Chai Chat Article Discussion - The Black Hills Are Not For Sale: The Lakota Struggle for the 1868 Treaty Territory
We will discuss Churchill’s article, “The Black Hills Are Not For Sale: The Lakota Struggle for the 1868 Treaty Territory.” You can read it here, pages 113-134.
The article analyses the various ways the US government used forces and treaties to justify economic “opportunities” and the colonization of more territory. It also illustrates that this isn’t a relic of the past, it is a live and ongoing struggle; there exists Native resistance through court cases and other means.
Join us to discuss the relevance of this struggle to similar contemporary issues of law, liberation, and oppression.
Schedule
Communal Prayer
Discussion
Refreshments
How to Erase Islam - Interactive Class with Sayyid Ali Tofigh
From the very birth of Islam, its truth has faced challenges and resistance.
This activity explores the forces that seek to erase faith, and the wisdom needed to preserve it.
Prayer
Interactive Class
Dinner
The visiting scholar
Born and raised in Maryland, Sayyid Ali Tofigh is a hawza-trained scholar and attorney. He pursued Islamic Seminary studies in Qom, Iran for six years. He later returned to the United States to attend law school at George Washington Law School in Washington, D.C. He currently serves the ummah as both an Islamic scholar and an attorney via his private practice, Tofigh Law, and the Islamic Law Institute.
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Imam Husayn’s Self-Sacrifice over Self-Preservation - Sayyid Ali Tofigh
Join us for reflections on the spiritual and ethical teachings of Imam al-Ḥusayn regarding sacrificing for the Divine by Sayyid Ali Tofigh.
Prayer
Reflections
Dinner
The visiting scholar
Born and raised in Maryland, Sayyid Ali Tofigh is a hawza-trained scholar and attorney. He pursued Islamic Seminary studies in Qom, Iran for six years. He later returned to the United States to attend law school at George Washington Law School in Washington, D.C. He currently serves the ummah as both an Islamic scholar and an attorney via his private practice, Tofigh Law, and the Islamic Law Institute.
Fatima’s Community Kitchen
Sign up to Volunteer or Sponsor
Fatima’s Community Kitchen is a monthly initiative to foster mutual aid and care within our community.
Q. 76:8-9
For the love of God, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner,
saying ‘We feed you only for the sake of God. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
Volunteer Schedule:
9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive
9:00-10:30 AM - Food prep & cooking
10:30-11:00 AM - Meal packing
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Distribution
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Seeking the Divine - His Supplication in Seeking Needs from God
Join us to explore the prayers of Imam Sajjad, Ali the son of Imam Husayn. The prayers (ad’iya, plural of du’a) in the al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah are expressions of submission to the Creator. As one scholar puts it:
“Here we have one of the greatest spiritual luminaries of Islam so overawed by the sense of God's goodness, mercy, and majesty as to express his utter nothingness before the Creator…In the Sahifa we see Islamic spirituality - or that dimension of the religion of Islam which deals with the practical and lived reality of the personal relationship between man and God - expressed in the most universal of languages, that of the concrete and intimate yearning of the soul for completion and perfection.”
We will read the prayer in translation, briefly analyze the main themes, and then circle-up for reflective conversation.
Schedule
Commentary and Reflective Conversation
Prayer (Ṣalah)
Refreshments
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Dinner and a Documentary - Inside Job
RSVP
Join us for dinner and a movie. It’s Rajab, so consider fasting to transform dinner into iftar. But join us even if you are not fasting!
During our meal we’ll be watching Inside Job: a documentary about greed, corruption, and accountability.
“The global financial meltdown that took place in Fall of 2008 caused millions of job and home losses and plunged the United States into a deep economic recession.
This documentary provides a detailed examination of the elements that led to the collapse and identifies key financial and political players.”
Narrated by Matt Damon
We’ll hold a short post-film discussion circle for those interested.
13th of Rajab - Imam ‘Ali on Being Human - Faith and Virtue
RSVP | Virtual (~6:30 start) | Youth and Children Sign-Up
Imam ʿAli b. Abi Talib was the spiritual master of his time: the protector of the Prophetic Message, the supreme teacher of the path after the Prophet’s death. Join us to celebrate his birth and carry on his legacy with prayer, reflections, and dinner.
As we journey through the spiritual high season and prepare for Ramadan, our reflections will focus on Imam ʿAli’s teachings on the connection between Faith and Virtue as the basis for a truly human individual and a truly humane society.
