Omar Suleiman - The Gravity of One Murder, and the Death of Justice

Omar SuleimanMay 30, 20200 comments

Share:

Social Issues Seerah Quran Community & Society Fiqh Tafsir Justice & Oppression Race & Racism

About this lecture

In this lecture, Sheikh Omar Suleiman offers a deep Quranic framework for understanding systemic police brutality and racial injustice in America, delivered in the immediate aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. Drawing on verses from Surah Al-Ma'idah, Surah Al-Baqarah, and Surah Al-Isra', he explores the gravity of a single murder, the Quranic concept of qisas (legal retribution), and the principle that a just society must fully empower the families of victims — not silence them. He calls on Muslims to remain engaged with these causes long after the media moves on, and to hold a spiritually grounded yet practically urgent response to injustice.

Dr. Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and an Adjunct Professor of Islamic Studies at Southern Methodist University. Born in New Orleans to Palestinian parents, he began traditional Islamic study in 2000, spending years learning in the UAE, Jordan, and Malaysia, and completed a PhD in Islamic Thought and Civilization from the International Islamic University of Malaysia. He served as Imam of the Jefferson Muslim Association in New Orleans, where he led interfaith rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and is now resident scholar of the Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Irving, Texas, and Co-Chair Emeritus of Faith Forward Dallas. One of the most influential Muslim figures in America, he is known for his Ramadan series, civil rights activism, and prolific scholarship bridging tradition and contemporary life.

All lectures by Omar Suleiman →

Enjoyed this lecture?

It's free because of sponsors. Join 5 sponsors — every contribution is sadaqa jariya.

Comments

Log in to share a reflection or question.

No comments yet. Be the first to share a reflection.