History of Islamic Legislation :: Class 3 :: Dr. Hatem al-Haj

Dr. Hatem (Elhagaly) al-Haj is Mishkah University's dean in the College of Islamic Studies, English.

Raised in Alexandria, Egypt, he began his religious training at an early age and started delivering sermons at his local mosque at the age of 17.

After completing his medical degree at the University of Alexandria, he migrated to the US when he was 22 to work on his United States Medical Licensing Examination. During this time, he also served as the Imam of Masjid al-Birr in Astoria, New York.

He then completed his residency in pediatrics at the State University of New York (SUNY).

Dr. Hatem continued his Islamic education, attaining an M.A. in Sharia from the American Open University, and a PhD in Sharia from Al-Jinan University in Lebanon, graduating with the highest honors for both degrees.

He has published various academic works in both Arabic and English including

Fiqh of Worship (Book, Published by IIPH, Riyadh)
A Manual for Gender Interactions (Book, in press)
The Basis of Islamic Upbringing of the Children (Paper)
Acts of Worship as a Means to Strengthen the Attachment between the Servant and His Lord (Paper)
Important Tips for Those Who Read the Translations of Quran (Article)
Practical Tips for the Muslim Family (Article)
New organizations are not a break of unity (Article)
Muhammad, Mercy for All (Article)
Why only Palestine (Article)
Women's Role in Society (Paper)
Islam encourages proliferation and protects children. (Paper)
Currently based in Minnesota, Dr. Hatem regularly hosts classes, gives lectures, and delivers Friday sermons on diverse Islamic topics at various mosques. He also serves as the president of Building Blocks of Islam, a grass roots community building organization that seeks to enliven the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He is a member of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA)'s, Permanent Fatwa Committee, the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of Minnesota, and the North American Imam Federation (NAIF).

To learn more about Dr. Hatem, please visit his website:

For more lectures, please visit: