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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What is your purpose in life? What is the connection between your Lord and your purpose on earth? When you have purpose you realize the One you're doing those little good deeds looks at your deeds and sees what's in your heart and your connection with Him. Through your small good deeds you seek Allah's mercy. Purpose is what takes those small good habits that we do on a daily basis that connects us into Jannah. Do not let your family and your friends distract you from your purpose. Think of your...
In the final episode of the Prayers of the Pious series, Sh. Omar Suleiman reflects upon the du’a of Umar (ra) and praying for guidance. [ Day 30 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ أَرِنِ الحَقَّ حَقّاً وَوَفِّقْنِيْ لأِتِّبَاعِهِ، وَأَرِنِ البَاطِلَ بَاطِلاً وَوَفِّقْنِيْ لِاجْتِنَابِهِ “O Allah show me guidance as guidance, and allow me to follow it. And show me error as error, and allow me to avoid it.”
Why would Abu Darda’ pray all night for good character? Sh. Omar Suleiman discusses the benefits of this pious man’s supplication. [ Day 29 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ كَمَا حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي “O Allah, as you have beautified me externally, beautify me internally.”
Can you change what has been decreed? Today’s episode covers Umar’s (ra) prayer to be written amongst those who have been blessed. [ Day 28 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ كَتَبْتَنِي فِي أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ فَأَثْبِتْنِي فِيهَا وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَتَبْتَ عَلَيَّ الذَّنْبَ وَالشِّقْوَةَ فَامْحُنِي وَأَثْبِتْنِي فِي أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ فَإِنَّكَ تَمْحُو مَا تَشَاءُ وَتُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَكَ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ “O Allah, if you have written me among the blessed, then affirm it therein. And if you have written ...
Sh. Omar Suleiman reflects upon the righteous du’a of Umar ibn abd al-’Aziz after he suffered the loss of his children. [ Day 27 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ قَدْ قَبَضْتَ سَهْلاً، وَعَبْدَ المَلِكَ، وَمُزَاحِما، فَلَمْ أَزْدَدْ لَكَ إِلَّا حُبّاً، ولا فِيْمَا عِنْدَكَ إِلَّا رَغْبَةً فَاقْبِضْنِيْ إِلَيْكَ غَيْرَ مُضِيعٍ وَلا مُفْرِطٍ “O Allah, you took back the soul of Sahl, AbdulMalik, and Muzahim, and it only made me love You more, and more desirous of what awaits with you, so take back my soul...
du’a is an example of how making du’a to Allah doesn’t have to be complicated, and the beauty behind the process of supplicating. [ Day 26 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ أَنْتَ وَأَنَا أَنَا أَنْتَ الْعَوَّادُ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ وَأَنَا الْعَوَّادُ بِالذُنُوبِ فَاغْفِرْ لِي “O Allah, You are who You are, and I am who I am; You are the One who keeps forgiving, and I am the one who keeps sinning, so forgive me!”
Sh. Omar Suleiman covers a prayer narrated by Imam ibn al-Qayyim that highlights Allah’s power to grant knowledge and wisdom. [ Day 25 Du'a ] يا مُعَلِّمَ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ عَلِّمْنِيْ “Oh Teacher of Abraham! Teach me!"
the beautiful du’a of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, and the benefits of privatizing our good deeds as we do our sins. [ Day 24 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْنَا بِسِتْرِكَ الجَمِيْلِ ، وَاجْعَلْ تَحْتَ السِّتْرَ مَا تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنَّا “O Allah, veil us with Your beautiful veil and place beneath that veil what will please You from us.”
We may do good deeds to help others, but how is our sincerity in our private lives? Sh. Omar Suleiman covers the beautiful du’a of Yusuf ibn al-Hussein. [ Day 23 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ نَصَحْتُ لِخَلْقِكَ ظَاهِراً وَغَشَشْتُ نَفْسِيْ بَاطِناً ، فَهَبْ لِيْ غِشِّيْ نَفْسِيْ لِنُصْحِيْ لِخَلْقِكَ “O Allah, I was sincere to Your creation in public but cheated myself in private. Please excuse my disgrace because of my sincerity to Your creation.”
Why Laylatul Qadr? The Significance & Virtues... | Behind the Scenes Sh. Omar Suleiman gives an introduction to "Why Laylatul Qadr? The Significance & Virtues of the Most Important Night of the Year", which he coauthored with Dr. Nazir Khan and Sh. Ibrahim Hindy, as well as some practical tips to help maximize our reward during the final 10 nights of Ramadan.
