HomeFaculty & Administration

Dr. Khalid H. Sayedi

Chairperson & President

Dr. Khalid H. Sayedi is the Founder, Chairperson, and President of MAKNUN. A dedicated educator and community leader, his work is rooted in a commitment to fostering spiritual growth and ethical leadership through rigorous scholarship. His academic journey reflects deep engagement with classical disciplines, specializing in Jurisprudence, Theology, Quranic Sciences, and Prophetic Traditions.

Beyond his leadership at MAKNUN, Dr. Sayedi serves as a director and chairs several committees for multiple organizations across the Sacramento area. By bridging traditional faith with contemporary service, he oversees the strategic and curricular development of the institute, ensuring every program empowers students to navigate life with purpose.

Shaykh Saad ElHelaly

Senior Instructor

Shaykh Saad Elhelaly is a Senior Instructor at MAKNUN. A top graduate of the prestigious Al-Azhar University, he specializes in foundational Islamic sciences, including Jurisprudence, Hadith, and Quranic Studies. Beyond the seminary, he serves as a pillar of Islamic education in the Sacramento community. Shaykh Saad is dedicated to reviving classical literacy through deep intellectual engagement and spiritual mentorship.

Ines Labidi

Director of Admissions & Student Affairs
Ines Labidi is the Director of Admissions and Student Affairs at MAKNUN, where she oversees the institute’s administrative and financial operations. With a focus on organizational excellence, Ines manages the end-to-end student journey, from enrollment and tuition assistance to academic record-keeping. She is dedicated to maintaining a professional, supportive environment, ensuring that every student has the structural resources necessary to succeed in their academic and spiritual pursuits.

Our Philosophy

MAKNUN is: Textually Rooted, Intellectually Demanding, Spiritually Alive.

At MAKNUN, we believe that authentic religious education must be academically rigorous, deeply rooted in the classical tradition, and fundamentally practical. Unlike passive online learning, the MAKNUN pedagogy is built on structured engagement. We bridge the gap between traditional seminary study and the realities of the modern learner. By focusing on primary texts and structured curricula, we ensure our students do not merely memorize information, but develop the critical framework necessary to apply Islamic principles accurately today.

We are committed to mutual teaching and learning, intellectual excellence, and preserving the integrity of our faith through three guiding pillars. First, we maintain a Rooted Tradition through an uncompromising adherence to classical scholarship. Second, we demand Academic Rigor by providing structured, high-level coursework that requires active student engagement. Finally, we ensure Practical Relevance by actively translating historical texts into actionable, modern ethical leadership.

Core Competencies of a MAKNUN Graduate
Every certificate program at MAKNUN is designed to cultivate specific, measurable outcomes in our students. Regardless of the track they choose, our academic framework aims to build four foundational competencies. We foster Classical Literacy, ensuring students possess the ability to accurately comprehend and contextualize foundational texts. This is paired with a strong Theological Grounding that provides a confident, nuanced understanding of orthodox belief. Furthermore, our curriculum emphasizes Applied Jurisprudence, equipping students with the practical knowledge required to live ethically and correctly in a modern context. Ultimately, all of this study culminates in Spiritual Cultivation, focusing on the internal refinement necessary to transform academic knowledge into actualized faith.