Religious Leadership
Imam Anas Shaikh
- Executive Director & Lead Imam
- Call/Text: 607.729.7265
- Email: anas@iost.org
Imam Anas Mohammad Shaikh is the Imam and Executive Director of the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier, where he has served since January 2013. He is dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and addressing the religious needs of the community. Imam Anas earned a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Theology, graduating summa cum laude from Darul Uloom Al-Madania in Buffalo, New York. He further enhanced his Islamic education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Islamic Law & Finance from the renowned Darul Uloom Karachi in Pakistan, where he studied under esteemed scholars, including Shaykh Mohammad Taqi Uthmani.
In his role as Executive Director, Imam Anas oversees religious affairs and coordinates community outreach initiatives. He is deeply involved in program development, educational activities, and interfaith dialogue, actively promoting social justice and advocating for human rights. He also serves as a regular speaker on various aspects of Islam, community development, and interfaith relations, earning a reputation for his commitment to bridging cultural divides.
Imam Sofian Mayet serves as the Associate Imam at the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier, joining the community in March 2023. Born and raised in London, UK, Imam Sofian completed his Hifdh at the age of 15 from Lantern of Knowledge Boys Secondary School and holds an Ijazah in Qur’anic Recitation. Following his high school education, he pursued a degree in Art and Design at Sir George Monoux College while simultaneously teaching the subject at a local Islamic School.
In 2015, Imam Sofian began his formal Islamic education at the prestigious Islamic Dawah Academy in Leicester, studying under the guidance of Shaykh Mawlana Muhammad Salim Dhorat hafidhahullah. He graduated magna cum laude in 2021, earning his Aalimiyah and Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies. Before joining IOST, he served as an assistant Imam in the UK from 2021 to 2023.
At IOST, Imam Sofian’s responsibilities include leading daily prayers, teaching Islamic studies classes, conducting educational Halaqahs, and engaging in community outreach programs. He brings his diverse background in both Islamic studies and arts to serve and enrich our community’s spiritual and educational needs.
Sister Areeba Baig is the female scholar-in-residence at the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier. She was born and raised in Southern California and completed memorizing the Qur’an while in high school. After high school, Sister Areeba pursued formal studies in Arabic and Fiqh with local scholars and online courses before traveling to Pakistan in 2006 to study at Jamia Binoria. There, she graduated summa cum laude with an Alamiyya degree in 2010, focusing on various Islamic sciences, including Hadith, Tafseer, & Fiqh. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY). She is also a senior instructor of Hadith in Boston, Massachusettes.
She has been serving the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier community for the past 12 years where she teaches various classes, provides support and counseling to the community’s women and youth, and answers Fiqh questions for sisters.
Board of Trustees
Br. Hanif Dandia
Br. Ehtisham Siddiqui
Br. Arshad Fasih
Join Our Committees and Volunteer!
Support & Volunteer Staff
- Name: Ustadha Asiya Palya
- Designation: IQRA After-School Lead, Al-Nur Academy Tarbiyya Coordinator
- Name: Sister Kiran Shah
- Designation: Al-Nur Academy
- Name: Sister Amina Haq
- Designation: Al-Nur Academy
- Name: Sister Malayka Mudassar
- Designation: Al-Nur Academy, Ma'rifa Program
- Name:Ustadh Ahmad Mohammad
- Designation: IQRA After-School
- Name: Revend Zebari
- Designation: Al-Nur Academy
- Name: Sister Esma Eisa
- Designation: Ma'rifa Program
- Name: Brother Avras Taha
- Designation: Al-Nur Academy, Ma'rifa Program
- Name: Brother Sajid Bhutta
- Designation: Ma'rifa Program
