Our Vision

Zidni Islamic Institute was established to advance the classical methodology of acquiring sacred knowledge, recognizing the prevalent confusion among students today. 
Many eager beginners often find themselves trapped in a perpetual cycle of asking, searching, comparing, and switching between different academic programs. They frequently jump from one book to another and from one teacher to another without completing a single text. Consequently, countless individuals who embark on the path of knowledge remain stuck at the initial stage for years, eventually becoming disheartened and quitting due to a lack of progress. Moreover, it is not uncommon for students to focus on specific subjects, neglecting others, or engaging with advanced texts and differences of opinion before fully mastering the fundamentals. 

To address this pressing need, Zidni Islamic Institute endeavors to offer a step-by-step, comprehensive program catering to students at all levels, from beginners to those seeking advanced studies. The aim is to fill the void that currently exists within Western Islamic education. The texts taught in these programs have been widely studied and transmitted throughout the Islamic world for centuries, ensuring students are exposed to a rich intellectual tradition that has stood the test of time. 

Our programs are designed to cater to individuals wishing to continue their studies in more advanced programs or for those seeking to establish a solid foundation in the fundamental disciplines of Islam. 
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Founder Of
Zidni Institute

Dr. Ahmed Khater was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in legal studies, and attained a second B.A. from Al-Azhar University in Islamic sciences and Arabic language. He received an M.A. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley with a specialization in Islamic law and legal theory, and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union specializing in Islamic law and legal theory. He has received ijazat (licenses) in various Islamic sciences, including ones to teach and narrate the Hanbali school of law. He is an assistant professor of Islamic studies at the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union and a member of the Core Doctoral Faculty there. He served for many years as an adjunct faculty member specializing in Islamic law and legal theory at the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, and was a visiting scholar there. He is an adjunct associate professor of Islamic studies at Saint Mary’s College in California. He works with the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America answering legal questions for their fatwa (legal edict) services, and as an Islamic law consultant, Resident Fatwa Committee secretary, and translator/editor and lecturer. He teaches the traditional Islamic sciences at Zidni Institute, and is the resident scholar of Masjid Annur Islamic Center in California.

He previously was: an assistant professor of Islamic studies at Guidance College, the former dean of the Department of Islamic Studies there, and the head of undergraduate Islamic studies. He was an assistant professor of Islamic law and the dean of the English Faculty of Shariah at the Islamic University of Minnesota. He was a faculty member teaching Islamic law and a member of the academic committee at Mishkah University. He also was a lecturer of Arabic language at the University of California, Berkeley. He previously worked with Al-Azhar University’s English Department of Islamic Studies to edit books and articles for the scholars of Al-Azhar. He was a senior fellow with Yaqeen Institute.
Our team

Our Instructors

Ahmed Khater
USA
Dr. Ahmed Khater is the founder of Zidni Institute. He has a B.A. from Al-Azhar University in Islamic sciences and Arabic language, and a Ph.D from the Graduate Theological Union in Islamic law and legal theory.
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Joe Bradford
USA
Sh. Joe Bradford holds a Master of Islamic Law from the University of Medina, and has studied traditionally in the Muslim world for the past 20+ years. Sh. Joe is sought after as an Ethical Finance Advisor to individuals and institutions at home and abroad.
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Yousef Hussin
USA
Sh. Yousef Hussin studied in Egypt and at the Islamic University of Minnesota, earning a B.A. and M.A. in Islamic Studies. He has received numerous ijazat (licences), including ijazah in several modes of Qur’anic recitation.
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Ammar Shahin
USA
Sh. Ammar Shahin holds a B.A. from Al-Azhar University in the Islamic Sciences and Arabic language, and received a B.A. and M.A. from the Islamic University of Minnesota in Islamic Studies.
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Abdullah Moataz
USA
Sh. Abdullah Moataz specializes in Hadith studies, and has studied and memorized various texts in the hadith sciences. He has received various ijazat in this field.
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Mohammed Najeeb
USA
Dr. Mohammed Najeeb has a Bachelors degree in Sharia (Islamic Law) from the Islamic University of Medinah. He also has a Masters and PhD from the College of Quran in the same University. He has Ijazat in the 10 modes of recitation.
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Navaid Aziz
Canada
Sh. Navaid Aziz holds a Bachelor’s in Islamic Law, with a specialization in Fiqh and Usul Al-Fiqh from the Islamic University of Medinah. He is a highly sought after global lecturer and speaker.
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Tahir Wyatt
USA
Dr. Tahir Wyatt earned his PhD at the Islamic University of Medinah, KSA. In November 2012 Tahir was appointed by Royal Decree as the first person to teach Islam in English at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
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Abdullah Smith
USA
Sh. Abdullah Smith graduated with a BA from the College of Hadith and Islamic Studies at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
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Sajid Umar
UK
Dr. Sajid Umar holds a PhD from the Higher Institute of Judiciary at Al-Imam University, in a program spanning 5 years under the guidance of some of the world’s best Muslim scholars. His PhD topic was related to the topic of Financial Risk Management.
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Nabeel Nisar
KSA
Dr. Nabeel Nisar Sheikh holds a BA in Hadith from Dar-Al-Hadith al-Khairiyyah in Makkah and an MA in Uloom-Ul-Quran from Umm Ul-Quraa. He completed and received his PhD in Quranic Sciences.
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AbdurRaheem McCarthy
USA
Sh. AbdurRaheem McCarthy accepted Islam in 1994, then moved to Sudan and then Saudi Arabia where he spent 10 years in Madinah. He graduated from the faculty of Da’wah and Usool Ad-Deen.
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FAQs

Where is Zidni located?

We are a Sacramento, CA based organization offering local and online courses in Islamic sciences. Our goal is to establish a full-time onsite ma'had (seminary) that teaches Quran, Qiraa'at, Arabic immersion programs, and a full Islamic studies curriculum.

Who are the programs on ZidniACCESS designed for?

They designed for any Muslim who wants to develop a strong foundation in the Deen, across the Islamic sciences. This is perfect for adults who are working, studying, or tending to their family.

Which courses or programs does ZidniACCESS offer at the moment?

You can find all our current programs here.

Are there any Live Q&As?

Yes, you can ask live questions to the instructors, or if you forget to ask something you will have access to our Community where you can leave questions for the instructors.

Are these recordings only?

The classes at Zidni Islamic Institute are not just recordings; we also provide live sessions where you can actively participate, ask questions, and engage with expert instructors in real-time.

What if I am unable to attend class live (due to time zone, work schedule, etc…)?

Recordings will be available for all classes, with the same access to typed questions and answers. However, we encourage participation in live classes whenever possible to get the full benefit of interaction with the instructors.

Do I need to know Arabic to enroll?

No, this program is designed for beginners. It may be helpful to know basic pronunciation and be able to read Arabic script.