The Sound of Salvation: Voice, Gender, and the Sufi Mediascape in China with Guangtian Ha: Sigur Center for Asian Studies GWU-Feb 1,2022

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/8b2eHL44p5s?si=ecjkcmtimkK_R3J9

In this edition of the 2022 New Books in Asian Studies series, the Sigur Center hosted a discussion of The Sound of Salvation: Voice, Gender, and the Sufi Mediascape in China with author Guangtian Ha, Assistant Professor of Religion at Haverford College. The event was moderated by Eric Schluessel, Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs at GW. The Jahriyya Sufis—a primarily Sinophone order of Naqshbandiyya Sufism in northwestern China—inhabit a unique religious soundscape. The hallmark of their spiritual practice is the “loud” (jahr) remembrance of God in liturgical rituals featuring distinctive melodic vocal chants. The first ethnography of this order in any language, The Sound of Salvation draws on nearly a decade of fieldwork to reveal the intricacies and importance of Jahriyya vocal recitation. Guangtian Ha examines how the use of voice in liturgy helps the Jahriyya to sustain their faith and the ways it has enabled them to endure political persecution over the past two and a half centuries. He situates the Jahriyya in a global multilingual network of Sufis and shows how their characteristic soundscapes result from transcultural interactions among Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Chinese Muslim communities. Ha argues that the resilience of Jahriyya Sufism stems from the diversity and multiplicity of liturgical practice, which he shows to be rooted in notions of Sufi sainthood. He considers the movement of Jahriyya vocal recitation to new media forms and foregrounds the gendered opposition of male voices and female silence that structures the group’s rituals. Spanning diverse disciplines—including anthropology, ethnomusicology, Islamic studies, sound studies, and media studies—and using Arabic, Persian, and Chinese sources, The Sound of Salvation offers new perspectives on the importance of sound to religious practice, the role of gender in Chinese Islam, and the links connecting Chinese Muslims to the broader Islamic world.

Amazon:The Sound of Salvation: Voice, Gender, and the Sufi Mediascape in China:Guangtian Ha

https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Salvation-Mediascape-Weatherhead-University/dp/023119806X

Winner, 2023 Clifford Geertz Prize in Anthropology of Religion, Society for the Anthropology of Religion

The Jahriyya Sufis―a primarily Sinophone order of Naqshbandiyya Sufism in northwestern China―inhabit a unique religious soundscape. The hallmark of their spiritual practice is the “loud” (jahr) remembrance of God in liturgical rituals featuring distinctive melodic vocal chants.
The first ethnography of this order in any language, The Sound of Salvation draws on nearly a decade of fieldwork to reveal the intricacies and importance of Jahriyya vocal recitation. Guangtian Ha examines how the use of voice in liturgy helps the Jahriyya to sustain their faith and the ways it has enabled them to endure political persecution over the past two and a half centuries. He situates the Jahriyya in a global multilingual network of Sufis and shows how their characteristic soundscapes result from transcultural interactions among Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Chinese Muslim communities. Ha argues that the resilience of Jahriyya Sufism stems from the diversity and multiplicity of liturgical practice, which he shows to be rooted in notions of Sufi sainthood. He considers the movement of Jahriyya vocal recitation to new media forms and foregrounds the gendered opposition of male voices and female silence that structures the group’s rituals.
Spanning diverse disciplines―including anthropology, ethnomusicology, Islamic studies, sound studies, and media studies―and using Arabic, Persian, and Chinese sources, The Sound of Salvation offers new perspectives on the importance of sound to religious practice, the role of gender in Chinese Islam, and the links connecting Chinese Muslims to the broader Islamic world.
Review:
A stunning piece of work. The study of Islam in China has been crying out for works that do justice to the specificities of local traditions while maintaining a productive conversation with the wider field of Islamic studies. This book bridges that divide in a way that few pieces of scholarship have been able to up until now. It is an immensely valuable ethnography in its own right, but also one that is theoretically provocative and that offers scholars outside the immediate field of Islam in China a vantage point from which to rethink their views of Sufi practices and related forms of ritual. -- David Brophy, author of Uyghur Nation: Reform and Revolution on the Russia-China Frontier

