R.I.S.E Leads a Mental Health Wellness Workshop on Islam & Grief

On October 10, 2026, R.I.S.E. led a workshop titled ‘Islam & Grief at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn in collaboration with UNI. Sayyid Sameer Ali led the workshop, which focused on conceptualizing grief in Islam by closely examining examples from the Quran and the lives of the Ahl al-Bayt (p) and exploring tools and resources for grief support. The framework was based on the Islamic thinker al-Farabi’s work on the “Virtuous City” and called for collective education, resource-building, and discussion of grief among Muslims. The five stages of grief were discussed along with examples from the Islamic tradition.

Educational resources, including emergency support numbers and directories of Muslim providers, were suggested for the audience. The audience actively engaged in the discussion, and attendees presented some questions about the messengers mentioned in the Quran. Quranic paradigms of emotional wellness and expression were shared, along with traditions from the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt (p) that focused on endurance, patience, and making space to recognize emotions. Attendees came from different fields, including mental health providers, advocates, and faith-based counselors. The goal of the workshop was to integrate faith-based approaches for recognizing grief and providing appropriate psychoeducation on the topic.