Norman Finkelstein was born in Brooklyn in 1953 to Holocaust survivors Mary and Zacharias Finkelstein. He attended James Madison High School followed by Binghamton College, where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in History. Finkelstein enrolled at Princeton University where he earned a Master's degree in political science and a PhD in political studies in 1988. He also studied at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris.

After graduation Finkelstein held teaching positions at various universities including New York University, Brooklyn College and Hunter College. His dissertation, The Jewish Question to the Jewish State: An Essay on the Theory of Zionism became the foundation for his first book, Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (Verso, 1995), a critical analysis of Joan Peters' From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine (Harpercollins, 1984). The book earned both criticism and support from the academic community, with public figures such as Noam Chomsky coming to Finkelstein's defense. Image and Reality was followed by The Rise and Fall of Palestine: A personal account of the intifada years (University of Minnesota, 1996) and A Nation on Trial: The Goldhagen thesis and historical truth (with Ruth Bettina Birn) (Henry Holt, 1998).

In 2000 Finkelstein released his most publicized book to date, The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering (Verso, 2000). Finkelstein argued that the memory of the Holocaust was being exploited by the American Jewish community for financial gain while allowing Israel to commit human rights abuses unchecked. While the book received some positive reviews it also brought accusations of holocaust denial and the possibility of exploitation for anti-Semitic purposes.

In 2001 Finkelstein accepted a teaching position at DePaul University's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. His continued advocacy for the people of Palestine and criticism of Israeli human rights policies made him a prominent voice in the ongoing conflict. In 2003 Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz released The Case for Israel (John Wiley & Sons), prompting a rebuttal from Finkelstein that played out in the press and resulted in Finkelstein's next book, Beyond Chutzpah: On the misuse of anti-Semitism and the abuse of history (University of California Press, 2005). Finkelstein accused Dershowitz of plagiarizing portions of Peters' From Time Immemorial and even questioning the book's authorship, causing Dershowitz to threaten legal action against the publisher. Beyond Chutzpah was released without the word "plagiarism" and did not include accusations about The Case for Israel's authorship.

Finkelstein became eligible for tenure at DePaul University in 2007. In September of that year Dershowitz began contacting various university employees and alumni in an effort to block Finkelstein's tenure bid. Although he was initially approved, a minority report was filed by several faculty members and Finkelstein was ultimately denied. Despite ongoing support from students and colleagues he was placed on leave and submitted his resignation in September 2007. DePaul insisted Dershowitz's interference didn't influence the decision.

After leaving DePaul Finkelstein returned to Brooklyn, where he continues to publish and speak on Middle East relations. His books have been translated into more than 50 foreign editions. Finkelstein's life and career was the subject of a 2009 award winning documentary, American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein, directed by David Ridgen and Nicolas Rossier. He was also the subject of the 2017 Off-Broadway production, If I Forget, written by Steven Levenson.

Sadia is a relationship coach who has dedicated her social presence to helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of modern relationships. Her passion for helping people build fulfilling and lasting connections has guided her on this meaningful journey.

Sadia holds a BSc in Psychology, Master's in Education

and Developmental psychology, Qualified Teachers Status, Diplomas in Psychotherapy, Advanced CBT, Psychoanalysis, and Inner Child Healing. Her academic training and extensive practical experience allow her to offer well-rounded and evidence-based guidance. 

Dr. Haifaa Younis is an American Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist with roots from Iraq. Her pursuit of Islamic knowledge initiated when she began to study with various Islamic scholars from across the United States while she simultaneously attended individual courses and lectures on subjects including Aqeeda, Fiqh, usual Fiqh, Hadeeth, and Tazkiyah (purification of the soul). From the United States, she moved to Saudi Arabia where she graduated from the Mecca Institute of Islamic Studies (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) and Al-Huda Qur’an Memorization School (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) where she completed the memorization of the Qur’an. She is the founder and Chairman of Jannah Institute and currently teaches seminars on the thematic commentary of various chapters of the Holy Qur’an and their practical relevance in our day-to-day living. Additionally, she offers retreats on key topics that inspire hearts, combining the inner essence of Islam with an outward expression of practice. Dr. Haifaa is passionate about spreading the word of Allah (SBW) and igniting the love of Islam and the Qur’an through her teachings.

Scholar and President of Zaytuna College, USA.

World Respected Teacher

Principle of Nadwatul Ulama, India

Graduated from Nadwatul Ulama in 1950. He currently holds one of the highest Ijazahs (chains of transmission) in the world having studied books of Hadith under the expert Shah Haleem Ata (1893-1955). Shaykh Dr Syed Iqbal Ahmad Nadwi is one of the oldest living graduates of the prestigious Nadwatul Ulama.

Qari Firas Qazzaz (Muadhin al Aqsa)

Shaykh Saeed Qalqilia (Imam, Masjid al Aqsa)

Shaykh Salah al Ikrimawi (Imam, Masjid al Aqsa)

Ibn Ali Miller was born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He is a student of Imam Amin Muhammad from Masjid Muhammad. Since a viral video in 2017 in which he broke up a fight between two teenagers, he has gone on to become a global motivational speaker and is now one of the most popular black Muslims of America.

