Biography of the Speakers

Click each speaker's name to read more

1. Sh. Ahmed Ibrahim Omar “Taajir” [Top]

Sh. Ahmed Ibrahim Omar graduated from Sheikh Yusuf High School in Mogadishu, Somalia and Institute of Islamic Research in Cairo Egypt. Then he attended Al-Azhr Sharif University in Cairo and he graduated with Bachelor Degree of Islamic Law. Afterwards, he attended and received a diploma from the Institute of advance Study under the Arab League and another diploma from the Institute of Advance Islamic Study under the Ministry of Education in Egypt.

Sh. Ahmed has been part of spreading the dawah for long time. In 1987- 1989 he was the imam of Masjid Abdirashid Ali Sharmake built by Second Somali President in, Mogadishu Somalia. He was also the Imam of Masjid Ummatu Muhammad in Minneapolis Minnesota from 2000 to February 2007. Currently he serves as the imam of Masjid Ummatu Al-Islam in Minneapolis, Minnesota from March 2007 to present.

2. Sh. Ahmed Muhammad Burale [Top]

Sh. Ahmed Muhammad Burale finished his earlier education in Somalia. In 1989 he graduated from Sheikh Sufi High School. He went to Al-Azhr Sharif University in 1993 where he received for his Bachelor Degree in Islamic Law. Then he attended the Research Institute of Arabic Studies in Cairo and graduated with Masters Degree in Law. He is currently serves as the imam and khatib (Islamic lecturer) of Omar Mosque in Minneapolis, MN.

3. Sh. Muhammad Sh. Rashid [Top]

Sh. Muhammad Sh. Rashid graduated from Al-Tadhamun Institute in 1974, Somalia.
In 1979, he graduated from the Islamic University of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah with Bachelor Degree in Arabic Language.

He received his Masters Degree from Umu Al-Qura University in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 1985. From 1985-1990 he was a Professor at the Somali National University. Sheikh Muhammad is imam and khateeb (Islamic lecturer) at Masjid Abubakr As-Sidiq in Mankato, Minnesota.

4. Sh. Nur Barud [Top]

Sh. Nur Barud finished his earlier education in Somalia. He graduated from Al-Tadhamun Secondary Institute Mogadishu, Somalia. Then he attended Somali National University and received a Bachelor Degree in Islamic Studies. He is a well known and influential sheikh in Somalia.

5. Sh. Muse Omar [Top]

Sh. Muse Omar finishes his earlier education from elementary to middle school in Beledweyne, Somalia. He graduated from Sheikh Yusuf High School in Mogadishu Somalia. He attended Al-Azhr Sharif University where he received a Bachelor Degree in Islamic Law.

Then he went to graduate from the same university and received a Masters Degree in Islamic Jurisprudence. Sh. Muse is presently the imam of Masjid Al-Huda in Columbus Ohio, and he also a teacher of a charter school.

6. Prof. Abdul Wahid Sheikhosman [Top]

Prof Abdul Wahid Sheikhosman became an expert in the area of Comparative Constitutional Systems, Islamic law and International Law since obtaining his advanced law degrees from the prestigious International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan and from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1999 and 2004 respectively. 

Prior to that time, he was a researcher at Islamic Research Institute, a leading Islamabad-based think-tank. Abdul Wahid currently works at Metro Law Group, P.A., a Minneapolis-based law firm. He also serves as the director of Somali-American Legal Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Prof. Sheikhosman earned his graduate degree in law from the University of Minnesota Law School where he now teaches. He earned a LL. B in British Common Law from International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan as well as a LL.M degree in Islamic Constitutional Law from the same university. Professor Sheikhosman sits on the Boards of several organizations in Minnesota.

7. Dr. Osman Harare [Top]

Dr. Osman Harare finished his early education in Somali. He graduated from National Somali University. Then he perused his medical career to the following abroad institutions:  Kiev Medical Institute (USSR), Doctor of Medicine (Pediatrician) in 1969 and University of Rome (Italy), Specialization in Tropical Disease in 1979. In 1970-1972 when he finish his education he became a Medical Officer, Hiran Region in Somalia. In 1972-1975 he was elected to be director of Forlanini Hospital Mogadishu, Somalia. In 1975-1980 he became the Director of Public Health Department, Mogadishu Municipal Government in Somalia. In 1975-1990 he was the Lecturer of Tropical Disease, Faculty of Medicine Somali National University Mogadishu, Somalia. 

