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Making Ummah
Jun. 19th, 2011 06:06 pmA few months ago I came across a number of masjids within a few miles of my house. Of them, I was most surprised to see one in the downtown area of a city that is literally across the street from me. I went driving around, looking for it to no avail but when I was googling something else (progressive + muslim + values) its website came up.
The keywords that'd come up in my search were from its mission statement:
REACHING OUT TO ALL HUMANITY, to serve and engage Muslims by promoting the progressive values and teaching of Islam and to advocate inter-faith harmony in a multicultural environment in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. To promote Islam as a true religion by means of engaging good conduct and good behavior towards all members of our surrounding community.
Masjid Belal, known as ICOB aims to be the focal point for the surrounding Muslim community, In order to enhance understanding and dispel the many misconceptions about Islam. Our mission is to encourage people of all ages and ethnic groups to learn and develop their knowledge of Islam, to bridge the gap between the communities by providing the necessary resources.
The mission statement goes on a bit more about cultural/racial diversity and inter-faith harmony... which, frankly, is right up my alley. I emailed the staff and asked if there was some sort of sisters halaqa or education program. The imam, Br. Yusuf Ali, responded that no one really knew about Masjid Belal and that he'd welcome any tips on things to do to promote it or any things I'd like to do.
I thought about it for a while and finally responded today. I let him know that it would be cool to have an official facebook page and that coordinating with other masjids, even those with differnces in doctrinal beliefs (i.e. Shia) would be good for the purposes of intra-faith learning and presenting a united and community focused face of Islam. I also mentioned that I was super shy and that I was unlikely to go to a social event for families BUT, I'd do something where we were there to actually do stuff-- like a food or clothing drive organized by sisters. Then I offered to help with such a thing in whatever way I could.
I often pray that Allah guides me in submission, that I don't fight against things that I should be doing. I suppose another way to think about that is that I hope Allah lets things I am supposed to do come more easily to me, instead of me trying to plan grand gestures and jumping in way outside of my comfort zone, maybe give me things to do that would please Him and be of most benefit to those who are needy. Also to me, considering my social limits and strange anxieties.
So far I like the look of Masjid Belal. I'm intimidated by big giant masjids because I'd be new there, and alone. I'd be from a different place and scared to say hello or ask questions. I'm intimidated by masjids that serve one exclusive community-- whether they be Somali or South Asian, white Sufis or Persian-- because I'm just a brown girl with kinky hair with a Muslim name that came from a Latin community who tears her tortillas and fries her plantains and I'm not really like anyone else and no one is really from where I am from. Maybe this little unknown masjid is just the ummah I need.
The keywords that'd come up in my search were from its mission statement:
REACHING OUT TO ALL HUMANITY, to serve and engage Muslims by promoting the progressive values and teaching of Islam and to advocate inter-faith harmony in a multicultural environment in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. To promote Islam as a true religion by means of engaging good conduct and good behavior towards all members of our surrounding community.
Masjid Belal, known as ICOB aims to be the focal point for the surrounding Muslim community, In order to enhance understanding and dispel the many misconceptions about Islam. Our mission is to encourage people of all ages and ethnic groups to learn and develop their knowledge of Islam, to bridge the gap between the communities by providing the necessary resources.
The mission statement goes on a bit more about cultural/racial diversity and inter-faith harmony... which, frankly, is right up my alley. I emailed the staff and asked if there was some sort of sisters halaqa or education program. The imam, Br. Yusuf Ali, responded that no one really knew about Masjid Belal and that he'd welcome any tips on things to do to promote it or any things I'd like to do.
I thought about it for a while and finally responded today. I let him know that it would be cool to have an official facebook page and that coordinating with other masjids, even those with differnces in doctrinal beliefs (i.e. Shia) would be good for the purposes of intra-faith learning and presenting a united and community focused face of Islam. I also mentioned that I was super shy and that I was unlikely to go to a social event for families BUT, I'd do something where we were there to actually do stuff-- like a food or clothing drive organized by sisters. Then I offered to help with such a thing in whatever way I could.
I often pray that Allah guides me in submission, that I don't fight against things that I should be doing. I suppose another way to think about that is that I hope Allah lets things I am supposed to do come more easily to me, instead of me trying to plan grand gestures and jumping in way outside of my comfort zone, maybe give me things to do that would please Him and be of most benefit to those who are needy. Also to me, considering my social limits and strange anxieties.
So far I like the look of Masjid Belal. I'm intimidated by big giant masjids because I'd be new there, and alone. I'd be from a different place and scared to say hello or ask questions. I'm intimidated by masjids that serve one exclusive community-- whether they be Somali or South Asian, white Sufis or Persian-- because I'm just a brown girl with kinky hair with a Muslim name that came from a Latin community who tears her tortillas and fries her plantains and I'm not really like anyone else and no one is really from where I am from. Maybe this little unknown masjid is just the ummah I need.
