Burhan Academy opened its doors to the Elgin community Wednesday to show off the new school and share its mission.
“It’s my absolute pleasure and privilege to welcome you to Burhan Academy,” founder and president Mufti Yasir Nadeem said. “Today marks an important occasion as we come together not only as neighbors but as partners in a shared mission in the pursuit of knowledge, excellence and community building.”
An Islamic group purchased the former Elgin Academy at 350 Park St. last year and opened the new K-12 school in September. Elgin Academy closed in 2024 after a 185-year legacy.
Burhan Academy Administrator Kiran Ansari said the school enrolled 91 students within its first four months of opening. Next year they’ll have nearly 245, she said.
While it is offering just preschool to third-grade classes right now, it will be adding grades each year, Ansari said.
Burhan Academy is a faith-based school guided by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. A foundation of Islam is the transformative power of education, Nadeem said.
“We believe education is not just about acquiring facts but about nurturing individuals with integrity, purpose and a sense of service to others,” he said. (Muhammad’s) legacy of wisdom and compassion is the guiding light behind our mission.”
Syed Shah’s 6-year-old daughter, Kashas, started first grade in November. She transferred from Fox Meadow Elementary School in South Elgin.
“We absolutely love Fox Meadow,” Shah said. But the academy offered “other things we wanted for our kid. This just aligned a little more with our needs. In addition to academics, we wanted to expose our kid to theology.”
One big benefit is the focus on their religious faith, which has traditions — like Ramadan — that are hard for children to explain to those who don’t practice them, Shah said. It was something he experienced when he went to public schools in Milwaukee, especially after 9/11, he said.
“I felt at times there were situations where I wished my teachers were a little more educated on different cultures and religions,” Shah said.
The academy is Islamic, but “we open our arms to all,” Nadeem said. “We are not just a school for one community. We are a school for all who seek knowledge, character and a sense of belonging.
“We believe that through understanding and dialogue we become stronger together,” he said. “Our doors will always remain open to those who share our passion for education and personal growth.”
Nadeem added that the academy is grateful for the support it’s received from neighbors and city leaders. “Elgin has always been a city that values education and progress. We are honored to contribute to that tradition,” he said.
Burhan Academy officials also honored Elgin Academy’s history and tradition, he said.
“We stand on the shoulders of a great legacy. For more than 180 years, Elgin Academy was a beacon in the city, shaping minds, strengthening values and serving as a pillar of the community,” Nadeem said. “Although its chapter has come to a close, its thread of academic vigor and character development lives on in Burhan Academy.”
The campus has been a blessing for Burhan Academy, he said. The $3.7 million sale included the buildings, equipment, desks, chairs and furnishings, meaning Burhan just had to move in, he said.
Shah said he is happy to see the school honoring Elgin Academy.
“I love the fact this administration has kept some of the Elgin Academy pictures and accolades,” he said. “I look at the campus, and it’s a beautiful place. I would hate for someone to think that legacy is being replaced. That legacy is being celebrated.”
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