Children’s Program:
Sister Saeeda will host a children’s program downstairs during the lecture.
We encourage you to fill out this form to help us with the materials and supplies count.
Schedule:
Prayer
Reflections
Dinner
The Origins of Anti-Shia Sentiment with Professor Nebil Husayn
What does it mean to be Shia? What are the core elements of Shīʿism and why does anti-Shia sentiment exist?
This lecture examines the origins of a pressing challenge facing the global Shia community today: anti-Shia bias, prejudice, and persecution. In the context of research on ethnic cleansing and the role that religious leaders and institutions can play in curbing extremism and violence in their communities, this presentation also discusses effective theoretical and practical ways one can oppose sectarianism and bigotry in the modern world.
Nebil Husayn is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Miami. His research broadly considers the development of Islamic theology, historiography and debates on the caliphate. Husayn obtained his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University and an M.A. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Harvard University. Husayn is the recipient of a Fulbright award and the University of Miami Fellowship in the Arts and Humanities. He is the author of Opposing the Imam (2021) and Caliphate and Imamate (2023).
Schedule:
Prayer (Ṣalah)
Lecture
Discussion
Dinner
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Fatima’s Community Kitchen
Sign up to Volunteer or Sponsor
Fatima’s Community Kitchen is a monthly initiative to foster mutual aid and care within our community.
Q. 76:8-9
For the love of God, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner,
saying ‘We feed you only for the sake of God. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
Volunteer Schedule:
9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive
9:00-10:30 AM - Food prep & cooking
10:30-11:00 AM - Meal packing
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Distribution
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
TL;DR 4: A Book Guide to Shi'ite Islam by Allamah Tabataba'i (pages 108 - 136)
Join us for a summary and discussion of portions of Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i’s book “Shi’ite Islam.”
The book explores major themes of Islamic history, religious thought, and theology.
Prior reading is not necessary, though it is encouraged.
Read the book here: https://archive.org/details/ShiaInIslamCopy
Purchase the book here:
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/S/9780873953900
Cheaper but shipping may take longer - https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780873953900?gC=098f6bcd4
Shared Blessings Community Drive
Please join us for the Shared Blessings Community Drive, a collaboration for community wellness between Sacred Roots Muslim Community and Azadar e Imam Community Outreach Society.
Donate items for community members in need of a little extra help or, volunteer by joining us to prepare packages for them.
Full list of items needed:
Household
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Feminine hygiene pads / tampons
Soap
Shampoo/conditioner/body wash
Deodorant
Toothbrush + toothpaste
Razors
Laundry detergent
Flu Season Needs
Nasal saline
Honey
Cough drops
Band-aids
Masks
COVID tests
Hand sanitizer
Clorox/anti bacterial cleaning wipes
EmergenC/Vitamin C packets or sachets
Protein sources
Peanut butter
Canned tuna
Canned vegetable soup
Rice
Beans
Children’s items
Diapers
Baby wipes
Baby Formula
Miscellaneous
Birthday cake mix
Pet food
Vegetable oil
Vinegar
Gift Cards (Visa, Costco, Jewel Osco, Walmart)
Winter clothing (new or in good used condition)
Coats
Gloves
Boots
Hats
Who is Hussain: Winter Care Drive
Join us to help us pack winter care packages to distribute out to the houseless population of Chicago. Help do your part as we pack and donate socks, scarfs, hats and hygiene supplies.
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Practical Economics in Uncertain Times: Part 1 - Everyday Living
During unstable economic conditions, it is vital in a community to take care of your own situation so that you can contribute to the wider community and those in need." Sister Mary Harrison will be sketching how daily financial decisions - including mortgage payments - shape our community's future prospects. She'll put this in conversation with recent economic news and projections to illustrate the potential downturn the global economy may face in the coming year with an eye to finding solutions we can implement today.
Rerooted - Open Convert Discussion With Dr. David Coolidge
Join us for an open discussion with Dr. David Coolidge. He'll provide some points of reflection for navigating the convert life and then we'll open up time for discussion about conversion and growth.
R. David Coolidge is Visiting Faculty at Bayan Islamic Graduate School. He received his Ph.D. in 2023 from the Graduate Theo-logical Union (GTU), with a dissertation about Muslim percep-tions of the Hindu tradition. He was formerly the Muslim chap-lain at Dartmouth College and Brown University. He converted to Islam in 1998, and in 2004 married Sumaiya Balbale. They have two children and live in Oakland, CA.
