Episode 11

full
Published on:

26th Mar 2025

Modern Challenges, Timeless Faith: Imam Ishaq Majeed's Perspective

Modern Challenges, Timeless Faith: Imam Ishaq Majeed's Perspective

In this episode of the American Muslim Podcast, host Imam Tariq El-Amin speaks with Imam Ishaq Majeed, a second-generation Muslim from Atlanta. The discussion covers a variety of topics, including Imam Ishaq's upbringing in a close-knit Muslim community, his extensive career in cybersecurity with a focus on empowering minorities, and his experiences traveling and engaging with Muslim communities worldwide. They also delve into the importance of a physical community in Islam, the role of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a model for Muslims, and the significance of the Fayda Tijanniya. Imam Ishaq introduces the Fayda App, a digital platform offering books, audio, and lessons on Islam for everyone. Additionally, they talk about a viral social media clip of Imam Ishaq reciting the opening chapter of the Quran at a presidential inauguration event. The episode concludes with a call to support Bayan Islamic Graduate School and the Muhammad Ali Scholarship.

00:00 Introduction to Bayan on Demand

00:57 Welcome to the American Muslim Podcast

01:10 Guest Introduction: Imam Ishaq Majeed

02:30 Formative Memories and Early Influences

03:41 Community and Upbringing

07:47 The Importance of Physical Community

10:58 Teaching and Spreading Islam

19:20 Travel Experiences and Cultural Observations

23:11 Challenges of Practicing Islam in Western Society

24:06 Personal Commitment and Responsibility in Faith

25:13 Community Support and Spiritual Guidance

27:57 The Example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

31:07 Martial Arts and Spiritual Discipline

31:49 Reciting Quran at the Presidential Inauguration

34:47 Introduction to Fayda Tijanniya

38:25 The Bayan Experience

41:18 Closing Remarks and Future Endeavors

Links from our guest:

https://thenationsmosque.org/donations/capital-campaign/

The Fayda App for iphone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fayda-digital/id6450007889

for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.faydadigital&pli=1

bayanonline.org

Subscribe to Bayan on demand at https://shorturl.at/wlQl7

Donate to the Muhammad Ali Scholarship at https://pages.donately.com/bayan/campaign/2028-endowment-campaign/donate 

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

🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms.

Transcript
Imam Tariq:

Bayan on Demand offers a growing library of courses taught

2

:

by highly regarded scholars and

practitioners, designed for meted board

3

:

members, school administrators, imams,

chaplains, youth workers, parents,

4

:

and more with classes on Islamic

theology, adolescent development,

5

:

non-profit management, and the

history of Islam in America and more.

6

:

Bayan on Demand provides accessible

knowledge for just $10 a month.

7

:

Join our growing community of

learners today and support the work

8

:

of Baan Islamic Graduate School

and the Muhammad Ali Scholarship.

9

:

Go to baan online.org.

10

:

That's B-A-Y-A-N online.org

11

:

to get more information.

12

:

May the peace that only

God can give be upon you.

13

:

Welcome to the American Muslim

Podcast presented by Bayan on Demand.

14

:

I'm your host, Imam Tariq El-Amin

and it is my pleasure to continue

15

:

bringing to you a new conversation

each week with a different leader.

16

:

We speak with leaders from across

the nation who serve in a variety

17

:

of capacities, and today we

have the pleasure of having our

18

:

dear Brother Imam Ishaq Majeed, he

is a second generation Muslim, born

19

:

and raised in Atlanta's West End and

Atlanta MA of ALA communities.

20

:

He's a graduate of Muhammad Schools

of Atlanta and received a BS in

21

:

mathematics from Morehouse College.

22

:

You can check his complete

bio out in the show notes.

23

:

I should also mention he earned a master's

degree in Islamic studies from Bayan

24

:

Islamic graduate School, where he was

honored to be a Muhammad Ali Scholar.

25

:

this brother also has 25 plus years of

experience in information technology

26

:

and cybersecurity, starting his

own firm, Kubra Cybersecurity, with

27

:

a goal of expanding cybersecurity

opportunities for minorities.

28

:

so we welcome you to the podcast Brother

29

:

and Ramadan Mubarak to you.

30

:

Imam Ishaq: Ramadan Mubarak

31

:

Imam Tariq: we invite you to

be as open, as transparent.

32

:

However, much you are comfortable being.

33

:

however much you want to reveal.

34

:

we are here for it.

35

:

we say that because we know there's

a blessing, there's a benefit in

36

:

these stories that people may be

able to connect to and draw some

37

:

inspiration from, some direction from.

38

:

So that said, I'm gonna put the

question to you a bit differently.

39

:

where are you right now,

and how did you get here?

40

:

Imam Ishaq: where am I right now?

41

:

That's the kind of broad question.

42

:

Physically right now I'm in

Washington, DC on the DMV area.

43

:

Yeah.

44

:

I'm actually sitting in,

master Ham's Community Center.

45

:

Okay.

46

:

in dc.

47

:

as you may know, master Muhammad

is going through a renovation.

48

:

a very large renovation.

49

:

and, for anybody

listening, please go ahead.

50

:

Go and donate on the

Nation's Mosque website.

51

:

I had to do a little plug,

52

:

Imam Tariq: lessons involved in that,

we'll put the link in the show notes,

53

:

Imam Ishaq: So that's

physically where I am,

54

:

Imam Tariq: And, where you are

right now, and throughout the

55

:

course of this conversation, people

will get a better understanding of

56

:

the work that you're engaged in.

57

:

But before we get to this present moment,

what is the first formative memory or

58

:

event or conversation that you can look

back and say, this is the thing that

59

:

influenced the trajectory of my life.

60

:

Imam Ishaq: So

61

:

I was born Muslim, second generation,

and, I grew up in a Muslim community.

62

:

Which is maybe unique

or rare in our context.

63

:

When I say Muslim community, we

hear the adhan five times a day.

64

:

We walk to the masjid Muslims in

the neighborhood, and so I didn't

65

:

know anything other than this land.

