Shaykh Hamzah Wald Maqbul was born in Whittier, California, and lived in Southern California until he was ten years old when he moved to Blaine, Washington. He graduated from Blaine High School and went on to attend the University of Washington, where he completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in 2004. During his university studies, Shaykh Hamzah was active on campus, serving as the president of the UW Muslim Students Association. After the events of 9/11, he was listed by the University of Washington as an expert on Islam and was invited to address various groups, ranging from universities to high schools and community groups, as well as engaging with different media platforms including TV, radio, newspapers, and the internet.
After graduating, Shaykh Hamzah pursued traditional Islamic studies in several countries. He studied Arabic in Syria and Egypt, and in Morocco, Mauritania, and the UAE, he focused on the madhhab of Imam Malik, grammar, usul al-hadith, and the qira’ah renditions of Imam Nafi’, Warsh, and Qalun. He continued his studies in Pakistan, where he delved into tafsir, usul al-hadith, hadith, ‘ilm al-rijal, and Hanafi fiqh. His extensive studies culminated in him receiving an Ijazat al-Tadris, which is equivalent to a Master’s degree in Arabic and Islamic studies from Pakistani Islamic seminaries. He also received an unbroken chain of transmission to narrate hadith from books such as the Muwatta’ of Imam Malik and the Sihah al-Sittah (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, and Ibn Majah), as well as the Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar of Imam al-Tahawi.
Upon his return to the United States, Shaykh Hamzah served as the resident scholar at the Thawr Institute, a non-profit religious and educational organization based in Seattle, Washington. He spent five years teaching, giving khutbahs in local masajid, and traveling across America to promote the knowledge and practice of the Sunnah. He has also worked closely with Darul Qasim, CAIR, the Halal Food Standards Alliance of America (HFSAA), and various other non-profit organizations that serve the Muslim community.
Currently, Shaykh Hamzah collaborates with the Imam Ghazali Institute and serves as the resident scholar for Ribāt, a center for learning and remembrance in the Midwest United States. His extensive education and dedication to community service have made him a prominent figure in the American Muslim community.