On Sunday, Mar. 20, we attended the Get to Know Each Other program at Masjid Al-Taqwa in Altadena. This is a monthly event that we started alongside Masjid Bilal to promote intra-faith dialogue. Each month, the program rotates to a new mosque and we engage in a conversation surrounding a unique topic. The topic for March was "Islam for Social Justice" and our panel was comprised of four speakers: Arva Syed (Masjid Al-Taqwa), Desha Dauchan (Masjid Al-Taqwa), John Hyde (Interfaith Study Group), and Jimmy Licante (Baha'i Center). 

With such a diverse group of individuals on the panel this month, each of our speakers had a different perspective to share. Desha spoke of taking the initiative when she told us a story from the first Ramadan that she shared with her husband, "We decided to make sandwiches and take them to those in need. I'll call it empathy in action. Do it now. You don't need to find a soup kitchen to volunteer at. Go to the store now, buy your supplies, and put your faith in action." John explained that to make a change, we need to get uncomfortable, "Get proximate to the places where injustice, suffering, and abuse are profound. Problem solving from a distance is ineffective because we often miss the details. Change the narrative from fear and hate to hope and justice." 

As the afternoon came to a close and we prepared for our potluck and socializing, Salam Al-Marayati closed the program by reminding us that in the Qur'an it says, "Justice is closest to piety." In our week ahead, let us keep this in mind and strive to seek justice for those who may be struggling around us.

In peace,

Islamic Center of Southern California