This beautifully written book takes us into the unknown sonic world of China’s contemporary Sufi Muslims. Guangtian Ha's deep understanding of these people and their very possibly doomed tradition comes over on every page. This is a marvelous ethnography, rendered with subtlety, sophistication, and panache. -- Caroline Humphrey, coauthor of A Monastery in Time: The Making of Mongolian Buddhism

This is a substantial, unpretentious, and compelling ethnographic study focused on Jahriyya liturgical recitation in northwest China. Marked by expository clarity and absence of jargon, it is a wide-ranging and thoughtful, even wise, book that evidences the author’s impressive linguistic, historical, ethnographic, and theoretical sophistication. Whether exploring technical issues of multilanguage terminology, gender discrimination, or musicality and textual content of recitation, Ha always keeps larger questions about methodology and historical context, as well as the Jahriyya tradition (and its severely threatened survival), admirably in focus. -- William A. Graham, author of Beyond the Written Word: Oral Aspects of Scripture in the History of Religion

Sensitive and illuminating work. ― Inner Asia

Offers new perspectives on the importance of sound to religious practice, the role of gender in Chinese Islam, and the links connecting Chinese Muslims to the broader Islamic world. ― Reading Religion

This volume undeniably offers a rare and fascinating insight into Sufism in China. ― Religious Studies Review

A nuanced, sophisticated and provocative work that is a welcome contribution to the field of Chinese Islamic Studies. ― Journal of Religious History

Thanks to Ha’s elaborate and precise prose, which is peppered with sardonic humor, the book sustains readers’ attention throughout the pages. ― Journal of Asian Studies

This is a fascinating book that would deserve to be widely read no matter when it had been published. In the present moment, it is an essential tribute to the multiplicity of Sufism in China. ― Journal of the American Academy of Religion
About the Author:
Guangtian Ha is assistant professor of religion at Haverford College. He is coeditor of Ethnographies of Islam in China (2020) and The Contest of the Fruits (2021).

Amazon:Ethnographies of Islam in China Rachel Harris (Editor, Contributor), Guangtian Ha (Editor, Contributor)

https://www.amazon.com/Ethnographies-Islam-China-Rachel-Harris/dp/0824883349

In the late 1970s Islam regained its force by generating novel forms of piety and forging new paths in politics throughout the world, including China. The Islamic revival in China, which came to fruition in the 2000s and the 2010s, prompted increases in government suppression but also intriguing resonances with the broader Muslim world―from influential theoretical and political contestations over Muslim women’s status, the popularization of mass media and the appearance of new patterns of consumption, to increases in transnational Muslim migration. Although China does not belong to the “Islamic world” as it is conventionally understood, China’s Muslims have strengthened and expanded their global connections and impact. Such significant shifts in Chinese Muslim life have received scant scholarly attention until now. With contributions from a wide variety of scholars―all sharing a commitment to the value of the ethnographic approach―this volume provides the first comprehensive account of China’s Islamic revival since the 1980s as the country struggled to recover from the wreckage of the Cultural Revolution.
The authors show the multifarious nature of China’s Islam revival, which defies any reductive portrayal that paints it as a unified development motivated by a common ideology, and demonstrate how it was embedded in China’s broader economic transition. Most importantly, they trace the historical genealogies and sociopolitical conditions that undergird the crackdown on Muslim life across China, confronting head-on the difficulties of working with Muslims―Uyghur Muslims in particular―at a time of intense religious oppression, intellectual censorship, and intrusive surveillance technology. With chapters on both Hui and Uyghur Muslims, this book also traverses boundaries that often separate studies of these two groups, and illustrates with great clarity the value of disciplinary and methodological border-crossing. As such, Ethnographies of Islam in China is essential reading for those interested in Islam’s complexity in contemporary China and its broader relevance to the Muslim world and the changing nature of Chinese society seen through the prism of religion.

