Let the Prophetic Light Pierce the Darkness of the Nafs (Selfish Human Ego):Shaykh Faraz Khan: MCC East Bay-August30,2026

 YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2354xHmaKDg?si=COggpG1tvQMP1gpU

Prophetic Reality and Divine Connection Prophet Muhammad is described as a piercing star in the Quran, possessing a luminous reality that great imams experienced through years of devotion, service, and remembrance of Allah. The essence of knowing Allah requires distancing oneself from the ego's obsessive desire to control situations while taking practical means and maintaining complete reliance on Allah, as taught by Imam Ibn Ata'illah. The Prophet's actions and presence on earth were so momentous that entire civilizations learned from his every action, which became precedents for civilizations one after another. The Nature of the Ego The nafs (human ego) is by nature dark, stingy, and selfish, requiring the prophetic light to pierce its darkness to cultivate virtues and enable spiritual distancing from it. Taking means with the hand while remembering Allah, the Creator of those means, in the heart is key to illuminating hearts, as obsessively focusing on means diverts from remembering Allah. Prophetic Example of Reliance Prophet Muhammad's hijra to Medina exemplified taking strategic means (cave hiding, diverting pursuers, alternative routes) for protection while maintaining complete reliance on Allah despite Quraysh assassins tracking them closely. Abu Bakr's anxiety for the Prophet's welfare during hijra, circling and checking for followers, was an act of worship, while the Prophet remained still and content, reciting Quran, embodying perfect reliance on Allah. The Prophet's blessed heart was filled with Allah's oneness, undistracted by worldly means, exemplified during hijra when Quraysh pursuers nearly found them, yet he remained focused on Allah's presence. Prophetic Virtues and Roles Contentment with Allah despite pain in trials is a foundational virtue of Prophet Muhammad, who buried six of his seven children, exemplifying this quality through personal tragedy. The Quran describes Prophet Muhammad with five distinct roles: witness, bringer of glad tidings, warner, inviter to Allah, and luminous lamp, highlighting his multifaceted nature and radiant character. Transformative Impact The Prophet illuminated Medina, transforming it from a place of jahiliyyah, illness, and warfare into a civilized city of health and worship, establishing it as al-Medina al-Munawwara (the city par excellence). This talk was delivered at the Muslim Community Center - East Bay (MCC East Bay) in Pleasanton, California on Friday, August 28, 2026. - More Sheikh Faraz: http://mcceastbay.org/faraz Shaykh Faraz Khan is a scholar of Ashʿari and Maturidi philosophical theology with field specialties in Hanafi Jurisprudence, Prophetic Biography, Hadith, and Logic. At Zaytuna College, he has taught Kalam Theology, Creedal Theology, Prophetic Biography, Readings in Muslim Spirituality, and Logic in the Islamic Tradition. Shaykh Faraz also serves as the coordinator of the Honors Program, in which he has taught additional seminars on classical Islamic texts. His research interests center on the engagement of philosophical theology and ethics with the contemporary age. After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin, he moved to Amman, Jordan, in 2004 and read classical texts with distinguished scholars in Ashʿari and Maturidi scholastic theology, Hanafi jurisprudence, prophetic narration, logic, and other religious sciences, receiving scholarly authorization (ijazah) after seven years of full-time study. Shaykh Faraz’s most recent book, An Introduction to Islamic Theology: Imam Nūr al-Dīn al-Sābūnī’s Al-Bidāyah fī usūl al-dīn, was published under the Zaytuna College Curriculum Series in 2020. In the work, he translates and annotates a manual on Maturidi theology authored by Imam Nūr al-Dīn al-Ṣābūnī (d. 580/1184), a prominent Muslim theologian from Bukhara, which provides a foundation upon which modern Muslim discourse can be built. The text explains the central tenets of the Islamic creed and refutes erroneous positions of alternative theologies. Shaikh Faraz is fluent in Arabic and has speaking fluency in Urdu. Shaykh Faraz joined the faculty of Zaytuna College in 2013. MCC East Bay (Muslim Community Center)

YouTube Video:Rabi’ Al-Awwal Mawlid '26: An Najmus Saquib نجم الثاقب (The Shining Star)

https://www.youtube.com/live/qgxOu-OWUY4?si=TRGDBEGUBup1izUx

Aug 28, 2026
The East Bay Annual Mawlid features talks and recitations (Nasheeds) with the theme “An Najmus Saqib ﷺ (The Shining Star).” The East Bay Annual Mawlid features talks and recitations (Nasheeds). We will have talks, counsel, and recitations (Nasheeds) about “The Guiding Light: Muhammad ﷺ” with Shaykh Faraz Khan, Sidi Mahdy Amine, Qari Amar Bellaha, Ustadh Tarif Arabi, and Bay Area Munshids. 6 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. | Friday, August 28, 2026 | MCC Prayer Hall | No RSVP needed to join post-Maghrib Mawlid program (only for pre-Mawlid dinner (capped at 600 guests); no babysitting provided this year | Join in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live Register for dinner at mcceastbay.org/grand-mawlid San Ramon Valley Islamic Center, Islamic Center of Livermore, Ta’leef Collective & MCC East Bay proudly present this Rabbi’al Awwal Annual Mawlid. Najmus Saqib (Arabic: النجم الثاقب translates to “the piercing star,” “shining star,” or “bright star.” It refers to a star whose light pierces or cuts through the darkness of the night. Surah At-Tariq (86:3): “The piercing star” (an-najm ath-thaqib). Here, it refers to a bright star whose intense light pierces through the darkness of the night. Program Schedule 6 p.m. – Asr congregational prayer 6:15 p.m. – Burda Shareef (Prayer Hall) 6:45 p.m. – Dinner service begins (men in Sunday School parking lot and women in Conference Room/Kindergarten area) 7:50 p.m. – Maghrib prayer, congregational prayer 8:05 p.m. – Qur’an Recitation (Qari Amar Bellaha), Talk, Nasheeds (Sidi Mahdy Amine and team) (no RSVP needed to join this pre-Mawlid program) 9:00 p.m. – Talk with Ustadh Tarif Arabi 9:30 p.m. – Isha congregational prayer 9:45 p.m. – Talk with Shaykh Faraz Khan 10:30 p.m. – Qur’an recitation and closing dua by Qari Amar Bellaha. MCC East Bay (Muslim Community Center)

The Revival and Renewal of the Modern Muslim Ummah:Dr.Samir Mahmoud: OnePath Network-July13,2026

 YouTube Video: 

https://youtu.be/oA0G0uksJ8s?si=7hbKgNY3En-_R5Bs

There is a difference between a religion that is alive and a religion that is merely practiced. Dr. Samir Mahmoud has spent decades thinking about what separates the two. In this episode, he lays out one of the most rigorous and far-reaching frameworks for Islamic revival the channel has hosted. 

Dr. Samir Mahmoud is Academic Director of Usul Academy and Lecturer on the Diploma in Islamic Psychology at the Cambridge Muslim College. He was formerly Assistant Professor at the Lebanese American University. He holds a BA in Anthropology and Politics and an MA in Architectural History, Theory and Urban Design from the University of New South Wales, an MPhil in Theology and Religious Studies, and a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Cambridge, completed under the supervision of Dr. Timothy Winter (Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad). 

Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:17 Guest Introduction: Dr. Samir Mahmoud 3:19 Revival vs Renewal: Ihya and Tajdid Explained 5:19 What the Past Teaches About Renewal 6:30 Rooted Revival and the Usul Academy Vision 7:16 Roots in Eternity, Not Just the Past 11:00 What Are We Actually Trying to Revive? 12:11 Islam as Letting Go: A Deeper Definition 14:58 I Am Not an Identitarian Muslim 15:32 Islam's Mandate: Healing All of Humanity 18:53 The Concentric Circles: Self, Family, Ummah 21:12 Inner and Outer Work at Each Level 26:06 Two Extremes: Modernists and Reactionaries 27:53 Decolonising the Muslim Mind 30:17 Engaging the World on Our Own Terms 32:38 Technology Is Not Neutral 35:16 Classical Muslim Scholars in Science and Medicine 37:47 Science Is Partial, Not Wrong 38:20 Education for Careers vs Civilisational Revival 39:24 The Four Fundamental Shifts of Modernity 40:56 Objective vs Subjective Beauty in Islam 43:00 Why Every Atheist Goes on Nature Walks 44:55 Modernity Is Dead but Still Dominant 47:05 Liberalism Is Collapsing Worldwide 48:28 Pursuing Justice Without Modern Moral Language 49:39 Islam as Equal Heir to Greco-Roman Thought 52:48 The Mizan: Islam Was Given the Balance 54:49 One God, Many Names: Unity in Diversity 56:42 Classical Tolerance for Ambiguity and Multiple Views 58:19 Islam: Simple on the Surface, Infinite in Depth 1:00:36 Islam's Capacity to Embrace Radical Diversity 1:01:27 What Islam Offers to Multiculturalism Today 1:03:37 Justice as a Fundamental Principle of Revival 1:04:33 True Justice Can Only Come from Allah 1:06:10 Justice Starts in Local Communities 1:07:55 Any Injustice Is a Muslim's Concern 1:09:10 Judging Scholars by Politics, Not Knowledge 1:10:16 Multiple True Perspectives in the Tradition 1:11:43 The Danger of Black and White Thinking 1:13:23 Adab Is a Science, Not Subjective 1:14:13 The Ottoman Art of Scholarly Debate 1:16:44 Muslims Who Look Islamic but Lack Adab 1:17:58 Are Our Schools Forming Muslim Character? 1:18:22 Education: The Missing Link in Revival 1:19:14 What Does Revival Actually Look Like? 1:20:13 Forming a New Generation Like the Prophet in Mecca 1:21:09 Tafakkur: The Quranic Mode of Heart-Centred Thinking 1:22:09 The Left Hemisphere Has Hijacked the Heart 1:22:31 Heart-Centred Education: The Foundation of Revival 1:23:02 Closing Reflections. OnePath Network

