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7 Mohurram 1443 A.H. - August 15 2021 Issue # 33, Newsletter #1928



Understanding Pakistan: August 14 anniversary.
Unity with Taliban could save Pakistan as an Islamic State.

b y Kaukab Siddique, PhD

Everyone knows that Pakistan emerged in the name of Islam.
Allama Iqbal dreamed of a country for Muslims separate from Hindu culture.

Mohomed Ali Jinnah was influenced by Iqbal and helped the masses to focus on one objective: Pakistan. He defeated the intrigues of both the British and the Hindus.

Even then it was not going to work as an Islamic country owing to the organized efforts of the bureucracy and landlords. Maulana Maudoodi made sure that the legal basis and legitimacy of Pakistan was rooted in Islam. He was repeatedly imprisoned and barely survived a death sentence but remained steadfast with a hard core organization.

Pakistan has been rocked thoughout its history by well organized anti-Islamic groups which give surface level allegiance to Islam and constantly try to fool the masses with Islamic slogans.

Both the generals and the politicians supported America against Pakistanis. The westernized elites successfully divided the religious groups and Islamic scholars and pitted them against each other.

When the army attacked East :Pakistan and later the Red Mosque, the religious groups remained silent or ineffective.

The upsurge of pro-Sharia groups in Swat, Waziristan and the border areas was squashed by the army on orders from Washington. Supporters of Sharia were dubbed as terrorists.

It looked like Pakistan was to be a colony of the West. US and NATO which occupied Afghanistan sent its heavy weaponry and supplies through Pakistan.

Very few individuals, like Syed Munawar Hasan, spoke against the military collusion with USA.

Pakistan survived as a miracle of Islam. Even ordinary villagers would not accept blasphemy against the Prophet, pbuh.

Now we have a second miracle: The victory of Islamic forces in Afghanistan against a superpower and NATO.

After spending countless dollars in Afghanistan, the West failed to create a replica of itself in Kabul with tentacles all over the country..

The Islamic forces dominated the countryside and gradually surrounded the major cities. It has now been a victory parade, 75,000 poorly armed mujaheddine against 300,00 heavily armed mercenaries with an air force.

Biden is under severe criticism from his people and allies. He is helples. According to official figures, the war was costing the US $100 billion a year., with a total of $978 billion till now. UK spent $30 billion and Germany $10 billion. [BBC].

The Islamic groups in Pakistan have a chance of a lifetime to link up with the Taliban. Attempts to continue anti-Islamic alliances with USA and now China would be catastrophic. USA has become an ally of India and China is Communist, anti-religion, committng genocide against Uighar Muslims.

The internal Islamic power of Pakistan is the only authentic source of Pakistani independence.




War News

Afghanistan

History in the making.
Record Breaking Victories somewhat like the era of Khalid ibn al-Waleed, r.a. and Saad ibn abi Waqqas, r.a.

Latest: Ghani, the puppet President of Kabul, has fled to Tajikistan with his Vice President.

The airport at Kabul to which the US embassy had fled is taking fire. Americans are told to "shelter in place" and cannot reach the airport. Fighting imminent as US troops fly in.

Political prisoners freed by Taliban.

On August 15, Taliban surrounded Kabul and small Taliban groups entered Kabul with orders not to shoot.

Earlier on August 14, Jalalabad surrendered to the Taliban without a fight.

The day before, Mazare Sharif surrendered without a fight.

Only a few days earlier Kunduz, Herat, Lashkargah and Kandahar fell to the Taliban after heavy fighting

Dostum, the mass murderer of prisoners, has fled to Uzbekistan.

Mullah Omar's son is said to be among the leaders in the battlefield.




Life within the United States

New York Governor Evaded Impeachment and much else.
by Sis. Aisha
Jamaat al-Muslimeen

In a surprise move, Andrew Cuomo resigned from his position as governor of New York State.

It is being reported that he would not have stood a chance of being cleared during an impeachment trial. However, his statements have changed a little. Now, former Governor Cuomo is saying that his actions, even when he touched women, were misconstrued or that he was not thinking clearly.

As I had reported in an earlier New Trend, former Governor Cuomo could be getting a bitter dose of his own medicine. It had been stated on the Community Cop Show that Cuomo allegedly played a major role in manufacturing sexual harassment stories about then Governor Patterson, who is of African-descent, in an effort to become Governor rather than wait in line. It was these stories and the media circus that caused Governor Patterson to reconsider running for election. This allowed Cuomo to run and get elected.

