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RAMADAN REFLECTIONS
from Dalia Abouelfadl!!
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Dear Usuli Community,
Al salamu alaykum! As we approach the halfway point of Ramadan, I
pray yours is full of blessings, good company, growth, and
healing insha’Allah. For those of you who may not know, my name
is Dalia, and I primarily handle Usuli’s social media and assist in digital
communications. Each week this Ramadan, a member of the Usuli team will be
sharing via the Usuli newsletter some of what is on their mind this Ramadan,
and so I wanted to take a moment to share a bit of what I’ve been reflecting on
this month.
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Along
with
being
involved
in
the
Usuli
Institute,
I
instruct
part-time
at
the
children’s
martial
arts
gym
that
I
grew
up
training
in.
It
is
something
I
truly
enjoy,
and
my
students
absolutely
make
sure
that
I
never
have
a
dull
day
of
teaching.
In
recent
Ramadans,
I
have
noticed
an
interesting
trend
among
our
students
and
their
parents:
Each
year,
more
and
more
members
of
our
gym
will
not
only
go
out
of
their
way
to
wish
me
a
happy
Ramadan,
but
they
will
also
take
the
opportunity
to
ask
me
about
the
month.
And
I’m
not
talking
about
the,
“Not
even
water?”
type
of
questions
(which,
not
to
brag,
I
haven’t
been
asked
even
ONCE
this
year
so
far
😎),
but
questions
about
what
the
purpose
of
fasting
is,
if
there
is
anything
else
Ramadan
entails
besides
abstaining
from
food
and
water,
and
why
do
Muslims
usually
love
Ramadan
if
fasting
is
tough.
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Since putting on the hijab about two years ago and therefore making myself very
visibly Muslim, I have become quite well-acquainted with being asked many
questions about Islam, and seemingly becoming the “go-to” Muslim to ask any
Islam-related questions for my students, their parents, and even my fellow
instructors. My personal favorite question came from a young student who said
they watched the first Harry Potter movie over the weekend and now wanted to
know if I was wearing the scarf to hide an evil wizard on the back of my head,
closely followed by the time I was asked if I was “Muslim or Canadian?” by
another young student.
While some of the questions I am asked are undoubtedly a bit silly, the influx
of Islam-related questions I have received these last few Ramadans has led me
to a crucial realization. That is, for many of those in my martial arts
community, I am likely one of the few, if not the only, Muslims they know
beyond basic acquaintance. For context, the area I live in does not have many
Muslims. I was among maybe two or three dozen Muslims in my graduating class of
nearly 900 kids, and out of the karate studio’s 300+ student base, we have at
most five Muslim students at any given time. This is also an area that, judging
from our local news’ Facebook page, houses more than a couple residents with
anti-Muslim sentiments.
With this realization, it quickly dawned on me that with my position, I am
given a unique opportunity to combat Islamophobia and ignorance, merely by just
being me. But of course, along with this opportunity comes responsibility. As
someone who may be the only real-life “representative” of Islam for those
around me, I feel it is imperative to be the best representative I can be.
Especially while dealing with non-Muslims, I strive to embody all of what our
beautiful faith teaches us to be: to be kind, to be patient (even when a
student seemingly made it their life’s mission to test said patience), to be
generous, to be the first to smile. If I am going to be the person that those
around me think of when they think of Muslims, I sincerely pray that they think
of Muslims as what we truly are; or at least, what we should be: kind people,
welcoming people, selfless people. People that are their neighbors, their
coworkers, their teachers.
On a bit of a different note, I also pray that my presence at the karate studio
plays a role, even if just locally, in beginning to dispel the narrative that a
woman cannot be a Muslim and be strong, let alone partake and teach in a
male-dominated sport. As we know far too well, the idea of a strong Muslim
woman, especially one in a hijab, is antithetical to what Western media has
spent decades upon decades depicting. And with some of the ignorant assumptions
I have encountered as a girl growing up Muslim in a predominantly non-Muslim
society, I know just how heavily that depiction is ingrained in the minds of
many in the Western world, and just how sorely the representation of strong,
independent, confident Muslim women is needed.
