CHAIRMAN of the Board

Dr. Tamim Saidi was born in Afghanistan and as a teenager was forced to leave his family behind and take refuge in Pakistan. He came to the USA in 1990 and since then he has considered Minnesota home.

He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota and holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Chicago Theological Seminary and Bayan Islamic Graduate School.

In 2018 he was selected as one of 24 Bush Fellows. Additionally, he has completed a Multi-Religious Fellowship program with the Collegeville Institute.

In addition to serving as the Resident Scholar for IRG, Br. Tamim serves/has served in numerous community leadership positions with the Islamic Resource Group (IRG), NWICC, MYLA Scholarship, Islamic Center of MN Muslim Youth of MN (MYM), Council of Trustees of the Islamic Center of MN, Al-Amal School Board of Directors, & interfaith dialogues.

He has presented to thousands of Minnesotans about Islam and Muslims. His articles have appeared at EngageMN, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press USA Today St. Cloud Times and MN Daily and he has also appeared on WCCO and TPTV Almanac. Br. Tamim regularly delivers weekly sermons at multiple area mosques, serves as a Muslim chaplain & conducts other religious rituals for the community. He is a father to four children and is a son, a husband and a brother.

Br. Tamim has been involved in Al-Amal School for over 17 years, his three older children have graduated from Al-Amal, and his youngest daughter is in 6th grade. Through his work with youth and other organizations, Br. Tamim understood the importance of Islamic school even before his children were born. He registered his children at the school when they were only a few months old.

Secretary

Christina Ferdous is a devoted member of the Al-Amal School community with a longstanding commitment to its mission and success. She has been a parent in the Al-Amal community for over 11 years, during which four of her children have been educated at the school. Through her lived experience as a parent partner in her children’s education, Christina brings a deeply personal understanding of the school’s impact on students’ academic, spiritual, and character development.

In her role as Board Secretary, Christina plays an active part in supporting governance, strategic planning, and organizational stewardship in alignment with Al-Amal’s mission to nurture students with strong Islamic moral character, leadership skills, and academic excellence. Her contributions help ensure that the school remains faithful to its vision and accountable to families, donors, and accreditation partners

Christina has more than 20 years of experience in leadership and volunteer service with Muslim and broader community organizations across the state. In these roles she has worked in supportive and organizational capacities that strengthen community cohesion, foster collaboration, and advocate for meaningful engagement in education and social services. Her volunteer leadership reflects a sustained commitment to service, mentorship, and building institutions that empower families and youth.

Professionally, Christina serves as a critical care nurse at a major regional medical center, where she provides high-level care to a diverse patient population. In this capacity, she combines clinical expertise with compassion, resilience, and advocacy—qualities that translate into her governance and community leadership. Through her work at the bedside and in boardrooms, Christina exemplifies dedication to service, ethical responsibility, and care for others.

Christina’s dual roles—as a parent deeply invested in Al-Amal’s community and as a healthcare professional committed to service and advocacy—enrich her contribution to the Board of Directors. Her leadership continues to support the school’s pursuit of academic excellence within a nurturing Islamic educational environment.

Finance

Br. Aleem Mahammad brings more than a decade of education governance experience to the Al-Amal School Board. He has served as board chair for a charter school and as board chair for charter school authorizers, supporting governance, oversight, compliance, and mission alignment for over 30 schools.

Br. Aleem has a longstanding connection to Al-Amal School. Two of his children are alumni, and his younger two are current students. He knows the school as a parent and brings a strong understanding of its mission, values, and the trust families place in the Al-Amal community.

Within the Minnesota Muslim community, Br. Aleem is a respected leader. He is a founding member of a mosque in Plymouth and is currently an active community member in Blaine, where he continues to support community initiatives and engagement.

Professionally, Br. Aleem is an IT leader at the State of Minnesota with over 25 years of experience in information technology, cybersecurity, and organizational leadership. His career spans leadership roles in the biomedical, finance, and electronics sectors, where he has guided enterprise technology strategy and helped organizations operate securely and effectively in highly regulated environments.

He holds an MBA from Bethel University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics, as well as multiple professional and leadership certifications. He is known for sound judgment, collaboration, and helping boards and teams navigate complex decisions with clarity.

Sr. Amran Farah is a partner at Greene Espel, one of the leading boutique litigation firms in the country. She represents Fortune 50 companies, public institutions, and individuals in a wide range of business matters, with particular expertise in complex commercial litigation, construction law, and employment disputes. Amran has extensive experience representing school districts, including conducting sensitive internal investigations for school boards addressing governance issues, discrimination claims, and workplace misconduct.

Her construction law practice focuses on high-stakes multi-million dollar construction disputes, where she represents owners and contractors in litigation involving construction defects, change order disputes, project delays, and mechanic’s lien claims. She has successfully resolved construction disputes through both litigation and arbitration, protecting clients’ interests while navigating the complex web of construction contracts and statutory requirements. Amran's talents are widely recognized.

She was selected by Minnesota Lawyer as a 2021 “Attorney of the Year” and was a 2020 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree. Amran is the past-President of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Past-Chair of the Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage, as well as a founder and past-President of the Somali American Bar Association.

Public Relations

Legal

Born and raised in rural Illinois, Amir Malik is an attorney and former educator who is honored to serve on the Board of Directors of Al-Amal School as part of an amanah to support Islamic education. Previously, Amir served as a teacher and course coordinator for 10+ years in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, where he was responsible for curriculum planning and academic oversight—experience that continues to inform a holistic approach to tarbiyah that integrates academic rigor with character development.

As an attorney, Amir brings legal insight and strategic counsel to support sound governance, transparency, and stewardship in furtherance of the school’s mission. Guided by the principles of ihsan and service to the ummah, Amir is committed to nurturing an educational environment rooted in the teachings of Islam, where students are empowered to grow intellectually, spiritually, and ethically.