Answering the Call of Service: A Community Benefit Dinner

We look forward to having you attend this benefit dinner to support Bayan's scholarship programs and learn more about Bayan's offerings to communities like Dallas.

In this event, you will hear from ICF's very own Sh. Salah Mahmoud and local Bayan student Imam Shakil Vawda, among others!

Imam Shakil Vawda

Imam Shakil, originally from Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK, is a highly trained Islamic scholar and chaplain. He completed his studies in Islamic theology and Arabic literature at the Islamic Institute of Islamic Education. He moved to the US in 2004 where he held leadership roles at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area and the Islamic Center of Frisco. Imam Shakil later pursued chaplaincy studies at Texas Health and became an endorsed Chaplain. Currently, he serves as the chaplain at Baylor Scott and White in Austin, while also pursuing a Master's of Divinity in Islamic Chaplaincy through Bayan Islamic Graduate School and the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Shaykh Salah Mahmoud

Imam Salah Mahmoud, the Imam and Religious Director at the Islamic Center of Frisco, brings a wealth of knowledge and spiritual guidance. A graduate of Azhar University with a Bachelor's in Islamic Sciences and Theology, he has a profound educational background. Having memorized the Quran at the age of 10, Imam Mahmoud is deeply rooted in Quranic knowledge, holding various Ijazaat. Dedicated to community engagement, he actively participates in the North Texas Imam Council (NTIC) and the North Texas Islamic Council, fostering collaboration and unity in the broader Muslim community.
Certified as a Chaplain by the New York Task Force, he extends support beyond religious services, providing spiritual guidance during challenging times. As a member of Mentorship and Education by Collin County A’Imah (M.E.C.C.A), he contributes to the holistic growth of individuals in the community. With 15 years of experience, Imam Salah Mahmoud has been serving as an Imam, notably at the Muslim American Society and Jamaica Muslim Center in New York City. As a family man, married with two daughters, Imam Mahmoud values family principles. Beyond his spiritual duties, he showcases a well-rounded personality as a Ping Pong Champion, emphasizing the balance between physical and mental well-being.
In his role as Imam and Religious Director, he inspires and guides the community, fostering deep spirituality and unity at the Islamic Center of Frisco. Imam Salah Mahmoud's influence extends beyond our community, as he visits various masajid and Islamic centers locally and nationally. His compelling speeches and fundraising efforts contribute to charitable causes, notably as a co-founder of the American Egyptian Aid, a 501c organization dedicated to supporting kidney failure patients.

About Bayan:

Bayan was established in 2011 as an independent, not-for profit Islamic educational institution that offers accredited graduate degrees in Islamic Studies - with the aim of creating a world that understands Islam in a modern context. Bayan’s mission focuses on cultivating today’s leaders and scholars for Muslim American communities, building capacity grounded in Islamic values and effective at impacting society at large.

Over the past decade, Bayan’s graduate degree programs have expanded. Bayan offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Religious Studies with a concentration in Islamic Studies, and additional MA specializations in Islamic Leadership, Islamic Theology, and Islamic Education. Furthermore, over half of Bayan’s students are enrolled in Bayan’s unique professional Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Islamic Chaplaincy program. Bayan launched its first doctoral program this year, the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Islamic Leadership. Bayan’s degree programs are offered in partnership with the Chicago Theological Seminary, through which they are fully accredited.

Bayan provides professionalization and education to those Muslim Americans in leadership positions across the nation, such as imams, scholars, community organizers, chaplains, and teachers to be more effective and relevant to the needs of the community. To date, Bayan boasts 95 graduates and over 150 currently enrolled student who are working to enhance human capacity in these institutions to navigate the ever-evolving challenges in our communities.

Host or Publisher Bayan Gala