Episode 28

full
Published on:

31st Jul 2025

Dilnaz Waraich: Reclaiming Muslim Philanthropy

Reclaiming Muslim Philanthropy with Dilnaz Waraich

In this episode of the American Muslim Podcast, host Imam Tariq El-Amin converses with Dilnaz Waraich, president of the WF Fund. Dilnaz shares her journey in philanthropy, shaped by her immigrant family's values, leading her to champion strategic philanthropy rooted in Islamic principles. She discusses her transformative experiences, the importance of storytelling to counter prevailing narratives about Muslims, and her advocacy for supporting marginalized communities. The dialogue also explores the role of relationships in effective philanthropy, the challenges of narrative change, and the integration of education and chaplaincy in her philanthropic endeavors. Dilnaz emphasizes the significance of mentorship and self-reflection, encouraging others to recognize their value and contributions.


00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:46 Formative Memories and Early Influences

02:52 Philanthropy and Strategic Giving

05:48 The Role of Education and Chaplaincy

07:00 Building Relationships and Transformational Leadership

09:46 Reclaiming Philanthropy and American Identity

12:21 Narrative Change and Muslim Generosity

14:46 Challenges and Overcoming Biases

32:03 Personal Reflections and Midlife Awakening

40:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Cover Art & Intro Music - Tariq I. El-Amin @ImamTariqElamin

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Transcript
Tariq:

As Salaamu Alaikum, may the peace that only God can give be upon you.

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Welcome to the American Muslim Podcast.

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I'm your host, Imam Tariq

El-Amin, my pleasure to introduce

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today's guest Dilnaz Waraich.

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Dilnaz serves as president of the WF Fund,

a national leader uplifting, marginalized

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communities through work education,

human services, and religious pluralism.

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She brings over three decades

of experience as a philanthropic

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advocate, community organizer,

educator, and hospital chaplain.

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I hope you find benefit in it.

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without further ado,

here's our conversation.

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We invite our guests to be as open

as vulnerable, as transparent, as

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they're comfortable being and sharing

their journey work the first question

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I have for you, is there a, formative

memory, that stands out for you in

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determining your life trajectory?

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Dilnaz Waraich: Yeah.

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thanks for that question and

for, asking me to be part of this

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conversation because I think when I,

say it out loud, I learn more about

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my journey and, things that have.

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Transformed me and how I can

better, articulate my thoughts

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I appreciate this conversation.

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when I think about transformative

experiences, now I'm 55, I feel like I

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have years to process all my experiences.

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for me it was growing up in

Chicago, and having that.

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A kitchen table conversation about

where my parents, who were the

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working immigrants, the day-to-day

hourly waged individuals who were

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just figuring out how they can

give back to their family in India.

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I didn't realize it, but it was

philanthropic conversations that

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was I was having with my parents.

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And my parents were talking about an

aunt who needed $10 because she needed a

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sewing machine, and $10 was a lot for my

parents in the:

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Then I remember having conversations

with my parents when my dad's, uncle

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was having a heart attack and he was

in the hospital and he needed like, a

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hundred dollars to pay for his bills.

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And my parents figuring out where are

they going to get that a hundred dollars.

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So those were quarterly conversations that

were philanthropic that now I am having

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with my children at the kitchen table

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That's just what my parents talk about.

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I realize now that's how black and brown

communities give, on a daily basis, but

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we don't collect that information it's not

formalized in the philanthropic sector.

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a lot of this was important for me to.

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understand what philanthropy in

black and brown communities is

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Tariq: So you were being sensitized

without really knowing it?

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just saying we have X amount of

resources, but we recognize a need

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within our family and feel a sense

of responsibility, which is what

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most of us do on individual levels.

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when did you come into the

awareness of interrogating your

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own history and upbringing, when

did the light go off for you?

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Dilnaz Waraich: everyone has that,

moment of transformation for me

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it was about 10 years ago when my

lovely father-in-law passed away

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and there was a transfer of wealth.

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And through the transfer of

wealth, I was able to process,

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what does philanthropy mean?

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How do we wanna.

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Play a role in philanthropy and I realized

I didn't wanna do philanthropy in the

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traditional way where you just, especially

in the Muslim community, unfortunately,

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nowadays what happens is people just write

beautiful checks and they empty their

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pockets, but there's no strategy for it.

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So going to get a master's in

philanthropy, being in philanthropic

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rooms, realizing what does it

mean to be strategic and how,

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My role model was K Unha a leader

in philanthropy, and she was someone

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that people looked to and went to

and asked for advice about, and she

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was constantly giving grassroots.

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It's funding.

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She was constantly giving advice

in philanthropy and I was like,

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oh, so I don't need to hide this

and I don't need to, learn anything

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new because Ham Islamically

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al had already done this for us.

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And from there, Omar Alala and has

already dug into really roots of AKA and

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how should AKA be done strategically.

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So I think it was all of these

formations that I realized.

