Haleh Banani – Transform Your Ramadan Discover Connecting the Ummah – Spreading the Good’ with Chris Blauvent
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The speakers emphasize the importance of Islam, surrounding oneself with good companies, and balancing study and work. They share their experiences as teachers and students, involvement in a non-profit called Detroit minds and hearts, and their desire to serve as umpteenth clerk. They stress the importance of trusting God and letting people experience resilience in their lives, challenges faced by the structuralist economy, and the need for people to trust and trust God. The transcript is not a conversation or interactions between speakers, and appears to be a recording and a transcription of a webinar.
AI: Summary ©
Bismillah AR matter hemosol said Omar Sula, Sister, how are we? How are you doing today? And hamdulillah Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa. Salaam alaikum. Salam it's such a blessing that we're going to be interviewing my friend Chris. He is such an inspiration. Chris is someone that I hope many of the audience might have heard of. If they haven't, they're in for a treat because it's built literally by the permission think of Allah one of the biggest Muslim brands launch good, Masha Allah, masha Allah Yes, Chris LaVey has done an incredible job, it has raised over $500 million dollars. And we're gonna get to hear about his conversion where he converted at the age of 16. And
about his journey and how it's going to be really eye opening because he was an intellectual right he was an intellectual and he was an atheist, and how he went about understanding Islam is really I think a lot of people will benefit. Beautiful Yes. And you know, we are talking about in this series, How to become the best version of ourselves sort of just not do more, but also become more and what are some tools of his journey that we can learn from and how can someone not just convert or come closer to God but also become a source or a means of spreading the word of God and the in the world you know, serve a less kind of Salah so beautiful story, really looking forward to it. I
am too much Allah powerful, powerful lessons in being as you're saying the source of light and knowing that you can make a difference, you can definitely make a difference, whether it's in your family, whether it's in the community or on a global scale. So in sha Allah really excited about this interview. Yes, let's get started. Get started. Salaam Alaikum and welcome to a mindful Ramadan. 2024 transformed by the light inspiring stories of converts Bismillah, samosa Allah. We're really excited today to host this session with a really dear friend of mine. Priests of the Roman first of the month love it. And he is an inspiration for me and many people in the law. And I'm so
glad that we're here me and sister Holly will sing this session sister Holly. Yes, Masha, Allah Salam Alikum it's wonderful to have you. I actually interviewed you on my program on inspirations and really enjoyed it. So we're very excited to have you so I'm on a call by Mr. Brown. So I'm honored to be with you guys.
Meeting Chris typing back in the days maybe it was 2007 2008. We were together at ISNA education conference and Chris was a was an educator back then. So remember, you know, world famous principle? Yeah. Wow, you both have a lot of like, mashallah, different, different things that you've done in your life. So you bring in a lot of like, rich experiences. That's amazing. handleless. Chris, this is it's really cool. Your journey, when we think about your journey. And personally, I've seen your growth and your beautiful things you've done in the last 1516 years I've known you. But even beyond that, can you tell us a little bit about your journey to Islam? How did that happen? What were the
catalysts for that change for that transformation? And take us through that journey? A little bit? Definitely. So now you're the hero, blondie, rassada. To cinema cinema. You are so
I'll start with where it all began. Which is, funnily enough in Malaysia. I was born in Malaysia, not a lot of people know that. I was born into a Muslim family, and it's just a white American family that happened to be living in Malaysia at that time. And there is a mosque next to the hospital. I was born at my mother, I've overheard her tell this story, but she's never told that directly to me, is that the event was going off. Well, I was born, which is really interesting. My mom's not Muslim either to tell that story.
I always wonder, you know, I have I will tell my certain like, how can Islam but if sometimes you wonder about these effects from the unseen world, you know, that born and hearing that abandons a baby, you know, the first couple of years of my life, I had a muslim nanny, I, you know, I don't know what, I'd love to reconnect with her. We simply have no idea who she is, or whatever, but you just wonder like, maybe she was praying for me as a baby. I don't know.
But if we fast forward, you know, I grew up in this white American family what called, it was called WASC. You guys are the last white Anglo Saxon Protestant. Yeah. And so we're gonna like classic New England loss. I moved back to America when I was about five years old in between New Jersey, Massachusetts. And I grew up with this perspective that in America, you have to choose you believe in religion, or you believe in science dichotomy. I grew up with this unfortunate dichotomy, but I think it's very prevailing, especially with loss especially in kind of modern society and the New England etc. And when I looked at religion, it didn't make sense to me. Well, first of all, there's
only one religion really, which is Christianity. I didn't know about Assam at all. So I'm really just thinking about do I believe
In science sort of leaving Christianity, as far as I'm investigating Christianity, and I wouldn't say like I went deep deep into it, but just at a very surface level, it was like, pretty deep. It didn't make sense, that conception of God as man contradictions in the Bible things in the Bible that go against common sense. And on the other hand, there was science, right? And I bought into this narrative that Europe was stuck in the dark ages under the oppression of religion like Galileo, etc. Yeah.
Enlightenment and science and reason that, that lifted them out of there. And that this is, you know,
you know, science progresses, civilization and religion, retards it that was really my personal. So your by time I was in high school as a basically an atheist. I didn't believe there's any god, you know, it's just all made up. And then when I was 15, my neighbor became Muslim.
