Scholars, educators, and professionals united in service of Quranic education
Mufti Siraj Ahmed is a distinguished Islamic scholar who graduated from the prestigious Darul Uloom University in Karachi — one of the foremost centers of Islamic learning in the world. Shaykh Siraj's training encompasses the full spectrum of traditional Islamic sciences including Hadith, Fiqh, Tafseer, and Quranic recitation.
Among his most notable teachers is Justice Mufti Taqi Usmani — one of the foremost Islamic scholars and jurists of our era — under whom Mufti Siraj Ahmed received direct tutelage. He has also studied under numerous other shuyookh, carrying chains of knowledge that trace back through generations of scholarship.
His dedication to sacred knowledge is perhaps best captured by a formative journey he undertook to the Swat Valley during winter — travelling through the cold of Ramadan specifically to sit with scholars and study Tafsir of the Quran. That spirit of sacrifice in pursuit of 'ilm continues to define the ethos of Al Hidayah Academy today.
As Founder, President, and Principal, Mufti Siraj Ahmed sets the scholarly and spiritual direction of Al Hidayah Academy, ensuring every program is grounded in authentic Islamic tradition while remaining accessible to students of all backgrounds.
Rayyan leads the Academy's technology infrastructure — designing and building bespoke internal tools that support faculty operations, student management, and learning delivery.
He also shapes the Academy's long-term strategic direction: identifying growth opportunities, forging institutional partnerships, and positioning Al Hidayah Academy for lasting impact across English and Urdu-speaking communities.
Rayyan serves as the primary point of contact between Al Hidayah Academy and its partner organization, Guidance Tutors, coordinating on English instruction operations on behalf of the Principal.
Beyond Al Hidayah Academy, Rayyan is Co-founder of Cognitivv ↗ (CREATE-X, B13 Summer 2026 Cohort), and serves as Partner & Technical Consultant at Koro ↗.
Shaykh Ebrahim Elsafty is a graduate of Al-Azhar University — the oldest and most esteemed Islamic university in the world — and holds an Ijazah in Hafs 'an Asim, one of the most authenticated chains of Quranic transmission. He brings deep scholarly credentials to AHA's English instruction programs.
He directs all English-medium instruction, overseeing curriculum, instructor quality, and student outcomes. He contributes through a formal institutional partnership rather than as internal staff, with Rayyan Ansari serving as the operational liaison on behalf of the Principal.
Shaykh Ebrahim leads his own team of qualified instructors — including Shaykh Samir Mubarak and others — ensuring students at Al Hidayah Academy benefit from a depth of teaching talent that goes well beyond a single educator.
Shaykh Ebrahim is also Co-founder and Managing Director of Guidance Tutors ↗ — an organization connecting students with qualified Islamic educators worldwide.
Ahyan advises Al Hidayah Academy on strategy, drawing on first-hand experience building and scaling Islamic educational organizations as Co-founder of Al Bedaya Institute.
He actively teaches Quran — both online and in-person across the San Ramon Valley, California — meaning his strategic input is always grounded in the lived reality of students and teachers on the ground.
Ahyan is also Co-founder of Cognitivv ↗ (CREATE-X, B13 Summer 2026 Cohort), where he leads business and growth strategy — driving go-to-market, partnerships, and the company's expansion from early traction toward scale.