Khalis Rashaad
Shaykh Khalis Rashaad has served the Muslim community in a teaching capacity for thirty years. He is the Imam and Spiritual Director for Ibrahim Center and leads The Dawām Seminary for Islamic Studies, a two-year program grounded in the methods of traditional Islamic pedagogy while thoughtfully adapted for the realities of contemporary life. The seminary emphasizes a structured study of the core disciplines, aqidah, fiqh, tafsir, hadith, and tazkiyah, alongside the cultivation of adab, critical thinking, and spiritual refinement. He continues his studies with teachers in theology, jurisprudence, and spirituality.
His teaching emphasizes equipping students to engage the Islamic scholarly tradition with clarity and apply it in their lives in a practical way. His work focuses on addressing contemporary questions through the framework of Islamic law, theology and spirituality, with an emphasis on lived practice. Shaykh Khalis’ primary areas of focus include Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr), Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), applied theology, and spiritual development. He holds ijāzāt in jurisprudence, hadith, theology, and spirituality.
Amna Mulla
Amna is the Executive Director of Ibrahim Center. She is a native Houstonian and a mother of two children. She graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in supply chain management and information systems. She began her career in San Francisco in consulting, working across various industries before transitioning into the tech sector, where she organized and structured various start-ups during periods of massive growth. While in the Bay Area, Amna served the Muslim community at Taleef, where she learned about convert care and holding space for an authentic community.
In 2018, Amna and her family moved back to Texas, where she founded Ruh Karima, a women’s art collective. As the art director, Amna led various installations. Although Ruh Karima is currently on pause, Amna is excited to bring her experiential design expertise to IIC.
Amna has been a key member of our community for five years. During this time, she developed the Little Stewards children’s program (previously known as Suhba Camp) and played a crucial role in organizing and executing our largest Ramadan fundraiser.
Amna’s vision for IIC is to maintain our community’s intimate and supportive environment while fostering growth and visibility. She aims to create a space where everyone, including families, elders, and youth, feels at home.
Melanie Meleekah Villegas
Meleekah is the Administrative Director of Ibrahim Center. She is a Tejana born and raised in the west part of Houston, TX, and moved to 3rd Ward in 2001. She is an activist, community researcher, and artist working on issues related to health, wellness, and community development in Houston’s Third Ward community. Nurtured by service, mentors, and motivators, she develops her passion for transformation and renewal through the use of creative methods such as photography, drama therapy, and outdoor activation. She enjoys creating space for communal conversations, exploration, and healing as a creative connector to support socioeconomically disadvantaged communities through the Arts, Culture, and Care.