YouTube Video:Naqshbandi Sufi Hadra in Linxia, China (Mostly Translated) – Sufi Dhikr – Ibn al-Faridh-Hashim Aziz -Jan 9,2023

https://youtu.be/rR8ybTcHo5s?si=IwP4Wq1uAwS48Zz4

Don't forget to a) press the CC button to enable the translation/subtitles and b) change the quality to 1080p. This gathering of Khufiyya Sufis took place after Fajr (early morning prayer), at 6:30am on the 28th March 2014, at the North Mosque in Linxia, Gansu province, China. The Khufiyya are a branch of the larger Naqshbandi tariqah (Sufi order) founded by Baha al-Din Naqshband in the 14th century. ¹ i.e. no god but the one God. Known as the tahlil or kalimah, this is the most central dhikr (litany for the remembrance of God) in Islam. It is considered to be an affirmation of absolute monotheism, and therefore the first half of the declaration of faith required to convert to Islam (the shahadah). ² The second half of the shahadah 0:00 Chants of "Laa ilaha illallah" 5:00 Chants of "Allah" 7:00 Chants of "Hu" 8:15 Antum Furudhi Wa Nafli This is an almost verbatim poem by Ibn al-Faridh with a few added verses that I can't make out. Ibn al-Faridh was a 12th-century Syrian-Egyptian poet who is often considered to be the Arab Rumi due to his prolific and profound Sufi poetry. His Khamriyyah ("Wine Ode") is considered to be his masterpiece, and at 700 verses his Nazm al-Suluk ("Path of the seeker") remains one of the longest pieces of Sufi poetry ever written.Description from the Sounding Islam Project: "These worshippers belong to the Khufiyya menhuan, one of the main branches of the Sufi orders that were introduced into this part of China in the late 17th century. The menhuan are both socio-economic and religio-political institutions which grew out of the Sufi schools established by followers of early saintly leaders. The Central Asian Sufi Naqshbandi order, founded by Bahar al’Din Naqshband (d. 1389), is represented in Linxia by two menhuan: the Jahriyya and Khufiyya. More than twenty branches of the Khufiyya order are active across China today, especially in the northwest. The Huasi branch of the Khufiyya menhuan was established by Ma Laichi, who travelled widely in Middle East, and whose tomb lies in Linxia." Thanks to Ruard Absaroka for recording the video, and the excellent Sounding Islam China project for making it available.

YouTube Video:Sufi Hadra in Guangzhou, China (Mostly Translated) – FULL – Sufi Dhikr – الذكر الصوفي في الصين: Hashim Aziz- June25,2021

https://youtu.be/x-X_hHids3o?si=DliZbcZV22U-xMJY

Remember to switch to 1080p and enable CCs/captions for the translation. ¹ Arabic language greeting used by Muslims between each other Thanks to Ibrahim and Dawoud for making out a few lines that I couldn't. Unfortunately there are still some untranslated parts, which could either be Arabic, Mandarin or Cantonese. If anyone with better ears/hardware/knowledge of Chinese than me can fill in the missing lines I would appreciate it a lot and credit you for your contributions. Hui Muslims (the largest and most mainstream ethnic group of Muslims in China) commemorate the mawlid (birth of the Prophet Muhammad) with a hadra near the tomb of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, on Friday 10th February 2012. Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas was a beloved uncle of the Prophet who was purportedly the first to bring Islam to China in the 7th century. His tomb is located in the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. These Sufis are likely to either belong to the Naqshbandi Khufiyya or Naqshbandi Jahriyya tariqah (Sufi order). Credit goes to Hafiz for the source videos:

Islamic China: An Asian History, a book release conversation with Rian Thum: Manchester China Institute-March3,2026

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/tnYuEwCc9sg?si=uJmgjo63vQuFGdN_

Islamic China: An Asian History, a book release conversation with author Rian Thum Dr Rian Thum is a Senior Lecturer in East Asian History at the University of Manchester. Rian's book is called 'Islamic China: An Asian History' and is available to purchase now. Dr David Stroup is a Senior Lecturer of Chinese Politics at the University of Manchester. This event took place at Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester on Tuesday 10th Feb 2026 from 12:30 to 14:00; a talk followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

