Shaykh Ahmad AlKurdy - Serves UCR

He is an alumnus of the Islamic University of Medina with a BA from the Faculty of Law. He received his formal training in the study of Islam and the Arabic language in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Southern California. He was raised in the San Fernando Valley, and is a former student of the University of California at Riverside. While studying abroad, he regularly returned home and served the local community in LA County, Orange County and the Inland Empire. He has served the community in multiple capacities and has been a regular guest speaker and lecturer at numerous Islamic Centers, colleges and events. After spending ten years in the Prophet’s City of Medina, he has returned home to Southern California and joined the Institute of Knowledge (IOK) in Diamond Bar as an Instructor in the Seminary and Extension Programs, as well as a University Chaplain. He is also an Instructor and Faculty Member for the New Muslim Academy (NMA).

Shaykha Muslema Purmul

She was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and raised in San Diego, California. Her parents are originally from Afghanistan and they came to the US in the early 80s. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a double major in Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. During those years she served at varying capacities in MSA UCSD as well as MSA West. After graduating she left to study in Egypt where she spent the better part of the next 7 years. She completed the bachelor’s program in Sharia from al-Azhar University in Cairo and also completed almost two years of graduate work at the American University in Cairo in Islamic Studies. She also attended the International Union of Muslim Scholars “Future Scholars Program” while she was studying in Cairo.

Afterwards she transitioned into the blessing of motherhood. In 2014 she served as the Young Muslims Program Director at the Islamic Center of Irvine where she provided support, religious education, and leadership for programming related to youth and young professionals. She has taught classes and spoken nationally and internationally about issues related to Islamic law and ethics in a variety of different settings including conferences, retreats, universities, libraries, and mosques. She has been serving the Muslim students at UCI, UCLA, and USC.

Shaykh Shahid Ali was born and raised in Southern California. Currently he is the Islamic Society of  Orange County's (ISOC) Educational and Youth Director as well as an instructor at California Islamic University (CIU). He graduated from the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo with a Bachelor's Degree from the College of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language. He also holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach and a B.S. from California State University, Pomona, and currently pursuing a Master's in the Methodology of Islamic Legislation. With the Institute of Knowledge (IOK), Shaykh Shahid is serving as an Associate Chaplain supporting the students at his Alma Mater, CalPoly Pomona and is also a Researcher/Instructor with the IOK Seminary and IOK Extension Programs.

Ustadha Yafa Aweinat  - Serves UCR

Born and raised in Arizona and Southern California, Yafa Aweinat  has been teaching the recitation, memorization, and meaning of the Qur'an in many different capacities for the last decade. She completed the memorization of the Quran in 2009 and since then has continued her study of the science of tajweed and the different recitations of the Quran under various teachers. In 2011 she graduated from the Bayyinah Dream program which focused on learning Quranic Arabic. Yafa also completed her Bachelors Degree in Ethnic and Women's Studies from Cal Poly Pomona in 2012.

Having grown up in a religiously and ethnically diverse family, Yafa is passionate about sharing the message of Islam and has worked in the field of dawah with organizations like WhyIslam for the past fifteen years. She is particularly passionate about connecting with young Muslims and has taught at youth groups, MSAs, and special youth-tailored events. She has also given lectures, conducted workshops, and planned specialized events for women in Southern California. Yafa currently teaches at the Islamic Institute of Orange County, the Islamic Center of Claremont, and the New Muslim Academy. She will also now serve as an Associate Chaplain with Shaykh Ahmad Alkurdy at the University of California Riverside (UCR).

Shaykh Jameel Besada - Serves Cal State University of Long Beach (CSULB)

Born and raised in Southern California, Jameel Besada converted to Islam in 2003. He graduated from UCSD in 2007 with a major in Spanish Literature and minor in International Migration Studies. Therefafter he traveled to the Prophet's (pbuh) city of Madinah to study at the Islamic University of Madinah where he graduated from the College of Shariah in 2017. He is currently serving as the Associate Religious Director at the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco (ISCN) and also serves with the Instiute of Knowledge (IOK) as a Seminary Instructor and an Associate Chaplain serving the Muslim student community at Cal State University of Long Beach (CSULB).

Shaykh Suhail Mulla - Serves UCLA and CSUN

Shaykh Suhail Hasan Mulla is a native Angeleno, proudly born and raised. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in African-American Studies from CSUN, his Master's in Social Welfare from UCLA and another Bachelor's Degree in Shari'ah (Islamic Law) from the world's preeminent Islamic seminary - Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He also completed a two year Islamic Studies program at Al-Asheera Al-Muhammadiya in Cairo, Egypt where he studied privately with numerous Azhari scholars.

Shaykh Suhail has worked as a social worker in LAUSD, served as an Imam at the Islamic Society of Orange County and has served as Interim Executive Director and Director of Mental Health at Access California Services - a social service organization serving Muslims and Middle Eastern communities in Orange County

Shaykh Suhail has served on various Interfaith Councils in Greater LA and believes that dialogue is essential in fostering harmony and cooperation between different racial and religious communities. He is also an advocate of the integration of spirituality and mental health and serves as a member of the Department of Mental Health's Clergy Roundtable Project.