Across the Great Divide — 1000 years of Hindu-Muslim exchange
Muslims entered the Indian subcontinent in the 700s. In the 1000s, they produced their first scholarly study of their Hindu neighbors, al-Bīrūnī's famous "Book of South Asia (Kitāb al-Hind)." In subsequent centuries, Muslims reflected on the different beliefs and practices of Hindus, a process which continues to this day.
Join us as we explore the history of Hindus and Muslims living side side on planet Earth, and what it means for our global society of the 21st century.
R. David Coolidge is Visiting Faculty at Bayan Islamic Graduate School. He received his Ph.D. in 2023 from the Graduate Theo-logical Union (GTU), with a dissertation about Muslim percep-tions of the Hindu tradition. He was formerly the Muslim chap-lain at Dartmouth College and Brown University. He converted to Islam in 1998, and in 2004 married Sumaiya Balbale. They have two children and live in Oakland, CA.
Schedule
Prayer (Ṣalah)
Lecture
Discussion
Dinner
Du’a Kumayl
The Prayer of Kumayl is attributed to Imam Ali (‘a) as taught to his disciple Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha’i.
The prayer paints a picture of God’s Majesty and inspires the reader to seek God’s immeasurable mercy and to live a life in humility before the Divine.
Join us in-person and virtually for an English engagement with Duʿāʾ Kumayl.
After the prayer there will be reflections or a community discussion.
Schedule:
Prayer (Ṣalah)
Discussion & Light Refreshments
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Family & Friends Potluck
Please join us for the Family & Friends Potluck. Bring your favorite foods and dishes.
We will start with congregational prayers which will be followed by food and games!
Everyone is welcome to join!
Looking forward to meeting everyone and having a good time inshallah :)
[Sisters Only] From Faith to Fellowship: Sisters Workshop
Join us for a sisters-only gathering with Sister Israa Safieddine where we’ll explore how Wilayah shapes our spiritual bonds and communal responsibilities, deepening our understanding of its role in preparing for the Imam’s return. This session offers a warm, reflective environment for learning, discussion, and strengthening sisterhood.
The program will begin promptly at 3 PM and will be followed by dinner, inshaAllah.
We look forward to growing together in insight, connection, and faith.
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
Fatima’s Community Kitchen
Sign up to Volunteer or Sponsor
Fatima’s Community Kitchen is a monthly initiative to foster mutual aid and care within our community.
Q. 76:8-9
For the love of God, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner,
saying ‘We feed you only for the sake of God. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلَا شُكُورًا
Volunteer Schedule:
9:00 AM - Volunteers arrive
9:00-10:30 AM - Food prep & cooking
10:30-11:00 AM - Meal packing
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Distribution
The Friday Prayer: Jumu'ah at Sacred Roots
Join us on Fridays at Sacred Roots for the Friday Prayer (Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah) followed by refreshments.
The Friday prayer is a weekly gathering of the Muslim community. Its two sermons are meant to inspire the audience to strengthen their steps toward God and a dignified life.
The sermons are followed by a communal prayer to tie the hearts of the community together in worship of the Divine.
O you who have faith! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry toward the remembrance of God, and leave all business. That is better for you, should you know.
And when the prayer is finished disperse through the land and seek God’s grace, and remember God greatly so that you may be felicitous.
Q. 62:9-10
TL;DR 3: A Book Guide to Shi'ite Islam by Allamah Tabataba'i (pages 79 - 107)
Join us for a summary and discussion of portions of Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i’s book “Shi’ite Islam.”
The book explores major themes of Islamic history, religious thought, and theology.
Prior reading is not necessary, though it is encouraged.
Read the book here: https://archive.org/details/ShiaInIslamCopy
Purchase the book here:
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/S/9780873953900
Cheaper but shipping may take longer - https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780873953900?gC=098f6bcd4
[Sisters Only] Pathway To Salah: Sisters' Workshop
Please join us for a sisters-only gathering focused on strengthening your connection to prayer.
Learn to recite with confidence, review the key principles of leading Salah in a sisters’ setting, and engage in guided recitation practice with personalized feedback from our guest, Sister Kauser, on the Fātiḥa, short sūrahs, and common slips.
Let’s grow together in clarity and confidence inshAllah.
The program will begin promptly at 2pm and be followed with lunch.
Note: We are requesting voice recordings of Surah Fatihah and Tashahhud. More information in the RSVP form.