Ribaat Graduates
AFSHAN MALIK | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Afshan Malik serves as the Director of Development at Rabata. She graduated with her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management in 2019 from the University of Houston-Downtown and holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Northeastern Illinois University. Afshan also completed the Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Afshan was born in Chicago, IL and raised in Atlanta, GA. She began her Islamic studies journey in 2001 at the Georgia Islamic Institute and has taken courses from local and international institutions. She began studying at the Ribaat Academic Institute in 2012, under the tutelage of Dr. Tamara Gray. Afshan is the author of a young adult novel titled Pieces, published by Daybreak Press. She is a weekend school teacher at an Islamic Society of Greater Houston masjid and regularly helps with youth halaqas, book clubs, and women's programs. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Afshan holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi. Afshan teaches at Rabata's Dragonflies, Rabateens and women's halaqat programs. She currently resides in Houston, TX with her husband and five children.
AMANI RIMAWI | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Amani Rimawi was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago into a Palestinian American family. She received her bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University and worked in roadway and railroad design before settling down to start a family. She recently moved to central Indiana where she resides with her husband and 4 children. She has a passion for exercise and physical fitness and worked as an online fitness coach for 4 years. Before moving, Amani was a volunteer at her local masjid as a Sunday school teacher as well as serving on the masjid board of directors. She has been organizing halaqat for women and teen girls for many years, and is currently a women's halaqa teacher at Rabata. She has been a volunteer with the Ribaat Academic Institute since 2016 and at local nonprofits since 2018. Most recently she has taken on homeschooling her daughters and is working towards her ijaza in tajwid. In her free time, Amani has begun exploring the local parks and other attractions in her new city. Amani has a deep love for coffee and chocolate, and enjoys trying new coffee places whenever she is travelling with her family.
DR. AMENA HAKIM | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Dr. Amena Hakim is a general practitioner living in London, United Kingdom. Originally from Lebanon, Dr. Amena grew up studying under the tutelage of her parents, both of whom hold a degree in Sharia, and with various female scholars on her visits to Lebanon. She later went on to gain a BSc(Hons) in Biomedical Science at the University of Westminster and went on to study Medicine at the University of St. George’s, London. She is also a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Dr. Amena enjoys singing nasheeds and is a member of the Hakim sisters nasheed group, who have performed nationally and internationally. Dr. Amena works within the community to bring back the joy and happiness of our faith. She serves as the Halaqat lead at Rabata and is a halaqa teacher, and has been involved in the setting up and the running of a Saturday Arabic school called Dar Alfarah. She also runs Islamic circles for women to aid the remembrance of Allah and reignite His love and closeness in their hearts. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Dr. Amena holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi.
AQSA AKRAM | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Aqsa Akram was born and raised in New Jersey. She holds a BA in Economics, an MBA in Finance and a Masters in Science in International Business. She started her journey with Ribaat in 2016 and is Chapter Lead Assistant, an active volunteer for the New Jersey chapter and a member of the grant research team.
She is also the Health Senior Technology Client Manager at Alight Solutions, where she has been employed since 2005.
EAMAAN RABBAT | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Eamaan Rabbat was raised in the United States and in Syria, where she benefited from renowned female teachers of the Islamic sciences, including tajwid, sirah, hadith, fiqh, and aqīdah. After moving to the United Arab Emirates, she earned her Bachelor’s in Mass Communications with concentrations in Advertising and Journalism and later earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration.
Since graduating university, she has dedicated her time to the education and upbringing of children and adults. She has held various positions in educational institutions and schools, and volunteered at various educational centers. She has been honored to serve as director of the Ribaat Academic Institute since its inception in Fall 2013 and presently serves as Rabata’s Education Director. She teaches at the Ribaat Academic Institute, Rabateens, and Rabata women's halaqat. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Eamaanholds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi.