Dr.Samir Mahmoud Website: https://www.samirmahmoud.com/

Article& Interview:Recovering Conscious Design:Dr Samir Mahmoud:The Heart of Design-Peter Gould

https://www.theheartofdesign.com/articles/recovering-conscious-design

In this conversation series, we explore design as a spiritual practice with creative leaders, spiritual teachers, and start-up founders from around the world. Here, Peter Gould interviews Dr Samir Mahmoud; globally respected scholar, lecturer at the Cambridge Muslim College and expert on traditional spirituality and classical architecture studies.

Article: The purification of self (Tazkiyat al-Nafs):Dr.Samir Mahmoud

https://www.samirmahmoud.com/article/the-purification-of-the-self

The Meaning of Tazkiyat al-Nafs:
The purification of self (Tazkiyat al-Nafs) is an extremely important approach to perfecting the human condition and actualizing the state of being God’s vicegerent on earth.
The term tazkiyah in the Arabic language means purification of something from impurities, and its growth, development and perfection. Imam al-Ghazali developed the practice or art of tazkiyat al-nafs based on the Quranic verse (91:7-10):
“By the soul/self, and the proportion and order given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; truly he succeeds that purifies it [zakkaha], and he fails that corrupts it!”
In this sense, tazkiyat al-nafs can be defined as the purification of the self from all evil inclinations and its beautification with good values and virtues.
In our modern day and age rife with moral confusion and temptation, it is extremely important we are equipped with a method or process that we can use to re-gain mastery over our self and purify it from negative influences. This will then allow us nurture our own individual growth and development as better Muslims. Ghazali is a very helpful guide on this quest because he uses very clear terms and concepts geared towards individual growth and development. For Ghazali, a human being is both, body and soul, matter and spirit. It is the unique balance between the two that makes humans what they are, the highest creation. The original condition of the human being is that of fitrah. According to al-Ghazali, a human being is born in a natural state of purity (fitrat al-Islam). The potential to do good or bad exists. It is the early developmental stages and influences that determine how those potentials are enhanced. If the child’s early environment is good, the good potentials are promoted. If it is bad the bad ones are.
The Divinely revealed law is crucial for knowing what is right and what is wrong. However, even when we know what is right and wrong, we may be under the influence of compulsions and temptations that control us or skew our judgment. Therefore, there is an important element in tazkiyat al-nafs, namely, a conscious decision to changes one’s self in the direction of that which is better. As a spiritual-moral term, tazkiyat al-nafs denotes our self-imposed effort of eradicating those tendencies within the human self, which form obstacles in the path of our moral and spiritual development.
To this end, it is important to understand the structure of the self. Following the Quran, Ghazali explains that there are three levels to the self. There is the:

The Inciting Self (al-nafs al-ammarah): the part of our lower self that impels us towards doing wrong things. It overlaps with our passions, desires, ego, and instincts.

The Reproaching Self (al-nafs al-lawwamah): the part of our self that reproaches us and takes us to task for committing wrong things. It overlaps with the function of reasoning and judgment.

The Tranquil Self (al-nafs al-mutma’innah): the part of our self wherein the self has attained to a state of peace and serenity due to its purification and perfection. It overlaps with the spirit within us.

Islam: Between East and West:Alija Izetbegovic: BookTalk by Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad: The Cordoba Foundation-August9,2026

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/xMAmwCa1bdU?si=8vqLWfgrvzWVaG9z

The Cordoba Foundation:https://thecordobafoundation.com/

Alija Izetbegovic Foundation:https://www.alijaizetbegovic.org/en/homepage/

YouTube Video:Who Was Alija Izetbegović, and Why Is He Important to Europe's Future?: Blogging Theology-August 16,2024

https://youtu.be/n2vxG1OO5Y0?si=J17n2f38wmM4zy2S

Amazon:Islam: Between East and West: A Reflection on Civilisation, Consciousness, and the Human Future: Alija Izetbegović  amazon,com

We live in an age of ideological fragmentation and existential uncertainty. Between the extremes of religious dogmatism and materialist reductionism, modern humanity struggles to find a meaningful centre. What role can Islam play in this fractured landscape? Can it offer not merely a system of belief, but a worldview that addresses the dual nature of the human being - both material and spiritual? In this profound and far-reaching work, Alija Izetbegović - philosopher, statesman, and one of the twentieth century's most original Muslim thinkers - presents Islam as a version that transcends binary thinking. Where materialism denies the soul and religion risks neglecting the body, Islam affirms both: it sees the human being as a synthesis of spirit and matter, freedom and necessity, reason and revelation.
Written with clarity and depth, Islam: Between East and West explores the philosophical roots of civilisation, the structure of human consciousness, and the metaphysical foundations of ethical life. It challenges readers, religious and secular alike, to reconsider how we think about progress, responsibility, and the future of human dignity.
Published to mark the 100th anniversary of Alija Izetbegović's birth, this newly revised edition reintroduces a work ever more pertinent to contemporary thought, offering an incisive critique and timely vision.
Alija Izetbegović (1925–2003) was a Bosnian statesman and Islamic thinker who served as the first President of an independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. During his tenure from 1990 to 1996, he navigated the nation through the Bosnian War and its secession from Yugoslavia. As the founder of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), he is remembered as a pivotal intellectual who advocated for a democratic, multi-faith society.

Amazon:Inescapable Questions: Alija Izetbegovic   amazon,com

An autobiography of humbling modesty, providing details of the former presidents personal strife and progressing onto the forming of the SDA and the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. The book also sheds light on the labyrinthine manipulations of the various signatories to the Dayton Agreement, not least in the return and non-return of refugees to their homes. Overall, a spellbinding read that will capture readers' imaginations and respect from beginning to end.

Amazon:On Communism and Nazism (Notes From Prison):Alija Izetbegovic   amazon,com

Incarcerated by the Communist regime in Yugoslavia for five arduous years, Alija Izetbegovic penned these treasured philosophical reflections on diverse topics such as freedom, politics, history, religion and morality.
Confined to his cell in Foča Prison, Sarajevo, he filled thirteen notebooks with these wonderful pearls of wisdom and managed to smuggle them out with the help of a fellow inmate. These notes are now presented for the first time as part of a series.
Notes from Prison is Alija Izetbegovic’s spiritual escape to freedom and makes for an outstandingly unique read, both in form and content.

Amazon: On Life, People and Freedom (Notes From Prison Book 2): Alija Izetbegovic   amazon,com

Incarcerated by the Communist regime in Yugoslavia for five arduous years, Alija Izetbegovic penned these treasured philosophical reflections on diverse topics such as freedom, politics, history, religion and morality.
Confined to his cell in Foča Prison, Sarajevo, he filled thirteen notebooks with these wonderful pearls of wisdom and managed to smuggle them out with the help of a fellow inmate. These notes are now presented for the first time as part of a series.
Notes from Prison is Alija Izetbegovic’s spiritual escape to freedom and makes for an outstandingly unique read, both in form and content.

