IHS History

A Brief History of the IEC Husaini School (IHS)

Through its 30 successful years of existence, the IEC Husaini School has seen hundreds of students walk through the doors of the school on Sunday mornings. Two generations, going on three generations, of students have grown and prospered at IHS. Along with its mission and goals, IHS strives to build on its history and legacy in the Chicagoland area.

In 1989, Br. Syed Sammer Abbas, and his wife, Sr. Basera Abbas, saw a need for an organized Islamic school for the young children of their family and friends. With enthusiasm they pushed forward with the idea and repurposed their basement in Roselle, IL as the very first venue of IHS. Everything was prepared by hand, including the Sajdegahs and Tasbihs for prayers. As items like this were not readily available at that time, wood and beads were bought to prepare these items. Till this day, the wooden Sajdegahs from the first year of IHS can be found at IEC. The inaugural name for the school became “American School of Islamic Teachings”. The school continued to grow its student body and in just a few years it began renting Horizon Elementary School in Hanover Park, IL, on Sundays to provide adequate space for a learning environment.

In 1993, a few years after the inception of the school, it gained the attention of people around the larger Chicagoland community and nation. During this time, late Moulana Syed Zaki Al-Swij, along with IEC founding trustees, Br. Asad Ali Rizvi, Br. Moosi Raza Rizvi, and Br. Asad Ali Khan, proposed merging the school with the newly established Islamic Education Center (IEC) Husaini Association of Greater Chicago. Without hesitation, the proposal was accepted by Principal Br. Syed Sammer Abbas and and Vice Principal Sr. Basera Abbas, and the school became the IEC Sunday School.

After the merger of the school, and under the guidance of then IEC’s resident A’alim, Moulana Syed Mehboob Mehdi Abidi Al-Najafi, it continued to prosper more and enrolled students from all over the Chicagoland area, as well as, students from Wisconsin and Indiana. Over the years the school expanded, hosted and introduced several activities with the student’s educational needs at mind. These range from the following, to list just a few;

• Classes from Pre-K to Twelfth Grade

• Graduation Ceremonies

• Quranic Competitions

• The annual Imam Jafar-as-Sadiq (as) Islam & Science Fair (since 1994)

Many of the past students now attend the school as either members of the faculty or administration, and several of them now bring their own children to the school to gain their Islamic education just as they did when they were younger.

In 2019, after 30 long years of dedicated and tireless work, Principal Br. Syed Sammer Abbas, and Vice Principal Sr. Basera Abbas, indicated their interest to retire, to now the A’alim-e-Deen of IEC, respected Moulana Syed Mehboob Mehdi Abidi Al-Najafi. With the impending retirement at hand and after careful consideration and thought, Moulana Mehboob Mehdi constructed a model of dual leadership, which would help ensure Islamic excellence in academics, as well as, excellence in administrative operations at the school. With this model in mind, he appointed Moulana Sheikh Muhammad Javad Saadatmand as the new Principal overseeing all academic affairs, and Br. Faizan Husain Abid in the new position of Administrator, to oversee all administrative affairs. Under this model of dual leadership, the new Principal and Administrator hope to build on the 30 years of success and legacy at the school.

One of the very first acts of the new Administration at IHS was to grant Br. Syed Sammer Abbas and Sr. Basera Abbas, the titles of Principal Emeritus and Vice Principal Emerita, respectively. With the granting of these titles, both of these founders of IHS were given the honor of holding their titles for a lifetime and beyond. Along with these honorary titles, IEC and IHS recognized and awarded the couple with lifetime service awards. This recognition and the awards were presented to them on Eid-ul-Ghadeer 2019 and re-presented at a special IHS ceremony on opening day 2019.

Throughout the long years, several people have served with dedication at IHS and it would be very difficult to recognize them all. Allah (swt) and the Ahl-ul-Bait (as) know who these people are and the roles they have played throughout the years at IHS and their service to Islam and our community. Without all of their support and service, IHS would not have been able to successfully educate two or more generations of exemplary Muslims in Chicago and beyond.

We hope you will add to the next chapter of history at IHS and take part as either a student, parent, faculty, or a member of the staff, or maybe a stint in all of those roles. Insh’Allah together, and in partnership, we will develop the next generation of exemplary Muslims and leaders of this world, with the model of leadership of our beloved Ahl-ul-Bait (as).

2019-2020 Major highlights

• Constructed a dual model of leadership (Principal & Administrator) to ensure strong academic and administrative affairs for the school.