Amazon:Islamic China: An Asian History: Rian Thum

https://www.amazon.com/Islamic-China-History-Rian-Thum/dp/0674976800

A deeply learned reassessment of the history of Chinese Muslims, who since the fourteenth century have been subject to a constant program of minoritization.
For more than a millennium, Islam has been a Chinese religion, and native-born Chinese Muslims have played important roles in their homeland―as butchers, merchants, and farmers; diplomats, scholar-officials, and royal astronomers. Yet the Muslims of China have often been understood as inherently foreign, incompatible with Chinese culture. In this reappraisal, Rian Thum recaptures the ordinariness of Chinese Muslims. In doing so, he suggests that these communities, whose classification has so often been seen as problematic, can teach us about the ways social categories are made and maintained in the first place.
Firmly rooted in Chinese and long-neglected Perso-Arabic sources, Islamic China traces the interlinked histories of twenty Chinese Muslims, some famous and some obscure, spread across multiple ethnicities, sects, and centuries. Their stories―emphasizing the diversity of Chinese Muslim communities and their continuous exchanges with other groups both within and beyond China―cut through the flattening narratives that have obscured China’s Muslim heritage. Taken together, the experiences chronicled here offer a fresh view of Islamic China, stretching across Central, Southeast, and South Asia―and of China itself.
While focused on the Ming, Qing, and early Republican eras, Thum also harkens back to earlier centuries and traces the inheritances of this history to the present. Islamic China makes the compelling argument that the abstractions brought to bear on the past have practical implications in today’s People’s Republic of China, where the state enforces an oppressive regime of differentiation and control aimed broadly at Muslims and is routinely exposed for atrocities committed against particular subgroups.
Review:
“Thum is meticulous in providing historical, religious, social and religious context…Although for the most part scholarly, Thum also includes long passages of on-the-ground reportage and interviews (among other things, he likes hunting down copies of these books). Whether Thum succeeds in making the Muslims of China ‘ordinary’, I will leave to others. What he does do is imbue selected personages with personality, intellectual depth and fascination.”―Peter Gordon, Asian Review of Books

“Thum is a beautiful writer…[he] enlivens [this book] with storytelling about individuals and also about objects, about the circulation of books from different places and different sets of maps. He tracks the way that books flowed in and out of China, and how different languages could be used by the people involved in this.”―Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Five Books

“Proposes an important methodological shift in the study of historic and contemporary Chinese Muslims, arguing that they should be understood as simultaneously authentically Chinese and Muslim.”―M. C. Brose, Choice

“Readers searching for insights into doctrine and religious education of China’s Muslims need go no further. A deep dive into Sino-Islamic culture.”―Kirkus

“Beautifully written and on the cutting edge of scholarship, Islamic China is the rare book that is perfect for both those new to the subject and those deeply immersed in it.”―Valerie Hansen, author of The Year 1000: When Globalization Began

“Intellectually, linguistically, and technically virtuosic, this beautifully written book is an astonishing journey around the diverse, interconnected landscapes of Islamic China. A vivid, deeply erudite history of Chinese Muslims, it is essential reading for anyone interested in religion, culture, and society in Asia.”―Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global History

“Islamic China is a fundamental reconceptualization of Islam in China that folds both back into a larger, Inter-Asian history and geography of continuous connections, rather than eras of isolation and exceptionalism. This is a fresh, agile, and adventurous book that knocks open the wooden box of minority studies in China and shines a clear light for others to follow.”―Engseng Ho, author of The Graves of Tarim: Genealogy and Mobility across the Indian Ocean

“In recent decades, historians have increasingly incorporated the history of Islam in China into the broader narrative of China's past. Rian Thum takes us to the next phase with this book, by treating this history as Asian history. Transcending linguistic and historical boundaries across Asia, Islamic China stands out as a significant accomplishment and signals a paradigm shift in the field.”―Zvi Ben-Dor Benite, author of The Dao of Muhammad: A Cultural History of Muslims in Late Imperial China
About the Author:
Rian Thum is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Manchester. A contributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Nation, he is the author of The Sacred Routes of Uyghur History, winner of the Fairbank Prize for East Asian History from the American Historical Association and the Hsu Prize for East Asian Anthropology from the American Anthropological Association.