EMMANUELLE MANIGAT | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Emmanuelle (Eman) Manigat was born and raised in Montreal, Canada from Haitian parents. She converted to Islam in January of 2000 and is the Convert Care Coordinator at Rabata. She is currently a student at the Ribaat Academic Institute where she is studying sacred Islamic Sciences and Arabic. She also teaches a Rabata women's halaqa. Eman is one of the admins on the popular Muslim Women Convert Circle FB page, exclusive to convert women of all backgrounds and locations. Furthermore, Eman is the Lead for the Rabata Toronto Chapter where she strives to follow Rabata's ethos of positive cultural change. She is also on the steering committee for Black Canadian Muslim a non-profit organization who's mission is to enhance the lives of Black Canadian Muslims of the African diaspora by reviving a sense of community based on Islamic principles, education, art and support. Eman resides in Toronto with her two beloved children and husband. She is currently working on completing her master's in Pastoral Studies with a Certification in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy at the University of Toronto.
FADIYAH MIAN | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Fadiyah Mian was born and raised in Michigan by her parents Naseem and Muhammad Mian. She is 1 of 4 daughters. Fadiyah currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and 4 children. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She went on to study teaching in a dual masters and certification program. She has taught in the Islamic school system for a number of years and is currently homeschooling 3 of her 4 children. She is the lead of the Rabata Masjid, which oversees the Ibadah programming of Rabata. She is also a tajwīd teacher for the Ribaat tajwīd program. She first met Anse Tamara Gray when she went abroad to study in Syria in the late 90's and early 2000's. During this period, she was able to complete her training in tajwīd and received her ijāzah by the late Shaykh Muhyi al-Din al-Kurdi. She is from the first graduating class of Ribaat of 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, painting, taking nature walks and travelling. She also teaches for Rabata's youth programs, Dragonflies and Rabateens, and is a Rabata women's halaqa teacher.
DR. FARHANA YUNUS | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Dr. Farhana Yunus is a lifelong student of sacred knowledge. In addition to completing the Ribaat Teacher Certification program, she has also completed Bayyinah Access 1,2, and 3, studied the Ajroomiyah with Qutoof Academy, completed tajwīd and studied the Jazariyyah with Rahman School of Orlando, and studied with Islamic Online Institute with the Islamic Circle of North America Sisters Wing. She has been teaching Quran Tafseer for 10 years and currently runs a study circle for women of Quran Tafseer and Seerah. She also organizes the women’s Annual Spirit Retreat, has served on the Muslim Womens Organization Board, and is a Girlscout Troop leader. Dr. Farhana teaches at the Ribaat Academic Institute, Rabateens, Dragonflies, and is a Rabata women's halaqa teacher. She is a mother of five children, an optometrist, and she loves to travel, hike, kayak, run Disney marathons, and spend time with her family.
HAFSA ABDUL-HAKEEM | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Hafsa Abdul-Hakeem is from Georgia and currently resides in New Jersey. She is a graduate from Georgia State University with a degree in Mathematics. She currently works as a Case Manager in a non-profit and volunteers with the PTO at her son’s school. Hafsa has been an Islamic studies enthusiast from her youth, she studied Islamic studies and Quranic recitation from her youth with local scholars and teachers in her community. She traveled to Tarim to study while residing in Dar al-Zahra. She studied Arabic and Tajwid in Egypt and graduated from the Qasid Institute for Classical Arabic in Amman, Jordan where she was also able to get her Ijaza in Tajwid from Dar Al-Quran and study Islamic studies with Dar Al-Tawfiq. She continued her studies in the states in Qiraat and also in Islamic studies with Safina Society.
She was thrilled to find out about the women's scholarship program with Ribaat and jumped on the wave in 2013. She is a Rabata Chapter Co-Lead, a teacher with the Ribaat Tajwid Program and a Rabata Dragonflies instructor.
She is a daughter, sister, wife and mom of two boys who she sees as her youngest teachers and her ‘little loves’, her second child having been born with a rare terminal condition, Edwards Syndrome, whom she considers to have been a special blessing and gift in her life.
