CICW President
Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza
(1946–2025)
“A candle does not lose its light by lighting another candle. Share what you know with others”- Dr. Yaqub Mirza
DR. M. YAQUB MIRZA was founder and President of the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University and served as a beacon of light for those who knew him and worked with him throughout his lifetime. His goal was to serve God through CICW, by creating a vehicle for innovation and growth in the Muslim Community. CICW is in a long list of organizations that Dr. Yaqub founded, including Sterling Management Group, Inc., which negotiates mergers, acquisitions, and sales of various-sized companies located in different parts of the world.
In addition to being a leader in founding and developing CICW and SMG, Dr. Mirza had more than forty years of experience in stock investments and portfolio management. His work in finance led to the founding of Amana Mutual Funds with current assets over $8 billion. He also served on the Board of University Islamic Financial Corporation (UIF). Under Dr. Yaqub’s leadership, CICW, together with UIF, AMANA and Sterling Charitable, began the Imams Generational Scholarship Fund in 2021 to serve the needs of the children of Imams. Over $340,000 has been awarded.
In addition to being an entrepreneur and leader in the world of Islamic non-profits and Islamic finance, Dr. Yaqub was a celebrated author, mentor and teacher. In 2014, he published his first book, Five Pillars of Prosperity: Essentials of Faith-Based Wealth Building, through White Cloud Press. In 2025, CICW published the 2nd revised edition with several updates. In it, Dr. Yaqub wrote “Muslims, along with all people of faith, must invent and innovate… It is always safe to assume not that the old way is wrong but that there may be a better way (p. 11). Dr. Yaqub’s first book demonstrated his passion for education and interfaith work, which he developed in his next book, Heavenly Returns: What the Abrahamic Faiths Teach us about Financial and Spiritual Well-Being, co-authored with Gary Moore and first published in 2022 and reprinted in 2025.
Dr. Mirza’s love of teaching and learning stemmed from having received a MSc from the University of Karachi (1969), a PhD in Physics (1974) and an MA in Teaching Science (1975) from the University of Texas at Dallas. Through CICW, Dr. Mirza supported and worked with numerous educational institutions from elementary to university, through research grants and programs for academics and by supporting Hajj VR and Prophetic Pedagogy training. He extended these efforts by serving on the boards of numerous academic institutions and education focused non-profits, including the International Advisory Council of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) and International Islamic University of Malaysia. He was a member of the Board of Advisors, Byrd School of Business, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. In addition, he was a member of the Finance Committee and Chairman of the Investment and Endowment Committee of Shenandoah University. He was also a member of the Council of Advisors, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University. To solidify his support of academics and philanthropy, Dr. Mirza funded a new initiative through CICW in 2025 with Ingrid Mattson at Huron University to promote research on best practices related to Zakat or charitable giving.
Throughout his life, Dr. Mirza received numerous awards and much recognition for his work in Islamic finance, entrepreneurship and community service, including the 2002 Entrepreneur Award by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (San Jose, California); 2006 and then 2017 Award Recipient – Byrd Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series, Byrd School of Business at Shenandoah University; 2012 Recognition Award for Community Service by the American Muslim Alliance; 2013 Award from the Muslim American Coalition Council and Public Affairs Council and the ISNA Community Service Award 2015. The Board of Trustees, Shenandoah University recognized Dr. Mirza’s multiple contributions with a “Resolution of Appreciation” in October 2018. These awards reflect the generosity of Dr. Mirza in sharing his wealth of knowledge, resources and time to solutions oriented thought leadership.
Dr. Mirza passed away on December 3rd, 2025 and was laid to rest the following day next to his good friend and colleague, Dr. Jamal Barzinji in Sterling, Virginia. Dr. Mirza is survived by his wife of 50 years, Tanveer Mirza, and his children, Fatima Mirza, Younus Mirza, Asma Mirza and Sana Mirza. We pray that Allah swt allow us to continue his work through the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World and spread his teachings as a light for all.
