Shaykh Ismail Bowers

Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Shaykh Ismail Bowers studied for nearly a decade in Morocco, completing the distinguished traditional ʿĀlimiyyah program at the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fes, where he received ijāzah in multiple disciplines.

His studies covered Qur'anic exegesis, Hadith sciences, Islamic law, theology, and Arabic philology under some of Morocco's leading scholars.

He later earned a Master's degree in Theology from Emory University, graduating top of his class, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Oxford focusing on Hadith and Islamic theology.

Alongside his academic work, Shaykh Ismail is co-founder of Pillars Seminary and has taught hundreds of students in Islamic sciences and Arabic. As Resident Scholar of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, he brings a blend of traditional scholarship, academic rigor, and community leadership.