Some of Governor Cuomo's stances included legalizing Gay marriage and ordering Rev. Al Sharpton to keep protesters away from Staten Island's Verrazano Bridge in response to Eric Garner's murder by police officers.

However, the New York State Assembly ruled Friday, August 13th, not to impeach Governor Cuomo citing his resignation as a reason. It sounds like this was all a ruse just to get him out. Both sides are claiming victory. Cuomo says he would have made the assembly look like a "ship of fools" and would have escaped impeachment. Of course, by not being impeached Cuomo can also run for office, again.

There is so much internal and public criticism directed at Assembly Speaker Heastie's decision to end the impeachment probe. But, Speaker Heastie and Assemblyman Charles Lavine, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, do not believe that they have the power to impeach Cuomo now that he has left office.

One of Cuomo's harassment victims is suing him civilly but, after taxpayer money was used to investigate and find credible evidence plus, these women risking their careers to come forward about Cuomo's illicit behavior - he goes free.

Governor Cuomo will vacate his office on August 24th. Assemblyman Tom Abinanti reminded people that Cuomo is still in office and believes that his impeachment investigation should continue. Some Assembly members were shocked at the decision to drop the impeachment only hearing about it at Assembly Speaker Heastie's press conference.

Attorney General Letitia James is till investigating Cuomo over his $5 million dollar book deal and inaccurate data about COVID-related nursing home deaths.

Many times, people in Governor Cuomo's position may be targeted for attack because they are seen as becoming too powerful. If these "leaders" start showing arrogance, invincibility or even worse, appear ungrateful then some former supporters may find ways to humble them. Perhaps, Cuomo's getting re-elected four times may have led him to feel he was the King of New York. Or, maybe it was his book: "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic," which discusses his great leadership.....in his own words.

Although Cuomo has not been convicted of any crime and, now, will not face impeachment, he is out as governor. For now, some group's goal to get Cuomo out of office has been accomplished. That's politics.

(Sources: Yahoo! News)




Guidance From Sis. Yasmin

Blessings of Mohurram.
 Blessings of Mohurram

Reminder:Fasting on 9th & 10th Muharram 1433 [Updated] | TowardsHuda

'Muharram' is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the Four sacred months concerning which...

ALLAH {Azza wa Jal } says in the 'Qur`an'...

'Surely the number of months with Allah is Twelve months in Allah's ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred, that is the right reckoning, therefore be not unjust to yourselves regarding them'.
[Source~ 'Qur`an' ~Surat At-Taubah ~ 9~ Verse # 36]

'Muharram' is one of the four sacred Months out of twelve.

The others being...
Dhu al- Qa`dah,
Dhu al-Hijjah,
and Rajab.

These four (4) months have been sacred since the creation of universe.

ALLAH {Azza wa Jal} says in the 'Qur`an'...

'Muharram' is a sacred month because Allah made it sacred along with three other months and told us
about it in the 'Qur`an'.

*PROPHET* ﷺ

informed us about the four (4) sacred months
in the following narration...
'The year is of Twelve months, out of which
Four {4} months are sacred.

Three {3} are in succession ...
  1. Dhu al-Qa`dah.
  2. Dhu al-Hijjah.
  3. Muharram.
  4. Rajab.

[Source~ ]Bukhari Vol~ 004- Book # 054, Hadith # 419]

'Ashura'~ [meaning tenth in Arabic]

The 10th of Muharram.

Fasting on the 10th Muharram {'Ashura'}

was obligatory on the Muslims before the fasts
of 'Ramadan' were made obligatory.

Narrated by the Mother of the Believers Aisha (r.a.)
(Allah be pleased with her)...

The people used to fast on 'Ashura'
{the tenth (10th)day of the month of 'Muharram'}
before the fasting of 'Ramadan' was made obligatory.
and on that day the 'Kaaba' used to be covered with a cover.

When Allah made the fasting of the month
of 'Ramadan' compulsory...

PROPHET {may peace be upon him} said...

'Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of 'Ashura')
may do so and whoever wishes to leave it can do so'.

[ Source~ 'Bukhari' Vol 02, Book 026, Hadith # 662. ]

Abu Qatada al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that...

