About Glass Lamp Institute
Glass Lamp Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals connect, reflect, understand, and implement the Quran. Glass Lamp Institute’s programs emphasize developing a personal relationship with the Quran and then extending that relationship to small teams and larger groups to collectively engage with the Book to address modern challenges.
Our Vision & Mission
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Glass Lamp Institute's vision is to have the Ummah and world guided by the Quran in their personal, family, and professional lives.
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Our mission is informed by the following verse of Qur’an in Surah Fatir:
ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۖ فَمِنْهُمْ ظَالِمٌۭ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌۭ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌۢ بِٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَضْلُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ٣٢
Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our Servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace.
We see the job of “inheritance” of the Book to mean helping individuals and communities to understand how to have a relationship with the Qur’an and utilize it as a source of guidance in their day-to-day life.
Our Approach
Glass Lamp builds on and complements the work of community and educational organizations that teach the Quran. The unique aspects of the Glass Lamp approach are:
Focusing on understanding the Quran through the heart, not just intellectually, but emotionally and experientially so that the Book is seen by us as a companion through our lives.
Going beyond an individual relationship with the Quran and having groups and communities that seek to understand and apply the Quran for personal and societal transformation together.
Bringing Quranic concepts beyond the theological and academic realms and into other facets of society, such as family, business, healthcare, and community development. By having a committed team that is exploring the Qur’an through these lenses and then working to incorporate their insights into practical application, we seek to bring the Quran as a guiding light that shines on the societal challenges of our time.
Meet the Team
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Chairwoman & Resident Scholar
Dr. Zainab Alwani is the Resident Scholar and Chairwoman of Glass Lamp Institute. She is the Founding Director and the first Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Howard University School of Divinity (HUSD). Dr. Alwani received her Ph.D. in Islamic Sciences and Islamic Jurisprudence from the International Islamic University in Malaysia. Her Ph.D. dissertation focused on the implementation of the higher aims of Islamic law (Maqāṣid al Shariah) within the domain of the American Muslim family. She has authored and co-authored a wide variety of publications ranging from books, textbooks and book chapters, to scholarly articles. She is particularly interested in deriving methodologies for approaching the Quran, Sunnah and Islamic jurisprudence in the area of women and family relations. Dr. Alwani is currently serving as the Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Islamic Faith and Practice, a scholarly peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Islamic Seminary Foundation in partnership with IUPUI University Library. Her research focuses on Quranic studies, Islamic jurisprudence, the relationship between civil and religious law in the area of women and family.
Dr. Alwani is an educator with over 25 years of teaching and curriculum development experience in Islamic Studies and Arabic. She designed and developed the Master of Arts program in Islamic Studies at the HUSD and continues to reinvigorate the holistic curriculum development.
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Executive Advisor
Othman Altalib spent 15 years in the corporate world, working with leading companies like IBM, Google, and various startups. After a successful career, he transitioned to entrepreneurship, founding RYSE and co-founding Miraj Collective, dedicated to helping Muslims live holistically with Ihsan—excellence in every aspect of life. RYSE is proud to partner with Glass Lamp Institute, where Othman continues to empower individuals to integrate their faith into their daily lives, fostering a balanced and fulfilling existence.
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Board Member & Treasurer
Omar Altalib has over 23 years of progressive leadership experience including P&L responsibilities in the US and internationally and building and leading high achieving sales teams. He brings a unique combination of financial expertise, business development, strategic thinking and a successful track record of leading organizations and driving innovation in a competitive and global technology industry. He has conducted business across the health, financial, national security and engineering sectors. Omar was the Director for Growth, Partnerships and Strategy for US Federal, Non-Profits, and Healthcare at Amazon Web Services. Omar recently produced the award winning feature documentary, "36 Seconds: Portrait Of A Hate Crime." He continues to develop important narratives through his production company, Full Disclosure Films. Omar has also started a new venture called Forerunners which is a community that invites executives, entrepreneurs, and founders who are aspiring to doing their work from a higher level of consciousness, translate those values into existing and new ventures, and facilitate connection and collaboration to scale.
