Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau

Joshua Charbonneau is an American Muslim. He was born in 1982 in Sumter, South Carolina. He is of French Canadian and American descent. He was born into a Christian family, and later chose to revert to Shi’a Islam at the age of 17, having studied both faiths. After reverting to Islam he chose the name Mateen which in Arabic means strong, firm and unshakable. His first language is English and he also learned Quranic Arabic. At age 26 he moved to Washington, DC area and has been an active part of the Muslim community. Now he is still continuing higher studies.
• Converted to Shia Islam on July 2nd 1999 at the age of 17
• Learned Quranic Arabic in the year 2000
• Independently studied Islamic books full time from the year 1999-2007
• Filmed a documentary for al-Anwar Hussain TV entitled The Journey of the Spirit in 2011
• Authored several books entitled; The Suffering of the Ahl ul Bayt and their Followers (Shia) throughout History, Christians who defended and died for Prophet Muhammad and his Family (English, Spanish, French), Mystery of the Shia, A Study Guide for Logic, an extensive book of narrations entitled Prophetic Gems, A Commentary to the Faith of Shia Islam (Aqaed Imamiyya) of Allama Muzaffar, Recalling the Sacrifices of Karbala and Esteemed Women of Islam, Pearls from the Ocean of Knowledge,
• Started studying Islamic Seminary classes (Howza) in March 2013 at Imam Ali Center in Springfield, Virginia and studied abroad in Najaf al-Ashraf and Karbala. His teachers include Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Sheikh Mirza Abbas Shamsudin, Sheikh Saed Ali Kulayni , Sheikh Muhammad BagherNejad, Sayyid Ibn Abbas Naqvi, Sheikh Mohammad Jafar Danesh, Sayyid Baqir Imrani, Sayyid Raad al-Alawi, Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Shirazi, Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Qazwini, Sayyid Mohsen al-Modarresi, Sayyid Sajjad al-Modarresi, Sayyid Sadeq al-Modarresi, Sheikh Abul Hassan Yemaani, Sheikh Haani al-Hakim and Sayyid Anvar Sajadi.
• Co-founded a program to send free books to prisoners in March 2014 entitled; 2nd Chance Books which has sent 30,000 Shia books inside the prisons throughout more than half of the country. The program has over 3,000 American Shia converts participating.
• Filmed a documentary for Ahlulbayt TV entitled Faith Behind Bars
• Had articles about my life published in magazines in America, Iran, China and Azerbaijan
• Achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies
• Received his turban from the hand of Sheikh Ahmad al-Haeri on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil (ra) / Day of Arafat in 2016
• 2017 started teaching for Imam Sadiq Howza founded by Sheikh Muhammad BagherNejad
• Was crowned with the turban from the respected and honorable marja’ Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Modaressi on the 3rd of Shabaan / the birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad (as) in the Holy city of Karbala, Iraq 2018
• 2019 Faculty Member of John the Martyr Howza of Karbala