DR. HENNA TIRMIZI | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Dr. Henna Tirmizi is a Pediatric Anesthesiologist, wife, and mother of two girls residing in Birmingham, Michigan. She was introduced to Rabata by friends and took her first course: Foundations, Flounderings and Faith in the Spring 2016 semester. The rest, we can say, is history. She hopes to take the knowledge learned through her blessed Rabata journey and continuously share it and benefit her family and community. She currently volunteers with Rabata as a TA for Ribaat courses. She now considers herself a lifelong Rabata student, and is looking forward to everything future semesters and higher level courses have to offer.
IDA SOFIE NITTER | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Ida Sofie Nitter is a Norwegian convert who has spent most of the past 13 years studying in the US. She is currently an Islamic Studies PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on the veneration of the Ahl al-Bayt in Cairo in the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Ida holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi. In her free time Ida takes Ribaat classes, volunteers for both Ribaat and Masjid Rabata, and takes every opportunity she gets to go on hikes and walks in nature.
KARTINA AMIR | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Kartina Amir has a background in fine and graphic arts, starting her studies at Chelsea College of Fine Arts and later completing a certification from RMIT, Melbourne, Australia. She is mother to 4 children with the eldest being a special child with Met(H) Type 1, a rare blood disorder, who she refers to as “my miracle from Allah SWT”. Kartina’s working life began with waitressing and administration jobs as a youth. She ran an events management and a touring business in Australia and was a lead project manager for multinationals supplying heavy industrial equipment in Kuala Lampur. She has been an advocate and activist for Malaysian Aboriginals since 2012. She is qualified as a swimming instructor from SS1 and began karate with her children. She has researched various homeschooling philosophies and history of education. She has also been a part time student of classical homeopathy since 2017. She became a Ribaat student in 2014 and received the Ribaat Teacher Certification with the institute’s first graduating class in 2020. She currently serves as a Rabata women's halaqa teacher.
KOUTHAR MUTTARDY | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Kouthar Muttardy was born and grew up in Northern Virginia, the daughter of an American convert and a Libyan immigrant. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis in child development from George Mason University and has completed a Master’s Degree in elementary education from Marymount University. Over the past 20 years Kouthar has worked with multiple age groups as a preschool, high school special education, 2nd grade, and middle school history and civics teacher, as well as an Islamic Sunday school curriculum coordinator, soccer coach, Girl Scout troop leader and youth halaqa leader. Kouthar is a mother of three children, two of whom are in college and one of whom she is homeschooling as she works part time as a secondary teacher and educational consultant. Kouthar is passionate about education, feeling most happy when she is learning and teaching. She is honored and excited to be part of Ribaat’s first graduating class.
DR. LINDA MAHAIRI HAMADEH | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Dr. Linda Mahairi Hamadeh was born, raised, and has lived in the Chicagoland area her whole life. She is married and a mother of four children. Linda is a certified high school science teacher who went on to receive a Masters in Educational Leadership and Supervision and Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. Meanwhile, she has been working at an area Islamic school for over 20 years, initially teaching high school science, and currently serving as assistant principal. Additionally, Linda is humbled to be an active member of her local masjid, where she has been running the weekend school for almost 20 years and presently serving on its board of directors. Linda is honored to be a Ribaat student, grateful for the opportunities to serve the community, and prays that Allah swt grants steadfastness and sincerity.
