Speaking & Media

"The development and maintenance of a healthy identity is key to promoting emotional, mental, and spiritual resilience. While identity formation is usually associated with adolescence, in reality it begins early in life and develops in stages. Thus, as Hanan recognized, one must address the question of identity in children’s early and formative years. Children constantly explore questions about who they are and who they will become physically, relationally, socially, emotiona

"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. At a Glance What lessons can we

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially if it is your first time. It is completely normal to feel nervous, unsure of what to say, or wonder whether therapy is the right fit for you. One of the most common concerns therapists hear is, "I don't even know where to begin." The good news is that you don't have to. Your first therapy session is not about having all the answers or telling your entire life story. It is an opportunity for your therapist to get to know yo

For many Muslims, faith is a source of comfort during life's most difficult moments. We turn to Allah in times of hardship, seek strength through prayer, and find hope in knowing that He is Al-Hakim (The Most Wise) and Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful). Yet after experiencing trauma, some people find that their relationship with Allah feels different. Prayer becomes difficult to focus on. Du'a feels harder to make. They may wonder why the trauma happened, struggle to trust that t

Many people assume that emotional wounds heal with time. While time often helps people recover from difficult life experiences, traumatic experiences do not always follow the same pattern. It is not uncommon for someone to continue experiencing emotional distress months or even years after a traumatic event has ended. Others may notice only a few symptoms initially, only to find that they emerge later during periods of increased stress or significant life transitions. Underst

If you have been researching therapy for trauma, anxiety, depression, or other distressing life experiences, you may have come across Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. While EMDR has become increasingly well known, many people are still unsure what it is or how it differs from other forms of therapy. EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach that helps people process distressing memories and experiences that continue to affect them in the pr

"This paper, the latest chapter in our ongoing parenting series, attempts to offer a solution to such parental challenges through the idea of attachment. Our Islamically Integrated Resiliency Model (IIRM) asserts that attachment is a foundational concept in parenting and in fostering both mental and spiritual health in children. While some resilience theories address the importance of attachment to caregivers, there is strong evidence that attachment to Allah is essential as

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 At a Glance What is waswas in Islam? Waswas refers to unwanted whispers that create doubt, fear, or confusion. These whispers often target what a person values most, including faith, worship, morality, and relationships, and experiencing them is not a sign of weak iman. W