Shaykh Suhail currently serves as Resident Scholar at the Islamic Society of West Valley and will also serve as a Chaplain at Institute of Knowledge serving the Muslim student community at UCLA. He resides in Los Angeles with his wonderful wife and four children. Shaykh Suhail is a student of the outdoors and enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, woodworking and gardening in his free time.

Hafidh Asim Billoo - Serves UC San Diego

Asim Billoo was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Growing up, he was blessed to be in a family-oriented household, and his upbringing prized Islamic morals, values, and education. Asim's journey began when he moved to Sacramento to pursue an Islamic education. After graduating from Darul Uloom al Islamiyah Sacramento, he returned to Los Angeles to pursue a double major in Psychology and Radiography. In the meantime Asim picked up snowboarding and fitness as his go-to recreational activities. During these years, he served local Muslim communities by delivering khutbahs and working with youth groups at King Fahad Masjid in Culer City and Islamic Center Reseda.

After graduating, Asim got married and specialized in Radiation Oncology at City of Hope National Medical Center. At the same time, he was driven to further nurture his interest in the Arabic language locally with Shaykh Suhail Mulla, and he continued his study of Islamic sciences with Shaykh Ibrahim Qureshi and Shaykh Taha Khan. Asim later got a job at Northridge Hospital as a Radiation Oncology Therapist and trained in hospital chaplaincy.

Eight years later, Asim was presented with the opportunity to pursue his Master's in Medical Dosimetry and landed a career at the University of California San Diego. Here he started to volunteer his time by leading various halaqas and lectures through MSA at UCSD. While working closely with MSA, Asim decided to take on Pastoral Care Specialist training. He resides with his wife and three children in Carmel Valley and will now serve as an Associate Chaplain with Institute of Knowledge.

What Have People Said About Our Work? 

Dr. Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life at USC:

“We are deeply honored and profoundly grateful to welcome Shaykh Jamaal and Shaykha Muslema to the University of Southern California as our Muslim Chaplains.In this capacity, they will provide pastoral care and spiritual counseling, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, support programs and events, and cultivate and inspire a vibrant Muslim community on campus. Given their extraordinary breadth of knowledge and experience, their presence on campus will immeasurably enrich our entire university campus. Furthermore, by serving as Muslim Chaplains and by being staff members in the Office of Religious Life, they will not only be advocates and ambassadors at USC, but will also have the opportunity to help shape regional, national, and global discourses about Islam.”

Imam Zaid Shakir, Co-Founder of Zaytuna College:

“IOK is a pioneering institution in terms of bringing relevance and vitality to our great Islamic tradition.Its chaplaincy initiative is reaching our youth on a growing number of colleges campuses, helping them to cultivate a strong Islamic identity.That is why I say, “IOK is AOK!”

Engie Salama, Former MSU President at USC and Current Pharmacy School Student at UCSF:

“I can’t stress enough how important Jamaal Diwan and Muslema Purmul’s chaplaincy initiative with USC and UCLA, funded by the Institute of Knowledge, is for the young adult Muslim population. Often times in college we encounter challenging perspectives and end up questioning our faith-- without a clear and accessible mentor, how are we to navigate these spiritual pitfalls? As students and young men and women, we face all sorts of social, political and intellectual pressure rejecting our Muslim identity: whether through friends encouraging us to drink, republican candidates claiming they will put us in internment camps, or philosophies rejecting God altogether. I personally have benefitted from their amazing insight and support, and as a former leader of my MSU, I recognize the value they add to our Muslim community. If you want to help future generations of young Muslims through much needed counseling and spiritual guidance, I urge you to support these excellent scholars. I pray for their success and admire their work. Thank you, Jamaal and Muslema, for all the stories you listen to, the secrets you keep, and the amazing advice you give!”

Malek Arhara, Former MSA President at UCR:

“As President of MSA at UCR, it was extremely comforting to know that if members needed assistance I could direct them to a qualified individual that could not only answer their questions, but resolve concerns as well. Shaykh Ahmad AlKurdy was not just a problem solver, but a great friend. He was easy to approach, likable, and among the best company. I am not only speaking for myself. The members of MSA, as a whole, echo these same sentiments.The Chaplain was a blessing that revitalized MSA.”

Sara AbdelFatah, Former UCR MSA Board Member:

“Having Ahmad AlKurdy at UCR was an amazing resource for emotional and religious support. Knowing there was a trusted and reliable source that was easily accessible on campus did wonders for the morale of MSA. As Sisters Chair, having a Chaplain who we were familiar with, aided us in discussing issues among sisters in the community with trust and confidence. I would highly recommend all MSAs to establish Chaplaincy and benefit from this fruitful program.”

​What Will Your Donation Go Towards?