Burhan Academy

Vision Statement

Our vision is, thus, to establish a premier and innovative educational institution in North America that cultivates future altruistic leaders grounded in the principles of “Ummah First,” guided by the profound spirituality of Islam, and trained by a curriculum infused with revealed and rational sciences taught according to the Islamic paradigm. This institute should be committed to providing a transformative learning environment where students are empowered to excel academically, morally, and spiritually in service of the Ummah.

We envision to develop a replicable curriculum model that will ensure accessibility and inclusivity for individuals from diverse academic, Islamic, and economic backgrounds, empowering a greater number of people to benefit from our holistic educational approach. This educational institute will hereby be called Burhan Academy.

Mission Statement

Burhan Academy’s mission is to deliver a holistic education, incorporating an Islamic perspective into the academic curriculum. Through this integrated approach, we aim to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of various subjects at the highest level of academic excellence while instilling Islamic values, knowledge, and principles. By embracing diversity and inclusivity, we seek to empower all individuals to thrive academically, spiritually, physically, and morally, preparing them to become compassionate leaders who positively impact society. The foundation of this mission will be the dedicated and inspiring teachers, who will play the most pivotal role in nurturing the potential and moral character of our students.

Through the above, our objective will be to usher in a new era of Ghazlis, Ibn Rushds, Ibn Sinas, Razis, and Shah Waliullahs.

Academics

Burhan Academy will cater to students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, offering a comprehensive educational journey that nurtures growth and development at every stage of their academic and personal advancement.

Our school will offer a curriculum that aligns with all state requirements for a full-time educational institution, ensuring students receive a comprehensive education that meets academic standards while incorporating Islamic teachings. We are dedicated to hiring the highest qualified/certified teachers who are committed to providing a nurturing and enriching learning environment for our students.  We plan to obtain full state accreditation.

Students

We intend to gradually increase enrollment to fully optimize our campus facilities, with an initial target enrollment goal of 1037 students. This strategic approach will allow us to maintain a manageable growth trajectory while ensuring that each student receives personalized attention and benefits from our comprehensive educational offerings. Are goal will be to have a student to teacher ratio of 12:1 and a teacher to admin ratio of 7:1.

Programs and Special Features

Burhan Academy will offer a fully functioning integrated curriculum spanning from pre-Kindergarten till 12th grade. We understand that children are perceptive and curious, and so our goal is to allow for their natural curiosity to expand. Hence, alongside grade school, it will also facilitate a holistic educational and nurturing environment for childcare in form of a Montessori.

An interfused methodology in imparting both the rational and traditional sciences assumes that our graduates will understand, firstly, in theory and in application, the principles of Quranic exegesis, the principles of hadith, and legal theory. Secondly, they will further be equipped with a thorough understanding of Quranic exegesis, hadith nomenclature, hadith memorization, substantive legal rulings (furūʿāt) derived therefrom, and with discursive theology (kalām/ʿaqīda).

The special features in our program will be that it will be offered alongside the secular sciences in an integrated manner such that every subject is taught from an Islamic paradigm.

Our Program will center its axis around three main components:

1. Revealed Knowledge: An interfused methodology in imparting both the rational and traditional sciences assumes that our graduates will understand, firstly, in theory and in application, the principles of Quranic exegesis, the principles of hadith, and legal theory. Secondly, they will further be equipped with a thorough understanding of Quranic exegesis, hadith nomenclature, hadith memorization, substantive legal rulings (furūʿāt) derived therefrom, Muslim history, and with discursive theology (kalām/ʿaqīda).

1. Rational Knowledge: We will offer the K-12 curriculum as proposed by Dr. Ismail Raji Faruqi in a fully Islamized manner.

1. Tazkiya: At Burhan Academy, we want to instill in our students that the ultimate goal of education is attaining the pleasure of Allah taʿālā. Hence, any curriculum bereft of spiritual growth is destined to cause spiritual harm. We will ardently apply the methodology of Tazkiya as explained by Imam Ghazali (may Allah d be pleased with him) in his Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn and as explained through the spiritual writings of Ḥazrat Thānwī (may Allah d be pleased with him).

