MuslimMatters

Kirin Nabi (The Islamic School Librarian) and Zainab bint Younus talk all things Muslim bookstagram!

From the evolution of Muslim fiction and the theological implications of Muslim fantasy, to diving into critical reading and Muslim bookish pet peeves, this episode is no-holds barred!

It is the time for all of us to organize and ally with one another to call for accountability on behalf of those who are unable to advocate for themselves. Guantanamo Bay is more than just a symbol, it is our obligation towards the oppressed and to our own selves. 

For more information about the Dhul Hijjah Global Activism Drive, visit:

https://muslimmatters.org/2022/06/29/guantanamo/

To learn more about CAGE's tireless and invaluable advocacy, visit:

https://www.cage.ngo/

Visit MuslimMatters daily for ongoing information about Guantanamo Bay during Dhul Hijjah!

Muslim Bookstagram is always on the hunt for authentic Own Voices additions to #MyMuslimShelfSpace - and while we live in an exciting time of witnessing the success of Muslim authors such as S. K. Ali, Reem Faruqi, and Shannon Chakraborty, we should never forget that the stage for unapologetically Muslim fiction was set by other incredible Muslim writers.

This episode of the MuslimMatters podcast features an interview with Juwairiah L. Simpson: a true pioneer of Muslim fiction. Zainab bint Younus was able to track down the author of the classic books "The Jinn in the Clock" and "A Wicked Wazir," sharing her own childhood love of these amazing stories and discovering the rich history behind them! Fans of Muslim fiction won't want to miss this heartwarming interview with one of the most talented Muslim fiction authors of our time.

Originally written for MuslimMatters, listen to the article read to you. 

It will summarize the allegations of the lawsuit and then discuss (a)the legitimacy of the allegations based on third-party investigations and scientific research, (b)why this issue is important to Muslims, and (c) what we can do with this information. 

https://muslimmatters.org/2021/11/15/the-subway-tuna-conundrum/

did you hear the news?
the blood flowed and she was handed a hijab
wash the stains, cover the head, hide the chest
it's a haemorrhage of her childhood.
listen, there is blood on the streets too.
it's not hers. bodies lie in plain sight.
how will she wash these stains?
rainwater returns to the beds of roses.
she's Trending, it's all over the news
it's all over
sister, you're no longer
part of the hood. you took it off
and here i Unfollow you. this vlog
i Dislike.
you think she got the Makki years,
you think it's easy for her to testify to tawhid
but wasn't it always: here! wear this, fix that, do it, pray now, question later, answer never.
the mothers of believers, the earliest sisters
got the years needed to adopt a behaviour.
when we're not Trending on twitter for being dead
or the alleged cause of death,
most of us are working or helping someone else work paycheque to paycheque.
God said the night was made for resting
but the world said there is no rest for the one on the night shift.
angels gather when she speaks of God,
what harm can harm her when she is witnessed?
rainwater evaporates like a textbook lesson. the sun is ablaze and a barren field blossoms. look, it's a storm of sunflowers.
she picks up a letter she's written to God.
I'm excited for us to meet, ya Rabb.
the mountains she loves turn to dust.
the sky opens into gates. a trumpet blows, and Israfil exhales.

by Ayesha Nasir

In January, MuslimMatters ran an exclusive story written by journalist Fatimah Waseem on the modest fashion company, Annah Hariri. Thousands of customers have accused the company Annah Hariri of scamming them and never fulfilling orders or granting refunds. Read more about this investigation. Make your own judgments and be wary as Eid al Adha approaches and ads for sales will undoubtedly lure hundreds of orders from first-time customers.

https://muslimmatters.org/2022/01/03/annah-hariri-expose-thousands-of-customers-accuse-fraud/

Amire of MuslimKidsBookNook and Zainab bint Younus discuss refugee representation in Muslim literature, authentic representation vs whitewashed tokenism, and advice to Muslim authors.

There's a mistake that many mothers of single daughters on the marriage market make: pressuring their daughters to change essential parts of themselves for the sake of finding a husband. The most important thing to remember is that getting your daughter married isn't the end goal--your daughter being successful in her marriage is. Listen to this open letter to mothers of single daughters looking to get married. 

