Imam Safwan believes in leading the community through service. As such, he has been an active leader in the Connecticut area for a decade, having previously served as an Imam at the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center and as the Youth Coordinator at the Islamic Center of Connecticut. He currently serves as the Chaplain for the Department of Corrections as well as the University of Hartford.

Imam Safwan completed his Arabic studies with honors at Bayyinah Institute in under a year, then went on to further his training in traditional Islamic studies at Qalam Seminary. He holds a Master’s degree in Religious Studies and Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. With a deep commitment to both academic and traditional learning, Imam Safwan continues to pursue ijāzāt (classical certifications) in various sacred sciences. He brings a thoughtful blend of classical learning and contemporary insight, aiming to make Islamic teachings accessible and deeply relevant to today’s world.