MAHA GAAFAR | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020Maha Gaafar was born in Egypt and grew up in Canada. She is a graduate of Concordia University with a Political Science degree. Maha studied for 7 years under the teaching and guidance of Anse Hazar Mahayni, quenching her thirst for Islamic knowledge and spiritual upbringing, while enthusiastically dedicating herself to the needs of her local community. Maha has regularly taught at weekend Islamic schools and conducts youth halaqas for pre-teen and teenage girls, and is currently a women' s halaqa teacher at Rabata. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Maha holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi. She also co-leads a local Girl Scouts of America troop. In 2012, Maha began her journey with Rabata and continued her Islamic studies education at the Ribaat Academic Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Tamara Gray. She has the pleasure of being the Assistant Director at the Ribaat Academic Institute and is also the Rabata Programs Manager, leading programs and supporting the growing list of Rabata chapters across the globe. Maha currently resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and children. She is honored to bring Rabata's mission of positive cultural change wherever she goes and hopes to uplift Muslim women and children to live with joy and faith.
DR. MAHEEN BADAL | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Dr. Maheen Badal has been a Ribaat student since its Pilot Program 2012 and has been teaching Quran at Ribaat Academic Institute since 2019. She has two girls.
MAY GAAFAR | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
May Gaafar is a mom of 4 residing in Houston, Texas. Originally from Egypt, she grew up in Montreal, Canada, where she finished her studies in Biochemistry. She loves everything Rabata and she currently runs the administrative side of the Ribaat Academic Institute and serves as a Rabata women's halaqa teacher. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, May holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi. She is creative and enjoys designing fliers for Ribaat. She enjoys working with kids as a Sunday's program teacher, Girl Scout troop leader and Cookie Mom. She loves to travel, the sea, snorkeling and diving.
NAJIYAH DIANA MAXFIELD | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Najiyah Diana Maxfield began her career teaching history and English, both in the States and overseas. Her debut novel, Sophia's Journal, is a YA time-travel adventure that is being taught in several schools across North America and as far away as Amman, Jordan. Najiyah is Head of Publishing at Rabata's Daybreak Press and co-author with Anse Tamara Gray of Project Lina: Bringing our Whole Selves to Islam. She teaches a Rabata women's halaqa, at the Ribaat Academic Institute, and the Rabateens program.
NAZLIN RAFIQ | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Nazlin Rafiq was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She graduated with her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature and a Bachelor’s of Education at the University of British Columbia. She has also completed a Certificate in Mental Health for Teens to serve her students. She first began her Islamic studies journey in 2001 at local institutions. She started studying at the Ribaat Academic Institute in 2013, under the tutelage of Dr. Tamara Gray.
Nazlin is the co-founder and award-winning author of the Jannah Jewels Adventure Series. She is a beloved elementary school teacher and has held positions at all of her local Islamic schools and several public and private schools in Greater Vancouver for the past 25 years. She is also a passionate learning consultant specializing in guiding parents to deliver a truly holistic and high-quality education to their children. Nazlin has a keen interest in Islamic Psychology and the Healing Arts. She currently resides in Vancouver, BC with her husband and four children and can most likely be found reading, playing basketball, wandering in the mountains, and gazing at the stars.
DR. SAADIA MIAN | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Dr. Saadia Mian is an endocrinologist with an interest in functional medicine. After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Michigan, she went to medical school at Michigan State University. She works full-time at Metro Detroit Endocrinology Center in Dearborn, Michigan. During this time, she went to Syria to study Arabic, Quran and sacred knowledge. She received her ijāzah in the Hafs recitation from Shaykh Abu Hassan Al-Kurdi (May Allah swt be pleased with him) and also from Shaykh Krayyim Rajih. She completed the memorization of the Quran and is currently working on obtaining anijāzah al-ghaib (ijāzah in memorization). She helped to launch the Ribaat Tajwīd Program and teaches tajwīd for Ribaat. She is author of the award-winning book about women who have memorized the Quran, The Crowning Venture: Inspiration From Women Who Have Memorized the Quran. She is a member of the founding board of Rabata and continues to serve on its board while remaining active in her local community. She teaches at the Ribaat Academic Institute as well as a Rabata women's halaqa. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Dr. Saadia holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi. She is trained in functional medicine and enjoys incorporating principles of Prophetic medicine in her practice as well. In her free time, she likes to volunteer for medical missions, walk outdoors, crochet, read, paint, write and experiment with healthy recipes.
