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June 24, 2016
Assalamu Alaikum
Dear Family & Friends of ICSC,
We are nearing the last ten days of Ramadan - the most blessed time of our holy month. We hope that you will join us in the days to come. This Saturday we will host another Spiritual Night full of prayer, reflection, food, and socializing.
As we near the end of Ramadan, please consider making a donation to help us reach our goal for our
Iftar Sponsorship program. Thank you for your continued support. Jazakallah khair.
In peace,
Islamic Center of Southern California
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Friday Khutbas
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Listen to Last Week's Friday Khutba (June 17)
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Ramadan Reflections:
"Interfaith Iftars"
by Kristen Stangas
(Communications Coordinator)
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As the sun begins to set for
maghrib
prayer, our community members slowly trickle through the doors of the Islamic Center awaiting the call to prayer - signaling that it is time to break our fasts alongside our Muslim brothers and sisters. What might be unexpected, is the increasing number of our interfaith friends from across Los Angeles who are partaking in our Ramadan traditions. Muslims, Jews, and Christians are meeting regularly here at the center to break their fasts, share iftar, and continue our ongoing dialogue.
On Tuesday, June 14, 40 members of our Islamic Center welcomed approximately 35 visitors from the B'nai David-Judea Congregation. Our Jewish friends arrived shortly before it was time to break our fasts and enjoy our iftar from Bodhi Kosher Thai - they also joined us in the prayer hall to observe our isha prayer. Established by Jihad Turk and Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky, for the past three years, a small group of representatives from the Islamic Center and B'nai David have been meeting every two months to engage in interfaith dialogue while sharing a meal, having a text study, and even discussing the conflict in the Middle East. Our iftar last week was the first big event including our larger communities and on October 19, B'nai David will welcome us to their synagogue to join in a dinner for their holy feast of Sukkot. If you would like more information on how to get involved with this partnership, please contact the Muslim Coordinator, Tasneem Noor. To read an overview of the entire night, take a few minutes to read "When Orthodox Jews visit the Islamic Center" a recent publication in the Jewish Journal.
In the next week, our doors will once again be open for more interfaith iftars. Some of our visitors will include a group from L.A. Commons (a dynamic group representing people of all cultures in Los Angeles), Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Wilshire Blvd., and ReconciliAsian (a peace center in Los Angeles that embodies local Korean immigrant churches and other ethnic churches).
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| Muslims and Orthodox Jews engaging in interfaith dialogue at the Islamic Center on June 14 (Photo credit: Jewish Journal) |
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*Our Ramadan Programs are a cornerstone of our holy month. Iftar will be served every night during the first week of Ramadan and Fridays through Sundays during the remaining weeks. Insha'Allah, we can raise funds to cover Monday through Thursday nights as well, but we are dependent on the generous contributions of our community in order to make that possible. Please consider becoming an iftar sponsor this Ramadan.*
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Coming up at ICSC
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This Weekend
(6/24 - 6/26)
1:00 p.m. -
Jumma'a Prayer & Khutba
Jihad Turk
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Jihad Turk
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Taraweeh
10:00 a.m. -
ICSC Food Pantry
Volunteers arrive @ 9:45 a.m.
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Hassaan Shahawy
10:00 p.m. -
Isha & Spiritual Night
Asim Buyuksoy & Dr. Saleh Kholaki
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Dr. Maryam Qudrat
10:00 p.m. -
Isha & Taraweeh
*NO SUNDAY PROGRAM*
*ALL CLASSES WILL RESUME
AFTER RAMADAN*
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Next Week
(6/27 - 7/3)
MONDAY (6/27)
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Hassan Zeenni
10:00 p.m. -
Isha & Taraweeh
TUESDAY (6/28)
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Dr. Eba Hathout
10:00 p.m. -
Isha & Taraweeh
WEDNESDAY (6/29)
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Dr. Gasser Hathout
10:00 p.m. -
Isha & Taraweeh
THURSDAY (6/30)
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Dr. Najeeba Syeed
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Taraweeh
FRIDAY (7/1)
1:00 p.m. -
Jumma'a Prayer & Khutba
Hassan Zeenni
9:00 p.m. - NIGHT OF POWER
*Pasadena Convention Center*
Commentary: Dr. Gasser Hathout
11:00 p.m. - Spiritual Night
*Program reconvenes at the Islamic Center of Southern California*
Asim Buyuksoy & Dr. Saleh Kholaki
10:00 a.m. -
ICSC Food Pantry
Volunteers arrive @ 9:45 a.m.
