Ninety percent of incarcerated Muslims in the U.S. are converts to the faith, and while seeking to turn a new page in their lives, find the most basic task of getting an Qur’an challenging.
Imprisoned Muslims may embrace sectarian or extremist views; others leave religion altogether. Still others return to crime after release, having found no support from their local Muslim community.
Find out how to support the “Forgotten Ummah” and let’s change this reality together!
Friday, October 17 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Join in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Sponsored by MCC East Bay & Tayba Foundation.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
– More talks about prison support: http://mcceastbay.org/incarcerated
– More topics addressing community & social justice issues: http://mcceastbay.org/community
– How MCC supports prisoners in California: http://mcceastbay.org/prison
Amin Ibn Anderson transformed his life during incarceration by connecting with Shaykh Rami Nsour via Tayba Foundation and dedicating himself to Islamic sciences. He earned authorization to teach classical texts in fiqh, hadith, Arabic grammar, and spirituality while also completing diplomas in marketing management and paralegal studies. A certified Alternative Violence Program facilitator, Amin recently produced the first complete English translation and commentary on Matharat al-Qulub and is writing on Isharatul Qaraar. Now released, Sidi Ameen is eager to share his knowledge with others. Sidi Ameen was featured in 2025 in a CBS piece about why thousands convert to Islam in prison each year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufwtRa6l36w
Shaykah Dr. Rania Awaad M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University’s Affiliate Chaplain and Affiliate Professor of Islamic Studies. In the community, she serves as the President and Co-Founder of Maristan, a holistic mental health nonprofit serving Muslim communities, and the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. Prior to studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, and holds certifications (ijaza) in the Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Follow her @Dr.RaniaAwaad
Shaykh Rami Nsour spent several years in Mauritania, where he studied at some of the foremost Islamic Colleges (mahdaras). He is the Co-Founder of the Tayba Foundation, one of the few Muslim organizations in the US serving incarcerated Muslims, providing them much-needed Islamic education, along with essential life skills training and assistance upon re-entry.Learn more about Sheikh Rami at https://www.taybafoundation.org/our-team
Rami Nsour was born in Amman, Jordan, and moved to the United States at 9. During his college years, he attended classes taught by Shuyukh in the San Francisco Bay Area, notably Shaykh Khatri bin Bayba, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmedna, and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. With their encouragement, Rami embarked on a journey to Mauritania in 1998. In Mauritania, he studied with some of the greatest scholars of our times, such as his foremost, Shaykh Murabit al Hajj bin Fahfu. He was also blessed to study with Murabit Muhammad al-Amin bin al-Shaykh, Murabit Ahmed Fal bin Ahmedna, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmedna, Shaykh Tahir ibn Murabit al Hajj and Shaykh Sa’d Bu among others. Rami completed studies in the subjects of Qu’ran, ‘Aqeedah (Belief), Fiqh (Law), Nahu (grammar), Ihsan (spiritual purification), and adab (manners).He has memorized the final text of Maliki fiqh, Mukhtasar Khalil, and has been granted permission by his Shuyukh to teach. In addition to his extensive study of fiqh, he was afforded the unique opportunity to attend one-on-one sessions with his teachers, where he would engage them in countless hours of discussion on the application of fiqh in general and specifically for those living in the West.Rami has translated traditional Islamic texts from Arabic, including various works on Maliki fiqh and several works of the great Mauritanian scholar Shaykh Muhammad Mawlud, including Birr al-Walidayan (The Rights of Parents), Ishraq al-Qarar (The Spiritual Aspects of Prayer), and the Adab of Sadaqa. He has also translated a versified version of Adab of the Student entitled Iya’ant al Mutafahim (The Assistance of the Student) by Shaykh Muhammad al Hasan as well as the original Taleem al Muta’llim by Shaykh Zarnuji.In addition, Rami has dedicated much of his time to teaching, conducting seminars, and counseling. He has spent much of his time teaching and aiding Muslims in prison and has seen how knowledge unlocks human potential. His students in the prisons have, in turn, taught countless people and invited many people to Islam. He was instrumental in co-founding Dar as-Salaam, a project dedicated to building and supporting a school in Mauritania. Shaykh Rami serves as a Senior Instructor at SeekersHub Global. Rami co-founded the Tayba Foundation, which has a correspondence program for incarcerated Muslim (http://www.taybafoundation.org/). In addition to traditional teaching licenses (ijazah), Rami holds a B.A. in Human Development focusing on Early Childhood. Rami resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, is married, and has two children.
“The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “People are ores like the ores of gold and silver. The best in jahiliyya are the best in Islam if they gain fiqh (understanding).”
We should not see in ourselves and others what is immediately apparent but rather look for the potential that can be attained. This potential is unlocked through knowledge of Islam.
About Tayba Foundation
Since 2004, Tayba Foundation has touched the lives of more than 11,000 incarcerated Muslims across the U.S by providing critically needed Islamic education, essential Life Skills training, and Reentry support. Many Tayba students have become leaders and change-makers within their communities, both inside and outside of prison. With every passing year, we strive to reach more men and women behind bars and to improve the quality of our work to create real change in the lives of those we serve.
Faith Identity is More Important Than Ever
During this COVID-19 pandemic, faith has become a critical component for the incarcerated and these Islamic materials are essential items, providing them an identity with their Islamic faith community.
During shelter-in place, the fleeting commodity we have a bit more of is time and this precious resource will be fast fleeting once we go back to a semblance of normalcy. For incarcerated Muslims, time will remain the commodity they can leverage. Help them do that by donating new and used items.
Through this project, we will be supporting the Muslim Chaplains at California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, and Avenal State Prison.
An oft-neglected segment of our community, Muslims prisoners face a host of daily challenges when it comes to practicing their faith. These challenges include the availability of halal food, being able to wear religious head coverings, having access to religious materials, and even praying together.
Studies* have revealed that:
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