How Sūrah al-Fātihah Addresses Modern Ideologies with Dr Nazir Khan-The Staight Path" Book Talk:Blogging Theology-Nov21,2024

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/0GJWaHw3tUE?si=_Bea0W0N4ixvZER8

Amazon:The Straight Path: How Surah al-Fatiha Addresses Modern Ideologies: Nazir Khan

https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Path-al-Fatiha-Addresses-Ideologies/dp/1835920217

The Straight Path offers a bold perspective, showing how Surah al-Fatiha directly challenges the dominant ideologies of our time—ideologies that underpin the confusion, injustice, and even atrocities we see today. Nowhere is this failure more evident than in the genocide in Gaza, a grim example of the ethical collapse of secular modernity.
Review:
“It's rare to find a book that makes you pause, that makes you rethink how you see the world. The Straight Path by Dr Nazir Khan is one of those rare works. The seven verses of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah are not only spiritually potent but intellectually surgical; each verse, in divine sequence, addresses a core modern ideology that has shaped (and distorted) the contemporary human mind. Rather than force the reader into shallow parallels between scripture and society, the author walks you through the Fātiḥah as though through a garden, letting the verses speak for themselves while gently pointing to how each divine truth uproots a false one. This is not just a book for students of theology; it's for anyone who has ever felt the tension between modern life and timeless truth. More than a book, The Straight Path is a lens — through which both the Qur'an and the world come into clearer view."
- Dr. Osman Latiff [Senior Researcher, Sapience Institute]
About the Author:
Dr. Nazir Khan MD PhD FRCPC is a medical doctor, clinical neuroscientist, Islamic theologian, and specialist in Qur’anic sciences. He is a Diagnostic Neuroradiologist and Associate Professor at McMaster University, and he also completed his PhD in Islamic theology at the University of Nottingham. He memorized the whole Qur’an during his youth, has certifications (ijāzāt) in all ten readings of the Qur’an through both major and minor routes of transmission, and has also received certifications in the six books of Hadith as well as numerous works of Islamic theology. He has served as a volunteer Imam for many years. He is also a consultant for the Manitoba Islamic Association Fiqh Committee. Following medical school, he completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Manitoba and his fellowship in Neuroradiology at the University of Calgary with dual-board certification. His expertise in both medical sciences and Islamic theology uniquely positions him to address challenging contemporary questions regarding faith, reason, and science. He is a Senior Fellow at Yaqeen Institute and served as the founding President of Yaqeen Institute in Canada.

PDF: The Straight Path: How Surah al-Fatiha Addresses Modern Ideologies: Dr.Nazir Khan

https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/books/the-straight-path-how-surah-al-fatiha-addresses-modern-ideologies

PDF:Islam and Meaning of the Life:Nazir Khan-Yaqeen Institute,Canada

https://www.contemporaryislam.org/uploads/1/2/2/1/122197478/

nazir_khan_islam_and_the_meaning_of_life_final.pdf

Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Haddād | Shaykh Tahir Anwar | Tarim: Book Launch: Breezes of the Elect-August 12,2026

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/YSLC9rCf8yQ?si=3mN-3XfOFITYJ_x7

Breezes of the Elect are happy to announce the launch of our latest book 'Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddad - Book Two of the Breezes of the Elect Series'. ImamʿAbdullāh binʿAlawī al-Ḥaddad is widely accepted as the Mujaddid (Renewer) of the 12th Islamic century and the Quṭb (Spiritual Pole) of his age. His works are read and studied worldwide and continue to be a means of calling people to Allah. His influence is still felt widely, particularly in Tarim where his poetry is recited daily. Following the launch of the first book in the series in 2023, we have been working on a first of its kind compilation - a selection of 47 stunning poems from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddad, translated into clear English by Shaykh Tahir Anwar and Shaykh Amin Buxton, complete with the transliteration and extensive end notes. Through this new publication, we intend to introduce English speakers to the richness of Imam al-Haddād's Diwān and the knowledge and beauty contained within it. Available from: https://breezesoftheelect.org/

Breezes of the Elect Website: https://breezesoftheelect.org/

Book:Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Haddād – Book Two of the Breezes of the Elect Series

https://breezesoftheelect.org/product/pearls-from-the-diwan-of-imam-al-haddad-book-two-of-the-breezes-of-the-elect-series/

“The one who has the Diwān needs no other book.” – Imam al-Haddād.
Imam ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAlawī al-Ḥaddād is widely accepted as the Mujaddid (Renewer) of the 12th Islamic century and the Quṭb (Spiritual Pole) of his age. His works are read and studied worldwide and continue to be a means of calling people to Allah. His influence is still felt widely, particularly in Tarim where his poetry is recited daily.
Through this new publication, we intend to introduce English speakers to the richness of his Diwān and the knowledge and beauty contained within it with a selection of 47 of his blessed poems.
This compilation touches upon themes such as love of Allah and His Prophet ﷺ, taqwā (God-consciousness) and waraʿ (scrupulousness). The Imam also extensively speaks about the love he has for the pious predecessors, lamenting over their passing.
This selection of 47 stunning poems from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddād has been translated into clear English by Shaykh Tahir Anwar and Shaykh Amin Buxton, complete with transliteration and extensive end notes.
The book contains:47 poems from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddād
Additional poems in the appendix
A foreword by Sayyid Zain al-Ḥaddād
A short biography of the Imam
A commentary of the poem Nasīm Ḥājir
Permission to hold gatherings of the Jalsah al-Awwābīn
Extensive end notes
A Soundcloud playlist will also available soon

YouTube Video: An Evening in Tarim: Shaykh Amin Buxton,Shaykh Tahir Anwar,Sayyid Zain Haddad,Qari Furqan Ahmed

https://www.youtube.com/live/-3hX7dPhd3A?si=5pkZNXHzV_UzffY6

An Evening in Tarim Launch of ‘Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddād - Book Two of the Breezes of the Elect Series’ and ​​Jalsah al-Awwābīn of Imam al-Imam al-Ḥaddād, in partnership with Sacred Footsteps. With guests Shaykh Tahir Anwar (Tarim), Shaykh Amin Buxton (Edinburgh), Sayyid Zain al-Haddad (Malaysia), Qāri Furqan Ahmed (UK) and more special guests. We welcome you to join us for this online special event. “I have placed in this Diwān knowledge I have not placed in any of my other books.” Imam al-Haddād “The one who has the Diwān needs no other book.” Imam al-Haddād The new book is available in three sizes and is available to order today from https://breezesoftheelect.org/ Join the book launch tour: https://breezesoftheelect.org/events/

YouTube Video:Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddād | Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad: Breezes of the Elect

https://youtu.be/PvG_9aJUzHE?si=_kyBnM6ppN_1CZME

Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad joined us at the launch of our latest book 'Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddad - Book Two of the Breezes of the Elect Series' at Cambridge Muslim College, and shared an insight into the life of Imam al-Ḥaddad, and the method of calling people to Allah employed by the scholars of Hadramawt. ImamʿAbdullāh binʿAlawī al-Ḥaddad is widely accepted as the Mujaddid (Renewer) of the 12th Islamic century and the Quṭb (Spiritual Pole) of his age. His works are read and studied worldwide and continue to be a means of calling people to Allah. His influence is still felt widely, particularly in Tarim where his poetry is recited daily. Following the launch of the first book in the series in 2023, we have been working on a first of its kind compilation - a selection of 47 stunning poems from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddad, translated into clear English by Shaykh Tahir Anwar and Shaykh Amin Buxton, complete with transliteration and extensive end notes. Through this new publication, we intend to introduce English speakers to the richness of Imam al-Haddād's Diwān and the knowledge and beauty contained within it.

 

The Purpose of Praising the Praised One ﷺ with Dr. Oludamini Ogunnaike: Wasat - May 16, 2023

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/xwN4vnGassA?si=q0JenLGiIS1yGnOU

WASAT Website: https://www.wearewasat.org/

The Logic of the Birds:Dr. Oludamini Ogunnaike:Project Director

https://logicofthebirds.com/

Amazon:Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection: A Study of West African Arabic Madih Poetry and its Precedents: Oludamini Ogunnaike The vibrant tradition of West African Arabic poetry is dominated by the genre of ‘madih,’ that is, poetry in praise of the Prophet Muhammad. This genre of poetry has been mostly ignored in Western scholarship and dismissed as mere ‘pious praise’ lacking any significant intellectual content. In Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection, Dr Oludamini Ogunnaike challenges the misconceptions around West African madih poetry and addresses the scope and depth of this genre; he not only explores its rich lyrical nature and its foundations in the Qur’an, Hadith, pre-Islamic, and early Islamic poetry, but also its inextricable link to Sufism and Sufi doctrines of cosmology, ontology, and epistemology. Drawing on Sufi traditions and practices, the author expounds on the various ways in which West African madih poetry both describes and facilitates the ultimate fulfilment of the human potential, the Perfect Human (al-Insan al-Kamil) or the attainment of the Praiseworthy Station (al-Maqam al-Mahmud), of which the Prophet Muhammad is the highest example. Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection includes translations of numerous extracts from madih poetry (accompanied by the original Arabic), while the Appendix presents a selection of complete poems—the most popular and influential poems of this tradition. Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection is an opportunity for readers to gain access and appreciation of a unique genre of spiritual Islamic poetry, and, given that it includes the original Arabic, also enables the recitation of the poetry for devotional purposes.

