Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman is an educator, social entrepreneur, and prison abolitionist. He received an Islamic studies diploma in Saudi Arabia from Al Baseerah International Institute and licensure in Islamic theology and classical Arabic from various scholars, including Mufti Yusuf Mullan and Dr. Suheil Laher. He holds a Master’s in Global Interreligious Leadership from Andover Newton Theological School and is currently a doctoral candidate for Transformational Leadership at Boston University’s School of Theology.

Imam Taymullah began his career as a chaplain for the Massachusetts Department of Correction, where he spent a decade teaching and counseling system-affected Muslims. In addition, he was the first paid Muslim chaplain at Harvard University, where he taught Islamic Polity at the Divinity School and functioned as theological field education supervisor for graduate students. Recruited by city officials, Imam Taymullah served as educator liaison for New England high schools, where he instructed teachers in culturally responsive communication. He has taught various courses at Tufts University, Hellenic Holy Cross, and Northeastern University.

Viewing social justice advocacy as a religious obligation, Imam Taymullah has led successful community campaigns that included criminal justice reforms and housing renewal initiatives. He is the founder of Spentem, an educational program that uses restorative practices by pairing ex-convicted felons as educators for at-risk and court-involved youth.

Imam Taymullah is currently a senior educator in Islamic and Interreligious Studies at Hebrew College. His interests include teaching Restorative Islamic Theology and advocating for prison abolition through holistic programming. He is the author of 44 Ways to Manhood and the upcoming memoir, American Imam.