Meet the Team

  • Ustadh Naeem Baig is a dynamic spoken word artist and senior student in the Qalam Seminary’s ʿĀlimiyyah program. A graduate of the University of Maryland with honors in business, he memorized the Qur’an in College Park, MD, and has since been a vibrant presence in the DMV Muslim community—leading youth programs, delivering khutbahs, and facilitating halaqāt. His poetic voice, shaped by a deep grounding in Islamic scholarship and a passion for spiritual expression, has been featured at events like Dar Al-Hijrah’s Youth Conference and Gaza solidarity gatherings. At Rawdah, Naeem brings his unique blend of artistic eloquence and scholarly insight to foster connection, reflection, and remembrance, embodying Rawdah’s mission to nurture hearts through Prophetic light.


    Reflection: “Words, when rooted in sincerity, have the power to heal and unite.”

  • Scholar

    Shaykh Mikaeel Ahmed Smith joins Rawdah to lead the Mindful program, a monthly gathering designed to cultivate mindfulness, emotional resilience, and spiritual depth. Through his teachings, Shaykh Mikaeel integrates classical Islamic wisdom with contemporary insights, offering transformative sessions that empower participants to live consciously and authentically.

    As a faculty member at Qalam Seminary, Shaykh Mikaeel teaches Tafsīr, Sīrah, Aqīdah, and Ḥadīth and engages with the broader community through lectures and classes. He is a renowned author, with his book With the Heart in Mind exploring the moral and emotional intelligence of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

    Shaykh Mikaeel embraced Islam at the age of 18, inspired by the Qur'an and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. He memorized the Qur'an and earned degrees in Islamic Studies from Dar ul-Uloom Canada and in Psychology from Tarleton State University. His unique approach bridges spiritual wisdom and emotional intelligence, aligning perfectly with Rawdah’s vision of nurturing minds, bodies, and spirits with Prophetic light.

    Residing in Dallas, TX, with his wife and three children, Shaykh Mikaeel brings his expertise and compassion to Rawdah, inviting the community to pause, reflect, and reconnect in pursuit of personal growth and divine remembrance.

  • Scholar

    Imam Sami Zaharna brings a profound commitment to spiritual growth and community development to Rawdah, where he leads the Fruitful program—a monthly gathering focused on practical purification rooted in the Prophetic tradition. A Maryland native of Palestinian heritage, Imam Sami serves as the Lead Imam and Board Member at the Muslim Family Center in Columbia, MD. He holds multiple Ijāzahs across various Islamic disciplines, including Qur'anic memorization, Hadith, and Islamic jurisprudence, and completed his seminary studies under Shaykh Akram Nadwi at Al-Salam Institute, earning a Shahādah ʿĀlamiyyah.

    Reflection: “Reviving Prophetic nurturing in our communities brings clarity and purpose to our lives.”

Advisors

  • Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda

    Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda is the Founder of Qalam and a faculty member at its seminary, teaching various Islamic sciences. Born in Dallas, he memorized the Qur’an in Karachi and later completed his ‘alim studies at Jamia Binoria, specializing in Fiqh and Tafsir. He also earned degrees in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He teaches the Seerah Intensive, leads Umrah groups, and hosts the Seerah Podcast. He lives in Dallas with his wife and three children.

  • Shaykh Yaseen Shaikh

    Shaykh Yaseen Shaikh, born in 1982 in London, received his Islamic education there, including Quran memorization, Alimiyyah studies, and an M.A. in Islamic Studies. He served as an Imam in London before moving to the U.S. in 2006, working in Dallas and later Baltimore in education, interfaith dialogue, and pastoral care. In 2018, he returned to the UK as an Imam and bereavement counselor at Gardens of Peace. He recently moved back to Baltimore with his family.

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