To be the flagship Shia Muslim organisation in community development.
To assist in the advancement of Shia Muslim communities globally in the areas of Faith, Education and Development.
The Mainstay Foundation was established in 2016 to alleviate the struggles of Shia Muslim communities and build on the many successes of our community while facilitating global collaboration and development. Our journey began with three clear objectives: strengthening faith, fostering education, and developing communities. Over the years, we have targeted the ongoing challenges faced within the communities across East Africa, India, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
With the help of a dedicated team, we continue to deliver impactful and pioneering projects, such as providing grants to centres and mosques, hosting annual events like The Muslim Convention, and publishing thought-provoking books. We also undertake projects in a partner-led manner to ensure efficient delivery and successful planning. Our projects range from providing developmental aid, such as water, food, medical, and orphan assistance, to sponsoring a child’s education, and offering vocational training to the impoverished in East Africa, India and Iraq.
Before starting any project, we assess the demand by conducting surveys and needs assessments to ensure that the project provides optimal benefits, is self-sufficient, and guarantees community growth. We then work tirelessly to execute and deliver the project, tracking the progress to ensure everything runs smoothly. At The Mainstay Foundation, we look forward to a bright future for our Shia Muslim community, and all of humanity, with continued efforts towards the betterment of our society and the human condition.
Since its inception, the Mainstay Foundation has remained steadfast in its commitment to scholarly consultation and guidance. We are proud to announce the establishment of our Religious Supervisory Board, composed of distinguished scholars, to formalise and enhance this critical relationship.
Through their wisdom and expertise, we continue our mission of strengthening faith, fostering education, and advancing community development by empowering individuals, organisations, and research.
Rooted in the profound teachings of the Holy Quran and the traditions of Immaculates (peace be upon them) as interpreted by our scholars of the Islamic Seminaries, these principles serve as the cornerstone of our collective vision, guiding us as a community toward growth and excellence.
Sayyid Jafar al-Hakeem is a prominent professor and public intellectual from the Islamic Seminary of the Holy City of Najaf, Iraq. He currently teaches Advanced Seminars (bahth al-khārij) in fiqh and usul, as well as seminars in epistemology, philosophy, theosophy, and theology. In addition to his scholarly work, Sayyid al-Hakeem is a prominent Iraqi public intellectual. He was imprisoned and tortured by the Saddam regime alongside the rest of the al-Hakeem family in 1983. He appeared as a witness in the trial of Saddam Hussein, testifying to the cruel sectarian persecution of Shia scholars and scholarly families. He often speaks on issues of religious identity, pluralism, civic engagement, and contemporary issues.
Sayyid Ahmad al-Ashkiwari is a professor of Advanced Seminars (bahth al-kharij) in fiqh, usul, and kalam. Alongside his scholarly activities, Sayyid al-Ashkiwari serves in a supervisory role in numerous pioneering projects of the Islamic Seminary in the Holy City of Najaf, including the Tibah Center and the Najaf Online Seminary for Women. In addition, he oversees the seminary’s preaching project, which includes the seminary’s educational activities during the Arbaʿin pilgrimage season. Sayyid al-Ashkiwari studied in the seminaries of the holy cities of Najaf and Qom, under the tutelage of esteemed scholars such as the Late Shaykh Mirza Jawad al-Tibrizi, Grand Ayatollah Shaykh Husayn Vahid Khorasani, Ayatollah Shaykh Muhammad Baqir al-Irawani, and Ayatollah Shaykh Hadi al-Radi.
Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Ali Bahr al-Ulum is a professor of Advanced Intermediate Studies (sutuh ʿulya) in the Islamic Seminary of Najaf. Alongside his seminary teaching and studies, Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Ali Bahr al-ʿUlum dedicated his time to academic studies, receiving a Master’s Degree in Shariʿah and Law from the Islamic College of Lebanon. He studied Advanced Seminars (bahth al-kharij) under grand contemporary scholars such as Grand Ayatollahs Shaykh Wahid al-Khorasani and Sayyid Muhammad Saeed al-Hakeem.
Shaykh Fadhel Al-Sahlani is a prominent Shia Islamic scholar and community leader, serving as the representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in North America. Originally from Iraq, he studied at the renowned Najaf seminary under leading Shia scholars. Shaykh Al-Sahlani has been instrumental in guiding the Shia Muslim community in North America, particularly through his leadership at the Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center in New York. Being one of the largest Shia institutions, it focuses on religious education, community services, and interfaith dialogue. He continues to address social and ethical issues while promoting understanding and cooperation among different religious communities.