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Clouds-Oludamini-Ogunnaike/dp/194161096X

Amazon:Islamic Scholarship in Africa: New Directions and Global Contexts: Ousmane Oumar Kane, Pr,ofessor Zachary V. Wright

Cutting-edge research in the study of Islamic scholarship and its impact on the religious, political, economic and cultural history of Africa; bridges the "europhone"/"non-europhone" knowledge divides to significantly advance decolonial thinking, and extend the frontiers of social science research in Africa.
The study of Islamic erudition in Africa is growing rapidly, transforming not just Islamic studies, but also African Studies. This interdisciplinary volume from leading international scholars fills a lacuna in presenting not only the history and spread of Islamic scholarship in Africa, but its current state and future concerns. Challenging the notion that Muslim societies in black Africa were essentially oral prior to the European colonial conquest at the turn of the 20th century, and countering the largely Western division of sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa, the authors take an inclusive approach to advance our knowledge of the contribution of people of African descent to the life of Mecca.
This book explores in depth the intellectual and spiritual exchanges between populations in the Maghreb, the Sahara and West Africa. A key theme is Islamic learning. The authors examine the madrasa as asite of knowledge and learning, the relationship between "diasporas" and Islamic education systems, female learning circles, and the use of ICT. Diversifying the study of Islamic erudition, the contributors look at the interactions between textuality and orality, female learning circles, the vernacular study of poetry and cosmological texts, and the role of Ajami - the use of Arabic script to transcribe 80 African languages.

https://www.amazon.com/Islamic-Scholarship-Africa-Directions-Transforming/dp/1847012310

Amazon:The Book of Clouds: Oludamini Ogunnaike

The Book of Clouds is a collection of English-language Sufi poetry. This compilation of ghazals, quatrains, and qasidas praises and describes Divine love, loss, insight, gratitude, and mystery, bringing the forms, themes, and images of classical Islamicate poetry into English verse. The volume seeks to demonstrate the unique power of this tradition of thinking and speaking lyrically: to sing what can not be said but must be expressed

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Clouds-Oludamini-Ogunnaike/dp/194161096X

Amazon:Deep Knowledge: Ways of Knowing in Sufism and Ifa, Two West African Intellectual Traditions:

Oludamini Ogunnaike

This book is an in-depth, comparative study of two of the most popular and influential intellectual and spiritual traditions of West Africa: Tijani Sufism and Ifa. Employing a unique methodological approach that thinks with and from—rather than merely about—these traditions, Oludamini Ogunnaike argues that they contain sophisticated epistemologies that provide practitioners with a comprehensive worldview and a way of crafting a meaningful life.
Using theories belonging to the traditions themselves as well as contemporary oral and textual sources, Ogunnaike examines how both Sufism and Ifa answer the questions of what knowledge is, how it is acquired, and how it is verified. Or, more simply: What do you know? How did you come to know it? How do you know that you know? After analyzing Ifa and Sufism separately and on their own terms, the book compares them to each other and to certain features of academic theories of knowledge. By analyzing Sufism from the perspective of Ifa, Ifa from the perspective of Sufism, and the contemporary academy from the perspective of both, this book invites scholars to inhabit these seemingly “foreign” intellectual traditions as valid and viable perspectives on knowledge, metaphysics, psychology, and ritual practice.
Unprecedented and innovative, Deep Knowledge makes a significant contribution to cross-cultural philosophy, African philosophy, religious studies, and Islamic studies. Its singular approach advances our understanding of the philosophical bases underlying these two African traditions and lays the groundwork for future study.

https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Knowledge-Intellectual-Traditions-Religions-ebook/dp/B08NTLQJR7?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Shaykh Asim Yusuf: The English Mawlid:The Soliloquy of the Full Moon صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -Khalil Center-September20,2018

 YouTube Video: An Evening Reading of 'The Soliloquy of the Full Moon'

https://youtu.be/HkAyMiBWK0k?si=TygWf-EOh8P2pWa_

Mecca Books:The Soliloquy of the Full Moon:An Original English Mawlid: Noor-un-Nisaa Yusuf: The English Mawlid

meccabooks.com

A truly unique work! The Soliloquy of the Full Moon is the first English mawlid work ever written. An 1000 line panegyric, it is a fully metered, rhyming, epic poem celebrating the virtues of the Prophet ﷺ, the signs preceding his advent, the wonders of his birth and nursing, the first revelations and his night journey and ascension.
For the first time, English speakers can enjoy the full experience of traditional mawlid. Classical in form, Shakespearean in cadence, it was composed over twelve nights by the author at the age of only 15. It is a must for every home.

Noor Yusuf Website:https://nooryusuf.com/home
Biography:
Noor Yusuf is a poet and author. Born in South Africa and raised in the United Kingdom, she has been writing and composing books, articles and poetry for a number of years. Her works have garnered her a number of awards at both local and national level, including being a three-times winner of the Young Muslim Writers Award. Her deep attachment to traditional Islamic spirituality informs the majority of her works.
At the age of 15, and over only twelve nights, she authored The Soliloquy of the Full Moon, an original work on the nativity of the Prophet Muhammad. This is a thousand line narrative epic of fully metered English poetry detailing the signs, wonders and prophecies that heralded the Mawlid – or birth – of the Prophet. It seamlessly fuses the classical cadences of Shakespeare and Milton with the equally classical genres of Arabic praise and biographical poetry, to create a work that is entirely unique and a definitive contribution to Western Muslim culture.
She has published Beyond the Forest (2019), Through the Blue Gate (2021), and Over Mist and Mountain (2024), with sequels forthcoming. These books are instalments of Adventures with the Awliya, a children’s adventure series influenced by classics such as the Faraway Tree, as well as accounts of Muslim Sufis and mystics. The books follow three young Muslim children on adventures through legend and history, through which they learn valuable life lessons. The series explores a vast array of cultures and their storied heritage, and can be enjoyed by readers of all backgrounds, exploring central themes of spirituality, diversity, and the celebration of heritage, mythologies and cultures from around the world. She is currently working on many other projects including a historical fantasy trilogy, children’s books, further volumes of poetry and non-fiction specialist works.
She read linguistics at the University of Birmingham, after having been home-schooled for a number of years, and has been pursuing traditional studies over 13 years of Islamic law, Arabic linguistics, theology, metaphysics and spirituality under her father Shaykh Dr Asim Yusuf. She is authorised in the six canonical hadith works as well as various other classical texts, whose full recitations she has completed with elevated chains from a number of the oldest hadith narrators still living. Besides writing, she is also an artist, graphic novelist and editor.

Nur al-Habib Foundation: https://education.nuralhabib.org/

Shaykh Dr Asim Yusuf OBE, Emeritus Chair of the British Board of Scholars and Imams. He is one of the most respected religious scholars in the United Kingdom, a Consultant Psychiatrist and a leading authority on Islamic Spirituality and Mental Health.

YouTube Video: WinterSpring Mawlid 2026: Nur al-Habib Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/live/P_qKnVlz9VA?si=0r-rFjVbR9xiKuY5

Nur al-Habib Foundation is honoured to host the WinterSpring Mawlid 2026. A unique 12-night Mawlid that has garnered audiences around the world over the last 17 years. Join Shaykh Asim Yusuf and our esteemed guests over twelve unforgettable nights, filled with inspiring evenings of remembrance, heartfelt praise, exquisite poetry, uplifting songs, and enlightening lessons, celebrating the blessed birth of the Beloved of Allah ﷺ. This year we will be covering a fascinating topic: Exploring how the Prophet ﷺ was the embodiment of the attributes of God, both in terms of manifestation and response. This relates to the well-known but still mysterious concept of “adorn yourself with the qualities of the Divine”, as well as what precisely is meant by the description of the Prophet ﷺ as “the best of creation.”

The Heavenly Shadhili Wisdom with Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi | Bradford Literature Festival:December 2, 2025

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/grxC9yfrKr0?si=LsaArvI7fU5agP6a

Discover the timeless teachings of Imam Abū al-Ḥasan al-Shādhilī with Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi as he presents his new English translation of The Heavenly Shādhilī Wisdom, a treasured 13th century collection of spiritual guidance from the Shādhilī Sufi tradition. This video explores the profound sayings of the great Moroccan saint, offering insight into the Shādhilī path, Sufi wisdom, remembrance, spiritual balance, and inner stillness. Through clear commentary and deep reflection, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi explains how these classical teachings guide the modern seeker towards meaning, tranquillity, and nearness to God. Ideal for students of Sufism, Islamic spirituality, and the Shādhilī order. www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk

Sacred Knowledge YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/sacredknowledgemedia

Sacred Knowledge Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/sacredknowledgewall/

Guidance Hub: https://www.guidancehub.org/

Shadhli Masters Wordpress:https://shadhilimasters.wordpress.com/

Scholarly Heritage Projects: https://scholarlyheritage.org/category/projects/

Ph.D Thesis: Politicized Muslim Sainthood in Diaspora: Sufi Networks from Colonial North Africa to the 2011 Syrian Uprising by Daanish Faruqi Department of History Duke University 

https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/dce18aff-bcfc-432e-a6a0-8c0d86fa6ce8/content

" I focus on the movement of the Damascene Shadhili master Shaykh Muhammad Abu ʼl Huda al-Yaqoubi, the first of the Syrian religious scholars to support the Revolution in 2011."