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I'm gonna follow Islamic principles of

philanthropy and elevate work done for

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over 1400 years, and talk about that in

philanthropic rooms because it's a source

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of, learning for American philanthropy,

institutional philanthropy that Muslim

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philanthropy has been doing this

trategically for the last fif:

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We just haven't given it that title.

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my journey in philanthropy

started 10 years ago.

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So as my journey started 10

years ago, getting my education,

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also getting a certificate from

Bayan in chaplaincy, all of.

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This was, I think a 10 year journey.

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sitting in community and listening

to, hundreds of Muslim led nonprofits.

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hundreds of just nonprofits nationally,

with a budget of $10,000 and budgets of

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$25,000, how every single nonprofit is

running without funding, running without.

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Time running without their own.

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funding and having to answer to

someone else made me realize.

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nonprofits are doing an amazing

job creating a stronger America.

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how do we in philanthropy better

understand and give ownership to

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nonprofits and center the voices

of nonprofits and be there for

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nonprofits at this very uncertain

time at this really, difficult moment

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in life where a lot of people don't.

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Believe in the work that nonprofits

are doing and are like, oh

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yeah, they'll figure it out.

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Or there's one donor

that's gonna support them.

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It's not about one donor supporting

the ecosystem of nonprofits, it's

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about collectively supporting

and, uplifting their work.

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Tariq: I think you bring a unique

characteristic, to philanthropy.

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you just mentioned, education and

chaplaincy, how do you see that

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integrated into the work you do?

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Dilnaz Waraich: it takes A lot of, work

on myself to get to the point where I can

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say, alhamdulillah, I am so thankful for

every strength and hardship I've had in

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the last 55 years to be who I am today.

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I don't think I would've even said

that last year, I would've been

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like, I wish things were different.

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because i've had guidance from Allah

subhana'wa'ta'alaa and countless hours

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on the prayer mat begging and crying

for, help I'm at the point where I

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realize, hum everyone, everything

that comes to me is a blessing from

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sla and everything that I may not

even want is a blessing from Alala.

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So chaplaincy work for me was being

with people that are, near death, being

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with people that don't have family,

being with individuals that are really

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struggling with their life choices

helped me understand how important it

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is to support chaplains and have support

the work being done in hospitals and

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military, in correctional facilities,

in college campuses, and make sure that

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we support chaplains doing this work.

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Okay.

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Tariq: talk to us about, relationships.

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How important is it to establish

relationships, in the work you do?

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Dilnaz Waraich: I'd say relationships

are the most important thing, and

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that's really very intuitive view

to bring up that question because

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relationships are definitely what bings.

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People to the table and

keeps people at the table.

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What happens?

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A lot of times you can easily,

get a response from an email

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or have coffee with someone.

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But if someone comes back three

or four times, then you've

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built that strong relationship.

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And how do we continue making sure that.

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We build those relationship has to

do with, tra transactional leadership

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versus transformational leadership.

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transformational leadership is

what Alala helped me understand.

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And also Prophet

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Tariq: so.

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Dilnaz Waraich: helped,

us better understand.

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I'd love to talk about

transformational leadership and

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how did you know our, ancestors in

Islam have visionary leadership?

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How did they have spiritual

influence with the community?

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ethical conduct?

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Empowerment fostering of the community.

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And effective communication.

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All of these are forms of

transformational leadership.

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I don't, have to read the

current, bestseller books.

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I can just go back to our Habi and the

Sunna and see what transformational

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leadership is and what in shellah

I wanna start working on as well.

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Tariq: it is a benefit to look back

into our tradition for those models.

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are there leaders today that

embody those characteristics in

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terms of, communications and?

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the way that they're able

to build relationships that

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maybe you have benefited from.

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Dilnaz Waraich: one person, especially

in philanthropy, because that's

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what I, do every day, and those

are the spaces I am in, is Dr.

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Shariq Siddiqi, who's as Indiana

University of Lilly School, philanthropy.

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and also, you know, a Bayan academic

as well is he is leading philanthropy.

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He's really pushing, How we need to do

data and research How we need to make

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sure that we're having conversations

about like how much funding each

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year Muslim Americans are giving

and how we're emptying our pockets.

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And if it wasn't for the work that Dr.

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Shariq Zaki was doing at Indiana

University, Lilly School of Philanthropy,

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first of all, I wouldn't be, here

having this conversation with you.

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I think many nonprofits

that are getting, the.

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Acumen necessary for fundraising and how

to move from fundraising to development

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and how to move from development to

advancement, and he's leading that charge.

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Tariq: what does it mean to have

a greater presence of Muslim,

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philanthropist, not just for Muslims,

but what does it mean to have them

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in the impacting the public square?

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in general.

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Dilnaz Waraich: Yeah, so I

wouldn't say it was about:

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We were at some event and my sister,

she goes to me, why don't you just

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call yourself a philanthropist?

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And my sister and I have a really

good relationship and I was like,

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how could she insult me like that.

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growing up in Chicago, There were

so many white affluent men that

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were named and called philanthropist

that actually did harm to the city.

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That actually created policies and

legislation that really redlined and,

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Did things that I was not wanting to

associate myself with, and that's what

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I saw in the seventies and eighties.

