Join the Islamic Society of Northeastern University and the John D. O'Bryant African-American Institute on the evening of February 19th for a panel at the Cabral Center at the John D. O'Bryant African-American Institute, featuring Imam Taymullah AbdulRahman, Ubaydullah Evans, and Faatimah Knight! The discussion will focus on the historical connection of Black Muslims and Islam, the intersectionality of being Muslim and Black in America, as well as what it means to be anti-racist vs. non-racist. A light will be shone on the erasure of Black Muslim narratives and voices when we talk about Islamophobia.

Please RSVP and get your free ticket at the eventbrite link on the page below if you wish to attend!! This event is open to the public, however you NEED an eventbrite ticket to get in and seats are limited. Hope to see you there InShaaAllah.

Speaker descriptions:

Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman

Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman has been a pastoral care provider for the past decade. He received a diploma in Islamic Sciences from the Saudi Arabian Council of Senior Scholars in 2006. In addition, he has studied Arabic and Islamic theology with several traditional scholars over the past ten years with concentration on cultivating the heart. Imam Taymullah served as Muslim chaplain for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for seven years. He plans to be starting a master's in Global Inter-religious Leadership at Andover Newton Theological School in the fall.

He is passionate about utilizing the dispensations of Islamic jurisprudence to develop a distinctly American Muslim cultural identity. For his efforts to foster what he likes to call “fearless fellowship,” Taymullah received the St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church's award for Promoting Interfaith Understanding in 2011. He serves on the Board of the interreligious youth non-profit, Kids 4 Peace and has recently signed his first book contract with International Islamic Publishing House in Riyadh to publish his essay on Islamic personal development titled, 44 Ways to Manhood. Imam Taymullah is a regular lecturer, family counselor and educator in and around New England. He currently serves as the muslim chaplain at Harvard University.

Ubaydullah Evans

Ustadh Ubaydullah Evans is the first Scholar-in-Residence for the American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM). He converted to Islam while in high school. Upon conversion, Ustadh Ubaydullah began studying some of the foundational books of Islam under the private tutelage of local scholars while simultaneously pursuing a degree in journalism from Columbia. Since then he has studied at Chicagoland’s Institute of Islamic Education (IIE), in Tarim, Yemen, and Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, where he graduated from its Shari’a program. Ustadh Ubaydullah is also an instructor with the Ta’leef Collective and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN). Ustadh Ubaydullah is married with two children.

Faatimah Knight

Faatimah Knight is a Masters student at the Chicago Theological Seminary and she holds a Bachelor’s degree from the first American Muslim Liberal Arts College, Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, founded in 2009. Last year, Faatimah spearheaded an initiative to raise funds for black churches across the South that had been victims of arson. The campaign was called #RebuildwithLove and gained national and international attention for the chord it struck with people all over the world. In under three weeks, she mobilized Muslim communities across the country and partnered with various Muslim charities to raise over $100,000 for four black churches. She was one of President Obama's guests at the last White House Iftar dinner last year.