Join us for our new monthly series as we create a safe, welcoming, and faith-centered space for Muslims to learn about mental health, discuss common struggles, and build practical tools for healing and resilience.
In our inaugural session, we cover a general introduction Mental Health and its Importance in Islam. A collaboration with ADAMS Sully, ADAMS Wellness, and Qahwa, each month will alternate between ADAMS Sully and Qahwa Cafe, bringing our communities together for meaningful conversations, reflection, and connection. This month the event will be held at Qahwa Cafe in ADAMS Sterling.
Mental health challenges are affecting Muslims across all background. These include but are not limited to anxiety, burnout, loneliness, grief, identity struggles, family stress, trauma, and spiritual distress. Many Muslims also face the added pressure of living in the West, where they may feel caught between cultures, misunderstood, or hesitant to seek support.
This series aims to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and connect Islamic values with practical mental wellness tools.
Each month will focus on a different subject under the banner Mental Health and as we:
Normalize Conversations about mental health in the Muslim community.
Provide Islamic guidance alongside practical mental health education.
Supply tools for emotional regulation, stress management, and self-care
Address common misconceptions regarding mental health
Create a safe space for questions, reflection, and honest discussion.
Encourage help-seeking and awareness of support when needed.
Strengthen community connection and peer support.
Designed for attendees ages 18+, each evening will feature a thought-provoking followed by guided discussion and Q&A. Whether you are generally interested in mental health and it’s Islamic solutions or are going though personal tribulation and looking for solutions, we hope this series has the answers you are looking for and the resources you need to start your journey towards internal peace and solace.
Tickets are free but donations are greatly appreciated to help support future events! No topic is too taboo, no question is too off-limits! So come with your insights and inquiries and we look forward to seeing you there!
Please note that heavy topics such as addition, self-harm, suicide, and trauma and more may be discussed with frankness but also compassion. Parents are advised to exercise caution and use their best judgement if bringing children or young teens.
Abdelwahab Elsirag is the President & CEO of I Will Coaching LLC, a Northern Virginia–based life-coaching and therapeutic Services agency. With over a decade of experience in mentoring, parent coaching, and clinical individual and family support, he works closely with youth, parents, and community partners to promote resilience, growth, and healthier family systems. Abdelwahab is passionate about bridging professional expertise with cultural and faith-based perspectives, empowering individuals to navigate life’s challenges with confidence. His programs serve hundreds of families each year across multiple counties, building stronger communities through practical tools, compassion, and consistency.
Sohaira Sultan is a Master Certified Coach, founder of Pieces of Purpose Coaching, and Director of Wellness Services at the Adams Center. With over 15 years in the non-profit sector, she specializes in mindfulness and purpose coaching for individuals and couples. Drawing from personal experience and professional training through the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaching Federation, Sohairarience and professional training through the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaching Federation, Sohaira empowers others to cultivate self-awareness, intentional living, and meaningful relationships.
Many of us have grown up hearing, “Islam says…” but how often do we stop to ask whether something is truly rooted in our religion or simply shaped by the culture we were raised in?
From family expectations and marriage to friendships, identity, religion and culture often become intertwined. While culture is an important part of who we are and can beautifully complement our faith, it can also negatively impact our understanding of Islam in ways we may not even recognize.
So join us for Religion vs. Culture, a three-week interactive series happening every Sunday where we’ll explore what Islam truly teaches through the Qur’an and Sunnah while examining the customs, expectations, and traditions we’ve inherited. Together, we’ll tackle common misconceptions, ask honest questions, and learn how to approach these conversations with wisdom, compassion, and clarity.
Led by Ust. Omar Popal, Imam Hicham Hall, and Ust. Faatimah Knight, and Ust. Saad Omar, each week will feature a different speaker or combination of speakers as they discuss these hot button issues of intersect between religion and culture.
Designed for college students, young adults, and working professionals ages 18+, each evening will feature a thought-provoking talk on a distinct topic followed by guided discussion. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your understanding of Islam, navigate difficult conversations with family and friends, or simply educate yourself, this series is for you.
Tickets are free but donations are greatly appreciated to help support future events! No topic is too taboo, no question is too off-limits! So come with your insights and inquiries and we look forward to seeing you there!