Read the article here: https://muslimmatters.org/2016/04/20/an-open-letter-to-moms-with-daughters-looking-to-get-married/

ShaykhaTalk is a new MM podcast mini-series with female Islamic scholars! This episode with Shaykha Umm Jamaal ud-Din explores her journey to scholarship as a convert to Islam, and the unique challenges and experiences she's had as a woman in da'wah.

Parents are constantly worried about how to raise their children to be good Muslims. Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter recently wrote on this topic in the article “Did The Prophet ﷺ Wear Glasses? – Raising Your Children To Be Resilient Muslims.” He shares his framework for raising resilient Muslim kids, as well as 5 tips that every Muslim parent can start using today. You can now listen to this article read to you on the MuslimMatters‘ podcast.

https://muslimmatters.org/2022/02/03/did-the-prophet-wear-glasses-raising-children-resilient-muslims/

What's the best form of Islamic education for kids? Islamic school? Boarding school? Sunday school at the masjid? A traditional madrasah? Shaykh AbdulRahman Chao, a teacher and education consultant, Shaykh AbdulRahman Chao provides a critical look at Islamic pedagogy and discusses what a holistic Islamic education for children should include. 

You’ve heard of seemingly random Muslim organizations collecting zakat funds by now. Giving zakat fisabilillah (in the path of Allah) is a hot topic of discussion and debate among scholars. This discussion has also played out on MuslimMatters, and you can read all of those opinions and put them in conversation with each other. So, what have various experts written about giving zakat to the poor versus Muslim nonprofits working in various sectors such as education, politics, and community organizing?

Excitement is in the air as the last 10 nights of Ramadan have arrived! But for some people - especially busy mothers or menstruating women - this is accompanied by a sense of sadness or frustration that they can't do as much as they wish they could. Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil introduces a paradigm shift that believers should develop for the last 10 nights of Ramadan. 

This podcast episode delivers a reminder about the beauty of the last 10 nights, the best du'a to recite, and how Muslim families can create a community-wide revolution, starting at home. 

Why do we only talk about parenting in Ramadan when it has to do with mothers? What are fathers' roles in training their kids in Ramadan? How can Muslim women stay spiritually connected in Ramadan while going through menstruation or PMDD? And do we really have to accept all iftaar invitations in Ramadan?

Ramadan can be an exciting time of increased acts of devotion and more time spent at the masjid in communal prayers. However, for parents with young children, Ramadan may be a stressful time of extra responsibilities and a feeling of missing out on all the bells and whistles of Ramadan worship.   Listen to this narration of an article posted on MuslimMatters last year to hear about the plan one  mom with a toddler has devised to not only survive Ramadan but to also make the most of it.

Mansoor Adayfi, former Guantanamo Bay detainee and author of "Don't Forget Us Here: Lost and Found at Guantanamo Bay", speaks about how his faith in Allah helped him survive over a decade of illegal imprisonment and torture.

Kirin Nabi is known as the Islamic School Librarian, with years of teaching and librarian-ing under her belt! You can find her on Instagram (@islamicschoollibrarian) and her website: https://islamicschoollibrarian.com/

Zainab bint Younus is a Canadian Muslim woman who writes on Muslim women’s issues, gender related injustice in the Muslim community, and Muslim women in Islamic history. She also provides in-depth book reviews of Muslamic literature on her Instagram account, covering everything from YA and adult fiction, academic treatises, and Islamic religious literature. You can find her on Instagram (@bintyounus) and support her via Patreon (patreon.com/bintyounus)

Shaykha Aysha Wazwaz is of Palestinian Spanish/ South American descent and was born in and resides in Minnesota, USA. She has a PhD in Islamic Studies with honors from Jinan University (Lebanon); M.A from Al-Quds University (Palestine), majoring in Contemporary Islamic Sciences, and a B.A in Islamic Jurisprudence from Al-Quds University. Sh Aysha studied Tajweed at Dar Al-Quran in Masjid al Aqsa (Palestine) and studied various Islamic sciences at Dar Al-Hadith in Masjid al Aqsa (Palestine). She is the founder of and lecturer at the Gems of Light Institute (USA) to train women to become lecturers on Islam. She was also a lecturer on Fiqh, Tafseer, and Islamic studies for four years at the Islamic University of Minnesota. She taught Islamic sciences in both Arabic and English at the Islamic University of Minnesota. You can find her on Facebook.