66

:

My, in my formative years,

that's all I knew, Islam.

67

:

And as I got older, we know

that they're more than just

68

:

Muslims, other people as well.

69

:

Of course, even my extended

family is not Muslim.

70

:

Imam Tariq: Mmm

71

:

Imam Ishaq: I didn't know that at a

very young age, it didn't dawn on me.

72

:

That didn't really dawn on me

until I was a little older.

73

:

You can really see the difference.

74

:

the first memory,

75

:

Ooh,

76

:

man, that's a good question, brother.

77

:

Got me thinking.

78

:

Imam Tariq: Take your time.

79

:

Imam Ishaq: one of the things

that, 'cause we have so many

80

:

influential people in our lives.

81

:

I remember khutba's.

82

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

83

:

Imam Ishaq: I remember going to the

masjid for fajr we grew up in the Muslim

84

:

community going to the masjid for fajr..

85

:

I could literally walk out my door, walk

across the field and be at the masjid

86

:

and sitting in the masjid and for those

that don't know, the West End Community,

87

:

the Imam, there was Imam Jamil Al-Amin.

88

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

89

:

Imam Ishaq: And sometimes

at fajr in those mornings

90

:

He would be in there, 'cause

we had a wood burning, stove.

91

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

92

:

Imam Ishaq: Where you actually open

the door, you put some cardboard in

93

:

there, you put some wood in there.

94

:

And I remember those days.

95

:

Sometimes it would be just he and I.

96

:

And he's stoking that fire.

97

:

And we would just be

talking, how you doing, man?

98

:

Everything good.

99

:

I remember, in his khutba's, almost

every khutba that he would say the

100

:

narration of the prophet ﷺ where one

of the people asked the prophet ﷺ,

101

:

so why do you pray five times a day?

102

:

He said.

103

:

If a man were to bathe in a river five

times a day, how much dirt would be

104

:

left instead of no significant amount?

105

:

He said that is like an empty prayer.

106

:

I don't remember a khutbawhere

he didn't say that.

107

:

Imam Tariq: Mm.

108

:

Imam Ishaq: And Imam Jamil

salat was his thing.

109

:

Praying, in salat praying in congregation.

110

:

that was his thing.

111

:

and then I also remember 'cause I

went to Muhammad schools, Sister,

112

:

Clara Muhammad schools Warith Deen

Muhammad High School in Atlanta.

113

:

And I also remember the khutba's of Imam

Pasha, or Sheikh Pasha, Ibrahim Pasha.

114

:

And

115

:

Imam Plemon El-Amin

116

:

that we grew up on.

117

:

I remember, Imam, Pasha had a very

unique way, he would set up his khutba's.

118

:

He would set it up and hit you with

The main point after the setup.

119

:

Imam Tariq: Right.

120

:

Imam Ishaq: It

121

:

was a very unique way making this point.

122

:

I remember that

123

:

those good feelings the good

environments that I was raised in,

124

:

I didn't see a possibility of being

anything other than this muslim.

125

:

It just didn't make sense, for me.

126

:

there were, Christians in the neighborhood

and everything when they would do

127

:

Christmas celebration and come out

with their gifts, we said, that's

128

:

cool, but we have eid that's three

days and we have it two times, right?

129

:

Mm-hmm.

130

:

and things like playing basketball,

we'll be playing on the basketball court.

131

:

The adhan comes on and the

non Muslims say, oh, it's time

132

:

for you Muslims to go pray.

133

:

Y'all gotta go pray.

134

:

sometimes when we're playing soccer

they say, oh, y'all gotta go pray.

135

:

so there was always positiveness around

being Muslim around pleasing Allah

136

:

Around loving the messenger of Allah.

137

:

so Allah raised me in this environment,

I don't know if there's, any other

138

:

way that would make sense for me.

139

:

Imam Tariq: the question was

already answered for you.

140

:

Imam Ishaq: Alhamdulillah.

141

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

142

:

Imam Ishaq: And we gotta

be thankful to Allah.

143

:

Because there were influences.

144

:

There's always influences.

145

:

But I truly believe that because we

heard the adhan five times a day, not

146

:

from our cell phones, but from an actual

person on a loud speaker, that had a

147

:

great impact on solidifying Islam in us.

148

:

Imam Tariq: So with your upbringing and

a lot of what you said resonates with

149

:

me as a second generation Muslim, as

a sister Clara Muhammad School alumn,

150

:

here in Chicago, and the way that the

community had such a huge impact on me.

151

:

You had the benefit of being able to,

as you say, walk across the field to

152

:

the masjid for fajr prayer and living

in a community with other Muslims

153

:

Do you feel like that's something

that's shaped your expectation of

154

:

what communities should look like?

155

:

Even though we are a minority in

the United States of America, Mm,

156

:

Imam Ishaq: definitely, definitely.

157

:

And that I gotta step back a little bit to

the previous question, if you don't mind.

158

:

Can I do that?

159

:

Imam Tariq: Go right ahead please.

160

:

Do

161

:

Imam Ishaq: my father, he would reinforce,

what we were learning in school, meaning

162

:

we had to re I, I remember doing Ramadan.

163

:

We would, he would have us all sitting

on the couch reading, Qur'an In English.

164

:

We would read it.

165

:

We didn't like it at the time.

166

:

we wanna go play and do all, but

that was foundational, we had

167

:

different version of the bible.

168

:

then you had encyclopedia

Brittanica that whole row, right?

169

:

But he would say things about the

stories, doing comparative analysis

170

:

of the stories in the Quran and the

stories of the prophets, the stories in

171

:

the Quran and the stories in the Bible.

172

:

there was also that, And of course, my

mother who would teach at the school.

173

:

And also she would cover

and everything like this.

174

:

So all of that is just foundational.

175

:

but as far as the

question about community.

176

:

yes.

177

:

I believe one of the things that,

we are lacking today in some

178

:

areas is a physical community.

179

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

180

:

Imam Ishaq: we have a spiritual

community, but in many areas, we

181

:

just don't live next to each other.

