Ustadha Noura Shamma: SunniPath Teacher

Bringing a very deep and real love for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to her courses, Ustadha Noura Shamma has a unique story-telling style of teaching that brings the past alive and connects it with the present.

After growing up in the American Midwest, Italy, and Saudi Arabia with her Egyptian father and American mother, Ustadha Noura obtained a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Cincinnati and a M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Indiana University. She then spent a semester studying Arabic at the American University of Cairo and two years at the Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan, where she completed the highest level. She has also completed coursework for a Ph.D. in Islamic Thought through the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization in Malaysia.

While growing up, Ustadha Noura was involved in MYNA from its early beginnings and acted as a counselor, advisor, and coordinator. She was also active in the local MSA and led study circles for both girls and women. Her first introduction to traditional learning was at the 1998 Rihla Deen Intensive in Fez, Morocco. She subsequently moved to California where she spent two years studying at Zaytuna Institute with Shaykh Salek bin Siddina, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and Dr. Thomas Cleary. Since 2003, she has been studying Hanafi fiqh, aqida, and Arabic in Amman, where she currently lives.

Ustadha Noura unites her extensive teaching experience and years of study at SunniPath, where she teaches in the Seerah (the biography of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) and history departments.

Ustadha Noura Fact Sheet:

Full Name: Noura Mohammed Shamma
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, USA
Places Lived: Cincinnati (Ohio, USA), Indianapolis and Bloomington (Indiana, USA), Milan (Italy), Cairo (Egypt), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Madrid (Spain), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), San Jose (California)
Current Residence: Amman
Ethnicity: Mixed, American Egyptian
Languages: English (native); Arabic (fluent); Spanish (intermediate)
College Education: BS in Elementary Education, University of Cincinnati (1993); MA in Arabic, Indiana University (1995); completed coursework for PhD in Islamic thought at ISTAC (International Islamic University), Malaysia (1998)
Previous Work Experience: Teacher, Granada Islamic School; Textbook Reviewer/Editor, Foundation for the Advancement and Development of Education and Learning (FADEL); Teacher/Curriculum Developer, International Academy of Cincinnati; Graduate Teacher Assistant, Indiana University
Favorite Books: After the Qur'an: al-Shifa by Qadi Iyad; children classics in English; books by John Pilger – analysis of contemporary/recent history particularly the "untold story" of the oppressed and disadvantaged
Favorite Hobbies: Singing Nasheeds; Reading; Travel especially to historical places or to beautiful natural environments
Particularly Passionate About: The Sirah; the Prophet alihi salam as a mercy to the worlds; proper Islamic education comprised of Islam, Iman and Ihsan

Islamic Education:
Arabic:
American University in Cairo (Jan–June 1994)
Completed all levels at Qasid Institute (Sept. 2003–June 2005)
Rihlas In Fez, Morocco, llinois, USA, and Madinah al-Munawarah: (August 1998, August 1999, and July 2005)
Maliki and Hanafi fiqh, Aqida, tajweed, tafsir of juz 'amma, al-Ajrumiyya, Shamail al-Tirmidhi and general ijazah in Madinah al-Munawarah, and Wives of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace
At Zaytuna Institute: (September 2001–June 2003)
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf: The Vision of Islam and 17 Benefits of Tribulation by Shaykh al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam
Shaykh Salek bin Siddna: Maliki fiqh books on purification, prayer, and fasting; given an ijaza in Maharim al-Lisan and Birr al-Waliden by Shaykh Muhammad Mawlud al-Shinqiti; sections from al-Shifa by Qadi Iyad;
Shaykh Muhammad al-Yacoubi, received ijaza in Islamic history from Khulafa al-Rashidun until middle of Abbassid times
Dr. Thomas Cleary, Sun Tzu's The Art of War
Amman, Jordan: (since Jan. 2004)
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani: all of Nur al-Idah with commentary from Maraqi al-Falah; chapters on Ibadat from Fath Bab al-'Inayah, Jawharat al-Tawhid with the commentary by al-Sawi
Shaykh Sohail Hanif: Maraqi al-Saadat
Shaykh Ali Hani: Science of Qur'an from Itqan al-Burhan fe Ulum al-Qur'an by Shaykh Fadl Hasan Abbas
Shaykh Ahmad Snobar: Science of Hadith.
Shaykh Akram Abdul Wahab: Sharh al-Waraqat; Sharh al-Bajuri ala Jawhart al-Tawheed with ijazah
Shaykh Ashraf Muneeb: fiqh of Inheritance, level one; Fiqh al-Muamalat from Quduri (currently); al-Hadiya al-Ala'iyyah (just began)