Being a Muslim in a predominantly non-Muslim community is of course not easy,
especially in today’s social and political climate. But I believe it is
something that also comes with incredible opportunity, and it is an opportunity
I am personally grateful for. Beyond the karate studio and in my daily life, I
have the constant goal to showcase via my actions just how beautiful Islam
truly is, and the beautiful humans we can be if we truly embody the traits that
Islam expects of us. To be courteous and hold the door open for a stranger, to
be kind and go out of our way to remove something hazardous from a walkway, to
smile at a passerby, to be generous with the unhoused person we pass on the
street, to unequivocally stand up for justice, for both Muslims and
non-Muslims.
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Similarly,
I
find
being
the
“go-to”
Muslim
that
non-Muslims
around
me
come
to
with
Ramadan
and
general
Islam-related
questions,
no
matter
how
seemingly
silly
(looking
at
you,
“Not
even
water?”),
to
be
such
a
blessing,
even
if
being
expected
to
be
the
spokesperson
for
an
entire
faith
does
admittedly
feel
daunting.
With
the
way
that
Islam
is
depicted
in
our
media
and
the
massive
levels
of
ignorance
that
surround
our
faith,
I
am
honored
to
be
able
to
do
my
part
in
removing
even
a
miniscule
part
of
that
ignorance
by
talking
about
what
Islam
truly
teaches.
Especially
when
the
alternatives
to
getting
answers
can
involve
dodgy
internet
sources,
hateful
politicians,
misogynistic
“Dawah
bros,”
and
scholars
that
all
too
often
combine
Islam
with
culture.
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Needless to say, it would be lovely if having to combat Islamophobia and
harmful ignorance regarding Islam was not something we needed to worry about,
but I do think there is a beauty in being able to fight such ugliness and
hatred simply by being the Muslims God expects us to be.
While of course my reflections are quite personal and admittedly not too
Ramadan specific, it is my wholehearted hope that there was still something of
value for you in my ramblings. If anything, I hope these reflections serve as a
quick reminder to live life day to day being the type of Muslims we want
representing our faith; the type that are focused on justice, kindness,
generosity, and community; the type that do not get caught up in the infighting
over things like sects, halal meat, and the details of Islamic dress codes. On
behalf of everyone at Usuli, I pray that the second half of this blessed month
be filled with accepted duas, warm hearts, and yummy iftars for you and yours.
Salaams,
Dalia
Dalia@usuli.org
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**TODAY!!**
EXCLUSIVE VIRTUAL Q&A!!
SAT. 2/28 AT 5 PM ET FOR TICKET HOLDERS
USULI COMMUNITY VIRTUAL SCREENING LIVE NOW!!
Watch the Documentary and Join the Exclusive Q&A!
Director Tina Mascara has made it possible for us to hold a private virtual
screening of I'd Rather Be Dead Than Silent with members of
the Usuli community! Tickets
are available NOW! You'll be able to watch the film between Wednesday,
February 25 - Tuesday March 3. And, we'll hold a special virtual Q&A with
Dr. Abou El Fadl, Grace and Tina for ticket holders only on Saturday, February
28th, 5-7 pm EST! Buy your ticket NOW to reserve your spot, and you'll receive
an email reminder once the film is available.
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BREAKING NEWS!!
$50,000 RAMADAN MATCHING GIVING CAMPAIGN FOR USULI — MULTIPLY YOUR
BLESSINGS!
BREAKING NEWS!!! We are thrilled to announce that a
generous donor will match every donation, dollar for dollar, during the month
of Ramadan! Multiply your impact! During this blessed month of Ramadan, we pray
that God will reward you exponentially for your support of Usuli! We are
dedicated to bringing you our best work to elevate hearts, minds and souls in
these dark times for Muslims across the world. We hope you will include us in
your Ramadan giving plans and pray that God will bless and guide you always!
