Each year, ISLA’s Leadership Retreat offers a dedicated space for Islamic school leaders to reflect, recharge, and engage with the complex realities of leadership. But this year’s retreat was unlike any before it.

Built around the theme “Navigating the Paradoxes of Leadership,” the 2025 retreat invited school leaders to confront the tensions, dualities, and competing responsibilities they hold, balancing vision with practical constraints, compassion with accountability, and tradition with the evolving needs of contemporary Islamic schools.

To support deeper learning and richer engagement, ISLA expanded the retreat beyond its traditional three-day format. In addition to the usual program running from Friday through Sunday morning, this year introduced:

• A pre-retreat workshop for all retreat participants
• An internal strategic planning session for ISLA’s Board and staff earlier in the week

This extended structure allowed ISLA to maximize the time together, strengthening organizational direction internally, and offering retreat attendees a fuller, more comprehensive learning experience.

Strategic Planning Session at Forerunners (December 3)

On Wednesday, December 3, ISLA’s Board and staff gathered at Forerunners in Virginia for an internal strategic planning session.

Guided by Br. Awais Sheikh, the session gave ISLA’s leadership space to step back from day-to-day work and reflect intentionally on the year ahead. Together, they examined how ISLA can more strategically fulfill its mission, identified key areas for improvement and development, and discussed how to strengthen the organization’s capacity to serve the Islamic education community in North America.

By the end of the day, the team had a clearer sense of direction and shared priorities for the coming year, groundwork that will insh’aAllah support Islamic school leaders and educators more effectively across the continent.

Pre-retreat Conference (December 4)

How Islamic Is Your School? Discussions to Spark Tajdid (Renewal) in Your School

On Thursday, December 4, ISLA hosted a special Pre-Retreat Workshop designed to enrich the experience of Leadership Retreat participants even before the formal program began. This additional day offered school leaders the opportunity to visit an Islamic school, engage in deep reflective discussions, and explore new frameworks for school renewal, all ahead of the main retreat weekend.

School Visit – Al Fatih Academy (Reston, VA)

The day began at Al Fatih Academy in Reston, Virginia, where participants were welcomed into the school community to observe classroom environments, meet leadership, and see how Islamic principles shape school culture in practice. This visit provided a meaningful starting point for the reflections that would follow, grounding the workshop in real experiences from a thriving Islamic school.

Workshop: “How Islamic Is Your School?” at Forerunners (Vienna, VA)

Following the school visit, attendees gathered at the Forerunners facility in Vienna for the main workshop of the day:
“How Islamic Is Your School? Discussions to Spark Renewal in Your School.”

Facilitated by Dr. Nadeem Memon (ISLA Chair), this session invited school leaders to think deeply about the philosophical foundations of Islamic education and to critically assess how their own schools embody (or struggle to embody) an Islamic worldview.

Dr. Nadeem introduced participants to the How Islamic Is My School? Toolkit, a research-based framework developed through the Cambridge Dialogues initiative. The toolkit offers:

• A structured way to evaluate school ethos, pedagogy, curriculum, and culture
• Ten strands of reflection grounded in tawḥīd, holism, and Islamic educational philosophy
• A guide for school improvement cycles centered on intentionality (niyyah) and deep renewal
• Practical questions that help school leaders examine where they are and where they aspire to be

The toolkit emphasizes that Islamic education is not merely about adding Islamic elements onto a conventional model, but about reimagining schooling from the inside out, rooted in Qur’anic principles, prophetic pedagogy, and the holistic development of the human being.

Speakers and Partner Organizations

The workshop featured a rich lineup of voices contributing to the conversation:

• Dr. Nadeem Memon (ISLA Chair)
• Afeefa Syeed (Center for Innovative Religious Education)
• Dr. Omar Qureshi (Yaqeen Institute)

These facilitators supported participants in unpacking Islamic concepts of education, leadership, and school culture, guiding them toward a more coherent and spiritually grounded vision for their institutions.

ISLA was grateful to CIRE (Center for Innovative Religious Education) for partnering on the pre-retreat program, and to the Forerunners team, who generously supported the planning, logistics, and execution of the workshop. Their collaboration ensured an engaging, seamless, and enriching experience for attendees.

The Leadership Retreat Begins: December 5-7

The heart of ISLA’s annual Leadership Retreat began on Friday, December 5, at the Diyanet Center of America in Lanham, Maryland. With school leaders traveling in from across North America, the retreat opened with renewed energy and a shared commitment to the theme:
Navigating the Paradoxes of Leadership: Embracing Uncertainty and Change.

