About the Chaplain
Suheil Laher, known within the MSA as Imam Suheil, was born and raised in sunny Zimbabwe, and came to MIT as a transfer student in the fall of 1990, graduating with a SB (Course 6-1) in 1993. He has been in the Boston area since, apart from a year in West Virginia (where he got his MS). Imam Suheil was officially appointed Muslim Chaplain at MIT in 1998. While continuing to pursue religious knowledge, he also worked in the software field. His traditional Islamic study had begun in childhood with memorization of the Qur’an, and in time he has received several ijazahs (traditional authorizations to transmit sacred knowledge). In 2007, Imam Suheil completed an MA in Religious Studies from Boston University, after which he resigned from his software job to pursue a PhD at Harvard in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. He now lives in the southern suburbs of Boston with his wife and two children. He also enjoys reading mystery books and short stories when he gets the time.
He also runs a website, DewDropsWeb, which aims to “provide a few drops of beneficial information or spiritual nourishment”.
What He Does
Imam Suheil’s role is to facilitate the understanding and practice of Islam on campus. This includes responsibility for Jumu’ah (Friday) sermon prayers, and offering (non-credit) classes on various topics in Islam.
If you are not a Muslim, but need some information or advice relating in any way to Islam, and/or to pursue dialogue or fruitful cooperation, you are very welcome to contact him.
If you are a Muslim on campus (regardless of your school of thought within Islam), he is here to help you!
Feel free to contact him about anything and everything relating to being a Muslim on campus, including:
- Issues involving the MIT Administration, such as an official letter to the Housing Office in support of single-sex housing requests
- Religious advice (such as fiqh questions) concerning a practical situation in your life (anything from belief, purity and prayer to food, dress and marriage)
- Someone to talk to about a moral, ethical or emotional issue that is bothering you
- Suggestions for Islamic educational or other programs you feel are needed within the MIT Muslim community
For more information, you can contact Imam Suheil via e-mail.
