Meet the Admin
Mufti Asif Iqbal - Executive Director and Professor 'Aālamīyah Program
Mufti Asif Iqbal began memorizing the Qūrʾan in 1992 at Jamia Madinatul-Uloom in New Orleans, LA. He then enrolled at Darul Uloom Al-Madania in Buffalo, NY, where he completed a six-year intensive study in core Islamic disciplines, including Arabic, Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2002. In 2004, he specialized in Islamic Law and Legal Verdicts (Iftaa), equipping him to issue formal Fatwas. From 2004 to 2015, he served as the Imam and director of religious affairs at the Manassas Muslim Association in Virginia. In 2016, he moved to Louisville, KY, to serve as director and instructor at HIRA Institute.
Mufti Atif Iqbal - Treasurer and Professor 'Aālamīyah Program
Mohammed Atif Iqbal memorized the Qūrʾan in 1999 at Darul Uloom Al-Madania and pursued six years of higher Islamic studies, mastering traditional Islamic sciences. He graduated as an Alim in 2007 and received Ijazaat to teach. After completing Iftaa in 2009, he taught at Darul Uloom Al-Madania, where he spent over a decade leading courses in Usul al-Fiqh, Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh. He also managed the institution and directed the Madania Community Center to support local youth and families. In 2022, Mufti Atif joined HIRA Institute in Louisville, KY, as a teacher and Director of Operations.
Ustadh Ammar Shaikh - Secretary and Professor 'Aālamīyah Program
Ammar Shaikh, originally from India, moved to the US for higher education in 2003, earning a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Information Systems. He studied Islamic education for seven years at eAlim, Darul Uloom Canada, and New York, then began teaching at the Islamic School of Baltimore. In 2009, he joined the Islamic School of Louisville, where he teaches Islamic Studies, Qūrʾan, and computer science. Ammar is also involved in community activities, including the Louisville Masaajid Volleyball Tournaments and the Louisville Muslim Bike Club. He currently serves as the Arabic and Islamic Studies Lead and Vice Principal at Nur Islamic School of Louisville.
Imam Wasif Iqbal - Board Member, Director of Taḥfīẓ, and Professor 'Aālamīyah Program
Imam Mohammed Wasif Iqbal grew up in Baltimore, MD, and memorized the Qūrʾan by age 13. He studied at Darul Uloom Al-Madania for eight years, earning Ijaazaat in various Islamic sciences, including Arabic, Fiqh, and Hadith. Graduating with a Master’s in Islamic Studies in 2008, he has served as the Imam at the Louisville Islamic Center since then, where he contributes to the community and leads spiritual guidance.
Ustadha Nilufar Patel - Board Member
Ustadha Nilufar Patel, born in Canada and raised in western New York, studied traditional Islamic sciences at Darul-Uloom Al-Madania in Buffalo, NY. After graduating, she began teaching in 2009 in Louisville and continues to serve at River Road Masjid. With extensive experience in organizing community events, she currently teaches and serves as a board member at HIRA Institute, where she also leads the HIRA Kids initiative. Nilufar resides in the greater Louisville area with her husband and three children.
Sofia Sadiq - Board Member
Sofia Sadiq, a dedicated educator and mother of seven, was born in Mumbai, India. She studied at Darul Uloom in Buffalo, NY, from 1996 to 2001, focusing on comprehensive Islamic education. Since 2002, Sofia has been a key member of Darul Rasheed, where she has taught various Islamic disciplines and played a significant role in shaping young minds. Recently, she joined Darul Iman, expanding her impact in the community. Sofia has taught extensively in the 'Aālamīyah Program and served as assistant principal at Darul Rasheed until last year. She continues to inspire her students through her teachings in Nahv, Fiqh, and Qūrʾan translation."