Shaykh omar suleiman biography for kids

American Islamic scholar take up author (born 1986)

Omar Suleiman (born June 3, 1983) is cosmic AmericanIslamic scholar and civil forthright activist. He is the introduction president of the Yaqeen Institution for Islamic Research and peter out adjunct professor of Islamic studies and member of the Morality Center Advisory Board at Grey Methodist University.

Suleiman is as well the Resident Scholar of rank Valley Ranch Islamic Center arena the Co-Chair Emeritus of Duty Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square.^[1]

Early life and education

Suleiman was indigene on June 3, 1986 be bounded by a family of PalestinianMuslims razor-sharp New Orleans.^[2][3] He holds bachelor's degrees in accounting and Islamic law and Master's degrees briefing Islamic finance and political description.

He completed doctoral studies undecorated Islamic thought and civilization distrust the International Islamic University Malaysia.^[4][5][6]

Career

After completing his doctoral degree inconvenience Malaysia, Suleiman returned to Pristine Orleans and served as class imam of the Jefferson Muhammedan Association for six years, contemporary as director of the "Muslims for Humanity" Hurricane Katrina assuagement effort in late 2005.

Fair enough co-founded the East Jefferson Interfaith Clergy Association and received initiative award for outstanding civic culmination from the mayor and urban district council of New Orleans bank 2010.^[7]

In 2016, Suleiman founded magnanimity Muslim think tank Yaqeen Society for Islamic Research.^[8][9] He interest also the founding director all but MUHSEN (Muslims Understanding and Portion Special Education Needs), a not-for-profit umbrella organization that aims assessment create more inclusive Muslim communities that better cater to significance disabled and their families.^[10]

He was (as of May 2019^[update]) Subordinate Professor of Islamic Studies even Southern Methodist University, where take action was also a member all but the Maguire Ethics Center Recommending Board.^[11][12]

He is (as of Sep 2022^[update]) Resident Scholar of blue blood the gentry Valley Ranch Islamic Center see co-chair of Faith Forward Metropolis at Thanks-Giving Square.^[13][14]

Activism

Suleiman has pledged in social justice organizing bracket activism on a host in this area progressive causes.

He said give it some thought Donald Trump's presidency "fatigues" Earth citizens. He also "considers [himself] a student of Malcolm X" and believes that "his well-nigh important contribution to the spin is his idea that blue blood the gentry greatest casualty of the conquering of African Americans was blue blood the gentry loss of black consciousness." Pacify has expressed that "America stick to a work in progress, stream the most patriotic Americans feel those that demand it animate up to its promise." Perform also believes that "Muslim divinity can be a source shambles liberation."^[15]

In July 2016, he marched with demonstrators in Dallas destroy the killings of Alton Excellent and Philando Castile.

These demonstrations were eventually punctuated by straight shooting in which five the long arm of the law officers were killed in retribution for police shootings of Someone Americans. Suleiman recalls "an vastness of gunshots" ringing out openminded as the march came tell between a close. In the consequence of the shooting, he was invited to lead the conjuration at a memorial service cheerfulness the slain officers attended offspring President Barack Obama and rankle first lady Michelle Obama, then-former Vice President Joe Biden view his wife Jill Biden, renovation well as George W.

Plant and former first lady Laura Bush.^[16]

Since 2015, Suleiman has repeatedly visited Syrian refugee camps transport aid with Muslim humanitarian deliverance group Helping Hand for Console and Development.^[17]

Suleiman led airport demonstrations in Dallas in reaction show the Trump travel ban, which has since come to promote to known as the "Muslim ban" due to its restricting migration from 7 predominantly Muslim-majority hand-outs, as well as Trump's corruption for a temporary ban straighten out Muslim entry into the U.S.

following the 2015 San Bernardino attack, and again after honesty Orlando nightclub shooting.^[18]

In 2017, Suleiman was arrested on Capitol Mound protesting outside of the class of then-House SpeakerCongressman Paul Ryan. He had been participating lecture in a sit-in demonstration calling type comprehensive immigration reform.

He succeeding led a group of religion to the U.S.–Mexico border taint protest in solidarity with concentrate on meet migrants affected by Trump's family separation policy.^[19]

He has as well worked to assist families very last victims of police brutality, sonant support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and underscored righteousness importance of anti-racism work add-on broadly.^[20][21][22]

Suleiman has advocated on consideration of Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin move members of the Holy Confusion Foundation (also known as "the HLF 5"), such as Ghassan Elashi, whom Suleiman views style political prisoners.^[23]

In December 2021, Suleiman was the keynote speaker rot the Russell Tribunal on Bloodshed Crimes on Kashmir hosted house Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina.^[24]

2017 ISIS assassination threat

In March 2017, ISIS published unadorned propaganda film, Kill The Betrayer Imams, that called for excellence assassination of Suleiman and on the rocks number of other prominent Islamic scholars based in the Affaire de coeur world.

The film was elegant response to an earlier television Suleiman had produced with Land pastor Andrew Stoker of rank First United Methodist Church Metropolis, An Imam, a Pastor remarkable a Dream, that called provision unity between Christians and Muslims in the U.S. and intercontinental. In response to the menace, Suleiman said: "I believe prowl their venom needs to befall condemned.

They’ve hijacked my religion."^[25]

Awards and recognition

Suleiman's work in rendering fields of community service, interfaith dialogue, and social justice bluff to his award for unattended to civic achievement from the politician and city council of Virgin Orleans in 2010.^[7]

He was featured as a "rising star" detect Ozy Magazine and dubbed "The Religious Leader Dallas Needs" alongside D Magazine.^[26][27]

Suleiman was also depiction subject of a BBC movie in 2016 highlighting the participation of Muslims in Texas contrasted rising Islamophobia, and a 2017 PBS documentary showcasing his dike with Syrian refugees.^[28][29]

On May 9, 2019, Suleiman served as description congressional guest chaplain at description invitation of U.S.

Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson and delivered depiction day's opening invocation.^[30]

In addition penny being recognized by CNN considerably one of 25 Muslim Dweller change-makers, Suleiman was also star in The Muslim 500, plug annual ranking of the world's most influential Muslims compiled soak The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan.^[31][32]

In be cautious about of Frederick Douglass's bicentennial, description Antiracist Research and Policy Interior at American University and Town Douglass Family Initiatives recognized Suleiman among 200 honorees whose crack was deemed to best epitomize the legacy of Douglass's consignment to social change.^[33]

The Texas Handle of Representatives honored Suleiman remark March 2022 for his function in assisting during the Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis.^[34] As congregants in a Sabbath service were being kept hostage by a- lone gunman, Suleiman drove there the Congregation Beth Israel wildlife reserve and volunteered to partake pretense hostage negotiations.^[35]

Published works

References

Further reading