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when I was called a philanthropist,

I wasn't comfortable with it.

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So I call myself now a philanthropic

advocate 'cause I wanna be in

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partnership with my community.

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I wanna be in partnership

with the non-profits that

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we, walk side by side with.

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So I think as Muslims we need to.

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Reclaimed the word philanthropy

and realize that hat

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were philanthropist and they have

charged us with this, sector.

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In Islam, there's bottom up philanthropy,

which is Sia, which is, and just

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opening the door for someone when

they, when you see someone coming or

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giving someone a cold glass of water.

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'cause it's a hot day.

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So those are forms of Sika, but

then there's the bottom down

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form of philanthropy, which could

be a really large zago check.

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And, someone may want to be really.

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Quiet about that, ziga allocation,

but these are different forms of

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philanthropy we as Muslims need to

reclaim be proud of and highlight as well.

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While we're intentions are to get others

to also give more and give generously.

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Tariq: You, used the

word reclaiming, right?

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Reclaiming, philanthropy, right?

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and initially referring yourself

as a philanthropic advocate.

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Having, immigrant parents, working

class parents in a, a city that it's

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known as a city of neighborhoods, but

we know that's code for segregated.

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But within this American ideal of being

a melting pot, where we welcome, we

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welcome diversity, that everybody has a

potential claim on the American identity,

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how do you see, your work fostering a

broader reclamation of the American.

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potential for each of us as

individuals, but certainly within the

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non nonprofit space and, and beyond.

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Dilnaz Waraich: So currently

we're working on a project, it's

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a WF fund project, and what we're

working on is narrative change work.

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And so we have two arms at the WF fund.

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We have the grant making arm, which we

give nationally to different non-profits

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that fall under three buckets.

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The first bucket is religious

pluralism, human services, and the

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third bucket is, civic engagement.

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That's one arm.

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The second arm of the work that we do is

called Narrative Change Arm, and we are

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currently working on a project called

Inspire Generosity It launched in Atlanta

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through a fellowship with the National

er for Family Philanthropy in:

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Inspire generosity will be in Chicago.

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And then in 2026 we'll be in Minnesota.

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inspire generosity tells the Muslim

American story of generosity Turning a

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spotlight into philanthropy and asking

have you funded Muslim led nonprofits

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that fall under your bucket of giving?

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Because a lot of nonprofits will say,

oh, we're looking for new, nonprofits.

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We're looking for new, innovative,

communities doing transformative work

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I ask is there a blind spot where you

haven't engaged in Muslim communities

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because you have an implicit biases.

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And if you have an implicit biases, which

dark, all of us have implicit biases, how

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do we push back on those implicit biases?

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And it goes back to your

question about relationship.

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So if we build relationship with Muslim

nonprofits and Muslim communities and

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walk into mosques, then we're like.

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I see this as a part of my community.

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as a human issue.

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It doesn't become a Muslim issue because

violence in Chicago is a Chicago issue,

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but also a Muslim issue what I do

day-to-day work is really talk about

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inspire generosity and the Muslim.

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Generosity story because unfortunately

we often are told about how Muslims are

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terrorist and proselytizers and takers.

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But what about the story about Muslims

creating organizations that are thriving

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and creating better, communities

because we're working with women that

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are going through domestic violence

because we're handing out, meals on a

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regular basis, right outside of the mass.

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Because we are working with, getting

the vote out in our communities.

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So these are nonprofits that need to

be funded by philanthropic institutions

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that may not have a relationship

with the, those organizations.

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Tariq: what has been one of

the, Most reoccurring challenges

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around, narrative change.

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Dilnaz Waraich: having to

reclaim, our story, right?

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someone hijacked our story, told it in

a manner that was extremely distorted I.

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have this Amana to move forward with.

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I don't wanna open the door,

I wanna kick that door down.

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And how do we collectively kick that

door down is what I'm really working on

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because all of us have such a limited

amount of time on this beautiful Earth.

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And while we're giving this Amana,

how do we tell different stories?

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Tariq: Do you think

there's an aversion for.

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Folks who could contribute to that

narrative, to get on the mic to come

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before people, to share their stories, to

talk about the work that they're doing.

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do you think that there's some

folks that you feel like you

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have to pull out of the shadows?

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Dilnaz Waraich: A lot has to do with

the, chronic eye that says, give

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from the right hand so the left hand

doesn't know, give from the left

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hand, so the right hand doesn't know.

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I think a lot of times when

I'm in conversation, people

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are like, no, no sister.

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I just wanna do this humbly.

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I don't need to have any recognition.

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And I was like, that's

the way it should be done.

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But what about, the other AYA

that says, Ella knows your

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intentions and intentions are what?

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Really, move this narrative

in Chicago, in the US about

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the Muslim American community.

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So it's a combination of both.

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I think humility is a really

important part of the work that we do.

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But as we're humble, we also realize.

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There's only one story being told

about the Muslim American community we

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need to tell diverse, nuanced stories.

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someone's gotta be fearless.

