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Meet Our Team

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Saba Umer

Educator

Saba Umer has taught elementary and middle school language arts, as well as Islamic and social studies for over 15 years. She is a certified training and development specialist, who has worked with Kumon learning centers, cooperative homeschooling organizations, Islamic schools, and financial institutions, designing curriculum and instructional materials for both education and corporate sectors. She is also a freelance writer with notable works in multiple scholastic and lifestyle publications. Inspired by her students to bring creativity to classrooms, she is a learner and explorer, always in search of that next neat idea. 

Tayyaba Syed

Author

Tayyaba Syed is a multiple award-winning author, journalist and storyteller, who has written for 20+ children’s book titles including The Blessed Bananas and Hafsa’s Kisses. She has been an educator for over 16 years and received her teacher certification in Islamic studies through the Ribaat Academic Institute, offering many diverse classes and workshops for all ages. She also serves as an elected member of her local school district’s Board of Education.

Hamza Dudgeon

Researcher

​Hamza Dudgeon is an academician in Religious Studies and Islamic History. Besides studying at the Islamic University of Minnesota for many years, Hamza holds an M.A. in Islamic studies from the University of Chicago and he is currently a doctoral student of Islamic Civilizations studies at Emory University. Additionally, Hamza was granted many traditional Ijāzāt from ʿUlamāʾ domestically & abroad.​

Sakeena Younus

Graphic Designer

​Sakeena Younus is Digital Media, Web, and Graphic Designer studying Computer Science and Digital Media Design as a senior at Lake Forest College. 

She currently teaches Qur’an, Tajweed, and Islamic Studies to 8-13 year olds at her local Saturday School where she has taught for the past 4 years and attended for the past 12 years.

To learn more about Sakeena and her design projects visit her web site at sakeena.pro.

Safa Younus

Administrator

Safa Younus is a mother to 5 children with over 20 years of homeschooling experience, from primary levels until college. She has taught Islamic Studies to girls ages 6-16 at her local Saturday school and is working towards her Islamic Studies Teacher Certification through Ribaat Academic Institute. Safa has been Administrator of Blessed Bonds & Iron Faith for over 6 years, and continues with her goal to help provide educational programming to Muslim youth of all ages around the world.

Faisal

Web Site Admin

Faisal has 22 years experience in IT.  Faisal created and maintains the Monarch Academy website as well as the original Blessed Bonds website.

He enjoys learning new skills,  designing websites, and making things work.  To learn more, visit his personal web site at faisal.cx.