182

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

183

:

Imam Ishaq: We don't walk to

the masjid with each other.

184

:

We have to drive to the

masjid and things like that.

185

:

sometimes we can't even

make it to the masjid.

186

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

187

:

Imam Ishaq: that physical community,

a lot of the aspects of it, Islam,

188

:

that become almost, and I hope

this doesn't get taken the wrong

189

:

way, but it almost becomes passive.

190

:

Or subconscious if you will.

191

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

192

:

Imam Ishaq: Right Where you are

walking around, you may not hear this.

193

:

Oh, there go the adhan So, you

know what time it is for school.

194

:

what the times are because you heard

the alarm go off at the same time.

195

:

So now you recognize it even

when you are away from that area.

196

:

man, it's time for salat.

197

:

and this is Before cell phones in

your pocket, we would be at the

198

:

malls or hey, it's time, for salat.

199

:

But this physical aspect of where

our children get to see how,

200

:

men and women interact, little

simple things like this, right?

201

:

How older brothers dress,

How they treat each other.

202

:

how Muslim women interact so forth.

203

:

the different ways that people dress,

the different ways that people speak and

204

:

treat each other adab things like this.

205

:

or even, just like walking

to the masjid right?

206

:

Imam Tariq: What

207

:

Imam Ishaq: do you do

when the adhan is called?

208

:

this physical community is something

that I think would help our

209

:

communities grow exponentially.

210

:

Exponentially.

211

:

Imam Tariq: So you are a

student of Islam, a teacher.

212

:

Can you talk a bit about the

importance of the physical

213

:

expression of God consciousness.

214

:

Of Allah consciousness that would have

somebody stop in the middle of the day.

215

:

pull over to the side of the road,

pull out a prayer rug in a space

216

:

where there are other people who

are not Muslim looking Can you speak

217

:

to that from a, a teacher's lens

and, what do you see as the impact?

218

:

Imam Ishaq: this is the example

of the prophets ﷺ People

219

:

knew his character first.

220

:

They knew him for 40 years.

221

:

they saw how he spoke.

222

:

they saw that he was trustworthy.

223

:

that he was manly.

224

:

They saw all of these things.

225

:

They saw that he cared for

the people around them.

226

:

This is the same for a physical community.

227

:

They may not know my name, but

they know that this guy when that

228

:

prayer called, he gonna go to that

green building in the West end.

229

:

they know that they may not know

what we're doing in the building.

230

:

They know when they hear that call.

231

:

I remember there was an

interview, a news interview

232

:

Of some of the Rastafarian people

that lived in our neighborhood.

233

:

And what I remember from that interview

is that when the news person asked

234

:

about, the call to prayer, It's like

when we hear that call to prayer.

235

:

We know that we are safe because

the Muslims are still here.

236

:

Imam Tariq: hmm.

237

:

Ma Shallah.

238

:

Imam Ishaq: being that example of

good character, That example of,

239

:

you know, Allah uses word in Qur'an,

qawimoon, he use it in regards to women.

240

:

Right?

241

:

rijal, qawimoon wa nisa Right.

242

:

Mm-hmm.

243

:

qawimoon are those who stand up,

Who have a standard of being.

244

:

will always provide, will always protect.

245

:

how can they see this?

246

:

how can they know this?

247

:

People can put that on For certain

events, but in a community where

248

:

they see you all the time, it's no

way to turn it off and turn it on.

249

:

And I'm not saying people do that.

250

:

people will always, they'll see

your character before they know your

251

:

name, they'll see your character and

they will know what you believe in.

252

:

They see your character and they will

know if they can trust you, they don't

253

:

even have to say anything to you.

254

:

This is part of the benefits of a

physical community to non-Muslims.

255

:

To fellow Muslims, they

see the same thing.

256

:

I believe in surah tul-Kahf Where Allah

says, turn your face to those who seek

257

:

Allah in the mornings, in the evening.

258

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

259

:

Imam Ishaq: How you would know that by

observing people's character, right?

260

:

Not by what they say but their character.

261

:

So that's, I think that's

the first part of education.

262

:

You know,

263

:

Malik, his mother said before you

learn his fiqh learn his adab,

264

:

learn his character, take from his

character before you take from his

265

:

fiqh and all that type of stuff.

266

:

That's the first part of education.

267

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

268

:

That's beautiful.

269

:

I did not read your

entire bio, but I feel.

270

:

it's important to share this piece.

271

:

as a preface to this next question.

272

:

as I mentioned, you are passionate

about spreading the message of Islam

273

:

through increased knowledge, love, and

salutations of praise on the prophet

274

:

Muhammad ﷺ, you routinely give Islamic

talks organizers dhikr circles with

275

:

permission and authority of a sheikh

gives weekly classes and works with

276

:

others in charitable activities.

277

:

Now, as I said, dear family who are

listening, you can go to the show

278

:

notes and see the biography without

break, and get a little bit of

279

:

insight into who this brother is.

280

:

when you are introducing Islam,

especially when you're introducing,

281

:

the, prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, to people,

is there a particular, strategy

282

:

or methodology that you use?

283

:

because it is different when we

are talking with other Muslims

284

:

as opposed to somebody who is not

familiar, or who's on the periphery.

285

:

Imam Ishaq: the strategy

is to be truthful.

286

:

That's the strategy.

287

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

288

:

Imam Ishaq: and to depends

on who you're speaking with.

289

:

I was listening to a talk by sheikh

Hassan Cisse And he was being

290

:

interviewed and he tells this story

of a non-Muslim lady who, says, can

291

:

you tell me something about Islam?

292

:

Or tell me something that the

prophet ﷺ said his response.

293

:

. Was something in regards to

women, the rights of women, right?

294

:

And so there's not, I don't

think there's a set response.

295

:

It depends on the person we're talking and

sometimes we might not even mention the

296

:

prophet ﷺ But we might mention something

that he did, because some people aren't

297

:

ready to hear even the word prophet.

298

:

they misunderstand or have been,

wrongfully taught, I guess you could say.

299

:

What a prophet is.

300

:

Right?

301

:

but what people do appreciate

is truth, honesty, and goodness.

302

:

And the best example of that is the

prophet Muhammad ﷺ and it's, it's, Man,

303

:

if you gimme to talk about the prophet ﷺ

you might not talk about anything else.

304

:

he's the example,

305

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

306

:

Imam Ishaq: He's the

most beautiful example,

307

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

308

:

Imam Ishaq: He's

309

:

the mercy to all the worlds.

310

:

Imam Tariq: ameen

311

:

Imam Ishaq: and the prophet ﷺ is for

every person, every human being, any

312

:

human being that walks on this planet,

313

:

the prophet ﷺ has something that is

appealing to that person about him.

314

:

they may reject it, but they can't

deny they, they have to admit it.

315

:

Even his main enemy.

316

:

Abu Jahl had to admit that, yeah,

we know he's telling the truth,

317

:

but I just can't deal with it.

318

:

Imam Tariq: He's bad for business.

319

:

Imam Ishaq: He's bad for business,

But this is, the prophet ﷺ is

320

:

the most beautiful in any aspect.

321

:

any way you want to take that

he's the most beautiful, the

322

:

most knowledgeable, the most

approachable we try to model that,

323

:

we try to, that's, that's

what we try to model,

324

:

Imam Tariq: So we're always

looking for connections.

325

:

And I think this is something, I don't

know if it is unique to Muslims, it

326

:

probably is not, but my anecdotal

experience makes me feel like we are

327

:

always looking for ways to relate whatever

we're doing back to the qur'an and sunnah.

328

:

And, with that, when you

think about your work in it.

329

:

Founding, cybersecurity, company Kubra.

330

:

When you think about that, what

are the ways that you see the

331

:

connection between your identity

as a Muslim, your, commitment to

332

:

modeling, the prophet ﷺ and so on.

333

:

what is the intersection?

334

:

Imam Ishaq: So

335

:

whatever field that a person

is in, we should strive as a

336

:

Muslim to do it with excellence.

337

:

Imam Tariq: That's right.

338

:

Imam Ishaq: And then once we have

that level of excellence, we should

339

:

want to share that, and bring other

people into that level of excellence.

340

:

I found that this was a way for me.

341

:

To be able to take care of

my family, which is a duty

342

:

on every Muslim man, right?

343

:

in this field, I've been able to take care

of my family now for 25 something years,

344

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

345

:

Imam Ishaq: I wanted to give

other people the opportunity to

346

:

be able to do that as well, who

may not have an avenue into that.

347

:

I don't know if that fully

answered the question or not?

348

:

Imam Tariq: No, no.

349

:

I think, there is an

element of zakat, in that.

350

:

Imam Ishaq: Mm-hmm.

351

:

Imam Tariq: Right?

352

:

Providing access and resources

for those who, for whatever the

353

:

reason is, don't have those things.

354

:

it is to say that we want for our brother

or sister, what we want for ourselves.

355

:

Imam Ishaq: Exactly.

356

:

Imam Tariq: that's what I took from that.

357

:

I hate to ever speak for anybody,

but I couldn't see how anybody would

358

:

not be able to make that connection.

359

:

I think you hit it right there.

360

:

So you have had the opportunity

to do some traveling.

361

:

Imam Ishaq: Yes, sir.

362

:

I have a bug, right?

363

:

A traveling bug.

364

:

I like to see the world.

365

:

And, Allah says, travel

through the earth and see, what

366

:

happened to the other peoples.

367

:

the first time I traveled

outside of the country Was in

368

:

our senior high school trip.

369

:

We went to one of the

islands called Aruba.

370

:

And it was so different from

Atlanta I wanted to go in

371

:

North Texas, so alhamdulillah

I did travel, with my family.

372

:

We've traveled to Jordan.

373

:

we lived in Jordan for a year.

374

:

We've traveled to Egypt, Morocco, Senegal,

uk, some of the oth other islands.

375

:

so we've traveled, Malaysia, we've

traveled to a number of places.

376

:

Yeah.

377

:

Imam Tariq: What was something that

you found to be consistent in all

378

:

of the places that you've traveled?

379

:

And give me one thing that you found

that really stood out as a difference.

380

:

Imam Ishaq: So when, I travel,

even in non-Muslim countries, I

381

:

Try to find where the Muslims are.

382

:

And what is beautiful.

383

:

Being African American Muslims, in

America I would say the standard

384

:

bearer of Islam in America.

385

:

Everywhere that I went, people

had their own unique stamp

386

:

on how they practice Islam.

387

:

It was still the same.

388

:

It's still the same Islam.

389

:

You still pray five times every

day fast, you modestly dressed,

390

:

but they had their own stamp on it.

391

:

where it was unique to their

society for their culture.

392

:

and it was beautiful.

393

:

It's beautiful.

394

:

We went to, Senegal, the most recent

one is, in this particular place, in

395

:

Senegal, also in Dakar the Capital and in

396

:

One of the places I visit alot Madina Baye

397

:

these are people that are.

398

:

enriched in, in rhythm,

first of all, poetry.

399

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

400

:

Imam Ishaq: tasawwuf You might be walking

down the street in Dakar, you pass a

401

:

masjid and you hear them in there doing

their dhikr and their very Rhythmic tone.

402

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

403

:

Imam Ishaq: oh, they're praising Allah.

404

:

Just sending praises on the prophet ﷺ.

405

:

And you go to Medina Baye you'll see

groups of kids having cipher, right?

406

:

They're saying, who can

praise the prophet ﷺ the best.

407

:

Imam Tariq: Wow.

408

:

Imam Ishaq: And so, this is

refreshing to see that, right?

409

:

you go to Malaysia, they have the

wraps around the sarong, right?

410

:

the man wear sarong.

411

:

We went to Juma, I remember this.

412

:

And they had showers in the masjid.

413

:

Imam Tariq: Really

414

:

Imam Ishaq: rows of shower.