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it's not easy to have your name

on, these conversations or write

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an op-ed or, go on shows because

there's a lot of hatred out there.

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There's billion dollar

Islamophobia industry out there.

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This is not easy work but at some point

we have to say, Allah knows best and has

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our back and we've gotta move forward

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Tariq: our faith is one that it is

transformational, and when it does

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not present itself as transformational

in whatever space that it's in.

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I think there should be the kind

of the natural, question that

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comes about, what's missing?

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what is missing?

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what is keeping us from

fulfilling the full promise

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and intention of what we have?

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do you think that some of this, going

back again into the public square,

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do you think, or do you, is there

a particular strategy around how we

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engage other faith communities in, in

this project of transformation, which

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Muslims, inherently are invested in?

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Dilnaz Waraich: That's a hard question

because, the genocide stopped us from

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having transformational conversations

with other faith traditions.

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if we can't be truth tellers

and talk about the genocide

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It's hard it's hard to have

these interfaith conversations.

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So I think there was a real

stopping of all those convers,

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many of those conversations for

the last, 27, 20 some months.

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And yeah, I just, yeah, interfaith work

used to, I thought, be something that was

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really gonna lead this, difficult time.

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Since our October 7th, you know,

killing started, but I just don't

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think interfaith work is doing that.

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And I feel.

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Let's just have conversations, not for

just the fact of having conversations,

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but how we can move these into

transformational conversations.

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it can't just be dialogue.

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I'm so tired of dialogue.

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It is to be action and dialogue.

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So let and difficult conversations, right?

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That's what the prophet did during,

all these during the hijra during.

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So many moments of the prophet

salallahu alaihi wasalaam life.

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that's why he was called

Al because he was trusted.

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And even though he was talking

about things that were so difficult,

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he kept talking about him because

he was an effective communicator.

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to be an effective communicator,

you need to realize it's hard

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work, but we've gotta do it.

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We can't quit.

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Tariq: I have found in my work that

some relationships I thought were

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equally invested in and from an

interfaith standpoint, that they were

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in fact more transactional than they

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were really, interdependent.

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have you also seen that where you

thought, you had a, you were on a

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clear and stable footing that they

were, in fact, 'cause it sounds like

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that's what you're saying, that they

were more transactional in nature.

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Dilnaz Waraich: people are realizing

power dynamics and I think in

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philanthropy that's really important to

understand your place in, this sector.

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And as you realize your place in

your sector, you also realize the

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other person's place in the sector.

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And that power dynamic is so strong.

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How do you.

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push against that and say, Hey,

let's do things differently.

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But that only happens thik when

there's a collective force.

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So when you have coalitions, you've got

collective, organizations collectively

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moving this conversation forward.

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That's when it happens single handedly.

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No one can do anything.

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Where it's transformational,

but collectively we can

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really change the needle.

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So I do believe, there's some really

beautiful interfaith organizations

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that are not transactional.

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There's transformative and they understand

what's happening, in Gaza, and are

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willing to have this conversation.

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they may not be putting

a statement out there.

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Sure.

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They may not be like leading the charge,

but quietly, I think there's two ways

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of doing this, work cancel culture is

what's hurting our society right now

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Oh, you didn't, sign this bill.

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But guess what?

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Quietly people are doing so much

inside there's two ways of doing it.

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Do it loud, go to the protest, signed the

pledges, make sure you do it that way.

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But then there's that quiet

way of, doing legislation and

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advocacy work moving that forward.

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And it takes.

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Longer to do it the quiet way,

and make institutional changes.

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But I think there's two

ways of, making change.

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Tariq: when you talk about cancel culture.

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how should we insulate ourselves

from a restrictive, posture?

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Because we are worried about taking

positions we know we should be taking, but

355

:

we are worried about the public fallout.

356

:

Dilnaz Waraich: I think it goes back

to our faith tradition getting up in

357

:

the morning on the prayer mat, asking

SLA for guidance during the day, right?

358

:

I think in the morning,

that's what I try and do.

359

:

And the second thing I try and do in the

morning is asking Al what didn't, what

360

:

can I tweak from yesterday as I do today?

361

:

So number one, I ask for

strength, as I do my work.

362

:

And number two, I ask for guidance on

what I could have done better yesterday.

363

:

I do these two types of reflection in

the morning, I can only control myself.

364

:

So your sphere of control is important.

365

:

I focus on myself.

366

:

I try and not focus on others.

367

:

I try and not compare myself to others

because I'm always gonna be short.

368

:

as I have this, knowledge

this bandwidth, it's what?

369

:

Am I going to do today?

370

:

And what am I gonna do

the best I can today?

371

:

And then just move forward.

372

:

Tariq: so when I think about,

leadership, that leaders are

373

:

known by the leaders they produce.

374

:

I think about, was it Jack Welch?

375

:

used to be the CEO of ge and the, all

of these Fortune 500 or 100 companies,

376

:

they had folks that would go to his.

377

:

training.

378

:

do you think, about creating

other philanthropic advocates,

379

:

instilling that same ethic?

