About Us

Welcome to Rahima Aziz Foundation

Rahima Aziz Foundation was founded at the beginning of 2021 as an extension of the Al Mansoor Cultural Center which was established in 2016. Both RA Foundation and Al Mansoor Cultural Center were founded by Mufti Muhammad Abdullah, Mufti Muhammad Hafiz Abdullah, Maulana Nayeemullah, Umme Yousuf, and their family members. Alhamdulillah, currently, Rahima Aziz Foundation is operating a full-fledged Masjid that provides many different programs and services. Among these are daily prayers, weekly Jumuah and Taraweeh prayers in the month of Ramadhan. It also has weekly Tafsir programs. For Islamic education, there is a Maktab and Madrasa where students of all ages are learning their Arabic letters, perfecting their Tajweed in reciting the beautiful ayahs of the Holy Book, and also a Hifz program where our students memorize the Qur’an by heart. Alhamdulillah we have qualified male and female teachers on our staff so as to provide a good Islamic environment for both male and female students. As a cultural center, it functions as a place for the community to gather for functions such as Eid and Aqiqah, and Marriage.

About Our Services

Aims and Objectives/Goals

Rahima Aziz Foundation endeavors to be a stable source of authentic Islamic knowledge along with providing all the needs of a broader Muslim community. We would like to be a bridge that links the Muslim community with the people of all faiths. We have highly qualified Islamic scholars within our program, and are also connected to a huge network of Islamic scholars globally.

Mission Statement

At Rahima Aziz Foundation, we are committed to enhancing the lives of members in the community through our wide range of activities and events. Ever since opening our doors to the community in 2021, we have provided members the chance to get together and experience what we’re all about. Our mission has always been to provide a religious and educational experience for members of the Muslim community — and we’ve done everything we can to achieve this goal to this very day.

Future Plan

Our future goal is to have a community center to fulfill the needs of the Muslim families, a recreational and fitness center for our youth, and for the elderly, a place where they can interact and spend time.

Our Staff

MUFTI AZEEMUDDIN AHMED

Imam, Lecturer

azeem@gmail.com

Azeemuddin Ahmed serves as director of Masjid Darussalam. He was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. At a tender age, he memorized the Holy Qurʾān. Thereafter, he traveled to South Africa where he studied a rigorous eight-year ʿālimiyyah and iftāʾ course. During his studies, he was blessed with the opportunity to spend extensive time in the company of one of the world’s elite jurists and scholars. After graduating with top honors from South Africa, he went on to earn a BA in Psychology from Elmhurst College. He served as the director of AIA Masjid in Frankfort, Illinois from 2006 to 2012.

Azeemuddin’s dedication and passion for Islāmic education is unparalleled. He is continuously in the service of both scholars and students. An individual with a sincere love for scholarship, he strives to ensure that everyone at the institute is well and benefiting from the program. His love and enthusiasm bring the classes he teaches to life, every class conveys priceless points that enrich and benefit those in attendance. As well, he serves as an associate Imām at Masjid DarusSalam.

MUFTI MINHAJUDDIN AHMED

Imam, Principal, Lecturer

minhaj@gmail.com

Minhajuddin Ahmed serves as the Principal of the Academy as well as one of the institute’s directors. Born and raised in Illinois, he memorized the entire Qurʾān at a young age. Later in life, when he reached college age, he opted to dedicate his life to Islāmic Studies and traveled to South Africa. He studied the eight-year ʿālimiyyah and iftāʾ program graduating with teaching licenses and the permission to issue fatwā in the Ḥanafī School.

Upon returning to the United States, he served as the director of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis for several years before becoming involved at Masjid Darussalam. He oversees the administration of the institute. His passion for knowledge and dedication to providing a high-quality institute to serve the North-American Muslim community is phenomenal. Along with imparting knowledge to students in the classroom, he envisages creating a brilliant beacon of knowledge that will inspire future generations by offering an opportunity to study Islām in a way that is relevant in contemporary contexts while holding fast to tradition. Along with teaching and overseeing the institute’s administration, he serves as the imām at Masjid Darussalam.