Faculty and facility

Faculty

The only way for us to achieve the best results in implementing our vision is to curate a team with the highest and most qualified educators. And to maintain academic excellence, we have decided to establish an educational board with academic and educational veterans. Therefore, we at Burhan Academy are happy to announce our lofty educational board as the following:

• Dr. Mufti Yasir Nadeem al Wajidi is the president of Burhan Academy, director of Darul Uloom Online, a lead teacher at the Institute of Islamic Education Elgin IL. USA and Jamiatul Hasnain Indiana USA. He is a writer and a public speaker. He graduated from Darul Uloom Deoband in the year 2001. He also completed a one-year course in the Arabic Language and Literature in 2002, and followed that with a one year Ifta (Legal Verdicts) course in 2003. In 2004, he moved to the United States of America (USA) to earn a postgraduate degree in Arabic literature in 2005. In 2012, he completed his Ph.D. at the International Islamic University, Malaysia and his area of specialization was the Prophetic Sciences.

• Mohammed Tajammul Hussain MD is a Board certified Hematologist and Oncologist.
  Chief Of Oncology and Hematology, Insight Hospital, Chairman Oncology, Jackson Park Hospital, Director Oncology and Hematology, Advance Cancer care, President: Chicago Muslim Medical Alliance, Board member: A Continues Charity
  President for Trustees: North South Mosque Board Member: Ambulatory Surgical Care Center of Illinois, He is
  actively involved in the educational, social, and health related activities for the community both in the U.S and India
  Teaching Faculty for Medical Students and Residents in Insight and Jackson Park Hospital

• Dr. Hamid Nazeer was one of the early graduates from one the first fully accredited Islamic High Schools in North America (CPSA). He has served on the board for this school and has been intimately involved with the progress of Islamic School advancement in the Chicagoland Area and Central Illinois since graduating in 1998. He currently devotes much of his time to the development program of Athletics at his Islamic School Alma Mater.

  After graduating from High School he spent one year in Elgin, Illinois pursuing his Islamic studies at IIE. Following this he spent 3 years at Benedictine University where he was able to graduate in 3 years and played Division III collegiate football. After graduating from BU he pursued his Medical Degree and is now practicing in the Chicagoland area as an Interventional Radiologist. He’s Fellowship trained in Abdominal Imaging and Vascular & Interventional Radiology from Duke University and Rush University Respectively.
  Dr. Hamid has a good balanced perspective on the importance of mental, spiritual, and physical development.

• Shaikh Ali Toft
  Former faculty member of King Abdul Aziz University Jeddah, 
  Hifz Al Quran from The Institute of Islamic Education, Tajwid & Qira’at under internationally renowned scholars from Saudi and Syria. He has also completed the Alim Course from Darul Uloom Online and holds a BA in economics from Northwestern University and an M. Ed – master’s in education from Harvard. 

• Zoaib Mirza has over 25 years of experience as an Educationalist. He currently works as an Associate Vice President at Ultimate Medical Academy with prior experience working for non-profit, for-profit, and ivy league education institutions.  As a faculty and facilitator for over 15 years, Mr. Mirza has taught and developed various Technology, Education, and Management courses in K12, undergraduate, and graduate schools both locally and internationally.   As a philanthropist, he works with educational institutes, especially in developing communities in Pakistan and Chicago, USA, to promote education. He also conducts professional development workshops and seminars for schools and organizations on education, ethics, and technology topics.
  His efforts as an educationalist have been recognized both locally and internationally. He is the recipient of various awards and scholarships like Best Effective Practice by Online Learning Consortium, SLATE Star Award, TEACH award, The Diversity Scholarship by the Adult Higher Education Alliance, and more. Pakistani training company Mentoring Hub, and media channels Hum TV and ARY Digital, have appreciated his contributions and interviewed him on their morning shows. Mr. Mirza is currently completing his Doctorate in Education Leadership from DePaul University. He completed his MA in Applied Professionals Studies, MS in Applied Technologies, MS in Information Systems from DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, and his Bachelor of Science, Computing, with Honors from Staffordshire University the United Kingdom.

• Dr. Mohammad Nisar acquired a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from India in 1992, a master’s in computer science from the University of Wollongong, Australia in 1995, and then a Ph.D. in computer science from Georgia State University, USA in 2007. He has served as an Assistant Professor, Head of the Online Master’s Program in Analytics and designed a master’s degree program curriculum in Data Science.