Michael, and we were same age, same grade, we were actually pulling this which city was this is in Amherst, Massachusetts. So Western Mass. And Mike and I are actually the two best tennis players that our school, but that's where the similarities ended, because like, was getting a lot of trouble. And he was, he was really bad, unfortunately, and gotten some really, really bad, harmful habits.
But then he became Muslim, which is don't store you should get him on the podcast.
He completely changed. You know, he became a, like, when I first moved to Massachusetts, I was 13. And we moved next door to him, and he and his friends would bully me, you know, and it was really like, unfortunate relationship, actually. But all of a sudden, he became a nice guy. And then he started driving me to school, you know, we started becoming friends. And I asked him what happened, you Mike? And he's like, Well, I'm Muslim. And I was like, what's that? So he started playing the song to me. And I realized it's a much simpler religion and Christianity, it makes a lot more sense. It's much more intuitive. Like, there's one God, he says, prophets, the prophets are not God, you
know, there's no Trinity. I like that. You know, I wasn't interested in Islam, per se, but I respected it. I especially respected what, you know how it changed. Mike, changed him. Yeah, then yeah, later that year, I'm taking a class called African American literature, in school, my junior year of high school. And all of a sudden, my eyes are opening up that racism is a huge problem in America, I, you know, I had ignorantly thought that racism died to the Civil Rights Act of 1967. And as I know, like, racism is prevailing, you know, it's like running through the veins of America. And I was really upset. You know, a lot of teenagers, they start waking up to how the world really is
and the injustice of it. And they get very passionate about it. I was one of those people. And I was thinking, like, how do we write this wrong? And then at that point, we read the autobiography of Malcolm X. Have you both read that book? I know. Yeah. So I'm not maybe as religiously they should have.
Yeah, you both have to read it. And I think is great. So anyone listening? Like I don't, we don't, we don't read anymore. But the audio book is phenomenal.
So I really encourage that for everybody, every Muslim should really read the autobiography of Malcolm X. I mean, I get an incredible story of transformation. Just like Mike.
And I really thought there's something to this religion. You know, I kind of wanted to be Muslim, but I didn't believe in Gods I couldn't be Muslim. I didn't believe in God. And Malcolm himself was in a similar position when he was in prison. And at that point, he was advised if he takes one step towards God, God will take two steps towards him. But he left on drugs and stuff he was he was into, and I was thinking, Okay, I'm not a tough criminal, like Malcolm, but I can stop eating bacon and sausage and fork, and stop, go to parties with alcohol and have this intention that this is the true religion, God guide me to it. And if it's not, you know, I can have a big barbecue vendor in the
summer. And, you know, at that point, I started really getting more into Islam. And I was torn. Like, I didn't want to become Muslim, but I was kind of intrigued at the same time. And so I was studying it to be able to, to prove myself.
Right, I guess it proved Islam wrong. You know, that. Yeah, this is interesting, but it can't be true. You know, like, it can't be like 1000 religions in the world. It can't be there's one that's true. And so I was studying the Quran. And I was amazed. I'm like, How is it that there's only one Quran? Because I'm coming from a Christian background where there's so many different Bibles. You know, we don't have the Bible, in the words of Jesus in his native language. Right? And it's like, no, there's one Quran. You can all these different sects of Islam, etc. They all have the same exact air. That's weird. That's really weird. And then I was reading about the life of the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him.
And we know a lot about his life. You know, if you look at, again, Christian background, right, you look at the life of Jesus. There's only a few days of his life really captured in the Bible. I don't think you got to do that. We don't have
At the Sunnah of Jesus Peace Be part of like we have with the Prophet Muhammad. We have been, you know, we were almost here we studied the biography the Prophet Muhammad SAW some it's so in depth
you if you really wanted that, but Jesus doesn't exist, right? And so you can really study by talking about and studying his life, his life. Okay? He wasn't doing this for wealth. Because even when he was offered all that wealth if he didn't, he'd just compromised his message. And he didn't do it. And at the end of his life, he could have died a rich man, a rich, powerful emperor. And he chose not to, but wasn't about money in it wasn't about power. And it wasn't about control. Like he was clearly sincere in his message. Why would someone really throw his life upside down for this? He was 40 years old, I'm about to be 40. Myself. He was 40 years old. He had four beautiful daughters,
a beautiful wife of high status and wealth. He was sat like his life was very comfortable. And he had to throw it all away, essentially, to pursue this message. So you know, I'm studying my problem having a basic inclusion, he was sincere. I didn't, I couldn't really understand who he was if he was not a prophet. But I had to admit he was sincere. But no question, Chris, I'll stop you for a moment. The question was, were all these thoughts and reflection going through your 16 year old brain? Like, are you thinking about like, were you analyzing all of this, like what you just told me you're analyzing all of this as a 16 year old
are some weird
desires. This must have been before iPhone, right? This must have been before all the distraction, I get it. Because if I meet a 16 year old that's talking like this and interested in this long, I'm amazed. But in the moment, even in reflected it felt totally natural, normal. We know that that we extend people's childhood in modern times. But, you know, historically, when you're 1617 years old, you're young adult, you know, I You My Mother unique upbringing to make you so mature to like to be contemplating all of these things. You know, I was pretty dumb teenager in a lot of ways to be honest. Really, I'm just being honest. Like I, you know, I, I was a poser. I tried to pretend I was
a skateboarder and a punk rocker. And, but I wasn't, you know, I was terrible at skateboarding. And
I was very soft. And I think what did happen in my upbringing, that was maybe influences I mean, for sure, like, I say this in humility, guidance comes from God. Of course, I know that people like, it's just something God put in my heart at that moment to take this seriously. And I can't explain that. But I do look a little bit my best I was moving a lot, right. As I mentioned, born in Malaysia, when I was two, we moved to Korea when I was five, which in New Jersey, when I was 13, we moved to Massachusetts. And so I think the fact that my life was a bit on the move, I didn't have like these anchors holding me back, you know, I mean, I didn't have a ton of friends. You know, it
didn't feel like there is any impediment for me to learn about Islam. But something from your story that really resonated with me, was the two individuals who really impacted you, your neighbor, and Malcolm X, they both went through a transformation. And this year, what we're focusing on and transformed by the light, is it just really, it coincides with what we're talking about is that if you want to be a true genuine person, that transformation has to occur. And because you saw that transformation, your neighbor being just a, you know, kind of a rebel misguided, and he was bullying, you become so nice, and the transformation and Malcolm X, that it really should be our
ultimate goal is that Islam needs to transform us, whether you're converting, or as a born Muslim, we, I think, brother, would you set it once beautifully about how we are converting on like on a daily basis, right, we have to go through these conversions, maybe you can shed some light on that we're always in that journey to convert from our lower self to our higher selves, that we're always trying to find that transformation. But you know what, really importantly, that transformation journey is this entire concept of like Ramadan, we're doing this in Ramadan. And I looked into the * that you know, the process and pointing to his heart and said that was here. And I wanted to
ask Chris a question about that. Because at the end of the day, you know, the heart is connected to the soul, right? And that physical heart connection to the spiritual heart. So was it more the brain the rational thinking or at what point the heart came into that equation? Right? For me, I remember exactly the moment because a lot of it was the brain rationally as long as it's making sense to me historically, Islam's making sense to me also read about scientific miracles of the Quran. But I realized Islam is not a religion where you have to choose between science and religion. That was an important point for you because you were an intellect
Sure. And I wanted to make sure that you don't have to deviate from the science. Exactly. But you know, none of that pushed me over the edge. And I think what pushed me over the edge is at one point, I'm reading about death. At this point, I'm almost 17. I'm about to start my senior year of high school. So you're preparing a lot for you're likely thinking about, you know, what school you want to go to what, what degree you want to get, what career you want to pursue. And I realized, as I'm reading about that, the only thing I'm promised in this life, is I'm leaving it as only guarantee I have and asked, like, haven't prepared one day for my debt, and what if tomorrow, I go
out and get hit by a bus. And if I, if that were to happen, I wanted to die. And
so I remember very clearly, I think it was June 1, at night, I'm in my bed, just reflecting on my own on that. And I started crying. I start crying, because I realized that by becoming Muslim, I'm accepting the reality that there is a God a judgment of Heaven and *, and my parents aren't believers. And I was like, you know, to some degree, accepting Islam is accepting that my parents could go to *. And that was so hard for me like I started crying. But I also realized, just because I don't want something to be true, doesn't mean it's not true. Oh, wow. You know, my parents will have to, you know, make their own choices life, but I have to make my own choices as well. And
so I did, you know, I made that decision. I told my commitment to the library the next day at lunch break, tried to mumble the shot at him, and I think he was shocked. And he's like, What are you saying, I'm like, I'm ready to become Muslim. And then that weekend, I believe, is this Saturday, June 3 2001. I want to say that I became Muslim.
What year was that again? 2001. Okay, just
so what you said is that all that knowledge, all the scientific miracles, the fact that it coincides, that didn't push you over the edge, it was that emotional factor of recognizing we're all going to die and you haven't prepared for it. So that was very profound. It's an it's usually an emotional appeal that makes someone transform like that. It's beautiful. Because you know, that connection is always there. We know that Allah has given us that connection, you know, the neurons close to a billion neurons in our brain, and then about 40,000 neurons in our heart, about 100 million neurons in our gut, they all communicate, they all talk to each other. And there's this
debate and science about like, what, which one, like, does the heart lead the brain, the brainless heart. But you know, as listeners, we understand, at the end of the day, that inspiration of the heart that comes from Allah and the angels that you know, of course, has connection to our logic, and we're not we're not divorced from rationale because Allah Smith wants us to think and ask questions about and seek ALLAH and the nature, such a beautiful being we have is that there is no, there's this beautiful harmony between a line the science that we've never had this issue with science, right. And we've never had this issue of like connecting the heart with the brain. But when
you think about that, and you really activate your heart, thinking about the reality of who you are, where you came from, where you're going, that hits differently, right for anyone that wants to transform such a beautiful moment.
Chris, there's a question about once you convert, right, this issue about a lot of my cousins, I know that I talked to them, and some of them are still stuck on that Western dichotomy of this logic of science versus religion, right. And this was not an Eastern concept. This is not a Muslim concept, but they inherited it even though they are not here in the US, other parts of the world, they somehow read into things and they also bought into this in the last last few decades, you know, people that are more into like global culture, they bought into this and people that are trying to find God, you know, and they're trying to find the right environment, right friends, to even come
closer to God Muslims are having trouble. Forget about converts that don't have any support in their family and community. So how do you stay true to that path after you convert or after you try to become better Muslim this Ramadan right and your journey they didn't just become Muslim, you created something that is mashallah became one of the top Muslim brands in the world. It's just unbelievable journey. So tell us a little bit about that. What principles what values that took you there helped you there, of course, Allah is guidance that they'll feed along the way. And anything else that you will share? Honestly, it's so simple. It's just the company, the company you keep, and I always tell
that to new Muslims. You just have to surround yourself with good company. There's so much to learn. There's so you know, so many things you can do. But you will figure it all out. As long as you have good company. I was so blessed to have like, like, literally Mike was my next door neighbor. So how did I learn to pray? Five times a day I walked across my yard and
to his yard. I didn't even go out into the sidewalk to the street like, across the grass nice. We pray together and I learned how to pray because I'm just doing it with Mike five times a day. And you know and then Mike would read Quran I didn't know how to read Quran I just sit there and and I'd watch him read Quran and then that's followed my finger. And then the next year we came to University of Michigan together and then you know, we were roommates and you know, always have Mike there for me. I'll be forever indebted to him. Very rarely are you in contact with them? I mean, he's my best friend until today. He
asked me if I'm traveling, I'm gonna go make decaf in Knoxville, because Mike is Mike.
Less my mate. Yeah, imagine all that you're doing is on his scale as well. And then I know it was about you know, brother without the headache of running it, you know, he just gets that reward.
Exactly that that's so amazing. And you were talking about his, you know, his brand. And, you know, when I interviewed you two years ago on inspirations, it was you know, I looked up LaunchCode which LaunchCode is the world's largest faith inspired crowdfunding platform. And at that time, it was a 340 million. And I said, let me just, you know, double check, let me know, and I'm like, Masha, Allah is now at 545 million. And so that that's just phenomenal. And Chris is raking it in not Chris, but what what's his name? Mike, Mike, raking it into? So that is that's incredible martial law. Yeah. So is it really that I just tell Congress just get good company, and you got an economy
like, I mean, you're born Muslims, the same thing, right? Like, just you have great people around you. And that's why, you know, one of the favorite sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, for me is, you know, a man is upon the religion of his, or way of life, Deen in Arabic of his close friend, you know, his intimate companions. So be careful who you choose to be intimate companions. I wanted to share something that it was kind of actually the reverse for me because I'm a born Muslim. And I think I took the religion maybe for granted. I didn't spend time really investing time and energy and studying it. And it was in my college years where I stumbled across a group of converts who were
holding a halacha in a very old Masjid in Houston. And I came in I saw Wow, these converts, like they have like, changed. i One was an aerobics instructor, and she was an a buyer. And then the other undershirt, were memorizing or on and learning Arabic. And it just it put me to shame and I felt, oh my god, I haven't invested this kind of time and effort. So I was actually inspired by Congress. That's why I've always had a very, they always have a special place in my heart because it was a source of inspiration. And it reminded me how important it is to invest in learning the religion and it really does like what you said about surrounding yourself with righteous friends. I
felt that that group actually they nurtured me. The group of converts, they nurtured me and they were like helping me grow without judgment without being harsh, and they helped me to flourish the pond Allah, Allah, that's beautiful. That's really beautiful.
And you know, this Ramadan grace, we're talking about this mindful Ramadan series, we're talking about how to become more, versus doing more, you know, how to become a better version of ourselves, not just doing more and a lot of times we struggle, you know, with everything going on this morning, I was talking to a group of students in Indiana and they're doing this Muslim youth magazine doing some really good work, talking about mindful Ramadan. And they're all asking like, how do we balance between like our studies and school and trying to show up for Ramadan and they have all these goals they're setting these are like ambitious young young people, Mashallah. And we're just talking about
hey, you know, even your studies, how can you be at your studies in a way that you feel that your heart is connected to Allah, your thoughts in terms of this beautiful brand, they're building globally, there's a lot of work going on. Tell us a little bit about that creative entrepreneurship, all that, you know, team building global impact, but balancing that with your own transformation, balancing that with Ramadan?
Oh, that's a tough that's a tough question. There's a lot to pull together there between
you know, how do we not just do more, be more and the team and Ramadan and how do I balance like, you know, basically executing our business which is, you know, Ramadan has good time friends, but that the spiritual personal growth, is that it? Yes, yes. Yes. You know, I treat and I mean, it's, it will seriousness, I treat Ramadan as the playoffs in I'm a professional athlete, and I really treat myself as though I was, you know, in the NFL or the NBA or some professional sports.
Eat. And I think like, you know, how does Tom Brady prepare himself? What is the playoffs are these other players personally, I don't mess around. You know, when it comes to Ramadan, I have a pretty strict, boring schedule. I'm very careful about what I eat. For example, I have all these like supplements and vitamins that I take and like everything because I have to be on top of my game. If I'm on top of my game, then I can achieve both, you know, so for me, it's like, as soon as today is done, like, go to sleep, and oh, like messing around and like go to sleep. Obviously, we have to get up for savour, pray Fudger you know, I have kids, young kids, I think you guys may have young kids,
like, I don't get to go back to sleep after Pfizer, Pfizer, I've got maybe half hour an hour, that is on time. You know, if I don't do my Quran, then it's gonna be really hard to find that time, but it's the day and then it's get the kids to school. And once the kids are in school, then I have to start my workday. I'm very regimented. And by being consistent, I find it allows me to be my best self. And I think that's this, like there is a level of discipline that's needed in Islam to really grow and thrive. You know, I mean, that's what Ramadan is, in a way right to discipline us that our souls are in The Foos? I don't know if that answered your question. Yeah, to an extent, like how
you're actually kind of balancing between the various things and you're still showing up for you that commitment to cultivating your best self that's you found a way to cultivate your best self, a way to show up with your best self, right, and we see a lot of people that regimented schedule works really well for them. And for others, they struggle like the right all these things and they struggle to stick to the schedule. And you know, that kind of finding what is my better self today versus yesterday? And then not just like really getting into the self judgment of like, okay, I'm never gonna be able to really follow the schedule or finish my goals to get to my goals, but rather,
how can you do what you do in a way that you feel a sense of Presence of Allah subhanaw taala How can you cultivate your heart like today the students were like struggling and I we were talking about, can you just keep your tongue busy and have the kerbala when you're in school like in Ramadan, in one of the narrations sees that increase? So far? So good. Hola. Hola. Hola. Hola. Hola. And then ask for Jana and ask protection from the NAR. So as an agenda for those now the weekend? Can you just keep your tongue moist wherever you are in the grip of Allah? And they were saying, but how did we get our hearts you know activated and we were just talking about maybe start with the
tongue first. And then slowly try to have them presence. So wherever you are, you are the less pinata. So it different people's strategy might seem different. But what you said is very inspirational, the way that you were able to do what you're able to do sister Holly. Absolutely, yeah, there's several psychological concepts that I've been researching and teaching for the past three decades. Alhamdulillah and I shared with clients and in my mentorship program, and one of them is like the self regulation and discipline, which in you know, within Islam, we call it Majah. Right, like the striving against the self, and to, you know, Achieve Self purification and
discipline. So what you described is really fighting your naps, to be able to be the best version of yourself. And I love how you made it analogous to an NBA player or NFL player i, I interviewed both and hamdulillah and I and I was amazed by their discipline and how you know, the reason they were so successful was the fact that they took it so seriously and they work so hard. So I love that you compared Ramadan to you know, being an NFL player or an NBA player because it does take that discipline so what are some of the life lessons that you can share regarding like self regulation and having you know that discipline because you're you're quite successful and I can't wait to hear
about launch good inshallah. Next, but how have you like, what are the life lessons because a lot of people that's their biggest downfall is they can't regulate themselves emotionally, and they can't be consistent or disciplined. And I think we answer your own question, right? You give me the examples of those people. I guess, just my own life. I was actually talking to a friend of mine today and we were talking about Quran memorization. You know, Hamza had been blessed to make some good progress in micron memorization, and it's been nothing spectacular. It's just a drop, a drop a drop, you know, and it's like, my wife and I, we have, she has a Kranti actually, in my house to
give credit to my wife, like when I got married, or she had a crime teacher. So then we got married. And then we started going into a crime teacher together every Sunday, you know, to read Quran and memorize a little bit of the Quran. And it's not a lot, but you just do. I mean, we've been married for over 10 years now. And you just do that every Sunday for 10 plus years. You make a lot of progress, you know. And so there's a saying, I feel bad even bringing it up in this context, but I think it's still it's attributed Bill Gates, who knows if you really said it or not. People often overestimate what they can accomplish in one year, and underestimate what they can accomplish in 10
years.