415

:

So the people can, if they're,

you know, physical laborers and

416

:

they can come to the masjid.

417

:

Take a shower at the masjid come

out with the nice clothes on.

418

:

Right.

419

:

Go in.

420

:

After salat they put back on their

clothes and they go back to work.

421

:

You know?

422

:

it's making it easy for

those people to come to jumah

423

:

Imam Tariq: mm-hmm.

424

:

Imam Ishaq: and Egypt, it's hot.

425

:

the people are a little bit more,

high tempered, but at the same

426

:

time, they're very generous.

427

:

the Arabs in general, most of them,

that I visited, they're very welcoming.

428

:

Want you to come in, drink some tea

with 'em, sit down and relax for a

429

:

little while, and then joke around.

430

:

They joke a lot, the Turkish people

and every society that I've been to

431

:

has a unique stamp, in the western.

432

:

Societies where Islam is the

minority, you see more of a

433

:

emphasis on, being, real strict.

434

:

on the requirements But a real,

firmness in their religion.

435

:

Firmness in their religion.

436

:

So it's not always as laid back as

you would go to a Senegal or Malaysia,

437

:

either where Islam is everywhere.

438

:

and some of the Muslim places.

439

:

Yes.

440

:

When you are with Muslims

or in Western countries.

441

:

When you are with Muslims.

442

:

Yes.

443

:

this is something that I noticed

maybe other people didn't notice.

444

:

So this is my own reflection.

445

:

there's no adhan to remind you.

446

:

In most cities, there's no adhan to

remind you that it's time for salat..

447

:

Nobody's going say, in Raman brother?

448

:

Why you eating?

449

:

you're supposed to be fasting,

450

:

Imam Tariq: right.

451

:

Imam Ishaq: No.

452

:

So you have to be more disciplined

within yourself to maintain

453

:

your Islam in Western society.

454

:

You have to be more firm on yourself.

455

:

and more disciplined.

456

:

I said that about three times

in Western society, Yeah.

457

:

But in the Muslim society, it's very

easy and It's beautiful in all of it.

458

:

Imam Tariq: I appreciate that.

459

:

I had the opportunity to travel to

Senegal, a few years ago, and was

460

:

very impressed with the spirit of

the people and being in a space

461

:

where you were absolutely affirmed.

462

:

Absolutely, accepted.

463

:

I feel like being Muslim in

the United States of America.

464

:

Is such a blessing for the exact

reasons that you mentioned,

465

:

is that it really is a choice.

466

:

It is a commitment.

467

:

It is not being carried

along with the wave, right?

468

:

everybody's going to the masjid,

everybody's fasting, And not to say that

469

:

these are not things that we don't want,

we want these things in our communities,

470

:

but it really takes the personal

commitment and the responsibility for

471

:

the individual to a whole, other level.

472

:

And I think there's a

blessing in that as well.

473

:

even looking at the blessing of being

in a space where you hear the, adhan

474

:

called, and I've been in those spaces too.

475

:

it is wonderful, but I could

see how I could end up on

476

:

autopilot at the same time.

477

:

and that's not to say that would

be the automatic disposition

478

:

for people, In those societies.

479

:

As a matter of fact, I think it could

also work the exact other way, and

480

:

you become even more sensitized.

481

:

it becomes that much

more ingrained in you.

482

:

Imam Ishaq: I agree with you

a hundred percent on that.

483

:

we being the community for, the Tijanniyah

people, Fayda Tijanniyah people here.

484

:

one of my teachers, Muhammad Cisse, we

bring him to visit at least once a year.

485

:

he was talking to a mixed group

of people and, he said, man, I'm

486

:

making a du'a for you guys because

it's not easy being Muslim in

487

:

America or in Europe or in the uk.

488

:

It's not easy.

489

:

It's easy to some of us.

490

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

491

:

Imam Ishaq: Because we grew

up here, we don't know any

492

:

other way of how to be Muslim.

493

:

but we are bombarded with a whole

bunch of stuff that we think is

494

:

normal and it's very abnormal.

495

:

in the hot seasons when people

are not dressed, men and women,

496

:

they not dressed properly.

497

:

I heard Shake Hamza, Yusef, he said,

it's haram for people, and I'm not

498

:

making a fiqh point, I'm just saying

what he mentioned, he says, haram

499

:

for us to be seeing people's thighs.

500

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

501

:

Imam Ishaq: How many

people's thighs do we see?

502

:

yeah.

503

:

I agree.

504

:

Being Muslim here, it has

to be a lot of blessings.

505

:

for a person to be in our environment

and make salat, five times a day.

506

:

a person who's fasting, trying

their best to be pleasing to Allah.

507

:

to be pleasing to the prophet ﷺ.

508

:

I'm sure you've heard of people who

have traveled here from other places

509

:

Other countries, and they come here,

they said, man, I learned Islam here.

510

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

511

:

Yeah.

512

:

I think that spirit matters.

513

:

it is one thing to be consistent, to

be intentional, to be firm in your,

514

:

Islam and quite another, to lose

the beauty of it in your firmness.

515

:

and that's never what we aspire for.

516

:

we are aspiring for

that, that middle path.

517

:

And to, but I think there's also something

subconsciously, or maybe consciously

518

:

that happens when people who are not

born here come here as Muslims they feel

519

:

like a fish out of water, and they feel

like, they gotta hold onto the little bit

520

:

of water that they have in their hands.

521

:

They brought some water back

with them and they're like,

522

:

I'm not letting this go at all.

523

:

I'm holding onto this.

524

:

So it becomes a matter of, you're not

actually able to acculturate yourself

525

:

to new surroundings in a way where your

Islam actually accentuates and beautifies

526

:

the culture that you enter into.

527

:

Imam Ishaq: they don't know

what the water holes are.

528

:

Right.

529

:

They don't.

530

:

it is not like a waterfall.

531

:

in some of our cities, in the US

532

:

Imam Tariq: No.

533

:

No.

534

:

Imam Ishaq: You have to

go to specific places.

