Islamic Studies Department

The Graduate Theological Foundation has established a variety of relationships with such institutions as the North American Imams Federation (NAIF) in Washington, D.C., and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Indianapolis, for the purpose of cooperating in providing educational opportunities relevant to the GTF degree requirements. Imam Omar Shahin, Ph.D., President of the Executive Committee of the North American Imams Federation, has been appointed both Director of Islamic Studies and Professor of Islamic Law at the GTF. In collaboration with ISNA and our Islamic faculty, the GTF has put in place three degree programs in Islamic Studies: the Doctor of Philosophy, the Master of Theology, and the Bachelor of Theology. 

• Faculty
• Faculty Listing in Arabic
• Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies
• Master of Theology in Islamic Studies
• Bachelor of Theology in Islamic Studies
• How to Apply
• Tuition Information
• Online Tuition Payment
• Transcript Request
• Islamic Studies Alumni
• Master’s and Doctoral Theses in Islamic Studies

Faculty

Omar Ahmed Shahin, Ph.D.

Dean of Islamic Studies

 

Dr. Shahin is a Fellow of the Graduate Theological Foundation, Director of Islamic Studies, and Ibn Taymiyya Professor of Islamic Law. He is also Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the North American Imams Federation. He holds the High Diploma from Jordan University and degrees in Islamic Studies from Islamic University in Almedina Almonwara, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. He is licensed to practice jurisprudence law as an Islamic Attorney in the courts of Amman, Jordan. Imam Shahin holds both the Master of Theology and the Doctor of Philosophy from the GTF.  Dr. Shahin also holds the Doctor of Laws degree honoris causa from the GTF. For Dr. Shahin’s full bio, please click here. 

Naser Alshaikh, Ph.D.

---

Safwat Ali Morsy Mahgoob, Ph.D

Chair of the Jurisprudence and its Foundations Department

 

Sheikh Dr. Morsy is Professor of Islamic Studies. Dr. Mahgoob took his Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic Islamic Studies at Al Azhar University in Egypt. Dr. Magoob earned the Master of Theology in Islamic Studies degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation with a thesis entitled, Muslims Coexisting with Others; An Historic Important Reality.   Dr. Mahgoob’s Ph.D. in Islamic Studies was earned through the Graduate Theological Foundation with his culminating work being his thesis entitled, The Islamic Discourse and the Changing Reality. Dr. Mahgoob was awarded the Imam Malik Fellowship in Islamic Studies based on the merit of his doctoral thesis. Dr. Mahgoob resides in the Bay Area in California. 

 

 

++Return to Top 

---

Mohamed Moussa Ph.D

Chair of the Hadeeth Department

 

Shaykh Mohamed Moussa is Professor of Islamic Studies. A graduate of Al-Azhar University (Egypt), he studied principles of religion (Islam) in the faculty of Usul al-din. Dr. Moussa earned the Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation. In 2010, the GTF awarded him the Ibn Taymiyya Prize in Islamic Studies for his outstanding scholarship as a master’s student. He serves as Imam of the North Hudson Islamic Educational Center in New Jersey, Dr. Moussa is Secretary General of Manara Institute (Islamic & Arabic Studies), as well as president of the Tri State Imams Council. Dr. Moussa is a board member of Brotherhood and Sisterhood Interfaith in NJ, as well as a board member of Palisades Interfaith Action.  He is the author of several books in Arabic (and is currently translating them into English), including Social Relations in the Light of the Al-Nisaa Chapter; Unify the Procedures of Marriage and Divorce in U.S. Mosques; a series on Al-Moyaser (Fi El Fiqh, Fi Usool Alfiqh, and Fi Alhadeeth); and Characteristics of Faith in Islam. To read Dr. Moussa’s full bio, please click here.

