Faculty & Advisers
Dr. Hamid Slimi
Professor & Chairman of the Canadian Centre For Deen Studies as well as a visiting Professor of Islamic Studies in different Universities and colleges especially in Indonesia , Malaysia and Turkey. He is an educator, a spiritual leader and a chairman for a good number of organizations. He brings to the Centre a rich experience of more than 30 years in both religious studies and resources management. Dr. Slimi teaches:
. Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and its Fundaments (Usul)
. Objectives of the law (Maqasid) & Legal Maxims (Qawa'id)
. Anthropology of Religion
. Interpersonal Skills Development
. Ethics, Beliefs and Tasawwuf
. Arabic Language Studies & Translation
. Counseling & Psycho-Spiritual Therapy
For more details please visit: www.hamidslimi.com
Dr. Arafat Elashi
Professor of Exegesis & Islamic thought.
Dr. Arafat Elashi holds a Phd in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He has served as the Canadian Director of the Muslim World League and the Chief of Translation and Research Section at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Kuwait. Dr. El-Ashi has also hosted numerous TV and radio shows on Islam and is the author of several notable books on Islam. He is a regular Khatib and lecturer at Sayeda Khadija Centre and many others Islamic Centres in Ontario
Dr.Sadaf Sheikh, MD, CCRP, PMP, Certified Instructor – ASIST.
Dr. Sadaf Sheikh is an individual who wears many hats professionally. She is an MD, a Clinical Researcher a Project Management Professional, an Instructor/Professor at UofT and Humber College and a family oriented female.
She is also a published author of a few medical research publications featured in the most prestigious medical journals. Her research has been published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, International Diabetes Federation and the Journal of European Society of Cardiology.
Sadaf also conducts her own mental health workshops which speak about stress management, relationship management, good communication skills and Applied Suicide Interventions Skills training (ASIST). ASIST is a very powerful workshop that allows for anybody who gets certified in it to be able to do suicide first aid. Just like CPR certification is common within our general public and communities, there is a need for suicide first aid to be common as well.
She has conducted the ASIST program at the Centre for Deen Studies and has delivered workshops in psychospiritual therapy and counseling and other related topics to mental health with Dr. Hamid Slimi.
Sadaf aims to build a stronger community through her compassion to educate and bring awareness to mental health.
Ust. Asim Malik
Ustadh Asim Malik is an Industrial Engineer by education and profession as well as one of the first graduates of the Canadian Centre For Deen Studies. He has been studying and serving at the centre for more than 11 years and he has been the student of Dr. Hamid Slimi for more than 15 years. He teaches Fiqh of Ibadat 101 and also Da'wah and communication.
Ust. Rehan Saeed
Resources Management & Ethical Financing
Ust. Rehan Saeed has an MBA in Islamic Banking and Finance from the well renowned International Islamic University of Malaysia and a BA in Information Technology from York University, Toronto, Canada.
For many years, he has been instrumental in designing papers and contracts for ethical and Islamic financing and coordinates between the experts and his clients till the final stage of endorsement. He acts as an advisor to various Credit unions in Ontario. He also works with Centennial College in Toronto to offer the well renowned Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) from the UK and make it part of the business curriculum.
A Team of Psychotherapists & Counselors
Counseling & Psychotherapy
We have a strong team of spiritual and marriage counselors in addition to marriage and family therapists. We regularly conduct small groups workshops and 1 on 1 training sessions with first hand experience.
Ust. Rikaz Rabah
Professor of Qur'an & Arabic Language Studies
Ustadha Rikaz Rabah has been teaching at CCDS since the inception. She brings a very long experience of teaching Arabic for all age groups and all levels. She graduated with a bachelor in Islamic Studies and also Arabic language studies.
Prof. Dr. Aliya Khan, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FACE
Dr. Khan is an adviser and the Professor of Personal & Community Development as well as Interfaith outreach and relations. In addition to that she has a successful career as Professor of Clinical Medicine at McMaster University and Director of the Calcium Disorders Clinic at McMaster University. Her research interests are parathyroid disorders as well as osteoporosis. She has been recognized for her contributions to scientific advancements in the management of these conditions and has received numerous national and international awards including the International Clinician Instructor of the Year 2011 award by the International Society of Clinical Densitometry.The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for 2012 for excellence in clinical care, research and teaching , the International Hypoparathyroidism Award for 2014 as well as the International Osteoporosis Foundation Award for 2017 for publishing excellence. She has published more then 150 scientific papers on osteoporosis and parathyroid disease as well as books and numerous book chapters.
Dr. Khan has also published and lectured on Islam’s contributions to Medicine, and is actively involved in interfaith dialogue and promoting mutual respect and understanding across faiths and cultures. Dr Khan regularly speaks at Churches, Synagogues and Mosques on the Abrahamic Faiths .Dr Khan was one of the founders of Abraham’s Children Together an organization consisting of Jews, Christians and Muslims who jointly sponsored Syrian refugee families . She is the chair of Canadians in Support of Refugees In Dire Need (CSRDN) a multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for people facing persecution globally.