Yaqub Mirza

M. Yaqub Mirza was a Herndon, Virginia-based businessman and Islamic activist.

Background

Muhammad Yaqub Mirza held a MSc from the University of Karachi, and a PhD in Physics and M.A. in Teaching Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. His doctoral thesis was entitled Multiphoton Ionization of Cesium Through Resonant Dissociative States of Cs2 and his thesis advisor was Carl B. Collins.
Mirza was a co-founder of the International Institute of Islamic Thought. Mirza was a co-founder and trustee of Amana Mutual Funds Trust, a Bellingham, Washington-based mutual fund that operates in accordance with Sharia financial principles. From 1998 until his death in late 2025, he was President and CEO of Sterling Management Group, Inc.

Lecturing career

Mirza lectures on Islamic finance and Entrepreneurship and has spoken at several institutions.

Legal issues and political activity

In 2002, Mirza's offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into money laundering and terrorism, although Mirza was not charged with any crime as a result of this.
Mirza and Sterling Group were active financial supporters of the Republican party in Virginia.