DR. M. YAQUB MIRZA was founder and President of the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University and served as a beacon of light for those who knew him and worked with him throughout his lifetime. His goal was to serve God through CICW, by creating a vehicle for innovation and growth in the Muslim Community. CICW is in a long list of organizations that Dr. Yaqub founded, including Sterling Management Group, Inc., which negotiates mergers, acquisitions, and sales of various-sized companies located in different parts of the world.
In addition to being a leader in founding and developing CICW and SMG, Dr. Mirza had more than forty years of experience in stock investments and portfolio management. His work in finance led to the founding of Amana Mutual Funds with current assets over $8 billion. He also served on the Board of University Islamic Financial Corporation (UIF). Under Dr. Yaqub’s leadership, CICW, together with UIF, AMANA and Sterling Charitable, began the Imams Generational Scholarship Fund in 2021 to serve the needs of the children of Imams. Over $340,000 has been awarded.
In addition to being an entrepreneur and leader in the world of Islamic non-profits and Islamic finance, Dr. Yaqub was a celebrated author, mentor and teacher. In 2014, he published his first book, Five Pillars of Prosperity: Essentials of Faith-Based Wealth Building, through White Cloud Press. In 2025, CICW published the 2nd revised edition with several updates. In it, Dr. Yaqub wrote “Muslims, along with all people of faith, must invent and innovate… It is always safe to assume not that the old way is wrong but that there may be a better way (p. 11). Dr. Yaqub’s first book demonstrated his passion for education and interfaith work, which he developed in his next book, Heavenly Returns: What the Abrahamic Faiths Teach us about Financial and Spiritual Well-Being, co-authored with Gary Moore and first published in 2022 and reprinted in 2025.
Dr. Mirza’s love of teaching and learning stemmed from having received a MSc from the University of Karachi (1969), a PhD in Physics (1974) and an MA in Teaching Science (1975) from the University of Texas at Dallas. Through CICW, Dr. Mirza supported and worked with numerous educational institutions from elementary to university, through research grants and programs for academics and by supporting Hajj VR and Prophetic Pedagogy training. He extended these efforts by serving on the boards of numerous academic institutions and education focused non-profits, including the International Advisory Council of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) and International Islamic University of Malaysia. He was a member of the Board of Advisors, Byrd School of Business, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. In addition, he was a member of the Finance Committee and Chairman of the Investment and Endowment Committee of Shenandoah University. He was also a member of the Council of Advisors, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University. To solidify his support of academics and philanthropy, Dr. Mirza funded a new initiative through CICW in 2025 with Ingrid Mattson at Huron University to promote research on best practices related to Zakat or charitable giving.
Throughout his life, Dr. Mirza received numerous awards and much recognition for his work in Islamic finance, entrepreneurship and community service, including the 2002 Entrepreneur Award by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (San Jose, California); 2006 and then 2017 Award Recipient – Byrd Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series, Byrd School of Business at Shenandoah University; 2012 Recognition Award for Community Service by the American Muslim Alliance; 2013 Award from the Muslim American Coalition Council and Public Affairs Council and the ISNA Community Service Award 2015. The Board of Trustees, Shenandoah University recognized Dr. Mirza’s multiple contributions with a “Resolution of Appreciation” in October 2018. These awards reflect the generosity of Dr. Mirza in sharing his wealth of knowledge, resources and time to solutions oriented thought leadership.
Dr. Mirza passed away on December 3rd, 2025 and was laid to rest the following day next to his good friend and colleague, Dr. Jamal Barzinji in Sterling, Virginia. Dr. Mirza is survived by his wife of 50 years, Tanveer Mirza, and his children, Fatima Mirza, Younus Mirza, Asma Mirza and Sana Mirza. We pray that Allah swt allow us to continue his work through the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World and spread his teachings as a light for all.