SAMIA UDDIN | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Samia Uddin lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. The Ribaat Academic Institute has been an answered du'a for her in that it’s been a lifelong dream for her to study her Deen. Her aim is to continue until she can complete the four level program.
She is on the Masjid Rabata team and co-lead of the Rabata Michigan chapter.
DR. SANA SHIREEN AHMED | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Dr. Sana Shireen Ahmed is a Medical Epidemiologist working for a local health department. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and obtained her bachelors and medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After completing post-graduate training, she completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at Stanford University. She was disturbed by the health disparities and lack of access to healthcare while working in a county hospital. With her mentor’s support, she worked as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers of Diseases Control and Prevention and trained in applied epidemiology. Working as a disease detective, she investigated outbreaks all across the country, worked on projects in the Dominican Republic and Bangladesh, and authored public health articles. She enjoyed combining her learning with travel, having studied Arabic in Egypt and tropical medicine in Peru. Sana has taught elementary aged students sira and basic tajwid at the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs and is a Ribaat volunteer. She loves spending time with family.
SOOFIA AHMED | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Soofia Ahmed Soofia Ahmed has led teaching initiatives for street children in India, taught in UK Islamic schools, and has taught in both public and private schools in the USA. She has also spoken at Amnesty International, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and Islamic Society of North America conferences. She was one in 16 American students to receive an internship regarding the promotion of religiously pluralistic mentalities through Interfaith Youth Core and was invited to the White House by Hillary Clinton as part of the Generation Change youth initiative. She was invited to Oprah Winfrey and Good Morning America shows to speak regarding issues of faith. Through her college, she received the prestigious Founder’s Day Medal of Honor and the Niebuhr Center’s Gandhi Internship for International Justice.
In Scotland, she worked as the Black and minority ethnic lead support worker at Inverness Women’s Aid. She was Inverness Masjid’s coordinator of women’s, children’s and new Muslim affairs and outreach.
Soofia, resides in the Chicagoland area with her husband and three bairns. She is a teacher by profession and passion, a real estate agent and holds a masters in project management. She has been a Ribaat student and volunteer since 2016 and currently is the Rabata Chicago chapter lead. She teaches the next generation of positive cultural change makers through Rabata’s Dragonflies and Rabateens youth programs and is a Rabata halaqa teacher. She also serves as secretary on the Rabata Board of Directors.
TAYYABA SYED | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Tayyaba Syed is a multiple award-winning author, journalist, keynote speaker, and performer, and thus far, has conducted 150+ literary and faith-based presentations for a variety of schools, communities, and organizations both online and in-person.
She has written 20+ book titles for kids including Encyclopedia Britannica and has had bylines in numerous publications such as NPR and Chicago Parent. Her most recently published works include The Blessed Bananas, a children’s picture book, which has won 3 gold literary awards, and her newest board book Hafsa’s Kisses, winner of the Daybreak Book Award.
She has been a student and volunteer with Rabata since its inception in 2012 and now serves on its Board of Directors and as a halaqah teacher. Tayyaba is part of the first graduating class to receive a teacher certification through the Ribaat Academic Institute in 2020 and is a teacher for its Dragonflies children’s program. For the last decade, Tayyaba has been leading a local women’s halaqah to bring traditional knowledge and a sense of belonging to over 100 moms just like her. In 2021, Tayyaba was elected with the most votes as a member of her local public school district’s Board of Education. She works as a curriculum writer for Monarch Academy and lives with her husband and three children in Illinois, where she enjoys being outdoors, exploring nature, and reading in her free time.
