Sumara Khan

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Sumara Khan is a distinguished Islamic scholar, educator, and community leader based in New Jersey. She is the co-founder of the Quran Literacy Institute, where she serves as a teacher of Islamic studies and Arabic. Her dedication to Islamic education and community empowerment has made her a prominent figure in the region. Sumara pursued formal Islamic studies in Syria, spending several years at the prestigious Abū Nūr Institute in Damascus. She graduated first in her class with a Diploma in Arabic and Islamic studies. During her time in Damascus, she earned the admiration of her teachers and peers and served as the translator for the late Grand Mufti of Syria in the sisters’ classes. She has memorized the Qur’an and received the coveted Ijāzah of memorization from Shaykh Waleed Edrees al-Meneese. In addition, she holds scholarly licenses (Ijāzah) in the Qurʾānic Readings of Ḥafṣ and Shuʿbah, the Books of Hadith, and various classical texts, from Shaykh Waleed al-Meneese, Shaykh Muḥammad Akram Nadwi, and others. Sumara Khan is the founder and mentor of Iman Roots, a monthly forum in central New Jersey for women to educate themselves in Islamic knowledge and strengthen sisterhood. Notably, she concluded a three-year series on Tazkiyah (purification) based upon Ibn al-Qayyim’s classic *Madārij al-Sālikeen* and is currently leading a “Travel Back in Time Scholar Series.” As the director of the Sisters Ḥifdh Program at the Quran Literacy Institute, Sumara has developed the only adult, on-site Quran memorization program in the region. Launched in 2014, the program provides structured support and guidance for sisters aiming to memorize the Qur’an, featuring weekly recitation and memorization sessions under qualified instructors. She conducts annual Qurʾānic tafsīr series at the Muslim Center of Middlesex County (MCMC) every Ramadan and at Masjid Al-Wali throughout the year. Sumara has also served as an Islamic studies instructor at An-Noor Academy, where she was responsible for developing and teaching a holistic Islamic studies curriculum tailored to the unique needs of young Muslim students. Beyond her teaching roles, Sumara has been active in interfaith outreach, engaging with non-Muslim audiences and converts to foster understanding and dialogue. She is currently a graduate student in Uṣūl al-Dīn at the American University for Islamic Sciences, furthering her commitment to Islamic scholarship and education.

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