How do we honor our parents while maintaining healthy boundaries? Where is the line between obedience and blind obedience? Together, we’ll explore marriage expectations, family reputation, independence, and what Islam actually teaches about our responsibilities to family versus the expectations we sometimes inherit through culture.
Friendships, marriage, gender interactions, communication, love, and divorce are all shaped by both faith and culture. This session will examine what healthy Islamic relationships look like, unpack common misconceptions, and distinguish cultural norms from the principles established by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Who are we when our identity is rooted first and foremost in Islam? In our final session, we’ll discuss mental health, education, career choices, masculinity and femininity, modesty, and social media, exploring how to navigate today’s world while remaining grounded in our faith.
Nothing is off bar for these conversations! So come with questions and insights and we look forward to seeing you there!
Ustadh Omar Popal was born and raised in Northern Virginia. He began studying the Islamic sciences at the age of 16 and his pursuit of knowledge led him to study at Madinatul Uloom in Virginia and Dar al-Qasim in Chicago where he graduated from. In a commitment to lifelong learning, he has continued his studies sitting at the feet of various scholars, most recently spending time in Istanbul for intensive studies. Ustadh Omar’s formative studies took place at Dar al-Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen. In 2018, he founded Tanwir Institute, with the mission of serving the educational and spiritual needs of the large Muslim population in the DC metropolitan area.
Imam Hicham Hall was born in Tangier, Morocco to a convert Scottish-American father and Moroccan mother, and grew up in the DMV. He has served at the Islamic Society of Western Maryland, MAS DC, PEARLS, and ADAMS as youth mentor, community halaqa leader, khateeb, and Imam for nearly 10 years.
Imam Hicham began his private studies with local students of knowledge and Imams. He attended Zaytuna College followed by traditional studies overseas. Hicham graduated from George Mason with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Islamic Thought. Seeking additional traditional knowledge, he spent more time overseas studying with his teachers and continues to do so remotely. He is currently concluding his MA in Islamic Studies at Bayan and currently serves as the lead Imam at ADAMS Gainesville and head of the Sanctuary, ADAMS’s department for new and newly practicing Muslims.
Faatimah Knight holds a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Law and Theology from Zaytuna College and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary. Her research interests include Islam and modernity, gender in the Islamic textual tradition, usul al-fiqh, metaphysics, and religion in public life. She is a research fellow at Yaqeen Institute and the Digital Editor for Renovatio, the Journal of Zaytuna College. She has an independent blog at faatimahknight.com
Saad Omar graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in English and a masters in nonprofit management. He has studied Islam and Arabic in Mecca, Jordan, Turkey and across the United States and lectured widely across United States, Canada and Europe. He is a published songwriter and poet, teacher and entrepreneur. He is currently working on building a living community, nonprofit cafe and business incubator in Fairfax, VA.
✨Adams Leesburg Community Potluck Join us for an evening of community, connection, and good food at the Adams Leesburg Community Potluck featuring Dr. Nassimi (Imam). We’ll discuss the timely topic “Back to School: Opportunities and Challenges” and share ideas on supporting our children and families as they begin a new school year.
📅 Friday, August 28
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Adams Leesburg, 19838 Sycolin Rd, Leesburg, VA 20175
🥘 Please bring a dish to share. 👨👩👧👦 Everyone is welcome!
👉 RSVP here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/ABmxQwgXaL
Come together as a community to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of the new school year while enjoying a meal and meaningful conversation. 🍽️📚
Assalamu Alaikum Leesburg Community,
Please join us for our State of Our Community ’26 gathering on Tuesday, August 25 from 7:00–8:15 PM at ADAMS Leesburg.
This is an important opportunity to come together as a community, hear updates from ADAMS leadership, discuss where we are headed, and most importantly, have an open conversation about the future of our Leesburg community.
This conversation is ours — and your voice matters. Bring your family, your questions, your ideas, and your feedback. We hope to see everyone there, Insha’Allah!
📅 Tuesday, August 25 | 7:00–8:15 PM
📍 ADAMS Leesburg – 19838 Sycolin Rd, Leesburg, VA 20175
Please share with your family and friends. All are welcome!
Join us for this 3-week Series on Repentance and Redemption led by Ustadh Saad Omar.
Featuring a talk and discussions, the event begins promptly at 7:30 and takes place in Qahwa Cafe.
Open to attendees ages 21+, the latest session in our weekly series for young working professionals on contemporary issues through spiritual lens.
