Sarah Sultan – Faith and Counseling – Diary of a Daee #11

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			lot of know Rahim Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato and Desikan. Lochhead for tuning in to
today's Diary of a day program today, we have yet another successful day Inshallah, to share their
story with you in the letter isla. Her name is Sarah Sultan, she's very active in the community.
She's actually a licensed mental health professional that's been serving the Muslim community all
around the United States for the last 10 years, masha Allah with her experience, and with her
professionalism, she has a lot of videos out there a lot of articles out there that are very, very
beneficial. Subhanallah when I was preparing for this program, I was actually looking through some
		

			of these articles that I never read and I'm like, oh my god, I cannot believe I never read this
before. hamdulillah for the past night, and I'm sure for the next couple of weeks. I'm going to be
reading a lot of her articles and listening to a lot of her lectures Inshallah, but today for those
of you that don't know her, I want to introduce her to you. She is also a teacher in Mischka
University. And she gives a lot of workshops all around the United States, a resident of Houston,
Texas, Sister Seidel, Sultan Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato. Wanting to live to get to
just second law played on for having me. Then we come here Kamala, how you feeling today? Are you
		

			ready for this interview? ready, I'm ready, I'm feeling good and have the bath make it action
packed, inshallah to Allah and make it, we're going to try to make it tangible. I know you work with
youth specifically, right?
		

			I used to do a lot of work with youth that hamdulillah Allahu Akbar, that's perfect. So that means
you are the perfect fit for this program, which is not going to lock it for accepting this invite.
And now to kick it off, I just want to ask you a question.
		

			And this is what I often asked my interviewees usually what inspired you to do what you're doing
		

			to do mental health counseling?
		

			So great question. Mashallah. So actually, it's, it's funny, when I was first in college, I started
off on a pre med track, like, I think so many Muslims end up doing right, because their parents
don't want them to be doctors. But what I started off pre med, and handed that and was taking my
courses and I did an internship at in a hospital, I was in an ICU. And I realized that the Fit
wasn't there for me, you know, where, you know, patients would pass away, and then you go on to the
next patient, and it just wasn't a good fit for who I was, or my personality. And I realized that I
wanted to get to know the people that I was working with on a deeper level. And so I decided to
		

			focus in on psychology, but I was going to do psychological research. And then there were a few
incidents in my local Muslim community, that made me realize how important it would be to have a
Muslim mental health professional, available to provide counseling from a more like Islamic
framework, and somebody who could understand the culture and the religion and all of these different
things. And so that actually made me decide to go forward and pursue the counseling field. And I'm
really thankful to Ellis Potter for guiding me down that path. It's not the one that I would have
originally picked for myself, but it worked out really well on my shoulder for about a cola and we
		

			see the difference you're making to a lot of Muslim communities and family, a lot of blaming, may
Allah subhanaw taala increase you and increase of your likes in our communities.
		

			But Subhanallah, you know, a lot of a lot of our youth go through this dilemma, you know, they're
studying something, and their parents are very excited that they're in pre med, and that they're
going to be doctors or surgeons or whatnot.
		

			And I'm sure it was a challenge to you know, express this to your family, Were they supportive of
this, when you made this change, or no.
		

			So I am really fortunate and in my parents that have the lie, I really am I know that a lot of a lot
of kids out there don't have that same experience that I had. But my parents were very much like
they wanted me to do something that would be enjoyable, something that I would be passionate about,
but also something that would be beneficial. So that was one of the things that they just really
wanted it to be something beneficial, but they wanted it to be something that would be a good fit
for me personally. So they were encouraging when I when I made the switch they didn't they didn't
give me a hard time and have the law which I was grateful for. Of course, you know, the the term you
		

			use beneficial. It's very relative but when you apply it to like the Islamic context, when you say
beneficial in terms of like beneficial to the Muslims, to everyone in general and like to Muslim
specifically, and I'm sure that incident that you spoke about was specific, and like the Muslim
context, right
		

			You saw the need in the Muslim community and there is a great need, of course, and we and everybody
can, can see this.
		

			But now to tie it into the actual subject of this, this, this program, which is Dawa. Do you see
this profession as a means an effective means of Dawa are no,
		

			no, absolutely and Hamdulillah you know, one of the couple of incidents that I had experienced that
led me into this field, were kind of eye openers, right? Where I realized all of the Muslim
community in general has this idea that Muslims, especially practicing Muslims, can't be depressed,
can't experience suicidal thoughts, can't struggle mentally, or emotionally. There's this
misconception. And when my eyes opened to the fact that some of the most like were the most
practicing Muslims that I had ever met, were really struggling with the with this, it really made me
it made me realize the profound impact that mental health can have on a person's faith. Because what
		

			happens is that when we struggle, mentally and emotionally, it naturally will impact us spiritually.
And so through this, you know, we have the ability through improving our mental health, improving
mental wellness, dealing with traumatic experiences, and healing them, a lot of times that can start
to heal us spiritually, as well. And Hamdulillah. And then, the other part of it, too, is that when,
you know, I went to Brazil, I'm originally from New York, I went to Brooklyn College, I did my
degree there, and everything. And, and one of the things that I realized in being in this field is,
it's a form of Dawa, to Muslims in that, okay, we can address these issues within the Muslim
		

			community, but also even to non Muslims, by being in a field that's a little bit different by being
able to empathize and being able to really understand people in general, that in and of itself,
really opens people's eyes to Muslims and Islam in in a different way. And when I've worked with non
Muslim clients, you know, I used to work with teenagers a lot that was, you know, my, one of my
first jobs as I worked with teens in crisis, who really were struggling a lot. And whenever I'd walk
in and say, Hey, I'm your therapist, you know, with like, my hijab and everything, they'd be like,
what's this woman going to know about me? Like, how she gonna get me? You know, and but by the end,
		

			you know, I would always, you know, I would always ask, hey, when I first walked into the room, what
did you think? Right? And then what do you think now, you know, and they realize, they realize that
they can connect with somebody who's a little bit different than them. And, and it was a very, it
was very powerful experience that have done that so beautiful. That's actually amazing Subhanallah
and a great form of Dawa, because you'd find that like, a lot of patients have these preconceived
notions about women with hijab and the way they are and the way they think, based on what they know
of the culture they came from. And they think hijab is specific to certain cultures. And then they
		

			come and meet this person who's wearing a hijab, was actually down to earth and can understand them,
and not only understand them, but but help them in their lives. So Subhan Allah, I'm sure it's a
great, great form of Dawa, and I'm looking for it. Well, I really want to see a lot of Muslim
sisters specifically, and Muslims in general.
		

			Take on this, this profession, but in the lead, because we're really in need of it. And I'm sure
right now, like, you kind of you spoke about it in general. But now I want you to speak about a
specific situation. You've been doing this for 10 years, you have a lot of experience. Did Do you
have like a successful story of Dawa and you spoke and you alluded to, you kind of mentioned how
mental well being and mental health kind of intertwines with spiritual health and well being right.
Did you do you have any stories where somebody came in with a mental health problem and then and the
spiritual problem and then when they finished the grew spiritually, they got better? They improved
		

			Alhamdulillah all across the board?
		

			No, absolutely. It's one of
		

			it's one of the like, a real blessing and a privilege that I've had in my life and I'm delighted to
be my I love the work that I do with my clients and I love my clients. They're they're amazing
people the strength that they show me every day is an inspiration to Pamela and so at handle, I've
seen so many of these transformations. And but it never ceases to surprise me or move me to Panama.
So there's there are a couple of clients in particular that come to mind but one had been really
struggling. She had a very, very traumatic past she had
		

			had endured a lot of abuse in her childhood, including sexual abuse, which is a very, very difficult
experience, one of the hardest that a person can can really go through. And, you know, her family
wasn't really practicing, she wasn't practicing, in terms of like Islam, she identified as Muslim.
But as she was going through this, and as she started to grow and mature and progressed, in her life
was, you know, starting her career and things like that, she realized that she was really really
struggling, her anxiety levels were through the roof, she was having panic attacks a lot. Her her
depression was really increasing. So she started to experience a lot of suicidal thoughts, as well.
		

