From Radical Middle Way – Luton is one of the most diverse cities in the United Kingdom, with people coming from and representing diverse cultures, religions, languages and experiences. It is important to acknowledge and see the strength of this diversity. This special programme brought together two of contemporary Islam’s prominent scholars, Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, providing a rare opportunity not only for young people but also all those who work in the frontlines of community relations to explore and get clarity on the faith’s teachings on a variety of challenging contemporary issues, particularly the challenges of living, working and making a better community together.

View the videos, listen to the audio files, scan the QR codes here - http://radicalmiddleway.co.uk/blog/rmw-blogger/the-mercy-of-diversity

Now, Yusuf wants you to sing on his latest song! Be one of the selected musicians who will join Yusuf on the song “My People”.

This is your chance to share your talents and contribute to a new chapter in the Cat Stevens legacy.

Here is the message from Yusuf:

Dear Friends,

If you wish to take part in adding your voice to support people around the world still dreaming of being unshackled from harsh authoritarian regimes, you will soon have a chance to do so.

Yusuf has written a song which is inspired by the world shaking call to freedom and the removal of oppression from the peoples of Tunisia and Egypt, the song called My People will soon be available and you’ll be able to send a recording of your voice to be used on the chorus – God Willing.

If you would like to join in, this is how:

1. Listen to the chorus, “MY PEOPLE”, here

2. Choose one of the 3 part harmony samples, and record yourself singing the words “MY PEOPLE”,

3. Then send your recording as an MP3/ Wav or Aiff (with no background noise please) to:

mypeople@yusufislam.ae

To Download Yusuf’s MP3 Sample to your computer right click and select ‘Download Linked File’

We will try to use as many submissions as possible. The deadline for receiving your contribution will be Tuesday 15th February, 3pm GMT.

SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

See the official announcement here – My People – Add your voice to the call!

Title: Causes of Happiness in Both Worlds (Asbab as-Sa’adah fid-Darayn)

For more information about this saint, please see: Biography – Habib Abdul Qadir Al-Saggaf

And for more details about the life of Habib Abdul Qadir: Al-Habib `Abd al-Qadir al-Saqqaf – The Passing of a Great Scholar, Caller, and Saint

Much thanks to Sidi Suleiman Al-Muslim for providing the audio and SeekersGuidance for the bio.

The Zaytuna Distance Learning program is having a Know Your Prophet promotion during this blessed month of Rabiu’ Awwal for Sidi Yahya Rhodus’ course: “The Prophetic Characteristics“.

Description: A four-part study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad from his lineage to his names to his physical stature to his noble attributes, taking from the text of the late scholar Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani, Wasa’il al-Wusul ila Shama’il al-Rasul (The Means of Arrival to the Characteristics of the Messenger). Studying the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah fills one’s heart with love for him and inspires one to follow his great example.

Promotional cost: $35 for each course (usual cost is $40)

Register for all 4 courses and receive a discount code for Shaykh Hamza Yusuf’s “Real Love” lecture available as a Zayuna Knowledge Resource instant download. After registering for all 4 courses, leave a comment here and we will send you a code. (Tip: IslamCrunch readers can receive a discount code here: LoveCrunch)

This is promotion is for a limited time. Please tweet this post, add it to your Facebook profile and email it to your family, friends and networks.

Zaytuna Knowledge Resources presents the latest and most exciting title to date: Agenda To Change Our Condition – Audio MP3 Download.

The Muslim tradition considers taqwa (conscious awareness of our Lord) the primary reason for our existence and the means by which we are ensured continued succor from our Creator.

This MP3 digital download, totaling more than 11 hours of audio material, elucidates a simple yet effective means to increase our taqwa and transform our inner and outer world through spiritual struggle with the soul. These seven sessions, presented by the American Muslim scholars Zaid Shakir and Hamza Yusuf, represent a unique contribution about the vast spiritual dimension of Islam to western world.

Recorded live at various presentations across the country, these sessions are based on an immensely popular Zaytuna publication of the same title.

Click here to see more details, listen to sample clips and to see the session descriptions.

Product Details

• Format: High-quality MP3 Audio
• Duration: 7 Sessions (11 hrs.)
• Total File Size: 307 MB
• Av. Indiv. File Size: 40 MB

About 140,000 people attended the conference call on August 19, 2009 with President Obama coordinated by the Faith in Public Life and sponsored by over 30 religious denominations and organizations as coalition of the Faithful Reform in Healthcare. The event seemed to draw an unexpected number of attendees and is a clear reflection of the immediate concern and priority of the American people, i.e. the healthcare system.

The introductory comments informed of the drive for health reform by faith communities followed by prayers from religious leaders, commentaries from clergy, and personal stories from concerned citizens. Each of the strories focused on why it is vital to get a better system for health delivery as many citizens are left out due to insurance clauses of pre existing condition, loss of employment, and mostly due to unaffordable premiums.

