Great Revelations Academy is a private, Islamic K-12 school located in Dearborn, Michigan that follows a curriculum operated by the Al-Mabarrat Islamic organization. ¹ The group’s Islam-based curriculum includes daily Islamic studies, Arabic language courses, ² and other courses teaching application of the Qur’an in students’ everyday lives. ³

Great Revelations Academy co-founder and executive director Fouad Baydoun ⁴ told Arab American News in 2017 that the school was established to instruct in the teachings of the late Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. ⁵ Fadallah was a radical Islamic cleric who died in 2010 and was accused of being responsible for the October 1983 barracks bombing that killed 241 American military personnel in Beirut, Lebanon. ⁶ It was also alleged that Fadallah inspired the founders of the Lebanon-based Islamist terrorist organization Hezbollah. ⁷

History and Leadership

Great Revelations Academy was initially formed in 2011, ⁸ while first being announced in 2012 by the Al-Mabarrat Charitable Organization. ⁹ That same year, Great Revelations Academy received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. ¹⁰ In 2015, the Academy officially launched to the public. ⁵

Fouad Baydoun is a co-founder and director of the Great Revelations Academy as of 2024. ⁴ Baydoun told Arab American News in 2017 that Al-Mabarrat Charitable Organization established the academy to teach the insights of Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. ⁵ Fadlallah was a radical Islamic cleric who allegedly inspired the founders of the Lebanon-based Islamic terror group Hezbollah, ⁷ supported the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and promoted the doctrine of an Islamic state in Lebanon. ¹¹ The United States considers Fadlallah to be responsible for the October 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that killed 241 American military personnel. ⁶

Jamal Kassir is the president of Great Revelations Academy as of 2024. ⁴

Activities and Funding

Great Revelations Academy is a private Islamic K-12 school located in Dearborn, Michigan. Primarily operated by the Al-Mabarrat Islamic organization, the Academy implements an Islam-based curriculum it claims falls in line with the state of Michigan’s Common Core standards. ¹

In 2017, both the co-founder of the Academy, Fouad Baydoun, and its principal, Sheila Bazzi-Charara, were interviewed by the Arab American News and claimed the school’s curriculum was inspired by, and instructs in the teachings of the late Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, a radical Islamic cleric who died in 2010 and was allegedly the inspiration behind the founders of the Lebanese Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah. ^{5 12}

Great Revelations Academy’s curriculum claims to be incorporate Islamic principles into its daily course instructions which includes Islamic studies and Arabic language courses. ^{2 3} The academy also claims to provide and uphold Islamic principles and values for all students and its curriculum includes materials that teach the Qur’an through application to daily life. ^{13 3}

Great Revelations Academy has previously hosted events organized by Islamist girl scout group the Al-Mustapha Girl Scouts. ¹⁴

Funding

Great Revelations Academy receives its funding from tuition and program services, grants, and donations. In 2022, Great Revelations Academy reported revenue of $1,872,716 and expenses of $1,885,035. In 2021, the academy reported revenue of $1,455,717 and expenses of $1,351,487. ¹⁵

In 2022, Great Revelations Academy received $50,000 from the Turfah Foundation. ¹⁶

1. “Vision Statement.” Great Revelations Academy. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://greatrevelations.org/en/about/vision-statement/.
2. “Overview.” Great Revelations Academy. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://greatrevelations.org/en/about/overview/.
3. “Educational Academic Goals, Objectives, Measures & Strategies Research.” Great Revelations Academy. Accessed august 31, 2024. https://greatrevelations.org/en/goals/.
4. “Great Revelations Academy.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/451299650/202303179349308195/full.
5. “Great Revelations Academy exceeds state standards.” Arab American News. Posted April 21, 2017. Accessed August31, 2024. https://arabamericannews.com/2017/04/21/great-revelations-academy-exceeds-state-standards/.
6. Mostyn, Trevor. “Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah obituary.” July 5, 2010. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/05/grand-ayatollah-mohammed-hussein-fadlallah.
7. Cambanis, Thanassis. “Grand Ayatollah Fadlallah, Shiite Cleric, Dies at 75.” New York Times. July 4, 2010. Accessed via Web Archive August 31, 2024. https://archive.ph/eDRIs.
8. “Great Revelations Academy.” CauseIQ. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/great-revelations-academy,451299650/.
9. “Al-Mabarrat announces new ‘Great Revelations Academy’.” Arab American News. July 21, 2012. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://arabamericannews.com/2012/07/21/Al-Mabarrat-announces-new-Great-Revelations-Academy/.
10. “Determination Letter.” Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service. June 29, 2012. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_45-1299650_GREATREVELATIONSACADEMYINC_12022011_01.tif.
11. Childs, Martin. “Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah: Prominent Shiite cleric who survived several assassination attempts.” The Independent. July 9, 2010. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/grand-ayatollah-mohammed-hussein-fadlallah-prominent-shiite-cleric-who-survived-several-assassination-attempts-2022106.html.
12. “Iranian Propagandists Infiltrate US Education System.” Middle East Forum. April 15, 2019. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/58265/iranian-propagandists-infiltrate-us-education.
13. “Mission Statement.” Great Revelations Academy. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://greatrevelations.org/en/about/mission/.
14. Photos&video: From Al-Mustapha Scouts Annual Takleef Celebration in Dearborn.” Dearborn.org. February 27, 2023. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.dearborn.org/preview/photosvideo-from-al-mustapha-scouts-annual-takleef-celebration-24246.
15. “Great Revelations Academy.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/451299650/202303179349308195/full.
16. “Great Revelations Academy.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 31, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/great-revelations-academy,451299650/.