Registration is optional but highly encouraged. Donations are greatly appreciated to support future events and we look forward to seeing you there!
Week 1- The Art of Repentance: Conditions for Acceptance
Week 2 – The Way of Hope: Shaking off Despair
Week 3 – Stories of Redemption: Inspirations from the Sīrah and beyond.
Saad Omar graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in English and a masters in nonprofit management. He has studied Islam and Arabic in Mecca, Jordan, Turkey and across the United States and lectured widely across United States, Canada and Europe. He is a published songwriter and poet, teacher and entrepreneur. He is currently working on building a living community, nonprofit cafe and business incubator in Fairfax, VA.
Social Media Policy: Please note that you may be featured in photography or videography for our social media. If you prefer to not be featured, please notify the photographer or videographer during the event and we will do our best to honor those requests. Requests to take down already published materials or materials where one’s face is not shown will not be considered.
Al-Fawz al-Kabīrby Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi
An Intensive Seminar with Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK)
Saturday, September 12, 2026
ADAMS Sterling
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Qurtuba Community Education invites you to a rare opportunity to spend a full day learning with internationally renowned scholar Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK).
This intensive seminar explores one of the most influential classical works on the principles of Qur’anic interpretation: Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi’s Al-Fawz al-Kabīr fī Uṣūl al-Tafsīr.
Rather than offering a verse-by-verse commentary, Al-Fawz al-Kabīr presents a powerful framework for understanding the Qur’an as a coherent, purposeful, and transformative revelation. Under the guidance of Shaykh Akram, participants will explore the foundational principles that generations of Muslim scholars have used to approach the Book of Allah with greater clarity, depth, and appreciation.
Whether you are looking to deepen your relationship with the Qur’an, better understand its themes and objectives, or simply benefit from a day of learning with one of today’s foremost scholars of the Islamic tradition, this seminar offers a unique opportunity to engage with the Qur’an through the lens of the classical scholarly tradition.
Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi is one of the world’s leading contemporary scholars of Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. He is the Director of Research at the Oxford Institute for Research in Islamic Sciences and Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute (UK).
Originally from India and now based in England, Shaykh Akram received his traditional training at Nadwat al-’Ulama in Lucknow before earning a PhD in Arabic Literature from Lucknow University. He later served as a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, where he conducted extensive research on Hadith and the Islamic scholarly tradition.
An accomplished author with more than 30 published works in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Persian, he is internationally recognized for his scholarship in Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic language, and the classical Islamic sciences. He is especially renowned for Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam, a landmark 43-volume biographical encyclopedia documenting the lives and contributions of female hadith scholars across fourteen centuries of Islamic history.
9:00 AM — Doors Open & Light Breakfast
9:30 AM — Seminar Begins
12:45 PM — Lunch Break (Lunch Provided)
1:30 PM — Dhuhr Iqamah
2:00 PM — Afternoon Session Begins
Short water breaks will be incorporated throughout the day.
4:30 PM — Seminar Concludes
Schedule subject to minor adjustments.
Includes admission to the full-day seminar, light breakfast, and lunch.
Student / Youth — $20
For high school, college, and full-time students.
This seminar is offered at a subsidized rate to help make high-quality Islamic education accessible to as many members of our community as possible. If you are able, we invite you to further support Qurtuba Community Education by selecting a Supporter, Sponsor, or Patron registration, or by making an additional voluntary donation
No one will be turned away due to financial hardship.
If the registration fee presents a barrier to attendance, please email qurtuba@adamscenter.org to request financial assistance.
This seminar is open to the entire community. Whether you are a parent, student, educator, professional, community leader, or simply someone seeking a deeper understanding of the Qur’an, you are warmly welcome. Join us for a rare opportunity to spend a day learning from one of today’s foremost scholars of the Islamic tradition.
Advance registration is required.
We look forward to welcoming you for a day of learning, reflection, and a guided exploration of Shah Wali Allah’s timeless insights into understanding the Qur’an.
