School History

Reviving Legacy. Reclaiming Excellence. Reimagining the Future.

Muhammad Preparatory Academy, rooted in the heart of the Washington Metropolitan Region, was born from both necessity and vision, a response to the enduring void left after the closure of Sister Clara Muhammad School more than two decades ago. That school, once a beacon of educational and spiritual empowerment for African American Muslims, had long stood as a model of self-determination, community upliftment, and academic rigor grounded in faith. Its absence echoed deeply through generations seeking to reconcile Islamic values with scholastic excellence in an environment that affirmed both their faith and cultural identity.

From that silence rose a vision, not merely to restore what once was, but to reimagine what could be. Muhammad Preparatory Academy emerged as the realization of that vision: a world-class primary and secondary Islamic academy dedicated to excellence, character, and service. Its founding represents not just an institution, but a movement, a continuation of the legacy and founding principles of the Clara Muhammad model, deeply rooted in prophetic tradition, communal responsibility, and educational liberation. Led by visionary educators and community leaders, the founders of Muhammad Prep have served as catalysts for revival, intentionally weaving together the threads of academic excellence, community empowerment, and Islamic spiritual development. Their work has focused on building authentic partnerships, uplifting the African American Muslim community, and establishing a sustainable ecosystem that bridges home, school, masjid, and society.

The Academy is more than a school; it is the first phase of a comprehensive vision to establish an integrated center of learning, worship, and community development. With the school at its heart, Muhammad Prep will anchor a future campus that includes a masjid, civic spaces, and holistic services designed to nurture the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual well-being of its people. This is the new frontier of Islamic education in America. Bold. Rooted. Aspirational.
Muhammad Preparatory Academy is not just reviving history; it is making it.