What does it take to build a movement that challenges stereotypes and redefines leadership?

In this powerful episode of The Muslim Nonprofit Show, Nausheena Hussain shares her founder journey—from launching Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE) to gracefully exiting the organization she built.

She breaks down the Peacock Unicorn Method—a unique strategy that helped her gain credibility, amplify Muslim women’s voices, and lead with humility and collaboration. Whether you’re a nonprofit founder, aspiring changemaker, or leader-in-the-making, this episode offers a bold and deeply insightful roadmap to authentic, impact-driven leadership.

💡 “You don’t need permission to start. Just start—and bring your community with you.”

🎧 Tune in and don’t forget to 🔔 subscribe for future episodes with nonprofit founders, Islamic scholars, and sector experts.

📌Connect and Follow Dr. Tayyab Yunus:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tayyabyunus/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tayyabyunus
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@tayyabyunus

🔗 Connect and follow Dr. Nausheena Hussain:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nausheena.hussain/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenahussain/
Website: https://www.nausheena.com/

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Nausheena Hussain
01:42 – The Origin of Rise and the Problem It Was Built to Solve
05:00 – Muslim Women & Media Narratives: Breaking the Stereotype
07:11 – Starting With Conversations: The First Steps
09:25 – Discovering the Power of Storytelling (Muslim Sheroes Project)
12:19 – Gaining Credibility Outside the Community: The Peacock Unicorn Effect
15:40 – Why You Don’t Need to Have All the Answers to Start
17:25 – Community-Led Solutions Over Top-Down Leadership
19:31 – Civic Engagement: From Learning to Leading
22:10 – How Muslim Women Bring Their Entire Communities With Them
23:40 – The Founder Exit: Succession Planning Done Right
25:50 – Why Good Leaders Must Eventually Let Go
27:10 – Final Advice: Invest in Your Own Leadership Development

💬 What’s one takeaway that really stuck with you from this episode? Drop it in the comments 👇


#MuslimWomen #LeadershipJourney #NonprofitLeadership #WomenInIslam #SocialImpact #PeacockUnicornMethod #MuslimPodcast #SheroStories #SuccessionPlanning #FoundersJourney

In this powerful episode of The Muslim Nonprofit Show with Tayyab Yunus, we sit down with Salam Al-Marayati, the first full-time Muslim activist in the U.S. and co-founder of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). From humble beginnings in Arizona to becoming a national leader in Muslim advocacy, Salaam shares his personal journey, the founding story of MPAC, and what it takes to stay grounded in Islamic values while working for justice in American society.

We explore the meaning of the “Ayat of life,” how Muslims can lead with faith, the power of institutional Zakat, and what it really means to be ready for leadership.

Whether you're an aspiring changemaker, nonprofit leader, or just looking to deepen your understanding of the Muslim-American story—this is a must-listen.

🎧 Tune in and don’t forget to 🔔 subscribe for future episodes with nonprofit founders, Islamic scholars, and sector experts.

📌Connect and Follow Dr. Tayyab Yunus:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tayyabyunus/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tayyabyunus
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@tayyabyunus

🔗 Connect and follow Salam Al-Marayati:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/salamalmarayati/

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/salam-al-marayati-6b0a28167

00:00 – Assalamu Alaikum & Guest Introduction

01:20 – Salaam Al-Marayati: The First Full-Time Muslim Activist in the U.S.

03:05 – From Arizona to UCLA: How a Mosque Changed His Life

05:18 – Founding MPAC: A Vision Born in the Islamic Center

07:40 – Meeting with Politicians & Media: Putting Muslims on the Map

09:25 – The Jesse Jackson Moment: First Presidential Visit to a Masjid

11:45 – Lessons from the Prophets: Understanding the “Ayat of Life”

15:10 – Are Muslims Ready for Power? Building Internal Readiness

17:48 – Zakat Beyond Charity: Advocacy, Liberation, and Influence

20:30 – Advice for Young Muslim Activists & Founders

22:05 – Why Most Muslim Organizations Fail to Scale

23:45 – The Role of the Quran in Organizational Leadership

25:10 – Aligning Islamic Values with American Ideals

26:30 – Closing Reflections & Weekly Qur’an Halaqa Invitation

#MuslimActivism #SalamAlMarayati #MPAC #IslamInAmerica #QuranAndJustice #FaithInAction #ZakatForChange #AmericanMuslims #IslamicLeadership #MuslimVoices

In this powerful episode of The Muslim Nonprofit Show with Dr. Tayyab Yunus, we hear the inspiring story of Jaime “Mujahid” Fletcher — a former gang leader from Houston who found Islam, embraced it fully, and went on to found Islam in Spanish.

What began as an effort to help his father understand Islam blossomed into an international movement that produced over 350 audiobooks, hundreds of TV episodes, and the first Latino-led Islamic center in America.

His story is raw, honest, and packed with lessons for anyone thinking about launching a nonprofit, solving a social problem, or simply trying to walk a better path.

Brother Mujahid shares how his past led to his purpose, how media became his tool for dawah, and how staying true to the signs from Allah kept him moving forward — from handing out CDs in parks to running a state-of-the-art production studio and masjid in his old neighborhood.

🎧 Tune in and don’t forget to 🔔 subscribe for future episodes with nonprofit founders, Islamic scholars, and sector experts.

📌Connect and Follow Dr. Tayyab Yunus:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tayyabyunus/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tayyabyunus
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@tayyabyunus

🔗 Connect and follow Jaime ‘Mujahid’ Fletcher:
LinkedIn: https://www.facebook.com/mujahid.fletcher

00:00 – Intro: A former gang leader’s journey to Islam
01:12 – From Columbia to Houston: The early years
02:45 – Converting to Islam weeks before 9/11
04:30 – The need for Spanish-language Islamic material
06:10 – Giving da’wah to his father and community
08:25 – Recording the first Islam in Spanish audio CD
11:00 – His wife's aunt converts on her deathbed
13:15 – Building momentum: Da’wah from mosques to parks
15:50 – Facing resistance from the Muslim community
17:30 – Media outreach and the power of storytelling
19:10 – Creating the Islam in Spanish Center
21:00 – Designing a mosque for converts and community
22:45 – Impacting youth, police, and the wider society
24:15 – Final reflections: Just take the next step
25:00 – Closing & invitation to visit the center

Jaime Mujahid Fletcher’s journey is a reminder that the most powerful solutions often begin with personal pain. Islam in Spanish wasn’t a plan — it was a response to need, guided by signs from Allah and fueled by action. May Allah continue to bless this effort and inspire many more through it.
#IslamInSpanish #ConvertStory #LatinoMuslims #MuslimPodcast #RevertToIslam #Daawah #MuslimStories #IslamInAmerica #HoustonMuslims #FaithJourney #TheMuslimNonprofitShow #TayyabYunus #Podcast #MuslimPodcast