Philosophy of Education & Curriculum
Frameworks rooted in Islamic intellectual traditions for contemporary application.
Founder & educational consultant
Sayyid Ali
Educator · Curriculum & Pedagogy · Lecturer · Instructor
Bridging Islamic intellectual tradition with contemporary educational practice for schools, organizations, and communities.
About
Sayyid Ali studied in the seminary of Qom from 2012 to 2021, while also concurrently obtaining a M.A in Islamic Studies from the Islamic College of London in 2018. In the seminary he engaged in the study of legal theory, jurisprudence and philosophy, eventually attending the advanced kharij of Usul and Fiqh in 2018. He completed his Masters of Education at the University of Toronto in 2025 and is the head of a private faith-based school in Toronto, as well as an instructor at the Mufid Seminary.
How can education shape individuals who think deeply, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to society?
Areas of consultation
Advisory services for schools, organizations, and communities.
Teacher Training & Professional Development
Workshops on pedagogy, classroom culture, and instructional design.
School Systems & Program Development
Holistic educational models, assessment systems, and student development frameworks.
Youth Development & Community Programming
Workshops and initiatives that foster identity, purpose, and leadership.
Academic Writing, Translation & Research
Scholarly writing, translation (Arabic/Farsi/Urdu), and research development.
Experience
Advanced Seminary Studies
Qom, 2012–2021
M.Ed Pedagogy & Curriculum
University of Toronto, OISE, 2025
School Principal & Faith Leader
Private faith-based school, Toronto
500+ articles on Iqra Online
Articles, translations, and reflections since 2009
Selected work
- Rethinking Distinction in Islamic Education Faith School Education Conference, COEJ — April 2026
- Mapping Islamic Education for Parents ICAIR Annual Conference 2025
- Turbat al-Husayn: Development of a Tabarruk Ritual Brill — Shiʿi Materiality Beyond Karbala, 2024
Writing on Iqra Online
In the Presence of the Ocean – Recollections of Ayatullah Shubayri Zanjani
By Sayyid Husayn Kashfi In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Introduction These notes are the fruit of…
A Marja of This Earth
By Ali-Ashraf Fathi On the occasion of the seventh day following the passing of Grand Ayatullah Shubayri Zanjani Writing down and preserving…
Modern Day Tragedy: Consuming Scholars, Not Accompanying Them
A few weeks ago, I discussed how the ghayah – the final cause – has quietly gone missing from our institutions and…
My Memories From the Gatherings of Ayatullah Sayyid Shubayri al-Zanjani
After translating and publishing the memories of the student of Ayatullah Sayyid Shubayri Zanjani regarding the daily gatherings that would be held…
Memories of Sayyid Baqir al-Durchei about the Gatherings of the Great Marja’ Sayyid al-Zanjani
Memories of Sayyid Baqir al-Durchei about the Gatherings of the Great Marja’ Sayyid al-Zanjani His Eminence Ayatullah Sayyid Baqir al-Mousawi al-Durchei al-Isfahani…
The Missing Purpose (Ghayah): Why Our Communities Struggle to Transform
In several of my lectures and seminars, I’ve argued that Western Shi’i communities struggle to prioritize what the Islamic tradition actually expects…
How a Single Weak Report Became a New Taboo: Behbahani on the ‘Two Fatimahs’ Controversy
There is a fascinating fiqhi treatise written by Wahid Behbahani (1706–1791) addressing a jurisprudential matter that had gained currency in the community…
A Precious Treatise on the Compilation of the Arabic Lexicon by Ayatullah Hasanzadeh Amuli
Two works of Ayatullah Hasanzadeh Amuli (1927–2021) – perhaps best considered part of the kashkul (miscellany) genre – are Hazar o Yik…