Daanish Faruqi Biography: https://acmcu.georgetown.edu/profiles/daanish-faruqi/

YouTube Video:The Shadhili Way | Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi: Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

https://youtu.be/omGEElg-ScM?si=3Vv4Yxj3_FBmqfJN

Dec 6, 2024
[English subtitles available] A talk on "The Shadhili Way" delivered by His Eminence, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, in Fes on Friday 15th November 2024. By invitation of the students of the late Shaykh Abdalqadir as-Sufi; an event hosted by Dr. Idris al-Fasi BIOGRAPHY Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi, a descendent Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a world-renowned Syrian scholar of Islamic jurisprudence, hadith, and theology. He is widely recognised as one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world; with his speeches, classes, and books having impacted thousands of lives for the better. A prolific writer and poet, his most recent books - ‘Shama’il of al-Habib al-Mustafa’ and ‘Introduction to Sahih al-Bukhari’ - are indispensable for Muslim learners. He has penned 60 poems, of over 5000 lines, in praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ - including the doubling (tashtir) of the famous Burdah and Hamziyya poems - which earned him the title of ‘the Busiri of this time’. In recognition of his work for building peace and harmony, and better understanding between all religious groups, Shaykh Al-Yaqoubi received the International Award of Ambassador of Liberty and Peace in 2016. For several years running, he has been ranked among the 50 most influential Muslims in the world, with the 2022 edition placing him 34th. His bestselling book, ‘Refuting ISIS’, has been published in 7 languages, including Arabic and English, and is widely heralded by critics. The book has played a significant role in the defeat of the ideology of Daesh and has been accredited with saving the lives of many youths, whilst helping people worldwide understand Islam’s position on this topical issue. The Shaykh speaks 5 languages and has lectured in 35 countries.

Sufism in Britain: Past, Present and Future -Dr Hafza Iqbal, Markfield Institute of Higher Education:June19,2025

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/755Bm8eephs?si=88wfnYRB-WdqNC79

In this episode, Dr Hafza Iqbal (Lecturer and Course Lead for Islam and Pastoral Care, MIHE) discusses the history of Sufism in Britain, the development and beliefs of the Barelwi movement, and the future of Sufism in a digital age. Dr Hafza Iqbal is Course Leader for Islam and Pastorial Care. She completed her PhD in the field of Sufi studies and Islamic Practical Theology at Coventry University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations. Prior to the commencement of her doctoral research, based on Muslim communities in contemporary Britain, she completed a Masters in Theology at the University of Birmingham and studied Islamic Theology in the faculty of Usool in Madina Institute, South Africa. Her areas of research and writing continue to be based on contemporary religious communities and the history, development and modern expressions of Sufism. She has also theorised Islamic Practical Theology and is dedicated to highlighting and using the lived experiences of contemporary Muslims to produce new, contextualised and innovative theological understandings and adding nuance and depth to contemporary theology and Islamic studies.

Markfield Institute of Higher Education:https://www.mihe.ac.uk/

Madina Institute UK:Ustadha Hafza Iqbal has a university degree from the University of Wolverhampton in "Politics and World Religions." She has spent several years studying at "Sultan Bahu Trust" in Birmingham (UK) focusing on Arabic grammar. Her passion in the study of the Islamic Sciences took her to South Africa, where she studied at the Faculty of the Madina Institute and study "Usul-Ud-Deen" where she studied under several reputable scholars like:

Aqeedah, Ulum-ul-Hadith, Usul-ul-Fiqh with Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy
Arabic with Shaykh Ameinullah Abdur-Raoof
History and Uloom Ul Hadith with Shaykh Fukhrudeen Owaisi
Tazkiyyah with Shaykh Seeraj Hendericks
Hanafi and Shafi Fiqh, and Usool with Mufit Haroon al Azhari, Shaykh Ibrahim Moos and Shaykh Ahmad Saad al-Azhari

https://www.madinainstitute.org/instructors/ustadha-hafza-iqbal/

"Interactions with Sufi scholars throughout my teens including Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, Habib Khadim, Shaykh Babikr Ahmad, culminating into the initiation into the Rifa’i Qadiri Sufi order at the hands of Shaykh Muhammad an-Ninowy in my early twenties. And the subsequent work with Sufi organisations and their 33  community outreach projects including the Zawiyyah Foundation and Madina Institute UK."Source: Hafza Iqbal'sPh.D Thesis pdf 

Hafza Iqbal's Ph.D Thesis:Sufi Hybrids: Theorising Islamic Practical Theology An Exploration of Sufism in Contemporary Britain:Coventry University 2023

https://pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/85044367/Iqbal2023PhD.pdf

Muslims in the Neoliberal Empire - Tea Over Books with Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad & Dr William Barylo: Cambridge Muslim College- Jan7,2026

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/viY0DplG2BA?si=h2OzFebokTRxMIyQ

Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad sits down with Dr William Barylo to discuss his latest book, Muslims in the Neoliberal Empire, exploring questions of community, leadership, and responsibility, with particular attention to the role of grassroots initiatives, the evolving function of mosques, and the social and ethical challenges facing Muslim communities today. The discussion also considers the impact of modern political, economic, and technological pressures, including the rise of influencer culture and emerging technologies.

Amazon:British Muslims in the Neoliberal Empire: Resisting, Healing, and Flourishing in the Metacolonial Era (Oxford British Muslim Studies): William Barylo

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198924941?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

More than twenty years after 9/11, what has changed for Muslims in the West? From the occupation of lands, the world has entered a new era: the occupation of minds. State strategies have evolved to offer a dangerous gamble to people from post-colonial diasporas: remain at the margins or silently blend-in for the sake of an illusory liberation. From power-hungry Muslim politicians in elite private clubs to politically apathetic social media influencers, multi-million-pound neo-colonial 'humanitarian' charities, Muslim far-right sympathisers, and Muslim white supremacists, this new form of colonialism - Metacolonialism - has effectively turned the oppressed into the new oppressors. Under the promise of financial stability and representation, it has effectively put God for sale at the cost of people's culture, ethics, identity, and faith.
However, in the wake of the new Roaring Twenties marked by social justice movements, Muslims in Britain have crafted creative responses inspired by their faith in order to resist, heal and flourish despite minimal resources and support. Informal and independent from institutions, they have established pioneering alternatives in the fields of mental health, community organizing, the protection of the environment, heritage, the arts, and more. Since leadership divides, they have undertaken a duty of stewardship: considering the world and humanity as one ecosystem that one needs to care for future generations. This work is both a diagnosis and a toolbook looking at the initiatives that reshape public debates and offer working ideas for building a fair and just society.
William Barylo, Research Fellow, Sociology Department, University of Warwick
William Barylo is a Sociologist and visual artist using film and photography to explore issues around race, class, gender and belief through the perspective of decoloniality, restorative justice and stewardship. He looks at how grassroots initiatives in Europe and North America navigate societal challenges and find ways to resist, heal and flourish. Committed to diverting power from the ivory tower and developing practical solutions through his research findings, he co-creates fictions, documentaries and experimental works with community artists and activists.

 Dr William Barylo's Website:https://williambarylo.com/

YouTube Video:Did I make a mistake when choosing Islam? Pt1: Dr William Barylo - Faith & Sociology-April 28,2023

https://youtu.be/wssALO1HXbU?si=sHADL8937scEsYt_

YouTube Video:My Journey to Islam Pt.2 – Love & Hate Reactions: Dr William Barylo - Faith & Sociology -April28,2023

https://youtu.be/Fo2u-r6WVKE?si=NPm98q1jUNM-KVlW

YouTube Video:Polish Muslims: an unexpected meeting - full documentary: Light Inc. by William Barylo

https://youtu.be/mhVDtIuXfVg?si=qBOMU8QEwLUVolcP

Dec 12, 2014, Documentary about Muslims in Poland shot in Warsaw, Katowice, Bialystok, and the Tatar villages of Bohoniki and Kruszyniany.

Amazon:Young Muslim Change-Makers: William Barylo

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1138054151?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

The Muslim charity sector is stronger than ever, attracting thousands of volunteers and millions of pounds in donations. In times of mobile internet and social media, young people have set up small scale charities in urban areas, providing general social services to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Breaking away from bureaucratic non-governmental organisations and traditional faith-based charities, these smaller local associations are an attractive alternative to young people.
This book offers an exploration of the Muslim charity sector, from multi-million pound NGOs to discrete grassroots charities who are quietly giving rise to the next generation of Muslim entrepreneurs, scholars, politicians and other influencers. From studies of eleven charities across France, Poland and the UK, it investigates key questions around this young and dynamic movement. What motivates these young Muslim volunteers? What shapes the socially-engaged behaviour of young Muslims? What is the place and the role of Islam in their involvement and commitment to their causes? What social impact do these organisations have in their local area? How do they understand religion, faith, participation and citizenship? What challenges do they face and how do they overcome these? The book also examines how these grassroots are successful in helping to prevent extremism, curb Islamophobia and challenge colonialism.
The analysis of these small, local and original initiatives is fundamental in understanding the role of religiosity for these younger generations who are trying to articulate their multiple identities, cultures and traditions in a modern, secular society. Rich, detailed and vivid, the booksheds new lights on a popular field of research, unveiling exclusive key information on the subject of young European Muslims.