• Honored Br. Syed Sammer Abbas the title of Principal Emeritus, and Sr. Basera Abbas the title of Vice Principal Emerita.

• Rebranded the IEC Sunday School to the IEC Husaini School (IHS).

• Developed an administrative and operational structure to sustain, and positively evolve, academic success at the IEC Husaini School (IHS).

• Established IHS Central as one central contact point for all inquiries and notifications, via email, text, or voicemail.

• Established the Faculty, Staff, Parent Lounge to provide everyone a space to congregate and enjoy tea and snacks each morning, and most importantly, keep school operations quiet and un-interrupted throughout the whole facility.

• Engaged the IEC Youth Director and Youth Group into IHS to take advantage of IEC's largest and most consistent youth gathering, the weekly school sessions. Through this collaborative work, the students benefit from the Youth Group organizing periodic after school activities and other engaging opportunities. IEC's Youth vision also benefits by its Youth Director staying connected to their largest and most dedicated constituent representation, the students of IHS.

• Undertook an unprecedented and historical step, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, by opening up IHS Online. 

  • All classes were virtually in session simultaneously, as they would be in-person, along with a virtual IHS Lounge & Support Room. 

  • It was our greatest hope to create an online environment, which mirrors our in-person IHS sessions. 

  • Islamic education is no less than our general education, and to instill these ideals in our students we took the historic step of taking our Islamic education online. At the Islamic Education Center the Islamic education never stops!

• Established "IHS Accounts" (Google accounts) with the "@iechusaini.org" domain name, for all students, faculty, and administrative staff.

  • IHS Accounts provide users with full access to all Google Suite applications, and exclusive access to the IHS Online platform.

• Created the IHS webpage (iechusaini.org/school) to provide easy access to all IHS related information digitally, including access to to the ever important and popular IHS Online.

  • Web based access to IHS information began before the pandemic, directly via IEC's main website, but during the initial stages of the pandemic and IHS Online, a more efficient and complete solution was found in the form of the IHS webpage.

• Organized a virtual end of academic year Awards & Recognition Ceremony to recognize all the students for the completion of another year of their Islamic studies, and to appreciate faculty and administration members for their service to Islamic education.

  • Each student, faculty and administration member was recognized virtually with their picture and certificate, via IEC's Livestream, with both of our A'alims presiding over the ceremony.

2020-2021 Major highlights

• Continued to evolve the IHS Online platform, and IHS webpage, to provide a smooth and successful experience for all users as the COVID-19 pandemic continued.

• Held a virtual Opening & Orientation Day for students and parents, including a virtual Meet & Greet with our A'alims, to continue the annual event started in AY 2019-2020; and to also ensure all events and operations continue in the IHS Online environment, as they would in-person.

• Developed a Faculty Handbook to provide guidelines and expectations to all faculty for an effective, organized and professional experience at IHS.

• Organized the first-ever virtual annual IHS Student-Led Majlis-e-Aza, which was broadcasted via IEC's YouTube Livestream. Students led the event from beginning to end, with virtual recitations of Hadis-e-Kisa, Soz/Salaam/Marsiya, Poetry, Speeches, Hadis, Noha/Matam. This event once again ensured that all events and operations will continue in the IHS Online environment, as they would in-person.

• Organized virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences through the IHS Online platform, allowing faculty and parents to see one another virtually and speak, as they would in-person, to ensure the partnership between parents and faculty stays strong, regardless of any challenges.

• Established the Assembly Trivia Game (ATG) as a virtual after school activity for students in the IHS Online environment. 

  • The ATG provided students a fun virtual activity after school, helped them test the knowledge they've gained through the weekly Assemblies, and win gift cards to get prizes of their choice. 

  • The ATG will be here to stay insh'Allah, even in-person!

• Organized the first-ever virtual Islam & Science Fair to continue the annual IHS Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (as) Islam & Science Fair (26th year), in the IHS Online environment, and through the pandemic. 

  • 29 participants presented their projects virtually to judges and students of all grades for a very successful and historical fair.

  • Medals to all participants, and trophies to winners, were personally delivered after the virtual Awards & Recognition Ceremony broadcasted via IEC's Livestream.

• Continued all virtual events mentioned above, in place of in-person events, to ensure no IHS operations were compromised due to the pandemic.

• More to be added soon...

2021-2022 Major highlights

• Coming soon...

2022-2023 Major highlights

• Coming soon...