For the past 20 years, Mufti Yusuf Badat has been the Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto. Born and raised in Toronto, Mufti Yusuf studied under numerous scholars, receiving several formal authorizations in the sacred Islamic sciences. In 1998, he achieved his masters in the Islamic sciences from Darul Uloom Zakariya in South Africa. Mufti Yusuf also holds a jurisprudence authorization from Darul Ilm in Birmingham, UK. He is also an Ontario registered minister of religion, licensed marriage officer and a certified mediator.
Qari Yunus Ingar is an Imam and educator based in Scarborough, Ontario. Born in Tarkeshwar, India, he completed his Hifz at Darul Uloom Falah-e-Darain under Hafiz Chohan and advanced his studies in Qira’at under Qari Muhammad Siddique (D.B.), specializing in Riwayat Hafs and Qira’at-e-Saba‘a.
After migrating to Canada in 1996, he taught Hifz and Tajweed at Jamia Al Uloom Al Islamiyyah in Ajax. Since 1999, he has served as Senior Imam/Qari and Principal at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, where he helped establish the Full-Time Hifz and Evening Madressa programs, leads congregational prayers and Ramadan Taraweeh, oversees Qur’anic education programs, and has coordinated the annual Qirā’atul Qur’an Competition for over 18 years. He is also a government-certified marriage officiant.
For the past 20 years, Mufti Yusuf Badat has been the Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto. Born and raised in Toronto, Mufti Yusuf studied under numerous scholars, receiving several formal authorizations in the sacred Islamic sciences. In 1998, he achieved his masters in the Islamic sciences from Darul Uloom Zakariya in South Africa. Mufti Yusuf also holds a jurisprudence authorization from Darul Ilm in Birmingham, UK. He is also an Ontario registered minister of religion, licensed marriage officer and a certified mediator.
Mufti Irfan Desai was born and raised in Tarkeshwar, India. He completed his Tahfizul Qur’an under Ml. Gulam Mohammed Chohan at Falahe Daraain and went on to complete his Alimiyah and Ifta studies there in 1997. He also completed Riwayat Hafs and an advanced Tajweed program under Qari Muhammad Siddique, Head of the Tajweed Department at Falahe Daraain.
He migrated to Canada in 2000 and became one of the pioneering educators of the full-time Hifz program at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, later continuing his practical Ifta training under Mufti Aslam Kachvi (D.B.). Since 2018, he has served as a teacher at Jamia Qasimul Uloom Canada, committed to traditional Islamic scholarship and education.
Ml. Abdurrahman Hafejee was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He completed his foundational Qur’an and Islamic studies at Jamia Abu Bakr Siddique under Ml. Kasim Ingar. In 2000, he traveled to South Africa, studying in Howick West under Ml. Rashid Ahmed Hafeji and Ml. Ismail Adamjee, which led him to pursue advanced Islamic studies.
He completed the Alimiyyah program at Madressa In’aamiyyah, Camperdown, under the late Ml. Mahmood Madni (R.A.), benefiting from senior scholars including the late Mufti Ebrahim Desai and the late Shaykhul Hadith Ml. Haroon Abbas Omar (R.A.), and graduated in 2008.
Returning to Toronto in 2009, he served as an Islamic Studies high school teacher at NAMF and an educator at Jamia Abu Bakr Siddique. Since 2010, he has served at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto as the Religious School Department Administrator and an Islamic Studies educator in the Full-Time Hifz and Evening Madressa programs. He has also been an active member of the annual Qirā’atul Qur’an competition committee for over 14 years.
Qari Junaid Kika was born and raised in Panoli, India, and completed his Hifz at Jamia Mazhare Sa’adat, Hansot, under Ml. Moosa and Ml. Hanif Gangat. He later completed Riwayat Hafs under Qari Siddique Kari.
