Hamza Yusuf (born Mark Hanson; 1958)[4] is an American Islamic scholar, neo-traditionalist,[5][6][2][7] and co-founder of Zaytuna College.

[33] Yusuf became fluent in the Arabic language and also learned Qur'anic recitation (tajwid), rhetoric, poetry, law (fiqha) and theology (aqidah) among other classical Islamic disciplines.

[33] In 1984, Yusuf formally disassociated himself from as-Sufi's teachings and moved in a different intellectual direction, having been influenced by a number of Mauritanian scholars residing in the Emirates.

[36] In Mauritania he developed his most lasting and powerful relationship with Islamic scholar Sidi Muhammad Ould Fahfu al-Massumi, known as Murabit al-Hajj.

His dissertation was titled, "The Normative Islamic Tradition in North and West Africa: A Case Study of Transmission of Authority and Distillation of Knowledge in Ibn Ashir’s Al-Murshid al-Mu’in (The Helpful Guide)."

[37] He and other colleagues founded the Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, California, United States, in 1996,[1] dedicated to the revival of traditional study methods and the sciences of Islam.

"[48] Yusuf is one of the signatories[49] of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders calling for peace and understanding.

Yusuf was also one of the signatories of an open letter to former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi that sought to refute the principles promoted by the terrorist organization.

[50][non-primary source needed] Hamza Yusuf has been involved in controversies in recent years on issues of race, politics, and the Arab revolutions, including as a result of his support for the Abraham Accords and UAE government, and for "positing blame on the Palestinians for their suffering".

[24][54] Zaid Shakir, co-fouder of Zaytuna College, defended Yusuf, writing that "I can say with absolute confidence that there is not a racist bone in Shaykh Hamza’s body.