The Messenger of Allah {peace be upon him}

was asked about fasting on the day of
'Ashura' {10th of Muharram}

whereupon he said:

It expiates the sins of the preceding year...{!}

{Source~ Muslim: Book 06: Hadith # 2603}

~'SALAAMS' TO ALL~

~Y a s m i n ~

"Never Despair Of The Mercy Of Allah"
**************************************
Say, 'Indeed, my Prayer, my Rites of Sacrifice,
my Living and my Dying are for ALLAH, Lord of the Worlds'.
In Shaa Allah 'Aameen'.
{'Qur`an'~Surat Al-'An`am -# 6-162.}




Civilizational Conflict.
What happened to East Pakistan [Bangladesh]?

by Dr. Firoz Kamal.

[Excerpted]
Defence: the highest priority

Those who are not equipped to fight against enemies, indeed build grounds for surrender. It needs a strong infrastructure of defence to stay safe and independent. It needs a strong appetite for that. It must be taken as the most important agenda for survival. Humans face most of the catastrophic calamities not from wild animals, but from humans. All the genocidal killings, economic plunders, and enforced slavery are the works of humans. Hence, it is the most fundamental duty of every man and woman to face those beastly humans. In Islam, it is the best ibada. It is called jihad. In the past, only the spirit of jihad could give protection from imperialist predators. The European colonialists could quickly take over the Asian, African and American lands. It owes not only to the war machinery of these colonialists but to the lack of defence of the native people. So they paid the price for being weak and defenceless. They faced brutal genocidal cleansing. Their wealth was plundered and they were enslaved.

Those who are focused only on eating, drinking and physical survival, may not have an appetite for civilizational growth. They think only about the physical sustenance of foods and drinks. For defence, it needs a big and strong independent state. Living in caves, tents, and small states, people can't develop a strong defence. In fact, the independence of a state proportionately depends on its size. The countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and UAE may have huge wealth but enjoy little independence. The rulers of these states are dependent on others for their political survival. They heavily pay for that. If the wealth disappears, they will meet the fate of a failed state like today's Lebanon.

In fact, those who divide into small states like Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and UAE expose their distaste for independence and security. Those who have an iota of interest in independence can't stay divided into such small states. Such division opens the door to foreign occupation and slavery. The size of Russia's economy is smaller than that of South Korea. But its political might and independence is equal to the USA. It mainly owes to its huge geographical size and nuclear bombs. So, it is haram (forbidden) in Islam to fragment a Muslim country. Prophet (peace be upon him) of Islam encouraged only to expand it. Hence, from day one of the Islamic State, the Muslims were focused to enlarge its political map. It was indeed their high political sagacity that they spread the Islamic state into three continents.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) even advised his companions to take over Constantinople -the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. This was in fact a civilizational necessity. Because of the same sagacity, in 1947, the Bengali Muslims joined Pakistan to constitute the largest Muslim country in the contemporary world. But the politicians with parochial intoxication lost such wisdom, hence wrecked the great country. The weakness of 400 million Arabs indeed owes to their disintegration into 22 states. As a result, the defence capability of 22 Arab states stands much inferior to that of a tiny Israel. Moreover, the division brings the promised punishment from Allah Sub'hana wa Ta'la -as warned in verse 105 of Sura Al-Imran. Therefore, the divided Arabs proved to be the recipients of the promised punishment. Israel has become the instrument of such punishment.

For defence, it is crucial to have the most advanced weaponry and the necessary military skills. Without such weaponry, a state easily lose its independence. Such states easily embrace the slavery of bigger states. The US military bases in the Gulf States is an indicator of such slavery. An independent state never allows another state to set a military base on its soil. Awfully, this is the status of most Arab states. Muslims started to lose their independence when they ignored the defence and invested more money in building palaces and amusement. When Bengal fell to the British, Robert Clive -the military Head of British East India Company was amazed seeing the huge treasure of gold and silver of the defeated Nawab Shiraj-ud-Daulah. If such huge wealth was spent to strengthen defence and empower people, the fate would have been much different.

Imposed enemies' civilizational wars

The enemies' wars on Islam are not only occupational, in many cases these are civilizational. The usual conventional war takes place between two neighbouring countries, but a civilizational war takes place between people of two different beliefs and civilizations. It doesn't possess any national boundaries. The countries over the globe get lumped together according to faith and civilizational adherence. The medieval crusades were typical multi-national European civilizational war on Islam. In the modern age, the western imperialists considered their war against Osmania Caliphate as a civilizational war of the Christian World on Islam. It got an explicit display in the Balkan War as well as in World War 1. All major countries of the Christian faith like the UK, the USA, France, Italy, Russia, Australia, Canada and New Zealand joined the war against the Caliphate. Most of these countries were far away from the Ottoman border, but they joined the war to show their civilizational oneness. Although they live in different countries and continents, they view the Muslim World with one eye and one political perspective. They also celebrated the dissolution of the Caliphate -the political institution of Islam jointly.

In fact, wherever there is a major war against Muslims, it turns into a civilizational war. Then, the polarisation in politics doesn't remain regional or continental, it becomes global. The players of world politics then divide into two poles: the pole of Islam and the pole of non-Islam. Israel's war of occupation and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians is an example of a classical civilizational War on Islam. Almost all Christian countries from all over the world support Israel. The Christians consider the Israelis as their close civilizational siblings. Only Ireland is an exception. In 1971, the war against Pakistan -the largest Muslim country in the contemporary world was also a civilizational war. Hence, the polarisation was global. As a result, Hindu India was not alone in that war. The non-Muslims like the Communists (Soviet Russia), Israel, most of the Christian countries, and the non-Muslim media supported India. Although Pakistan was on the US side of the Cold War but suffered an embargo on importing arms from the USA. On the other hand, almost all the Muslim countries supported Pakistan.

It is tantamount to violation of the UN law to dismember a country by military force. There wasn't any plebiscite in favour of the dismemberment of Pakistan. The parliamentary election of 1970 was based on framing a constitution and provincial autonomy and not on the separation of East Pakistan. But the non-Muslim countries became complicit in the crime by either supporting India's anti-Muslim project or remained deliberately silent. The war in Afghanistan and Iraq has the same civilizational character. More than 45 Christian countries took part in President George W. Bush's declared crusade on Islam. Except for Turkey -a member of NATO, none of the Muslim countries was a part of the US-led civilizational war. This is indeed the typical level of polarisation of a civilizational war.




India

August 9. War between two Indian States.

Violent border clashes between India's north-eastern states of Assam and Mizoram last week left several dead and many more injured. Subir Bhaumik travelled to the region to find out how a long-running border dispute was affecting the lives of locals.

The highway connecting Mizoram, a hilly state of 1.3 million people, to the rest of India is unusually quiet these days.

Wedged between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Mizoram is linked to the Indian mainland through neighbouring Assam.

Tensions with Assam escalated on 26 July after clashes erupted between police on either side of a contentious border point. The two sides fired at each other, leaving seven dead and 60 people injured. Six of those killed were policemen from Assam.

Why peace is fragile between two India states

Mizoram officials alleged that 200 policemen from Assam, led by a senior officer, overran one of their police outposts at the border town of Vairengte. The evicted policemen, barely 20 of them, were joined by reinforcements, according to locals - and they retaliated after taking position in the hills overlooking the camp.

Local Mizos also burnt down buses that had carried the Assam policemen to the border and clashed with villagers from Assam backing up their force.

[BBC]




Iran needs an authentic Apology

 The Ignoble King




 Outreach

New Trend's web site received 126901 hits in July, 2021.

Thank you Br. Rich.

The web site includes three translations of the Qur'an [ quran.htm ] and the translation of all of Sahih Bukhari. [ bukhari.htm ]

Also a boycott list vs Israel [ boycott.htm ] , plus Br. Kaukab Siddique's wild interview with Ken Meyercord related to fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. [ civildiscordshow.htm ]

See pictures of the destruction of Palestinan villages by the Jewish army. [ pictures3.htm ]

Political Prisoners :

AhmedAbdelSattar.org

FreeZiyadYaghi.info

FreeMasoudKhan.net

Civil Discord Show





Obituary

Sajjad Niazi, Kaukab Siddique's beloved friend of many years, passed away.

When my son was born in Canada, Sajjad Niazi came to stay with me, not knowing that I had just had a son.. He and I slept in a room with the baby boy so that my wife could rest at night.

Over the decades Sajjad and I corresponded with each other and talked to each other, he in Pakistan and I in USA.

When I visited Pakistan a few years back, he was extremely helpful.

He knew more about Pakistani politics and Islamic analysis than most people.

