Shaykh Trenton Carl is a graduate of the Ahl al-Bayt Islamic Seminary, where he studied the core traditional Islamic curriculum and is currently continuing his studies. He works with several Muslim educational initiatives, is an editor of the Seminary’s publication, al-Sidrah, and is a director of the Seminary's summer education program, L.I.F.E. (Living Islam Faithfully and Ethically). 

He received a B.A. in Islamic World Studies from DePaul University. While at DePaul, he was active in several student organizations and served on the board of UMMA, DePaul’s Muslim student organization. After graduating, he worked as a research and teaching assistant in the Islamic World Studies Program at DePaul University under Dr. Aminah McCloud. Trenton, originally from Houston, now resides in Chicago with his wife. 

Sayyid Ali Jafri earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Juris Doctorate before working as an attorney for several years. In 2013, he began his seminary studies in the holy city of Qom where he completed his traditional seminary studies with particular emphasis on Jurisprudence and Islamic Philosophy. He then attended the advanced Kharij Fiqh classes of Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli and Usool classes of Ayatullah Jafar Sobhani. Additionally, Sayyid Ali partook in coursework outside of the official hawzah curriculum with an emphasis on the spiritual heritage of Allamah Tabatabai. Alongside his studies he has been engaged in translating, writing, and teaching. He returned to Michigan in 2025 and looks forward to serving the community.    

Alimah Eman Shaiwani earned a Bachelor's in Microbiology and a Master's in Public Health. In 2013, she began her seminary studies in the holy city of Qom where she completed traditional seminary studies in subjects such as jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, theology, philosophy, Arabic and the Qur'anic sciences. Additionally, Alimah Eman partook in a variety of classes outside of the official hawzah curriculum including those on tafsir, philosophy, Qur’anic studies, and ethics. During her studies she particularly focused on the Tafsir al-Mizan of Allamah Tabatabai and the science of Qur’anic recitation. In 2025, she moved to Michigan and is the proud mother of 3.

Shaykh Salim was born and raised in the United States. After completing his BS and MS in computer science from Stanford University in California, he worked in Silicon Valley as a software engineer and then as an engineering manager.

In 2004 he left his job and moved to Qum to study in the Hawzah, and completed his MA degree in 2014. From 2014 – 2019 he was a spiritual guide to a private full-time Islamic school in Ontario, Canada.

As of 2020, he is the Dean of Mission at RISE Academy and the assistant Resident Scholar of SABA Center in San Jose. In 2021, he completed a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Western University.oes here

Nabi Raza Abidi was born in Alipur, in India. He was raised in a religious, Syed family. After completing his early education, he moved to Iran at the age of 14 to pursue Islamic studies. He spent the first two years in Najafabad learning Farsi, basic Arabic grammar, and aḥkām. He then spent 14 years in Qom, where he studied at Hujjatiyyah, Fayḍiyyah, and the Institute of Imām Jaʿfar aṣ-Ṣādiq under Ayatollah Ja'far Subḥanī. Concurrently, he earned his PhD from the University of Tehran. After completing his lower level studies, he participated in Dars al-Khārij under reputable scholars, such as Ayatollah Ja'far Subḥanīi, Ayatollah Fāḍil Lankarānī, Ayatollah Makārim Shirāzī, and many others. Maulana Abidi spent 4 years answering questions in the office of Grand Ayatollah Fāḍil Lankarānī, and another 5 years conducting research in theology and philosophy under Ayatollah Ja'far Subḥanī, where he also helped write and publish books on various topics. For the next 5 years, he taught Usūl, Fiqh, Philosophy, and Tafsīr for 5 years in Hujjatiyyah, Fayḍiyyah and Jāmiʿatuz-Zahrā.

In 2002, Maulana Abidi moved to San Jose, CA to serve as the Resident ʿĀlim of SABA Islamic Center. Under his guidance, SABA has expanded tremendously and incorporated many successful undertakings, including a full-time school, RISE Academy. Additionally, he has helped to establish and overlook many masājid. He is also the founder of Al-Kisa Foundation and its subsidiaries, including Kisa Kids. Moulana Abidi serves on various school boards, provides guidance to several full-time and weekend Islamic schools around the world, as well as provides guidance to SABA Sunday School and RISE Education System.

He continues to further his studies in ʿIrfān, Philosophy, and Dars al-Khārij with renowned scholars.

H.I. Dr. Seyed Hadi Yassin has a doctoral degree in psychology, and he is also a Certified Professional Coach (CPC).

In 1996, he began his formal Islamic education in Mashhad Islamic seminary (Hawza) in Iran. During his seminary program, he attained two bachelor degrees, one in the Quranic sciences and tradition, and the other in the fundamentals of Islamic Jurisprudence.

   In 2009, he undertook a master’s program in psychology with an emphasis on child development. Since then, he has been engaged in many projects at various institutions related to this field. He is the founder of the Psychology Student Research Journal (PSRJ) under the supervision of the CSUSB department of psychology.

He is also a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), specializing in children, parenting, and relationships. He is the founder of H.A.D.I. Life coaching provides services for clients nationwide since 2013.

He served as the Associate Clinical Supervisor at California Psych Care, assisting families with Autistic children.

He also has experience in working with elderly in an elder residential clinic providing thereaupetic services to residence with mental health disorders.

He has experience working with the following topics:

Depression, PTSD, substance and Sexual addiction, anxiety, bipolar, OCD, ADHD, Autism, insomnia, post-partum depression, marriage conflicts, anger management, divorce, parenting, and bullying.

Dr. Yassin is also a founder of Enlight Academy, the first Montessori Shia school in the Bay Area, California.

Sister Sabika Mithani was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Having spent more than a decade in the Hawza (Islamic Seminary), she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies from Hawzah, followed by two Masters, one in Qurʾanic Science and the other in Islamic Theology and Philosophy from Hawza.

Sister Sabika presently resides in the Bay Area, where she serves SABA Islamic Center and Al-Kisa Foundation.