Zainab bint Younus is a Canadian Muslim woman who writes on Muslim women’s issues, gender related injustice in the Muslim community, and Muslim women in Islamic history. She also provides in-depth book reviews of Muslamic literature on her Instagram account, covering everything from YA and adult fiction, academic treatises, and Islamic religious literature. You can find her on Instagram (@bintyounus) and support her via Patreon (patreon.com/bintyounus)

Zainab bint Younus is a Canadian Muslim woman who writes on Muslim women’s issues, gender related injustice in the Muslim community, and Muslim women in Islamic history. She also provides in-depth book reviews of Muslamic literature on her Instagram account, covering everything from YA and adult fiction, academic treatises, and Islamic religious literature. You can find her on Instagram (@bintyounus) and support her via Patreon (patreon.com/bintyounus)

Shifa Saltagi Safadi is the author of three books published by Ruqaya’s Bookshelf and an Islamic book reviewer. She has been an avid book reader as long as she can remember, and in fact graduated with a degree in English literature. She curates a monthly Islamic subscription box for kids called Bismillah Box Kids and is obsessed with Muslim toys and crafts! Find her Islamic reviews of books, products, and more on Instagram: @muslimmommyblog

This episode of the Muslimmatters podcast was first recorded with Shaykh Mikaeel and I for a livestream on RamadanPrep.com. The full video is available to watch on the Muslimmatters youtube channel, and includes an opening recitation and more information about the RamadanPrep program. 

For now, please enjoy this brief opening talk by Shaykh Mikaeel Ahmed Smith, followed by a discussion on culture, prayer, and the frying of 786 samosas in the month of Ramadan.

Guest: Shaykh Mikaeel Ahmed Smith

Host: Zeba Khan

Podcast hosted and produced by Zeba Khan

In Shaykh's Clothing

To learn more about Abida Minhas and the MAPS network, visit www.mapsnetwork.org 

To read brother Ahmad’s reflection on his journey to quitting porn, visit 10 Tested Ways to Overcome Porn Addiction.

To read sister Sakinah's account on battling alcohol addiction, visit Drowning In Bottles: My Muslim Story Of Addiction And Substance Use Disorder

To purchase the book, visit Fiqh of Social Media

To learn more about Omar Usman, visit his blog. 

To learn more about Shaykh Abdullah Oduro's program for new Muslims, visit KnewU.org

You can follow him on Facebook or Instagram at Abdullah_Oduro

Read Now:  A Primer On Intimacy And Fulfillment Of A Wife’s Desires Based On The Writings Of Scholars Of The Past.

Panel discussion with Zainab b. Younus, Hena Zuberi, her daughter, and Fousia from the Naptime is Sacred podcast to talk about Halima Aden's Instagram posts about hijab and her modeling career.

Please support content like this by pitching in at http://muslimmatters.org/support-us/

Check out the Imam Connect project at their website: https://www.imamconnect.com/

Hosted by Zainab bint Younus.

Interview conducted and produced by Zeba Khan.

Recommended Reading:

Mishkah Institute

Al Khushoo Fis-Salah, The Humility in Prayer by Ibn Rajab Al Hambali

Getting Things Done - David Allen

Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport

https://davidsdollar.com/

http://www.tariqtoure.com/

Produced by Zeba Khan

Guests:

Mufti Hussain Kamani

Produced by Zeba Khan

Guests:

Omar Usman

Khaled Nurhssien

Part one of Wael Abdelgawad's newest novella, Day of the Dogs, read about by Zeba Khan. The full novella will be posted every Wednesday on MuslimMatters.org

Interview conducted by Zeba Khan.

