Maha Gaafar was born in Egypt and grew up in Canada. She is a graduate of Concordia University with a Political Science degree. Maha studied for 7 years under the teaching and guidance of Anse Hazar Mahayni, quenching her thirst for Islamic knowledge and spiritual upbringing, while enthusiastically dedicating herself to the needs of her local community. Maha has regularly taught at weekend Islamic schools and conducts youth halaqas for pre-teen and teenage girls, and is currently a women’ s halaqa teacher at Rabata. In addition the Ribaat Teacher Certification, Maha holds an Ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi. She also co-leads a local Girl Scouts of America troop. In 2012, Maha began her journey with Rabata and continued her Islamic studies education at the Ribaat Academic Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Tamara Gray. She has the pleasure of being the Assistant Director at the Ribaat Academic Institute and is also the Rabata Programs Manager, leading programs and supporting the growing list of Rabata chapters across the globe. Maha currently resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and children. She is honored to bring Rabata’s mission of positive cultural change wherever she goes and hopes to uplift Muslim women and children to live with joy and faith.