Podcast:Islamic China with Rian Thum
Islam has been part of China’s religious and cultural fabric for over a millennium, yet often it is seen as a foreign element. The author of a new study explains just how wrong that is.Alec Ash-Feb 3,2026
https://chinabooksreview.com/2026/02/03/rian-thum/

Asian Review of Books:Islamic China: An Asian History: Rian Thum-Peter Gordon-Jan 4,2026

https://asianreviewofbooks.com/islamic-china-an-asian-history-by-rian-thum/

Living with the Qur'an: A Yearlong Journey to Falling in Love with Allah's Words by Aliyah Umm Raiyaan (Author): Facebook

 Facebook: Aliyah Umm Raiyaan Quadri

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CfpJxqdhm/

Amazon:Living with the Qur'an: A Yearlong Journey to Falling in Love with Allah's Words by Aliyah Umm Raiyaan (Author):https://www.amazon.com/Living-Quran-Yearlong-Journey-Falling-ebook/dp/B0G2YKGN2F?ref_=ast_author_mpb

In Living with the Qur'an, Sunday Times bestselling author Aliyah Umm Raiyaan invites you to embark upon a beautiful and interactive year-long journey with the Perfect Words of Allah. Through each of its chapters—one for every week of the year—you will discover a four-step process to:Contemplate the meanings of verses of the Qur'an through tafseer, personal stories, and spiritual reflections
Answer and journal a powerful question to create a shift in your soul
Take three simple actions throughout the week to tangibly apply the verses
Fall in love with The Author, Allah 'azza wa jal
Practical, personal and deeply intimate, Living with the Qur'an is for anyone wanting to cultivate a life-long close relationship with the Book of Allah. Through contemplation and personal application, experience the Qur'an as a personal guide specifically for you. May it be your constant companion throughout the journey of your life.

Review:
"In a world filled with noise and distraction, this book is a gentle yet powerful call to return to the Qur'an – not just as a book we recite, but as a way of life. Aliyah Umm Raiyaan invites us to journey through the Qur'an with reflection, sincerity, and heart. Living with the Qur'an is not only a book you read – it's one that changes how you live. A must-have for every Muslim home.
This beautiful book is a gentle companion for anyone seeking to live with the light of the Qur'an in their heart. Aliyah Umm Raiyaan reminds us that the Qur'an is not just to be read - it is to be lived, loved, and turned to in every moment of our lives. May it inspire you to draw closer to Allah one verse at a time."― - Mufti Menk

About the Author:
Aliyah Umm Raiyaan reverted to Islam as a young woman and has been involved in UK dawah for over twenty years. In 2010, she founded Solace UK, a charity that helps women who have reverted to Islam and find themselves in difficulty. In 2019 she launched a YouTube show called Honest Tea Talk, which brought unscripted conversations to the table about raw unspoken topics related to the Muslim community. She continues to devote her time to helping women achieve their full potential whilst emphasising the importance of developing a personal and close relationship with Allah. She lives in East London with her family.

Aliya Umm Raiyaan Website:

https://www.aliyahummraiyaan.com/

Solace: CEO: Aliyah Umm Raiyaan 

https://www.solaceuk.org/

Supporting revert women beyond the shahadah
At Solace, our heartfelt mission is to provide unwavering holistic support to revert women, embracing those in difficulty and nurturing those who have embraced Islam. Whether you’re facing personal difficulties, relationship struggles, or financial constraints, we’re here to offer you a compassionate hand and a guiding light.
Visit our Get help section to explore how we help revert women and discover how we can support you on your journey of healing and empowerment.
Remember, you are not alone.