Thursday, September 10
What Every Muslim Should Know About Hadith
Preservation, Authenticity, and Living by the Sunnah
Public Lecture • ADAMS Ashburn • 6:30–9:45 PM
Register: https://givebutter.com/akram-hadith
Friday, September 11
Reviving the Legacy of Female Scholarship in Islam
Rediscovering a Forgotten Tradition
Public Lecture • ADAMS Sterling • 6:30–9:45 PM
Register: https://givebutter.com/female-scholarship
An Evening with Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK)
Friday, September 11, 2026
ADAMS Sterling
6:30 PM – 9:45 PM
For centuries, Muslim women played a vital role in preserving, teaching, and transmitting Islamic knowledge. They taught in mosques and universities, educated scholars and jurists, and transmitted thousands of hadith to future generations. Yet much of this remarkable history remains less widely known today.
Join Qurtuba Community Education for a special evening with internationally renowned scholar Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK) as he explores the rich and often overlooked legacy of female scholarship throughout Islamic history.
Drawing upon decades of groundbreaking research—including his monumental 43-volume work, Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam—Shaykh Akram will illuminate the lives and contributions of women who helped shape the intellectual tradition of Islam over the past fourteen centuries. Their stories challenge common misconceptions, deepen our appreciation for our scholarly heritage, and offer enduring lessons for Muslim communities today.
Whether you are a student of knowledge, educator, parent, or simply interested in Islamic history, this promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking evening.
Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi is one of the world’s leading contemporary scholars of Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. He is the Director of Research at the Oxford Institute for Research in Islamic Sciences and Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute (UK).
Originally from India and now based in England, Shaykh Akram received his traditional training at Nadwat al-’Ulama in Lucknow before earning a PhD in Arabic Literature from Lucknow University. He later served as a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, where he conducted extensive research on Hadith and the Islamic scholarly tradition.
An accomplished author with more than 30 published works in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Persian, he is internationally recognized for his scholarship in Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic language, and the classical Islamic sciences. He is especially renowned for Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam, a landmark 43-volume biographical encyclopedia documenting the lives and contributions of female hadith scholars across fourteen centuries of Islamic history.
6:15 PM — Doors Open
6:30 PM — Program Begins
~7:25 PM — Break for Maghrib Prayer
Lecture Continues
~9:00 PM — Break for ʿIsha Prayer
Moderated Q&A led by Ustadha Kouthar Muttardy, Resident Female Scholar, ADAMS
9:45 PM — Program Concludes
Ustadha Kouthar Muttardy is the Resident Female Scholar at ADAMS. A Northern Virginia native, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from George Mason University and a Master of Arts in Education from Marymount University. She has served the community for more than twenty years as a K–12 teacher, teacher trainer, and curriculum development specialist.
Alongside her professional work in education, Ustadha Kouthar has pursued traditional Islamic studies since high school, studying tajwid, tafsir, aqidah, seerah, hadith, and both Hanbali and Shafi’i fiqh. She completed her Islamic Studies Teacher Certification through Ribaat Academic Institute in 2020 and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Islamic Studies.
Everyone is welcome. Men and women alike will benefit from exploring the remarkable contributions of women scholars to the Islamic scholarly tradition and the enduring lessons they offer for our communities today.
Admission is free, but registration is requested as seating is limited.
We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of learning, inspiration, and renewed appreciation for one of the richest traditions in Islamic scholarship.
Can Islam be understood through the Qur’an alone, without the guidance of the Sunnah? What role do hadith play in preserving and explaining the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? How do scholars know which hadith are authentic, and why has the Sunnah remained indispensable to Islamic belief and practice for over fourteen centuries?
Join Qurtuba Community Education for a special evening with internationally renowned scholar Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi (UK) as he explores one of the most important questions facing Muslims today: the relationship between the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and Hadith.
Drawing upon the rich legacy of Islamic scholarship, Shaykh Akram will explain how the sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ were meticulously preserved, transmitted, and authenticated across generations, while demonstrating why the Sunnah is essential to understanding, practicing, and living Islam.
Whether you are beginning your journey of Islamic learning or seeking a deeper appreciation of the Prophetic tradition, this program will provide a clear, accessible foundation for understanding the indispensable role of Hadith in the Islamic tradition.
• Why the Sunnah is indispensable to understanding and practicing Islam.
• The relationship between the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and Hadith.
• How the Sunnah was preserved and transmitted across generations.
• How scholars evaluate and authenticate hadith.
• Common misconceptions surrounding hadith and the Prophetic tradition.
• How to approach hadith with confidence, balance, and respect for the scholarly tradition.
Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi is one of the world’s leading contemporary scholars of Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. He is the Director of Research at the Oxford Institute for Research in Islamic Sciences and Principal and Co-Founder of Al-Salam Institute (UK).
