Madina Community

Across the Chicagoland, We Are United in Our Dedication to Helping Others!

Who We Are

Board of Directors

Dr. Ahmad Sultan, Ph.D. -The Founder, President and Trustee

Ahmad Sultan holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The University of Manitoba, Canada. He is the Founder and President of Celenium Corporation, a consulting company offering frontend systems architecture and engineering in next generation wireless communication technologies to help companies’ mange infrastructure modernization and in applications to Smart Societies. He worked as Network Systems Architect at Call One, Senior Electrical Engineer at Chicago Bridge and Iron (CBI), and a former Member of Technical Staff at Lucent Technologies. Dr. Sultan is the Founder and Executive Director of the MADINA COMMUNITY, the American Youth Movement (AYM), the Midwest Islamic Scouting Council (MISC), the Muslim American News Network (MANN), and Scout Troop 99 serving in the Muslim community in Chicago.

As BoD President, Dr. Sultan’s duties are spelled out in our bylaws, and include managing the day-to-day business of the organization, attending meetings of our board of directors, voting on board decisions and properly recording minutes. He also drives the youth empowerment program through scouting. Dr. Sultan receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

As Trustee Chairman, Dr. Sultan’s duties are spelled out in our bylaws for the Sole Member, and include chairing our Board of Trustees. Dr. Sultan receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Zahra Antar - Vice President and Secretary

Zahra Antar has a BA in Arts from the Lebanese University, and currently pursuing a degree in NGO- Nonprofits study, emphasis on Community Leadership and Civic Engagement at Northern Illinois (NIU). Mrs. Antar has been in real estate business since 2010, brining expertise in property management, sales management and contracts. Prior professional expertise at Bank of America as Web Analyst.

Mrs. Antar has been involved with multiple nonprofit organizations since 2007. She is serving on numerous advisory boards. She served as the Program Chair at Right Starts for Refugees coordination, as well as the Communications and Public Relations Chair at Madina Community. At the Islamic Center of Naperville, Mrs. Antar served at different roles, over the years. This includes the Political & Civic Engagement committee, Interfaith and Outreach committees, as well as Islamic connection Teacher.

Mrs. Antar is the Interfaith and Young Youth program Founder and facilitator at Islamic Center Of Wheaton. She has been the Young Youth program Chair MAS-ICNA Convention since 2013. She has extensive experience working at ICNA Relief Chicago including: Refugees and Family Services since 2007, Family Services Case Manager, and a member of the Board of Advisory, as well as the Fundraising Chair 2016-2017. At the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), she is serving as the Sponsorship, and social Media Chair.

As BoD Vice President, Mrs. Antar’s duties are spelled out in our bylaws, and include attending meetings of our board of directors, voting on board decisions and presiding in the absence of the president. Mrs. Antar receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Dr. Simaan Barday, M.D. - Treasurer & Compliance Officer and a Trustee

Simaan Barday holds a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Windsor University. He has been working as a product leader, a liaison between technical and non-technical divisions developing technical solutions to business problems working with various organizations in multiple industries including airlines, banking, healthcare, insurance, and telecommunications. He has over a decade of consulting experience in all phases of Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC).

Dr. Barday has worked as a volunteer with Compassionate Care Network (CCN), Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA). For the past eight years, he has been involved in developing youth through scouting in the suburbs of Chicago. He is serving as Executive Officer and Committee Chair, as well as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 99 and, a prior Scoutmaster and Den Leader in Pack 99 in one of the communities served by the Midwest Islamic Scouting Council (MISC).

As BoD Compliance Officer, Dr. Barday’s duties are spelled out in our bylaws, and include ensuring each Director is complying with the Director’s Code of Conduct and that each Director is fulfilling his/her duty of care and duty of loyalty to the Board. Dr. Barday receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

As Trustee Member, Dr. Barday’s duties are spelled out in our bylaws for the Sole Member. Dr. Barday receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Trustees & Advisors

Abraham Antar - Trustee and Advisory Council Member

Mr. Abraham Antar holds an MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Toledo. He has 20+ years experience in the financial services industry including ABN AMRO, JP Morgan Chase, Merril Lynch, BMO Harris Bank, Northern Trust Corporation and Discover Financial Services. He has extensive project management experience with emphasis on areas of Finance, Capital Markets, and Treasury, eCommerce, Commercial banking, Data Warehousing, and integration projects employing all aspects of the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Mr. Antar is a co-founder of the Islamic Center of Wheaton, and a former President, Treasure and board member.

As Trustee Member, Mr. Antar’s duties are spelled out in our bylaws for the Sole Member. It include being the Vice Chair of our Board of Trustees. Mr. Antar receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

As Advisory Council Member, Mr. Antar’s duties are to provide advice to the Board of Directors. Mr. Antar receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Mohsen Abdelati - Advisory Council Member

Mr. Mohsen Abdelati holds a Bachelor degree in Computer science & Business Analyst from Centennial College. He currently is the President & Founder of Calx Trading Inc. Prior positions include President & founder of Sunship Int’l, Regional Logistics Manager at DecisionOne, Manufacturing & Operation at Westell Corp, and Director Of Operations & Customer Service at Perle Systems. Mr. Abdelati is a long time serving member of Islamic Center of Naperville, principal of ICN Weekend School, Board member and Treasurer (1998-2010).