YouTube Video:The Empire Within: Muslim Subjectivity and the Umma: Ummatics and Dr William Barylo - Faith & Sociology-May 30,2026

https://youtu.be/xr0PdCLlRfE?si=O701jnFS76YoVWe_

Muslim life in the West has often been examined through the visible structures that shape belonging: state policy, surveillance, institutional regulation, and public debates over integration. Yet some of the most powerful forms of domination today may no longer operate primarily from above, but from within: through culture, aspiration, consumption, and the internalization of dominant norms. If colonial power once governed through direct rule, what happens when it begins to shape how Muslims understand themselves, relate to one another, and imagine their place in the world? This session explores that question by examining how contemporary forms of power shape Muslim subjectivity and collective life in Euro-American contexts. Moving beyond classical accounts of colonial domination, the discussion introduces the concept of “metacolonialism” to describe a more diffuse system of control that operates through neoliberal values, social conformity, and the pressures of legitimacy. At the same time, it asks whether localized forms of resistance—community organizing, alternative spaces, and practices of healing and renewal—can move beyond survival toward a broader horizon of collective agency. In this context, the deeper question emerges: can the Umma still be imagined not only as a shared identity, but as a meaningful form of social and political organization? Dr. William Barylo (@williambarylo) is a scholar of Muslim communities, decolonial thought, and political sociology, with research focused on the intersections of coloniality, neoliberalism, race, and Muslim collective life in contemporary Europe. His recent book, British Muslims in the Neoliberal Empire: Resisting, Healing, and Flourishing in the Metacolonial Era (Oxford University Press, 2025), examines how Muslim communities navigate structures of domination while creating alternative spaces of belonging, resistance, and renewal. His work brings together critical theory and grounded ethnographic engagement to rethink the possibilities of Muslim agency in the present. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Hamdija Begovic.

A Muslim American Slave: The Life of Omar Ibn Said:Omar Ibn Said (Author), Ala Alryyes (Editor)

 Amazon:A Muslim American Slave: The Life of Omar Ibn Said:Omar Ibn Said (Author), Ala Alryyes (Editor) https://www.amazon.com/dp/146967467X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Born to a wealthy family in West Africa around 1770, Omar Ibn Said was abducted and sold into slavery in the United States, where he came to the attention of a prominent North Carolina family after filling “the walls of his room with piteous petitions to be released, all written in the Arabic language,” as one local newspaper reported. Ibn Said soon became a local celebrity, and in 1831 he was asked to write his life story, producing the only known surviving American slave narrative written in Arabic.
In A Muslim American Slave, scholar and translator Ala Alryyes offers both a definitive translation and an authoritative edition of this singularly important work, lending new insights into the early history of Islam in America and exploring the multiple, shifting interpretations of Ibn Said’s narrative by the nineteenth-century missionaries, ethnographers, and intellectuals who championed it.
This edition presents the English translation on pages facing facsimile pages of Ibn Said’s Arabic narrative, augmented by Alryyes’s comprehensive introduction, contextual essays and historical commentary by leading literary critics and scholars of Islam and the African diaspora, photographs, maps, and other writings by Omar Ibn Said. The result is an invaluable addition to our understanding of writings by enslaved Americans and a timely reminder that “Islam” and “America” are not mutually exclusive terms.
This edition presents the English translation on pages facing facsimile pages of Ibn Said’s Arabic narrative, augmented by Alryyes’s comprehensive introduction and by photographs, maps, and other writings by Omar Ibn Said. The volume also includes contextual essays and historical commentary by literary critics and scholars of Islam and the African diaspora: Michael A. Gomez, Allan D. Austin, Robert J. Allison, Sylviane A. Diouf, Ghada Osman, and Camille F. Forbes. The result is an invaluable addition to our understanding of writings by enslaved Americans and a timely reminder that “Islam” and “America” are not mutually exclusive terms.
Best Books for General Audiences, selected by the American Association of School Librarians

Review:
This "autobiography of a Muslim slave is challenging an American narrative."--PBS Newshour "An indispensable introduction to the writing and world of Omar Ibn Said, whose Arabic slave narrative, masterfully translated and contextualized here, challenges our every assumption about American literature."--Keith Cartwright, University of North Florida"Expertly introduced, edited, and translated from the Arabic by Ala Alryyes, A Muslim American Slave: The Life of Omar Ibn Said offers the fullest historical, cultural, linguistic, and religious contexts for an understanding of this fascinating American slave narrative."--Werner Sollors, Harvard University"This critical study will enrich any undergraduate and graduate seminar on slavery, religion, literary resistance, and the development of an African American Islamic tradition under slavery."--H-Net Reviews"A rich exploration into the history of Islam and slavery in America."--Library Journal"In 'A Muslim American Slave,' Mr. Alryyes's excellent commentary is accompanied by other scholarly essays that examine Ibn Said's West African homeland and Michael Gomez's history of the antebellum influx of Muslim slaves to the United States. The reader gleans a sense not only of Omar Ibn Said but also of the historical forces that shaped him."--The Wall Street Journal
From the Publisher
Ala Alryyes is associate professor of comparative literature and English at Yale. He is author of Original Subjects: The Child, the Novel, and the Nation. He lives in Brooklyn.

YouTube Video:Conversation on the Omar Ibn Said Collection: Library of Congress - Feb27,2019

https://youtu.be/afSiWmkVAg8?si=ZiwjMOBPHsZ_GYEX

Scholars discussed the autobiography of Omar Ibn Said, the only known autobiography by a slave written in Arabic in the United States. It is a historically unique and important primary source for those trying to understand the connections between the Muslim communities in Western Africa and the slaves who continued to practice Islamic faith after being captured during the Atlantic slave trade. 

Speaker Biography: Mary Jane Deeb is chief of the African and Middle Eastern division at the Library of Congress. Speaker Biography: Ala Alryyes is a visiting associate professor of English, Queens College, CUNY. Speaker Biography: Sylviane A. Diouf is a visiting professor at Brown University. Speaker Biography: Adam Rothman is professor of history at Georgetown University.

Amazon:I Cannot Write My Life: Islam, Arabic, and Slavery in Omar ibn Said's America: Mbaye Lo, Carl W. Ernst 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/146967467X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Omar ibn Said (1770–1863) was a Muslim scholar from West Africa who spent more than fifty years enslaved in the North Carolina household of James Owen, brother of Governor John Owen. In 1831 Omar composed a brief autobiography, the only known narrative written in Arabic by an enslaved person in North America, and he became famous for his Arabic writings. His enslavers also provided him with an Arabic Bible and claimed Omar as a convert to Christianity, prompting wonder and speculation among amateur scholars of Islam, white slave owners, and missionaries. But these self-proclaimed experts were unable or unwilling to understand Omar’s writings, and his voice was suppressed for two centuries.
Mbaye Lo and Carl W. Ernst here weave fresh and accurate translations of Omar’s eighteen surviving writings, for the first time identifying his quotations from Islamic theological texts, correcting many distortions, and providing the fullest possible account of his life and significance. Placing Omar at the center of a broader network of the era’s literary and religious thought, Lo and Ernst restore Omar’s voice, his sophisticated engagement with Islamic and Christian theologies, his Arabic skills, and his extraordinary efforts to express himself and exert agency despite his enslavement.

YouTube Video:What is the autobiography of Omar ibn Said?: The Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, Stanford University -Jan 23,2023

https://youtu.be/k_HUDTls7lY?si=yiG0ukk9QHrtH0oY

Omar ibn Said (1770-1863), a Muslim scholar, was captured in West Africa and sold into slavery in America, where he spent over half a century enslaved to a prominent North Carolina family. He left behind a small collection of documents in Arabic that have remained poorly understood to this day. This presentation, based on the first critical edition of Omar’s Arabic writings, analyzes the longest of these documents , his 1831 “Autobiography.” Why did he announce twice, at the beginning of this document, "I cannot write my life"? What is the significance of his quotations from Islamic theological and mystical texts, which have escaped notice until now? These and other questions will be addressed, as part of a major reassessment of this important witness to the presence of Islam and Arabic at the beginning of Americas history. 

