We invited our friends at the Muslim Student Association (MSA) of University of Las Vegas for an iftar dinner at our location on April 17th, 2022. It was a lovely night as we got together with some old friends and met with plenty of new faces of our Las Vegas community.

We would like to thank our volunteers who enriched the iftar with their delicious meals and desserts. A huge thanks to MSA and other guests for their participation.

Imam Mujahid Ramadan’s Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue Radio Show aired its newest episode on April 2nd, 2022. The topic was titled ‘Fasting and the Spiritual Transformation.’ As always, the show was aired on KCEP 88.1 FM and sponsored by Silver Sage Foundation.

This month’s esteemed guests were Colby Jeffers (Baha’i, Rapper, Film Producer and Educator), Frank C Rodarte Jr. (President of Enumclaw Washington Stake’s Nevada, Las Vegas Mission), and Imam Abdel J. Nuriddin (Owner of Genesis Health & Nutrition Center. Columnist and Speaker).

Imam Ramadan opened the show by emphasizing on the importance of this year as major holidays of the Abrahamic religions converged roughly around the same time. The month of Ramadan, the season of Easter, and Passover coincided with each other in 2022’s March-April. He claimed that it is the perfect season for interfaith dialogue and understanding. He also spared some time to give special prayers to the people in Ukraine. As it’s the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the discussion started with Colby Jeffers’ rap music titled ‘The Fast.’ Even though the music was produced for the Baha’i faith’s fasting, the lyrics can be easily applied to most of the other major religions. This fact was used by Imam Ramadan as a starting point as fasting is one of the universally practiced forms of worship.

Jeffers described how fasting is prescribed in the holy scripture of Baha’i faith. It’s a way of observing God’s beauty and come closer to it. There are both spiritual and physical benefits even though it’s a bit difficult practice.

Rodarte Jr. continued the subject by describing how fasting is a part of the Church of Jesus Christ – Latter Day Saints. He quoted from the scripture how fasting helps people to break free of their physical needs and animalistic instincts. Fasting is also important as it encourages believers to help the people in need.

Imam Nuriddin delved into the topic by explaining the importance of fasting in Islam. He described how hard was it to practice for the first Muslims as they did this under blazing sun and burning sands. He quoted from the Quran that the month of Ramadan is the time in which the devil is chained and the possibility of doing good deeds is increased.

These were just the beginning remarks in this long and bountiful discussion. We advise everyone listen to the 1-hour long show to learn all about fasting in Baha’i faith, Christianity and Islam. It was also remarkable to hear the importance, different meanings and benefits of the practice called fasting.

We would like to thank Imam Ramadan for yet another great discussion. Special thanks to the honorable guests for their invaluable contributions. To get the latest updates on the future episodes, please follow our social media channels.

If you like to listen to the awesome rap song ‘The Fast’ buy Colby Jeffers, here is a link to the video:

Imam Mujahid Ramadan’s Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue Radio Show aired its newest episode on January 8th, 2022. The topic was titled ‘Man Means Mind and Mystical Insights of Imam Mohammad.’ As always, the show was aired on KCEP 88.1 FM and sponsored by Silver Sage Foundation.

This month’s esteemed guests were Imam Earl El-Amin (Resident Imam at Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore Masjid in Baltimore, MD), Imam Faheem Shuaibe (Resident Imam at Masjidul Waritheen in Oakland, CA), and Aneesah Dawan (Advocate for the future generation. Member of the Progressive Leadership Legacy Association).

Imam Ramadan opened up the discussion with happy new year wishes as we greet 2022 together. After that he immediately delved into the topic of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed’s importance on the North American Muslims. While coming from the Nation of Islam origins, Imam Mohammad managed to take the Black community’s Islamic belief from nationalistic bases to a universal environment as it should be. Ramadan supported the idea that Imam Mohammed showed that being an American is compatible with being a Muslim.

Imam Shuaibe made a remarkable analogy as he claimed that the Nation of Islam’s journey resembles that of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) as he searched a god in the Moon, then the Sun and through series of contemplations finally came to the correct conclusion of the existence of an omnipotent and all-encompassing God.

Sister Dawan echoed Shuaibe’s sentiments and stated that the Nation of Islam’s evolution was completely natural and expected as when someone is in sincere search of truth, they ultimately reach to it after passing through some other variations and near misses. She lamented that it was a tough journey for some, but also thankfully stated that it brought most of the Black Muslims into a proper Islamic mindset eventually.

Imam El-Amin spoke about how Imam Mohammed paid attention and special importance to the US constitution and democracy. He emphasized that the Imam’s teachings encouraged dialogue, co-operation and defending the basic human rights. He also remarked that the Founding Fathers definitely had Quranic influences.

There were many more topics touched during the show and one would miss a lot by not listening to it completely. Topics ranged from Islam in the USA, slavery, politics, ideological evolution, equality, and contemporary social issues.

We would like to thank Imam Ramadan for yet another great discussion. Special thanks to the honorable guests for their invaluable contributions. To get the latest updates on the future episodes, please follow our social media channels.

Imam Mujahid Ramadan’s Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue Radio Show aired its newest episode on November 6th. The topic was titled ‘Rumi and Mysticism in the 21st Century.’ As always, the show was aired on KCEP 88.1 FM and sponsored by Silver Sage Foundation.

This month’s esteemed guests were Reverend Gard Jameson (President of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada), Dr. Zeki Saritoprak (Professor and Director of the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University), and Ibrahim Anli (Executive Director at Rumi Forum).

The discussion began with Gardner’s remarks on Rumi’s importance as someone ‘who is beyond all faith.’ As he is the most read poem all around the world, his influence transcends the Islamic communities and compel everyone’s hearts. Gardner emphasized on the importance that Rumi tried to open a way to heal this damaged and broken word through unconditional love. He also remarked how Rumi could read the God’s language which is a ‘silence’ for our naked ears.

Saritoprak shared a striking fact that Rumi’s funeral was attended by the people of 7 different faiths. He was a man who managed to see ‘good in everything.’ He loved the creation due to its creator and was able to see love and unity in all beings.

Ramadan put forward an interesting coincidence that while we celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas in this late 2021, another celebration takes play among the followers of Rumi as they ‘celebrate’ his death. It is celebrated as he saw his own death as a ‘migration’ to the afterlife where you meet with the creator.

Anli contributed to the show with his extensive academic knowledge on Rumi as he gave the names of all his writings. He said that his magnum opus, ‘Mesnevi,’ can be described as a ‘Persian Quran’ as it translates the Holy book’s spirit and meaning into the Persian language beautifully. He also talked about the positive influences of Mysticism as it stripped people away from a politicized and legalized Islam to a restorated and pure one.

Unfortunately, the show ended abruptly due to the time limit given by the radio station. There were so much more to discuss and we hope that Ramadan will continue to deal with this subject in the upcoming months.

We would like to thank Imam Ramadan for yet another great discussion. Special thanks to Rev. Gard Jameson, Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, and Ibrahim Anli for their invaluable contributions. To get the latest updates on the future episodes, please follow our social media channels.