 

 

++Return to Top 

---

Mohammad Qatanani, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Mohammad Qatanani is Professor of Islamic Studies. He has been the Imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County in New Jersey since 1996, one of the largest Islamic centers on the east coast. Dr. Qatanani received a bachelor’s degree in Islamic Legislation and Jurisprudence in 1985 from the University of Jordan as well a master’s degree in Islamic Jurisprudence in 1989 with a thesis entitled, “The effect of differences throughout time on the change of rulings.” He also received a Ph.D. in Islamic Jurisprudence the University of Jordan in 1996 with a thesis entitled, “Justice and its implementation in Islamic Jurisprudence.”  Dr. Qatanani is a Member of the Fiqh Council of North America, one of the founders of the Imams Council of Tri-State Area. (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut), the President of the Islamic Education Foundation of New Jersey (2004-2005), and Professor of the Islamic American University. He is also one of the founders of WAFAA house (Women Against Family Abuse).  Dr. Qatanani is a Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Montclair State University (New Jersey) and has been recognized to be among the top teachers in America by “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” Dr. Qatanani has received many awards and recognitions, including the “Ambassador for Peace” award by The Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace and a Special commendation from the City of Paterson and County of  Passaic, New Jersey. He is a member of several interfaith outreach and dialogue organizations and founder of “Muslim-Christian Dialogue of New Jersey.”

 

++Return to Top 

---

Haitham Alzamareeh, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Haitham Alzamareeh is Professor of Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF) – Philadelphia branch.  Dr. Alzamareeh was born in Palestine in 1980 and studied at the Islamic University, Al-Madinah Al-Monawarah, Saudi Arabia with the Faculty of Sharia (Islamic Law).  While at the Islamic University, Al-Madinah Al-Monawarah, Dr. Alzamareeh earned the Bachelor's degree in 2003 with a  grade of Distinction, first class honors, the Master's degree in 2008, Principles of Jurisprudence (Islamic Law) with a grade of Distinction, first class honors and in 2014 he earned the Doctor of Philosophy in Principles of Jurisprudence (Islamic Law) with a grade of Distinction, first class honors.  To read Dr. Alzamareeh’s full bio, please click here.  

 

 

++Return to Top 

---

Hana Taleb Jaber, Ph.D. 

Dr. Hana Taleb Jaber is Professor of Islamic Studies. She is a native of Palestine and has her Bachelor degree from Al-Quds University in Palestine. Dr. Jaber holds both the Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation. She is facility member and teaches courses at the GTF branch in Philadelphia, She serves as the principle of the Leaders Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the author of several books, including, The Modesty: Tthe missing duty for the desired future, and Raising Muslim Youth in the West:  Islamic Approach.

++Return to Top

---

Shaykh Mohamed Elbar, Ph.D.

 

Shaykh Mohamed Elbar is Professor of Islamic Studies. A graduate of Al-Azhar University (Egypt), he studied principles of religion (Islam) in the faculty of Usul al-din. Dr. Elbar earned the Master of Theology with excellence in 1997 and Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies with excellence and outstanding in 2004. He serves as imam at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge (New York) having formerly served at the Muslim American Society of Queens (New York) from 2004-2006. Dr. Elbar delivers lectures and teaches classes at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge and across the U.S. He has been an imam since 1990, having served in Egypt. Dr. Elbar also served in 1994 as a teacher of Islamic Studies in Saudi Arabia.  To read Dr. Elbar's full bio, please click here. 

 

 

 

++Return to Top 

---

Ahmad Khaled Yousef Shukri, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Ahmad Khaled Yousef Shukri is Professor of Islamic Studies. He is a faculty member in the Department of Theology, Faculty of Sharia, at the University of Jordan. He has taught at the University of Jordan, Yarmouk University (Jordan), the United Arab Emirates University, and various other universities. At the University of Jordan, Professor Shukri has also served as Director of the Islamic Cultural Center, Head of the Department of Theology, and Assistant Dean for the Faculty of Sharia. He has also served on various committees and councils, including as Vice President of the Conservation of The Holy Quran Society (Jordan), as President of the jury for the 15^th international competition for memorizing the Quran (Russia, 2014), and as member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars and the Association of Scholars in Jordan.  Professor Shukri has authored dozens of books and papers and serves as a representative at competitions, supervisor of graduate projects, and reviewer for scientific journals, among many other activities. 

