Yaqeen Institute’s 2026 Ramadan Series The Name I Need Drew Heavily From Fadwa Wazwaz’s Work

The ideas and information in this material come from Fadwa Wazwaz, especially her book Love Is Deeper Than Words.

When Omar Suleiman created his Ramadan series, The Name I Need, he drew significantly on her work. When asked about acknowledging his teacher and source, he chose not to mention her. This has led some to reflect on how scholars and teachers are recognized within our community and to thoughtfully consider the principles guiding source crediting in our work.

If someone hesitates to credit a teacher who influenced their work, it can lead others to wonder about their intentions. In our tradition, giving credit is seen as a sign of sincerity and a reminder that the work is for God rather than personal recognition and branding. When credit is not given, some may interpret it as personal branding or self-promotion.

To further explore how credit to sources is communicated in public work, below is the promotional description for the series. This inclusion invites us to consider whether and how the original influences behind these ideas are acknowledged in materials shared with the broader community.

The Name I Need — Rewind & Reflect resource is designed from the writings and works of Fadwa Wazwaz and repackaged by Yaqeen’s Ramadan series, The Name I Need. Created for families, halaqas, and small groups, each guide helps you slow down, go deeper, and bring the message of every episode to life through meaningful conversations and personal reflection.

All of these prompts and reflections are based on the writings and reflections of Fadwa Wazwaz:

Each guide includes.

• Episode Summaries: Clear takeaways from each video
• Conversation Prompts: Questions to spark meaningful dialogue
• Reflection Activities: Storytelling, journaling, and more
• Duʿas from Qur’an and Sunnah: For memorization and inspiration
• DIY Duʿa Builder: Guidance to call upon Allah’s Names in a personal way
• Watch. Reflect. Connect.

Let this Ramadan be a journey of learning and reflection for your family, your friends, and your community.

This series would not exist without the foundational work of Fadwa Wazwaz. Yaqeen Institute has been reluctant to acknowledge her contributions, so she is simply asking for what is standard in both scholarship and Islamic tradition: cite the original teacher.

https://yaqeeninstitute.org/curriculum/discussion-guides/the-name-I-need?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=curriculum%20&utm_content=reflect-and-rewind-2026-shawwal-cta

Going forward, since Yaqeen has repeatedly relied on her work without proper attribution, Omar Suleiman is being asked to produce original content rather than draw on Fadwa Wazwaz’s material. Acknowledgment is the minimum standard; originality is the expectation.