 Speakers:Carl Ernst: Professor Emeritus & William R. Kenan, Jr., Distinguished Professor; Co-Director, UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies; Associate Professor of the Practice of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke University 

Mbaye Lo: Associate Professor of the Practice of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Duke University

Sufi Master and Qur'an Scholar: Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri and the Lata'if al-isharat: Dr.Martin Nguyen

 Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Sufi-Master-Quran-Scholar-al-Qushayr/dp/0197265138

This book is the first extensive examination of the medieval Qur'an commentary known as the Lata'if al-isharat and the first critical biography of its author, the famous spiritual master Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri. Written in 5th/11th century Nishapur, an intellectual and cultural crossroads of the Muslim world, the Lata'if al-isharat has endured down through the centuries as an important work of Sufi exegesis. A mystical vision of reality is taught through its line-by-line treatment of the Qur'an as its author was writing as both a Sufi teacher and scholar. This study fully investigates al-Qushayri's life and historical horizon and carefully analyses the structure and method of the commentary. The primary aim of the book is to draw greater attention to the other traditions of exegesis that inform the Sufi approach of the Lata'if al-isharat, an understudied feature of many Sufi commentaries in general. In the case of this commentary, scholarly and pedagogical concerns for language, prophetic sayings, law and theology are interwoven into al-Qushayri's overarching mystical exegesis. Other important aspects of the author's intellectual identity and education clearly influenced the formation of al-Qushayri's Sufi worldview and as a consequence his interpretation of God's word. By delineating these other traditions of exegesis mentioned in al-Qushayri's biography and embedded in his Lata'if al-isharat, we can better appreciate how he and his commentary were part of a wider Sunni historical heritage in addition to the developing Sufi tradition.
Review:
"The detailed analyses and the vast cumulative data presented in Nguyen's work have produced a fresh, original, thorough and well-articulated book. It has the potential to become one of the main textbooks in the study of Sufism as well as, more generally, in the fields of hermeneutics and medieval Muslim culture." --Sara Sviri, Department of Arabic and Department of Comparative Religions, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"This excellent book is the first in-depth study in English of one of the monuments of Sufi Qur'an commentary, the Lata'if al-isharat of Abu'l-Qasim al-Qushayr?. Clearly written and well-annotated throughout, this timely study brings to light some important and hitherto unexplored aspects of the celebrated Sufi theologian Nishapur." --Annabel Keeler, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge
About the Author:
Dr. Martin Nguyen is Assistant Professor of Islamic Religious Traditions at Fairfield University, CT.

Website: Dr.Martin Nguyen, Scholar. Professor. Bibliophile. Theologian.

https://drmartinnguyen.com/

PDF:Laṭāʾif al-Ishārāt: Subtle Allusions:Sūras 1–4 -Abū l-Qāsim ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Qushayrī -Translated by Kristin Zahra Sands - Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought

https://rissc.jo/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Abul-Qasim-al-Qushayris-Lataif-al-Isharat-ebook.pdf

Book Review:Sufi Master and Qur'an Scholar: Ab ul-Qasim al-Qushayri and the Lata'if al-isharat: Dr.Martin Nguyen by Francesco Chiabotti Teaching and Research Temporary Attaché, The Institute for Research and Studies on the Arab and Muslim World (IREMAM) Aix-Marseille Université de Provence, France

https://distantreader.org/stacks/journals/ajiss/ajiss-962.pdf

PDF:Al-Tafsīr al-kabīr: An Investigation of al-Qushayrī’s Major Qur’an Commentary: Martin Nguyen Fairfield University USA

https://islamicana.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/martin-nguyen-al-tafsir-al-kabir-jss.pdf

Abstract: The mystic and scholar of Nishapur, Abū l-Qāsim al-Qushayrī, is widely acclaimed for his important treatise on the Sufiji Path, al-Risāla, and his Sufiji commentary of the Qur’an, Laṭāʾif al-ishārāt. However, a commentary composed during his early career has been largely overlooked despite its wide attestation in the biographical literature. Called al-Tafsīr al-kabīr or “the Major Commentary,” this work may only survive in manuscript form. At the center of the present study are two manuscripts from Leiden and Istanbul that appear to partially preserve Qushayrī’s earliest work of Qur’anic exegesis. By examining the various authorities cited in the text and cross-referencing relevant works, this study works to date the commentary of each text, to identify their respective commentarial influences and authorities, and to draw possible conclusions concerning how the manuscripts relate to one another and ultimately to Qushayrī, the alleged author.

A Cartography of Love: In Malcolm, with Malcolm, and through Malcolm I Martin Nguyen:Bridges of Virtues,Unity Productions Foundation- August4,2026

 YouTube Video: Malcolm X & the Virtue of Love

https://youtu.be/WolO0brI5rI?si=pXfeqXZmDT6WvldL

What if Malcolm X’s life was not simply a story of political awakening, but a profound spiritual journey shaped by love, imagination, and the search for God? In this feature interview with Bridges of Virtue, Martin Nguyen—Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University and a scholar of Islam, theology, storytelling, and the religious imagination—offers a fresh reading of Malcolm X’s life and legacy. Moving beyond familiar narratives of activism and racial justice, Nguyen explores how Malcolm’s intellectual and spiritual evolution reveals a deeper map of human transformation. Through the lenses of Islamic thought, memory, and moral imagination, the conversation examines Malcolm X as a figure whose life traced a path from anger to compassion, from certainty to openness, and from division toward a more expansive vision of human dignity. Together, we reflect on the role of faith, storytelling, and love in reshaping both individual lives and collective futures. This conversation invites viewers to reconsider Malcolm X not only as a revolutionary leader, but as a spiritual seeker whose journey continues to illuminate the possibilities of transformation today. Martin Nguyen is a Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University engaged in and committed to the work of Islam, theology, storytelling, and the religious imagination. Support our mission by: Subscribing ► @UPFTVWATCH Donating ► https://tinyurl.com/7dnxvcdn Learning more ► https://www.upf.tv 

Host: Abdul-Rehman Malik is an award winning journalist, educator and cultural organizer. Since June 2019 he has been Lecturer and Associate Research Scholar at the Yale Divinity School. He also serves as the Program Coordinator at Yale University’s Council on Middle East Studies & Director of the Muslim Leadership Lab, an innovative student leadership program being incubated at the Dwight Hall Center of Social Justice at Yale.

https://about.me/abdulrehmanmalik

Professor Martin Nguyen's Website:

https://drmartinnguyen.com/

Bridges of Virtues-Brochure PDF:Unity Productions Foundation:How Islam, the Abrahamic Faiths, and Philosophy Illuminate Love 

https://www.upf.tv/wp-content/uploads/sites/196/2025/09/Bridges-of-Virtue-Classroom-Guide.pdf

YouTube Video:The Life and Legacy of Malcolm X :: with Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah and Imam Zaid Shakir-Ta'leef Collective January 18,2015

Ta'leef Collective presents, in its entirety, a lecture given by Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah and Imam Zaid Shakir on the life and legacy of our beloved leader and teacher Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz).

https://youtu.be/dtpITUa8t2k?si=HR73bSRPOmupirAF

The Qur'an and the Just Society - Dr. Ramon Harvey: Centre for Islamic Knowledge-July,2024

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/XNZlEkMXwL8?si=-NtdoyHsOGgIYamu

Dr. Ramon Harvey is Aziz Foundation Lecturer in Islamic Studies at Cambridge Muslim College where he teaches Revealed Foundations on the BA in Islamic Studies. He received his MA and Ph.D. in Islamic studies from SOAS, University of London. His research focuses on Qur’anic studies, philosophical theology, and ethics, both studying the intellectual history of these disciplines and making his own contemporary interventions. Dr. Harvey’s first book, The Qur’an and the Just Society, was published by Edinburgh University Press in 2018. His latest book is Transcendent God, Rational World: A Maturidi Theology (Edinburgh University Press, 2021). It is a work of contemporary Muslim theology, drawing substantially on the Maturidi tradition (especially its eponym Abu Mansur al-Maturidi), as well as modern analytic and continental philosophy. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Comparative Islamic Studies and the series editor of the Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Scripture and Theology. Alongside his academic training, he has spent several years studying with traditionally trained Islamic scholars in the UK, has attended an intensive programme at Al-Azhar in Cairo, graduated from the Al-Salam Institute Islamic Scholarship Programme and was awarded the shahada al-‘alimiyya (Licence in Islamic Scholarship) under the supervision of Shaykh Mohammad Akram Nadwi.

Amazon:The Qur'an and the Just Society: Ramon Harvey (Author), M.A.S. Abdel Haleem (Foreword)

https://www.amazon.com/Quran-Just-Society-Ramon-Harvey/dp/1474403298

What is justice? How can it be realised within society? These are universal concerns and are central to the primary scripture of Islam, the Qur’an. Utilising a pioneering theological and hermeneutic framework adapted from both classical Muslim literature and contemporary academic studies of the Qur’an, Ramon Harvey explores the underlying principles of its system of social justice. Dividing his book into four parts, he covers Qur’anic Ethics, Political Justice (politics, peace, war), Distributive Justice (fair trade, alms, marriage, inheritance) and Corrective Justice (public and private crimes). His reading of the Qur’an reconstructs the text as normatively engaging these spheres of justice in their socio-historical context and lays the foundations for future contemporary articulations of Qur’anic ethics.