And when it when it comes to Ramadan, even for example, I mean people, a lot of times they set these crazy goals, right? And I think it's actually a lot better to be like, Okay, I want to set one goal so that when I get through this Ramadan, I'm going to be better person. You know maybe I don't read Quran every day. Yeah, we should I mean it's really it's for our own benefit which we find every day. And so in Ramadan etc outside of Ramadan it's hard, but you say okay and I'm going to make a habit such that when Ramadan ends every day I read at least one page of pride and then the next year it will be everyday at least read at least two pages of Quran you know and it's I think that's a
really great way to pose problems like don't try to hit a grand slam this Ramadan prior to see this Ramadan in the context of inshallah life full of Ramadan's. And but every Ramadan, you're going to make progress. And being a better version would like what you're saying, make a goal that you're also going to be better as far as your personality as far as your relationships and have that worship translate into better behavior. Yeah, beautiful. I mean, we're gonna go into asking you a little bit more to share more about LaunchCode we're so inspired by your work Shala I know that personally, I've reached I reached out to Chris, you know, almost every few every few months, every
few weeks, you know, to bug him and get his advice on organization and leadership and startups and so on. And mashallah, he's been such a beautiful friend and being so busy, he never, he always shows up for everyone. This is something that I love about him. And one thing that I before we talk about lost good, Chris. You know, I was just thinking about this example of that one focus, right? One year, I had a very difficult year, a few years ago when my dad started losing his vision. So he was like end stage kidney disease and started losing his vision. And we were like, really kind of like my kids. And me and my wife, both are going to work. So my dad used to drop them pick them, it's all
of a sudden, like, we have no support. Plus, he's dependent on us, we're going to like six different doctors. That year was a struggle for a few months, because I had to take him like every other day there was something going on. And then I said, I can't live like this, I have to really transform myself internally, because I'm somebody that is in search of emotional intelligence and prophetic mindfulness. And I need to live this myself. And this was like beginning days of like me really getting into that field. And I said, this year, I came across this one word resolution, like one word, focus. And I said, this year, I'm just going to focus on one word, and that word is going to
be gratitude. And that entire year, whenever I took my dad and we're on the car, I was just thinking, how can I be in this moment and just be grateful for this moment. We're waiting in the doctor's office, you know, working on my laptop, I'm gonna be grateful for this moment when I was walking with my dad into the doctor's, how can I be grateful. And so just focusing on that one word that year, really, really, really transformed our last part that was helping ease came, and it was so much more than the difficulty and then it opened up for me just that one word. So what you're just saying in terms of that one focus, and just really making a big difference in that one thing
that can really transform the rest of your life and have an impact rest of the rest of your day. And that relationship with Quran as an example of such a beautiful example is that I really appreciate life so beautiful. That was that was a beautiful reflection and the fact that it got you through such a difficult time in your life, by just being grateful if we show that every day that we wake up instead of thinking of like the things we don't have the problems, we just think Alhamdulillah and you put a smile on your face, it changes everything. So I'm going to jump in because I feel like people are on the edge of their seats, wanting to know how did you create mashallah launch good,
because it's such a success. It has been such a incredible testimony to you to have the prophetic tradition that the Prophet says the best amongst you are those who bring the greatest benefits to others. And so tell us about what inspired you and how that prophetic tradition of being a source of good has guided you, I'd say starts with Malcolm X. Right. I was so inspired by his life, his story, obviously plays it played a huge role in me becoming Muslim. And when I became Muslim, I think it's actually interesting as well, when I became Muslim in the masjid. There's basically no Muslim community around us in Western Massachusetts, the Masjid that I made my job and was about an hour
drive away. Right? Wow. So the only Muslims that I knew effectively were like Malcolm X and Mike are both exceptional. And then reading books like reading about the Sahaba the companions. So in some ways, it was great. My frame of reference was if you become Muslim, shoot for the stars, you should really be aiming to have a big impact in your life. Then I came to Michigan, which is a big muscle acuity, great muscle community. A did it I did find them askew try to temper my aspirations.
You know, and I was like, well, it's okay. You don't have to change your world just, you can, like, get a good engineering degree job and get married and have a nice house and give charity and like, you'll have it. That's good. That's all you need to do. And I appreciate that like not, you know, not everyone has to go out and change the world, per se. But I wanted to change the world. For a moment, I kind of gave up on that. You know, I was like, okay, so I got my engineering degree, I started working in the engineer out in California, and I'm in my cubicle, and I'm thinking like Intel, you know, the microprocessor company. And I'm thinking, you know, this can't be what my life
is for, like, I became most of them right at 911. And, in all this crazy stuff like it absolutely, just to hear the cubicle make money, there's got to be more to life. Amazing. I had a non Muslim mentor at Intel, who very charismatic, Jim Kelsall. And Jim, you know, brought me in some of new hires in the room one day, he's like, You got to chase your passions in life go after them. And everyone's like, handling their passion is like microchips or whatever, trying to kiss up to him. And I'm like, you know, I think I really want to open up a Muslim boarding school. And this is where the education piece comes in. Right at that point. I really was interested in starting to blossom
Andover, Exeter, if you if people are familiar with those very famous boarding schools, Jim looks at me, he's like, great, go for it. And everyone else is like, are you crazy crimson, but I did I left it until I went back on my master's in Educational Leadership start teaching into school.
And you know, I was going down this path and that path Subhanallah led somewhere totally different than opening up a Muslim boring. So I ended up opening up a Muslim crowdfunding platform, but that was in part I would say, inspired by resting my heart along the journey. And I feel this is really underrated. In the Muslim experience, that God says in the Quran, why Allah and Allah, yeah, should have been the murderer call Colby know that it's God who intercedes between a man and his heart. And the prophet is also even advising his campaigns. He said, You know, it's tough to call back.
seek answers within your own heart. You know, somebody might tell you, Oh, this is horrible. It's fine. You can do this. But if your heart doesn't feel good about it, don't do it. You know, that's the Prophet saw some telling, instructing and guiding his companions. And I think a lot of my 20s were listening to my heart and trying to figure out what God wanted for me, but you quickly to get you how to actually end up in lunch. Good. That was a teacher. In the summers, I had a great community teachers, their summers are off. So first, I'm learning Arabic and becoming fluent in it. And then I started an Arabic nonprofit, with my fiancee, Omar called for lackey. And then I was
supposed to work overseas for an organization called Islamic Development Bank as an educational specialist. But it was taken a long time to get my job offer ready. And while I was waiting, I was helping a friend of mine in Detroit with a film company, he was making a movie. And he's having some success. And he asked me to move to Detroit and start this film company been he'd been his business partner. And I knew nothing about film. I didn't even really, really like movies that much. But I knew the importance of culture, and not just being consumers of culture, but Creators of culture. And I thought, somebody needs to support soltana and all these other people in the world trying to
make a difference. And if I don't do it, who's going to do it? And so I actually I just moved to Detroit. And I said yes to him. I moved to Detroit, April 1 2010, almost 14 years ago now. And I was like, it seems really stupid. But I'm probably gonna look back and find the best decisions I made in my life. Absolutely. It has been from the left, we needed money. So we did a Kickstarter, we're the first Muslims to do Kickstarter. Kickstarter is one of the biggest crafting platforms. I fell in love with crowdfunding. And I started helping all these other Muslims do crowdfunding, including a sister in Detroit named Mandy Callie, she had a nonprofit called Detroit minds and hearts. And I
told her that I'm, you know, thinking about starting our own most and crowdfunding platform. And eventually, I was able to recruit her to be my co founder, along with a third person, Atlanta or Muhammad. And yeah, the three of us, you know, that's kind of how it all came together. And we started this crowdfunding platform launch Good. I'll just add one more caveat to that story. I'm waiting for that job injector to start. I mean, with flax youth considering moving to Detroit, I go make conch. So I'm going to hedge and it's at a time it was must in 2009 made Hodge It's a time when I'm not quite sure what I want to do in my life. And as my first time on Hajj and there's a dua you
make you guys probably know the vacant lot motivate, but you know, you're I'm at your service got your I met your service, and love that dog. I love making the call. Toby. I love making the Tobia so much. And so I remember that had I kept asking God like, just use me for good I want to serve your ummah, I want to serve your ummah. And I actually forgot all about that DUA and years later I was meeting when people were talking about our hydro experience and what was your like, dua you made, and I see guys like Subhan Allah, my whole dua that hygiene is about serving the Ummah and here I am, you know with a company that all we it is like I was telling.
We serve that, you know, this is the job
Could muscle I think that plays an important role as well on my journey not just the the velocity the outward aspects of what took me the crowdfunding and launch good but but the inward ones as well.
Unbelievable. Sister Holly I'm gonna share a quick thing before I hear your reflection on this is this has a lot to take in but it's packed with gems here.
Chris You know we probably have crossed each other and that hatch 2009 Because I was there as well.
But 2009 is one of those years that you know, my wife and I were married for about we got married really early in college even before we graduated, so it was about ninth year of our marriage and we could not have kids. So that patch we made a lot of love for kids and we said a life you give us kids, we will make sure that they memorize the Quran, they become scholars, they do beautiful things and inshallah you know we made that blind Hajj and so you made a DUA and I made a dua of course you know this dua Allah utilize this camera this is beautiful that like you said company my teachers taught me as a teenager always make this doll like guide me and guide through me and make me a
source of guidance for others. So so that was something that Angela we grew up with that that had specially that was one of the key things that stood out for us because we were really kind of at that junction in our life where we were wanting kids next year Allah's father blessed us with twin daughters mashallah they're turning 14 this year and both of them are inshallah if you make dua they will be completing their
beautiful that you pray for it and Allah bless you with it and you kept your promise that you want them to be on the on the dean and to spread the fear, Mashallah. And brother Chris, I made the same dollar like use me in Your service, but I was by the kava and, and so many doors opened up. And one of the things from your story, which is really powerful, and I think all our viewers can learn from is that you may be at a stage in your life that maybe that's not the dream job. Maybe that's not your purpose. But every step is a stepping stone, right? I mean, you were working in Intel, I think at a time you were even doing basketball coaching, right? Yeah, yeah. So you have so many different
roles that you played, and it's so important for us to remember that Allah has a purpose for us. And you may not be where you need to be. But it is our you have other things waiting for you and just to be patient with that. And just to trust, trust the plan. I think that's really that's it? Yeah. Yeah, you know, trust is so important. Like there's a verse in the Quran that love when they get stuck in my
head. So there are a lot of a lot so who are hospitalized in a lot of value better do m&a for the job a lot inclusion and Cloudera. You know, that whoever has that, ID, the fear of God, the consciousness of God, he'll make for him a way out and provide for him where he least expects it. And whoever puts his trust in God, you will find him sufficient, and or he will be sufficient and trust, trusting God is the key. It really is. It's a hard thing to do. Like that's the highest form of belief is yes, trusting God. And that's such a great segue to the next question, because we cannot end this interview without discussing what is going on in Palestine. And when we talk about
let's hear resilience, right? Resilience is to walk good. And it's the ability to recover from difficulties, right. And I like to call it like bouncing back from setback. And when we look at what the Palestinians have had to have had to endure, like they have been shot at their homes have been bombed hospitals destroyed their, like, dozens of family members that they had been killed, and they're being starved to death. I mean, this is just beautiful, what they have, they are enduring, and May Allah bring them relief and save them. But the resilience that they have demonstrated throughout all of this, I'm just I'm wondering how you have been impacted by witnessing the
resilience of the Palestinians.
