Shaykh Ismael Essa

Shaykh Ismael Essa serves as the Lead Imam & Director of Tarteel Academy at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton. He is an Al-Azhar graduate with specialization in Qur'anic Sciences and the Ten Recitations, and holds many Ijazaat with connected Sanad (chain of transmission) to the Prophet (ﷺ) for both reciting and teaching the Qur'an in its ten modes.

Shaykh Ismael began leading Taraweeh at the age of 13 and was one of the youngest Imams at Masjid Amr ibn al-As. He led Taraweeh at Masjid Al-Birr in the UK from 2003 to 2011, then moved to the U.S. in 2012 to serve as Taraweeh Imam and Director of Qur'an Studies at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ) from 2012 to 2018.

He has taught Tajweed, Qira'at, and Qur'anic Sciences at various Masajid and institutions in Egypt, the U.K., and Ireland. He has won several Qur'an competitions both locally and internationally, and has been part of different Qur'an conferences and competitions.

Under his guidance, Tarteel Academy has grown to serve students of all ages and backgrounds, providing comprehensive Qur'anic education rooted in traditional scholarship. He is dedicated to making the Book of Allah accessible to everyone in our community, regardless of their starting point in their Qur'anic journey.