute, he transferred to Madrasah In’aamiyyah in Camperdown, South Africa, where he completed his final year of the Alimiyyah course.

Upon graduation in 2014, he spent a year propagating the religion and calling Muslims toward a stronger relationship with Allah Ta’ala.

Mufti Syed Haneef Ahmed then traveled to Sherwood, South Africa. He enrolled at Darul Iftaa al-Mahmudiyyah to specialize in issuing legal opinions (Iftaa) under the world-renowned scholar
and expert in Islamic finance, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. After two rigorous years of study, he received authorization (Ijazah) to issue legal opinions (Fataawa).

After his studies, Mufti Haneef spent a few months in Hawaii, helping establish Masjid al-Baqi (Est. 2017), serving as the Imam, and heading multiple community programs. He has also served as a youth director and Imam in various Masajid nationwide such as Masjid Eesa bin Maryam (Hartford, CT), Masjid Shuhadah (Brooklyn, NY), and others. 

After relocating to Maryland, Mufti Haneef served as the Resident Scholar for Dar al-Taqwa Mosque in Howard County, MD for four years.

Currently, Mufti Haneef serves as the Vice Principal, Dean of Student Affairs (INK Foundation), and Director of the Halal Committee (DMV Ulama Council). 

Tarbiyah Program Coordinator

Qari Qazi Wazidul Hoque (Tammam) is a native of Brooklyn, NY. His desire for a deeper understanding of the Deen led him to pursue higher Islamic learning at Darul Uloom New York. Upon completing six years of vigorous studies at the institute, he traveled to South Africa to complete his Alimiyyah course in the prestigious Madrasah In’aamiyyah.

Upon completion, he spent another year mastering the sciences of Qiraa’ah, eventually qualifying as a Qari, having the ability to recite the Qur’an fluently in seven different modes of recitation. He also spent one year in Da'wah activities in South Africa, Bangladesh, and India. 

Currently, Qari Tammam resides in Baltimore, MD where he has been teaching and lecturing since 2017.

Admin - Darul Iftaa

Mufti Saad Anis was born and raised in the DMV area. He started his journey of learning under various Mashaa'ikh in the local Masajid. His journey of memorization of the Qur'an was completed at a young age under the tutelage of Qari Muhammad Zahid.

After a few years, he enrolled at Madrasah Arabiyyah Islamiyyah (Azaadville, South Africa) where he completed all six years of the ‘Alim course and obtained Ijāzāt in the ‘Asharah Qirā'āt. He further enrolled in the same institute in the Darul Iftaa program and graduated as a Mufti in 2023.

Immediately upon graduating, Mufti Saad dedicated one year to da’wah in Jordan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Upon returning from his da’wah activities, Mufti Saad joined INK Foundation as a dedicated faculty member. He also serves as the administrator of the Darul Iftaa of INK Foundation. He is engaged with various communities as a Khateeb, lecturer, Imam, and teacher.

Faculty Member & Admin (Library & Bookstore)

Mufti Saifullah Asad was born and raised in the DMV area. He started his journey of learning under various Mashaa'ikh in the local Masajid. His journey of memorization of the Qur'an was completed at a young age under the tutelage of Qari Muhammad Zahid.

After a few years, he enrolled at Madrasah Arabiyyah Islamiyyah (Azaadville, South Africa) where he completed all six years of the ‘Alim course and obtained Ijāzāt in the ‘Asharah Qirā'āt. He further enrolled in the same institute in the Darul Iftaa program and graduated as a Mufti in 2023.

Immediately upon graduating, Mufti Saifullah dedicated a few months to Da’wah activities in Pakistan.

Upon returning from his Da’wah activities, Mufti Saifullah joined INK Foundation in the fall of 2023 as a dedicated faculty member. He also serves as the administrator of the library and bookstore of INK Foundation. He is engaged with various communities as a Khateeb, lecturer, Imam, and teacher.

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Lead Admin, Hifz Instructor

Mufti Sibghatallah Ahmed was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He completed his memorization of the Qur'an at a young age under the tutelage of Qari Muhammad Zahid.

