Our teachers

Learn from qualified teachers

Every instructor is Al-Azhar or Cairo University trained, with Ijāzahs and years of experience teaching non-native speakers. Brothers learn with a male teacher, sisters with a female teacher. All classes are supervised by our founder, Ustadh Hassan Wado.

HW
Founder & Supervisor

Ustadh Hassan Wado

Ustadh Hassan Wado is the founder of Al-Itqaan Institute.

Ustadh Hassan Wado is a student of Shariah (Islamic Law) at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He also studies the ten qira'aat (canonical modes of Qur'anic recitation) at Al-Imam Al-Shatibi Institute in Jeddah.

He holds ijazah (certificate of transmission) with an authenticated chain in the recitation of Imam ʿĀṣim through both Ḥafṣ and Shuʿbah. He has more than fifteen years of experience teaching the Qur'an, leading the daily prayers, and serving as an imam for Tarāwīḥ in various mosques and Islamic centers.

Ustadh Hassan earned a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, with a concentration in Arabic linguistics and a minor in general linguistics, from the University of Washington. He also holds the CELTA qualification in English-language teaching, awarded by Cambridge English (University of Cambridge).

In addition to his Islamic and linguistic studies, he has professional experience working with major tech companies, including Microsoft and Meta.

  • Ijāzah: Imam ʿĀṣim (Ḥafṣ & Shuʿbah)
  • 15+ years teaching Qur'an
  • King Abdulaziz University
  • University of Washington
  • CELTA: Cambridge English

All classes are supervised by our founder, Ustadh Hassan Wado.

Male Instructors

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Ustadh Yusuf Shaban

Qur'an & Arabic Instructor

An Arabic and Qur'an teacher and reciter with over five years of experience teaching non-native speakers at institutions in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He has worked with established curricula such as Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk, At-Takallum and Al-Qāʿidah An-Nūrāniyyah, and holds diplomas in Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers from Cairo University. His instruction emphasizes clear pronunciation, structured reading and careful application of Tajweed.

  • Ijāzah in Qirā'āt
  • MA: Teaching Arabic to Non-Natives
  • BA Arabic, Al-Azhar University
  • 5+ years teaching non-native speakers
AA

Ustadh Abdulrahman Al-Shareef

Qur'an & Tajweed Instructor

A certified Qur'an and Tajweed educator from Egypt holding an Ijāzah with a connected Sanad in the recitation of Imam ʿĀsim (both Hafs and Shuʿbah). He studied at Al-Azhar University's Faculty of Education (English Department), enabling high-quality bilingual instruction. With over six years of teaching experience online and offline, he helps students master the Qur'an with proper Tajweed through a clear, structured approach.

  • Ijāzah with connected Sanad (Hafs & Shu'bah)
  • Al-Azhar University
  • Bilingual: English (B2)
  • 6+ years online & in-person

Female Instructors

HA

Ustadhah Hagar Atif

Qur'an & Arabic Instructor

An experienced Arabic and Qur'an teacher with a strong background across different ages and levels. She holds a BA in Arabic from Cairo University with postgraduate studies in Education, both General and Specialized Diplomas in Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Languages, a certificate to teach Al-Qāʿidah An-Nūrāniyyah, and a certificate in Applied Grammar from Dar Al-ʿUlūm. She teaches through structured lessons that emphasize clarity, correct recitation and steady progress.

  • BA Arabic, Cairo University
  • Certified to teach Al-Qāʿidah An-Nūrāniyyah
  • Diplomas in Teaching Arabic (TASOL)
  • 5+ years experience
AS

Ustadhah Amira Salman

Qur'an & Arabic Instructor

A Qur'an and Arabic teacher with over six years of teaching experience, including four years teaching Qur'an, Arabic and Islamic studies to non-Arabic speakers. A graduate of the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies at Al-Azhar University, she has completed specialized training including Nour Bayan, Tuhfat al-Atfāl and Al-Qāʿidah An-Nūrāniyyah, and studied Al-Muqaddimah Al-Jazariyyah in advanced Tajweed. Known for an engaging, effective style, she makes learning structured and enjoyable for students of all ages.

  • Al-Azhar University graduate
  • Nour Bayan, Tuhfat al-Atfāl & Al-Nūrāniyyah
  • Studying Al-Jazariyyah · completing Ijāzah
  • 6+ years experience