In 1991-1992, Dr. Harare was the Chairman of Volunteer Medical Board in Kismayo, Somalia. In 1992-1994 he was the Medical Coordinator of Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim Refugee Camp in Mendera, Kenya. In 1994-1995 he became the Medical Volunteer in Utanga Refugee Camp in Mombassa, Kenya. In 1996-2004 he was the chairman of Somali Health Project and assistant director of SAHAN education project. Since 1997 to present he has being a Somali Patient Advocate at Hennepin County Medical Center. Dr. Osman Harare is well known physician within the Somali community. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of East Africa Health Project and gives health related lectures at Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Civic Center.

8. Council Cam Gordon [Top]

Cam Gordon has lived in Minneapolis all of his life in or near the second ward since 1977 in the Cedar-Riverside, Longfellow and Seward neighborhoods.

Cam graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1977 and then completed extensive graduate work in early Childhood Development and Montessori Education. He is a writer and accomplished Montessori teacher. He is the author of Together with Montessori, a guide to help parents and staff work together in harmony to create better schools. He was public school teacher. Currently he is a member of Minneapolis City Council (ward 2).

9. Imani Jaafar-Mohammad [Top]

Imani Jaafar-Mohammad was born in Virginia and raised in Cincinnati. She is a Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis in the Housing Unit. She received her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and her B.A. in English Literature magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota.

 Imani is a board member of the William Mitchell Alumni Committee and the Minnesota Justice Foundation, a member of the William Mitchell Women in Law Committee, and a participant in the college's mentor program. Imani is also a speaker for the Islamic Resource Group and a board member of the Muslim Youth Leadership Scholarship Award Program. 

10. Br. Ryan Harris [Top]

Ryan Harris is an American football offensive lineman, and he was born in March 11, 1985 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Harris was a highly touted offensive lineman out of Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was recruited for Notre Dame, Iowa, Miami (FL), and Michigan. Harris projected to be drafted in the second or third round of the 2007 NFL draft, and now he plays for the Denver Broncos.

He was raised in the Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul. Fortunately, Harris converted to Islam during his college years. He is now a devout Muslim.

11. Keith Ellison [Top]

Keith Ellison, 42, is the first elected Muslim for the U.S Congress. He is father of four children, lawyer, and community advocate.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, he moved to Minnesota in 1987 to attend University of Minnesota Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree in 1990. Ellison and his wife were high school mathematics teachers, and together they have lived on the Minneapolis North side for the past 17 years.

12. Abdalla Idris Ali [Top]

Abdalla Idris Ali is a public speaker and fund-raiser. He served as the president of ISNA from 1992-1997. Among his accomplished works include as the:

Council Board member of the Council of Islamic Schools in North America, Board of Trustees for the Islamic Teaching Center (ITC), North American Islamic Trust, Organizer of the Canadian Islamic Banking Conferences for 1996 and 1997, Member of Board of Advisors of the American Muslim, and he has written many articles in Islamic Horizons, a bi-monthly publication of ISNA.

Abdalla Idris now serves as the ISNA School principal, where is establishing Islamic and Arabic curriculum for elementary and junior high students. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

13. Br. Mohamed Dini [Top]

Mohamed Dini graduated from Lake Broddock High School in Burke, VA
and he is currently a senior at Walden University Ohio State.
Dini studied Islamic Studies at the Institute for Arabic and Islamic Science in Fairfax, VA.

He was the Chairman of the Somali Public Affairs Committee. He was appointed by the Mayor for the Religious Council in Columbus, OH. He is the recent delegate to the State Department's Midwest Muslim Panel. Dini served as an official with the Muslim Students Association of the US and Canada. Br. Dini travels frequently to give lectures at campuses nationwide.

He started dawah in his sophomore year of high school with a "Dawah Table." Dini’s goal is to see Muslims take up leadership positions where they not only lead Muslims but all of humanity.

14. Imam Sharif Mohamed [Top]

Imam Sharif M. Abdirahman was born in Somalia. He has been a student of many distinguished scholars, some of whom were his family members, in Somalia. Teaching the religion of Islam, in details, to others was a passion he grew up with. Imam Sharif has been also a teacher of his own; educating himself about the abundance knowledge of Islam and giving fatwas (legal ruling) to others.

Imam Sharif came in Minneapolis, MN in 1996. He is the co-founder of Dar Al-Hijrah center, which was an establishment of promise that he would stay within this community and be part of it. Amongst his immense activities include teaching people about Islam, giving legal rulings (fatwa) to those who seek justices, instituting a counseling office where people can work out their problems through the teachings of Islam, raising funds for Islamic institutions, and many more.

15. Teacher Abdisalam Adam [Top]

Abdisalam Adam was born in Somalia. He finished his early education, from elementary to high school, in Nigeria. Adam has BA from the King Saudi University, Riyadh, SA.

Adam came to America in 1991. Here he proceeded his education and received a Master of Science Degree from St. Cloud State University. He is very active within our community; from teaching to volunteering. Adam is currently the director of Dar Al-Hijrah, and he is also the co-founder of the center. Adam is also a Somali Community Specialist for St. Paul Public Schools.

