NYU Islamic Center Podcasts

Imam Khalid Latif is a University Chaplain for New York University, and Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU (ICNYU). Under his leadership, ICNYU became the first ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States. Imam Latif’s exceptional dedication and ability to cross interfaith and cultural lines on a daily basis brought him recognition throughout New York City, so much so that in 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg nominated Imam Latif to become the youngest chaplain in history of the New York City Police Department at the age of 24Most recently, Imam Latif was selected as one of 60 New York City leaders to serve on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s transition team, helping to recommend and select individuals for key roles in the current NYC administration and was also appointed to a “Task Force to Combat Hate” by NYC Public Advocate Letitia James to deal with the rise in Islamophobic, antisemitic, and anti-Sikh sentiment in NYC.

Shaykh Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American Muslim Imam, thought leader and educator. After his conversion to Islam, Webb left a career in the music industry and pursued his passion in education. He enrolled at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.While pursuing his bachelors degree Shaykh Suhaib studied privately with a renowned Muslim Scholar of Senegalese descent. After intense private training in various Islamic sciences, Shaykh Suhaib was hired as the Imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, where he not only provided Khutbas (Sermons) and religious classes but also counseled families and young people.After serving as Imam and resident scholar in various communities across the country, Shaykh Suhaib decided to further his education and training in Islamic Law and various other Islamic sciences. He enrolled at the world-renowned Islamic educational institution Al-Azhar University in the College of Shariʿah. There he studied at the college and privately with leading Islamic thinkers on contemporary Islam. After years of study in the Arabic Language, he was appointed head of the English Translation Department at Dar al-Ifta al-Masriyah as a Mufti.While undergoing rigorous training in Islamic Law Shaykh Suhaib completed the memorization of the Quran while in the city of Makkah. Shaykh Suhaib has not only studied at Al-Azhar but also holds a number of licenses from traditional scholars in various religious sciences as was practiced in traditional Islamic law for centuries.

The Islamic tradition emphasizes a balance between understanding our responsibilities for the next world with our role living in this transient world. And numerous verses of the Quran, coupled with traditions of the Prophet and his family speak to the importance of abstaining from attaching ourselves to this world, and meditating on the world beyond this one. In this lecture, Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz speaks about how we can prepare to live for the next world in three dimensions: 1- Defining Abstinence from the Dunya 2- Imam Ali’s Advice to His Companion Nawf 3- Lessons We Can Apply from the Imam’s Advice

Days after the tragedy of Karbala, Lady Zaynab was a prisoner on Kufa where she uttered her famous lines. But who is Zaynab and what beauty did she see? Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz discussed in three dimensions: 1- Who is Zaynab? 2- Why Did She Utter these Words? 3- Glimpses into the 11th Night of Muharram

The epic words of Lady Zaynab that she uttered to the enemy after Karbala state, “I Saw Nothing But Beauty!” But what does it mean to show and emanate beauty? In this discussion, Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz discussed beauty in three dimensions: 1- Beauty in the Quran 2- How Can We See Beauty? 3- Glimpses of Beauty From the Day of Ashura

We enter into this world not to live forever, but for us to transition into the world beyond this one. And while conversations around death often strike fear into our hearts, its important to remember its just a small step that we're taking in a long journey back to our creator. In this lecture, Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz discussed death in three dimensions: 1- Why Should we Talk About Death? 2- Why do we Fear Death? 3- What Happens in the Final Moments Before Death?

Love is the foundation of God's creation and a conversation that is often neglected in the way we think about understanding our religion. In this lecture. Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz discusses the role of love in Islamic tradition in three dimensions: 1- Manifestations of God's Love 2- Steps in Demonstrating Our Love of God 3- Cultivating a Society of Love

We are meant to be on a constant path on the pursuit to human perfection. God created us with incredible potentials, but at the same time, we are shackled by many obstacles on our journey to spiritual perfection. In this lecture. Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz outlines how the human being can strive toward perfection in three dimensions: 1- Defining Perfection 2- Hurdles on the Path to Perfection 3- Practical Steps to Reach Perfection

The story of Prophet Moses (a) and the wise man, otherwise known as Abd Al-Saleh, or Khidhr as taught in our traditions, is one of the most unique anecdotes presented within the Quran. At the same time, it’s one of the most difficult stories to grasp. In this lecture, Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz discussed this story in three dimensions: 1- A Summary of the Story 2- Ethical Lessons Derived 3- Theological Lessons Clarified