Originally from India and now based in England, Shaykh Akram received his traditional training at Nadwat al-’Ulama in Lucknow before earning a PhD in Arabic Literature from Lucknow University. He later served as a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, where he conducted extensive research on Hadith and the Islamic scholarly tradition.
An accomplished author with more than 30 published works in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Persian, he is internationally recognized for his scholarship in Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic language, and the classical Islamic sciences. He is especially renowned for Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars in Islam, a landmark 43-volume biographical encyclopedia documenting the lives and contributions of female hadith scholars across fourteen centuries of Islamic history.
Through his teaching and writing, Shaykh Akram continues to make the depth and richness of the Islamic scholarly tradition accessible to Muslims around the world.
6:15 PM — Doors Open
6:30 PM — Program Begins
~7:25 PM — Break for Maghrib Prayer
Lecture Continues
~9:00 PM — Break for ʿIsha Prayer
Moderated Q&A
9:45 PM — Program Concludes
This program is open to the entire community. Whether you are a parent, student, educator, professional, community leader, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of Islam, you are warmly welcome. No prior background in Islamic studies is required.
Admission is free, but registration is requested as seating is limited.
We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of thoughtful learning, meaningful discussion, and deeper appreciation of the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the Prophetic tradition under the guidance of one of today’s foremost scholars of Hadith.
Reviving the Legacy of Female Scholarship in Islam
Rediscovering a Forgotten Tradition
Public Lecture • ADAMS Sterling • 6:30–9:45 PM
Register: https://givebutter.com/female-scholarship
Understanding the Qur’an: Principles of Tafsir
A Full-Day Intensive Based on Al-Fawz al-Kabīr by Shah Wali Allah al-Dihlawi
Full-Day Seminar • ADAMS Sterling • 9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Register: https://givebutter.com/akram-tafsir
An Afternoon of Film, Conversation & Community
For over 250 years, American Muslims have enriched American life, but many of those stories are unknown. Join us for an afternoon of community, conversation, and storytelling as we explore the rich and often overlooked history of Muslims in America through selected excerpts from Unity Productions Foundation’s nationally broadcast documentary series, The Great Muslim American Road Trip.
Featuring live commentary from Executive Producer Jawaad Abdul Rahman, this unique program goes beyond a traditional film screening—offering behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the documentary, the remarkable people whose stories it tells, and what these stories reveal about the American experience. The program will conclude with a brief audience Q&A.
Whether you’re interested in history, documentary filmmaking, American culture, or learning more about your neighbors, this event offers an engaging and welcoming experience for people of all backgrounds.
People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome. We encourage you to invite your family, friends, teachers and colleagues to join us.
12:30–1:30 PM
Community Social Hour & Light Refreshments
1:30 PM
Dhuhr Prayer
2:00–3:30 PM
Selected excerpts from The Great Muslim American Road Trip with live commentary by Executive Producer Jawaad Abdul Rahman, followed by a brief audience Q&A.
Produced by Unity Productions Foundation (UPF), The Great Muslim American Road Trip is a nationally broadcast three-part documentary series that follows a young Muslim American couple on a 3,000-mile journey across historic Route 66.
Along the way, they encounter builders, bakers, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, physicians, students, and community leaders whose stories illuminate the deep roots, diversity, and enduring contributions of Muslims throughout American history. Through these personal encounters, the series reveals a chapter of America’s story that many have never had the opportunity to discover.
Executive Producer
Jawaad Abdul Rahman is the Executive Producer of The Great Muslim American Road Trip. During this special program, he will share behind-the-scenes perspectives on the making of the documentary, the stories that shaped it, and the importance of preserving and sharing the diverse experiences of Muslims in America.
Sisters, you’re invited to a beautiful afternoon of faith, friendship, reflection, and connection at the Sully Sisters Tea Party! Enjoy a meaningful halaqah, refreshments, and quality time with fellow sisters in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. 💕🌿
🗣️ Dr. Tugba Kucukkal
📅 Sunday, August 23
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 ADAMS Sully
4431 Brookfield Corporate Dr., Chantilly, VA 20151
Halaqah, Tea & Refreshments, Sisterhood, Meaningful Connection
Bring a friend, grab a cup of tea, and spend a beautiful afternoon growing in faith and community together! 💕🫖