Your local mosque used to feel like a second home, alive with the warmth of a bustling community. But disagreements...
Carrying resentment around can weigh heavily on our hearts, making us feel miserable and causing us to fall into a...
As the genocide in Palestine rages on, many of us watch with feelings of fear, anger, pain, and helplessness. While...
This list of 183 questions was compiled by The Family & Youth Institute to facilitate self-reflection and important conversations during...
This blog post is an excerpt from The FYI’s Marriage Prep Toolkit. Check out the full toolkit and The FYI’s...
Americans attempt suicide 1.1 million times a year (CDC, 2012). Every 12.3 min another person dies by suicide (CDC, 2015)....
Staying focused, studying for exams, and being productive can be challenging during Ramadan. Here are some ways to stay on...
The Supreme Court just ruled to uphold the President’s order to restrict travel to the United States for citizens of...
Do you ever wonder how you can be a better parent? What about having a more positive environment at home?...
September is always a bittersweet month. The school year brings a fresh start and the beautiful fall foliage is coming…but...
In this article, Amber Khan, D.O., explains why she wrote the six-level book series Islamic Health and what she hopes...
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
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).