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Jihad Turk
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Spiritual Night
Asim Buyuksoy & Dr. Saleh Kholaki
9:00 p.m. -
Recitation & Commentary
Commentary:
Dr. Laila Al-Marayati
10:00 p.m. -
Isha & Taraweeh
*NO SUNDAY PROGRAM*
*ALL CLASSES WILL RESUME
AFTER RAMADAN*
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| We had approximately 250 men, women and children stay for suhoor and fajr prayer last Spiritual Night - Saturday, June 18. |
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| Marium Mohiuddin, Lori Margaret, Muhammad Yusuf Tarr and Mustafa Zeno waiting to break their fasts before iftar |
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Community Corner
"An Athlete's Tribute to Muhammad Ali"
By Tarek Morad (Professional Soccer Player, Louisville City FC)
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I was lucky to grow up in Southern California surrounded by a large Muslim community. I had plenty of friends in school but it was always easier to hang out with my Muslim friends because I didn't feel the need to explain my way of life to them. It wasn't until I grew older, probably in my early teens, that I started to question my faith. I don't believe that is necessarily a bad thing. Without questioning the things you're doing, you fail to truly understand and appreciate the meaning behind those things. I questioned my religion constantly, especially when I had to fast during Ramadan. I played competitive soccer my entire life and as a kid, I fasted during my soccer games. As I got older, it got a lot tougher. I had a hard time seeing the beauty behind fasting and felt it was more of a punishment. As an athlete, it's incredibly hard to fast while staying at the peak of my performance abilities. However, I found comfort knowing that if other Muslim athletes could find the strength, so could I. And one of them was Muhammad Ali.
I looked up to him not only as a sports hero, but as a Muslim hero. I read about his life in high school (probably one of the only books I actually read) and discovered he was a role model to people from different cultures and ways of life. I remember buying a Muhammad Ali poster and hanging it above my bed because he was my biggest sports hero. Although I wasn't even alive to remember his boxing career, he still had a huge impact on me as an athlete. More importantly, he made me proud to call myself a Muslim. He gave me the encouragement that I needed to outwardly take ownership of my Islam - to tell my friends that Muhammad Ali was a Muslim and shares my way of life.
Today, I'm a professional soccer player for Louisville City FC in Louisville, Kentucky. It just so happens that this is Muhammad Ali's hometown. When he passed away earlier this month, I was blessed with the opportunity to be able to attend his Janazah prayer service along with about 15,000 people of different races, generations, cultural backgrounds and religions to celebrate the life of the beloved champion. I was blown away by how diverse the crowd in attendance was. It reinforced my beliefs that he really was the "people's champ" and I was able to witness the impact he has had on people around the world and will continue to for generations to come.
Rest in peace, champ!
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Tarek Morad, Professional Soccer Player for Louisville City FC
(
Photo courtesy Alena Schuckmann/Louisville City FC)
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What's new in our community?
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Muslim Youth Group (MYG:)
MYG is meeting on Saturday nights during Spiritual Nights.
This Saturday (June 25): MYG will welcome Malek Bendelhoum to speak about taqwa.
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| MYG Spiritual Night - June 18, 2016 |
For more information, please contact MYG President,
Omar Badr
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ICSC Food Pantry
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For the past 10 years, ICSC has been serving groceries to the local community. Each weekend, approximately 25 volunteers meet in our cafeteria to take part in this event. We have partnered with HopeNet to provide high quality food such as organic meat and fresh produce. If you are interested in being a part of our team, come join us at
9:45 a.m. on Saturday! Doors open to the public at 10:30 a.m.
View recent photos from our Food Pantry
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Want to get involved?
We're working on updating our volunteer database right now. If you are interested in sharing your time and talents with ICSC, please send us an email with your name, phone number, and email address to let us know how you want to get involved. Contact
Kristen Stangas
Current Volunteer Opportunities
- Sign-In Table assistance is needed at various events
- Experienced photographers to help take photos at our events
- Do you like to COOK? We are looking for help in the kitchen at some upcoming events.
- Experienced babysitters to help with children at events
We are looking for Greeters, Dinner Crew, and Bookstore Assistants. Sign up today!
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Prayer Times
We are open for prayers five times a day, every day. Iqama is ten minutes after the athan is called. You can find prayer times on our
website
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"The Night of Power
is better than a thousand months
."
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