++Return to Top  

---

Watheq Alobaidi, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Watheq Alobaidi is Professor of Islamic Studies. He is a graduate of the Islamic Institute (Iraq) and a graduate of the Islamic Sciences College at the University of Baghdad. He holds a master's degree in Islamic Jurisprudence from the University of Baghdad and a Ph.D. from American Open University. For 35 years, Dr. Alobaidi has led mosques in Friday sermons and religious talks and has served as an Imam in the largest mosque in Iraq, the Abu Hanifa Mosque (1997-2003). He was a teacher, later Deputy and finally, Head of the Abd al-Qadir al-Kilani School, the largest Islamic school in Iraq, from 1997 until 2007. From 2010-2012, he was Imam at the Islamic Center of Tucson in Arizona. Currently, he is an instructor at American Open University in the Department of Arabic Language (since 2010) and Imam at the Muslim Community Center of Tucson.

 

++Return to Top

---

Imam Aly Soliman Mohamed Kamel, M.Th., is Professor of Islamic Studies for the Bachelor of Theology in Islamic Studies degree program students.  Imam Kamel is currently the Imam of the Andalusia school in Yonkers, New York.  Imam Kamel holds the Bachelor of Science degree from Alexandria University, Egypt, and the Master of Theology in Islamic Studies degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation.  Imam Kamel is a Ph.D. candidate at the GTF in the Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies degree program.  He is active within the community in his role as an Imam.  Some of his activities include lecturing on the topics of domestic violence, family and social problems within the Muslim community and coexistence between communities and integration within the community.

 

++Return to Top

---

How to Apply

1. Only those who have been in ministry for at least five years may apply. (See Ministry Defined) Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent for master’s programs and a seminary/graduate degree from an academic or professional institution for all doctoral programs.
2. Academic transcripts or educational records (undergraduate for master’s applicants and seminary/graduate for doctoral applicants) are to be sent directly from the issuing institution to the GTF administrative offices.
3. Applications are accepted and processed throughout the year. Evaluation of applications takes approximately two weeks.*
4. A ministry statement is required of all applicants. This statement should express the applicant's own personal commitment to the program chosen and why the applicant feels it would serve his/her professional needs. Ministry experience should be listed as part of this statement. This is the central core of any application. For a definition of ministry, please Click Here.
5. Two letters of recommendation are required for all degree programs. These letters may be from a professional colleague, former professor, lay member of the parish, or ministry professional.
6. A non-refundable application fee of $65.00 must accompany the application or may be paid by visiting our secure payment website.

1. Download, print and complete an application form. Only those who have been in ministry for at least five years may apply. (See Ministry Defined.)
2. Complete the Undergraduate Portfolio Requirement.  Students must develop and submit an Undergraduate Portfolio with the application form to provide evidence of five or more years of post-high school, professional-level paid or volunteer work experience in a social service ministry or faith community. 
3. Academic transcripts, educational records, or copy of high school diploma are to be submitted to the Office of the Registrar upon formal application.  Applicants must hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent for all undergraduate programs.
4. A ministry statement is required of all applicants.  This statement should express the applicant's own personal commitment to the program chosen and why the applicant feels it would serve his/her professional or personal needs.  Ministry experience should be described in detail as part of this statement. 
5. Two letters of recommendation are required for all degree programs. These letters may be from a professional colleague, former teacher, member of the parish, or ministry professional. One or both of the required letters of recommendation must verify five or more years of ministry experience.
6. A non-refundable application fee of $65.00 must accompany the application.

• Transcript requests must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Registrar by email, mail or by using our online form.  The communication must include the student name, year of graduation, degree program, and transcript recipient address.
• There is a ten dollar fee per official transcript copy that must be paid to the Office of the Bursar.  This fee can be paid by check, money order, by credit card over the phone, or by using the secure online form on the Graduate Theological Foundation’s website here. 
• Transcripts cannot be issued to another institution or individual without prior written request from the student and payment at the time of request.

++Return to Top