College Students & Young Professionals
A home at the masjid to grow, connect, and belong.
RISE is IAR’s community for college students and young professionals — built around weekly Recharge halaqas, retreats, qiyam nights, workshops, and honest conversation about the challenges young Muslims actually face.
Our Story
Established 2022, growing every year since.
RISE was established in 2022 with a simple goal: to create a space at the masjid where college students and young professionals could feel connected, supported, and at home.
Since then, RISE has grown into a community centered around faith, growth, and meaningful connection. Our weekly Recharge halaqas with Imam Saif have remained at the heart of RISE, providing a consistent space to learn, reflect, ask questions, and strengthen our relationship with Allah.
Beyond Recharge, RISE has expanded to offer a variety of spiritual, social, educational, and professional programs — from retreats and qiyam nights to workshops, community outings, career development opportunities, and conversations addressing the real challenges young Muslims face today. Through it all, RISE continues to create opportunities for young Muslims to build friendships, grow in their deen, develop personally and professionally, and strengthen their connection to the masjid and the wider community.
Our Mission
“RISE exists to rejuvenate Islamic societal excellence by building sincere, lasting connections between people, community, and the House of Allah. Through ihsan, service, and meaningful human interaction, we strive to create a welcoming environment that helps individuals strengthen their relationship with Allah, sustain their deen beyond the masjid, and actively contribute to a stronger, more united Muslim community.”
— RISE, Islamic Association of Raleigh
About Workshops
Real skills for deen and dunya, taught by people who live it.
Throughout the year, RISE hosts workshops on the practical side of life — everything from understanding your prayer to managing money to navigating relationships as a young Muslim.
Each workshop is led by a scholar, mentor, or professional from the community, and built to be hands-on — expect real takeaways, not just theory.
What to Expect
Practical, hands-on, and worth your evening.
- Hands-on, not just a lecture. Workshops are built around practical takeaways you can actually use.
- Led by people who know the subject. Scholars, mentors, and professionals from our own community teach these sessions.
- A new topic each time. From fiqh of daily life to budgeting to communication skills — topics rotate throughout the year.
- Open to everyone. No prerequisite, no registration in most cases — just come ready to learn.
Weekly Update
The Latest from Workshops
A recap after each workshop — what we covered, and what’s coming up next.
No updates posted yet — check back after the next session.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Workshops
Sessions are listed on the RISE events calendar below.
About Retreats
A few days away that changes how you see the rest of the year.
Once or twice a year, RISE takes a group off-site for a multi-day retreat — a chance to unplug from school, work, and phones, and reconnect with Allah, yourself, and the people around you.
Retreats blend structured sessions — talks, reflection, small groups — with unstructured time to just be present with each other. No two retreats look exactly alike, but the goal is always the same: come back different than you left.
What to Expect
A few days away, built for reflection and connection.
- A few days, fully unplugged. Retreats run Friday–Sunday (or similar) — a real break from the everyday grind.
- Structured and unstructured time. Expect talks and reflection sessions, plus plenty of open time to just be present with each other.
- Registration required. Space is limited, so retreats fill up — watch the calendar and RISE announcements for sign-up windows.
- Bonds that last. Most people say the friendships from a retreat outlast the retreat itself.
Weekly Update
The Latest from Retreats
A recap after each retreat — what we covered, and what’s coming up next.
No updates posted yet — check back after the next session.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Retreat Dates
Sessions are listed on the RISE events calendar below.
About Recharge Halaqa
The one gathering RISE always comes back to.
Every week, Imam Saif leads Recharge — an open halaqa built for college students and young professionals to slow down, learn, and ask the questions that come with living deen in real life. It’s the one RISE gathering that’s never skipped a season since 2022.
Topics move between classical texts and the everyday — worship, character, relationships, work, and faith under pressure — always with room for questions. No registration, no prerequisite. Come once, or come every week.
What to Expect
Show up as you are — here’s how the evening runs.
- Open discussion, not a lecture. Imam Saif teaches, but questions are welcome throughout — nothing is off limits.
