Dr. Hatem Al-Haj was born in Cairo, Egypt. He began seeking knowledge in Alexandria with the scholars there. After receiving his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B., CH.B.) with honors from Alexandria University Medical School, he moved to the United States. He then became board certificated in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Hatem also received his Master of Arts in Islamic law from the American Open University (summa cum laude), and his PhD in Comparative Fiqh from al-Jinan University, Tripoli, Lebanon (summa cum laude).
Dr. Hatem currently is the Dean of the College of Islamic Studies (English) at Mishkah University as well as an attending pediatrician. He is a senior member of the Permanent Fatwa Committee of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America, the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of Minnesota, and the North American Imam Federation. He also founded the “Building Blocks of Islam” and is currently its president.