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RAMADAN HIGHLIGHTS AT USULI!
As we all move into our respective Ramadan modes, here’s what we’re up to this
month at Usuli to honor this blessed month!
-
More Sirah! Weekly drops of new Sirah episodes for the month of
Ramadan! Look forward to a new episode each Wednesday at midnight ET!
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Special new video releases throughout the month
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Special newsletters each week so you can hear from the Usuli team:
Shayan, Dalia, Cherif and Grace!
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PROJECT ILLUMINE II: SIRAH
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Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl shares his new research with the traditions of the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Rebuild your knowledge from the foundations. New
episodes drop every other Wednesday at midnight ET (weekly during the month of
Ramadan)! Here are our latest episodes:
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Life-changing books that are beautiful on the inside and outside. We are proud
to leave this legacy of knowledge for future generations of Muslims who demand
that faith, reason and beauty must align in their practice as ethical Muslims.
Give the gift of knowledge this Ramadan! Check out our
online bookstore at Bookshop.org!
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SHARE THE PROPHET’S PULPIT, VOL. I WITH A FRIEND
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Thanks to our beloved donor who fell in love with The Prophet’s Pulpit and
wanted it to get into the hands of every Muslim possible, we continue
our Share
With A Friend campaign for Volume I only! It is the perfect introduction to
The Usuli Institute, and also The Prophet’s Pulpit series! If you or a friend
would like a gift copy, please email your full mailing address to Dalia@usuli.org.
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BE PART OF OUR LEGACY!
We do what we do only because of your support! Be part of our legacy and help
us make many more exciting projects come to life:
-
Turning 500+ hours of Project Illumine halaqas into published books
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More Usuli Press Books and Publications
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The Project Illumine II: The Light of Prophet Muhammad Journey
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Supporting the Usuli team in creating more and better cutting-edge
content and publications
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And many more important projects to come!
We believe that what we do is unique, exciting, and critical for our current
moment in the world. If you believe in our work and mission, please help us
continue doing what we do with a tax-deductible, zakat-eligible
donation. A regular monthly donation helps us the most!
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BUILDING FAITH FROM THE FOUNDATIONS
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Draw from our wealth of timeless knowledge to strengthen and refine your own
understanding; address doubt and crises of faith; or build your foundations
anew. The Usuli methodology is founded on ethics, critical thinking, beauty,
reason, and humanism. We believe in the power of love, wisdom, story, song, and
even laughter and smiles to fully convey the beauty and light of God’s true
message to humanity. We aim to help unleash the full potential of every human
being to create goodness and active change in the world.
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Project
Illumine:
The
Light
of
the
Quran
Dr.
Khaled
Abou
El
Fadl
takes
us
on
a
life-transforming
journey
with
God’s
Book:
thematic
deep-dives
into
all
114
chapters
to
bring
God’s
message
to
life
for
the
challenges
we
face
today
as
Muslims
and
humanity
at
large.
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The
Book
of
Illuminations
Building
on
the
learning
from
the
Project
Illumine
Quranic
Commentaries,
Dr.
Khaled
Abou
El
Fadl
shares
his
early
training,
engagement,
and
lifelong
journey
with
Islamic
wisdoms
using
the
text
"Kitab
Al
Hikam
(The
Book
of
Illuminations)"
by
Shaykh
Ibn
Ata'illah
al-Iskandari
as
a
starting
point.
Eye-opening
and
enlightening!
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Project
Illumine
II:
The
Light
of
the
Prophet
Muhammad
Dr.
Khaled
Abou
El
Fadl
shares
his
life-long
research
and
engagement
with
the
traditions
of
the
Prophet
Muhammad
(PBUH)
to
decolonize,
authenticate,
and
reclaim
the
narratives
on
the
humanistic
life
of
our
beloved
Prophet.
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May God bless and reward you exponentially for your support of knowledge in
these dark times for Muslims. Join us in our mission to elevate ethics, beauty,
and humanism in Islam.
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