- No experience required. Whether you’re brand new to the deen or grew up in it, Recharge meets you where you are.
- About an hour, once a week. Come straight from class or work — light refreshments are usually out.
- A community, not just a class. Most people stay after to talk — it’s often how RISE friendships start.
Weekly Update
The Latest from Recharge Halaqa
A short recap after each gathering — what we covered, and what’s coming up next.
No updates posted yet — check back after the next session.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Recharge Halaqa Dates
Sessions are listed on the RISE events calendar below.
About Real Talk
The conversations we don’t usually have out loud.
Real Talk is a monthly open discussion on the things young Muslims actually struggle with — mental health, relationships, doubt, identity, and everything in between.
It’s a judgment-free space led by trusted voices in the community, built around one idea: you’re not the only one dealing with this, and it’s okay to talk about it.
What to Expect
An honest, judgment-free conversation.
- No topic off limits. Mental health, relationships, doubt, identity — we go there.
- A judgment-free space. What’s shared in the room stays in the room.
- Guided, not preachy. A trusted community voice facilitates — this isn’t a lecture.
- You’re not alone. Most people leave realizing a lot of others are carrying the same things.
Weekly Update
The Latest from Real Talk
A recap after each conversation — the themes we discussed, and what’s coming up next.
No updates posted yet — check back after the next session.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Real Talk Dates
Sessions are listed on the RISE events calendar below.
About Community Outings
Friendship is worship, too.
RISE outings get the community out of the masjid and into the world together — bowling, hiking, game nights, and everything in between.
There’s no curriculum here, just an intentional space to build the kind of friendships that make it easier to stay consistent in faith — because community carries you when motivation doesn’t.
What to Expect
Low-key, welcoming, and easy to jump into.
- Low-key and welcoming. No pressure, no agenda beyond spending time together.
- A new outing every time. From bowling nights to hikes to game nights — outings change month to month.
- Bring a friend. Outings are a great way to introduce someone new to the RISE community.
- Community that carries you. The friendships built here often turn into the support system that keeps people consistent in their deen.
Weekly Update
The Latest from Community Outings
A recap after each outing — what we did, and what’s coming up next.
No updates posted yet — check back after the next session.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Community Outings
Sessions are listed on the RISE events calendar below.
About Career Development
Building a career without losing sight of who you are.
RISE Career Development connects college students and young professionals with mentors already established in their fields — for resume reviews, mock interviews, and honest advice on navigating the workplace as a young Muslim.
Sessions cover everything from landing your first job to negotiating your worth to handling faith-related accommodations at work — practical guidance you won’t always find elsewhere.
What to Expect
Practical guidance for the workplace and beyond.
- Real mentors, real advice. Sessions are led by professionals from our own community across a range of fields.
- Practical, not theoretical. Resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking — come with something to work on.
- Faith and career, together. We talk openly about navigating prayer times, hijab, and other faith-related realities at work.
- Open to all stages. Whether you’re job hunting or years into your career, there’s something here for you.
Weekly Update
The Latest from Career Development
A recap after each session — what we covered, and what’s coming up next.
No updates posted yet — check back after the next session.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming Career Development Dates
Sessions are listed on the RISE events calendar below.
Stay in the Loop
Upcoming Events
Recharge halaqas, retreats, qiyam nights, and everything else on the RISE calendar. Taken from IAR’s weekly email and updated every week.
Get Involved
Come to a Recharge halaqa — that’s all it takes to start.
RISE is open to all college students and young professionals, no matter where you are in your journey. Come as you are, meet the community, and see where it takes you.
- 2022 RISE established at IAR
- Weekly Recharge halaqa with Imam Saif
- Open to college students & young professionals
- Year-round retreats, qiyam nights & workshops
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Prayer Times & Jumu'ah Schedule
Daily iqamah is the same at both campuses. Jumu’ah speakers differ — check the campus tab.
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| Prayer | Adhan | Iqamah |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | — | — |
| Shuruq | — | — |
| Dhuhr | — | — |
| Asr | — | — |
| Maghrib | — | — |
| Isha | — | — |
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Monthly prayer schedule