SALAM Banquet Pushes for Maintaining a Strong American Muslim Identity
By Ras H. Siddiqui
The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) held its Annual Banquet at its own Community Center on Sunday, December 2, 2018 with an event combining style and substance. The style was apparent in the fine décor which greeted us at the beautifully set tables and the substance was presented by our next generation and Keynote Speaker Linda Sarsour, a renowned American Muslim activist from Brooklyn, New York. SALAM prides itself on being a truly American Masjid and from its track record spanning approximately three decades it has succeeded in earning this label.
After appetizers and social time the evening began as event emcee Asif Haq invited a very young kid to deliver the Azan for Isha prayers (SALAM is certainly promoting the next generation) which were held in its beautiful Mosque next door. Soon after, Asif started the proceedings by thanking all the volunteers and SALAM founder Dr Metwalli Amer for their contribution to this event and the organization. Official words of welcome came next from SALAM Executive Director Br Saeed Ahmed in a short speech which asked everyone to sit back and relax and enjoy the program. Br Saeed and his wife Connie say very little but do a great deal for the SALAM organization and that deserves a special mention.
The official welcome was followed by an invitation to two children to start the event with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an and an English translation of its verses. And what a wonderful recitation it turned out to be from this young man and a great follow-up translation from the young girl. One just had to be there to appreciate good Qirat.
This year’s SALAM Distinguished Service Award was presented to the family team of Dr Shoab Siddique and Sister Laura Jensen for being valuable members of the SALAM Community for over 18 years. Dr Shoab is an otolaryngologist and Sister Laura a financial planner. Their family also reflects some of the unique diversity that America and the Sacramento area are incorporating. It was a pleasure sharing the table with them at this event. And the SALAM Distinguished Award for Exceptional Service was presented to Imam Kashif Ahmed who served as SALAM’s Religious and Social Director for about three years. Sadly, we are losing him as he has moved to Irving, Texas to take up another assignment at one of the largest Islamic Centers in the country.
The presentation of SALAM Education Scholarships followed. Funded and presented by Professor Ayad al Qazzaz, Br Anjum Saeed and Dr Metwalli and Professor Rosalie Amer, these scholarships help local students to partially achieve their educational goals. Thanks to the generosity of these pillars of our community for thinking ahead. The students awarded received a certificate and a check which they accepted gracefully. One young man took a somewhat humorous route while on stage and said that since the older generation was moving on (not his exact words) it was time to make room for his age group!
Speaking about the future, the next segment was all about “Building Leaders at SALAM” coordinated by the organization’s Vice Chairperson Dr Anne Kjemtrup. This is one area that SALAM has excelled in for many years as its outreach into the mainstream Sacramento community has provided a platform for our young people. By inspiring Muslim-American kids (some of whom have attended SALAM’s Sunday School) to aspire to become leaders outside the Muslim community while retaining their beliefs and cultural identity SALAM has stepped up to the challenge. The three young ladies who spoke here that evening, namely, Celene Aridine, Hanaa Alnassiry and Sehrish Khan, not only made us proud but are surely to make the mainstream American experience richer. Sehrish recently ran in an election for a local city council seat, did not win, but some of us believe that she should start her 2020 election year campaign as soon as possible.
A video titled “Why SALAM?” prepared by Joumana Bawa prepared the groundwork for one of the main reasons for this event, the fundraising. But that was not before SALAM Chairperson Waseem Bawa inspired us with a fine delivery on Islam’s impact on American history. He has himself proudly worn the uniform of the US Military and presented his ideas with clarity to be appreciated by any patriotic American regardless of faith. Maybe Br Waseem should seriously contemplate running for a local office too (just saying).
Farrukh Saeed presented the SALAM Financial Update (income and expenditures) for the year before Imam Kashif gave his Spiritual Message and conducted the actual fundraiser. SALAM is at the cutting edge of many things and it has recently embarked on going Solar. The Imam was quite persuasive as many participants that night proved to be generous. The SALAM facilities and Community Center need some upgrading and continued maintenance which is where some of the raised funds will be utilized.
Linda Sarsour next delivered a very powerful keynote speech. This Palestinian-Muslim-American mother of three believes in telling it like it is and is not one to hold back. She spoke of being inspired by our youth (who appear to be inspired by her too). Sarsour requested the community to rise up to the times and build up on its human capital. There is no peace without justice, she said, and being a Muslim is not just praying 5 times a day. One also has to be active in society and cannot turn a blind eye to injustice anywhere. She spoke of two options that we have to deal with the situation: to confront it or do nothing. She encouraged community engagement and activism and herself admitted that she does not do “nothing” well. Linda believes in engaging our children so that they continue to be proud and upfront Muslims.
A late dinner and closing Dua ended the event. All one can add is that it was quite an evening and it held up to the high expectations that SALAM has itself set for this annual fundraising event.
(Season’s Greetings to all of our readers)
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