535

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

536

:

Imam Ishaq: And sometimes you go

to some places, but the example

537

:

of being firm and still being

beautiful is the prophet Muhammad ﷺ

538

:

Imam Tariq: yeah.

539

:

Absolutely.

540

:

Imam Ishaq: Nobody is more firm

in their deen than the prophets

541

:

And nobody's more beautiful, than

the prophet ﷺ this is why the

542

:

prophet, is so important, Because

without him, as an example.

543

:

We'll probably be very

difficult people to be around.

544

:

Imam Tariq: That's putting it nicely.

545

:

Imam Ishaq: if we take our own

interpretation of what we read There

546

:

would be some serious problem, alright.

547

:

Even amongst two Muslims.

548

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

549

:

Imam Ishaq: we have the example of

the prophet Muhammad ﷺ in some of

550

:

my khutba, I give this, reference

in Qur'an Where Allah says,

551

:

obey Allah and obey his messenger.

552

:

Imam Tariq: That's right.

553

:

Imam Ishaq: and Allah has said

this well over 20 times in Quran,

554

:

obey Allah and obey his messenger.

555

:

Obey Allah and his messenger.

556

:

It says it in different ways, and

in one place it even says obeying

557

:

the messenger is obeying Allah.

558

:

but nowhere in the corner

does it say obey yourself.

559

:

unfortunately we have people who

want to try to exclude that example.

560

:

But without the example of the

prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we would not

561

:

know how to follow the Qur'an.

562

:

We would be following our own self and

our own interpretation of the Qur'an,

563

:

which will lead to complete chaos.

564

:

We have this beautiful example

of firmness and beauty.

565

:

Imam Tariq: Yes.

566

:

Imam Ishaq: Alhamdulillah,

567

:

The prophets was involved in a

lot of war and a lot of battles.

568

:

Badr, Uhud, Second Badr, trench, all of

these battles even later in his life with

569

:

the Romans and all this type of stuff.

570

:

But it's only reported

that he killed one person.

571

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

572

:

Imam Ishaq: And he really

didn't kill that person.

573

:

This is a man who's fighting battle

after battle, after battle after battle.

574

:

And some of the sahabah they would

say when the battle got thick,

575

:

when it got hard, we would get

close to the messenger of Allah.

576

:

he's fighting these people.

577

:

and I have trained in martial arts.

578

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

579

:

Imam Ishaq: And so I'm imagining a

warrior on the battlefield, people

580

:

that come to attack him, he's swinging

his weapon in a way that will push

581

:

them back, but it doesn't kill him.

582

:

Imam Tariq: smacking

him with the flat edge.

583

:

He smacking

584

:

Imam Ishaq: him with the flat edge.

585

:

Or maybe with the hilt.

586

:

Yeah.

587

:

Or something like that.

588

:

And when the battle gets thick, his

companions getting close to him.

589

:

that's a beautiful example of being

firm strong, but being a mercy at

590

:

the same time, he's fighting these

people, but he's not killing them.

591

:

Because why He wants them to come,

he wants them to see this character.

592

:

Imagine fighting somebody like that.

593

:

man, every time I get

he just pushes me back.

594

:

And you do it again, and you do it again.

595

:

He's like, man, how can, I can't

continue to fight somebody like this?

596

:

Imam Tariq: That person would likely

think after a while after being

597

:

rebuffed so many different times.

598

:

This person values my life more than I do.

599

:

Imam Ishaq: Look at that.

600

:

Imam Tariq: Right?

601

:

Imam Ishaq: Look at that.

602

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

603

:

That's beautiful.

604

:

so what martial art do you train in?

605

:

Imam Ishaq: Alhamdulillah?

606

:

it's Ike Juujitsu.

607

:

I started with my teacher Ali Shabazz,

I've been with him almost 22 years now.

608

:

Training with him.

609

:

Ali Shabazz he a beautiful brother.

610

:

He gave a proof.

611

:

One time he came to class, smiling so

hard, and he starts talking about, I got

612

:

a proof from the Quran for what we do.

613

:

He said, really?

614

:

What's that?

615

:

He says, 'cause Aah says fighting is

prescribed for you and you may just

616

:

like a thing that's beneficial for you.

617

:

Imam Tariq: That's right,

618

:

that's right.

619

:

Imam Ishaq: Alright, go ahead then Imam..

620

:

Go ahead sheikh.

621

:

Imam Tariq: Alhamdulillah.

622

:

I would love for you to talk a bit about

the social media clip of you reciting

623

:

the opening chapter of the Quran.

624

:

suratul-fatihah at what appeared

to be a gathering of faith leaders

625

:

and, and maybe more folks around

the presidential inauguration.

626

:

because it was a beautiful thing

to see this representation.

627

:

Could you talk a bit about that?

628

:

Imam Ishaq: So this happened

earlier this year as part of the

629

:

inaugural, events for the president.

630

:

this was the craft service that

the, religious community does at the

631

:

cathedral here in Washington, DC.

632

:

I was not, supposed to be

the person to give that.

633

:

I wasn't the person in for that.

634

:

Imam Talib called me about

two weeks before that.

635

:

He said he, Ishaq I'm gonna be out town.

636

:

I need your help with something.

637

:

I said, no problem, Imam.

638

:

He says, we have this thing.

639

:

We need mu'adhan.

640

:

He said, can you do it?

641

:

I said, not me.

642

:

I don't have the best voice.

643

:

Yeah.

644

:

and I, I made some recommendations

and we ended up with the brother who

645

:

gave the adhan,, , Akhutba'sr Sharif.

646

:

he's actually a third generation

Muslim, He's 90 years old.

647

:

Imam Tariq: Beautiful.

648

:

Imam Ishaq: he's the mu'adhan

for Masjid Muhammad gives the

649

:

design for the Juma prayer.

650

:

I was going to escort him.

651

:

It was a very cold day

652

:

Like I said, he's in his nineties, so We

had to go through security, get security

653

:

background and all that type of stuff.

