About Our Center
About
Dar Al Taqwa
A community devoted to Taqwa — God-consciousness — cultivated through knowledge, sincere worship, and service to all.
Est. 1990
Serving the community for 35 years
Est. 1990
Serving the community for 35 years
OUR MISSION
Nurturing a God-Conscious Community
Dar Al-Taqwa was formed in August 1992 by the local Muslim leadership as a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It serves the local Muslim and non-Muslim community in Howard County, Maryland — and society at large — through the promotion of goodwill, unity, and understanding as a religious, educational, non-profit, and non-political organization.
The center provides the five daily prayers and two Friday Jumu’ah prayers, educational talks and seminars, weekend schools, youth, interfaith and outreach programs, summer camp, weddings, funeral services, and many other community events organized throughout the year by our diverse group of volunteers.
Goals & Objectives
Have a question? Email us at info@taqwa.net.
Dar Al-Taqwa strives to be a welcoming place for everyone, and all are invited to use the facility for their social, educational, and spiritual needs. Insha’Allah, with our strong community support and presence, we welcome you, your family, and friends to join us in strengthening and contributing positively to our broader society.
To uphold and apply the principles and practices of Islam as revealed to Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (PBUH).
To establish, maintain, and operate Dar Al-Taqwa facilities for religious, educational, and community services.
To organize religious, educational, and charitable activities for the benefit of Muslims, with particular emphasis on the residents of Howard County, Maryland.
To establish a multipurpose Islamic center — a 501(c)(3) religious/charitable organization registered in the State of Maryland — that addresses the needs of local Muslims of all ages.
Governing Principles
Our Values & Governing Principles
Guided by Faith and Authentic Scholarship
Dar Al Taqwa operates according to Islamic principles rooted in:
The Holy Qur'an
The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
The Consensus of the Companions
Classical Islamic Jurisprudence
The tradition of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah
Board of Directors
Term ending 04/23/2028
Term ending 04/23/2030
Term ending 04/23/2028
Term ending 04/23/2028
Term ending 04/23/2028
Term ending 04/23/2028
Term ending 04/23/2028
Board of Trustees
Reach the Board of Trustees at Trustee@taqwa.net .
Br. Shahid Jamil Chairman
Term ending 04/23/2028
Br. Abid Askari Trustee
Term ending 05/30/2030
Br. Mohammed S. Khan (Asim) Trustee
Term ending 05/30/2030
Sr. Nevine Abouelenein Trustee
Term ending 05/30/2030
Br. Hazem Hassan Trustee
Term ending 04/23/2028
Our Teachers
Dar Al Taqwa Resident Scholars
Dar Al-Taqwa’s resident scholars are available to help and guide our community — rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah, with authenticity, integrity, and compassion.
Sheikh Aamir
Director of Religious Services
- Islamic Law
- Fiqh
- Hadith
- Interfaith
Sheikh Aamir joined the Dar Al-Taqwa team on September 1, 2021, and currently serves as the Director of Religious Services at DAT. He oversees its various educational and spiritual programs and is critical in helping engage the community both inside and outside of the premises.
He previously served as the Imam of the Islamic Society of Annapolis, Makkah Learning Center, and Masjid Alansar, where he oversaw a weekend school, evening school, homeschool and hifz program, and various online learning programs. The Shaykh helped establish MDFID, the Maryland Foundation for Islamic Development, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving a citizen’s spiritual connection to God. He has participated in interfaith work through the Anne Arundel Muslim Council, ACT (a branch of the Industrial Areas Foundation), and GAIN (Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network), and has been a scholar, religious teacher, and spiritual guide in the Islamic field for over a decade in the Maryland area, authoring multiple works.
Shaykh Aamir completed his Ifta (Mufti course — specialization in Islamic Law) from Darul Uloom Chicago (Shariah Board) under the supervision of Mufti AbdulSattar Patel and Mufti Nawal Rahman (may Allah preserve them), after his bachelor’s in Islamic Studies. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Drexel University and a doctorate, and has travelled to many places in the world for traditional study, including Jordan, Morocco, and Syria. He has received numerous ijaazaat (licenses) in various fields of the Islamic Sciences, including Hadith and Fiqh.