The Power of Du'a(Supplication): Aliyah Umm Raiyaan (Author): Masjid Al-Ikhlas and Cambridge Islamic Centre-Dec 14,2025

YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/live/wXcL7pdW54U?si=HnjjReozRymE2vPu

Amazon: The Power of Du'a(Supplication): Aliyah Umm Raiyaan (Author)

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Dua-Aliyah-Umm-Raiyaan/dp/1846048184

What seems impossible can become possible through du'a In The Power of Du'a, Sunday Times bestselling author, advocate within Islam and revert, Aliyah Umm Raiyaan takes you on a journey that shows how faith and practising du'a can transform your life. Featuring inspirational real-life stories from those who have experienced miraculous results from living with du'a, this book is a comforting step by step guide to revive your personal supplications to Al Mujeeb - The One Who Responds. Through the journey of life's challenges and struggles, you will learn how to prepare your heart and then ask of Allah from a place of sincerity and certainty. The Power of Du'a provides tools to navigate the response to your du'a, developing a close and trusting relationship with The Most High. Deeply moving and uplifting,The Power of Du'a is for anyone looking to reflect, reshape their dialogue with the Divine and walk in complete faith - embracing the perfect plans Allah has for each and every one of us.

Review:
'Du'aa or supplication is one of the cornerstones of worship in Islam. Almighty Allah wants us to worship Him by calling out to Him, asking Him, seeking His help and even begging Him. He creates a situation of helplessness or just a simple need in our lives to give us the opportunity to reach out to Him. This must be done in the correct way. The way taught by the Prophet Muhammad pbuh.
This book teaches us what we need to know about Du'aa and supplication; the correct way and the ideal wording. I believe it will be of great benefit to those who want their doors flung open by Allah. It empowers us in a unique way in this topic.
May Allah Almighty bless Aliyah Umm Raiyaan and accept her effort. May He guide us to worship Him the way He wants and accept our supplications. Aameen.'― Mufti Menk
About the Author:
Aliyah Umm Raiyaan reverted to Islam in 1999 as a young woman and has been involved in UK dawah for over twenty years. In 2010, she founded Solace UK, a charity that helps women who have reverted to Islam and find themselves in difficulty. In 2019, she launched a YouTube show called Honest Tea Talk, which brought unscripted conversations to the table about raw unspoken topics related to the Muslim community. She continues to devote her time to helping women achieve their full potential whilst emphasising the importance of developing a personal and close relationship with Allah. She lives in East London with her family. She is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Ramadan Reflections and The Power of Du'a.

Facebook Page:Aliyah Umm Raiyaan Quadri

https://www.facebook.com/umm.raiyaan.7/

YouTube Video:From Revert to Sunday Times Bestselling Author | Aliyah Umm Raiyaan: Muslim Women Awards - July 19,2026

https://youtu.be/FnYkTeL-uiE?si=-PaSg6SL3C2GMlUO

In this episode of the Muslim Women Awards Podcast, we sit down with Aliyah Umm Raiyaan - Sunday Times bestselling author, founder of Solace UK, and a passionate advocate for Muslim women. Aliyah shares her remarkable journey to Islam, how sincere du’a opened unexpected doors in her life, the story behind publishing Ramadan Reflections and The Power of Du’a with Penguin, and why trusting Allah’s plan has shaped every stage of her journey. We also explore homeschooling, motherhood, self-development, making time for yourself, serving the Muslim community, and what it means to live a life of purpose while staying connected to your faith. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practical advice, or powerful reminders about tawakkul, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss. In this episode, we discuss: Aliyah’s journey to Islam
Becoming a Sunday Times bestselling author
The story behind Ramadan Reflections and The Power of Du’a
The power of sincere du’a and tawakkul
Homeschooling and raising children
Self-development and building a relationship with yourself
Winning the Founders Choice award at the Muslim Women Awards 2025
Living a life of faith, purpose, and impact

Towards Ihsan: Our Journey to Allah | Grand Finale | Birmingham | Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi:Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif-Jul 22, 2026

 YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/live/CzvDZXSLVl0?si=lClIYWmWwBhRpvB5

This was the concluding gathering of the Towards Ihsan: Our Journey to Allah UK Tour with His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, at Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif on Wednesday 22nd July 2026. This special evening was one of remembrance, recitation, guidance and companionship as we concluded this blessed journey together. 