He became more and more religious and grew a long beard, much longer than mine.

The ultimate in our relationship was when he visited his son in America and brought me a complete set in hard cover, 16 volumes, of the Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Like most Pakistani immigrants, his children, who moved to USA and Canada, became westernized and no longer cared for his politics or his religion.

Allah is most merciful and I think will forgive Sajjad's sins and shortcomings. Ameen.




 Imam Badi Ali

Message from Imam Badi Ali.
North Carolina


As-slamu alaikum,
This Islamic New year

O Allah, bring this (year) upon us with security and faith, safety and Islam, and Your pleasure, and protection from shaytan.

Ameen




[Via Imam Badi]
American Muslims Are 2 Times More Likely To Have Attempted Suicide Than Other Groups

August 10, 20219:01 AM ET
DALIA FAHEID

For an entire year that involved emergency room visits, legal proceedings, involuntary unemployment and the death of loved ones, Mehran Nazir struggled with a depressive episode. He would find his mind flooded with self-destructive thoughts. He'd faintly hope his plane from Newark to San Francisco would crash or that he would doze off at the wheel of his car and end up in a fatal accident.

The normally extroverted Nazir would lie paralyzed in bed for hours doing nothing, not wanting to speak with family and canceling plans with friends.

It came to a head when Nazir found himself on the brink of suicide. In his darkest moment, he drafted a will and decided where it would happen.

Eventually, Nazir found comfort in journaling. And when he shared his writings online, he quickly found that other Muslims shared his struggles.

"I realized that this is not something that is unique in my history," Nazir told NPR. "This was not a random occurrence."

While Mehran Nazir still struggles with depressive episodes now and then, he shares his musings online to help himself and others.

Mehran Nazir

Nazir was right. U.S. Muslims are two times more likely to have attempted suicide compared with other religious groups, according to a study published last month in JAMA Psychiatry. Nearly 8% of Muslims in the survey reported a suicide attempt in their lifetime compared with 6% of Catholics, 5% of Protestants and 3.6% of Jewish respondents.

"Anecdotally and in clinical settings, we're definitely seeing an uptick in suicides and suicide attempts," Dr. Rania Awaad told NPR. She's the director of the Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab at Stanford University and a researcher on the study.

At the heart of these numbers are several issues

Researchers attribute the high suicide attempt rate to two factors: religious discrimination and community stigma — both of which, they say, prevent Muslim American communities from seeking mental health services.

Six members of the Towhid family were found dead inside their Allen, Texas home in early April. Police say the two brothers made a pact to kill their family and then take their own lives.

Bangladesh Association of North Texas

Earlier this year, a murder-suicide involving a Muslim family in Allen, Texas, sent shock waves through the community. Brothers Farhan Towhid, 19, and Tanvir Towhid, 21, both of whom reportedly battled depression, made a pact to die by suicide and kill the rest of their family so they wouldn't have to live with the grief. Since then, public discussions on mental health, trainings on suicide response and healing circles have taken on new urgency.

"We have a very long way to go," Awaad said. "There is just the beginning of a discussion that is happening now."

There's still a community stigma surrounding mental health

Naureen Ahmed, now 39, remembers how her family would visit her mother, Seema, at a psychiatric hospital. But the family never openly discussed why she was there.

Some days, Seema would sing along to Bollywood music at home wearing red lipstick. Other days, she'd walk around the house brandishing knives — or jump out of the car on the highway, threatening to kill herself.

Ahmed, a social butterfly at school, was hesitant to invite friends over because she never knew which side of her mother she would get that day.

It wasn't until she was 25 that Ahmed finally learned why her mom acted that way: she had bipolar depression and schizoaffective disorder, her grandparents told her.

"It was difficult to say it out loud, this secret that I had held inside my entire life," Ahmed told NPR.

Seema Ahmed is pictured here with her daughter Naureen.

Naureen Ahmed

Of the many factors that prevent families or individuals from seeking mental health treatment, stigma is "perhaps the most significant," according to a 2013 study that looked at the cultural backgrounds of Muslims.

"If you believe that your mental illnesses will bring shame on you or your family, then you tend to stay silent about it," said Dr. Farha Abbasi, founder of the Muslim Mental Health Conference. Through the conference, hosted by Michigan State University for 13 years, Abbasi hopes to destigmatize mental illness within the Muslim community using open dialogue.

