Assalamu Alaykum, friend,
The day has come! Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Muslim Brief, a weekly newsletter designed for Muslim professionals like you.
I'm grateful you're here and that you've given me a space in your inbox. Your trust means everything as we begin this journey together.
Before we start, let's mark an important spiritual moment on our calendars. This weekend presents one of the most blessed occasions of the Islamic year.
🗓️ Friday, July 4: Muharram 9th
🗓️ Saturday, July 5th: Muharram 10th (Ashura)
The Prophet ﷺ fasted on Ashura and intended to fast the ninth of Muharram as well. If you weren't able to fast today, you can still observe Ashura tomorrow.
The spiritual reward is remarkable: the Prophet ﷺ told us that fasting on Ashura wipes away the sins of the past year. If you’re able, seize the chance for renewal and barakah.
With that spirit of renewal in mind, let me tell you how this newsletter came to be.
Like many of you, I've often felt that the content I consume overlooks a vital part of my identity. The nuance of our faith, the complexities of our professional lives, and the unique challenges and triumphs we experience as Muslims are too often lost in the noise.
For more than a decade, I've dedicated my career as a journalist to telling stories that matter. I've used social media relentlessly to interact with readers and amplify the voices of Muslims.
This passion led me to found Sahan Journal, a nonprofit news organization committed to elevating the stories and experiences of Minnesota’s immigrant and communities of color.
As I've grown Sahan Journal into a widely respected newsroom, a question has persistently lingered in my mind: Who is telling Muslim stories exclusively for Muslims, without the filter of an algorithm that rewards outrage and clickbait?
That question followed me all the way to Makkah during my first Umrah this spring.
As I walked to salah alongside Muslims from every corner of the globe, I was struck by the profound beauty of our ummah—the diversity of faces, languages, and stories, all united in worship. In those sacred moments, I realized how rarely we see this authentic representation of Muslim experiences in mainstream media or even in our professional spaces.
In recent years, I've become increasingly disheartened by the digital spaces we inhabit.
Social media is still useful, but it has devolved into a carnival of distractions, half-truths, and junk content. The algorithms reward outrage and division over substance and reflection.
As a Muslim professional trying to stay informed and inspired, I found myself asking, "What is the alternative?"
The Muslim Brief is my answer.
This newsletter is a deliberate move away from the noise, a space free from the distractions and filters of social media. It's a place where we can think aloud about the news, spotlight Muslim professionals doing remarkable work, explore the intersection of our faith, careers, and modern life with the depth and sincerity it deserves.
Each week, insha’Allah, I'll bring you insights and perspectives you won’t find anywhere else, tailored for a growing community of Muslim professionals who, like you, are eager to stay informed and inspired.
This first issue marks the beginning of what I hope will become an essential part of your week.
I want The Muslim Brief to be the newsletter you actually look forward to reading, the one that makes you think, "Finally, someone gets it."
If you believe this newsletter could benefit other Muslim professionals in your network, I'd be grateful if you'd share it with your friends and family members.
Word of mouth from trusted community members like you is how we'll grow this space into something truly special. The more voices we have in this conversation, the richer our community becomes.
Your feedback, stories, and insights will shape every issue that follows. This community belongs to all of us, and I'm excited to see how it grows.
Thank you once again for being a part of this community from the very beginning.
I look forward to building this space with you.
With gratitude and du’a,
Mukhtar
P.S. The Muslim Brief arrives in your inbox every Friday. Have a story idea or feedback? Please simply reply to this email. I read every message.