Sheikh Said Ali Ahmed finished his earlier education in Somalia. He received Bachelor
of Arts (BA) in Computer Science. He served as the President of Somali Center in
Ottawa. He is an author in several areas such as Somali in Diaspora, youth, and
technology.

Sheikh Said is a member of Islamic scholars in Ottawa, Canada. He is a producer of CKCU 93.1 Radio in Ottawa, Canada. Sheikh Said currently serves as a programmer and analyst for the Government of Canada.

17. Sis. Huda Farah [Top]

Huda Farah has a Masters degree in Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases.  She is a researcher, public health educator, cultural competency trainer, mentor, coach and a leader in public health and early childhood.

Huda is a dynamic national and international speaker, worked on tissue typing, cloning, heart transplant studies, and epidemiological studies, prenatal Hepatitis B, TB and HIV/AIDS.

Huda has taught Arabic and Islamic studies for school age and adults. She is currently a trainer for trainers, trainer for many curricula including BEAM, children with special needs SEEDs literacy, Not By Chance, the Infant Toddler Training Intensive (ITTI) program, First Aid CPR, HIV and STDs, Infectious disease control, children's mental health and ASQ/ASQS Assessment tools.

Huda is a host of ECHO TV shows for public health and emergency preparedness. Among her membership include as the member of Emergent Public Health Leadership fellowship. Huda is in the process s of production of educational video on Children with special need and early intervention.

18. Sheikh Abdirahman Omar “Haguf” [Top]

Sheikh Abdirahman Omar finished his earlier education from eliminatory to secondary in Baledwayne, Somalia. He went to Sudan where he finished his Bachelor Degree in Islamic Shariah from National African University.

Afterwards, he went to Bangladesh where he taught Madarastu Khalid bin Waleed. Sheikh Abdirahman currently serves as the imam of Masjid Khalid bin Waleed mosque in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

19. Sheikh Omar Faqi [Top]

Sheikh Omar Faqi finished his earlier education from elementary to secondary in Galkacayo Somalia.  In 1985, he attended King Saudi University where he graduated with Bachelor degree in statistics (BS).

In 2006, he finished his Master Degree in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota. Sheikh Omar currently serves as the imam of Masjid Towhid, Karmell Mall, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

20. Sheikh Omar Ismael [Top]

Sheikh Omar Ismael completed his earlier education from elementary to secondary in Mogadishu Somalia. Sheikh Omar attended Somali University Lafoole, where he graduated with Bachelor Degree of Education. From 1978-1983, he served as a teacher at Sheikh Yusuf School Mogadishu, Somalia.

In 978- 1985, Sh. Omar worked for the Ministry of Somali Information. Sheikh Omar currently serves as the President of African Relief Agency of Horn of Africa (ARAHA).

21. Sheikh Abdirashid Sheikh Ali Sufi [Top]

Sheikh Abdirashid Sh. Ali Sufi finished his earlier Islamic education in Mogadishu, Somalia under his father, who was a well known sheikh among Somalis. He learned from his father two Qira (Hafs, and Shadhib). Afterwards, He went to Cairo, Egypt, where he attended Institute of Qur’anic recitation and received his diploma for Qur’anic recitation. After he received his diploma, he was awarded with two awards of Qira’at. 

Sh. Ali Sufi became a teacher of Qur’anic recitation at Al-Azr University in Cairo, Egypt. Since 1991, he served as the imam of Masjid Anas bin Malik in Doha, Qatar. Sheikh Abdirashid is a Qari, and one of the popular sheikhs in Somalia,and many parts of the world. His father, Sheikh Sufi was the first person who brought the “Tajweed” recitation in Somalia.

23. Sis. Fadumo Gure [Top]

Fadumo Gure graduated from Volunteers of America High School. She is student of Islamic University of Minnesota. She is a teacher of Salahudin Islamic School at Dar Al-Hijrah Masjid. Fadumo works at Anderson Elementary School and Volunteers of America- Iqra Night School.

24. Sheikh Mahamud Sharif Ali [Top]

Sheikh Mahamud Sharif Ali finished his earlier Islamic education in Somalia. He is known for his articulate and knowledge of translating the Noble Qur’an and Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh). He is well respected within the Somali Community. Sheikh Mahamud currently serves as the imam of Masjid Darul-Quba, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

25. Dr. Hamdy El-Sawaf [Top]

Dr. Hamdy El-Sawaf received his B.A. in Psychology from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, and MA, Ph. D. Psychology at University of Minnesota, MN, US.

