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External Resources

The following external resources offer additional perspectives and information on different areas including family strengthening, helplines, mental health and specialty resources. Though these organizations are each doing important and meaningful work in their respective areas of expertise, they are not affiliated with The Family and Youth Institute.

Family Strengthening

Peaceful Families Project (PFP)

The Peaceful Families Project (PFP) is an initiative with international reach that recognizes domestic violence is a form of oppression that affects people of all faiths. Our mission is to work towards ending all types of abuse in Muslim families by increasing awareness regarding the dynamics of domestic violence.

Muslim Wellness Foundation

The mission of Muslim Wellness Foundation is to reduce stigma associated with mental illness, addiction and trauma in the American Muslim community.

Helplines

Stones to Bridges

Stones to Bridges’ mission is to address the pressures and support the needs of Muslim youth in North America, as a means to promote their emotional, social, and mental well being. They intend to address these needs by developing a platform where youth can freely and comfortably express and address their struggles and concerns.

Amala Muslim Youth Hopeline

The Amala Muslim Youth Hopeline has the aim to provide an accessible, confidential, and culturally competent means of peer counseling and resource referral for Muslim youth. Their mission is to provide a non-judgmental and understanding over-the-phone atmosphere for individuals to seek help.

Muslim Youth Helpline provides a confidential youth helpline for young Muslims to receive immediate, anonymous, and confidential support over the phone from 6 – 9 pm, Monday to Friday (Eastern Standard Time).

Mental Health Resources

AMHP

American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP) is a national nonprofit organization focused on professional development, health education centered around the unique needs of American-Muslims, and advocacy for minorities and underserved communities.

Institute of Muslim Mental Health

The Institute of Muslim Mental Health is a non-profit organization dedicated to its CORE mission: Community Outreach, Research, and Education. They provide educational workshops, host an online clinical directory of Muslim mental health professionals, as well as an annual conference.

Mental Health for Muslims

Mental Health for Muslims aims to bring to light important mental health issues as they relate to the Muslim community. They hope to tackle a wide variety of tough issues including depression, stress, trauma, chemical dependency, eating disorders, shame, domestic violence, sexuality, marital discord, and child development.

SEEMA

SEEMA Support Embrace Empower Mental health Advocacy, was developed to bring the conversation of mental health and stigma to the forefront of our Muslim communities, to support one another, rather than suffering alone.
SEEMA aims to advocate for mental health by way of educational workshops and support groups, providing access to professionals, as well as offering scholarships to encourage graduate studies in the field of mental health and social work.

Ruh Care

Ruh Care is the largest global directory of Muslim therapists, aiming to help clients find therapists aligned with their values in the US, Canada, and beyond. A Muslim therapist is simply a search away!

Specialty Resources

HEART Women & Girls

HEART Women & Girls promotes sexual health and sexual violence awareness in faith-based communities through health education, advocacy, research, and training. Their vision is to improve the sexual health literacy of Muslim communities and facilitate healthy sexual attitudes, behaviors, and relationships to ultimately build healthier communities.

MuslimARC

The Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC) is a multiracial virtual education and training organization that works on racial justice initiatives through anti-racism programming and online media campaigns.

Muhsen

Muhsen is a non – profit umbrella organization serving the community to establish a more inclusive “Special Friendly” environment for our Brothers & Sisters of all Disabilities. Muhsen will advocate, educate, train and implement programs and services nationwide to improve access to Masajids for Disabled and Special Needs individuals as well as acceptance and inclusion by the community in all aspects.

Zakat eligibility of The FYI

The Family & Youth Institute, or The FYI, is a well-known Muslim organization in the United States. It works to promote mental health and wellness by strengthening and empowering individuals, families, and communities through research and education. It has been working for many years to bring Islamic perspectives to understanding and promoting mental health in our communities.

It is dedicated to serving and supporting Muslims – safeguarding our deen, our families, and our future generations. Therefore, the work of The FYI comes in the category of ‘fi sabeelillah’ or the Path of Allah, within the eight categories where Zakat money can be used.

Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed for it and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah, and for the [stranded] traveler – an obligation [imposed] by Allah, And Allah, is Knowing and Wise.”
(Al-Tawbah 9:60)

According to scholars who widen the meaning of fee sabeelillah to include any activities that promote Islamic growth, The FYI is indeed eligible to receive part of the Zakat funds for its programs and services. I urge Muslims in America to support this organization through their donations, general charity, and through their Zakat. I ask Allah swt to strengthen and guide The FYI to continue its good work in supporting Muslims.

Shaikh Ali Suleiman Ali, PhD

About Shaikh Ali

Sh. Ali Suleiman Ali was born in Ghana where he spent his childhood studying with various Muslim scholars. He then moved to Saudi Arabia and enrolled in the Islamic University of Madina.  He graduated with a degree in both Arabic and Islamic Studies. Dr. Ali went on to complete his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Sh. Ali serves on the Advisory Council of The Family & Youth Institute. He is the Senior Imam and Director of the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs in Canton, Michigan. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Muslim Family Services in Detroit and is a council member of the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA). He is also a member of the North American Imams Federation (NAIF) and the Association of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA).