Omar Suleiman
Muslim Central
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Jun 5, 2018 • 11min
Why Laylatul Qadr
Sh. Omar Suleiman, author of 'Why Laylatul Qadr? The Significance & Virtues', discusses the importance of Laylatul Qadr in Ramadan, emphasizing intentions, diverse worship, maximizing blessings, seeking forgiveness, good conduct, and spiritual practices.
Jun 5, 2018 • 4min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 22 - Your Perfect Light
This episode walks us through the beautiful nightly prayer of Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) and the beauty of praising Allah.
[ Day 22 Du'a ]
تَمَّ نُورُكَ فَهَدَيْتَ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ , عَظُمَ حِلْمُكَ فَعَفَوْتَ ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ , وَبَسَطْتَ يَدَكَ فَأَعْطَيْتَ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ , رَبَّنَا وَجْهُكَ أَكْرَمُ الْوُجُوهِ ، وَجَاهُكَ خَيْرُ الْجَاهِ ، وَعَطِيَّتُكَ أَفْضَلُ الْعَطِيَّةِ وَأَهْنَأُهَا ، تُطَاعُ رَبَّنَا فَتَشْكُرُ ، وَتُعْصَى رَبَّنَا فَتَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ شِئْتَ ، تُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ ، وَتَكْشِفُ الضُّرَّ ، وَتَشْفِي السَّقِيمَ ، وَتُنْجِي مِنَ الْكَرْبِ ، وَتَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ ، وَتَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ ، لا يَجْزِي بِآلائِكَ وَلا يُحْصِي نَعْمَاءَكَ قَوْلُ قَائِلٍ
“Your light was complete, so You guided; all praise is to You. Your forbearance was great, so You forgave; all praise is to You. You held out Your Hand, so You gave; all praise is to You. Our Lord, Your face
is the noblest of faces, Your prestige is the greatest prestige, and
Your gifts are the best of gifts and the most wonderful. Our Lord, You are obeyed and You show appreciation. You are disobeyed, Our Lord, yet you pardon whomever. You respond to one in hardship and you remove harm. You heal the sick. You deliver from difficulty. You accept repentance. You forgive sins. The word of no one can compensate for your bounties, nor count the praises You deserve.”
Jun 5, 2018 • 4min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 21 - Death After Fajr
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”
Jun 5, 2018 • 5min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 20 - Don't Ask Allah for Patience
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 " . قَالَ دَعْوَةٌ دَعَوْتُ بِهَا أَرْجُو بِهَا الْخَيْرَ . قَالَ " فَإِنَّ مِنْ تَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ دُخُولَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالْفَوْزَ مِنَ النَّارِ " . وَسَمِعَ رَجُلاً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ يَا ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ فَقَالَ " قَدِ اسْتُجِيبَ لَكَ فَسَلْ " . وَسَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الصَّبْرَ . فَقَالَ " سَأَلْتَ اللَّهَ الْبَلاَءَ فَسَلْهُ الْعَافِيَةَ "
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ
Mu`adh bin Jabal narrated that the Prophet heard a man supplicating, saying: “O Allah! Verily, I ask You for the bounty’s completion (Allāhumma, innī as’aluka tamāman-ni`mah).” So he said: “What thing is the bounty’s completion?” He said: “A supplication that I made, that I hope for good by it.” He said: “Indeed, part of the bounty’s completion is the entrance into Paradise, and salvation from the Fire.” And he heard a man while he was saying: “O Possessor of Majesty and Honor (Yā Dhal-Jalāli wal- Ikrām)” So he said: “You have been responded to, so ask.” And the Prophet heard a man while he was saying: “O Allah, indeed, I ask You for patience (Allāhumma, innī as’alukaṣ-ṣabr)” He said: “You have asked Allah for trial, so ask him for Al-`Āfiyah.”
Jun 3, 2018 • 4min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 19 - Make Me Better Than What They Think
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.”
Jun 3, 2018 • 4min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 18 - A Reminder of My Illness
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."
Jun 3, 2018 • 6min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 17 - His Prayer Amazed the Prophet
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 أَرْضٌ أَرْضاً، وَلا بَحَرٌ مَا فِيْ قَعْرِهِ، وِلا جَبَلٌ مَا فِيْ وَعْرِهِ، اجْعَلْ خَيْرَ عُمْرِيْ آخِرَهُ، وَخَيْرَ عَمَلَيْ خَوَاتِيْمَهُ، وَخَيْرَ أَيَّامِيْ يِوْمَ أَلقاكَ فِيْهِ
“Oh He whom the eyes do not see, nor can be mixed with doubts, nor can be described by any who describe, nor is changed by any events, nor fears any officer, who knows the weights of the mountains, the measurements of the seas, the number of raindrops, the number of leaves on trees, and the number of whatever is shrouded in the darkness of night and brightened by the light of day, for whom no heaven or earth is concealed, nor a sea in its depths, nor a mountain in its ruggedness! Make the best of my life the end of it, the best of my deeds the last of them, and the best of my days the Day I meet You.”
May 31, 2018 • 5min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 16 - A House on Fire
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.
May 31, 2018 • 5min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 15
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 me as You accepted it from Your servant David (Dawud), upon him be blessings and peace.
May 31, 2018 • 3min
Prayers of the Pious - Episode 14
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.
