Imam Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a professor of Islamic Studies at Southern Methodist University. He’s also the resident scholar of the Valley Ranch Islamic Center, and Co-Chair of Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square, a multi-faith alliance for peace and justice.
Originally from New Orleans, LA, he began his journey of traditional Islamic learning in the year 2000 and has spent years studying in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Malaysia, etc. Upon becoming certified in various traditional sciences, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic law, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, a Master’s degree in Islamic Finance, a Master’s Degree in Political History, and is in the process of completing his PhD from the International Islamic University of Malaysia in Islamic Thought and Civilization.
His career started in his hometown of New Orleans where he served as the Imam of the Jefferson Muslim Association in New Orleans for 6 years and directed the ICNA Relief “Muslims for Humanity” Hurricane Katrina Relief effort. It was in this time that he was noted on a national level as being a strong advocate of community service, interfaith dialogue, and social justice. He co-founded the East Jefferson Interfaith Clergy Association and was awarded for his outstanding civic achievement by the Mayor and City Council of New Orleans in 2010.
He then moved to Dallas and became the Resident Scholar of the Valley Ranch Islamic Center in 2013 and more recently, Co-Chair of Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square. In Dallas, he has been a noted leader and voice for peace, and has partaken as a representative of the Muslim Community in many city functions. He has since been a guest at various national functions to share his experiences in community building.
Shaykh Omar most recently founded the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research which is a think tank that focuses on instilling conviction based on Islamic texts, and producing contribution. He also founded M.U.H.S.E.N (Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs), a nonprofit umbrella organization serving the community to establish a more inclusive “Special Friendly” environment for our Brothers & Sisters of all Disabilities.
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The benefits of being called servants of the Most Merciful What is the significance of being called the servants of the Most Merciful? Sh. Omar Suleiman kicks off the first late night reflection in this special 10 day series.
Episode 21_ The First Rows _ What is the significance of the first rows in the Masjid? Are they physically the first rows, or do they encompass something deeper?
Episode 20_ A Caller from Heaven's Gates This is a hadith you probably haven't yet heard in a fundraiser. Charity should be a daily habit in our lives, and we should never underestimate the blessings we gain through it that we may not have considered.
Episode 19_ Have You Ever Seen an Angel in Human Form Have you ever met a human being and thought they must be an angel? You may be right, but you may also be missing the point.
When Your Loved Ones Are Dying Have you ever been around a dying loved one and noticed a presence in the room? As your loved ones breathe their last breaths, your supplications are witnessed by the angels. O Allah! Forgive Abu Salamah, raise his rank among those who are rightly-guided and grant him a successor from his descendants who remain behind. Grant him pardon and us, too. Oh Lord of the worlds. Make his grave spacious for him and give him light in it.
An Entourage of 70,000 _ Imagine having 70,000 of these blessed creatures follow you throughout the day seeking forgiveness for you. Why is the reward for visiting the sick so unique?
The Ultimate Healer There are angels that visit you when you're sick and monitor how you react to other visitors. What rewards lay in store for those who are patient with their illness?
Delaying Commitment Due to Self-Doubt -Virtual Khutbah How can we overcome self-doubt and learn how to get over the hurdles in our way? Sh. Omar Suleiman explores how we can ask Allah to guide us through our doubts to make better progress to our journey to Him, especially during this blessed month of Ramadan.
Juz' 16 with Roohi Tahir Sh. Omar Suleiman and Sh. Abdullah Oduro, joined by special guest Roohi Tahir, explore gems from the 16th Juz' of the Holy Quran.
In Episode #15, the respected Imam Omar Suleiman takes us through the action of angels in our life when we say or do something for the sake of Allah. Did you know that when you love someone purely for the sake of Allah, no ulterior motive, nothing personal or professional to be gained from the visiting that person, an angel calls out :– “May you find goodness in your path always, and may your steps be blessed, and may you have a special station in paradise”? Our venerable Imam relates hadiths th...
The Seeker of Knowledge. The path of knowledge is the path to paradise. The angels lower their wings out of humility to the seeker of knowledge in a special way. But what qualifies as seeking? And what benefits come through it?
Episode #13 informs us of the function of the angel when people remain just and fair when judging a dispute. The prophet s.aw. said that when a person is asked to judge and they do it righteously Allah s.w.t sends angels who guide them to the truth. There is a story of Omar Al Khattab who had to judge a dispute between a Muslim and a Jew. The Khalifah judged in favour of the Jew over the Muslim and the Jew said that Omar had judged correctly. Omar wanted to know how the Jew knew this. Listen to ...
In Episode #12, our respected Imam Omar Suleiman relates to us the task of the angel when a servant of Allah makes du’a for our beloved and honoured prophet s.a.w.. If a servant sends salawat (peace and blessings) upon the prophet s.a.w., Allah sends ten times of that peace and blessings on them and Jibril responds to our salawat with salams onto us. And as if that’s isn’t enough, Allah will add ten good deeds to us, will forgive ten of our sins and raise us by ten stations. The prophet s.a.w sa...
In Episode #11 our beloved Imam Omar Suleiman teaches us what to do when we are faced with insults against the prophet s.a.w. To defend the prophet s.a.w. is one of the most beautiful acts a servant of Allah can engage in. Jibril a.s. once asked the prophet s.a.w. about the position of the sahabahs who fought in the battle of Badr. Prophet said they are the best of us. Jibril a.s. responded the angels who fought in the battle of Badr are also the best of us. Can you then imagine the reward of a ...
In Episode #10 respected Imam Omar Suleiman teaches us what to do when we are faced with insults against the prophet s.a.w. To defend the prophet s.a.w. is one of the most beautiful acts. Jibri’il a.s. once asked the prophet s.a.w. about the position of the sahabahs who fought in the battle of Badr. Prophet said they are the best of us. Jibr’il a.s. responded the angels who fought in the battle of Badr are also the best of us. Can you then imagine the reward of a person who defends the prophet s...
Your Brother's Honor What kind of society are we creating if we're expected to tolerate bad behavior? It depends on how you handle it towards others... Support Yaqeen this Ramadan http://www.yaqeeninstitute.org
If devils are locked away during Ramadan, why do we still sin? Sh. Omar Suleiman discusses the meaning and implications of the hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad says, âWhen Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.â
