Sheikh Mateen Adam Charbonneau

Sheikh Mateen Charbonneau is of French-Canadian descent. He was born in 1982 in Sumter, South Carolina, USA to a Christian family, and later chose to convert to Shi’a Islam in 1999 at the age of 17, having studied both faiths. He 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 and received his ‘amama (turban) from the esteemed marja’ Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Taqi al-Modaressi in 2018. He earned a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies, has filmed many documentaries about his journey to Islam, authored several books, taught in the Islamic Seminary (Howza), and is the founder of the nonprofit organization 2^nd Chance Books (2014). He has lectured throughout the United States and various other countries spreading the message of Ahl ul Bayt (as). Since 2022 he has been residing in Antalya, Türkiye where he is the resident scholar of the local community and continuing his work with 2^nd Chance Books.

Converted to Shia Islam on July 2^nd 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
Started studying Islamic Seminary classes (Howza) in March 2013 at Imam Ali Center in Springfield, Virginia and also studied abroad in Najaf al-Ashraf and Karbala. He currently is continuing higher studies. His teachers include Sheikh Mustafa Akhound, Sheikh Mirza Abbas Shamsudin, Sheikh Saed Ali Kulayni , Sheikh Muhammad BagherNejad, Sayed Ibn Abbas Naqvi, Sheikh Mohammad Jafar Danesh, Sayed Baqir Imrani, Sayed Raad al-Alawi, Sayed Muhammad Baqir Shirazi, Sayed Muhammad Baqir Qazwini, Sayed Murtadha Modarresi, Sayed Mohsen Modarresi, Sayed Sajjad Modarresi, Sheikh Abul Hassan Yemaani, Sheikh Haani al-Hakim and Sayyid Anvar Sajadi.
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, Esteemed Women of Islam, 450 Questions and Answers About Shia Islam Answered, and Pearls from the Ocean of Knowledge: Advice from the ‘Ulema.
Founded a nonprofit organization to send free books to prisoners in March 2014 entitled; 2^nd Chance Books has sent 24,000 Shia books inside the prisons throughout the country and has over 3,000 American Shia converts participating.
Filmed two documentaries for Ahlulbayt TV one which is entitled Faith Behind Bars
Achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies
Had articles about my life published in magazines in America, Iran, China and Azerbaijan
Was crowned with the turban from the hand of Sheikh Ahmad al-Haeri on the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil (ra) / Day of Arafat in 2016
Filmed an Autism Awareness workshop for Muslim communities
2017 started teaching online classes for Imam Sadiq Howza
Was crowned with the turban from the respected and honorable marja’ Ayatollah Sayed Muhammad Taqi Modaressi on the 3^rdof Shabaan / the birth anniversary of Imam Sajjad (as) in the Holy city of Karbala, Iraq 2018
Was certified at the 17th annual conference of Shia scholars of N. America and Canada for Mediation training by the Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS)
2019 Faculty Member of John the Martyr Seminary of Karbala