WALIA WAHID | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2022
Walia Wahid is a Zambian born Bangladeshi Canadian who currently lives in California with her husband and two incredible girls, Hafsa and Nafisa. Walia has a Bachelors of Commerce with a major in Accounting. In California she has volunteered for many organizations including The Rahmah Foundation’s Young Muslimah Halaqa Program as a teacher for the Busy Bees as well as the Youth Coordinator for the SBIA masjid. At Ribaat Walia has played a variety of roles such as Course Admin, TA, and Ribaat Social Media Team Lead. Currently, Walia serves as a TA, is an advisor, and is also the Bay Area Chapter Lead where she desires to take the beautiful experience we have online and bring it to her community. She hopes to inspire the women of her community to feel excited to explore all the ways positive cultural change can transform their lives.
ZAINA ABUKHDEIR | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2020
Zaina Abukhdeir is of Palestinian blood, California born, Colorado raised, with a Dallas residence. She’s a big sister to four siblings. Zaina has a Bachelors in Math and Secondary Education. She got her diploma in Arabic studies from Bayyinah Institute and then became a teacher assistant in the Access Program. She then went on to run a homeschool co-op program in the DFW area. She’s also a licensed coiffeur and has managed restaurants and worked as a cook. Zaina has Hermione vibes and is a coffee addict. She’s known as the “Mother of Two Dragons”, with a daughter and a son. She earned her Ribaat Teacher Certification with the class of 2020 and is a full time student at Ribaat – that is, until she gets her Hogwarts letter.
ARWA GHABRA | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Arwa Ghabra currently serves as a pharmacist. In 2010, she graduated from West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. She also received her ijāza in Quranic Recitation in 2007 from Shaykh Al Kurdi (may Allah have mercy on him).
Born to Syrian parents, Arwa grew up in the small southern town of Princeton, West Virginia, and was blessed to spend most of her childhood summers in Damascus, Syria. When there, she studied Arabic, Tajwīd, Fiqh, Hadīth and Islamic History. She began her Ribaat learning journey in 2012 shortly after the birth of her son.
The Ribaat program allowed Arwa to continue her journey of Islamic learning while raising her two young children. She also volunteers in the Ribaat Tajwīd, RabaTEENS, and Halaqāt programs. She currently resides in Elkridge, Maryland where she works as a pharmacist with her husband and two children and leads the Rabata Maryland Chapter.
CARLA TAYLOR | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Carla Taylor currently works for Art & Wilderness Institute Community, where she leads backpacking trips, focuses on the non profit operations, and is the Director of Khulafa Al-Ard, an outdoor Islamic weekend nature program. Carla is also a teacher for Rabata’s children program, Dragonflies and volunteers her time with her local library. She holds her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science.
Carla currently resides in Southern California, but was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she attended San Jose State University. She has worked in the nonprofit field for over 15 years in various capacities, which have provided her with opportunities to serve her community and beyond.
When she isn’t working outside of the home, Carla homeschools her 3 kids, enjoys outdoor activities with her family, and takes various classes on topics that she feels will enrich her life and the lives of those around her. In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys handwork and good conversations.
FOZIA BASHIR | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Fozia Bashir works as a Geographic Information System Analyst for an environmental consulting company in California. She is currently residing in Austin, Texas but calls the Bay Area, California her home.
Fozia was introduced to Rabata back in 2014 through Ustadha Dr. Rania Awaad and started classes at Ribaat soon after. Fozia loves spending as much time as she can with her two roses, her children–a boy and a girl–outdoors.
HEATHER ELSAYED | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Heather Elsayed serves as the spiritual advisor for Believe It App, a Muslim faith-based goal setting app, and as an educator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Marketing and a minor in Women’s Studies. She earned a certification in personal training with a certification in spiritual life coaching and has over 15+ years of experience developing programs for the community that focus on wellness of the mind, body, and soul. Currently, she is pursuing her master’s degree in Islamic Studies through Bayan Graduate Program.
Heather is also a published writer who focuses her content on the Muslim narrative in America, leads spaces dedicated to facilitating interfaith dialogue, and is committed to Islamic historical research. Heather is a knowledge seeker and plans to be a lifelong student under the tutelage of Dr. Anse Tamara Gray and the Anisaat of Ribaat for as long as Allah wills it to be possible.
LENA ZOHNY | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Lena Zohny currently serves as Rabata’s Communications Assistant. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Stony Brook University.
Born and raised in New York, Lena moved to Austin after marriage, and in 2018, she found her way to Rabata as Anse Dr. Tamara Gray and her touring group stopped in town. Pregnant with her third child and first daughter, Lena knew she wanted Rabata and joy-filled faith as part of her and her daughter’s future experience of Islam. She enrolled in her first Ribaat class the next month and quickly fell in love with Ribaat and Rabata's approach to learning and the transformative perspective it offered.
As part of her love for community and spreading the positive cultural change as Rabata so inspires, she serves on the board of her local masjid and reflects often on what meaningful community built in the Prophetic light looks like. She loves spending time in community, learning, and spending time with her family.
LOUMA SEBAIHI | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Louma Sebaihi, a Family Nurse Practitioner based in Florida, spent many years in Damascus studying traditional Islam, during which time she earned ijāzas in Tajwīd and the 40 Hadith of Imam an-Nawawi. Over the years, she spent time pursuing her passion for teaching by leading TESOL classes at the American school in Damascus, and at public and Islamic Schools in the United States.
Louma’s longing to preserve Quran, Arabic, and the love of the Prophet ﷺ amongst her 4 children and the new generation has spurred many of her passion projects. While living in Oklahoma, she started a Sunday Islamic school for the local community, and after moving to Florida, she started Little Medina Academy. She has also worked with the Rabata Tajwīd and RabaTEENS programs, sharing her love for the Quran with women and teen girls. She hopes to continue contributing to Rabata and her community. In her spare time she enjoys painting, poetry, and being in nature.
DR. NIDA RASHID | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Dr. Nida Rashid is an Emergency Medicine Resident turned Clinical Psychologist in training. In addition to her completing her medical studies, she obtained a certificate in Topics in Human Behavior from Harvard University.
From Pakistani-heritage, Dr. Nida was born and raised in the UAE where she completed her medical training at the Dubai Medical College. She later joined the Emergency Medicine residency program at one of the leading trauma centers in the region. An international move to the USA and an epiphany later, she decided to change gears with her career and is currently pursuing a Masters in Psychology at the Harvard Extension School of Harvard University.
She hopes that she can combine her knowledge of Psychology and Islamic Sciences with her experiences as a physician to benefit the Muslim medical community. In addition to studying with Ribaat, Dr. Nida initiated volunteering with Rabata in 2023 and finds it very fulfilling. She is a mother of a girl and a boy and loves to read and cook food for family and friends in her free time.
SAFFIYYA MOHAMMED | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Saffiyya Mohammed currently works in sales and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Science Environmental and Natural Resource Management with a minor in Marine Biology.
Born and raised in the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean, Saffiyya still resides there. Her Rabata journey began in 2016, as she was searching for Muslim women’s voices in literature, online spaces, and the deen, and came across Anse Dr. Tamara Gray and Ribaat, an answered dua, and the lifeline that is Rabata. She hopes to continue along her Rabata journey of learning and open the Caribbean chapter so other women can be part of this amazing community, learn and thrive.
She aspires to be part of the rising tide of female scholars, and tell the stories of Caribbean Muslim female scholars. She enjoys reading, traveling - especially retreats and meeting diverse Muslim women from around the globe.
SAFIYYAH SALAAM | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Safiyyah Salaam currently serves as the Director of Student Services for a local Islamic School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a master’s degree in Collaborative Education with an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Safiyyah also serves as an instructor in Teaching Methodologies for Ribaat Academic institute, where she started in 2017.
Safiyyah started out her career in special education and eventually shifted to ESL where she worked as a team leader, peer coach, and as an ESL Coordinator for a charter school network. Safiyyah is a wife and proud mother of three daughters.
