Mawlana Yusef Sarwar is a devoted educator and scholar who currently serves as an Islamic studies teacher at Islamic Foundation School and sits on their Discipline and Religious Guidance Committee. Having completed his rigorous Alimiyyah and Hifdh studies at the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, he completed a six-year course in traditional Islamic Studies, Tafsir of the Qur’an, and Hadith. Beyond his role in the classroom, Mawlana Yusef has been instrumental in the development of the Islamic Foundation’s comprehensive Islamic studies curriculum, ensuring that the educational framework aligns with both classical scholarship and contemporary needs. 

Hafidh Nasir Raje began his hifz journey in 2018 at the age of nine and  completed his memorization of the Qur’an at our very own Islamic Foundation School in 2022 at the age of 13. Hafidh Nasir is currently a student at Islamic Foundation School and will be entering 11th grade. He has experience in teaching Hifdh both online and in person, where he has helped students strengthen their memorization, recitation, and review of the Qur’an. Hafidh Nasir looks forward to sharing his passion for the Qur’an with students and helping them build a stronger connection with the Book of Allah.

Hafidh Salman Ajmeri began his Hifdh journey at MSI Masjid in Glendale Heights at the age of nine. Shortly after, he transferred to Masjid Uthman, where he completed his Hifdh at the age of 11. Thereafter, he continued to strengthen his Qur'anic studies by assisting his teacher in listening to other student’s recitations. Hafidh Salman is a student at Islamic Foundation School, where he has been studying for the past four years. He has a passion for teaching and helping students build a strong connection with the Qur'an. One of his main interests is mentoring students and developing their ability to make connections with the Qur’an. 

Hafidh Abubakr Ajmeri began his Hifdh journey at MSI Masjid at the age of 14 before transferring to Masjid Al Huda, where he completed his memorization of the Qur’an at the age of 17. After the completion of his Hifdh, as a senior student on the class, he assisted his teacher by listening to the recitations of the students, helping classmates while further strengthening his own connections with the Qur’an. Hafidh Abubakr is a graduate of the Tanwir One-Year Intensive Arabic and Islamic Studies program at Darussalaam Seminary and is now pursuing Alimiyyah studies at the same institution. 

Hafidh Yusuf Choudhury is a dedicated teacher committed to help young students build their relationship with the Qur'an. He is a Hafidh of Quran and a student of knowledge. He graduated from the College Preparatory School of America in Lombard and completed his Hifdh at the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin. Currently, Hafidh Yusuf is a student at the Islamic University of Madinah and is honored to be joining IQRA academy as an instructor for both the Summer Hifdh and Maktab programs. 

Hafidha Hafsa is a compassionate and dedicated educator with a background in Qur’anic studies and Islamic education. She completed her Hifdh through the Carriers of Light and the Islamic Center of Wheaton. In addition to her Hifdh, she has studied Tajwid and Islamic Studies. Hafidh Hafsa is currently part of the Murabbi Development Program at ICNA and is taking classes at Darul Qasim. Alongside her teaching career, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Psychology and plans to continue her studies with a Master’s degree in Special Education at UIC Chicago.

Hafidha Maryam Abid is a committed educator who completed her memorization of the Qur'an in 2020 from Darussalam Seminary. She came back to Darussalam in 2022 and graduated from their Sanatayn program in 2024, where she gained a deep understanding of the Arabic language, Qur'an and Hadith. For the past two years, Hafidha Maryam has been teaching seventh graders Basic Tafsir at Islamic Foundation Sunday School, and has now joined our team to teach in both the Summer Maktab and Summer Hifdh programs.

As Imam and teacher at Islamic Foundation, Villa Park, Sheikh Nasser has over 25 years of experience teaching Quran, Islamic Studies & Arabic, and leading prayers worldwide. He is a professional Qari and stood as principal of Al-Azhar institute in Bani Suif, Egypt. He has significant experience training and teaching many huffadh as part of an extended Al-Azhar Hifz teaching program. In addition, Sheikh Nasser has participated in many conferences, Quran competitions, and assembly of Imams and Islamic Schools. 

