Our Imams

A Strong Muslim community preparing generations of leaders contributing to prosperity for all Canadians.

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Our Imams

A Strong Muslim community preparing generations of leaders contributing to prosperity for all Canadians.

Donate Monthly

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IMAM MAHMOUD OMAR

Imam Mahmoud Khalifa PhD graduated from Al-Azhar University, majoring in the fundamentals of Islamic Jurisprudence and theology. Currently, he is the president of (ECI) Edmonton Council of Imams, the Resident Imam of Al Rashid Mosque, and he is an Associate Professor at the Islamic University of Minnesota.

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He was appointed as a member of the Al-Azhar Fatwa Council in the Al-Munoufya province at the age of 24. During this time, he continued his studies in Fiqh and Usul Al-Fiqh and received ijazah (license) to give Fatawa. Imam Mahmoud holds an Ijazah in all 10 Major and Minor Qira’at (Different variants of recitations). In addition, Sheikh Mahmoud holds Ijazat in the major Hadith books, such as Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Muwatta, and Al Tirmidhi, and has studied these through a chain of narrators. Shiekh Mahmoud also teaches and gives Ijazat in Hadith and Fiqh and Usool to many students.

IMAM JAMAL TALEB

Imam Dr. Jamal Taleb was born in Tripoli Lebanon, he has been serving as an Imam in Canada for almost 30 years in different religious and educational institutions. He is married and blessed with three daughters and one son.

Imam Jamal Taleb academic specialty is in Islamic studies as well as Arabic literature.

In addition to the academic degrees known as Ijazah (Bachelor’s degree in both fields, he holds a Master degree with High Honors from University of Tripoli, Lebanon and a PhD in Islamic studies from the Islamic University of Beirut, Lebanon.

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His Doctorate in Islamic Studies was under the title of : “Family structures between Shariah and Canadian Laws; A comparative Study“.
Imam Jamal Taleb is a previous board member of the Canadian Council of Imams,
Representative of the Lebanese Dar-AlFatwa in Canada,
A board member of the Figh Majlis in Canada
He is currently the Imam of the Canadian Islamic centre (Al Rashid Mosque) as well as the visiting Imam of the Edmonton Islamic academy.

IMAM ALI JOMHA

Imam Ali Jomha was born in Canada and has been serving as an Imam and Da3eya since 1996. Imam Jomha holds a Bachelor degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the Al Azhar University, and a Master Degree in Islamic Shariaa from the University of Tripoli and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Islamic studies.

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He is a member of the Shura Council in Markaz Al Islam in Fort McMurray. As the counseling Imam of the Al Rashid Mosque; he is responsible for family counseling with a focus on youth to ensure their characters are shaped in an Islamic way. Shaik Jomha will also invest his efforts in community outreach, development, and Dawa.

IMAM SADIQUE PATHAN

Imam Sadique Pathan is a community leader, spiritual counselor, registered social worker, and therapist. He is the Outreach Imam of Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton, Alberta. He is also the Head of Outreach Public Relations and Media (Western Canada Region) for Islamic Relief Canada.

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Imam Sadique Pathan holds a Bachelor of Social Work Degree (University of Calgary), a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Dalhousie University, he also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Usool al-Deen) from the University of Jordan Faculty of Islamic Studies. His passion for learning the Islamic religious sciences lead him to study with eminent scholars in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and the U.K.

He recently started providing counseling and therapeutic supports through his private practice with Revive Counselling. He is also employed as a Senior Community Engagement Specialist (Western Canada Region) with Islamic Relief Canada. He is also the Outreach Imam of Al Rashid Mosque and the Resident Imam of the Edmonton Islamic Academy. His previous work experience included working with the Southside Primary Care Network as a behavioural health consultant (from 2016-2022). Furthermore, he was employed with Qatar University in the Faculty of Social Work as a Field Practicum Coordinator from 2013-2016. He also worked in the area of Children Services in Edmonton, Calgary, Weston-Super-Mare, UK, and Amman, Jordan from 2000-2013.

IMAM AHMAD BADAWI

Imam Ahmad Badawi started learning his journey in Islamic studies and memorizing Quran at the age of 10; he was able to full memorize Quran at the age of 12. Shaik Ahmed continuous to purse his studies in Hadith, Tafseer, and Tajweed which enabled him to land the job of the Imam and Quran teacher of Maskid Al Jadid in Hama, Syria at the age of 20.

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Since then, Sheikh Ahmed has devoted his life to teaching Muslims the art of recitation and help them in their journey to memorize the full Quran. He was awarded the SANAD award in 2009. Shaik Ahmad found Imam Al Shatibi Institute in 2011 and has been the director of this fast-growing Islamic institute since then.

IMAM SAID AHMED

Imam Said was born in the city of Kismayo in southern Somalia, he started his journey memorizing the Quran at the age of 8 under the teachings of Sheikh Ali Hassan and completed his memorization at the age of 12. He later moved to Egypt and joined Al Azhar high school where he graduated and later on attended Al Azahr University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Dawa and Islamic Culture.

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During his studies in Egypt, he served the Muslim community through many different Mosques and expanded his knowledge in different fields of Islamic studies with many renowned scholars. Sheikh Said moved to Canada in 2018 and has been serving the Muslim community in the Al Rashid Mosque. He is currently seeking his Master’s degree from the Islamic University of Turkey.

IMAM NAZIH YAFI

Imam Nazih Yafi is Canadian born of Lebanese descent. In 2010, he received his Bachelor of Islamic Studies from Jinan University in Tripoli, Lebanon. He has numerous Ijazat in Quranic recitation, including Hafs an Aasim, Shu’bah an Aasim, and Qalun a Nafi’. He continues to pursue Ijazat in other recitations.

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Previously, Imam Nazih served as an Imam in Sydney, Australia. He also served as an Imam, a teacher of Quran and Arabic as a second language, and a coordinator of Islamic Studies in Montreal, Quebec.

Imam Nazih teaches Islamic Studies, Quran, and Arabic as a Second Language at the Edmonton Islamic Academy; and teacher/director of an afterschool Quran Club under Imam Al Shatibi Quran Institute. Furthermore, he is responsible for leading Maghrib and Isha prayers daily at Al Rashid Mosque and leading Taraweeh and Qiyam in Ramadan.