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

"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. At a Glance How does the Quran help in emotional healing? The Qur’an calms the mind and body, giving meaning to difficult experiences and supporting emotional healing. Listening to or reciting the Qur’an reduces anxiety, stress, and depression, making it a powerful tool for emotional well-being. The Qur’an changes how we see hardship. It helps people shift from confusion and pain

At a Glance How does mental health impact spirituality? Mental health strongly impacts our spiritual connection. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional overwhelm can hinder your focus in prayer. They also make it hard to be present in worship and stick to spiritual practices. Mental health influences our thoughts and feelings. It also affects how we cope, shaping our spiritual experience. Can improving mental health strengthen faith? Improving mental health strengthens a

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? At a Glance How to let go of grudges and anger Letting go of grudges begins with recognizing how unresolved anger continues to affect emotional and spiritual well-being. Research shows that holding onto resentment can raise

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. At a Glance What lessons can we learn from Juz 3 of the Quran? Juz 3 includes the end of Surah Al-Baqarah and the begi

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. At a Glance How to cope with emotionally stressful situations Coping with emotionally stressful situations begins with acknowledging your emotions instead of suppressing them. Stress is a natural response to challenges, and your response dictates your experience. Coping well means knowing your triggers. It also involves finding support and using grounding techniques to handle your emotions. Coping is a proce

Practical strategies on finding calm during stressful times of year. At a Glance How to cope with emotionally draining situations Coping with emotionally draining situations begins with acknowledging your emotional limits. Stop pushing through and start grounding yourself with decisive actions: rest, reflection, connection, and firm boundaries. Combining emotional awareness with practical stress-management strategies strengthens emotional coping, and individuals who do this e

How can you overcome distrust that is the result of trauma? How can you learn to trust again? At a Glance Why is it so hard to trust again after betrayal? Betrayal changes how we experience safety. After being hurt, the mind naturally becomes more cautious, making trust feel risky even when danger is no longer present. This is often a protective response rather than a personal weakness. Is it normal to struggle with trust after being hurt? Yes. Difficulty trusting after betra

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. At a Glance Why do I feel unlovable or rejected? Painful experiences shape how you see yourself and your relationships, making you feel unlovable. Rejection, critici

How can we survive the impact of grief on our faith? This infographic is the third in a series on the impact of trauma. At a Glance Can trauma affect a person's faith? Trauma can impact how a person experiences their relationship with Allah. Many survivors report feeling disconnected, numb, fearful, or unable to access the comfort they once found in worship. These struggles often reflect the impact of trauma rather than the strength of one's faith. Why do I feel distant from

What is trauma and how can we learn to overcome it? This infographic is the second in a series on the impact of trauma. At a Glance Why do traumatic events keep happening to me? After experiencing trauma, many people begin to feel like painful events happen repeatedly in their lives. This feeling can come from a few things: having negative thoughts, struggling to see unhealthy situations, or dealing with past trauma. These experiences shape how people perceive danger and safe