Dr. Abdullah shares his disturbing experiences with Yaser Birjas and Valley Ranch Islamic Center (VRIC) in this eye-opening testimony. He accuses Yaser Birjas of acting recklessly and incompetently, which destroyed their family and caused trauma for their kids. Resolution attempts were made, but VRIC and Yaser Birjas refused to respond.

He continues his criticism of Yaser Birjas’s counseling services, for being unprofessional and unempathetic, and how Yaser Birjas makes unfounded and dangerous recommendations to the court that could be detrimental, especially when it comes to child custody.

Dr. Abdullah calls for action to stop additional harm, highlighting the dangers of entrusting untrained counselors and the importance of community responsibility as a whole.

Dr. Abdullah, a practicing physician, has come forward to share his grievances regarding Yaser Birjas of Valley Ranch Islamic Center (VRIC). His testimony highlights allegations of incompetence, unethical behavior, and negligence in Yaser Birjas’s role as a counselor. This case raises broader concerns about the standards of accountability and professional ethics in Islamic leadership.

• The Catalyst: Dr. Abdullah sought marriage counseling from Yaser Birjas, expecting professional, Islamic advice. Instead, he claims the counseling worsened his marital issues, leading to contentious divorce proceedings.

• Professional Assumptions: As a well-regarded figure in the Muslim community, Yaser Birjas advertised himself as a marital counselor. His sessions were charged at $150 per hour, later increased to $250 per 50 minutes.

• Dr. Abdullah described Yaser Birjas as dismissive and lacking empathy, spending more time talking than listening during counseling sessions.

• Generic advice, such as “be patient,” failed to address specific marital challenges or provide actionable solutions.

• No tailored guidance on conflict resolution, parenting, or understanding Islamic marital roles.

• Despite stating he would not participate in court proceedings, Yaser Birjas voluntarily testified during Dr. Abdullah’s custody case.

• His testimony, favoring relocation of Dr. Abdullah’s children to a distant city based on “cultural factors,” ignored Islamic jurisprudence and lacked consideration of other critical factors such as:

  • Educational and psychological needs of the children.

  • Financial stability and living conditions in the new city.

  • The abusive and neglectful behavior of the children’s maternal grandparents.

• Yaser Birjas’s recommendations contributed to the possibility of the children being placed in harmful environments.

• Dr. Abdullah later gained full custody due to documented abuse and neglect by the mother, underscoring the dangers of Yaser Birjas’s uninformed advice.

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Dr. Abdullah emphasizes that his experience is not isolated. He reports numerous families adversely affected by similar interactions with Yaser Birjas, prompting calls for:

• Greater accountability in Islamic counseling services.
• Formal qualifications and oversight for Imams acting as counselors.
• Transparent mechanisms for community feedback and complaint resolution.

• For the Community: Reflect on the systems enabling harm and demand reforms to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children.

• For Islamic Leaders: Speak out against injustice and prioritize the well-being of families over personal or institutional interests.

• For Institutions like VRIC: Implement oversight policies, training, and accountability measures to ensure ethical and competent practices.