Resources Bank
To help support those seeking to meet the needs of Muslims within community and institutional settings, I have gathered together a variety of resources.
While it does not claim to be comprehensive, it does bring together articles, videos, books and related sources that can support those who serve Muslims in various capacities. Please share with others and also submit your own suggestions for other resources that you have found useful.
However, please note that not all links should be considered endorsements of the author, scholar or research institute. Nevertheless, I do hope that this resource bank is beneficial.
Receive Light, #GiveLight
My teachers and friends at SeekersHub are conducting a fundraising campaign to support and further expand their work spreading the light of Prophetic guidance.
Please consider learning more about SeekersHub and supporting them.
Sh. Faraz Rabbani, his fellow teachers and SeekersHub’s volunteers have been a shining beacon of light in my life. For me, SeekersHub has been a manifestation of the prophetic concern for others to know their Lord. Not only do they aspire to provide seekers of knowledge with the treasures which they seek; they also nourish the hearts of others to become seekers as well.
Like the story of the unknown man in Surah Ya-Sin who came to his people running and said, “O my people, follow the messengers” (Q36:20), SeekersHub is sprinting across the globe to call others to follow the inheritors of the Beloved of God ﷺ.
In support of their #GiveLight initiative, I have shared a brief though personal narrative of how I came to learn of and benefit from SeekersHub.
To read about my journey to light, click here.
Nurture Compassion #Ramadan2016
Join me this Ramadan for a weekly series on nurturing compassion
for ourselves, our families and our communities.
Each Sunday of Ramadan
12:30 – 1:30pm
Boyle Street Community League
9538 103A Avenue, Edmonton
Tarjuma emerges from our need to belong to a God-conscious, welcoming community that nourishes our longing for fellowship and spiritual cultivation.
To learn more, visit Tarjuma.ca
The Beauty of Islam: A Message of Mercy
If you had to summarize Islam with one word, what word would that be? What word can express for you the beauty of Islam and the comfort it brings to your heart?
For many, perhaps, that word is peace (salam). This is due, in part, to the peace in our heart that we are seeking as Muslims, but also to the fact that both islam and salam share the same Arabic tri-literal root (S-L-M).
For those who don’t know, most classical Arabic words are composed of three root letters from which we derive the primary meaning of the word. Because the words Islam and Salam are composed of a seen (S), lam (L) and meem (M), many draw a linguistic connection and say: “Islam is peace,” or “Islam means peace.” For this reason, peace (salam) may have been your chosen word. But, despite these reasons, peace is not the quality I find most striking about our faith.
When I read the ayat of the Glorious Qur’an something else stands out to me. It is something I also see when I read about the life of our Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions. It is something I also think about when I hear stories about the righteous women and men of Islam and when I interact with pious men and women within our community. This quality is mercy (rahma).
Outspoken: Stories on Mental Health
“Stories are…vessels for ancestors, memory, futures and laughter. They are the medium through which the divine is engaged…To state it more succinctly, stories are ceremony.”
— Mark Gonzales
The Green Room invites you to join OUTSPOKEN, a monthly storytelling series that explores the intersections of faith, identity, social issues, and well-being.
On Tuesday May 31, join us as we explore planet earth through the personal stories and narratives of local community members. All are welcome to join!
Shepherding Our Sons
Fathers and Mothers: what do you want for your sons and daughters?
What fills your heart with joy at the thought of your son or your daughter doing, or being, or becoming? What fills your heart with hope, pride, and love for the bounty that Allah has given you and I in our children? Do you smile at the thought of them becoming a doctor, or a professional of some kind? Perhaps you imagine your daughter or son memorizing the Glorious Qur’an, or having an immense love for God and His Messenger (peace be upon him). Or, perhaps you simply hope for your son or daughter to be a person of good character.
Whatever it is that you are picturing them doing, whatever it is that generates that pride and hope in your heart; likely, you are also picturing them happy while doing it.
This desire for our children’s happiness comes from our love and compassion for them. Consider, for example, when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was given the glad tidings that he would be made an Imam and an example of righteousness for all people he asked: “and what of my descendants?” (Q2:124) Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had so much compassion for his children, grand-children, great-grandchildren and all his descendants that as soon as he heard the good news of being made an example for humanity, he asked if they too would have a share in that closeness that he had with Allah. He wanted all of his descendants to experience such serenity and happiness.
Now IbrahimLong.org
As-Salamu ‘Alaikum,
After a brief hiatus, I am returning to my blogging (God-willing) and hoping to make changes to this site over time.
If you are interested in knowing what I have been up to, why the change in the domain name, or simply why I blog at all: see here. Also, please note that IbrahimLong.com is now IbrahimLong.org.
As always, you may contact me with any questions, requests, or suggestions.
May God bless you and please keep me in your prayers.
