Our Team

Dr. Shehla Altaf is a lifelong student of knowledge with a strong sense of purpose and curiosity, which she has carried through her studies as a medical student, in her practice as a physician, and in the 2 decades she has spent studying Qur’an and Islamic studies. On her mission to change the world for the better, she has dedicated her life to instilling Love of our Rabb in the hearts of people around her, as well as compassion for His creation. To that end, she is a teacher of the Qur’an, has Ijazah in the 10 Qirat, has worked in multiple masaajid and hifdth programs, and serves the community however she can in other capacities. She is a wife, a sister, a mother of two adult boys, and a grandmother to two beautiful children. She loves to teach, connect with other people, walk in nature, travel, play sports, and watch crime shows.

Sh. AbdulNasir Jangda is the founder, director, and an instructor at Qalam Institute. He is a faculty member at the Qalam Seminary where he teaches Sahih Bukhari, advanced Tafseer, Usul, Fiqh, and Balagha. Born and raised in Dallas, TX, he currently resides there with his wife and three children. He memorized the Qur’an at an early age. After high school, he studied the Islamic sciences full-time at Jamia Binoria where he specialized in Fiqh and Tafsir. He graduated from the rigorous ‘alim program in 2001 at the top of his class. He also attained a B.A. and M.A. in Arabic from Karachi University while completing a Masters in Islamic Studies from the University of Sindh. After returning home, he taught at the local university and Islamic schools and served as local Imam.

Dr. Abu-Bakar Zafar is an ophthalmologist by profession, specializing in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at Carle Foundational Hospital. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor at Carle Illinois College of Medicine and works with medical students and residents. He enjoys supporting young businesses and invests in promising entrepreneurs. He is equally committed to the work and is especially interested in those who focus on charitable and social goals such as One Ummah and ALMAZ Wearables. Originally from Panama City, FL, he lives in Champaign, IL with his wife and two little ones. In his downtime, he unwinds with woodworking and watching sports.

Mahnoor grew up in the metro-Atlanta area, where she was involved in various community efforts that promoted the empowerment of Muslim youth and refugee women through programming, education, and accessibility to healthcare. Somewhere along the way, she noticed a lack of coordination among masaajid, resulting in missed opportunities for higher quality programming and disconnection from the greater community. She is excited to work with One Ummah to address these challenges and help unlock the full potential of the Atlanta Muslim community.

Before joining the One Ummah team, Mahnoor served as CAIR-Ohio’s Communications Coordinator. Her previous experiences also include MIST Atlanta, Golden Age Youth, Global Village Project, and CARE USA.

Mahnoor earned her BA in public health with a minor in education from Agnes Scott College. She enjoys bubble tea, reading, dabbling in the visual & digital arts, and is mom to one very active toddler.

Maria is a Journalist and Social Communicator with more than 4 years of experience in the field of digital marketing, graphic design, social media and website management.

She is Creative, proactive, and diligent. Possess the ability to communicate fluently and effectively among peers as well as across business sectors. She has had experience working with diffent sectors such as Muslim non-profit, audit and consulting firms. She Has excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Maria has a deep passion for learning, designing, and exploring different cultures. Her family is her most important pillar. She loves sports, traveling, learning about new cultures, visiting new restaurants and she loves to read.

Yusra Khan was born and raised in Atlanta where she has been an active member of her community from a young age. She has held various positions in journalism, marketing, and service, and assists One Ummah through her passion for photography, videography, and content creation. Yusra is a senior at the Georgia Institute of Technology studying biochemistry and enjoys taking part in her MSA.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, spending time with her friends and family, and nurturing young minds at her local masjid’s Sunday school.