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Imam Sayed Hassan Qazwini was born in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, in 1964, into a distinguished clerical family known for its deep scholarship and service to Islam. He is the son of Ayatollah Mortadha Al-Qazwini, one of Iraq’s most prominent Shia scholars. Imam Qazwini’s noble lineage traces back forty generations to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

Imam Qazwini dedicated twelve years of rigorous religious study in the Islamic Seminary of Qom, Iran, where he graduated with a strong mastery of Islamic jurisprudence and Qur’anic commentary. His time in Qom refined his scholarship, strengthened his theological foundations, and prepared him for a lifetime of service to faith and community.

In 1992, Imam Qazwini immigrated to the United States, where he emerged as a leading voice for Islam and the Muslim community in North America. A scholar, educator, and bridge-builder, he has dedicated his life to promoting the authentic teachings of Islam and fostering understanding among faiths. Over the past three decades, he has lectured at hundreds of churches, universities, and public institutions—including Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, and Rutgers—where he has worked to dispel misconceptions and encourage interfaith dialogue.

From 1997 to 2015, Imam Qazwini served as the Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in the United States. In recognition of his influence, he was listed in 2011 among The World’s 500 Most Influential Arabs.

Imam Qazwini is also a prolific author. His works include American Crescent: A Muslim Cleric on the Power of His Faith, the Struggle Against Prejudice, and the Future of Islam and America, Handbook of Everyday Islam, Exegesis of the Qur’an: The Criterion (Min Areej al-Qur’an), and The Sun Rises from the West: A Memoir of an Imam in the United States (Al-Shams Tashruq min al-Gharb).

He continues to be one of the most prominent and respected Shia scholars in the West, known for his commitment to justice, education, and interfaith cooperation. Imam Qazwini has been invited by the White House, State Department, and Department of Defense to represent the Muslim community and advise on matters of faith and diversity. In October 2004, he became the first Shia Muslim Imam to deliver the Islamic invocation before the U.S. Congress.

His voice has reached global audiences through appearances on CNN, NPR, BBC, VOA, The New York Times, The Detroit News, and The Detroit Free Press, among others. Imam Qazwini has also represented American Muslims at major international conferences across the world, including in Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Seoul, Skopje, Jakarta, and the Vatican.

Today, as the founder and Imam of the Islamic Institute of America, Imam Qazwini continues to inspire a generation of believers through his scholarship, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the values of faith, unity, and compassion.