Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 02. May 2020
Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl begins his original Quranic commentary on Surah 89 Al Fajr, completing the first three verses. In the introduction, Grace Song discusses strategies for standing out online in our new world of communications and talks about her project of 30 Nights in The Search for Beauty during the month of Ramadan. There was no Q&A session for this meeting.
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 04. April 2020
Part 1 of 2: Intro and Tafsir. Grace Song begins by giving an update on life after the professor's hearing loss and the pandemic, and the adjustment to a new reality of life. Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl concludes his original Quranic commentary on Surah 90 Al Balad (The City). Part 2 is Q&A.
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 15. February 2020
Part 1: In the introduction to the halaqa (circle of learning) on the continuation of original Quranic commentary (tafsir) on Surah 90, Al Balad (The City), Director Grace Song reflects on her recent birthday, the remembrance of death, and life lessons from her journey as a Muslim convert. In the segment after her talk, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl adds some commentary on death and the remembrance of death as a Muslim, and more. Part 2 is the tafsir. Part 3 is the Q&A.
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 14. February 2020
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Every week, there is so much that takes place in the Muslim world, in what is supposed to be a single Ummah, bonded by faith and a deep sense of compassion and empathy for one another; bonded by a common cause and purpose. This Ummah collectively embodies and represents Islam on this earth, united in the very hope, purpose, and aspiration of coming to know God, and coming to know one another in God. But knowing God is impossible without love and without loving God. Strict...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 07. February 2020
"THE HIGHER ASPIRATIONS OF JUSTICE" 7 February 2020 The Quran manifests the power of words. Words make a great deal of difference because of way that God created existence. God created humans as intelligent animals capable of reason and reasoning. Intelligent and rational animals respond to words. The Quran persistently reminds and calls humanity to reason, through the power of words. The more human beings stop responding to words, the more that words lose their place and role in the life of...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 31. January 2020
"HUMILITY, CERTITUDE AND 'THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY'" 31 January 2020 In Surah al Furqan, God reminds us of the quintessential character of a Muslim. A Muslim treads on this earth lightly with humility and with the blessing of certitude—that there will be accountability and justice, and that God is the anchor that stabilizes us in our existence, giving us a sense of direction and a commitment to what is truthful, good and beautiful. This certitude does not make us arrogant, self-entitled or...
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 11. January 2020
Part 1: Introduction to halaqa on Surah 90 Al Balad (The City). In the introduction, Director Grace Song shares stories and talks about the wealth of content that the Usuli Institute has created in the past year to provide education, strength and empowerment to survive the dark times confronting Muslims today. After the introduction, Dr. Abou El Fadl gives a powerful commentary on Islamophobia as a colonial project.
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 14. December 2019
In the introduction to the halaqa completing the Quranic commentary (tafsir) on Surah 91, Al Shams (The Sun), Director Grace Song commemorates the two-year anniversary of the launch of The Usuli Institute by highlighting the development, dreams and achievements of the Institute's first two years. She continues her discussion from the previous halaqa intro on the state of Muslims' offerings to attract and engage Muslim youth about the faith. In response, she introduces a new Usuli offering...
Friday Khutbahs (Sermons) · 15. November 2019
"WHAT GOD EXPECTS FROM US" 15 November 2019 Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds that Allah gave humans the blessing and charge of caring for this earth until the Final Day, when we will be held accountable for how we discharged this obligation. Allah directed us to create divinity on this earth. Allah tells us it is impossible for the Divine to be unjust because God will never allow Godself to be unjust. Injustice, oppression, and tyranny (zulm) is forbidden for God and by God, and thus, apriori, justice...
Circles of Learning (Halaqas) · 09. November 2019
Part 1: In the introduction to the halaqa to conclude Surah 92 Al Layl (The Night) and begin Surah 91 Al Shams (The Sun), Director Grace Song reacts to a recent Facebook post about the state of communicating with Muslim teens, and shared some personal stories, insights and ideas about how she approached parenthood and the challenge of teaching her kids to love God, Islam and being Muslim.