Across three days, the retreat blended school visits, keynote reflections, peer-led discussions, workshops, spiritual nourishment, and moments of community-building, creating a holistic and deeply immersive experience.

Friday, December 5: Setting the Foundation

School Visit: Aya Montessori

The retreat opened with a school visit to Aya Montessori, where leaders observed an AMI-aligned Islamic Montessori environment and explored how child-centered pedagogy, spiritual development, and Islamic worldview intertwine. Aya’s model – highlighted in the retreat booklet (p. 19) – showcases a unique educational ecosystem grounded in fitrah, experiential learning, and an integrated Arabic + Islam curriculum.

Jumu’ah & Opening Reflections

After registration, attendees gathered for Jumu’ah at the Diyanet masjid, where Imam Tom Facchine delivered the khutbah, “Leading Through Paradox: Lessons from the Prophet ﷺ.”

This set a spiritually grounded tone, reminding leaders that the Prophet ﷺ himself modeled decisiveness and deliberation, compassion and accountability, strength and humility.

Exploring the Theme

In the afternoon, the ISLA team (Sr. Quran Shakir, Dr. Shaza Khan, and Sr. Rasha El-Haggan) introduced the retreat theme and invited participants to begin reflecting on the paradoxes that shape their lived leadership experiences.

This was followed by a powerful session with Imam Tom, “Values of the Prophet ﷺ as a Leader,” where he explored prophetic qualities that anchor leaders amidst uncertainty.

Evening Session

To close the day, Jelena Naim presented “The Myth of Having Thick Skin,” reframing resilience not as emotional hardness but as emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and principled leadership.

Saturday, December 6 – Deepening the Conversations

Saturday began before sunrise with Fajr and a khatera led by Imam Tom, The Emotional Intelligence of the Prophet ﷺ.” His presence as Scholar in Residence shaped the entire retreat, through khateras, workshops, panels, and late-night discussions around the bonfire.

Paradox I: Decisiveness vs. Deliberation

Led by Sr. Rasha El-Haggan and Imam Tom, this session helped leaders navigate when to act swiftly and when to pause, consult, and reflect. Practical tools and scenarios grounded the conversation in real school contexts.

Stories of Leadership Panel

Moderated by Dr. Nadeem Memon, this candid panel featured:

• Magda Saleh (Bayaan Academy)
• Dr. Ismail ibn Ali (Al Fatih Academy)
• Jelena Naim (Al Falah Academy)

Speakers shared struggles, setbacks, and the internal work required to stay centered as leaders. Their bios on pp. 12–14 capture their decades of experience and commitment to Islamic education.

Creative Regeneration: Abstract Painting with Nadia Janjua

This reflective art session offered a break and created space for emotional processing and renewal.

Surprise Award Ceremony

Saturday evening held a special moment, ISLA honored two long-serving leaders for their outstanding contributions to Islamic education and their decades of service to ISLA: Dr. Patricia Salahuddin, ISLA Vice Chair, and Dr. Seema Imam, ISLA Board Member.

The recognition came as a surprise to both honorees. Their work over many years has shaped ISLA’s growth, strengthened its national network, and supported countless school leaders. A heartfelt tribute celebrated their dedication, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to Islamic education across North America.

Discussion around Bonfire

After dinner, retreat participants gathered outdoors for the Bonfire Dialogue, “Leadership & Our Times,” with Imam Tom, one of the most memorable moments of the retreat. The firelit reflection brought together spirituality, vulnerability, and honest conversation in a way that only a retreat setting can allow.

Sunday, December 7: Closing With Clarity and Community

Sunday opened once again with Fajr and Qur’an Study with Imam Tom, followed by breakfast and a final series of sessions.

Innovation as Stewardship – Afeefa Syeed

Afeefa Syeed (CIRE) reframed innovation as an Islamic responsibility—one rooted in stewardship, relevance, and responsiveness to changing times. Her session emphasized that Islamic schools must evolve not for novelty’s sake, but in service of amanah.

This final paradox explored how leaders hold others accountable while maintaining compassion, dignity, and care, an essential balancing act in today’s school environments.

Closing Reflections & Du’a

The ISLA team and Imam Tom guided participants through collective reflection, closing du’a, and final takeaways. The retreat concluded with a grab-and-go lunch and Dhuhr prayer, allowing participants to depart with full hearts and renewed purpose.