Last updated: June 21st, 2024
WHO: Open to everyone
WHEN: Friday, June 21 | After maghrib (8:31 pm)
WHERE: Main prayer hall
WATCH IT LIVE: alsalammasjid.org/live-stream/
SPEAKER: Imam Abdurrahman Y. Sykes
Join us for an enlightening and transformative event presented by Imam Abdurrahman Y. Sykes from the Islamic Society Leading American Muslims Peace Center.
This speech delves into the profound concept of “The Nafs,” exploring the three levels or stations of self-purification described in the Quran and Sunnah. You will learn about the Nafsa La-’ammaratum (the inciting nafs), the Nafssi-l-lawwama (the self-accusing nafs), and the Nafsu-l-mut ma’innah (the nafs at peace) and how understanding these can help in mastering your thoughts and spiritual growth.
During this talk, you will discover:
- The nature of the Nafs and its impact on your behavior and spirituality.
- The intricate relationship between thoughts and actions as highlighted in Islamic teachings.
- Practical guidance on recognizing and managing the different types of thoughts, including demonic, egotistical, and angelic thoughts.
- The importance of maintaining a pure heart and the cognitive role it plays in leading a righteous life.
- Strategies to protect yourself from the whisperings of Shaytan and cultivate a heart focused on Allah.
Imam Sykes will guide you through these topics with wisdom and compassion, providing insights from the Qur’an and hadith to help you navigate the complexities of your inner world. Whether seeking spiritual growth or simply a better understanding of your thoughts and actions, this speech offers valuable knowledge and inspiration. Take this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and embark on a journey towards tranquility and spiritual elevation.
We look forward to seeing you there, in sha Allah (God willing)!
Hailing from North Carolina, Imam Sykes was a lay speaker preparing for a life of Christian ministry. He left the church for a time of reflection and spent 6 years in South Africa working to end Apartheid. A self-realization and personal actualization trainer, he entertained all race groups in the same classroom. In 1987 Sykes embraced Islam. He completed his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of North Carolina with honors. He served three internships in the Oaks Psychiatric Hospital and devoted 3 years as a Guardian ad Litem, advocating for abused children. In 1998, he was the Host of “The Islamic Message,” a series of 50 television shows. Imam Sykes served 11 years in the North Carolina Department of Corrections as a chaplain and retired after eight years of chaplaincy and diversity training in the Federal Bureau of Prisons advocating for the rights of least restrictive religious practice for the incarcerated. There he facilitated the practice of approximately 23 faith groups. He received his Master of Religious Service from the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in Virginia. Imam Sykes is also the president of The Islamic Society Leading American Muslims (ISLAM Inc.) Peace Center. He speaks at colleges, public schools, churches synagogues, Mosques, civic organizations, and corporate America addressing the misconceptions about Islam. Celebrating diversity, he strives to build bridges of peace, dialogue, and understanding whereby all men and women come together on common ground in pursuit of peace, freedom, and justice for all. He completed his Master of Social Work degree and a graduate certificate in Marriage and Family therapy at UCF and in private practice. He was chair/vice-chair of the Orange County Domestic Violence Task Force for five years and served as a chaplain at Rollins college for nine years. He also served on the leadership team of the Interfaith and Community Resource Network of Volusia County.
