The Mad Mamluks

So this is a first for The Mad Mamluks, we're huge MMA fans and wanted to share our passion for the sport with our listeners.  We synced up with UFC fighter Ricardo Lamas who was training in Miami at the time. He graciously offered his time to talk to us three weeks before his UFC 199 fight on June 4th 2016. Ricardo Lamas is an American mixed martial artist who currently fights as a Featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. He trains with local powerhouse MMA Masters in Miami, Florida and Team Top Notch in Villa Park, Illinois. In December 2013, Lamas was awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under 2007 World Nogi Jiu Jitsu champion and owner of MMA Masters Daniel Valverde. He is #5 in the official UFC featherweight rankings. TOP NOTCH MMA GYM Address: 226 W Stone Rd, Villa Park, IL 60181 Phone:(630) 202-4906 www.topnotchmma.com

Shaykh Rami Nsour was born in Amman, Jordan and moved to the United States at the age of 9. During his college years, he attended Zaytuna classes taught by teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area, notably, Shaykh Khatri bin Bayba, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmedna and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. With their encouragement, Rami embarked on a journey to study at the well acclaimed mahdara (college)  of Shaykh Murabit al Hajj bin Fahfu in Mauritania in 1998. There, he was blessed with deep studies with beloved and respected teachers such as Murabit Muhammad al-Amin bin al-Shaykh, Murabit Ahmed Fal bin Ahmedna, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmedna, Shaykh Tahir ibn Murabit al Hajj and Shaykh Sa’d Bu among others. Rami completed studies in the various subjects of Qu’ran, ‘Aqeedah (Belief), Fiqh (Law), Nahu (grammar), Ihsan (spiritual purification), and adab (manners) and received traditional teaching license (ijaza) to transmit what he learned. Within the area of Fiqh, he also completed the final text of Maliki fiqh, Mukhtasar Khalil, with memorization and has been granted permission by his shuyukh to teach. In addition to his extensive study of fiqh, he was afforded the unique opportunity to attend one-on-one sessions with his teachers where he would engage them in countless hours of discussion on the application of fiqh in general and specifically for those living in the West.  He was also afforded the opportunity to learn practical applications of Islamic law (fiqh) during an extraordinary ‘in-residence’ experience. Rami has translated traditional Islamic texts from Arabic to English,  including various works on Maliki fiqh and several works of the great Mauritanian scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Mawlud. Rami has dedicated much of his time in teaching, conducting seminars and counseling.  He eventually co-founded the Tayba Foundation, which is currently the only organization offering a distance learning program in Islamic Education to incarcerated men and women. In addition to traditional teaching licenses (ijazah), Rami holds a B.A. in Human Development with a focus on Early Childhood.  Rami resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, is married and has two children. Tayba Foundation's goal is to provide Islamic correspondence courses at the post-secondary level to the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated through their Distance Learning Program. www.taybafoundation.org

Mohammed Faris is an internationally sought speaker, coach, and author who spearheaded the niche of productivity and Islam. His most notable accolade is as the Founder of ProductiveMuslim.com, the popular online platform, blog, and productivity training organisation that serves the “e-Ummah” worldwide. He’s also the author of the new book “The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity”. Popularly known as “Abu Productive” on ProductiveMuslim.com, Mohammed Faris regularly contributes articles, weekly newsletters, Q&A videos and advanced training courses. His website also features articles, doodles and animations from various contributors and productivity experts worldwide. He has delivered talks and trainings at numerous events and seminars across the world including UK, US, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia as well as featured on international media. In 2014, the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre added him to the World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims list. His book The Productive Muslim is available on Amazon.com. www.TheProductiveMuslim.com Twitter: @AbuProductive ProductiveMuslim.com http://ProductiveMuslimAcademy.com http://ProductiveMuslimBook.com Snapchat: @AbuProductive

Burhan Hanif is a Da'ee and Lecturer from the United Kingdom.  He has lectured around the world about political and social issues surrounding the Muslim world. Date: Sunday May 15 2pm to 5pm Location: Armada Hotel & Conference Center 780 North Ave, Glendale Heights, Illinois 60139

Muhammed and Imad Qandil are the masterminds behind a website that focuses on nutrition, strength and conditioning.  ChampionMethod.com Muhammed Qandil ISSA Certified Personal Trainer CSCS (certified strength conditioning specialist) Multiple Kinesiology, Anatomy Physiology, & exercises science courses Imad Qundeel Coaching degree Wrestled for 9 years Head coach for high school for 4 years Read more at http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://themadmamluks.libsyn.com#OSje34XPpygdHMV0.99

