Pillars Fund Pillars Fund Pillars Fund is a grant-making organization and Muslim community foundation named in reference to the five pillars of Islam, the third of which is Zakat. Founded in 2010 in the mold of United Way and Jewish Federations of North America, and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Pillars is focused on funding secular non-profit programs supporting American Muslims in media, public relations, and leadership development. It is one of the largest funders of Muslim issues in the United States. Pillars Fund is governed by a Board of Advisors, many of whom are prominent American Muslims. The organization makes particular effort
Islam and hip hop in the United States speaks to the tension between racial groups. Nevertheless, underpinning each artist or group is an artfully expressed version of the Muslim faith that challenges the boundaries of conservative ideas and reveals an intersectionality between potentially clashing identities. Freeway, Native Deen, and Beanie Sigel promote the faith and integration within their lyrics and messages of their music. Freeways converted to Islam when he was 14 years old. He says, “[Islam], it’s my core, it’s my soul, it’s my everything. He recognizes the conflicting values within the Muslim community, especially those whom believe that making music is haram. Nevertheless, he concedes that