Meet The Imam
Imam Basil grew up in the UAE and the Bay Area. He completed his memorization of the Quran at the age of 14. Later, he completed his study of the ten canonical qirā’āt of the Quran and received authorization (ijāza) to transmit and teach them at Recite with Love. He completed BAs in Economics and Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 2019 and worked full-time as an economist in the antitrust litigation industry.
He has pursued higher Islamic education for over five years and is currently an ‘Alimiyyah student at Qalam Institute in Dallas. He has studied Tafsīr, Hadith, Fiqh (Shāfi’ī and Hanafī), Usul al-Fiqh, ‘Aqīda, Tajwīd, ‘Ulum al-Qur’an and Arabic Literature. He is also conducting research and writing on various topics within Quranic Studies and Tafsīr under the guidance of his teachers. He recently published a short book titled “Within its Depths: How the Canonical Recitations Affect the Meaning of the Qur’an.”
Ask the Imam
In an effort to help serve our community’s needs, we have office hours to meet with our Imam in person or online. You can set up a meeting with Imam Basil Farooq using this link.
Please keep in mind that the imam provides Islamic guidance and does not provide mental health, legal, financial or professional counseling.
Additionally, any zakat inquiries should be directed to the Zakat office ([email protected]), and the Imam will not be able to assist regarding those during his office hours.
If you would like to submit a question for our Imam online, please do so using the form below.
Questions will be received directly and kept confidential. Responses will be shared privately. You may include your name or remain anonymous.
Osman Ghafoor has been a dedicated member of the WVMA community for over a decade. His journey in community service began long before his move to Saratoga, during his 15 years in Santa Clara, he played an active role at the Muslim Community Association (MCA). There, he helped re-establish Cub Scouts Pack 399 and served as Cubmaster. Thanks to thoughtful succession planning, the pack continues to thrive today and laid the foundation for the creation of a Boy Scouts Troop. Osman also spent many years volunteering in the MCA Soccer program, helping foster a sense of teamwork and belonging among youth and families.
At WVMA, Osman has served in multiple leadership roles, including on the Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees, and most recently as President. In each role, he has brought a steady commitment to strengthening the organization’s infrastructure, deepening community engagement, and nurturing a welcoming environment for all.
Professionally, Osman is a Vice President at a private equity firm, where he leads with strategic insight and a collaborative mindset. He brings these same qualities to his work at WVMA, believing that strong institutions are built through vision, humility, and collective effort.
Osman is passionate about creating spaces where families can grow spiritually, socially, and emotionally. He sees WVMA not just as a masjid, but as a hub for lifelong learning, service, and connection. His leadership is grounded in the belief that when we serve with sincerity and unity, we build a legacy that benefits generations to come.