Review:
An excellent book, clear, comprehensive, and well-argued throughout...for anyone interested in this aspect of the Qur’an this monograph is going to be an important addition to the literature...If the book has one merit above others, and it has many merits, it is in the close reading that Harvey gives to the text and the very varied sources of interpretation on which he draws; it really is an exercise in hermeneutic virtuosity. -- Oliver Leaman, University of Kentucky ― Journal of Qur’anic Studies

This is a very significant study of the Qur’an… Insightful and timely, it leads the reader on an exploratory journey through the various manifestations of the objective of divine scripture, "so that people may uphold justice". ― M. Abdel Haleem, School of Oriental and African Studies

Book Review:The Qur'an and the Just Society:Arnold Yasin Mol -The Maydan-Sept4,2019

https://themaydan.com/2019/09/book-review-the-quran-and-the-just-society-by-ramon-harvey-part-i-reviewed-by-arnold-yasin-mol/

Amazon:Justice in Islam: New Ethical Perspectives: Ramon Harvey, Daniel Tutt 

https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Islam-New-Ethical-Perspectives/dp/1642056561

From its roots in the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to its branches in contemporary political and social movements, Islam has always been concerned with the question of social justice. The promise of a just order on earth has motivated both the reflections of the community of scholars and the actions of Muslims who have striven to realize it within their societies. Despite the disappointments that history has often delivered, the hope for justice remains undimmed as does the struggle to achieve it today. This concise volume focuses on some of the ways that the theme of justice is explored in emerging currents of Islamic thought. Chapters discuss new theological and ethical proposals in the light of contemporary philosophical developments; ideas of gender justice that provoke a reformist challenge to the received tradition; and regional contexts, such as Turkey, Iran and Japan, in which the question of Islam’s relationship to justice is sharpened by the particularities of history and locale. The contributions to this collection raise the prospect that if justice can be imagined more perfectly as an Islamic ideal, perhaps it can be brought into reality.

Ramon Harvey, Ed. (Aziz Foundation Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Cambridge Muslim College) works in the fields of Qur’anic studies, theology, and ethics, both as an intellectual historian and theologian. He is the author of The Qur’an and the Just Society (2018) and Transcendent God, Rational World: A Māturīdī Theology (2021), which are published by Edinburgh University Press. He is also the editor of the monograph series Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Scripture and Theology. He earned his doctorate from SOAS, University of London. 

Daniel Tutt, Ed. (Lecturer in Philosophy, George Washington University) works on continental philosophy, contemporary social and political movements, Islamic thought and psychoanalysis. His forthcoming book is entitled Psychoanalysis and the Politics of the Family: The Crisis of Initiation and will be published in the Palgrave Lacan Series in 2022. His writing has been published in Philosophy Now, The Islamic Monthly and Crisis and Critique, among other publications. He teaches philosophy at George Washington University, Marymount University and has taught inmates through the Georgetown University Prisons and Justice Initiative.

Daniel Tutt's Website: https://danieltutt.com/

Daniel Tutt, Producer & Director of Programs, Unity Productons Foundation

https://www.upf.tv/about-upf/upf-team/daniel-tutt/

PDF: Justice in Islam: New Ethical Perspectives:Ramon Harvey, Daniel Tutt

https://ramonharvey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/justice-in-islam-new-ethical-perspectives-harvey-and-tutt.pdf

Modern Muslim Theology:Engaging God and the World with Faith and Imagination- Dr. Martin Nguyen (CICW Book Talks): CICW Media-April 10,2020

 YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/live/2MUdXva5j68?si=z_wkW5CY5D6fJ9sL

Dr. Martin Nguyen (Professor of Islamic Studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA) is interviewed about his latest book, "Modern Muslim Theology: Engaging God and the World with Faith and Imagination." This book aims to bring Muslim theology into the present day. Focused on the relationship of the human to the divine and of faith to righteousness, the book presents a new theological vision rooted in the practice of the religious imagination. Rather than a purely academic pursuit, Modern Muslim Theology argues that theology is a creative process and discusses how the Islamic tradition can help contemporary practitioners negotiate their relationships with God, with one another, and with the rest of creation. Center for Islam in the Contemporary World (CICW) at Shenandoah University is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt private foundation, affiliated with Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, USA. You can learn more about CICW at https://www.contemporaryislam.org/.

Host: Ermin Sinanović: Executive Director of the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World (CICW) at Shenandoah University. 

Website of Ermin Sinanović: Scholarship and Policy analysis:The Muslim world
https://www.erminsinanovic.com/

Amazon:Modern Muslim Theology: Engaging God and the World with Faith and Imagination- Martin Nguyen 

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Muslim-Theology-Engaging-Imagination/dp/153811500X

his book aims to bring Muslim theology into the present day. Focused on the relationship of the human to the divine and of faith to righteousness, the book presents a new theological vision rooted in the practice of the religious imagination. Rather than a purely academic pursuit, Modern Muslim Theology argues that theology is a creative process and discusses how the Islamic tradition can help contemporary practitioners negotiate their relationships with God, with one another, and with the rest of creation. The book re-conceptualizes key religious ideas, symbols, and rites - like revelation, tradition, and prayer - in order to develop an engaged approach to Islam that simultaneously fosters faith and enacts righteousness in the modern world. The theological framework developed within draws widely from the intellectual and spiritual traditions of Islam that stretch from the religion's prophetic past up to the present. With the aim of making the work of theology accessible to all, Modern Muslim Theology uses vivid narratives and evocative images of famous religious personalities, sacred sites, and aspects of everyday life to explore and define concepts central for a theology of engagement.
Review:
“Muslim theology has traditionally been understood as involving doctrines and beliefs, as emphasizing the conceptual and cognitive aspects of the faith. Nguyen (Fairfield Univ.) considers Muslim theology in a different way. He understands it as encompassing all aspects of a believer’s life―the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual elements. He believes Muslim theology should lead people to see their lives as an ongoing response to God involving active engagement with others and society. Nguyen looks at prayer, the Koran, imagination, creativity, Muslim tradition, prostration before God, righteousness in words and actions, and protest. He intends this book for both laypersons and scholars, since he believes that theology should address all believers and not just a small, elite segment of them. Nguyen's fresh approach makes Islam relevant to the present time, in which people are influenced by postmodernism and need to see faith in action and not simply through its doctrines and ideas. Nguyen likely will encounter resistance and criticism from other Muslim scholars, but his creative vision for theology may well have significant influence.
Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.” ―Choice Reviews
“Informed by his deep reading of scripture and the Islamic tradition, as well as his grounding in the academic study of religion, Nguyen offers a theology that is of interest to academics as well as to people of faith, and to those who wish to learn more about Islam regardless of their orientation.” ―Zayn Kassam, Pomona College
“Nguyen successfully inhabits the pastoral voice―the book is as much an intellectual and spiritual reflection as a motivating call to action.” ―Mairaj Syed, University of California, Davis
“This is a courageous and bold voice which brings together the layers of tradition and worship in an engaged conversation on the topic of theological ethics. Learned as well as accessible, Martin Nguyen shows how a lived Islam reflects the ethical life Muslims around the world as well as in America practice and cherish. It is a fascinating search of a scholar and an engaged participant for a Muslim ethical narrative in late modernity.” ―Ebrahim Moosa, professor of Islamic Studies, University of Notre Dame
From the Back Cover:
This book aims to bring Muslim theology into the present day. Rather than a purely academic pursuit, Modern Muslim Theology argues that theology is a creative process and discusses how the Islamic tradition can help contemporary practitioners negotiate their relationships with God, with one another, and with the rest of creation.
About the Author:
Martin Nguyen is Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Faculty Chair for Diversity, and Director of Islamic Studies at Fairfield University. His work revolves around the Qur'an and its interpretation, theology and ethics, Sufism, and the intersection of race and religion.

PDF: Book Review:Faraz Sheikh Assistant Professor of Religious Ethics College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/file:///Users/User/Downloads/Modern+Muslim+Theology-Engaging+God+and+the+World+with+Faith+and+Imagination+(by+Martin+Nguyen).pdf

PDF: Book Review:Amani Khelifa -Journal of Islamic Faith and Practice | Vol. 4, Issue 1

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/file:///Users/User/Downloads/Khelifa-book-reivew.pdf

Article PDF:Faith-Rooted Thinking on Matters of Public Concern: A Muslim Response to William L. Sachs :Martin Nguyen 

https://www.anglicantheologicalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Nguyen_102.2.pdf

Article: Could the Kaaba Represent Tradition? Martin Nguyen - Renovatio, The Journal of Zaytuna College-Feb6,2018

https://renovatio.zaytuna.edu/article/could-the-kaaba-represent-tradition

"Today, many avenues exist for Muslim communities to pursue the pressing theological questions they face. Unsurprisingly, the doors of possibility opened by the imagination are manifold. Past generations found theological recourse in scholastic theology and in the rhetoric of eschatology. They found it in deep readings of the word of God. They found it in art, poetry, and sacred spaces. They found it in transformative experiences and pious pursuits of many varieties. By what routes of the imagination can theologies be crafted that respond most faithfully and effectively to the religious expectations, lived realities, and salvific aspirations of communities of faith today? Or phrased differently, where will our traditions take us and where will we take our traditions?"