IAW Keynote Speakers
January 17, 2012 in IAW
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Shaykh Reda Bedeir, PhD
Shaykh Reda Bedeir, PhD.
Dr. Reda Bedeir is a currently a professor of religious studies here at the University of Alberta. He carries a life-time worth of achievements. From the land of Egypt, he was invited by the University of Calgary to teach Qur’anic Classical Arabic, and also served as an Imam for the Calgary Islamic Centre. He then moved to Burnaby, BC to serve as Imam the Muslim Chaplain at Simon Fraser University. He also served as a community counselor and personal development life coach.Shaykh Reda holds two Bachelor’s degrees, one in Islamic Sciences with AlAzhar Univeristy, one Masters degree, and a Ph.D with AlAzhar University in Applied Linguistics and Tafsir of Surat Yusuf. He has learned under prominent shuyukh such as: Dr. Sayed Noah, Sh. Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Khaliq, Dr. Salah As-Sawy, Dr. Muhammad Yusri and Dr. Abdullah Barakat.
Shaykh Mustafa Khattab
Mustafa Khattab is the Imam of Al-Rashid mosque in
Edmonton, Alberta. He’s also an Assistant Lecturer of Islamic Studies
in English, Al-Azhar University. Khattab, who received his MA & BA
degrees in Islamic Studies in English with Honors, served as a
Fulbright Interfaith Scholar and an Imam in the United States for
three years. His PhD research focusses on the images of Islam and
Muslims in the American media. He is the co-translator of the whole
Qur’an into English, author of The Nation of Islam, and contributor to
the Encyclopedia of Muslim-American History.
My lecture is titled: “The Qur’an: Myths & Reality” focusses on the
true message of the Qur’an, what the Qur’an says about Jihad, women,
the Jews & Christians, and other controversial issues.
Edmonton, Alberta. He’s also an Assistant Lecturer of Islamic Studies
in English, Al-Azhar University. Khattab, who received his MA & BA
degrees in Islamic Studies in English with Honors, served as a
Fulbright Interfaith Scholar and an Imam in the United States for
three years. His PhD research focusses on the images of Islam and
Muslims in the American media. He is the co-translator of the whole
Qur’an into English, author of The Nation of Islam, and contributor to
the Encyclopedia of Muslim-American History.
My lecture is titled: “The Qur’an: Myths & Reality” focusses on the
true message of the Qur’an, what the Qur’an says about Jihad, women,
the Jews & Christians, and other controversial issues.
Usama Canon
Born and raised in California, Usama Canon embraced Islam in 1996. Since then, he has had the honor of studying various Islamic Sciences both at home and abroad under some of today’s foremost scholars. Currently, Usama Canon serves as an Instructor at Zaytuna Institute and as a Muslim Chaplain for the State of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Usama Canon is the Founding Director of Ta’leef Collective and maintains an active role in various facets of outreach and education, concentrating on issues facing Muslim youth, assisting converts, and developing support systems for Muslim ex-offenders.
Shaykh Ramzy Ajem
Shaykh Ramzy Ajem is a noted Islamic scholar who has spent more than a
decade serving his community. His diverse experience includes his work
at Risalah Foundation, where he established the organization’s vision,
direction, and institutional objectives. He also serves as a Chaplain
with Correctional Services Canada where he teaches and counsels Muslim
inmates. As co-founder and Director of Curriculum Development at the
Razi Group, he oversees a multidisciplinary team of Islamic scholars,
educators, and researchers in developing Islamic and culturally-relevant curricula.His education and training in the Islamic sciences includes over ten years of studies in Canada, the Middle East, and North Africa. He received numerous authorizations to teach the Islamic sciences from scholars in Damascus, Fez, and Southern Morocco. He currently resides in Toronto with his wife and children.
decade serving his community. His diverse experience includes his work
at Risalah Foundation, where he established the organization’s vision,
direction, and institutional objectives. He also serves as a Chaplain
with Correctional Services Canada where he teaches and counsels Muslim
inmates. As co-founder and Director of Curriculum Development at the
Razi Group, he oversees a multidisciplinary team of Islamic scholars,
educators, and researchers in developing Islamic and culturally-relevant curricula.His education and training in the Islamic sciences includes over ten years of studies in Canada, the Middle East, and North Africa. He received numerous authorizations to teach the Islamic sciences from scholars in Damascus, Fez, and Southern Morocco. He currently resides in Toronto with his wife and children.