The Muslim voice was represented by Dr. Yasir Shareef, a member of the American Muslim Health Professional’s (AMHP) Task Force on Health Affordability. Dr. Shareef has been avidly engaged in health reform advocacy, has also given presentations and seminars on the nature of this crisis and specifics of reform related issues. During the conference call he spoke of the stories of his patients that were denied the basic right of access to healthcare given the deep systemic flaws in our current system.

A question and answer session then followed where the Director of White House Domestic Policy Council, Melody Barnes stated that the main principle of reform was cost control with the explicit goal to decrease insurance premiums, and to avoid rescission of insurance policies.
On the question of the Public Option Plan, she indicated that the President felt it was the best option for now, although he was open to other suggestions.

President Obama began by thanking everyone on the call and how he appreciated the religious communities’ efforts for reform. He discussed the myths about “death panels”, abortion, and other anti-reform views. He further discussed the importance of insurance reform and how people would not be excluded due to their health status and that the basic provisions of care would be affordable to folks who currently have no insurance. He encouraged the participants to get out, “knock on doors”, and educate their friends, families, and neighbors with correct information and to beat the fear campaign by learning the truth. President Obama also indicated his full support of the Public Option plan.

The call then ended with a quick summary and thanks to all the participants. Faithful for health reform has a website where the pledge to support health reform may be signed everyone.

To learn further about specific reform issues and AMHP’s August Initiative, please visit: www.amhp.us
To listen to the recorded version of the call, visit: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/40mins4health (Both a streaming recording and an MP3 format)
To sign the pledge for Reform, list of today’s speakers and more info on Faith communities’ reform efforts, visit: www.faithfulreform.org

Dr. Qazi is a southern CA based Neurologist, currently serving as the President of American Muslim Health Professionals. He’s a guest columnist for the San Bernardino Sun’s health section.

Zaytuna Knowledge Resources presents “Real Love“, a lecture by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. In this amazing lecture, Shaykh Hamza asks the listeners to examine the objects of their love. Recorded in Hayward, California in 2008 as part of the weekly Hayward Halaqah gatherings at Masjid Muhajireen.

Previously, only available by using a special link and access code on a Zaytuna DeenCard (see our coverage here and a video). Now, this much sought after lecture is available as digital download for only $5.00. IslamCrunch readers can use the discount code “lovecrunch” to receive a discount of $1.00!

This lecture is available online only as an audio MP3 download. Over 80 minutes of audio!

Also, available as a digital download (audio MP3 and high quality video): Curing Extremism: Three Voices, One Message with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad and Imam Zaid Shakir. [Click here for a discount opportunity and here for a video clip]

Please visit the Zaytuna Knowledge Resources for the full catalog of online courses.

Have you tweeted the news about the launch of the website for Zaytuna College?

Download the mp3 file here:Imam Zaid Shakir – Back To Basics of Islam

Much thanks to Ustadh Usama Canon of Ta’leef Collective for giving us the honor to post this here.

We hope you will share this audio with your family, friends, email lists, social networks and the rest of the universe. A link back to this post would be greatly appreciated. Facebook users, please join the Ta’leef Collective page.

Download the audio here: Supercession and Intercession of the Mawlid – Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad

This lecture is also available on YouTube.

Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 * Part 5

Much thanks to Sidi Mas’ud Khan for sharing us his recording of this lecture. Please read his article about the Praise of Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Sandala Productions presents: Refinement of the Hearts, a 15 audio CD set. This is Shaykh Hamza’s translation and commentary of Imam Ibn Juzayy al-Kalbi’s classic text, Tasfiyah al-Qulub.

With special thanks to Sandala Productions, we are glad to offer a special coupon code for IslamCrunch readers for this new release. Use crunch15 when purchasing the CD set to get 15% off. This gives you a savings of US$9.74 bringing the total to US$55.21. That’s the best price currently available online! You won’t find this deal elsewhere. This coupon has a limited lifespan, so use it quickly. Don’t forget to mention that IslamCrunch sent you.

About this CD set:

In the City of the Prophet, peace be upon him, Hamza Yusuf delivered this series of lectures on this lesser known work, Refinement of the Hearts. The author of the text, the 8th century Spanish master of the Islamic sciences and martyr, Imam Ibn Juzayy al-Kalbi, presents an unassailable Sufism thoroughly grounded in the Book of God.

This small but powerful treatise is one of the finest pieces of Islamic spiritual literature in Muslim history. Hamza Yusuf’s illuminating and engaging reflections bring it to life for any modern Muslim in search of the keys to refining his or her heart in a world that seduces the hearts of humanity.

Doomsday’s singular preparation is to use the opportunity of the world to refine our hearts, for it is a “Day when nothing avails a person, neither wealth nor progeny, only one who brings to God a sound heart.” This wonderful treatise helps us with practical and effective means to do just that.

Essentially dealing with the adornment and the beautiful qualities of the heart.