Ar-Rahman Academy

Full-Time Hifz

Our Hifz program is a full-time program dedicated to memorizing the Holy Quran in its entirety. Our aim is not only for our students to memorize, but also to make sure our students retain what they have memorized. For this, our program emphasizes memorizing and retention equally. This is integrated with academic support in math, English, social studies, and science in accordance with NYS homeschooling guidelines.

Weekend Maktab

Our Maktab programs provide a way for the children in our community to gain the knowledge of the basics of Islam. This program is dedicated to teaching our students how to read the Qur’an as well as the basic tenets and principles of Islam. Our Islamic Studies is based on the An-Nasihah Curriculum, which not only teaches students their religion, but teaches them to live harmoniously in society. Embedded in the curriculum are the virtues of tolerance and respect for others (whether Muslim or non-Muslim), playing an active role in the community and promoting values of model citizens such as individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. It incorporates vital areas that children of all ages need to learn in order to equip them with the necessary knowledge to be model citizens, who have a deep rooted sense of faith and belief, guided by the Quran and Sunnah.

Summer Camp

Learning about Deen,Quran and Sunnah is essential for every Muslim. For this, we have implemented a summer program which introduces and elevates their understanding of basic fiqh, sirah, akhlaq and adab and more! Students will also learn how to recite the Qur'an properly and spend time playing sports and connecting with other Muslim children of their age. We hope for our Summer camp to be a source of inspiration for the younger generation to attain Islamic knowledge, become familiar with the Islamic environment and culture, and continue their Islamic education.

Masjid Ar Rahman

Daily Prayers

-Prayer Schedule

SL	Salah	Start Time	End Time
1	Fazar	05:30 am	06:00 am
2	Zuhr	12:30 pm	03:30 pm
3	Asr	03:00 pm	05:10 pm
4	Maghrib	05:30 pm	05:40 pm

Marriage/ Nikah

قالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلّمَ): ما بُنِيَ بِناءَ فِي الإِسْلامِ أَحَبُّ إِلى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلّ مِنَ التَّزْوِيجِ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has said, "There is no foundation that has been built in Islam more loved by Allah, (The Greatest and Noblest) than marriage." This hadith shows us the great importance that Allah (SwT) and His Messenger ﷺ have placed on marriage, such that it is the most loved foundation or establishment upon which the Muslim man and woman can build their life upon. If such a foundation is built with love, honesty, sincerity and true faith in Allah (SwT) and all that He has commanded, then there is nothing that could destroy such a firm building. It is a Sunnah of Rasul ﷺ that a marriage ceremony be conducted in a Masjid. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, “Announce this marriage publicly, conduct it in the mosque, and strike the drums for it.” We conduct the marriage ceremony in accordance to Qu’ran and Sunnah. The Wedding Ceremony (Nikaah) Components 1 – Consent: ‘Aishah(R) asked Prophet Muhammadﷺ if women must be asked for their permission of marriage. Prophet Muhammadﷺ replied, “Yes.” She said, ‘The virgin is asked for her permission but she gets shy. Prophet Muhammadﷺ said, “Her silence is her permission.” (Bukhari and Muslim) 2 – The Wallee (Woman’s Guardian): Prophet Muhammadﷺ said, “There is no nikaah except with a wallee.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi) 3 – Two Witnesses: Prophet Muhammadﷺ said, “There is no marriage except with a wallee and trustworthy witnesses.” (Sahih- Bayhaqee) Also, “There is no marriage except with a wallee and two witnesses.” (Sahih Al-Jaami’) 4 – The Mahr (Dowry): Allah says (what means): “And give to the women their dowry with a good heart, but if they out of their own good pleasure remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it without fear of any harm. ” (Al-Nisa4:4) The mahr can be of any amount, Prophet Muhammadﷺ said, “Look for one even if it was an iron ring.” (Bukhari and Muslim) The woman is not obliged to give the man anything at the time of the wedding, as is done in some cultures. Acts to be Avoided We should be careful to not act as the disbelievers do regarding their mixing of men and women, wearing tuxedos and white wedding gowns, exchanging rings, kissing in public, etc. Prophet Muhammadﷺ said, “Whoever resembles a people is one of them.” (Abu Dawood)