After a few years, he began pursuing the 'Ālimiyyah program locally under the tutelage of Shaykh Yaseen Shaikh at the Al-Rahmah Seminary. After four years, he transferred to Darul Uloom New York in Queens, NY to finish his studies under the eminent teachers in the 'Ālimiyyah program.

After being unable to study during the pandemic, he traveled to Durban, South Africa and enrolled at Darul Iftaa al-Mahmudiyyah to specialize in issuing legal opinions (Iftaa) under the world-renowned scholar and expert in Islamic finance, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Rahimahullah). Upon the untimely demise of Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Sahib (Rahimahullah), he continued his Iftaa studies and enrolled at Madrasah In’aamiyyah in Camperdown, South Africa where he completed the Iftaa course in 2022.

Upon graduating, Mufti Sibghatallah dedicated a few months to benefit from the various institutions providing socio-religious services in South Africa.

Mufti Sibghatallah joined INK Foundation in the spring of 2023 as a dedicated faculty member. He serves as the lead administrator in addition to serving as a faculty member in the various programs offered at INK Foundation.

Instructor

Maulana Justin Poe was born and raised in Maryland where he converted to Islām in his early twenties. He completed an A.A.S. degree in Forensic Science and a B.A. in English Language and Literature. He then began pursuing the 'Ālimiyyah program locally under the tutelage of Shaykh Yaseen Shaikh at Al-Rahmah Seminary. After four years, he then transferred to Darussalam Seminary in Lombard, IL to finish his studies under the eminent teachers and guides in the Takmīl program. He remained in Chicago for another year to study at Darul Qasim, taking courses in their Advanced Islamic Studies program. Afterward, he pursued post-graduate studies and attended and graduated Zaytuna College’s M.A. program in Islamic Texts, with a concentration in theology and philosophy.

Maulana Justin currently resides in Baltimore, MD, with his family and serves and lectures as a faculty member of INK Foundation. He is also a research specialist working to develop Islamic-based curricular materials at Brandeis University.  

Lead Coordinator - Banaat (Sisters) Department

Mu'allimah Umm Jareer was born and raised in the DMV area. She completed her Hifz of the Qur'an under the tutelage of the wife of Qari Muhammad Zahid. After pursuing further 'Alimiyyah studies locally, she traveled abroad to Johannesburg, South Africa, and enrolled in the prestigious Madrasah Mu’einul Islam, a school for Muslim sisters. 

After completing the foundational years of the program at the top of her class, she returned to US and graduated from the 'Alimiyyah program in 2020 from Darul Uloom New York.

Upon graduation, Mu'allimah Umm Jareer joined INK Foundation as the lead coordinator of the Banaat (Sisters) Department and serves as the primary instructor of all classes for the sisters. 

Instructor, Sisters' Tarbiyah Program

Mu'allimah Zehra Hazratji was born and raised in Western Massachusetts. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a self-designed major in Islamic Studies.

Her studies took her abroad to Syria and Egypt, focusing on Arabic language and literature, before returning to complete her bachelor’s degree. She then traveled again to Egypt, where she earned a second bachelor’s degree in Sharia from the renowned Al-Azhar University. She spent several years in Egypt studying advanced Arabic, Qur’anic, and Hadith sciences, logic, and other Islamic disciplines. She also participated in the “Future Scholars Program” hosted by the International Union of Muslim Scholars.

Mu'allimah Zehra is a Hafidhah of the Qur’an and earned an ijazah in the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim from the esteemed Shaykh Al-Kurdi in Damascus, Syria.

She later pursued further education in Qatar, obtaining a master’s degree in Islamic Studies with a specialization in  Contemporary Fiqh from Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Currently, she is enrolled in a mufti training program with Dar Al-Ifta Al-Missriyya.

Since 2014, Mu'allimah Zehra has been researching and contributing by lecturing and writing on an array of relevant topics as well as serving as an instructor at various institutes and Masajid in the US. In additional to these works, she also serves as an instructor at INK Foundation focusing on Qur’anic recitation, Tajweed, and Islamic Studies.