SALAM’s Annual Banquet Focuses on Hope
By Ras H. Siddiqui

 

The Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM) held its Annual Banquet at the SALAM Community Center on Saturday, October 21, 2023. The theme of the event was “Hope: Charting A Brighter Path Forward” which is in keeping with SALAM’s aim of guiding the community towards positive pursuits in often difficult times. And as is always the case, the one thing that has not changed is that the venue was full, and the diversity of the area Muslim population was well-represented inside.

There was however one difference this year. That being that this fundraising event was not focused exclusively on raising money for SALAM operations but added the Transitional House Project, an effort devoted to women from our community who may find themselves homeless due to a variety of reasons including abuse, divorce, and financial hardships. The project basically provides a sanctuary for Muslim women and children in need. Funds raised here are slated to go towards property acquisition and renovation, plus initial operating costs.

SALAM explained the vision of the project as: “Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment that serves as a bridge to independence for Muslim women and children facing homelessness. Whether they are dealing with divorce, single parenthood, or are newcomers to this country struggling with the high cost of living in California, the Transitional House offers a nurturing environment designed to guide them toward self-sufficiency.”

The program started just after Maghreb prayers. The formalities were started by SALAM’s Project Director Abdul-Qawiy Abdul-Karim who highlighted the need for a transition home for community women and children who find themselves in dire straits.  The formalities next started with a customary recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Shaykh Achour El-Qaddoury followed by its English translation by Imam Arslan Mughal. Both are also members of SALAM’s current Imam Team, along with Shaykh Saad El Helaly.

SALAM’s Board Chairperson Omar MoheyEldin spoke next. Omar came up to the stage and said that before he welcomes everyone, he would like to have Imam Tahir Anwar to make a special Dua (prayer) for suffering humanity in Palestine, our brothers, and sisters (and not to forget the children). Imam Tahir complied and made his Dua universal for all the people who have suffered and are suffering in that region irrespective of their backgrounds and especially those in Gaza. He made a Dua for the people in Gaza so that they can receive the relief that they rightly deserve and need. Tahir concluded with a prayer for love and peace for all. 

Omar MoheyEldin returned with official words of welcome on behalf of SALAM. He also introduced the other Board Members and SALAM’s Management Team and asked for a big hand for them for their efforts. And he was soon joined on stage by SALAM’s founder Dr Metwalli Amer as the presentation of the organization’s Distinguished Award followed.

This year the recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Award was Sister Shaista Rauf. From the many years that our Sacramento community has known her, Sister Shaista certainly deserved this recognition. She is an active member of the Sacramento Muslim community, one who has been quietly supporting several humanitarian and educational causes both in the Sacramento region and in Pakistan. On top of that, she is also a very humble person. Sister Shaista thanked everyone at SALAM for the recognition and proceeded to dedicate the award to her late husband.

The next speaker was Br Ibrahim J. Long, a young man who converted to Islam and shared a small part of his journey here. His talk was on how he became closer to the Deen and how we can know what we said and did would please Allah (SWT). He also shared some personal family reactions to his adopted beliefs.

A short performance of Nasheeds by a trio of people led by Shaykh Sadd ElHelaly was next before the first banquet keynote speech, which was given by Shaykha Jannah Sultan.

The Shaykha delivered a deeply religious talk on women’s issues, for example, Asiya in Islamic tradition, plus the story, and the birth of the prophet Musa (Moses) and how she saved him. And Firaun (Pharaoh), who did not even spare his own wife, the Queen, whose soul was removed from her body just before it was ordered to be crushed by her husband. Allah breaks you to build you, she said. We need to be aware of the needs of women, said Shaykha Sultan. 

Imam Tahir Anwar delivered the final keynote of the evening and conducted the fundraising in a very skillful manner. He said that he was extremely honored to be at SALAM again and considered it his extended home. He also said that this was a very kind and caring community. He added that we need to appreciate the blessings that we have in this country, as American Muslims with first amendment rights. We are also the most diverse Muslim community in the world, said Tahir.

On current projects Imam Tahir said that SALAM had identified a problem that our community women are often found struggling with domestic issues and facing rent which is not affordable. This SALAM inspired shelter for Muslim sisters is needed and he appealed to the generosity of all present to help purchase a home or shelter which will become a part of the SALAM endowment. His appeal was successful because when the fundraising was finished close to $175,000 had been raised, including pledges. The evening ended with Isha prayers and dinner.