Dr. El-Sawaf is a psychotherapist, imam, consultant, professor, and an adjunct professor. He is the founder of Al-Wafaa Center for Human Services in Minneapolis, and a co-founder of many Islamic institutions such as the Islamic University of Minnesota. Dr. El-Sawaf serves as the Advisory Board Member for Center for Religious Inquiry. He is also the Vice President of East Side Neighborhood Services in Minneapolis, MN.

He is a public speaker in many Islamic conferences held locally and nationwide. He gives lectures on Islam in public, private schools, colleges, universities, mosques, churches, synagogues, hospitals, and clinics.

26. Sis. Halimo Farah [Top]

Halimo Farah finished her early education in Somalia. She has been a teacher for seven years in Minneapolis, MN.

Currently, Halimo is the Arabic teacher for the International School based in Minneapolis. She is also the producer of Haboon Journal that runs within the Somali community.

27. Businessman Hussein Samatar [Top]

Hussein Samatar was born in Somalia and came to Minnesota in 1994. Quickly he managed to receive a MBA from St. Thomas University, MN. Hussein has 8 years commercial banking experience and Norwest/Wells Fargo.

He is the former senior lender for Neighborhood Development Center. He serves in many boards such as Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Public Library, Payne-Lake Community Partners, Citizens League, and Emerging Markets Homeowners Initiative. He has been serving as the Executive Director of African Development Center (ADC) since 2003.

28. Sh. Abdirahman “Abu Turab” [Top]

Sh. Abdirahman has completed his early education in Somalia. He is amongst well known sheikhs in the Somali Community in Minneapolis, MN.

Currently, he serves the board of Al-Qanateen mosque based in Minneapolis, MN

29. Sh. Fisal Hammouda [Top]

Sh. Fisal Hammouda was born in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to America in 1969. He has been an active member ever since.

He received his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from Cairo University, and a Masters Degree in Engineering Mechanics from Wichita State University. Hammouda is an inspiring speakers as an imam, teacher, fundraiser, counselor, and as a Muslim worker.

For over 30 years he helped many organizations and started some of his own as well dealing with national and/or local status quo. Hammouda is currently the President of Creative Engineering Company based in Chicago, IL.

30. Sh. Abdulkarim Hayle [Top]

Sh. Abdikarim Hayle is an imam at the masjid of Al-Qanateen in Minneapolis, MN.

He is a public speaker in many Islamic conferences held locally and nationally in regards to Islam.

31. Sh. Hassan Mohamud "Jami'i" [Top]

Sh. Hassan "Jami'i" graduated from Somali National University School of Law in 1986 where he received  LL.B. in Civil Law and Islamic Law.  Thereafter, in 1989, he graduated from the Higher Institute for Islamic Studies in Cairo, Egypt, graduating with a diploma (MA) in Islamic Law.  In January 2002, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and became the first Somali graduated from Minnesota Law schools. 

Sh. Hassan works also with the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis as an Immigration Law Project Advocate.  He is a former member of US commission on Civil Rights and board member of Twin Cities Red Cross. 

Currently, he is the imam and director of Dawah mosque in St. Paul, MN. He is also an adjunct Professor at William Mitchell College of Law.

32. Sr. Ruqia Abdi [Top]

Ruqia Abdi finished her early education, from elementary to secondary, in Somalia. She went to International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ruqia received her Certicifate in Medical Assistant from Academy College in Bloomington, MN.

33. Sr. Ikran Osman [Top]

Sr. Ikran Osman finished her education from elementary to high school in Somalia. She then received a Teacher Certificate from the Teacher Training Academy in Somalia.

Afterwards she received an Associate degree in Islamic Studies. She has been a teacher for several years in Yemen.  In 2000, Sr. Ikran received a Certificate of Medical Assistant from Academy College in Bloomington, MN.

34. Sh. Maxammud Sh. Cali “Jayzaani” [Top]

Sh. Mohamaud Sh. Ali finished his earlier education in Somalia. He went to Ummu Al-Quraa University, Saudi Arabia, and received a degree in Islamic Studies. He has a Master degree from Open University in Virginia.    

Afterwards Sh. Ali has been a public school teacher in Yemen for 10 years. He was the imam of Marshal Mosque in Minnesota and others in US.

35. Br. Basim Sabri [Top]

Br. Basim Sabri is a businessman, and he owns several businesses in and around Minneapolis, MN, including Karmel Mall.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota.

36.Imam Makram El-Amin [Top]

Makram El-Amin graduated from North High School, Minneapolis in 1988. He attended Olive Harvey College in Chicago, IL and the University of MN in Minneapolis.

Imam El-Amin is a founder and co-founder member of many organization such as El-Amin Properties, Muslim American Society of Young Adult, Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, and many more.

Imam El-Amin currently service as the imam of Masjid An-Nur.