Yeah, I mean, we've gone through our own challenges now because of what's what's happening in Palestine, almost on a monthly basis. We have cyber attacks from Israel, for example. Yeah, I mean, they're also trying to, like, get it as listed as terror I mean, to actually a terrorist organization. Oh, no. So they're trying to get the government and like, just all the challenges plus the workload is like a lot higher now. You know, on our teams, like kind of burning the midnight oil, etc. And, but we always go back to Palin's, you know, like, what we're going through. We're not risky in our lives, you know, we're not starving to death. And we take we look at how resilient they
are. And we just think like, we can't, you know, we can't come
claim, really. And I think a lot of people are seeing that you know that whatever difficulties, we're going to look how much harder it is for them, and how strong their faith is, despite that, and maybe because of that, and so, yeah, they've been an absolute inspiration. And within our team, we have a lot of Palestinians, with our team, we have people who now have had family members that and not in our company, but other companies. I think you guys know, like Masjid all day, unframed, like one of their actual employees was killed, right in Gaza. So in fact, we were collaborating like the last thing that employee Did he the designer was this collaboration that we have the masjid on
Subhanallah it's like
you Yeah, it's we take a lot of inspiration not just from people in Palestine but you know, the people within our team that are from Palestine didn't have family there. Allah Subhan Allah and sweatshirt that you have on yeah, that's my Palestine sweatshirt with
the original Palestine map on the BAA Subhan Allah that's a gift from one of my friends in the UK who himself has picked Dali Right. And, you know, that's the beautiful part of the Ummah, right that we love each other, you know, despite being different cultures and backgrounds, and yes, we're one Ummah, one family at the end of the day. Mashallah, further away, dude, I'm sure you have some reflections on all that. Questions, Chris. Like, what is that one word that you would ask people to think about when they think about Palestine? This Ramadan?
One word? Oh, I don't know, what's the guy's
we asked this question to Peter. And he said, hope
to not to lose hope. And that's a great one. I will go Tito's that's do.
I think reminding us also to be resilient, right? Because our like what you said so beautifully, is that no matter what we're facing, it's not as difficult as what they are going through. And we have a new point of reference. Now I had I had one friend whose twin sister had passed away. And she had said that it is the backdrop of everything in her life. I didn't understand that. But now with what all we've we have witnessed, I feel like Palestine is the backdrop anywhere I go. literally put it back drop sister.
That's a great reminder, and especially in our program was a lot. You know, I drink water in anything that you do going to a restaurant or just getting into bed, everything that we have taken for granted, is now in the forefront of our minds. That pitch is so incredibly grateful. And I think that that is like some it's it that can be transformative. When we're no longer complaining. We're no longer taking things for granted. We are mindful of our blessings, then I really feel that that that will change us and sha Allah so maybe mindfulness and remembering how resilient they are. This was mashallah so inspiring, because I can live here for coming. You guys, thank you so much. I love
what you do here. It's an honor, it's an honor. And then it is an honor
the adverse and like it's the law it's it's like what the Palestinians are living through right now. Like they're completely the mindfulness consciousness of God is nothing but talking to Allah and alive granting openings in ways we do not understand. So never question those openings, of course show up for for them and sometimes, you know, I feel like this sense of like, you know, do their days or times we do feel hopelessness, but we have to go back and so there is no hopelessness and being because our ultimate goal is Allah and the hereafter and then everything we do, every sacrifice you make in this world is a means of higher opening up from Allah. So and also some days I
feel like a coward. You know, like, I feel that you know, what am I really doing? Do I really have the courage to do anything, but when I hear stories like yours, Chris, like you guys are literally risking your entire company everything built everybody's livelihood to stand up for Palestine stand up for facilitating the funds and a donation subject line and charity for them. I'm not sure that you are an inspiration in that aspect. So may Allah grant is that it's okay to have fear. It's okay to have fear. But despite the fear, move forward with an oracle of Allah, masha Allah, so much better cut in what you're doing. And may Allah protect you and protect your company and not allow
anyone to do anything to it and sha Allah, something I wanted to end with this story. There was this one Palestinian girl, she was maybe 10 years old, and she completes her on every six days. Every. You saw that? Right? I saw that too. I saw that too. Yeah, yeah. And she was saying, well, and they're like, Why? Why do you do that? She's like, it has, you know, everything in it is like what we're facing right now. And it gives me comfort. And it's not a law. It says, you know, these young children are teaching actually the leaders of the world, how to and all of us how to deal with our culture.
remedies and how to have the right attitude Masha Allah thank you so much for sharing your your very inspiring stories and mashallah you really added added so much value so it's like a lot Hayden. I'm, I'm so grateful that you're doing this I hope people everyone listening prays for you, it's not easy to organize this. Thank you and well he got a lot of busy people and I know you have to juggle schedules and last but it's really it's so beautiful I was just with a new muscle last night he'd become Muslim in December and I had a coffee with him then. And he hasn't seen a Muslim since then. So it's been like almost three months
it was hard you know and it's not that Muslims aren't around but sometimes it can be intimidating reach out whatever right we've been reaching out to him but you know somehow the messages were being missed and we you guys offer like some online content like this, anyone can access it there they're probably people listening right now that are shy to get into the mosquito they're too far away from them security and you're really offering them an outlet so thank you for them.
It's a blessing and it's nice to do it with brother would do it this year. It's been extra special having a co host and and mashallah you all make the program you know, it's by you sharing your wisdom. Mashallah, um, no that does that. Thank you, Chris. Thank you. Salaam aleikum wa rahmatullah.
Take care bye bye.