 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
June 17, 2016
Assalamu Alaikum
Dear Family & Friends of ICSC,
We are nearly halfway into our holy month and pray that you have all taken the opportunity to continue growing closer in your relationship with Allah. This weekend, we will host our second Spiritual Night. These nights give us the chance to pray and connect with each other - and enjoy suhoor as a community before we begin our fasting again on Sunday morning. Please join us in our qiyam this Saturday.
Also, we are still short of our goal for our Ramadan Iftar Sponsorship. We currently have received sponsorship for 12 out of 29 nights of iftar. If you have not yet contributed, please consider making a generous donation before the end of Ramadan. Thank you for your continued support. Jazakallah khair.
In peace,
Islamic Center of Southern California
|
Friday Khutbas
|
 |
|
JUNE 17
Salam Al-Marayati
|
| |
|
|
| |
Listen to Last Week's Friday Khutba (June 10)
|
Ramadan Reflections:
"Iftar, a cornerstone of Ramadan"
by Kristen Stangas (Communications Coordinator)
|
|
Ramadan has not been a lifelong celebration for me. I was raised Roman Catholic and started fasting in high school when I first made friends with a few Muslims at my public school. In my freshman year of college, I decided that I wanted to take my shahada and start down a new path that I believed would lead me closer to Allah. Since that time, Ramadan has evolved for me. I have come to understand that this month is about much more than sacrificing food and water throughout the day - that this deprivation is actually a means to an end for me to refocus all of my attention on Allah. In those moments that I feel hunger and thirst creeping up on me, I have the ability to remember Allah and say "Alhamdulillah for my blessings" or "Oh Allah, please help those who suffer from hunger and thirst every day." Growing in my God-consciousness is at the forefront of my Ramadan today.
The social aspect of my Ramadan experience has also shifted with time. When I first began fasting as a new Muslim, I only knew a handful of Muslims and none of them were nearby. I remember breaking my fast alone in my dorm room because the college cafeteria was already closed for the night. In recent years, I spent most nights eating iftar at home during the week and bouncing from house to house with friends and family on the weekends. Somehow, it wasn't until this Ramadan that I finally understood the beauty and value of breaking my fast at the mosque. Each night at the Islamic Center, we eat iftar together, create memories, and build our bonds as brothers and sisters in Islam. There is a sense of camaraderie and a spirituality that overwhelms the evening. The opportunity to share these moments together is priceless. I am so blessed to be here with my family and friends during Ramadan, and insha'Allah, as my Ramadans continue to evolve, I will always remember discovering the value of community.
Please consider becoming a sponsor and making a generous contribution to continue funding these iftars.
|
|
| | Each night, the Islamic Center provides iftar for an average of 550 people with the generous donations from our community. |
|
|
*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.*
|
Coming up at ICSC
|
|
|
This Weekend
(6/17 - 6/19)
1:00 p.m. - Jumma'a Prayer & Khutba
Salam Al-Marayati
9:00 p.m. - Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Salam Al-Marayati
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: Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Baset
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*
|
|
| |
|
|
Next Week
(6/20 - 6/26)
MONDAY (6/20)
9:00 p.m. - Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Omar Badr
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Taraweeh
TUESDAY (6/21)
9:00 p.m. - Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Edina Lekovic
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Taraweeh
WEDNESDAY (6/22)
9:00 p.m. - Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Dr. Gasser Hathout
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Taraweeh
THURSDAY (6/23)
9:00 p.m. - Recitation & Commentary
Commentary: Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Baset
10:00 p.m. - Isha & Taraweeh
FRIDAY (6/24)
1:00 p.m. - Jumma'a Prayer & Khutba
Tariq Aquil
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 Shahawi
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*
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Listen to the commentaries from this week:
|
|
| | One of our young Ramadan volunteers passing out water for people to break their fasts |
|
Interfaith Vigil Against Violence & Hatred
"We remember. We condemn. We stand in solidarity."
By Marwa Abdelghani (Young Leader at ICSC)
|
|
On Monday, June 13th, we gathered on the steps of the Center for an Interfaith Vigil against Violence and Hatred to remember the victims of the Orlando shootings and denounce any form of hate and violence targeting marginalized communities - in this case, the LGBTQ+ community. Hundreds of people from all walks of life gathered with our Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders for a press conference followed by the candlelight vigil.
Susan Russell, an Episcopal Priest of All Saints Church, spoke at the press conference and said,
"Our communities are not theaters of war. We are all vulnerable but we belong to each other. We must dismantle the systems of domination and fear and build a beloved community."
Thank you to everyone who attended on Monday and to Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace for co-hosting. Although this was another somber gathering, it is always heartwarming to see our community come together in solidarity. Read more about the event here.
|
|
| | Interfaith Vigil Against Violence and Hatred |
|
|
|
Watch the Video
|
| | Hedab Tarifi (ICSC Chairperson) speaking at our Orlando press conference |
| |
|
|
In the News
The Islamic Center was highlighted in the news for our Interfaith Vigil for Orlando
| |
|
|
| |
|
Official Orlando Statement
|
|
The Islamic Center of Southern California expresses its utter shock, dismay, and sadness at the mass murder of 50 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Needless to say we express our unequivocal and total condemnation of this act.
We pray God has mercy upon the victims, and showers His comfort upon the victim's families in this terrible period of tragedy. This is a devastating event for the nation, being its worst mass shooting.
The Islamic Center of Southern California reiterates its pledge and commitment to counter violent extremism, as well as do our part in healing our nation.
|
|
What's new in our community?
|
Muslim Youth Group (MYG:)
MYG is meeting on Saturday nights during Spiritual Nights.
|
| | MYG is having another event this Saturday, June 18 |
|
| Newly elected 2016 MYG Board
(Abdullah Hasan, Marah Hasan, Zavi Mapara, Ahmed Ali Mohamed, Omar Badr) |
For more information, please contact MYG President, Omar Badr
|
ICSC Food Pantry
|
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
|
|
|
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!
|
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.
""When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
