Ramzy Ajem and Tariqa Muqaddams

"Sidi, who are these Muqaddams?" May be Ramzy Ajem can explain to the community.

Ramzy Ajem Mohamed Mahmoud Mississauga Ramy Elhamalawy
Co-Founder - Risalah Foundation
Muqaddam - Toronto
Classically trained Islamic Scholar
Mahmoud's childhood friend
Co-Founder - Risalah Foundation
Director - Risalah Foundation (conflict of interest)
Muqaddam - Mississauga
Ramzy's childhood friend.
Director - Risalah Foundation (conflict of interest)
Muqaddam - Calgary
Principal - Calgary Islamic School - Akram Jomaa
"Ustad" at DarAlMahabba.com. (site inactive)
Shelby Haque Edmonton Ahmed Nazmi Egypt Abdul Khafid Mastan
Muqaddam - Edmonton
"Ustad" at Tadhkirah Foundation
Muqaddam - Egypt Muqaddam - Malaysia/Singapore

Only Ramzy Ajem is trained in the Islamic sciences (more on this later). Mohamed Mahmoud has no official training in any of the Islamic sciences. Yet, he goes by "Shaykh Mahmoud", offers Fiqh counseling, and teaches at the Jamiat Riyadh-ul-Jannah in Mississauga. He wanted to start a sibha business made from rocks taken (stolen?) from the graves of the Awliyah and sell for $1000 USD a piece. He shared this "great" business opportunity with a few mureeds who ended up talking to each other. The rest of the muqaddams have no training in any of the Islamic sciences. Shelby Haque doesn't know his Fard-Ayn (may be Mustafa Ghani can speak to this).

Reading a few books on Tasawwuf doesn't make one a Shaykh or Ustad. I can read a few books on Tasawwuf, connect with local Islamic organizations, start scheduling talks, and become a local shaykh - super easy! Of course, wearing a proper shukr coat and a crisp kufi to complete the persona. It used to be that mureeds spent years and decades studying with various shaykhs before taking students. Today, we set up a shop first and think about real knowledge later.

In Shelby Haque's words, "The Shaykh doesn't teach us anything." Some strange modification to the education model. "Experts" of the Path who haven't travelled the Path but can give a great talk about the Path. Shelby coined the term "spiritual cardiologists", except they haven't gone through the residency program. They are nafs-policemen who don't even have their own nafs under control.



Hot take: Classical training in the Islamic Sciences is not a certification in uprightness.





Go: Investigate Ramzy Ajem