He migrated to Canada in 1996 and taught Hifz at Darul Uloom Buffalo and Jamia Abu Bakr Siddique. Since 2003, he has served at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, becoming a full-time Hifz teacher in 2005. He currently serves as Head Teacher of the Evening Madressa Program and has been an executive member of the Annual Qira’atul Qur’an Competition for over 18 years
Saeed Abdo was born in Somalia and raised in Saudi Arabia, where he worked in the automotive industry as a Parts Specialist and developed strong technical skills and attention to detail. In 1991, he moved to Canada and continued working in the automotive field for two years. In 1993, Saeed joined the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, where he has remained a dedicated and trusted employee. He is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance, upkeep, and care of the masjid, supporting both the Scarborough and Audley campuses. His long-standing service reflects his reliability, strong work ethic, and deep commitment to serving the community.
Sr. Nikhat Rahman joined the Islamic Foundation of Toronto in 2008, teaching Islamic Studies, Qur’an, and Tajweed while also supporting administrative roles. She currently teaches full-time Hifz at IFT and is dedicated to her students’ academic and spiritual development.
She completed three years of part-time Alimah studies at Jamia Qasimul Uloom and received a Sanad in the Riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim through the Shatibiyyah method under Shaykh Uthman bin Mahmood Khan in Canada. She also holds a Bachelor of Home Science with a specialization in Psychology and Child Development, which informs her nurturing, student-centered teaching approach focused on character, ethics, and a strong connection to the Qur’an.
Hafizah Madiha Desai was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She completed her Hifz at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto in 2010 and her Alimah program in 2021 at Jamiah Abu Bakr Masjid (Scarborough Muslim Association). She has taught evening Hifz, Sunday school, and currently teaches full-time Hifz, guiding students with care, patience, and a strong emphasis on proper tajweed and a meaningful connection to the Qur’an.
Saeed Abdo was born in Somalia and raised in Saudi Arabia, where he worked in the automotive industry. He moved to Canada in 1991 and joined the Islamic Foundation of Toronto in 1993. He is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the masjid, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming environment across the Scarborough and Audley campuses, reflecting his dedication, reliability, and commitment to the community.
For the past 20 years, Mufti Yusuf Badat has been the Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto. Born and raised in Toronto, Mufti Yusuf studied under numerous scholars, receiving several formal authorizations in the sacred Islamic sciences. In 1998, he achieved his masters in the Islamic sciences from Darul Uloom Zakariya in South Africa. Mufti Yusuf also holds a jurisprudence authorization from Darul Ilm in Birmingham, UK. He is also an Ontario registered minister of religion, licensed marriage officer and a certified mediator.
Qari Yunus Ingar is an Imam and educator based in Scarborough, Ontario. Born in Tarkeshwar, India, he completed his Hifz at Darul Uloom Falah-e-Darain under Hafiz Chohan and advanced his studies in Qira’at under Qari Muhammad Siddique (D.B.), specializing in Riwayat Hafs and Qira’at-e-Saba‘a.
After migrating to Canada in 1996, he taught Hifz and Tajweed at Jamia Al Uloom Al Islamiyyah in Ajax. Since 1999, he has served as Senior Imam/Qari and Principal at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, where he helped establish the Full-Time Hifz and Evening Madressa programs, leads congregational prayers and Ramadan Taraweeh, oversees Qur’anic education programs, and has coordinated the annual Qirā’atul Qur’an Competition for over 18 years. He is also a government-certified marriage officiant.
Qari Mohmed Tahir Desai is a respected Islamic scholar, Qur’an educator, and community leader with over 30 years of teaching and service. He graduated as an Aalim in 1993 from Madrassah Falahe Darain, Tadkeshwar, India, and completed advanced studies in Qur’anic recitation, specializing in Riwayat Hafs, Qira’at-e-Saba’a, Qira’at-e-Salasah, and Ashara-e-Kabeer, including Riwayat Hafs under Qari Anees Faizabadi (R.A.). He also pursued studies at the Islamic University of Madinah from 1995 to 1997.
He has taught Tajweed, Hifz, and Qur’anic sciences at institutions in India and Canada, including Darul Uloom Falahe Darain, Jamia Ajax, Madinatul Uloom Academy, and the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, where he has served since 2011. He was Imam of Madinah Masjid, Toronto, from 2002 to 2020, and has been an executive member of the Annual Qira’atul Qur’an Competition for over 18 years
Mufti Irfan Desai was born and raised in Tarkeshwar, India. He completed his Tahfizul Qur’an under Ml. Gulam Mohammed Chohan at Falahe Daraain and went on to complete his Alimiyah and Ifta studies there in 1997. He also completed Riwayat Hafs and an advanced Tajweed program under Qari Muhammad Siddique, Head of the Tajweed Department at Falahe Daraain.