Recommended Reading:

Towards Sacred Activism - Shaykh Dawud Walid

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Forty on Justice - Dr. Omar Suleiman

Article written and originally published on Muslimmatters.org.

Imam Khalil Abdur-Rashid was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He completed his bachelor degree in Social Work, and obtained a Master’s Degree in Islamic Law from Marmara University. He also completed advanced Islamic seminary training and received his full doctoral license (Ijaaza) in Islamic Sciences.

Khalil holds a Master of Arts in Middle East Studies as well as a Master of Philosophy in Islamic Law both from Columbia University in New York City.  He is now an adjunct professor of Islamic Studies in the Graduate of Liberal Studies Program at SMU and serves as President and Dean of the Yaqeen Islamic Seminary in Dallas.

Read and produced by Zeba Khan.

Article originally published on MusimMatters.org, and read by the author, Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter. 

Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter is a Doctor and Islamic Historian - Founder of, and current board member to Charity Week for Orphans and needy children. www.charityweek.com - Council member, British Islamic Medical Association

Khutba by Shaykh Aleaddin Elbakri, shared with permission from the Institute of Knowledge. 

Original piece written by Ustadha Umm Sarah and published on Muslimmatters.org

Podcast read and produced by Zeba Khan.

The lecture used with permission from the Memphis Islamic Center. 

Original article by Shaykh Ahsan Hanif, Phd, published on Muslimmatters.org

Podcast read and produced by Zeba Khan. 

Article written and recorded by Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter, original here. 

To learn more about Fousia, visit naptimeissacred.com

Hosted by Zeba Khan

This excerpt is featured from SexMatters, On Love, Sex, and Marriage Through the Lens of the Sunnah

To find this book, visit muslimmatters.org/books

Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda is a contributor to Muslimmatters, a specialist in Sīrah & Hanafi Fiqh, as well as the founder and director of Qalam Institute.  

Interview conducted by Zeba Khan, Director of Development at Muslimmatters.org.

This article was written by Newaz Ahmed, and was originally published on MuslimMatters.org. Read by Zeba Khan. 

Original article posted on Muslimmatters.org. Read by the author, Ehab Hassan. 

Originally posted here, read by Zeba Khan. 

Read by Zeba Khan, originally published on Muslimmatters.org.

Read by Zeba Khan, original publication on Muslimmatters.org.

Read by the author, Zeba Khan, originally published on Muslimmatters.org.

This question is answered by Shaykh Yaser Birjas, and is included in the MuslimMatters compilation SexMatters. 

Read by Zeba Khan

This article can be found online here at Muslimmatters.org.  

Imam Zaid Shakir is a scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. In 2001, he was the first American male graduate from Syria's Abu Nour University.

Article read by Zeba Khan.

This khutba is shared with permission from the Institute of Knowledge.

This article can be found online here at Muslimmatters.org Article read by Zeba Khan.

Saba Malik is a teacher, life coach and author of, “Blessed with Bipolar -The Muslim’s 3-Step Support Guide to Mastering Bipolar.”

This article can be found online here at Muslimmatters.org

Article read by the author, Zeba Khan.

Zeba Khan is the Director of Development for MuslimMatters.org, as well as a writer, speaker, and disability awareness advocate. In addition to having a child with autism, she herself lives with Ehlers-Danlos Sydrome, Dysautonomia, Mast-Cell Activation Disorder, and a random assortment of acronyms that collectively translate to chronic illness and progressive disability.

Original article with all sources and footnotes may be found here.

Read by Zeba Khan

This article appears originally here on MuslimMatters.org.

Shaykh Usaama al-Azami is Departmental Lecturer in Contemporary Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford. He began pursuing Arabic studies formally in 2002. He subsequently enrolled at Oxford University, completing his BA in Arabic and Islamic Studies in 2008. From 2005 onwards, he attended regular classes at Al-Salam Institute with Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi, from whom he narrates numerous classical works including the Hidaya of al-Marghinani and the Sahih of al-Bukhari.