380

:

I know we just automatically assume

for Muslims this was that resonates

381

:

with us, but sometimes we don't realize

the full, breadth of what we have, not

382

:

just for ourselves, but for society.

383

:

Dilnaz Waraich: representation matters

and I didn't currently in when I've

384

:

really been doing this very insti,

in institutionally since:

385

:

See someone that looked and sounded

and had my lived experience in the

386

:

philanthropic sphere, I had a hard time.

387

:

finding, voices I could connect with.

388

:

But then I think when I dug a little

deeper, I was very comfortable

389

:

finding other individuals doing

this work that are faith-based,

390

:

that were, coming from communities

that I was, that I was coming from.

391

:

So I think.

392

:

If you do your work and you are asking for

guidance from others, you find your tribe.

393

:

You use that tribe, to, help

you get to the next level.

394

:

You use those individuals to give you

strength and guidance and feedback.

395

:

So important.

396

:

And once you get feedback, you

realize, this is what I need to tweak.

397

:

This is how I need to be in conversation.

398

:

These are the, blind spots because I do

have many blind spots as I do this work.

399

:

This is the implicit biases I'm carrying.

400

:

it's important for you to realize you

need consultation on a regular basis.

401

:

as you get this consultation,

you will get to that next level.

402

:

As a Muslim, I wanna be the best I can

be, but I wanna grow the, ecosystem

403

:

of Muslim female philanthropists as

well as male philanthropists, and for

404

:

them to be comfortable in this space.

405

:

Tariq: Okay.

406

:

So yeah, that's really what I wanna zero

in on, in terms of that next generation,

407

:

you said you didn't see any, anybody that,

that looked like you with your experience,

408

:

that was in the philanthropic space.

409

:

now your presence, it fills in that gap

for that next generation that is coming.

410

:

so they have someone to look at.

411

:

how important is it for you to be,

a mentor or accessible for those

412

:

who might also see themselves

and see themselves in you?

413

:

Dilnaz Waraich: Yeah, mentorship is

really important when you look at

414

:

the past to today, mentorship has

moved the needle making sure people

415

:

are in the spaces they need to be.

416

:

And uplifting an entire, community

417

:

I think it's important To ask the

right questions and also just to ask.

418

:

So I love how this one individual

told me years ago, if you never

419

:

ask the answer is always no.

420

:

there's another fundraising, phrase If you

ask for money, they'll give you advice.

421

:

If you ask someone for advice,

they may give you money.

422

:

ask people, send someone an

email and say, Hey, I'm curious.

423

:

how does this work?

424

:

Or, I'd love to have coffee with you.

425

:

it is important to figure out how can

I support the next, philanthropist

426

:

How can I support?

427

:

the generation right now.

428

:

How can I learn from the

generation right now?

429

:

even if I may not have.

430

:

Met many strategic

philanthropists in our community.

431

:

I've met so many amazing philanthropists

that I can learn from, and this has

432

:

to do with humility and empathy.

433

:

So for me to have humility

and be like, I'm not.

434

:

Knowledgeable about this.

435

:

Can you share with me what's happening?

436

:

I would love to know from your mistakes

so I can hopefully not, replicate

437

:

the same mistakes and I'll make other

mistakes, but I'd love to learn from you.

438

:

I think that's important.

439

:

our ancestors, like my parents in

their eighties, have so much wisdom.

440

:

How do we sit with our ancestors ask

Questions write it down or videotape

441

:

it so our children can be aware of

this, work that's been happening

442

:

for years it's just not told.

443

:

how do we not tell it?

444

:

UPF is doing a beautiful story on

Islam's greatest love stories We

445

:

don't talk about Muslim love stories

in that, documentary it talks about

446

:

the, daughter, father relationship.

447

:

The Malcolm X relationship

with, his sister.

448

:

It talks about ELA and

relationship with her husband.

449

:

different forms of love stories

and how we need to focus on the

450

:

love that Islam has given us.

451

:

Opposed to focusing all the time on

the struggle and I gotta do better

452

:

and I gotta make myself better.

453

:

But Humala, we're doing well.

454

:

We have beautiful stories

to, uplift our daily work.

455

:

Tariq: How do you balance

all that you're doing?

456

:

Dilnaz Waraich: everyone

only sees a snippet, right?

457

:

And I think the people that follow

people on social media think, oh

458

:

my God, how are they doing it all?

459

:

They're amazing.

460

:

They're getting their exercise eating

healthy, and they're going to all these

461

:

restaurants and they're doing all that.

462

:

Every, everyone has their own, matrix.

463

:

I think we gotta start comparing

ourselves from yesterday to today opposed

464

:

to comparing myself to someone else.

465

:

So for me, it's really making sure I get

up in the morning and I have a really

466

:

reflective, time on the prayer mat and

I'm comparing myself and how I can be

467

:

better each day, compared to my yesterday.

468

:

Tariq: when you were talking

about, the questions.

469

:

That brought to me, it, it

really is amazing how an idea

470

:

or saying can shape the way you

move, the way you see, the world.

471

:

for me it was, Dr.

472

:

Zeda, Kabir.