654

:

Brother Dr.

655

:

Muhammad Faser, Raheem, was the one

who scheduled to do that, but may

656

:

Allah bless him and bless his family,

657

:

Maybe two days before he called

me, he said, I'm taking care

658

:

of my family in the Carolinas.

659

:

but I'll be back in time.

660

:

And so the night before

he, he send me a message.

661

:

He said, my flight got canceled.

662

:

Imam Tariq: Mm.

663

:

Imam Ishaq: I said, okay.

664

:

He said, but I'm gonna try to

find another flight later on.

665

:

He said, all the flights are canceled.

666

:

And so he said, you're

gonna have to do it.

667

:

I said, okay, no problem.

668

:

the next morning we show

up and I'm in the spot.

669

:

So that's how that happened,

Allah is the best, of planners.

670

:

And I don't know, if it's because of

the honor of him taking care of his

671

:

parents or some other reason why Allah

decided to make it this case this way.

672

:

Maybe I love one of him.

673

:

To be with his parents more than

he wanted me to be, in this place.

674

:

but that's how that happened.

675

:

Imam Tariq: I'm sure you got a

lot of favorable responses though.

676

:

when I looked at it, I said,

man, this is a beautiful thing.

677

:

Imam Ishaq: one of the brothers asked

me, he said, man, were you nervous?

678

:

I was like, nah, I wasn't nervous,

but what I did say was I was

679

:

concerned that, I would do.

680

:

Something that's pleasing to Allah.

681

:

Imam Tariq: Yes.

682

:

Imam Ishaq: Doing something

that's pleasing to Allah.

683

:

So I didn't want to get up there

and choke Have a bad name, first

684

:

thing that the news gonna pick up.

685

:

Oh, this black Muslim got up

there, he couldn't even read.

686

:

that was my thing.

687

:

I wanted to, make sure that I was pleasing

to Allah, and doing it in the best

688

:

way possible.

689

:

Imam Tariq: Okay, alhamdulillah.

690

:

I understand that you have another

project that you are working on.

691

:

Fayda right?

692

:

Imam Ishaq: so Fayda literally,

means the flood, right?

693

:

A flood, water, flood, flooding, right?

694

:

now the tarika that I am a part of is

the the tarika Muhammadiyah a way of

695

:

the prophet ﷺ, and that specifically

is for knowing Allah and his messenger

696

:

more intimately than And the fayda

of this tarika was founded by Sheikh

697

:

Ahmed Tijanni Sharif, who was an

Algerian who, migrated to, Morocco.

698

:

the Prophet ﷺ gave him the permission

and guided him on this way.

699

:

ah, he saw the prophet

ﷺ while he was awake.

700

:

And I'm not talking about a dream,

but while he was awake, there's a

701

:

reason why that's important, but I

don't want to get too much into that.

702

:

That's a whole nother lesson.

703

:

But the prophet ﷺ he mentioned to Sheikh

Ahmed Tijanni Sharif he says that for

704

:

those who follow you, your murides are my

murides This is what the prophet ﷺ said.

705

:

and he said some other

things that follow that.

706

:

which means that in this way, the

prophet ﷺ, is the ultimate sheikh of

707

:

the tarika Tijanni Just as he is with

some of the other people as well.

708

:

So the fayda Tijanniya, Sheikh Ahmed

Tijanni said that there will be

709

:

one of the followers in this Tarika

who will bring a flood, a fayda

710

:

of people to come into this way.

711

:

And he said, this person is gonna

be close to the end times and

712

:

that is Sheikh Ibrahim Yasin.

713

:

, raheemu'llah Sheikh ul-Islam

and Hadi Ibrahim Yasin.

714

:

Yes.

715

:

Islam and Ibrahim, yes.

716

:

Is Senegalese.

717

:

he was born in 1900.

718

:

So a recent shake.

719

:

He heard radio, he saw tv, he saw

movies, planes, and everything like this.

720

:

Alright.

721

:

And that tradition carries on.

722

:

So that's what the fayda is.

723

:

The Fayda is Fayda Tijanniya

branch in the Tejana, tarika.

724

:

So we have an application, an app.

725

:

He is on your phone, right?

726

:

our brother, Ibrahim Dempson

Usman Demspon, who are my

727

:

two partners on this app.

728

:

And actually they started Fada books

before, and now we have Fayda Digital.

729

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

730

:

Imam Ishaq: You

731

:

find it on our app store, but it

has books, in Arabic and English

732

:

audio books in Arabic and English.

733

:

lessons, what we call knowledge cast.

734

:

talking about Islam tasawwuf, tafsir,

hadith poetry on the prophet, ﷺ.

735

:

Praise the prophet, ﷺ.

736

:

Ways to bring closest to the prophet, ﷺ.

737

:

All in what?

738

:

Knowing Allah.

739

:

Knowing Allah the only way that we

really know Allah is through the

740

:

prophets Allah Sheikh Hasan he

once said that, if you want to know

741

:

Allah, then follow the prophet ﷺ.

742

:

And this is one of the things

that Allah says in the Quran

743

:

where he says, say to them,

744

:

he says, tell the people if

they love Allah, then follow me.

745

:

Allah will love you and forgive your sins.

746

:

So loving the prophet, ﷺ is a

way of being closer to Allah, and

747

:

that's what this fayda Tajanniya is.

748

:

That's one of the main things of this.

749

:

fayda tajanniya, being close

to Allah, increase our taqwa.

750

:

You don't have to be a Tajjani to

download the app, You don't have to

751

:

take a tarika to enjoy what's on this

app to benefit from what's in the app.

752

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

753

:

Imam Ishaq: it's for everyone.

754

:

Imam Tariq: as a Bayan graduate,

what did that experience mean to

755

:

you as a student of knowledge, as

someone who also continues to teach

756

:

and someone who understands the

importance and benefit of community?

757

:

Imam Ishaq: was a wonderful opportunity

and a wonderful experience, even without

758

:

the educational part of it, we had.

759

:

days years of just discussing Islam

with our brothers and sisters, right?

