ICC Staff
Imam Omar Tawil
Imam Omar Tawil is a graduate of DePaul University with a Bachelor's in Religious Studies and is currently pursuing an MA in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations from the Hartford Seminary. He has pursued his traditional study of the Islamic sciences with scholars in the Middle East and in the United States.
He and his family moved to the Phoenix Valley over two years ago and he serves as an Imam at the Islamic Community Center of Tempe, AZ and a University Chaplain for Muslim Students at Arizona State University. Ask him about his love of Bamboo and wood carving - and matters of faith as well.
Musa Abdur-Rahman
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Fatima Abas
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Ahmad Ewais
Ahmad Ewais has been serving the Islamic Community Center of Tempe for the past 20 years. Currently Position Cemetery Manager, Funeral Director and Chaplain. His work has included calling the athan, leading prayers and delivering Friday sermons in the absence of the Imam, providing general maintenance for the masjid and school, and since 2001, handling all funeral arrangements A to Z and managing the Muslim Cemetery. He was elected to join the Board of Directors in 2000 and served briefly due to his decision to become a full-time employee and serve the greater community.
In 2001, he was contacted by a Refugee Center in need of critical assistance in providing Afghani Refugees with spiritual and financial aid, and assimilation to their new environment. Ahmad helped create a program that transported them to receive these services. Ahmad continues to stay connected with all valley refugees including those from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, and Burma, but not limited to anyone.
Through this role he is contacted almost daily regarding those in need, sick, or near death and travels across town to provide spiritual care, sometimes for hours or over several visits. Through this work AZ Muslim Chaplain Services was created a channel that extends services to the sick, elderly, or anyone needing help in times of difficulty. AZ Muslim Services is used widely by valley hospitals, mental institutions, nursing homes and has many volunteers that share the same passion of serving our creator through acts of mercy. Ahmad also served Banner Desert Medical Center as he worked under the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. A few years ago, he was interviewed by American Journalist Tom Junod, in reference to the service Ahmad provided in the body preparation and shrouding of boxing legend Mohammed Ali.
Using the abilities God granted him, Ahmad works to please the Creator, follow our Islamic traditions, and serve the Muslim Ummah.
ICC Board of Directors
Sharif Alkatib
Brother Sharif brings over 15 years of experience in the fields of finance and information technology, gained from Fortune 500 companies such as WWT, CVS Health, Bed Bath and Beyond, Edison International (SCE) and the City of Phoenix. He has earned a Master's degree in Management from a top business school and will bring a dynamic management methodology to ICC Tempe. He has a profound passion for finance, technology, collaboration and education. Br. Sharif prioritizes Islamic knowledge, aiming to strengthen ICC Tempe as an institution that will accommodate the growing Muslim community for the next generation while fostering strong Islamic leadership. He has 20 years of volunteer experience at various masjids in Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Toronto, Canada, and Arizona. His past and present roles as a board member of an Islamic institution have provided him with a solid foundation from which he will serve the ICC community.
Saad Ishrat-Najmi
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Zain Siddiqi
Zain Siddiqi is a longtime community member of Arizona and ICC. He has been involved in various Muslim nonprofits locally and nationally. He has previously served as an employee and board member of ICC. Along with many years of experience with Muslim organizations, he has also worked in developing his family's coffee shop for ten years. Zain holds a BA and MS from ASU in Political Science and Business Management, respectively. In his free time, Zain likes to read, meet people, and study the Islamic sciences.
Abdulrahman Awad
Abdul-Rahman Awad, PhD, is a retired Microbiology Professor. He migrated to the US in 1978, where he earned his master’s degree from Utah State University and his PhD. from Louisiana State University. Before he moved to Arizona in 1986, Dr. Awad served as the chair of the Islamic Center of Logan Utah, and the chair of the Islamic center of Baton Rouge Louisiana. He also chaired the East Coast ISNA conference and several camps, workshops, and leadership training programs. Dr. Awad served as the 1st ICC Executive Director from 1986 to late 1990. He also served on the ICC Board more than once and lead several community programs and committees.
Thomas Isaak
I am Thomas Isaak, I was born and raised in Alaska, until I moved to Arizona when I was 20. I accepted Islam in 1995 in ICC. I was involved with the Dawa committee a couple of years after that with Imam As-Shuqierat before traveling to Jordan to study Arabic and then later Shariah, unfortunately, I did not finish the Shariah program. I am married with 2 kids, one in ASUs Nursing Program and the other a Senior at Corona Del Sol. As for what I enjoy, I love reading, mountain biking, hiking, and smoking brisket.
I have worked as a manager for 15 years and I believe those skills could be of service to our community. My perception of positions of authority are that they are a responsibility and trust. My wish is to be of value to this community that helped me grow as a Muslim so many years ago. I am a person who wants transparency, likes to plan, believes that discussions without decisions at the end stifle growth, and am willing to say what I believe to make sure others are heard. I am currently studying for an associate in business management and a certificate in Project Management.
Ahmed Khalil
Ahmed has been a part of ICC since 1997, where he spent his childhood years growing up in and around the masjid. Ahmed is a graduate of ASU acquiring a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Family and Human Development and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. While a student at ASU, Ahmed was a member of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) and served as the Social Director, as well as the President of the MSA. From a professional lens, Ahmed is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Arizona but is currently working in the field of Information Technology (IT), as technology has always been a passion of his and where most of his work experience has come from. Ahmed currently serves as the Advisor for the ASU MSA and enjoys providing advice and experiential insight to the next generation of Muslim students. Ahmed has previously served and is currently serving in the role of Secretary on the ICC Board of Directors and is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that helped to mold him from a young age.
Walid Alsmadi
Walid Alsmadi
Moved to and a resident of Arizona from 1991.
Married with 5 children.
Sevice with ICC: 1991- todate.
Major volunteer positions with ICC:
Dawa Committee, ICC Boy Scouts, ICC BOD member multiple terms, ICC weekend school teacher, Ramadan committees, and ICC Cemetery engineering, planning and zoning team.
Major Projects with ICC:
ICC remodeling and expanstion, ICC Fulltime Islamic School, ICC Boyscouts, ICC Imam hiring, cemetery planning and zoning.
Professional:
B.S. in Civil Engineering,
MS in Environmental Engineering
Ph.D. in Environmental Management.
Current: Utility Planning Manager
Over 35 years of professional experience in civil and environmental engineering.
Member of local, state, national and international committees on environmental, planning and advisory committees.