Today’s episode talks about the beauty in asking Allah for a good ending with an example of a du’a from Abdullah ibn Abi Sarh. [ Day 21 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ خَاتِمَةَ عَمَلِيْ صَلاةَ الفَجْرِ “O Allah! Make my last deed in this life the performance of Fajr prayer”
In this episode, Sh. Omar Suleiman goes over a narration that gives us insight into some do’s and don’ts of du’a, especially about praying for patience. [ Day 20 Du'a ] حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الْوَرْدِ، عَنِ اللَّجْلاَجِ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، قَالَ سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً يَدْعُو يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ تَمَامَ النِّعْمَةِ . فَقَالَ " أَىُّ شَيْءٍ تَمَامُ النِّعْمَةِ " ....
Today’s episode is one that especially applies to those in the public eye. Sh. Omar Suleiman discusses the dangers of destructive praise and the prayer Abu Bakr made to avoid it. [ Day 19 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِى خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ وَاغْفِرْ لِى مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا يَقُولُون “O Allah, make me better than what they think of me, and forgive me for what they do not know about me, and do not take me to account for what they say about me.”
Today’s episode talks about being grateful to Allah and remembering the promises we make to Him. Sh. Omar Suleiman explains this lesson through the prayer of Uwais al-Qarni. [ Day 18 Du'a ] "Oh Allah cure all of my leprosy except for the space of a coin."
Today’s du’a is from an unknown Bedouin who called to Allah with so much praise he amazed the Prophet ﷺ. [ Day 17 Du'a ] يَا مِنْ لا تَرَاهُ العُيُوْنُ، وَلا تُخَالِطُهُ الظُّنُوْنُ، وَلا يَصِفُهُ الوَاصِفُوْنَ، وَلا تُغَيِّرُهُ الحَوَادِثَ، وَلا يَخْشَى الدَّوَائِرَ، يَعْلَمُ مَثَاقِيْلَ الجِبَالِ، وَمَكايِيْلَ البِحَارِ، وَعَدَدَ قَطَرِ الأَمْطَارِ، وَعَدَدَ وَرَقِ الأَشْجَارِ، وَعَدَدَ مَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ وَأَشْرَقَ عَلَيْهِ النَّهَارُ، وَلا تُوَارِيْ مِنْهُ سَمَاءٌ سَمَاءً، وَلا ...
Omar Suleiman reflects upon the story of a burning town, and the power of making dua with conviction and trust in Allah. [ Day 16 Du'a ] بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ In the name of Allah; with His name, nothing whatsoever on earth or heaven can inflict any harm; He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.
In todays episode, Sh. Omar Suleiman reflects upon a prayer made by a tree and the beauty of prostration. [ Day 15 Du'a ] اللّهُمّ اكتُبْ لي بِهَا عِنْدَكَ أَجْراً، وَضَعْ عَنِّيْ بِهَا وِزْراً، وَاجْعَلْهَا لِيْ عِندَكَ ذُخْراً، وَتَقَبّلْهَا مِنِّيْ كَمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا مِنْ عَبْدِكَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ والسَّلامُ O Allah, write for me a reward with You because of it (the prostration), and remove from me a sin because of it, and stow it for me as a treasure with You, and accept it from ...
Todays prayer is about acknowledging to Allah the bad deeds we have done to invoke the good that He can bring to us. [ Day 14 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ لا تَحْرِمْنِي خَيْرَ مَا عِنْدَكَ لِشَرِّ مَا عِنْدِي O Allah dont forbid me from the good you have, for the evil I have.
Sh. Omar Suleiman covers the prayer of Salaam ibn Mutee, whose du'a encourages us to have faith that Allah is capable of granting you the best of this life and the next. [ Day 13 Du'a ] اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ بَلَغْتَ أَحَداً مِنْ عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِيْنَ دَرَجَةً بِبَلَاءٍ فَبَلِّغْنِيْهَا بِالعَافِيَةِ O Allah, if you have granted any righteous servant of Yours a station because of a trial they faced, then grant it to me while sparing me that trial.
Sh. Omar Suleiman relates yesterday’s du'a to the prayer of another great man. Where ibn al-Jawzi worried his students would not find him in paradise, al-Mutarraf ibn Abdullah worried he would be made into a bad example for others. [ Day 12 Du'a] اللَّهُمَّ لا تَجْعَلْنِيْ عِبْرَةً لِغَيْرِيْ ، وَلا تَجْعَلْ أَحَداً أَسْعَدَ بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِيْ مِنِّيْ “O Allah, do not make a lesson out of me for others, and do not let there be anyone who benefits more than me from what You’ve taught me.”