Over the years Shaykh Usaama has been able to study with, and/or obtain ijazat from a number of scholars. They include Shaykhs Ahmad ‘Ali Lajpuri, ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Kattani, Yunus Jaunpuri, Muhammad Rabi’, ‘Abd al-Wahhab al-Turayri, ‘Abd-Allah al-Judai’ (without ijaza), Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, Muhammad Al Rashid, Nizam Ya’qubi, Jihad Brown (without ijaza), and Ziyad al-Tukla. 

From 2010-2015, Usaama was based at Princeton University’s Department of Near Eastern Studies, where he completed an MA and later a PhD on contemporary Islamic political thought.

Article read by Zeba Khan.

All sources and footnotes for this podcast may be found here.

Sheikh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studied Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir. He is now in his final year of his PhD at Oxford University, looking at the early evolution of the Hanafi madhab.

Read by Zeba Khan

This Khutba is shared with permission from the Valley Ranch Islamic Center (VRIC), one of the only masajid in the US that provides American Sign Language interpretation of its Friday sermons for the benefit of the deaf and hard of hearing.  Click here to help sponsor this service. JazakAllahuKheiran!

10. Reflections on Muslim Approaches to the Abortion Debate: The Problem of Narrow Conceptualization | Sh Salman Younas

9. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf And The Question of Rebellion In The Islamic Tradition | Dr Usaama al-Azami

8. What Fasting Demands From Us | Mufti Taqi Uthmani

7. When Faith Hurts | Zeba Khan

6. Emotional Intelligence: A Tool for Change | Imam Mikaeel Smith

5. Sri Lankan Muslims To Fast In Solidarity With Fellow Christians | Raashid Riza

4. Loving Muslim Marriage Episode #2: Do Women Desire Sex? | Saba Syed, Zeba Khan

3. Are You Prepared for Marriage and Building a Family? | Mona Islam

2. The Day I Die | Imam Omar Suleiman

1. Few Can Build Many Can Destroy | Sh Mohammad ElShinawy 

This article was read by the author, and can be found online at Muslimmatters.org. 

About the author: 

Siraaj Muhammad is the Operations Director of MuslimMatters as well as its new lead web developer. He's spent nearly two decades working in dawah organizations, starting with his chapter MSA in Purdue University, and leading efforts with AlMaghrib Institute, MuslimMatters, and AlJumuah magazine. Somewhere in there, he finds time for his full-time profession as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. He holds a bachelor's in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Master's certificate from UC Berkeley. He's very married and has 5 wonderful children

Siraaj Muhammad is the Operations Director of MuslimMatters as well as its new lead web developer. He's spent nearly two decades working in dawah organizations, starting with his chapter MSA in Purdue University, and leading efforts with AlMaghrib Institute, MuslimMatters, and AlJumuah magazine. Somewhere in there, he finds time for his full-time profession as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. He holds a bachelor's in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Master's certificate from UC Berkeley. He's very married and has 5 wonderful children

About the author:

Hena Zuberi is the Editor in Chief of Muslimmatters.org. She leads the DC office of the human rights organization, Justice For All, focusing on stopping the genocide of the Rohingya under Burma Task Force, advocacy for the Uighur people with the Save Uighur Campaign and Free Kashmir Action. She was a Staff Reporter at the Muslim Link newspaper which serves the DC Metro. Hena has worked as a television news reporter and producer for CNBC Asia and World Television News. Active in her SoCal community, Hena served as the Youth Director for the Unity Center. Using her experience with Youth, she conducts Growing Up With God workshops. [email protected] Follow her on Twitter @henazuberi.

Original article by Asma Bint Shameem, posted here.

Read by Zeba Khan.

The original article read in this podcast may be found here at MuslimMatters.org

Dr. Muhammad Wajid Akhter  is a medical doctor, Islamic historian, and the founder of Charity Week for Orphans and needy children. www.charityweek.com. Council member, British Islamic Medical Association

Article read by Zeba Khan.

Please support this podcast by visiting http://muslimmatters.org/donate

Please support this effort by visiting http://muslimmatters.org/donate