'No Filter' panel prepares audience for Ramadan

Memphis Islamic Center hosted "No Filter," a panel discussion to address some of the daily struggles that people must deal with on Friday as Ramadan is right around the corner.

Backbiting, jealousy and arrogance was the focus of the panel which featured MIC's resident scholar, Sheikh Yasir Qadhi, Masjid ar-Rahman's Imam Anwar Arafat and MIC Youth Director Safi Khan.

The event opened with Arafat's discussion on the pains of backbiting. He talked about the graveness of the sin, citing Surah al-Hujurat which equates backbiting to "eating the flesh of one's dead brother."

Qadhi addressed the disease of jealousy, its consequences, and ways to prevent it from taking over one's mind.

Khan discussed the topic of arrogance and examined the role of social media in perpetuating the arrogant mindset many people seem to have today. The program concluded with a question and answer session from the audience.

"Great having a panel of knowledgeable teachers reminding us about and helping us deal with qualities and feelings that everyone experiences at one point or another, especially as we approach the holiest month of the year," said Bilal Siddiq, a sophomore at Rhodes College.