21 May 2026
04 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1447
04 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1447
A strong Muslim community preparing generations of leaders contributing to prosperity for all Canadians.
The Canadian Islamic Finance Board (CIFB) is an initiative led by the Al Rashid Foundation of Canada, a trusted voice in Muslim community leadership. CIFB is a non-profit organization established in cooperation with Muslim communities across Alberta, including Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, and others, to support the delivery of Islamic-compliant financial products that meet the spiritual and practical needs of Canadian Muslims. It is led by Canadian Islamic scholars specializing in Islamic finance who deliver advisory, training, Shariah Audit and certification services. It ensures financial offerings align with the ethical principles of Islamic finance. CIFB plays a key role in enabling equitable access to homeownership while upholding regulatory and religious standards.
Our Board brings together a distinguished group of imams, scholars, and Islamic finance professionals with deep expertise in classical Islamic sciences, contemporary finance, counselling, and community leadership. Trained at leading institutions across the Muslim world and the West, board members collectively specialize in fiqh, uṣūl al-fiqh, iftāʾ, Islamic finance, zakat, halal industry standards, counselling psychology, and Shariah governance.
With decades of experience serving Muslim communities in Canada and internationally, the board provides principled, well-grounded guidance that bridges traditional scholarship with modern financial and regulatory realities. Their work ensures that Islamic financial solutions are both authentically Shariah-compliant and responsive to the lived needs of Muslims in Canada today.
Director of Religious Affairs, IISC & Head of CIFB Shariah Committee
Sheikh Hacene Chebbani is a Canadian-based Islamic scholar specializing in Shariah and Islamic finance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Shariah from the Islamic University of Madinah and a Master’s degree in Islamic Finance from the University of Gloucestershire (UK).
With decades of experience serving Muslim communities in Canada, Sheikh Hacene has worked extensively as an imam, educator, and Shariah consultant. He has taught Arabic and Islamic studies, served as a head teacher in Islamic schools, and currently delivers regular classes, khutbahs, and counseling services.
His areas of focus include Islamic finance, zakat, family matters, and contemporary issues affecting Muslim communities. Sheikh Hacene is widely respected for his ability to bridge classical scholarship with practical, community-centered guidance.
Co-Founder & Board Member, Canadian Islamic Finance Board (CIFB)
Dr. Muammar Sawan is an Islamic finance and accounting specialist with extensive academic, professional, and community leadership experience. He holds a PhD in Islamic Banking and is both a Certified Islamic Public Accountant (CIPA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
His professional background includes public audit practice and advisory work with international firms and Islamic banks. In Canada, Dr. Sawan has played a leading role in developing Islamic finance infrastructure, including helping establish CIFB and contributing to the development of Edmonton’s first halal mortgage product.
Dr. Sawan remains actively engaged in advancing ethical, Shariah-compliant financial solutions that align with Canadian regulatory frameworks and the lived needs of Muslim communities.
Shariah Advisor, Canadian Islamic Finance Board (CIFB)
Abdurrahmann Murad is a Canadian Islamic educator, counselor, and community leader with over two decades of international experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies (Shariah) and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, combining classical Islamic training with professional mental health practice.
Based in Fort McMurray, he has served as an imam, instructor, and counselor, supporting community development, crisis response, and religious education. He is also a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and provides faith-based mental health support grounded in professional standards.
His work focuses on Islamic jurisprudence, counseling psychology, community resilience, and Shariah-guided ethical practice, with a strong emphasis on compassionate service and education.
Senior Shariah Scholar & Head of Fatwa Committee
Dr. Mahmoud Omar is a distinguished Islamic scholar specializing in Islamic jurisprudence, Shariah sciences, and Islamic finance. A graduate of Al-Azhar University, he holds advanced expertise in fiqh, usul al-fiqh, legal maxims, and contemporary financial applications.
He serves in multiple leadership and academic roles, providing Shariah-compliant guidance on legal, financial, and personal matters facing Muslim communities in the West. Dr. Omar is recognized for his ability to apply classical scholarship to modern realities with clarity and rigor.
His contributions span teaching, research, fatwa issuance, and community leadership, helping strengthen Islamic literacy, ethical decision-making, and institutional integrity.
Board Member, Canadian Islamic Finance Board (CIFB)
Ramez Alameddine is a compliance and Islamic finance professional with over 20 years of international experience in regulatory oversight, risk management, and Shariah-compliant financial services. He has held senior roles at Canadian financial institutions and Islamic banks in the UAE.
His work focuses on aligning innovative financial products with both Shariah principles and Canadian regulatory requirements. Ramez brings deep expertise in governance, compliance, and ethical finance.
Through his role with CIFB, he is committed to expanding access to authentic, faith-aligned financial solutions while supporting sustainable growth in Canada’s Islamic finance sector.
Shariah Auditor, Canadian Islamic Finance Board (CIFB)
Ahmed Jama is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and advisory services. He holds academic training in economics and finance alongside formal studies in Islamic jurisprudence, tafsir, and hadith.
Ahmed has been active in the Islamic finance sector since 2007 and has contributed to major conferences, charitable boards, and Shariah-compliant financial initiatives in Canada. He also serves as an advisor to organizations across the public and private sectors.
Fluent in English, Arabic, and Somali, Ahmed brings a multidisciplinary and community-focused perspective to his role as a Shariah Auditor with CIFB.
Shariah Committee Member & Advisory Board Member, CIFB
Shaykh Mufti Faisal Al-Mahmudi is an Islamic scholar specializing in iftāʾ, Islamic jurisprudence, and Islamic finance. He completed advanced Islamic studies in South Africa, including specialization in issuing religious verdicts, after earlier academic training in accounting and finance in Canada.
He has studied under leading scholars and holds recognized authorizations in hadith and fiqh. Shaykh Faisal has served in senior scholarly and administrative roles, contributing to Islamic legal research, education, and institutional leadership.
His work bridges traditional scholarship with contemporary financial and ethical questions, supporting Shariah-governed decision-making in modern contexts.
Shariah Supervisory Board Member
Mufti Mirza-Zain Baig is a resident mufti and Shariah consultant based in Canada, specializing in Islamic finance, Shariah auditing, and legal research. He holds formal training in iftāʾ and Islamic jurisprudence, alongside academic studies in finance and business.
He serves as a Shariah advisor and auditor for financial institutions in Canada and internationally and is certified by AAOIFI as a Shariah advisor and auditor. His work focuses on ensuring compliance with both Shariah principles and regulatory frameworks.
Mufti Baig is committed to advancing credible, well-governed Islamic financial practices that meet the needs of Muslim communities in North America.
Counselling Imam & Community Shariah Advisor
Imam Ali Jomha is a Canadian imam and community leader who has served Muslim communities for nearly three decades. He holds advanced degrees in Arabic, Islamic studies, and Shariah, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies.
As a counselling imam, he provides family counseling, youth mentorship, and spiritual guidance, with a focus on character development and community well-being. He is also actively involved in outreach and daʿwah initiatives.
Imam Jomha is widely respected for his pastoral approach, commitment to service, and dedication to strengthening faith and unity within the community.