Sheikha Zehra Hazratji
Female Resident Scholar & Advisor — Office of Religious Affairs (ORA)
- Shari'a
- Contemporary Fiqh
- Qur'an · Hafidha
- Mentorship
Sheikha Zehra Hazratji serves as Dar Al-Taqwa’s Female Resident Scholar and Advisor within the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), providing religious guidance, mentoring, education, and spiritual support to the community.
Born and raised in Western Massachusetts, Sheikha Zehra earned a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Law (Shari’a) from Al-Azhar University in Egypt and a Master’s degree in Contemporary Fiqh from Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. She is currently pursuing advanced studies through the Mufti Training Program at Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyya, the official Egyptian Fatwa Council in Egypt.
Sheikha Zehra is a Hafidha of the Qur’an and holds an ijaza in the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim. She has taught Islamic sciences for more than a decade at institutions including Mishkah University and Jannah Institute, dedicating her work to religious education, mentorship, and community engagement. Fluent in English and Arabic and conversant in Urdu, she is committed to serving a diverse community through accessible and meaningful religious guidance.
She is available for spiritual counseling and religious consultation, and appointments may be scheduled through the online booking link provided by Dar Al-Taqwa.
Transparency & Governance
Dar Al Taqwa Governing Documents
Access important Dar Al-Taqwa documents below.
Access important Dar Al-Taqwa documents below.
Community Directory
Local Resources
Mosques, schools, halal food, and trusted community businesses across Howard County and the DMV — compiled by and for our community.
Please use discretion.
These community and business listings are shared as a courtesy and have not all been vetted or verified. Contact providers at your own risk, negotiate all terms before work begins, and avoid paying in full before work is completed.
Dar Al-Taqwa Mosque
- 10740 MD-108, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- (410) 997-5711
- info@taqwa.net
- taqwa.net
Muslim Family Center
- 5796 Waterloo Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
- info@muslimfamilycenter.org
- muslimfamilycenter.org
Maryum Islamic Center
- 11424 Old Frederick Rd, Marriottsville, MD
- (443) 364-3033
- info@maryumcenter.com
- maryumcenter.com
Islamic Community Center of Laurel (ICCL)
- 7306 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707
- (301) 317-4584
- council@icclmd.org
- icclmd.org
Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB)
- 6631 Johnnycake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244
- (410) 747-4863
- info@isb.org
- isb.org
Diyanet Centre of America
- 9610 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD 20706
- 301-459-9589
- info@diyanetamerica.org
- diyanetamerica.org
Prince George's Muslim Association
- 9150 Lanham Severn Rd, Lanham, MD
- 301-459-4942
- ec@pgmamd.org
- pgmamd.org
Al-Rahmah High School
- 6631 Johnnycake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244
- isb.org
Affiliated with Islamic Society of Baltimore
Tarbiyah Academy
- 6785 Business Parkway, Elkridge, MD 21075
- 1-844-TARBIYA
- info@tarbiyahacademy.org
- tarbiyahacademy.org
K–8th grade American leadership school
Aya Montessori
- 10820 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
- 443-459-1299
- info@ayamontessori.com
- ayamontessori.com
Al-Huda School
- 5301 Edgewood Road, College Park, MD 20740
- 301-982-2402
- office@alhuda.org
- alhudaschoolmd.org
Aya Montessori
- 10820 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
- 443-459-1299
- info@ayamontessori.com