SARAH ABE | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Sarah Abe works for the local government in the Twin Cities area. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of Michigan and then continued on after some time to earn her dual master’s degrees in Public Policy and Social Work.
Born and raised in the small town of Coldwater, Michigan, Sarah moved to Minnesota after completing her undergraduate degree to work for Rabata’s Daybreak Bookshop, the forerunner to today’s Rabata Cultural Center. Over the years, Sarah has also served on the boards of various organizations in Minnesota and currently is the Board Chair of Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE), an organization that amplifies the voice and power of Muslim women.
Sarah started studying with Rabata in 2012 and holds an ijāza in the 40 Hadith of Imam an-Nawawi in addition to the Ribaat Teacher Certification. She loves to fill her time with reading, studying, and good company.
SARAH ALI | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Sarah Ali found her way to Rabata in 2016, after completing some degree work in Business Administration, inspiring a pivot in her life. Over the past 8 years, she has been dedicated to the self work that Anse Dr. Tamara Gray and the other Anisaat have inspired. Through it, she has committed herself to fostering community, locally and digitally, rooted in the deep love that they have taught and demonstrated to their students.
Born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Houston, Texas, Sarah now lives in Lasalle, Ontario, Canada with her husband and three children. Sarah has been helping at Rabata in various capacities throughout her time, from serving as an admin for classes, to supporting students, to assisting at Masjid Rabata programming, being an affiliate lead for the Windsor Chapter, and to meeting with new volunteers online. Her capacity to see the talents in everyone around her have made her incredibly effective at channeling the volunteers’ energy. In addition, Sarah is currently homeschooling two of her children and is a talented photographer.
SARAH TAUFIQUE | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Sarah Taufique holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Secondary Education. Born in Texas and raised between Texas, Virginia, Maryland, and a quick year and half of living in Pakistan, currently lives in Cincinnati with her husband, son and cat, Rumi.
She worked for some time with a local Muslim organization focused on helping refugees and supporting local families in need. She spent 13 years homeschooling her son from second grade until his graduation in 2024. Her homeschooling adventures included running a local Muslim homeschooling co-op for 3 years at the local masjid. In 2018, Sarah began volunteering at her local masjid doing outreach and interfaith work.
Over the past three years she has been teaching an introduction to Islam class for convert women. She also provides spiritual mentorship to those new to Islam and those thinking about converting. In addition to earning her Ribaat teaching certificate, Sarah also has an ijāza (certificate) in Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith and the 40 Hadith of Palestine. Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and reading. She loves drinking coffee and being in nature.
SASKIA EDDARKAOUI | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Saskia Eddarkaoui, a German convert, holds a Bachelor of Arts in African Studies and a Master of Arts in Sociology.
Living in the south of Germany with her Moroccan husband and their four children, Saskia works passionately and fervently for her local community. After seeing limited local opportunities and resources for her children, Saskia founded an Islamic Sunday School and currently serves as its manager and teacher. Additionally, she happily serves as a volunteer for the Ribaat Halaqa Program. In her free time, she enjoys being outside and discovering new places.
TALATH AALIA SIDDIQUI | Ribaat Teacher Certification Class of 2024
Talath Aalia Siddiqui creates positive cultural change as a certified Life Coach in Social-Emotional Leadership and heads a consulting company providing non-profit management and coaching focused on unleashing human potential. She holds a master’s degree in Leadership and Coaching, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. With over fifteen years of experience as a business consultant and executive, she brings her knowledge and expertise to educate, coach, and lead towards collective betterment. Her affiliations include Baithak School Society, Muslimah Connection, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, Girl Scouts, and Mohammed Webb Foundation.
Aalia is also active in the inter-faith community and enjoys learning, history, crafts, nature walks, and traveling. Aalia is currently working on her upcoming book Becoming More ME: Building a Self-Concept as a Pakistani, American, Muslim, Woman.