ICP Update

Alhamdullilah, in recent months there have been a lot of good news to celebrate at ICP which I would like to share by way of spreading good cheer, ISA.

1. Outreach and Da’wa Program

Hardly a week goes by that ICP is not fielding a request from a school, organization or church group to host their members' inquiries about Islam.  Meanwhile Islam 101 class continues to go strong. Last Friday, a church group of about 15 church boys and girls, joined us in our Jumuah prayer and then stayed around to ask questions.  I had the opportunity to read their feedback reports which we routinely solicit from our attendees. Mashaa Allah, they were unanimously positive in their comments.  In their words, they were overwhelmed with our hospitality but also learned a lot that helped clear their misconceptions, notably the position of Islam on Prophet Jesus (s), and his mother Mariam (s).

Encounters like these are common. What is uncommon is the group who came last Wednesday.  This is a grass roots missionary group who were in Pittsburgh from all around the nation.  They had asked permission to come to our masjid and learn about us a few months back.  No less than 180 of them showed up.  Alhamdullilah, we had in presence our Imam AbduSemih and imam Atef and in addition Dr. ElHillal.  After introductory remarks and an initial presentation questions and answers followed.  What was slated to be a one hour encounter developed into a close to three hour session.  Once again the youth were thrilled with the openness and simplicity of our Deen.  As they left they insisted on shaking hands with the presenters seemingly reluctant to see the meeting come to an end.  Their leader in the end had to yell: “We are two hours behind our next activity on the program! What, you wanna live here?”  So it may be. Those who came to give found there was a lot they could take with them.  As Br. Yusuf Ali once told me, this product we have is too great, it's selfish of us not to share.  With Allah’s help we will continue our open door policy that whoever comes humbly asking we will accommodate.

Along the same lines, our relationship with the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) has grown in strides.  Between hosting their meetings and supporting their legitimate causes, ICP has earned a special place in that forum.  It is with special pride that I relay to you that our Imam, AbduSemih, was asked to lead the opening prayer at the last PIIN annual banquet.  Likewise, in his annual address the leader Reverend Welch, frequently referenced the Quran and mentioned the aspirations of Muslims as integral partners in the community.

But that is not all, our participation in the Girl scouts program and hosting their yearly events, participation in the International Children’s day and in two of the last events by Venture Outdoors, a Pittsburgh nonprofit, are all avenues for making visible the word of Truth and the way of Islam.

2. Inreach and Education

As opposed to outreach, inreach is that work directed to improving our affairs as a community.

With Allah’s grace, we had a successful program on drug abuse. This is only the beginning of an effort to educate our community on the issues that surround us and that define the struggle of staying Muslim in America today.  The open discussion by the esteemed panelists disclosed the talent we have in this community and left the audience riveted and asking for more.  

Concomitant with the drug abuse program, we had the Muslim Women’s Association’s annual citywide graduation celebration. Although this event has taken place for many years it is the first time we host it at ICP. Nothing could be more empowering to our children than letting them know our whole community is interested in, and supportive of their achievement.

More indeed followed and subsequently, last week we showed Br. Hamza’s acclaimed documentary “New Muslim Cool”.  A fruitful discussion followed on issues ranging from expectations of youth versus elders, Islamic knowledge, the need for communication between our communities and interethnic marriage within our Muslim community.

On the same day the Missionary youth visited, we had our second Food Bank distribution day.  This is a full fledged, bona fide food bank that receives support from the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.  It is open to Muslims and non Muslims.  In these difficult times many families might find themselves on the brink.  Please forward the information to anyone you know.  As you know, the one who points in the direction of a good deed is as worthy as he who does it.

3. Return to Tippecanoe

If you missed the camp at Tippecanoe in June, you have a second chance in August.  By popular demand we are going back one more time this summer.  One of the main reasons for the attachment to the place is the hospitality of the staff. When our Imams went to check the place toward the end of winter it is what struck them most.  When we followed we witnessed this first hand.  But clearly the affinity was mutual.  As we gathered to listen to the lectures we noted the staff was listening too.  By the second day, the large picture of Jesus (s) was removed from the main hall out of deference to our beliefs, as they now understood them.  Interestingly, before Imam Johari Abdulmalek took his leave, he was approached by staff counselor Adam.  He asked him to explain more about Islam and asked for literature and contact numbers to ICP.  One thing they all told us, is they were deeply touched by the way we as a very diverse group got along not only amongst ourselves but within our individual families and across generations.

So, lets go back. If not for ourselves and our kids, let’s go back for Adam, the staff and the immigrant Muslim lady who was so sorry to have missed our arrival.  But this time, we would really like to see a gathering from more than one masjid and by all groups. This time, instead of having a guest speaker from outside of Pittsburgh, let's have alternating turns for the imams of our different masajid.  Let’s have a communal retreat in which we get to learn more about each other.

May Allah reward the countless volunteers who give selflessly from their time and wealth, especially the numerous sisters who do so in silence.  Lastly, and as always, we ask you your duaa.  

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا

 سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلاَمٌ وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ

أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

DaAAwahum feeha subhanaka allahumma watahiyyatuhum feeha salamun waakhiru daAAwahum ani alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena

10:10 (This will be) their cry therein: "Glory to Thee, O Allah." And "Peace" will be their greeting therein! and the close of their cry will be: "Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!"

Alaa Shalaby,

The ICP Summer Camp for this year was held for three consecutive days. (June 12 through June 15, 2009) The camp location was at a private and beautiful location called Tippecanoe Camp in Ohio.