473

:

he told me, and this is probably about

seven or eight years ago, he says, the

474

:

quality of your life is dependent upon

the quality of the questions that you ask.

475

:

that really has a chronic basis.

476

:

the questioning is all

throughout questioning.

477

:

folks have probably heard

me say that many times.

478

:

I'm always telling my daughters this.

479

:

ask questions, be curious.

480

:

and interrogate, in the best way.

481

:

I would love to hear your thoughts

especially as articulated,

482

:

compare your Tomorrow.

483

:

Compare your yesterday to today and not

looking at what you know of someone else.

484

:

what are your thoughts on time

management versus priority management?

485

:

Dilnaz Waraich: So can I go back

to what you said about be curious.

486

:

I think our world today talks

about be curious, ask questions.

487

:

And I think what's happening in

our, a lot of, younger generations

488

:

is they're asking so many questions

that they're have anxiety, they

489

:

don't know how to move forward.

490

:

I think about our Islamic tradition

as we are an action oriented faith.

491

:

We are not about sitting and thinking

We have five daily prayers, but

492

:

the prayers are built into our

world and we need to make sure we

493

:

are achieving certain benchmarks.

494

:

while we're also being reflective

and doing our spirituality.

495

:

It is not about just sitting and thinking.

496

:

I feel like the research of Jonathan Het

and how he talks about, the anxious child.

497

:

We need to move away from being

anxious and being hesitant about

498

:

action and realize that Ellis

Manal is asking us to do both.

499

:

Be reflective, be curious, but act.

500

:

If we don't act, we are not

doing our, Islamic, tradition.

501

:

Any benefit.

502

:

Tariq: Do you think that anxiousness

is a manifestation of a fear to fail?

503

:

Dilnaz Waraich: it's about not wanting

to fail, but it's also 'cause we're

504

:

comparing ourself to other people.

505

:

Oh my gosh, she can do this.

506

:

And how does she do it?

507

:

I'm not gonna be able to do it as well.

508

:

If we compared ourselves and said, wow,

I did a little better than yesterday, and

509

:

quietly applauded ourselves then said,

all right, what can I do better today?

510

:

We would be more, less fearful.

511

:

We would be less anxious.

512

:

It's the fact that I think social media

and, others are telling us, Hey, do this.

513

:

That's what's holding us back and this

younger generation that is, really

514

:

thinking and like thinking of every

excuse not to do something is also

515

:

not learning from our ancestors that

like what we did during the Civil War,

516

:

what we did during the civil rights.

517

:

The civil rights would've never

occurred if we overthought it And how

518

:

much impor importance there needs to

be done in, each one of our actions.

519

:

the bus boycott, the economic changes,

all of that happened because there

520

:

were thousands of people doing it, not

just one individual moving it forward.

521

:

we need everyone to be

reflective and move forward.

522

:

Tariq: Denis, a powerful point.

523

:

not just the damage we do to ourselves

or our children I wouldn't even say

524

:

it's just our children, because now

we have a, just part of society.

525

:

Now.

526

:

This, what is it?

527

:

Thief, a co.

528

:

A comparison is the thief of joy.

529

:

And we are in a constant state

of a comparative analysis.

530

:

We're constantly engaged looking at

somebody else and what they're doing, and.

531

:

to, to the point to bring it back to

the, one of the points of this platform,

532

:

one is to highlight the journeys,

of different people, talking about

533

:

leadership and their experiences, But

it's also, for people to, as we look at

534

:

other people's journeys, to consider our

own and to find some value, recognize

535

:

that there's value in our journeys and.

536

:

we don't recognize the value in

that, it may pull us away from the

537

:

ability to actually make decisions.

538

:

we're we put ourselves

into a state of paralysis.

539

:

We think we're in stasis.

540

:

and don't realize, We've

been evolving and growing.

541

:

Dilnaz Waraich: Yeah.

542

:

going back to your question of

how do I do it every single day?

543

:

I will push, On that concept of, as

women, a lot of times we're told,

544

:

make sure you put your family first.

545

:

there's so many things that women,

in every faith tradition, have to

546

:

check off before they're actually

recognized or applauded for their work.

547

:

people use this phrase midlife crisis.

548

:

I changed it around and I said

it was a midlife awakening.

549

:

So I went through a midlife awakening

about 10 years ago, and asked myself.

550

:

What do I want?

551

:

What are my priorities?

552

:

I really struggled with that

for a good couple of years.

553

:

I climbed Mount

Kilimanjaro for seven days.

554

:

I cried.

555

:

I asked Al for guidance, but

I came back as a new person.

556

:

not everyone can climb a mountain, but

Each one of us climbs a mountain every

557

:

single day, and each one of us has

a different summit every single day.

558

:

So when you're on that prayer mat,

be proud you climbed a mountain,

559

:

reached a different summit,

and then be like, what other.

560

:

Opportunities out there.

561

:

What el what other,

fellowship can I apply for?

562

:

Who do I need to have coffee with?

563

:

who do I need to email it's those little

nuggets that change your mindset people

564

:

tell us, that's not what you should do.

