Speaking & Media

"If you speak with adults today, most will likely tell you that one of the biggest causes of stress in their lives is parenting: Am I doing the best job I can? Is our family too strict? Perhaps too soft? Are we preparing our children to be successful, independent, and well-rounded adults? For Muslim parents, the uncertainty of parenting can be amplified by fears of failing to raise a child with Islamic values in a global culture of growing atheism, narcissism, and fragile fam

The bee, a small insect which produces a powerhouse of healing with its sweet honey, is also responsible for pollinating much of what we eat. Allah reminds us in Surah an-Nahl of the many blessings He has provided for us in this world so that we may be grateful. Ust. Najwa Awad joins Dr. Omar Suleiman and Sh. Abdullah Oduro to frame gratitude as a key component in Juz 14 for a healthy worldview. Watch Qur'an 30 for 30 Season 4 Episode 14 here.

In this episode, host Mohamad Zaoud talks to Sr. Najwa Awad, a fellow at Yaqeen Institute and author of the paper, “Clinicians, Imams, and the Whisperings of Satan.” Watch the podcast episode here. #waswasah

"The holy month of Ramadan fast-approaches and many mothers may be finding themselves in a predicament–a low spiritual state. Reflecting on the Ramadans of previous years and phases in our lives, we may be wondering, how did my faith come to such a low point? And more importantly, how do I work towards improving my spiritual connection with Allah and His Deen? The answer to both of those questions is oversight of spiritual upkeep and development that many mothers experience

"Ramadan is an exceptional time for Muslims seeking Allah’s mercy, hope, and healing from all kinds of spiritual, physical, and psychological ailments- including addiction. Addiction is traditionally thought of as dependence on alcohol or drugs, but present-day individuals are struggling to extricate themselves from softer addictions more than ever before. In fact, if you ask most people they will tell you that they have an unhealthy reliance on something whether it be food,

Tune in with Dr. Omar Suleiman and Najwa Awad for the first part of the Qur'anic Healing series.

Sha’aban is a forgotten month, where the Prophet ﷺ really encouraged preparing for Ramadan. This is a month to purify our hearts to enter into the month of Qur’an. But how can we purify ourselves if we are holding onto grudges and animosity towards others?

Jealousy can be psychologically and spiritually devastating if it goes unchecked, but that doesn’t have to be the case. How can we detect jealousy before damage is done? What role does social media play in worsening these feelings? How can we remove jealousy from our hearts and protect ourselves from feeling it again? In the second episode of a two-part special, host Mohamad Zaoud talks to Sr. Sarah Sultan and Sr. Najwa Awad, co-authors of the Yaqeen Institute paper, “‘Why Is

Jealousy can be psychologically and spiritually devastating if it goes unchecked, but that doesn’t have to be the case. How can we detect jealousy before damage is done? What role does social media play in worsening these feelings? How can we remove jealousy from our hearts and protect ourselves from feeling it again? In the second episode of a two-part special, host Mohamad Zaoud talks to Sr. Sarah Sultan and Sr. Najwa Awad, co-authors of the Yaqeen Institute paper, “‘Why Is

Following the pattern we’ve seen so far, the revelation of juz 3 of the Qur’an unfolded along with the events of the third year of the Hijrah. Dr. Omar Suleiman, Sh. Abdullah Oduro, and this episode’s special guest, Najwa Awad, explore the practical and spiritual lessons of Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Ali-Imran and how they related to the events of the Seerah.

In a recent study of over 17,000 individuals, 64% of them had experienced something traumatic during their childhood years. Trauma can be something your friend endured as a child, an event your sibling has kept private to themselves, or a load that you have been quietly carrying with you without even realizing it. In this episode, host Mohammed Zaoud talks to licensed therapists Najwa Awad, LSCW-C and Sarah Sultan, LPC, LMHC, authors of “Trauma: Your Lord Has Not Forsaken You

Practical strategies on finding calm during stressful times of year.

Practical strategies on finding calm during stressful times of year.

How can you overcome distrust that is the result of trauma? How can you learn to trust again?

There are times in life when you cannot picture a positive future. Thoughts like these feel either strangely right or downright scary. In that overwhelming inner pain, you might think it takes too much effort to continue living. In this fourth infographic of the series, we are focusing on reclaiming our thoughts.

How can we survive the impact of grief on our faith? This infographic is the third in a series on the impact of trauma.

What is trauma and how can we learn to overcome it? This infographic is the second in a series on the impact of trauma.

What is trauma and how can it impact our faith? This infographic is the first in a series on the impact of trauma.

Table of Contents Grief What is grief? What losses are people experiencing now? What to expect during a time of grief What is traumatic grief? Stages of grief from a psycho-spiritual perspective Grief in Children Talking to children about their fears and anxieties surrounding coronavirus Talking to children about loss Manifestations of grief in children Helping children cope with grief Coping with Grief and Loss Coping as an individual Coping as a family Coping as a community

As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world and more deeply into each nation, people have been struggling to grapple with the massive implications of what is to come over the next several months, especially with interpersonal relationships. One of the most challenging parts of adjusting to Coronavirus for individuals and families has been social distancing and quarantining at home. Going from an extremely fast paced world of appointments, social events, extracurricul

Many families have now logged multiple weeks of isolation because of the Coronavirus. While this time at home is a unique opportunity to reconnect with our loved ones, changes in work environment, schooling, financial stress, and worries about the virus itself may inevitably contribute to rising tension at home. Listen as Imam Omar Suleiman, Ust. Lobna Mulla, Bibi Khan, Sh. Abdullah Odoru, and Najwa Awad, LCSWC provide tips on how to not only survive this period of isolation

How do we manage our spirituality and mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak? The outbreak of COVID-19 is stressful for people and communities. In addition to fear of the risk of the disease itself, voluntary social isolation, mosque and school closures, and shifts in working situations can take a toll on our spirituality and mental well-being. Join Yaqeen Founder & President Sh. Omar Suleiman and authors of the Trauma series Sarah Sultan LPC, LMHC and Najwa Awad, LCSW