			And she realized that, okay, well, I need to do something. And so she, she, what, what she did, you
know, she started to actually turn back to Islam in that circumstance, right, she started to look up
lectures, and she found some solace in it. But she realized that she had a lot of ups and downs, you
know, so when, you know, when, when she would have the downs, you know, when she would get anxious
or depressed, you realize, okay, I would stop praying, I would stop listening to Quran I would stop
doing all of these things. And, like, I wasn't, I was feeling a little bit better, but not enough.
And so and so she started therapy, and we started working together. And then and little by little,
		

			as she started doing the work and as she started on this journey of healing, she started to build
connections to realize, okay, when I am you know, when I'm feeling this, you know, these really
negative feelings, I'm pushing myself away from something that's actually in the end going to make
me feel better I'm pushing myself away from salon, I'm pushing myself away from the things that are
going to help and once you started to create that association, and once you started to, to think to
heal the trauma that she had gone through and she talked through it, and we use you know, we use
therapy to help her through that then she started to have like that firmer connection with those
		

			paths as she starts to get to know us paths that are better, she started to learn about his mercy
not just as punishment about his love and you know, and all of the the names of Allah's path data
and the ways that that would make her feel closer to him. And through that little by little, the her
firmness and in her in her Deen started to increase as well with the healing and the firmness and
like emotional wellness, that she was that she was working on to Masha Allah and you can see how
they're, they're both intertwined Subhanallah how she would like kind of get away from salon reading
put it on a bad day in general, because of because of the depression and the bad thoughts that she
		

			was getting. But as soon as she overcame that, and obviously, it was like Salah and Vicodin Quran
was part of her overcoming that, right? But, but she needed to, I guess the to develop the
resilience, the strength within herself, to like over overcome these thoughts. So her mind can be
free when she prays and when she when she reads the Quran does they get so she could actually
connect to Allah? It's as if these bad thoughts and whatnot were coming between her and Allah
subhanaw taala That's right, that's right. It's almost like this, this wall that gets built right
where it's like unless you can start to tear down the wall even just a small hole is the starting
		

			point that allows you to start to rebuild that connection. And realizing that ALLAH turns out is the
most powerful right so you start building that small hole and Alice pantalla tells us you come to me
run walking and I'll come to you running so you build that small hole and he will help you crush the
rest of the wall and Charla and that's what she was doing. I think a lot of times that you know we
have this expectation that okay, so law is gonna help right away right? But it requires consistency
and sometimes that wall might be there and you need to you need to dig through it a little bit for
that connection through Salah to actually start to really to start to feel it and to start to help
		

			support
		

			the Salah is gonna it has to wash out
		

			what's inside us before it actually starts filling us with with with the good sandy I mean that that
will inshallah turn into good Iman Sana later on are good actions righteous deeds. But now inshallah
wrapping up this the last question for today. I don't want to take more of your time. Your time is
very valuable. And I know you're a counselor, there are a lot of people out there that need you. And
may Allah subhanaw taala bless you, sister Sana. What advice and then the last piece of advice, you
know, purpose of life is something that a lot of our youth are thinking of right? What's my purpose
in life? What am I here for? What, what do I need to be doing right now? So what advice would you
		

			give Muslims regarding finding their purpose of life and kind of tying that with
		

			Would they have a passion for what they love? What they're interested in?
		

			Great question, Michelle. Um,
		

			so, you know, when it comes to purpose, you know, Islamically we have like this, you know, the
Allah's path that tells us that he created mankind and jinn to worship him, right? So we know that
our ultimate purpose is worship. But a lot of times what people forget is that worship can be in so
many different forms. There's the required form, right salon, all of these different things, but
there's so many different ways, you know, so for whatever you find one, one question, I tend to ask,
you know, your passion, the path that you take in life should be a way of showing your identity,
right, like the core of your identity, being a Muslim, but also the other parts of your identity.
		

			What What things have you read or done or where you feel most uplifted? What things have you done,
that make you feel most connected to the people that you care about to Ellis PI data, to, you know,
what makes you feel most whole and most fulfilled, right? And then taking that information, right,
and making it into the path that you want to follow by setting an intention, that you can do it for
the sake of illustration data, I mean, you know, if you whatever your passion is, my passion was
psychology. Right? When I intend to do it for the sake of illustration data, then that becomes an
act of worship for me, right? My role as I'm a mom of two young kids who are like watching something
		

			right now, so I can do this. But but you know, my my role as a mom can be an act of worship to
others. pathauto if I make that my intention, so whatever role you want to accomplish in life if you
intend it, right, it doesn't mean that you have to take your whatever you're passionate about, you
can transform it into a way of worshipping and pleasing Allah subhana data, Allahu Akbar. And
that's, that's a beautiful piece of advices Asana will lie. It's amazing to end with it because it's
usually the Hadith that all of the scholars begin their books with.
		

			The hadith enamel Armello vignette, we're enamel equilibria in Manoa actions are by intentions, and
for every person is what they intended. Right? So
		

			Subhanallah Haluk, if we and this is an opportunity given to us by Allah subhanaw taala it's not
just
		

			I think I think
		

			I think if we kind of connect everything that we do to Allah subhanho wa Taala everything that we
have a passion for everything that occupies our time and just renew our intention and make it make
it feasible Allah make it for the sake of all we're going to get Ajit for it. And not only that, but
we're going to enjoy because Allah subhanaw taala is the one who placed this passion for you in your
heart. You wish you would have been born not liking this, but Allah subhanaw taala made you like
this thing. And by doing it and remembering Allah, you're thanking Allah subhanho wa Taala for what
he put inside of you from passion for this particular thing. You could have liked something that's
		

			haram but Allah subhanaw taala made you like something that's halal. You could have been good at
something that's haram but Allah subhanaw taala made you good at something that Halal is a great
nama you know, and we should thank Allah subhanaw taala by remembering him. And this way we can
convert what we always do into our brother, right? Can also be video games, by the way, because a
lot of the guys just sitting home right now, you know, playing video games.
		

			You know, that's a good question. That's I'm a counselor perspective. Be careful of how much video
games to play. You don't want to get addicted, right? But, but even video games Subhanallah you
know, like if you think about video games, people who create video games and then channeling that
passion for playing into creating video games imagine if there was like a video game that had some
sort of an Islamic history themes you know, that you know you're going through different levels and
but you're learning about the semuc history at the same time, or you know, something that can
captivate children you know, to learn, you know about you know about Islam or even memorizing Quran
		

			I don't know, somebody should think you know, creates I think beneficial types of things
		

			are beneficial to them, you know,
		

			something that just gives them general knowledge and understanding of the world around them if they
put their intention. They make their intention right and they make it visible. So they can learn it
and benefit other Muslims with this knowledge. Inshallah, this is all beneficial in your skills in
sha Allah. And with this, I want to thank sister sawed off for joining us. May Allah subhanaw taala
bless you, you really anyway shedding all this knowledge on
		

			As I'm sure a lot of our youth here and all over the world that are listening to us here at Epic
Masjid on our channel, we have over 100,000 subscribers. If you didn't subscribe yet please do
subscribe check because we have these beneficial programs coming up inshallah this particular
program every week but we have other programs for the younger youth and for the older youth Stay
tuned on our channel follow us on Facebook on Instagram. We have a lot of programs coming at your
way inshallah Diana, Sister surah. One last time I want to thank you for joining us mela Squanto
Allah bless you. And would you mind joining us for other programs if you know our audience request
		

			just second last night and it's been a privilege to be here with you and yes, I would. I'd love to
in Shall I love doing anything like with the with the youth and it makes me feel younger, so why
not? You know, I'd be happy to I'd be happy to do it in sha Allah. Does that come along here and I'm
sure all the youth appreciate it as well and everyone that's tuning in with us. And with this we're
going to end this episode does Kamala Harris Stay tuned for our next episodes of The Diary of a
diary. Cinema alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh See you next time.
		

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