Firas Alkhateeb is a historian that specializes in Islamic History.  He is also the author the book Lost Islamic History. Firas is a graduate student in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. He is also currently studying traditional Islamic law and theology at Darul Qasim in Glendale Heights, Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History with a concentration in Islamic History from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His book Lost Islamic History is available on Amazon.com. www.LostIslamicHistory.com Please Like his Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/LostIslamicHistory Follow him on Twitter: @Khateeb88

Omer Zaman (affectionately known as O.Z) is a close friend of The Mad Mamluks. He is a volunteer for MUHSEN (Muslims Understanding and Helping Special Education Needs) and organization dedicated to help create awareness for Muslim brothers and sisters with special needs across the United States. Brother Omer has come on to help promote MUHSEN’s mission, and to encourage others to get involved with MUHSEN to help recognize and assist the people with special needs within their communities. Brother Omer was diagnosed with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy (Miyoshi Myopathy) in 2002, which has ultimately bound him to a wheelchair. Since his diagnosis, brother Omer has faced a number of challenges, physically, psychologically, and spiritually. We invited brother Omer to  share his story, and potentially help others who may have special needs, and may need someone to relate to or even speak to. Muhsen is an organization founded by Sheikh Omar Suleiman that works to promote awareness in Muslim communities for those living with a disability. Muhsen strives in creating a better understanding of Disabilities in our communities and building a better future for these “Special” People of Jannah, Inshaa'Allah where they are welcomed and all their needs are addressed as they are accepted by all. Their next event: Autism Speaks Walk with MUHSEN May 14, 2016 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm UTC+0 Soldier Field Please like their Facebook page and follow for updates on events and programs, etc. Make dua for the success of this organization and if you’d like to be a part of it, please email Info@muhsen.org Sh. Omar Suleiman – Founder – TX Mufti Hussain Kamani – Advisor – IL Joohi Tahir – Executive Director – IL Rafeeq Ahmed – Advisory Board Member – TX Dilshad D. Ali – Advisory Board Member – VA Saadia Z, Yunus – Advisory Board Member – NY Rana Ottallah – Advisory Board Member – LA

Yvonne Maffei, MA is a graduate of Ohio University (Athens, Ohio). She has lived and traveled abroad in Central America, Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa as well as the American foodie cities of San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Yvonne grew up with a passion for cooking and writing and always desired to make a career out of both. After years of being a language teacher, she began writing about halal food and cooking by publishing her blog, MyHalalKitchen.com. She also gives cooking classes, lectures on halal cooking and healthy eating, and consults schools on how to create healthy, halal school lunches. Her first cookbook, Summer Ramadan Cooking showcases the food rituals of the holy month as well as the global diversity of halal recipes; her second cookbook, My Halal Kitchen: Global Recipes, Cooking Tips, Lifestyle Inspiration (Agate) will publish July 2016 and provides recipes for making classic global cuisine halal. She resides just outside of Chicago, IL on a 3.5-acre homestead she hopes to turn into a working organic farm. http://www.agatepublishing.com/titles/my-halal-kitchen     Twitter: @myhalalkitchen Instagram: instagram.com/myhalalkitchen Facebook: facebook.com/myhalalkitchen

Mufti Mohammed Wasim Khan grew up in New Jersey and began studying the Islamic Sciences at the tender age of 13.  Initially, he began his education in Darul Uloom Blackburn, England, UK.  He then attended Darul Uloom Al-Madaniyah in Buffalo, New York.  Mufti Wasim then travelled overseas again to study in Darul Uloom Zakariyya, Johannesburg, SA.  He has had the unique opportunity to study the Deen in 3 different countries, under many esteemed scholars. Mufti Wasim studied the Iftaa course under Mufti Radha ul Haq, the famous Shaykhul Hadith and Mufti of Darul Uloom Zakariyya.  He also studied under Shaykh Sulaiman Choksi, Mufti Alauddeen, Mufti Muhammad Ali Sahib, and Shaykh Shabbir Saloojee. Mufti Wasim also actively participates in a Hajj and Umrah group, and has had many opportunities to visit the holy cities, Makkah, Madinah and Al Aqsa. http://www.caravanhajj.com

Hamza Warsi talks about his organization, Halal Advocates of America. The Halal Advocates are focused on balancing their advocacy between two strategic alliances, the Halal consumer and business, while also trying to help establish the necessary Halal governance practices to combat fraud and create a high-quality Halal accreditation standard in America with others. http://halaladvocates.org