By Mohamed Al-Tayash (Dean of Students Al-Amal School)
Al-Amal School had the honor of bringing a delegation of students, parents, and staff to visit Darul Qasim College in the Chicagoland area, an experience that left a deep and lasting impression on our entire community. As the only K–12 private Muslim school in the Twin Cities, located in Fridley, Minnesota, Al-Amal has proudly served the community for nearly 30 years. Our diverse student body of about 530 students, 70% of whom are of East African descent, represents the rich tapestry of the Muslim world. I have personally served at Al-Amal for 20 years, and this year I am humbled to begin my role as Dean of Students.
Our purpose in visiting Darul Qasim was to learn from a successful and growing American Islamic college, one that serves as a model for how higher Islamic learning can thrive in the West. We hoped to witness firsthand how Darul Qasim supports the Muslim community in the Chicagoland area and to introduce our students to the possibility of continuing their studies there, especially through the Shaykh al-Hind program.
For more than 23 years, I have benefitted from the guidance and friendship of Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia, both through programs in Chicago and online. This long-standing relationship has shaped much of our school’s academic and spiritual vision, and we aspire to formalize a deeper affiliation between Al-Amal and Darul Qasim in the future.
We brought roughly 50 ninth- and tenth-grade students and 14 parents on this journey. From the moment we arrived, both parents and students were captivated by the beauty, organization, and intentionality embedded in both locations of Darul Qasim. The cleanliness, campus design, and operational excellence served as a powerful lesson in what it means to build and sustain Islamic institutions in the West.
Our group also attended Shaykh Amin’s khutbah at Masjid al-Huda in Schaumburg, where he eloquently explained an important theme of Islamic Civilizational Values, a concept we have recently integrated into our own curriculum, inspired by his teachings. The khutbah resonated deeply with students; many shared thoughtful reflections in a one-page extra-credit assignment summarizing the message and its personal relevance.
Beyond the academic takeaways, students were particularly moved by the environment and culture at Darul Qasim. Many noted how impeccably maintained both campuses were. Others were fascinated by the naming of rooms after prominent Sahaba and scholars, each selected with purpose, reflecting the function of the space.
Some students commented on the warm relationships they observed between faculty and students, even noting how they engage in activities like basketball together. This sense of community made the idea of studying at Darul Qasim feel approachable and inspiring.
Several of our highest-achieving students expressed genuine interest in attending Darul Qasim in the future, a testament to the impact this visit had on their academic and spiritual aspirations.
Upon returning to Minnesota, both parents and students enthusiastically encouraged others in our community to visit Darul Qasim. It is clear that this institution is among the few in the United States capable of producing the next generation of Muslim leaders—Imams, scholars, educators, and thinkers who can confidently serve the diverse needs of American Muslim communities.
For other Islamic high schools across the nation, we wholeheartedly recommend organizing similar visits. Seeing a thriving Islamic college in the American landscape not only broadens students’ horizons but also deepens their understanding of what is possible when Islamic knowledge is prioritized, preserved, and advanced with excellence.
May Allah allow our institutions to collaborate, grow, and continue serving the Ummah with sincerity and excellence.
