As expected, we have an exciting lineup of knowledgeable and insightful speakers prepared for One Ummah 2023! Stay tuned for our speaker announcements coming soon!
BR. BOONAA MOHAMMED - ONE UMMAH 2023 EMCEE
Dubbed the “voice of a generation,” Boonaa Mohammed is a critically acclaimed award-winning writer and performer with accolades including a playwright residency at Theatre Passe Muraille, a short story published in a Penguin Canada anthology called “Piece by Piece” and various slam poetry titles credits including the winner of the 2007 CBC Poetry Face-Off “Best New Artist” award.
His popular Youtube videos have received Millions of views to date, and as an Artist he has toured and traveled across the world, speaking alongside some of the most influential scholars and entertainers of our time. He frequently conducts writing workshops and seminars, sharing his experience and expertise in Spoken Word story-telling with mainly youth from all walks of life.
SHAYKH KAMAL EL-MEKKI
A Calgary fan favorite, Sh. Kamal El Mekki has been dubbed the Black Belt of Da‘wah.
With decades of experience in the Da‘wah scene, Sh. Kamal combines his ground-breaking teaching style with his own dash of humor, certain to leave students feeling at ease & entertained, but above all skilled and empowered.
SISTER RAZIA HAMIDI
Razia Hamidi has dual degrees in family psychology and education and is a certified leader in the Gottman Seven Principles.
She completed her Alima studies with Dr. Shadee Elmasry and is a Muslim Life Coach and Counsellor based in Ontario, Canada where she offers premarital sessions and marriage coaching from a holistic, Islamic perspective.
Blending Islamic spirituality and counseling techniques, she's helped hundreds of clients strengthen their faith, relationships, and careers and consulted with non-profit organizations to assist in organizational and program development, leadership training, long-term strategy, and sustainable growth.
Dr. AMJAD QOURSHAH
A former lecturer at the Faculty of Shari’ah, Jordan University from 2003–2018. From 2019–present, a resident scholar, lecturer, trainer, and family spiritual issues consultant at Al-Dar Foundation, Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Amjad obtained his MA Degree in Qur’anic Exegeses (Interpretation) from Jordan University in 1997, and his Ph.D. in Comparative Religions and Christian-Muslim Relations from Birmingham University, UK, 2003.
He is interested in working with Youth, Families, Religions, and Atheism as well as fixing misconceptions about Islam on a global level in both languages Arabic and English with intensive engagement on social media platforms.
SHAYKH AMMAR ALSHUKRY
Sh. Ammar hails from Sudan via Queens, New York.
It was in Sudan that Ammar began his studies in the Arabic language at an early age. After returning to New York he benefited from a local scholarship in a wide variety of Islamic Sciences. He continued his studies in Houston with renowned scholars such as Dr. Salah Al-Sawy, and completed an extensive study with Dr. Waleed Basyouni. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Sciences with AlMaghrib Institute.
He is the author of "What the Pen Wrote," Imam and Resident Scholar of River Oaks Islamic Center in Houston, and the Content Director for Faith Essentials and FaithIQ.
He is a true role model and source of inspiration and faith for the UHMSA community.
SHAYKH ALI NASSER
Sh. Ali Nasser has built his life around his passion for learning and teaching Islam.
In 2008 he travelled to Malaysia where he studied at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM). It is there he completed his associate degree in the Arabic language.
He later earned a scholarship to the illustrious Islamic University of Madinah and graduated with a BA in Islamic Theology and Missiology.
Sh. Ali Nasser currently serves as Imam at the Islamic Information Society of Calgary (IISC) as well as, Director of Youth Affairs at Al-Kahf Youth Center. He also works within Palliser Regional Schools allowing him to reach many Muslim youths throughout the community.
SHAYKH HAMZA AYEDI
Sh. Hamza Ayedi is a young Canadian Imam who grew up in the city of Calgary and was one of the IISC's youth and student.
After completing a bachelor of Art in Applied Energy Economics from University of Calgary, Sh. Hamza traveled to Saudi Arabia where he earned a bachelor of Shariah from Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, KSA, and an associate degree in Arabic and a Diploma in teaching Arabic as a second language, KSA.
Sh. Hamza has completed the memorization of the Holy Quran at the IISC while he was a student at the University of Calgary.
IMAM FOUAD MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN
Imam Fouad Abdul Rahman is a member of the Quebec Council of Imams, an official of the Council’s advocacy committee, and an Imam, preacher and teacher at the Islamic Centre of Quebec, the same mosque that witnessed the killing of six innocent martyrs as a result of brutal racism in 2017.
Imam Fouad has participated in many international conferences and seminars, the most recent of which was the RIS conference in Toronto, which is the largest Islamic conference in North America. Imam Fouad was honoured to open the conference with a recitation of the Holy Quran as well as participated in a lecture at the MAC conference in Toronto. This is in addition to a series of conferences and seminars held by the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments and Al Azhar.
Imam Fouad holds a high degree in Islamic Advocacy and culture from the faculty of Advocacy at Al Azhar University in Cairo and a high degree in Education from the Faculty of Education at Al Azhar University.
Imam Fouad is an associate member of the Egyptian Reciters Syndicate under the supervision of his Excellency Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Masrawi formally and is an associate member of the International Committee of Al Azhar Graduates, an Imam, preacher, and teacher of the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments from 2009, and a Judge for the Quran contest at the Ministry Endowments and Al Azhar, the Grand contest in Canada.