565

:

Or, that's not really appropriate.

566

:

But also question, why are

they saying that and what.

567

:

Where are they coming from?

568

:

I don't think everyone out there is evil

when they tell me, oh, don't do that.

569

:

I think people are worried about

me and where I wanna move forward.

570

:

So I think it's being curious, being

self-reflective, and then acting.

571

:

Tariq: let's go back to Mount

Kilimanjaro for a moment what

572

:

was that experience like?

573

:

obviously it sounds like it was

a cathartic, an experience, but,

574

:

first off, what made you decide

to go to climate actual mountain?

575

:

Dilnaz Waraich: I said, there's

that phrase, midlife crisis.

576

:

I wasn't going through a crisis.

577

:

I was going through an awakening.

578

:

Let's change the narrative,

call it a midlife awakening.

579

:

I went through a midlife awakening where

everything was, an opportunity before

580

:

I could walk through those doors, I

needed to be comfortable with myself.

581

:

I needed to be comfortable with

the choices that I made, and

582

:

I needed to sit in that space.

583

:

So it was a seven day hike.

584

:

Beautiful time for me.

585

:

It was something I did for myself.

586

:

many, listeners will realize

we give so much of our life

587

:

for others, we please others.

588

:

We wanna make sure we're doing

what's, societally, appropriate.

589

:

And these were seven days

just for what I wanted to do.

590

:

I needed those seven days for

me to come back and be like,

591

:

okay, this is my trajectory and

I'm really comfortable with it.

592

:

So I started prioritizing.

593

:

In the last 10 years, I've always said

in my priorities, Al is number one.

594

:

I myself, bill Na is number two, and

then my family, my work, my community,

595

:

when you fly that airplane, they

tell you this every single time.

596

:

Make sure you take that oxygen

mask and put it on yourself.

597

:

And then put it on the

child sitting next to you.

598

:

if I don't take care of myself,

I cannot take care of others.

599

:

that was a harsh reality.

600

:

It wasn't easy to feel

comfortable but every day I

601

:

say Ellis Bon Al is number one.

602

:

I'm number two, and

everything else falls under.

603

:

Tariq: Do you carry that

trek, that mountain with you?

604

:

Are there times where you,

mentally go back to that space?

605

:

Or is that in your review?

606

:

Dilnaz Waraich: Oh no, you always have

to look forward, but everything in the

607

:

rear view mirror has supported you right?

608

:

So as I look forward, I think about,

the mountain I climb, every day we're

609

:

Climbing mountains getting comfortable

with the heat bumps and journeys it's,

610

:

important to put in the work I've done.

611

:

if every challenge had not been

there for me, and every single

612

:

strength had not been there for me,

I wouldn't be where I am thank you

613

:

Allah, for giving me this opportunity.

614

:

Thank you Allah, for making

these hardships for me.

615

:

Thank you, Allah.

616

:

I would've never been able

to have said that before.

617

:

It takes so much reflection and

hard work and crying to get here.

618

:

Tariq: life does look

different on this side of 50.

619

:

I have more clarity in

areas I did not have.

620

:

And there's still things I think,

you always be grappling with.

621

:

do you think that it's been

just a matter of, is it age?

622

:

experience?

623

:

what would you say?

624

:

how much has time played a role in

the awakening where you are now?

625

:

Dilnaz Waraich: Yeah.

626

:

you asked me about, experiences

that have been pivotal in my life?

627

:

after I came back from my,

mountain hike, I, started talking

628

:

about Muslim philanthropy I

realized every morning I had 1.8

629

:

billion Muslims I was

curing into every room.

630

:

at the end of the day.

631

:

I was it.

632

:

Exhausted dark.

633

:

Like I literally laid on the couch

and just needed to take a nap.

634

:

So at that point, my younger

son was probably around 14 years

635

:

old, and I so remember this.

636

:

He's mom, I don't know.

637

:

Very many crack addicts, but you are

totally acting like a crack addict.

638

:

I was like, first of all, how I didn't

even know you knew crack addict.

639

:

He goes, do you see

yourself in the morning?

640

:

You're like, oh my God, I gotta do

this, And you come home at night and

641

:

fall asleep sometimes you make dinner,

sometimes you don't he goes, I don't

642

:

think that's how you should behave.

643

:

that comment was important

because I walked.

644

:

Out of my home every morning

because I was carrying 1.8

645

:

billion Muslims on my back.

646

:

I wasn't representing Vil Naz.

647

:

I was representing the entire Muslim

community, I needed to change that.

648

:

I'm one person, I can only represent Vil,

NAZ, my views, strengths and challenges.

649

:

I cannot represent the

entire Muslim community.

650

:

That was a huge journey.

651

:

now I can tell you I get up in the

morning do whatever I can best.

652

:

go to sleep at night and ask, for

guidance the next day and to give me

653

:

the strength to do whatever I can.

654

:

But I always say, I'm sorry for the

mistakes I made because I know I've

655

:

made mistakes, but they're my mistakes.

656

:

I am not taking accountability

for anyone else except for myself.

