Salaams y'all,
I'm writing with a heavy heart this week. With smoke from the West Coast wildfires now hovering over the East Coast now, I've been feeling a lot of heartache and fear about what is to come. This has been an incredibly painful year, full of signs and tests, tragedies and challenges.
As much as I believe in the strength, power & responsibility of people to affect change, there are moments that I just have to submit myself to the Divine and allow myself to mourn. These days, I'm often repeating "Rabbi inni maghluben fantasir" (Almighty, I am helpless, so help me).
As we continue to study and struggle for black liberation, environmental justice, and freedom from all oppression, don't forget to give yourself space to feel and to pray. I'll be right there with you. Feel free to reach out to talk if you're feeling especially isolated or just want to connect.
May Allah keep us grounded, connected, and steadfast in our pursuit of justice, freedom, and the Truth, ameen.
Sincerely,
Maryam
P.S. If you're interested in reading about collective grief, Islam, Ashura, and the struggle for black liberation, here's a piece by Hoda Kotebi from last week. |
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TOMORROW: FRIDAY JUMU'AH
(with Duke's International House)
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WHEN: 1pm-1:30pm ET
WHO: Joshua Salaam
TOPIC: God's Love Language
IN-PERSON JUMU'AH
WHERE: Bolton Family Tower Room
WHEN: 1pm-1:30pm ET
*YOU MUST SIGN UP BELOW TO ATTEND IN-PERSON JUMU'AH.*
*YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN PRAYER RUG*
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Tomorrow is the next of our "Jumu'ah Resource Series," where we are bringing in guests from different resource centers at Duke to share what they do and how you can access their resources and support. Tomorrow's guest is Ling Jin from Duke's International House!
Missed last week's khutbah? Listen to previous khutbahs here.
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MSA PRESENTS
FRIDAYS (9/18): MSA FRIDAYS: GEOGUESSR
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WHEN: 8pm-9:30pm ET
Come and join the Muslim Student Association to play Geoguessr, a game where you’re dropped into a random location on a virtual map and you have to guess where you are! Students will also have the opportunity to share some of their favorite locations on Google Maps.
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MSA PRESENTS
SUNDAY (9/20): SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING CIRCLE
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WHEN: 3pm ET
Climate change and energy use have disproportionately affected the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions, yet discussions centered around solutions for the MENA region are absent from environmental justice discourse. We will learn together about the impacts and historical significance of energy use in the MENA region and the future of sustainable development.
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TUESDAY (9/22): WEEKLY QUR'AN READING |
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WHEN: 6pm-7pm ET
Come listen or join in as the Qur’an is read in Arabic by students practicing their recitation. Afterwards, engage in conversation to connect more deeply with the verses.
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GMSA PRESENTS
WEDNESDAY (9/23): GMSA FALL KICK-OFF
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WHEN: 7:30pm ET
Celebrate the new academic year by joining the Graduate & Professional MSA for games, socializing, and hearing how you can be a part of the GMSA board!
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THURSDAY (9/24): NAVIGATING AFRO-ARAB STUDIES IN GRADUATE SCHOOL
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WHEN: 6pm-7pm ET
Razan Idris is a Sudanese-American third-year PhD student in History at the University of Pennsylvania. She studies histories of blackness in Afro-Arab communities on the African continent and in diaspora. For her current project, Razan has been exploring black identity at the religious institute of al-Azhar in Egypt since 1800. Razan is also the curator of the online #SudanSyllabus open project, collecting resources on Sudanese social, cultural, and intellectual history. Click here for more information.
This event is sponsored by the Duke Islamic Studies Center, Duke University Middle East Studies Center, The Department of African and African American Studies at Duke, The Center for Muslim Life at Duke, Juhood Magazine, and The Focus Program at Duke.
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MSA & GMSA PRESENT
SATURDAY (9/26): CONVICTION CIRCLES
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ZOOM MEETING ID: TBD on Duke MSA GroupMe
WHEN: 12pm ET
Duke's MSA & GMSA invite you to join them for the first conviction circle of the year where they'll be discussing the common experience of Muslims feeling doubtful or losing faith in Islam!
This month's discussion, moderated by Baasit Bhutta Law '22, will explore why some American Muslims lose faith in Islam. What American moral and social norms challenge Islamic teachings? What philosophical or scientific issues concern Muslims? How can personal trauma shake one's belief in Islam?
Conviction circles are a place for the Duke Muslim community to explore faith-related questions that they may not have had an opportunity to discuss before or that they have been wondering about. Before the 26th, try to read over this resource sent by Yaqeen Institute.
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SUNDAY (9/27): QUEER MUSLIM CIRCLE |
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TO REGISTER: email Maryam at ma321@duke.edu
WHEN: 4pm-5:30pm
Join Queer Muslim Circle for a monthly in-group space for Duke students, staff, and faculty who identify with LGBTQI+ and Muslim identities. Each month, we watch films, have discussions, play games or do activities to foster community and belonging.
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We are excited to be offering our signature training titled Been Here, Still Here: Muslims and Islamophobia 101 this fall. We are offering four opportunities for folks to sign up to attend:
Thursday, October 8th from 6pm - 8pm ET
Tuesday, October 20th from 5pm - 7pm ET
Wednesday, November 11th from 10am - 12 pm ET
This introductory training includes a presentation and facilitated discussion about the history and presence of Muslims and Islamophobia in the US. The learning objectives include:
1) To recognize stereotypes of Muslims and understand the diversity of racial backgrounds, practices, and experiences of US Muslims
2) To understand the critical role Islam and Muslims have played in the history of the US
3) To identify the language and rhetoric of Islamophobia and grasp its effects on US Muslims
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SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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SOPHOMORE & JUNIOR OPPORTUNITIES INFO SESSION:
Wednesday, September 30th at 5:30pm-6:30pm EST
Learn more about an assortment of great opportunities for sophomores and juniors. This time will be especially useful for those interested in: public service, environmental advocacy, Native American advocacy, research science, and/or graduate study in the social sciences and humanities.
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES
Truman Scholarships for community leaders intending graduate study. Campus Deadline: November 29, 2020
Beinecke Scholarship for high-achieving juniors to pursue research- or creative-focused Masters or PhD programs in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences. Campus Deadline January 13, 2021
Udall Scholarships for environmental advocates or Native American advocates. Provides a financial award and powerful networking with generations of change-makers for the environment and native communities. Campus Deadline: January 26, 2021
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PEER FOR YOU CIRCLE PROCESSING GROUP: MINDFULNESS |
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Tuesday, September 29th at 8:00pm EST
How do you stay grounded in the present moment? How do you prioritize self-care? How do you manage stress and anxiety? Join us for a discussion on exploring the activities that we love the most as a means of managing mental and emotional wellbeing. #YouAreLoved
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COVID-19 FINANCIAL AID APPEALS |
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The Karsh Office of Financial Support is currently processing financial aid reevaluations for those experiencing income reductions as a result of COVID-19. Students and parents can complete an online COVID-19 appeal form to initiate the review, and counselors will work with each student individually to assess their needs.
All those qualifying for additional grant assistance will have the funds immediately applied to the current academic year.
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SUBMIT AN EVENT OR ANNOUNCEMENT |
To submit an event or announcement to be considered for the CML Weekly Newsletter, please fill out this form by Wednesdays at 11:59pm. Newsletters are sent Thursday evenings.
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Click to join our undergraduate and graduate/professional student text reminder groups! |
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