Welcome to Our Newsletter!
As-salamu alaykum and welcome to the next edition of the Kufi Productions newsletter! We're happy to bring you compelling stories, cultural insights, and community connections that matter to Muslim and ethnic communities.
Before we get into the coverage for May, we wanted to express our heartfelt gratitude to our subscribers, readers, and supporters of our newsletter. Thank you for your support and engaging with our content. We wish everyone a blessed Eid-ul-Adha and a wonderful time with their loved ones. Eid Mubarak!
Let's dive in!
✨ CREATOR SPOTLIGHT
Photo credit: Sarah K. Al Ramahi
May: Sarah K. Al Ramahi
With over 20 years of experience in the beauty and fashion industries, she built a career at the intersection of artistry, innovation, and cultural expression. A graduate of the London College of Fashion, her journey began in the UK and has taken her through Germany, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and now Dallas, Texas—each destination adding depth and diversity to her creative lens.
📰 NEWS ROUNDUP
Top US Domestic News - May 2026
Senate Delays Vote on ICE Funding as GOP Revolts over Trump’s Ballroom and $1.8B “Slush Fund”
Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington, D.C., on Thursday for the Memorial Day recess without casting a vote for a $72 billion budget reconciliation bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years. That’s on top of the $170 billion provided to those agencies by Congress last year. This comes as President Trump faces a growing revolt among Republicans over his plans to use public funds to build a $1 billion ballroom at the White House and the Justice Department’s creation of a nearly $1.8 billion slush fund to compensate MAGA allies prosecuted by the Justice Department.
Immigrants at For-Profit ICE Jail in California Launch Hunger Strike Against Inhumane Treatment
In Oregon, body-camera footage obtained by the group Innovation Law Lab shows federal immigration agents pulling over a van of farmworkers, then smashing the windows and using a facial recognition app to identify and arrest the workers without a warrant. The footage was disclosed as part of a class-action lawsuit filed against the agents’ violent tactics and racial profiling following the farmworkers’ detention in October.
Thousands Attend Funeral for Victims of Massacre at Islamic Center of San Diego
In San Diego, more than 2,000 people gathered Thursday to mourn Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nader Awad, who were killed in a shooting at the city’s largest mosque. The three victims were remembered as heroes as they attempted to stop two attackers when they opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego Monday.
Top International News - May 2026
Ebola Response Hampered by Impoverishment & U.S. Global Health Cuts
The deadly Ebola outbreak spreading across the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed at least 177 people, with more than 750 suspected cases reported in the DRC and neighboring Uganda, according to the World Health Organization. Health officials believe the virus may have been spreading undetected for months before the outbreak was identified, raising concerns that the scale of transmission could be far greater than initially understood. The epidemic has spread hundreds of miles away to South Kivu province, now under the control of the Alliance Fleuve Congo, which includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.
Trump Admin Blocks Refugee Resettlement, Except for White South Africans
The Trump administration is advancing plans to resettle an additional 10,000 white South Africans in the United States as refugees. Under President Trump’s proposal, which was submitted to Congress on Monday, the U.S. would lift its record-low refugee admissions figure from 7,500 to 17,500, with the additional openings reserved for Afrikaners. This comes as the administration continues to block the entry of refugees from other countries.
Deported Global Sumud Flotilla Activists Describe Torture and Abuse by Israeli Captor
Israel has deported more than 400 activists it abducted from a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters. On Thursday, members of the Global Sumud Flotilla were flown from southern Israel to Istanbul, Turkey, aboard three chartered flights. They arrived with stories of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of their Israeli captors.
🌙 CULTURAL HERITAGE & SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
Duaa of the month: Duas during Dhul Hijjah
لا إله إلا الله وحدهُ لا شريك لهُ ، لهُ الملكُ ولهُ الحمدُ وهو على كل شيء قدير
Transliteration: La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir.
Translation: “There is no god but Allah. He is One and has no partner with Him. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is omnipotent over all things.”
Activities for the month of Dhul Hijjah:
- Fast on the 26th May!
- Begin by glorifying Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.
- Recite the above declaration sincerely and repeatedly.
- Ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance, health, provision, and success in this life and the next.
- Include family, friends, the Muslim Ummah, and humanity at large.
- Thank Allah for His blessings and mercy.
One thing we've noticed is that many of us don’t realize the importance of fasting and making specific du’as to Allah before Eid al-Adha. We usually go hard during the last ten days of Ramadan, striving to catch Laylat al-Qadr because we don’t know exactly when it is. But when it comes to Eid al-Adha, we do know that the day before Eid is one of the best times to ask Allah for everything we want. Something we are learning is to make big du’as, because Allah truly can move mountains and make the impossible possible. So don’t just dream big - ask for it, because Allah loves when you ask Him.
What is “Hooliganism” and what does this mean for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup?
With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, it is imperative to highlight once more, a common behavior observed during any major sporting event, called "Hooliganism" and it's origins.
Hooliganism refers to disorderly, often violent behavior by groups of sports fans, most notably associated with football (soccer) culture in Europe during the late 20th century. While hooliganism became synonymous with fan violence and rowdy behavior, particularly from the 1970s onwards in the UK, its legacy is deeply intertwined with stadium safety and the modernization of global sporting events.
One of the most pivotal moments in history concerning ‘hooliganism’ is the Hillsborough Stadium disaster of 15 April 1989, which reshaped not only English football but also the approaches to crowd control and event security across Europe.
🎙️ PRODUCTION UPDATES & EXCLUSIVES
The Treaded Path Podcast: New Episode Released!![]()
In this episode of the Treaded Path podcast, host Salman Hasan speaks with Azra Hussain, who is the President and Co-Founder of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA), an apolitical, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1999. She trains speakers, plans educational and interfaith events, and speaks on topics like Islamic beliefs, practices, and gender roles. She has also provided cultural sensitivity training to police departments, hospital personnel, educators, and corporations.
🎪 COMMUNITY & EVENTS
The Aorta of Empire
Members of ICNA-NY shake hands with senator Ted Cruz, who was gifted an English copy of the Holy Quran.
Congress’s grandeur feels theatrical- ornate like theater sets, maze-like, and demanding to navigate. And yes, the walking is relentless.
The endless walking surprised me; one building alone required impressive footwork.
To assuage the exhaustion, however, was the beauty of the Capitol complex, which served as a pleasant interruption to the fatigue. Ornate ceilings, pristine marble, enormous columns, and historic paintings all made it impossible not to feel history, breathing upon us with every footstep.
Explore more NYC events year-round →
💌 Stay Connected
We're committed to bringing you stories that matter, voices that inspire, and connections that strengthen our communities.
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, & LinkedIn and visit our website, www.kufiproductions.com, for more content throughout the month.
Until next time,
The Kufi Productions Team
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