He migrated to Canada in 2000 and became one of the pioneering educators of the full-time Hifz program at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, later continuing his practical Ifta training under Mufti Aslam Kachvi (D.B.). Since 2018, he has served as a teacher at Jamia Qasimul Uloom Canada, committed to traditional Islamic scholarship and education.
Ml. Abdurrahman Hafejee was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He completed his foundational Qur’an and Islamic studies at Jamia Abu Bakr Siddique under Ml. Kasim Ingar. In 2000, he traveled to South Africa, studying in Howick West under Ml. Rashid Ahmed Hafeji and Ml. Ismail Adamjee, which led him to pursue advanced Islamic studies.
He completed the Alimiyyah program at Madressa In’aamiyyah, Camperdown, under the late Ml. Mahmood Madni (R.A.), benefiting from senior scholars including the late Mufti Ebrahim Desai and the late Shaykhul Hadith Ml. Haroon Abbas Omar (R.A.), and graduated in 2008.
Returning to Toronto in 2009, he served as an Islamic Studies high school teacher at NAMF and an educator at Jamia Abu Bakr Siddique. Since 2010, he has served at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto as the Religious School Department Administrator and an Islamic Studies educator in the Full-Time Hifz and Evening Madressa programs. He has also been an active member of the annual Qirā’atul Qur’an competition committee for over 14 years.
Qari Junaid Kika was born and raised in Panoli, India, and completed his Hifz at Jamia Mazhare Sa’adat, Hansot, under Ml. Moosa and Ml. Hanif Gangat. He later completed Riwayat Hafs under Qari Siddique Kari.
He migrated to Canada in 1996 and taught Hifz at Darul Uloom Buffalo and Jamia Abu Bakr Siddique. Since 2003, he has served at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, becoming a full-time Hifz teacher in 2005. He currently serves as Head Teacher of the Evening Madressa Program and has been an executive member of the Annual Qira’atul Qur’an Competition for over 18 years
Saeed Abdo was born in Somalia and raised in Saudi Arabia, where he worked in the automotive industry as a Parts Specialist and developed strong technical skills and attention to detail. In 1991, he moved to Canada and continued working in the automotive field for two years. In 1993, Saeed joined the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, where he has remained a dedicated and trusted employee. He is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance, upkeep, and care of the masjid, supporting both the Scarborough and Audley campuses. His long-standing service reflects his reliability, strong work ethic, and deep commitment to serving the community.
Sr. Nikhat Rahman joined the Islamic Foundation of Toronto in 2008, teaching Islamic Studies, Qur’an, and Tajweed while also supporting administrative roles. She currently teaches full-time Hifz at IFT and is dedicated to her students’ academic and spiritual development.
She completed three years of part-time Alimah studies at Jamia Qasimul Uloom and received a Sanad in the Riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim through the Shatibiyyah method under Shaykh Uthman bin Mahmood Khan in Canada. She also holds a Bachelor of Home Science with a specialization in Psychology and Child Development, which informs her nurturing, student-centered teaching approach focused on character, ethics, and a strong connection to the Qur’an.
Hafizah Madiha Desai was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She completed her Hifz at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto in 2010 and her Alimah program in 2021 at Jamiah Abu Bakr Masjid (Scarborough Muslim Association). She has taught evening Hifz, Sunday school, and currently teaches full-time Hifz, guiding students with care, patience, and a strong emphasis on proper tajweed and a meaningful connection to the Qur’an.
Saeed Abdo was born in Somalia and raised in Saudi Arabia, where he worked in the automotive industry. He moved to Canada in 1991 and joined the Islamic Foundation of Toronto in 1993. He is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the masjid, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming environment across the Scarborough and Audley campuses, reflecting his dedication, reliability, and commitment to the community.