Sanabil School
- 6785 Business Pkwy #104, Elkridge, MD 21075
- (410) 701-9878
- contact@sanabilschools.org
Al-Rahmah Nursery and Childcare
- 6631 Johnnycake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244
- (410) 719-0921
- nursery@alrahmah.org
Diyanet Centre of America
- 9610 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD 20706
- 301-459-9589
- info@diyanetamerica.org
Maiwand Kabob
- 5467 Harpers Farm Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
- (410) 992-7754
Mimi's Kabob
- 12345 Wake Forest Rd, Clarksville, MD 21029
- (410) 531-2000
Zaiqa Kitchen
- 6050 Meadowridge Center Dr Ste 206, Elkridge, MD 21075
- (410) 799-7700
Naz's Halal Food
- 8450 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043
- (667) 239-2562
Legends Halal Grill
- 1736 N Rolling Rd, Windsor Mill, MD 21244
- (443) 551-3554
Bismillah Restaurant
- 1350 Dorsey Rd, Hanover, MD 21076
- (410) 859-1112
NY Halal Food Cart
- Cell Phone Lot, 1001 Scott Drive BWI, Baltimore, MD 21240
- (443) 303-9221
The Halal Guys
- 10100 Twin Rivers Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
- (667) 200-5188
ZiZa Kabob
- 7351 Assateague Dr Ste 100, Jessup, MD 20794
- (443) 296-7679
Famous Kabob & Karahi Zabiha Halal
- 9711 Fort Meade Rd, Laurel, MD 20724
- (301) 490-4100
Zauq Halal Kitchen
- 6669 Security Blvd, Gwynn Oak, MD 21207
- (443) 893-3189
Masala Kitchen
- 9050 Red Branch Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
- (410) 715-9900
Fire N Spice
- 3493 Laurel Fort Meade Rd, Laurel, MD 20724
- (301) 498-3200
Yomna's Halal Cart
- Market Pl, Baltimore, MD 21202
- (443) 824-2134
Peri Peri Original
- 15101 Baltimore Ave Unit 105, Laurel, MD 20707
- (301) 323-8989
Jalapeno Fresh Mexican Bistro
- 13600 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD 20707
- (240) 786-6785
Nando's PERi-PERi
- 14722 Baltimore Ave Ste 107, Laurel, MD 20707
- (301) 497-0720
Pizza Primetime
- 10119 Washington Blvd N Suite G, Laurel, MD 20723
- (301) 317-5600
Middle Eastern Restaurant
- 2015 Lord Baltimore Dr, Windsor Mill, MD 21244
- (410) 265-5555
Nazar Market
- 6955 Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
- (410) 290-3464
- turkishgroceriesincolumbiamd.com
Columbia Halal Meat
- 6520 Old Waterloo Rd # J, Elkridge, MD 21075
- (410) 799-1910
Masala Bazaar and Halal Meat
- M & N, 9050 Red Branch Rd, Columbia, MD 21045
- (410) 715-9900
Al-Madina Halal Meat & Grocery
- 15101 Baltimore Ave #100, Laurel, MD 20707
- (301) 742-7786
Jerusalem Market
- 2015 Lord Baltimore Dr, Windsor Mill, MD 21244
- (410) 265-5555
- jerusalemmarketmd.com
Free State Flooring
- 10611 Iron Bridge Rd C, Jessup, MD 20794
- 301-725-6010
- freestatefloor.com
Hardwood Flooring & Supplies
3 locations
Pine Orchard Sunoco
- 10214 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- 410-418-4718
Gas Station, Convenience Store & Car Repair
50 years in business, 2 locations
Carlos Figueroa
General Home Improvement
Flooring, paint, appliance installation, plumbing. Good work, good pricing.
Eduardo Ortiz
Landscaping
Aeration and seeding, tree planting, grass cutting. Good work — has worked on Westminster Mosque.
Pedro Castillo
General Home Improvement
Tree removal. Good work, responsive, reasonable price.
Rocky
General Home Improvement
Water tank installation. Discount for cash payment; upfront.
Mushtaq Khan
General Home Improvement
Kitchen gas stove installation. Good price, good work.
Our Impact
Building Communities Through Faith & Service
“Three and a half decades of worship, learning, and care.”
500+
Families Served
100+
Students Enrolled
50+
Annual Programs
1000s
Community Members Reached
Join Us in Worship, Learning & Service
Whether you're new to the area, seeking knowledge, or looking to give back — Dar Al Taqwa welcomes you.