Hafidh Jawad Karim is a dedicated educator and scholar of the Islamic tradition. A Hafidh of the Quran, he completed his formal memorization at Darul Huda in New Jersey. He later pursued a year abroad in Mauritania studying classical Islamic texts and is an ongoing student at Darul Qasim under their Islamic sciences and seminary curriculum. He has been a dedicated Qur’an and Hifdh instructor for nine years and has demonstrated significant leadership in youth development, specifically through his work with Young Muslims National. 

Hafidh Yusuf Choudhury is a dedicated teacher committed to help young students build their relationship with the Qur'an. He is a Hafidh of Quran and a student of knowledge. He graduated from the College Preparatory School of America in Lombard and completed his Hifdh at the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin. Currently, Hafidh Yusuf is a student at the Islamic University of Madinah and is honored to be joining IQRA academy as an instructor for both the Summer Hifdh and Maktab programs. 

Hafidh Yusuf Shaikh is a committed Hifdh teacher passionate about guiding students through the sacred journey of Quranic memorization. He completed his Hifdh journey at Masjid Uthman in 2024 and has sat through courses of Islamic Studies as a student of Islamic Foundation School. He gained experience teaching children while volunteering as a Teaching Assistant at our After School Maktab program before becoming a Hifdh teacher. Being inspired himself by his Summer Hifdh teacher, Hafidh Yusuf hopes to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for his own students. 

Ustadha Asma was born in Pakistan and raised in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. She completed four years of Islamic studies at Darul-Islah in New Jersey and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from the Islamic Online University in Qatar in 2010. She has been teaching the Qur’an for over 20 years, through both private and group classes at various masjids and within her own home. In 2016, Ustadha Asma began her Hifdh journey through online classes with Masjid An-Nabawi and has received an Ijazah for 5 ajza so far. 

Hafidha Maryam Abid completed her memorization of the Qur'an in 2020 from Darussalam Seminary. She came back to Darussalam in 2022 and graduated from their Sanatayn program in 2024, where she gained a deep understanding of the Arabic language, Qur'an and Hadith. For the past two years, Hafidha Maryam has been teaching seventh graders Basic Tafsir at our Islamic Foundation Sunday School, and has now joined our team to teach in both the Summer Maktab and Summer Hifdh programs.

Ustadha Anhar Abuyacub is a passionate and dedicated teacher that holds a certification in Qur'anic Tajweed from her studies of the Qur'anic Arabic language.  Her vast experience includes teaching Qur'an, Islamic Studies, and Arabic at the Islamic Center of Wheaton, along with Hifdh and Nadhirah/Tilawah at our Islamic Foundation Sunday School. Her beautiful recitation aids her in working with older students as well in their memorization of the Qur'an. Alongside her Islamic credentials,  Ustadha Anhar also holds a Bachelor's degree in Nursing.

After completing his Hifdh at the age of 13, Qari Muhammad Hamid pursued higher Islamic studies at DarusSalam Seminary and the Institute of Islamic Education (IIE). He later completed his studies and graduated with honors from Darul Uloom Azaadville in South Africa. Throughout his studies, Qari Muhammad Hamid received numerous Ijazat in the Ten Qira'at and multiple texts of Tajwīd and Qira'att and has mastered 70 Maqamat. He currently serves as a full-time instructor at DarusSalam Foundation and tutors at various levels of Quranic studies. 

Ustadha Mansour has been blessed to teach Arabic and Qur'an for over 20 years at Islamic Foundation School. She currently teaches Qur’anic recitation at the Islamic Center of Wheaton. In 2025, she completed a four-year Tajweed & Hifdh program through the Kingdom of Jordan’s Qur'anic Affairs Department. She is now working to complete her memorization of the Qur'an and is pursuing a formal course of study in Hadith. All her expertise and experience working with students of the Qur’an has gifted her with a unique specialization of teaching techniques and strategies.