After Ahmed's mother died in 2012, she created SEEMA to support families like hers who are shamed by the stigma of mental illness, are isolated by their communities or are suffering alone.

SEEMA, launched in 2018, hosts support groups with licensed therapists at community centers and mosques and awareness workshops highlighting the importance of mental health and how to care for someone struggling with a mental illness.

"We need to have these conversations to destigmatize and bring awareness because people think that they're alone," Ahmed said.

Religious discrimination makes them more vulnerable
Abbasi, who has studied the impact of growing Islamophobia on Muslims' mental health, says she was not surprised by the results of the Stanford study.

"Right now, the exposure to toxicity is making us more vulnerable," Abbasi told NPR.

U.S. Muslims were more likely to report suicide attempts than those from Muslim-majority countries, according to the Stanford study. As a religious minority in the U.S., Muslims are highly vulnerable to religious discrimination, which is associated with depression, anxiety and paranoia.

The Muslim Mental Health Conference has been hosted by Michigan State University for 13 years, discussing topics such as government surveillance, Islamophobia and the Muslim Ban.

Farha Abbasi

According to 2020 polling from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, 60% of Muslims reported personally experiencing religious discrimination. And the FBI's latest hate crime statistics in 2019 suggest that, of the reported 1,715 victims of anti-religious hate crimes, 13.2% were victims of anti-Muslim bias.

"There's just trauma over trauma over trauma," Abbasi says. "The impact of growing Islamophobia, the violence that is being directed against Muslims, all that is having a huge impact on mental health."

They sometimes find it hard to reconcile their feelings and their faith

Last November, 39-year-old Chicago investor Jessica Ali broke down after separating from her husband.

"I felt that I was unworthy and there was no reason for me to live," she said. Ali, a mother of three, had attempted suicide for a third time. The first two were in 2008 and 2018. "I started believing that I was crazy, that I must be a bad Muslim."

That was until she joined a Muslim support group. It was there that Ali, who was diagnosed with severe depression, first came to terms with her mental illness.

Jessica Ali, 39, says she has attempted suicide multiple times.

Jessica Ali

"It's very likely that when you're sitting at the masjid, somebody in your praying row has felt this way," Ali told NPR.

Now, Ali takes medication and visits a therapist.

But unlike Ali, some Muslims may not get the help and support they need.

To help jump over these hurdles, Muslim mental health professionals across the country are providing more culturally appropriate and religiously sensitive resources for Muslims.

Culturally appropriate resources can help

Dr. Sameera Ahmed, executive director of The Family & Youth Institute, a Muslim nonprofit, developed a suicide prevention toolkit in 2017 that helps Muslim American families navigate suicide risks, intervention, assessment and prevention.

"There may be mental health providers available, but if an individual doesn't trust the system, they're not going to use it," Ahmed told NPR. "We try to translate the research into culturally and religiously tailored mental health resources that are community informed and disseminated by Muslim American mental health professionals."

The Family & Youth Institute hosts a suicide prevention and intervention workshop.

Sameera Ahmed

In 2017, the Khalil Center, which offers Muslims faith-based mental health services, launched a hotline that provides a "safe and empathic space" for those in crisis situations. "There's more awareness happening," Khalil Center psychologist Dr. Fahad Khan told NPR. "We have seen a rise in those who are seeking services."

Imams have an integral role in community mental health because Muslim Americans may be more willing to seek help from religious leaders. That's why Awaad started a campaign to train 500 Muslim leaders on suicide response in their communities by 2022.

"A number of imams came forward and said, 'We as the religious and community leaders of the Muslim community really need to step up to this discussion,' " Awaad said.

Dr. Heather Laird presents at the Defining Islamic Psychology Conference.

Heather Laird

Dr. Heather Laird, founder of the Center for Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology, found that Muslims were more likely to seek psychotherapy if it aligned with Islamic values. So she ignited a movement toward Islamic psychology. By Laird's definition, Islamic psychology is the treatment of the mind and soul within an Islamic context.

As for Nazir, he uses a combination of therapy and journaling to tend to his psychological wounds.

"This battle for mental health is not necessarily you solve it, you cure it, you move on," Nazir said. "For me, it's an ongoing journey."

Dalia Faheid is an intern on NPR's News Desk.

2021-08-16 Mon 11:15:55 ct

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