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Communications Director
Omama Altaleb is the Communications Director at Glass Lamp Institute. She is also the founder of Layali Goods Co., an Islamic lifestyle brand dedicated to creating intentional products that inspire reflection, mindfulness, and connection with Allah in everyday life.
Omama holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from George Mason University and a Master of Arts in Online Journalism from American University.
She is also the author of Peace Within: Spiritual Reminders for the Heart and writes about spirituality, self-growth, and intentional living on The Self-Edit Substack.
Through her work, Omama is passionate about encouraging others to cultivate a deeper relationship with Allah, the Quran and themselves through reflection, sincerity and spiritually grounded living.
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Instructor & Board Member
Samia Mubarak completed her memorization of the Quran shortly after attaining her Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Psychology from Florida State University. She has studied Quranic Tadabbur extensively under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Shaykha Zainab Alwani, which inspired her establishment of Quranic Ocean, a guided platform dedicated to building personal and emotional connections with Allah’s words.
She has formally studied with a number of scholars and religious seminaries and is currently an instructor of Quran at the Ribaat Academic Institute by Rabata. Samia has a love for Quranic recitation and is currently working on an Ijaza (Quranic memorization certification) in Hafs recitation.
Samia is a single mom to two girls, one of which was born with a very rare syndrome called CHILD and has special medical needs, alhamdulillah. She is a home barista and loves pouring latte art! She hopes to help people dive deep into the Quranic ocean so they can find comfort and reassurance through Allah’s words amidst the varying circumstances of life.
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Instructional Designer
Saif Altalib is an instructional designer and performance improvement specialist dedicated to bringing ihsan (excellence) to the learning landscape. By fusing evidence-based learning science with deep technical expertise, he architects transformative, high-impact educational experiences.
Off the clock, Saif honors his amanah (trust) as a family man, explores the beauty of Allah’s creation in the great outdoors, and actively supports the most vulnerable.
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Executive Director
Ali Altalib serves as the Executive Director of the Glass Lamp Institute, where he is deeply committed to advancing its vision of making the Qur’an an active and accessible source of guidance for all truth-seekers.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from George Mason University and a master’s degree in Finance from American University.
Ali brings a diverse background across corporate, nonprofit, and community leadership. He previously served as the Founding Director of Qahwa, a pioneering café and youth center within the ADAMS Center, and currently sits on the ADAMS Board of Trustees. He also worked as a Business Management Director at a Fortune 50 fintech corporation before transitioning away from the corporate sector to focus on building faith-centered, values-driven initiatives.
He is a co-founder of Suhba Sports Society, a community-based organization dedicated to fostering faith, brotherhood, and character development through athletics and mentorship.
Ali’s work is deeply influenced by his spiritual lineage as a student of his late grandfather, Shaykh Taha Jabir Al-Alwani, and his mother, Shaykhah Zainab Alwani.
He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, coaching and playing sports, and writing poetry.
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Teaching Assistant & Board Member
Iman Zenhom is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in social services, focusing on areas such as family dynamics, domestic violence, mental health, and Islamic Education. Iman holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and currently serves as the ILM Program Principal as well as the Marriage Services Coordinator at the ADAMS Center.
In addition to her professional roles, Iman is a committed student of the Quran. She has studied under Dr. Zainab Alwani and frequently assists her as a Teaching Assistant for the "Building a Personal Relationship with the Quran" class. Through her work and studies, Iman combines her passion for social services with her deep commitment to personal and spiritual growth and serving members of the community.
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Board Member
Awais Sheikh has lived in the Northern Virginia area for most of his life. He has been a regular member of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) community in various capacities including Secretary, Vice President, and a member of the Arbitration and Strategic Planning Committees. He also served as a Board Member ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Clinic providing health services to underserved populations. He served as the Chairman of Al Fatih Academy, a K-8 school focused on nurturing a Muslim American identity among it's students. Awais is a management consultant by profession, specializing in strategic management. He has also volunteered to give various management and leadership training seminars to local Muslim organizations, including various Islamic schools and Muslim Student Associations. He is currently a founding partner of Forerunners, an education institution dedicated to building leaders that transform society through purpose and values.