As Advisory Council Member, Mr. Abdelati’s duties are to provide advice to the Board of Directors. Mr. Abdelati receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Syeed Safi - Advisory Council Member

Sy Safi is a national and international award-winning sustainability consultant and progressive builder in both residential and commercial construction. Having grown up working in construction with his brothers and father, Sy was inspired to learn, innovate, create, and execute revolutionary practices in the built-environment. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering. In 2006, he started GCCM Construction Services to better focus on advancing the construction industry to the 21st century by supporting and encouraging excellent health focused design that is resilient and regenerative while restoring our natural ecosystems. To further public awareness and education, in 2012, Sy created My Green Kentucky Home, a model home that is Kentucky’s first Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Water home certified LEED Platinum by the US Green Building Council. Since then, he’s adopted the most stringent third-party programs in the Living Building Challenge, Passive House and the WELL Building Standard, while becoming a Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home Partner, a Certified Passive House Consultant, Passive House Institute US Certified Builder and WELL Accredited Professional. His mission with every project is to be socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.

As Advisory Council Member, Mr. Safi’s duties are to provide advice to the Board of Directors. Mr. Safi receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Osman Khan - Advisory Council Member

Mr. Osman Khan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, and a Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, as well as Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Purdue University – Krannert School of Management. At Accenture Strategy he took roles as a Manager of Strategy Proposal Architect – M&A, North America, Digital Analytics Practice, as well as Consumer Goods & Services Industry. Prior holding managerial position he worked as Senior Consultant – SAP BI/Analytics Practice, and a Senior Analyst – Business Intelligence (BI) Practice at Accenture Technology. At SC Johnson, Mr. Khan has been the Assistant Brand Manager (ABM) – Home Cleaning – Pledge.

As Advisory Council Member, Mr. Khan’s duties are to provide advice to the Board of Directors. Mr. Khan receives no compensation of any kind and performs his duties on an “as needed” basis.

Our Principles

01.

— Our Mission

Public Benefit and Social Reforms, emulating the Prophets

Serve, Educate, Empower, and Dialogue (SEED) to connect communities and uplift neighborhoods using the principles of divine wisdom and the Prophetic model.

02.

— Our Vision

We are Modern-Day MADINA Community

Create an inclusive multicultural society that is guided by Islamic principles, and establish landmarks to serve humanity that represent what Islam and Muslims offer to civilization, as early Muslims have done before in other continents.

03.

— Our Values

On the Footsteps of the Prophets (PBUT)

In individuals, we value perfection in character, professional conduct, and distinction in jobs, Muslims who are truthful, trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. As a faith-based organization, Madina Community values:

Faith and Worship
Ethics and Principles
Moderation and Balance
Ease not Difficult
Compassion and Charity
Knowledge and Learning
Work and Perfection
Pioneering and Creativity
Unity and Brotherhood
Acquaintance and Cooperation
Identity and Diversity
Family and Society

04.

— Our Idea

To provide what we have missed as Muslims and what others need, a living model of the society that reformed the path of humanity and enlightened the world with civilization, the society of the Messenger and the Companions and those who did good after them throughout time

05.

— Our Goal

Build a multi-cultural community emulating the Prophets in morals, style and impacts, organized in a unifying entity that mobilizes its resources to plan for the future of their next generation, developing independent personality, maintaining identity, and stepping up to take own role as part of the American society, in collaboration with other communities.

06.

— Our Objective

To give our best to perform our duty towards God and country, to help others at all times, to care for and advance ourselves

07.

— Our Identity

We preserves modest Muslim identity, and we stand at the center of the Muslim spectrum

08.

— Our Organization

MADINA Community is an independent organization.
It does not belong to, or affiliated with, or a byproduct of any other organization, agency, school, ideology, practice, other than the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

05.

— Our Story

Madina Community was initiated and established in the year 2015 by late 20th Century Muslim immigrants and their first generation in southwest suburb of Chicago, Naperville, Illinois, and its surrounding towns. It is a by-product of open-heart cultural interaction between the East and the West, in America. It is an American community with a forward-looking mission to inspire and positively contribute to the American Saga. It is a platform that provides intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual growth empowering its members and partners to positively contribute to America by integrating in America’s multicultural fabric.

Our Approach

We Create Inclusive Multicultural Societies

Madina Community, a Madina Foundation organization, is a multi-cultural American community, lead by young professionals and supported by councilors, contributing to building America’s future society and civilization, inspired by the model of Prophet Mohammad, PBUH, in his city, Al-Madina.

Madina Community was formed to represent the needs of a large, diverse, and growing Muslim population in the Northern Illinois area. Though comprised of a number of cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities, the community shares a common belief rooted in the Islamic faith which recognizes the oneness of God (Allah), a belief in the Prophets (peace be upon them) sent to help guide humanity, including the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who is the last prophet, as well as the teachings described in the faith’s holy book and recorded observations, the Qur’an and Sunnah, respectively.

The organization mission is abstracted in the following statement, “Madina Community is a multi-cultural American community that strives to serve local needs using the principles of Divine wisdom and the Prophetic model.”

Madina Community is a Transformational Community. It creates a culture of excellence and environment of thrive that inspires and unleashes the potential of youth, families and neighborhood to service humanity, based on universal Values, Faith, Love and Peace. By Integrating Diversity, it crystallizes the “Melting Pot”, reshaping the American Mosaic, with an ultimate goal of “Making our Nation amongst the best nations raised to mankind.”

Madina Community is a 501c3 NFP, Religious, Charitable, Social and Educational Organization.

Madina Foundation is a trust that creates, facilitates and manages interdependent organizations contributing to building America’s future society and civilization, inspired by the model of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his city Al-Madina.

Our Story

Change is Constant, We Plan for the Future

Madina Community’s idea was incepted in November 2014. The organization was initiated and establishedon April 19, 2015, by late 20th Century Muslim immigrants and their first generation in southwest suburb of Chicago, Naperville, Illinois, and its surrounding towns. It is a by-product of open-heart cultural interaction between the East and the West, in America. It is an American community with a forward-looking mission to inspire and positively contribute to the American Saga. It is a platform that provides intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual growth empowering its members and partners to positively contribute to America by integrating in America’s multicultural fabric.