Zimbabwe

Mustafa Abu Sway was appointed as the first holder of the Integral Chair for the Study of Imam Ghazali’s Work at the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and at Al-Quds University in 2012 (King Abdullah II Endowment). He was also Dean, College of Da`wah and Usul Al-Din, and College of the Qur'an and Islamic Studies, Al-Quds University (2014-2019). He has been Professor of Philosophy and Islamic Studies at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, Palestine, since 1996. He taught at the International Islamic University in Malaysia including a year at the Institute for Islamic Thought and Civilization-ISTAC (1993-96) and was a visiting Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at the Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University (2003-4), as well as a visiting professor at Bard College, New York (2008-2010). Prof. Abu Sway earned his Ph.D. from Boston College (1993), dissertation title: “The Development of Al-Ghazzaliyy's Genetic Epistemology". He is author of three books on Imam Al-Ghazali: “Islamic Epistemology: The Case of Al-Ghazali”, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, 1995; “Fatawa Al-Ghazali” (ISTAC, Kuala Lumpur, 1996); and “A Treasury of Al-Ghazali” (Kube, London, 2017). He was editor of “Islamic Culture” and contributed to  several publications on prophets published by PASSIA, Jerusalem. He also published a booklet on “The Holy Land, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Islamic Sources” (AphorismA, Berlin) in English, German, French, Italian, and Greek. Prof. Abu Sway is a member of the Hashemite Fund for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, and the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem.  

Maryam Lemu the Head of Resource Management and Administration at New Horizons College, Minna, Nigeria and one of the Directors of ProStart Consultants. She is a highly motivated lady with over two and a half decades of working experience that spans across the United States and Nigeria.

In 1991, she moved to the United States with her husband where she began her career in Sales, Marketing and Management. She was appointed as the District Sales Manager for Avon Products in 1995 with a sales force of 320 sales representatives. In 1999, she was employed as an Executive Level Recruiter and Marketing Manager for Pro-Staff Employment Agency, coordinating the recruiting efforts and marketing plans for 4 branch offices.

During her years in the United States, Mrs. Lemu undertook professional courses in Public Speaking, Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Sales and Marketing and Life Skills training.

In 2001 she returned to Nigeria with her family and took up appointment as the Hostel Administrator at New Horizons College, Minna. She was later appointed as the Head of the School’s Resource Management Department. She currently holds both positions.

Today, Mrs. Lemu is an international sought after speaker. She is an accomplished facilitator of seminars and workshops to various companies and organizations in the areas of Public Speaking, Team Building and Leadership, Personal Development. She is very engaged in her true passion which is Premarital and Marital Guidance. She has spoken in many countries around the world including the United Kingdom, United States, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kuwait and many more.

She is a regular on the Nigerian Television scene with her Human Development Series and her marriage talks. She recently accepted an offer to host an Islamic Television programme on cable TV. Mrs. Lemu is also an international consultant to private schools based on her strong commitment to character development, social responsibility and values-driven leadership.

She has been married for 26 years and has been blessed with two sons.

Shaykh Sulaiman Moola is a dynamic young traditional scholar and lecturer of the Islamic sciences who is a popular guest speaker at conferences across the globe. He is known to deliver the message of Islam impacting the audience and in particular the youth. Shaykh Sulaiman Moola [may Allah preserve him] began studying the sacred sciences at an early age. After having completed the memorization of the Quran at the age of 14, for the next seven years he would go on to study Arabic [and all its related sciences becoming especially fluent in Arabic poetry], Tafsir, Hadith, Aqidah and Fiqh [specializing in the Hanafi School]. Having studied under senior ulama from South Africa and the Indian Subcontinent and receiving ijazah from them, he went on to teach at the well known Islamic seminary in South Africa, Dar al-Uloom Zakariyya. Shaykh Sulaiman Moola frequently addresses Islamic topics on the radio and in Friday sermons across South Africa. He recently has published a book, The Sun That Never Set, through Mathabah where he is a senior advisor and teacher. Shaykh Sulaiman Moola has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world and the West for the purpose of Dawah and teaching. His travels and lectures have been a means of great inspiration to many across the globe.

Shaykhul Hadith, Leicester

Riyadh

Bahrain

Habib Ubaydullah al-Attas (Mecca) first began his education and rearing at the hands of his blessed parents. His father, Habib Muhsin al-Attas. a man of knowledge, piety, and character; and his righteous mother, Sayyida Khadija bint Abdur-Rahman al-Attas both instilled within him from a young age the love of Allah ? and His Messenger ? and Prophetic character. Habib Ubaydullah sought sacred knowledge with an uninterrupted chain of transmission back to the Messenger of Allah ? at the hands of some of the greatest scholars of the age, including Habib Abdul-Qadir al-Saqqaf, Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, Habib Abu Bakr al-Attas, Sayyid Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki, Habib Umar bin Hafiz, and many others.

Researcher and pollster Dalia Mogahed is an author, advisor and consultant who studies Muslim communities. As director of research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Dalia Mogahed keeps her finger on the pulse of the Muslim world. She served on Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in 2009, advising the president on how faith-based organizations can help government solve persistent social problems. Mogahed is a former director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, where her surveys of Muslim opinion skewered myths and stereotypes while illuminating the varied attitudes of Muslims toward politics, religion, and gender issues. Her 2008 book with John Esposito, Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, outlines these surprising findings.