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, the Royal Aal al-Bayt has included him as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world, with the 2026 edition placing him 33rd. His bestselling book, ‘Refuting ISIS’, has been published in 10 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.

YouTube Video:Towards Ihsan - Our Journey to Allah | Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi-Waltham Forest Islamic Association-Live from WFIA Jamia Masjid Ghousia Jun 29, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/mssTaP4M-a0?si=NzE8KQqBH2pgvqSl

YouTube Video: Towards Ihsan - Our Journey to Allah | Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi- Birmingham Central Mosque-Live -July 4,2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/leE1W01c9_A?si=9OGjFGq93Ng2Qn71

YouTube Video: Towards Ihsan - Our Journey to Allah | Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi-Bhazm-e-Chishtiya- July 7,2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/4aIpIEgc0P8?si=YiuR_WIC3lu2c4LO

Guidance Hub:Patron, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

https://www.guidancehub.org/

Scholarly Heritage:Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi's Publications

https://scholarlyheritage.org/category/projects/

International Aid Charity: Patron, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

https://iacharity.org/

Women's Muslim College: Founder,Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

https://www.womensmuslimcollege.com/

Ibn Khaldun-Towards a Non Euro-Centric Approach of Modern Social Sciences: Prof Syed Farid Alatas-Islamic Circles-Apr 28, 2020

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/0X86jFZIH2E?si=BZSqRLwI3FqPxMVf

Ibn Khaldun-Towards a Non Euro-Centric  Approach of Modern Social Sciences by Prof Syed Farid Alatas (University of Singapore) and hosted Dr Alyaa Ebbiary [SOAS, London]

Amazon:Ibn Khaldun (Makers of Islamic Civilization):Syed Farid Alatas

amazon.com

Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) was one of the most remarkable Muslim scholars of the pre-modern period. He founded what he called the science of human society or social organization, as well as a new methodology for writing history and a new purpose for it, namely to understand the causes of events. While his ideas had little impact on the development of Muslim thought for several centuries, they hugely impressed European thinkers from the nineteenth century on--some of them proclaimed Ibn Khaldun a progenitor of sociology and modern historiography.
This book introduces the reader to Ibn Khaldun's core ideas, focusing on his theory of the rise and decline of states. It presents the story of Ibn Khaldun's life, his political ups and downs, and some features of his character that contribute to an understanding of the development of his ideas. The central concept of 'asabiyya (group solidarity) and the factors that lead to its dilution are explained in detail, as also the method of testing (historical) reports for their plausibility. Alatas provides an extended discussion of Ibn Khaldun's views on education and knowledge, and on society. He recounts the reception of Ibn Khaldun in his own time and in the modern period, in the Islamic world and in the West: the range of responses include those who thought Ibn Khaldun merely reworked ideas found in the works of al-Farabi and in the Ikhwan al-Safa' to those who compare him to the giants of Western political and sociological thought, from Machiavelli to Marx. The book also includes a comprehensive list of the various editions and translations of Ibn Khaldun's works into European and non-European languages and also an annotated list of major works in Arabic, English, and other Western languages, which would aid the reader in further research.

Syed Farid Alatas teaches sociology at the National University of Singapore and is also head of its Department of Malay Studies. He has authored Democracy and Authoritarianism in Indonesia and Malaysia: The Rise of the Post-Colonial State (1997) and Alternative Discourses in Asian Social Science: Responses to Eurocentrism (2006). He has co-edited Asian Inter-Faith Dialogue: Perspectives on Religion, Education and Social Cohesion (2003) and Asian Anthropology (2005). He has also contributed to scholarly journals and essay collections, several articles on Ibn Khaldun, with particular emphasis on the application of his concepts and methodology in contemporary issues in the social sciences, educational philosophy, and culture.