Courses Taught:

Summer 2010 Courses

Spring 2010 Courses

Winter 2010 Courses

The Dawn of Prophethood

Fall 2009 Courses

Summer 2009 Courses

Spring 2009 Courses

Other Courses Previously Taught

HST111: Women & Men Around the Messenger

What Her Students Say:

“Sr Noura is a wonderful lady. She took the time to make certain she incorporated the students questions into our classroom curriculum. There is such caring and knowledge- a love of what she teaches. That definitely reflects her capacity to teach so well. I would cry tears of fullness, after each class. It was a perfect experience.”
Tami Fisk
Wholesale Flower Sales, Conway, USA

“Masha'Allah Ustadha Noura is just amazing, she teaches with such muhaba and puts life into her class. It's not a lecture, but a beautiful story told.”
Rozina Shabbir
Charity Fundraiser, High Wycombe, UK

“Ustadha Noura is great, great, great! I love her teaching style and wish she taught more courses. She spoke so movingly in the lessons I was often moved to tears and were fellow students. She really motivates and the class was a beautiful experience. This course was phenomenal and I have already recommended it to others. It was so moving and done beautifully. The lessons and how the information was presented was great. This course actually far exceeded my expectations. I just kind of took it as an extra not planning on devoting too much effort, but I ended up really focusing alot on it, due of course to Ustadha Noura, alhamdulillah.”
Umm Thabit Ahmed
Homemaker, Seattle, USA

“I love Us. Noura's presentation -not just the theoretical part, but also the emotional and spiritual aspect. SubhanAllah! All I can say is that Us. Noura is so awesome that I am overwhelmed by tears everytime I listen to her classes, either live or recorded. I ALWAYS enjoy her class/lessons.”
Gazala Rahman
Physician/homemaker, Houston, USA

“This is the first time I'm studied with Ustadha Noura, I can tell she is an educator by training. She did such a great job of bringing life to these people and making the history relevant to today's world. While listening to her lectures, she made me laugh, she made me cry as I was drawn into the lives of these exceptional people. She is also very knowledgeable and is able to convey these knowledge in an effortless fashion.”
Helen Kosobayashi
Psychologist, Minneapolis, USA

“Ustadha Noura is an excellent teacher, mashaAllah.”
Aisha Othman
Attorney, Oceanside, USA

“The recordings were so powerful it felt like every time I sat down to learn that I was actually physically learning in one of the Islamic Centers of Knowledge in the Middle East. I would forget I was sitting at a computer in North America.”
Zachary Dupont
Care taker, Youbou, Canada

“Sister Noura was focused, very clear, and totally informed.”
Anees Masood
Housewife/Mother, Pittsford, USA

“Ustadah Noura Shamma takes you to this beautiful journey and you feel as if you are part of that period. Her voice is so rich and soothing that I would listen to the recording again and again. Masha Allah.”
Shehla Altaf
Home maker /Student, Marietta, USA

“I thought it was amazing how Ustadha Noura was able to connect everything together. She taught me news ways to think about worshiping and the 5 pillars of Islam.”
Tara Genovese
Chicago, USA

“The Ustadhah was conducted herself professionally and skillfully imparted knowledge. This formal professionalism did not negate the welcoming warmth and encouragement she afforded to all the students... All I can say is well done sunnipath for employing teachers of this calibre.”
Abdurahman Dollie
Teacher, Cape Town, South Africa

“Ustadha Noura is an excellent teacher who has tremendous love and enthusiasm for the Prophet (Sall Allahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and learning about his life. She passes this on to her students. She is also an excellent narrator- bringing life to the words and not just reading.”
Talut Dawood
Sales Associate, Centertown, USA

“MashaAllah ustadha Noura did an excellent job teaching about the companions.”
Rima Dabdoub
Student, Cincinnati, USA

“She was very thorough, and took time to explain any concerns of the students.”
Luqman Ellahi
Test Engineer, Ronkonkoma, USA

“Ustada Noura is great mashAllah. The sahaba became more real for me, not just people you read about in a book.”
Umm Halima Ackroyd
Housewife/Parent, Amman, Jordan

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