Meet the Board
Mufti Asif Iqbal - Executive Director and Professor Alimiyyah Program
In 1992, Mufti Asif Iqbal started memorizing the Quran in Jamia Madinatul-Uloom in New Orleans, LA. Thereafter, he enrolled in the prestigious seminary Darul Uloom Al-Madania in Buffalo, NY to commence on a six-year intensive study of the core disciplines of a traditional Islamic education such as Arabic, Tafsir (Quranic Exegesis), Hadith (Prophetic Traditions), Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and other related disciplines. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2002. In 2004, he completed a post-graduate specialization program in Islamic Law and Legal Verdicts (Iftaa), which trains scholars to issue formal Islamic legal opinions (Fatwa). He served as the Imam and the director of religious affairs for Manassas Muslim Association in Manassas, VA from 2004 -2015. In 2016, he relocated to Louisville, KY to serve as the director and an instructor for HIRA Institute.
Mufti Atif Iqbal - Treasurer and Professor Alimiyyah Program
Mohammed Atif Iqbal, after completing his memorization in 1999 in Darul Uloom Al-Madania, continued his higher Islamic studies for a comprehensive and systematic study for six years, gaining proficiency in the core sciences of the traditional Islamic seminary curriculum. In 2007, Mufti graduated as an Alim, earning a Ijazaat to teach and transmit his knowledge. He also has Ijazah from Dr. Ismail Memon (rahimahullah) in Tazkiyah. In 2009 after completing Iftaa, he was given the honor of teaching in Darul Uloom Al-Madania. He served over a decade as a teacher and leader where he taught Usul al-Fiqh, Tafsir, Hadith, and Fiqh. He was actively involved in the institution's management and various extracurricular activities involving the students. He also ran the nonprofit Madania Community Center, activities geared for upliftment of youth and families in his locality. In 2022, Mufti Atif moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to HIRA Institute, where he serves as a teacher and a Director of Operations.
Ustadh Ammar Shaikh - Secretary and Professor Alimiyyah Program
Ammar Shaikh is originally from India, but moved to the US for higher education in 2003. He acquired Computer Engineering Bachelors from Bombay, and a Masters degree in Information Systems from University of Maryland. He studied higher Islamic education for seven years from eAlim, Darul Uloom Canada and New York, and subsequently taught Islamic courses. His teaching career started at the Islamic School of Baltimore. In 2009, he joined Islamic School of Louisville as an Islamic Studies, Quran and computer teacher. He is also a part of the Louisville Masaajid Volleyball Tournaments, Louisville Muslim Bike Club and the International Dawah and Tableegh group. He currently is the Arabic and Islamic Studies Lead and Vice Principal at Nur Islamic School of Louisville.
Imam Wasif Iqbal - Board Member, Director of Tahfeedh and Professor Alimiyyah Program
Imam Mohammed Wasif Iqbal grew up in Baltimore, MD and started studying the Quran at a very young age. He was able to memorize the entire Quran by the age of 13. Imam Wasif continued his studies at Darul Uloom Al Madania in Buffalo, NY. After eight years, he received Ijaazaat in various Islamic Sciences(including Arabic, Fiqh [Jurisprudence], Hadith, Tafseer, Tajweed, and Qira’ah). Imam Wasif graduated in 2008 with a Masters in Islamic Studies and has been serving as the Imam at the Louisville Islamic Center ever since.
Nulifar Patel - Board Member
Ustadha Nilufar Patel was born in Canada and grew up in western New York. She received her education in the traditional Islamic sciences from the renowned Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom Al-Madania in Buffalo, NY. Soon after graduating, she started teaching in 2009 in Louisville and continues to teach and serve River Road Masjid. Besides teaching kids of all ages, she has a a great deal of experience organizing and managing community events. Currently, she serves as an instructor and board member for HIRA Institute. She also leads the HIRA Kids initiative. She resides in the greater Louisville area with her husband and three children.
Sofia Sadiq - Board Member
Sofia Sadiq, a devoted educator and mother of seven, was born in Mumbai, India. Her academic journey led her to the prestigious Darul Uloom in Buffalo, New York, where she pursued her studies from 1996 to 2001, immersing herself in a comprehensive Islamic education.
Since 2002, Sofia has been an integral part of the Darul Rasheed educational institution, dedicating her passion and expertise to shaping young minds. Her commitment to knowledge and teaching excellence has recently expanded as she embarked on a new chapter at Darul Iman this year, broadening her impact.
Sofia's teaching repertoire spans across various Islamic disciplines, and she has taught extensively the first four years in the Alimiyyah Program at Darul Rasheed. Her expertise extends to teaching Hidaya, a significant work in the field of Islamic jurisprudence.
In recognition of her dedication and leadership qualities, Sofia assumed the role of assistant principal at Darul Rasheed since 2019, a position she held until last year. Her teachings encompass Nahv, Fiqh, and the translation of the Holy Quran, showcasing her versatility in Islamic education. Sofia Sadiq remains a beacon of knowledge and inspiration within the academic circles she graces, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of her students.