Amazon:Applying Ibn Khaldūn: The Recovery of a Lost Tradition in Sociology:Syed Farid Alatas

amazon.com

The writings of Ibn Khaldūn, particularly the Muqaddimah (Prolegomenon) have rightly been regarded as being sociological in nature. For this reason, Ibn Khaldūn has been widely regarded as the founder of sociology, or at least a precursor of modern sociology. While he was given this recognition, however, few works went beyond proclaiming him as a founder or precursor to the systematic application of his theoretical perspective to specific historical and contemporary aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East. The continuing presence of Eurocentrism in the social sciences has not helped in this regard: it often stands in the way of the consideration of non-Western sources of theories and concepts.
This book provides an overview of Ibn Khaldūn and his sociology, discusses reasons for his marginality, and suggests ways to bring Ibn Khaldūn into the mainstream through the systematic application of his theory. It moves beyond works that simply state that Ibn Khaldūn was a founder of sociology or provide descriptive accounts of his works. Instead it systematically applies Khaldūn’s theoretical perspective to specific historical aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East, successfully integrating concepts and frameworks from Khaldūnian sociology into modern social science theories. Applying Ibn Khaldūn will be of interest to students and scholars of sociology and social theory.

Muslims and Decolonial Thought with Prof. Syed Farid Alatas: Tokat Institute- July20,2026

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/LhmPD2Qiwjg?si=j-DlcInWKUmuh_2f

What does decolonial theory look like beyond the Western academy? This talk examines how Muslim intellectual traditions challenge colonial knowledge structures and reimagine the global future.

Article:On Decolonising Academics & Pathologies of Muslim Intellectualism: Dr.Syed Farid Alatas-Muhammad Noushad interviews Dr. Syed Farid Alatas in Calicut, Kerala.

https://mnoushad.wordpress.com/2015/10/23/on-decolonising-academics-pathologies-of-muslim-intellectualism/

Article:Prof. Syed Farid Alatas on the Decolonization of Social Sciences and the Muslim Intellectual Tradition:Ibn Haldun University

https://soc.ihu.edu.tr/en/prof-syed-farid-alatas-on-the-decolonization-of-social-sciences-and-the-muslim-intellectual-tradition

Amazon:Applying Ibn Khaldūn: The Recovery of a Lost Tradition in Sociology:Syed Farid Alatas
https://www.amazon.com/Applying-Ibn-Khald%C5%ABn-Tradition-Sociology/dp/0415678781

The writings of Ibn Khaldūn, particularly the Muqaddimah (Prolegomenon) have rightly been regarded as being sociological in nature. For this reason, Ibn Khaldūn has been widely regarded as the founder of sociology, or at least a precursor of modern sociology. While he was given this recognition, however, few works went beyond proclaiming him as a founder or precursor to the systematic application of his theoretical perspective to specific historical and contemporary aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East. The continuing presence of Eurocentrism in the social sciences has not helped in this regard: it often stands in the way of the consideration of non-Western sources of theories and concepts.
This book provides an overview of Ibn Khaldūn and his sociology, discusses reasons for his marginality, and suggests ways to bring Ibn Khaldūn into the mainstream through the systematic application of his theory. It moves beyond works that simply state that Ibn Khaldūn was a founder of sociology or provide descriptive accounts of his works. Instead it systematically applies Khaldūn’s theoretical perspective to specific historical aspects of Muslim societies in North Africa and the Middle East, successfully integrating concepts and frameworks from Khaldūnian sociology into modern social science theories. Applying Ibn Khaldūn will be of interest to students and scholars of sociology and social theory.

Syed Farid Alatas is Head of the Department of Malay Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology at the National University of Singapore. His books include Democracy and Authoritarianism: The Rise of the Post-Colonial State in Indonesia and Malaysia (Macmillan, 1997), Alternative Discourse in Asian Social Science: Responses to Eurocentrism (Sage, 2006) and Ibn Khaldun (Oxford University Press, 2012).