2 posts from March 2007

Episode 35: An Interview with Syed Sulayman Abidi

Host: Abbas Kanji

Length: 30:27

Recorded on March 11, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois

Nasheed: "Al-Mu'Allim" performed by Sami Yusef

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Synopsis: The 28th of Safar marks the anniversary date of the death of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).  Very little is known about this important and tragic date in Islamic History. In this episode Hujjatul Islam Syed Sulayman explores the details of this date including historical details and the relevance of commemorating this event in modern times.

Bio: Originally from upstate New York, Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Syed Sulayman Abidi received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo ,NY. He has spent the last 10 years studying at the Hawza Ilmiyah in Qum, Iran. He is a frequent guest speaker at many North American Muslim communities and is in regular consultation with Islamic Studies departments at leading universities throughout the United States.

Episode 34: An Interview with Taki Zaidi and Zain Ali

Host: Jihad F. Saleh

Length: 32:13

Recorded on March 13, 2007 in Washington, DC

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Synopsis: Both Taki Zaidi and Zain Ali traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan and Muzaffarabad, Kashmir in the winter of 2005-06 as members of Youth Medics International - a youth group of Imamia Medics International. The work was dedicated to providing relief aid to the victims of the October 8, 2005 earthquake, and focused on health care in refugee camps and orphanages. They discuss the successes and struggles of their humanitarian work in a Kashmir relief camp. Valuable advice is provided to Muslim youth and young professionals who desire starting or working in a humanitarian NGO. 

Bio: Taki Zaidi, Director of Youth Medics International, is a native of New Jersey. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Montclair State University with a B.S. in Physics and completed graduate work in Rutgers/UMDNJ. His previous humanitarian work includes teaching HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in high schools and universities in Hyderabad, India in the summer of 2003. In August of 2007 Taki will be entering an MD/Ph.D. program and looks forward to seeing the work of Youth Medics International carried on by other motivated youth.

Bio: Zain Ali is a native of New Jersey. He is currently finishing his last year of undergraduate studies at Rutgers University where he majors in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies. He founded an award-winning chapter of Oxfam America at Rutgers University which increases peoples awareness and activism on issues such a Sudan, the Millennium Development Goals, and the ONE campaign. He started a blog and a university-sponsored research project into the socio-economic situation of the Kashmiri people of Pakistan.