760

:

we had to write about it.

761

:

We had to read about it, even without

the educational part, just being with

762

:

the Muslims for the purpose of increasing

our Islam is a beautiful thing.

763

:

with the guidance of experienced teachers.

764

:

I can't express how wonderful that is.

765

:

in, a context, that's familiar to us,

766

:

Meaning the American context.

767

:

we got to, you and I

were in classes together.

768

:

we got people from all over,

people who had various levels of

769

:

Islamic education and experience.

770

:

Some who were younger than both of

us, some who were older Some who had

771

:

already gone to universities like Azhar.

772

:

and studied at other places and still came

because they understood that in America,

773

:

Islam is different and we need to learn

how to, relate Islam in this society.

774

:

And I think Bayan does an excellent

job of that, opening people's ideas

775

:

to better ways and different ways of

776

:

establishing Islam.

777

:

In the best way in our society.

778

:

I think Bayan does that very well.

779

:

you're going back to the prophet ﷺ, right?

780

:

We could be sitting in the classroom and

it has people from all over the place.

781

:

some people may think that since

the prophet ﷺ, was Arab, all

782

:

of his companions were Arabs.

783

:

No man.

784

:

He had people from all over the

place who were around the prophet.

785

:

So people who had traveled

just becoming people.

786

:

And so when you're sitting around the

prophet ﷺ you have people who look like

787

:

you and I but people who are Persian.

788

:

You have people who are

Roman, you have Arabs.

789

:

You have Africans.

790

:

You have all of these people who

are around the prophet, ﷺ and

791

:

then you come to a class in day

in, it's the same type of mix.

792

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

793

:

Imam Ishaq: Right?

794

:

Imam Tariq: Mm-hmm.

795

:

Imam Ishaq: It's beautiful thing.

796

:

And who are we talking about?

797

:

We talking about the prophet ﷺ.

798

:

Imam Tariq: That's right.

799

:

That's right.

800

:

Imam Ishaq: And so it's a beautiful thing.

801

:

Bayan was a wonderful experience.

802

:

It actually, reignited the love

of learning about, Islam for me

803

:

particularly, formal learning,

the teachers are wonderful.

804

:

The staff is wonderful.

805

:

The students are wonderful.

806

:

it's a wonderful program.

807

:

Wonderful program.

808

:

Imam Tariq: alhamdulillah.

809

:

Well, my dear brother Ishaq, I

am definitely appreciative of you

810

:

taking the time to share a bit

of your insight, your experience.

811

:

we certainly look forward to

this tool that you've said.

812

:

It's for everybody.

813

:

It's not just for Tijanni

814

:

Imam Ishaq: that's right.

815

:

Imam Tariq: it's for everybody.

816

:

That's right.

817

:

So I look forward to, touching base

with you again and hopefully to talk

818

:

about some of the components and

how people are responding to it.

819

:

May Allah give it success

in all of your endeavors.

820

:

I know.

821

:

And I think this is the culmination

to had the chance to talk with

822

:

your wonderful wife, Corey.

823

:

and really I think the only way to really.

824

:

One up this is to have you

both back on at the same time,

825

:

Imam Ishaq: That's gonna be a party.

826

:

Absolutely.

827

:

but alhamdulillah, I thank

you for inviting me as well.

828

:

alhamdulillah, may Allah Bless this show.

829

:

And, I have to give credit

where credit is due, I know

830

:

you did some radio work before.

831

:

And I listened to, the interview

that you did with my wife.

832

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

833

:

Imam Ishaq: And I said, man, this

brother, he really knows this craft.

834

:

he knows when to ask the questions.

835

:

He knows when to, let the speaker

go, you know, alhamdulillah.

836

:

But also, don't cut this part out.

837

:

Please don't cut this.

838

:

If you all don't know.

839

:

Imam

840

:

Tariq

841

:

with this silky voice, nice voice.

842

:

he has an audio series on YouTube

of him reading alhamdulillah him

843

:

reading the qur'an in English.

844

:

Imam Tariq: Yeah.

845

:

Imam Ishaq: If you haven't heard

that, please go and listen to it.

846

:

I gotta give credit with

credit may Lord bless that.

847

:

Imam Tariq: may Allah accept

it as an act of worship.

848

:

I definitely appreciate you, brother, and

since you asked, I'm gonna leave it in.

849

:

American Muslim Podcast family.

850

:

Please check the show notes out you

get all those links, how you can

851

:

support the work at masjid Muhammad,

how you can also get the Fayda app.

852

:

Now as we prepare to close, I want

to remind you if you didn't catch

853

:

it during our conversation, Imam

Ishaq and myself both received

854

:

the Muhammad Ali Scholarship.

855

:

Which allowed us to complete

the Master of Divinity.

856

:

Your contributions to the Muhammad

Ali Scholarship supports those who

857

:

are endeavoring to support community

life, those who are working on

858

:

the front lines of community in

whatever capacity you can imagine.

859

:

So if you go to bayan online.org,

860

:

You can click on the donate button.

861

:

And finally, join our community

of learners by getting yourself a

862

:

subscription to Bayan on Demand.

863

:

That's Bayan on Demand.

864

:

We have 30 classes on there, taught

by some of the best and brightest,

865

:

some of the most recognized and sought

after scholars, and practitioners

866

:

in the United States of America.

867

:

And you can have access on your terms.

868

:

$10 a month, and with that in

Sha Allah, with God's permission,

869

:

we will see you again next week.

870

:

I'm your host, Imam Tariq El-Amin

and I leave you as I greeted you,

871

:

As Salaamu Alaikum may the peace

that only God can give be upon you.

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The American Muslim Podcast

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. Presented by Bayan On Demand, this podcast shines a spotlight on the voices of leaders who are making a profound impact in their communities—many of whom are students, alumni, and visiting faculty of Bayan Islamic Graduate School.

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. Join us to uncover the stories of those who lead with purpose and embody the transformative mission of Bayan.

About your host

Profile picture for Tariq El-Amin

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.