Assalamu alaykum,

As I begin my own spiritual journey, I want to hear from those who have taken this path before me. This podcast focuses on them and listening to their stories — uninterrupted. My name is Hebah Masood and I invite you to reflect on the trajectories of their lives, and the guidance and blessings provided by Allah swt along that journey.

Ustadh Tariq Ameer grew up in a family that was part of the Nation of Islam and then made the transition to Sunni Islam with WD Muhammed. His own journey began with the Muslim Student’s Association at Morehouse, a historically black men’s college, in Atlanta. Once he started on his path he was able to learn how to read Arabic in one week and began studying part time. He would eventually follow the path of his teacher Ustadh Jamal Hysaw to Tarim, Yemen.

He is currently a prison chaplain with the New Jersey Department of Corrections and a student at Bayan Islamic Graduate School. He also teaches at New Brunswick Islamic Center with Safina Society in NJ, the Muslim Education and Converts Center of America in NYC and his own institute based out of Newark, Al-Muwatta.

Listen as he gives a rich and detailed description about living and studying in Hadhramaut, Yemen and learning from teachers who exemplify Prophetic character. He also talks about his important work as a prison chaplain and giving dawah to those who are incarcerated a segment of society many of us rarely think about.

My sincere apologies for the poor sound quality for the first half hour.

Ustadh Tariq’s story intersects with many familiar names: Habib Omar, Habib Hashim bin Sahl, Habib Tahir Al Attas, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Siraj Wahaj, Shaykh Suhaib Webb, Ustadh Jamal Hysaw, Imam Adeyinka 'Muhammad' Mendes, Shaykh Khalil Abdur-Rashid,