657

:

Tariq: that sounds oddly for

me, and I think that is the

658

:

burden non-white folks carry.

659

:

it has nothing to do with

religion, that resonates with

660

:

me in terms of my blackness.

661

:

when there's a news story and something

terrible happened we're going, please

662

:

don't let it be a black person.

663

:

Or then, something happens.

664

:

please don't let it be a Muslim.

665

:

that is a burden placed

upon, non-white folks,

666

:

and brown folks, non-Christian, folks.

667

:

to be able to free yourself

of that, regardless of what

668

:

other people may think is a.

669

:

that is in itself is

an achievement, right?

670

:

I've been carrying around 1.8

671

:

billion Muslims

672

:

with me every day.

673

:

so thank you for that.

674

:

what would you say has, is

your greatest achievement?

675

:

Something that's most, I know it's

hard sometimes Muslims, we don't

676

:

want to use the word proud, right?

677

:

But what's something you

really, are pleased with?

678

:

Dilnaz Waraich: that's a

very interesting question.

679

:

for me it's raising these

two lovely sons and, having a

680

:

intact family is, it's not easy.

681

:

It's not easy especially, during

difficult times, having a.

682

:

Strong family unit with my parents

and my siblings and all of that.

683

:

I think that's my greatest joy.

684

:

on your deathbed, you're not

gonna remember how much money

685

:

you made but your family.

686

:

the fact that I have a strong

family is really important.

687

:

It takes a lot of time and effort to build

that type of relationship, I make a lot

688

:

of mistakes in this, parenting, journey.

689

:

that would be the, one

thing I'm really proud of.

690

:

Tariq: the one lesson I keep learning.

691

:

Is

692

:

Dilnaz Waraich: the one lesson

I keep learning is I'm enough.

693

:

Tariq: Now say that again and

unpack that a little bit for us.

694

:

'cause I love that.

695

:

I think I understand that, but I just

love to hear a little bit more on that.

696

:

Dilnaz Waraich: the one lesson I keep

learning is I'm just enough because.

697

:

Growing up, I was told I wasn't enough

if I could do this differently or if I

698

:

could just, learn that, or if I could

just, try and look a certain way,

699

:

I was always told I wasn't enough.

700

:

now at the age, like you had

mentioned in our fifties where.

701

:

So much more, grounded and we know how

we, should be living I'm just enough.

702

:

Whatever I'm doing fine.

703

:

I could probably, do things better,

but right now I'm just enough.

704

:

I don't need anyone to tell me, oh, if

you just tried this, you'd be better.

705

:

I don't need someone to tell

me how I can do things better.

706

:

I need someone to tell me they're

gonna be my partner in this work, and

707

:

together we can make things better.

708

:

Tariq: I think that's gonna be on repeat.

709

:

somebody's gonna rewind that

and listen a couple of times.

710

:

Dilnaz Waraich: Yeah.

711

:

Tariq: Daz, I appreciate you

taking the time to share your

712

:

journey, work, perspective.

713

:

I've benefited from it and I'm sure

that our listeners will as well.

714

:

thank you again I'm gonna just stop there.

715

:

Like I said, I do.

716

:

All right, family.

717

:

That concludes our

conversation for this week.

718

:

I hope you found value in it,

remember to keep up with us on

719

:

social media we have a new episode

every Friday, with God's permission.

720

:

we appreciate you.

721

:

we look forward to next week's

conversation where we share the

722

:

work Muslims in America are doing.

723

:

their journeys

724

:

and the experiences that have shaped them.

725

:

So I'm gonna leave you now as I

greeted you, as made the peace

726

:

that only God can give be upon you.

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About the Podcast

The American Muslim Podcast
The voices, stories, and perspectives shaping the American Muslim Experience
The American Muslim Podcast is your gateway to exploring the diverse and dynamic stories shaping the American Muslim experience. Hosted by Imam Tariq I. El-Amin, this podcast shines a spotlight on the voices of leaders who are making a profound impact in their communities, and in the public square.

From imams and chaplains to Islamic school leaders, teachers, scholars, and non-profit pioneers, we celebrate those who dedicate themselves to serving others. These inspiring individuals include masjid leaders, community activists, and youth mentors who exemplify the values of faith, compassion, and resilience in their work.

Through insightful conversations and authentic narratives, we explore how these leaders navigate faith, identity, and service, offering a unique perspective on the evolving role of American Muslims in shaping society.

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Tariq El-Amin

Imam Tariq I. El-Amin serves as the Resident Imam of Masjid Al-Taqwa in Chicago, IL. He is the founder of the Chicago Black Muslim History Tour and the former host of Sound Vision's Radio Islam, a nightly talk radio program that aired in the Chicago market. Tariq is a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Scholarship and earned a Master of Divinity in Islamic Chaplaincy from Bayan Islamic Graduate School in 2022. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Islamic Community Leadership at Bayan, with expected completion in 2026. Tariq is also a producer of the award-winning UIC Black Excellence podcast, hosted by Dr. Aisha El-Amin, and lends his voice to narrating audiobooks.