  At Taif University, Saudi Arabia, he was the Associate Dean of Research and Technology. At the University of Maryland, he was Adjunct Faculty teaching Graduate and Undergraduate courses online. He has also served as a Lecturer at Georgia State University, University of Arkansas, and University of London, Singapore Campus.

Facility

Burhan Academy will host its programs on a beautiful facility with eight fully functioning buildings which include buildings like the Sears Gallery, the Elgin History Museum, Edwards Hall, Rider Center, and a large gymnasium. The land also comes with an additional massive sports complex. This facility will serve as the community’s spiritual, educational, and cultural center for which all groups and ages may take benefit from InshāAllah. This facility will mark a revolutionary turn in the West, such that its walls will one day boast the presence of many a nurtured intellectuals and spiritual mentors.

Background of the Facility

“The Elgin Academy was established by charter of the Illinois General Assembly in 1839 to provide students with a classical education. The academy’s original building, Old Main, was constructed in 1855-6, and is on the United States’ National Register of Historic Places. It now serves as a museum of the Elgin Area Historical Society.

The original charter was granted by the Illinois legislature and signed in 1839, only four years after the founding of Elgin. The academy opened, and has continued, with a non-denominational and coeducational policy. In 1856 the first building, Old Main, was completed at a cost of $19,000 and opened for classes, but the first diploma was not awarded until 1872 when Laura Davidson, the granddaughter of James Gifford, Elgin’s founder, earned the honor. Davidson later married Nathaniel Sears and their family became major donors to the academy.

During the American Civil War seven commissioned officers, six non-commissioned officers, and 21 privates served from the academy. All together, 153 Civil War veterans, whose names are inscribed on the base of two authentic Union cannons, were associated with the academy.

In 1874, 274 students were enrolled and high school degrees were offered in the areas of College Preparatory, Normal, English, Classical, Latin-Scientific, and Business. By 1900 the football team, basketball team, and a school newspaper were established. About this time the academy became briefly associated with the University of Chicago and then with Northwestern University from 1903 to 1927 and from 1932 to 1943. The Sears family helped build the academy’s first gymnasium in 1918. A boarding program ran from 1920 to 1987, with girls allowed to board starting in 1941.

The Sears family helped build the Sears Art Gallery in 1924 and Sears Hall in 1940. The new gymnasium was built in 1958, North Hall was built as a girls’ dormitory in 1962, and Edwards Hall was built in 1969. Old Main was closed in 1972.

Enrollment fell to 85 students in 1973, but rose to 425 in 2012. In 1984 the program was expanded to K-12, and preschool was added in 1997. The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center opened in 2008.

Enrollment fell back down to 200 in 2023, and on November 7, 2023, the school officially announced its planned closing. The school is planned to close at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.”

“The school occupies a 18-acre (73,000 m2) campus 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Chicago in the Historic District of the city of Elgin. The school’s classrooms are largely housed in four buildings:

• The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science and Fine Arts Center houses the Kimball Street Theatre and part of the Liautaud-Lyons Upper School program, partially donated by the philanthropic James “Jimmy John” Liautaud.
• Edwards Hall houses the Liautaud-Lyons Upper School program.
• Sears Hall houses the Middle School program.
• North Hall houses the Early Childhood and Lower School programs.

Other buildings on campus include:

• Sears Gallery
• The Gymnasium
• Raymond House (business office)
• Penney House (admissions, marketing, development and alumni relations offices)
• Old Main (the Elgin Area Historical Society and one classroom used daily by the academy)

A sports field complex, approximately one half-mile away from the main campus, includes tennis courts, grass fields, and 1/5-mile all-weather track.”

Finance

This whole facility of 18 acres was initially worth a jaw-dropping 25 million dollars, however, it is being offered to us for 3.7 million dollars, a fraction of the price. As tides shift, and history is to take a turn for the better InshāAllah, we want to plea the community to support the efforts of this facility with whatever they can, as this facility is specifically geared towards not only protecting the īmān for generations to come, but also defending it. We need to raise this money as soon as we can.