Salam Annual Banquet 2024 Focuses on Higher Islamic Learning
By Sarah Astarte
SALAM Islamic Center held its annual banquet on Saturday, November 16 th, 2024. The proceedings began with a welcome address by Br Oussama Mbyokeddem, who also served as the Master of Ceremonies.
A Qur’an recitation of Surah Taha by Shaykh Achour El-Qaddoury followed. The Chairperson’s address was delivered by Br Omar MoheyEldin, who shared a video of the progress that the organization has made in the past year, with regular prayer services, a Friday family night program, Islamic Sunday School, Arabic classes and a tutoring program, Sister’s Halaqa, and even sports gatherings on Saturday mornings. In addition to all the good work the mosque is doing, there was an emphasis on the next step to be taken: developing the Center for Higher Islamic Learning.
Shaykh Abdallah Deeb came in from Ohio to be present at SALAM. He did a beautiful recitation of the Qur’an, melodic in its nature. It was easy to go into a meditative state listening to him. His son commented later that he appreciated his father going before him to calm everyone down and soften their energy before the speeches. Imam Ahmed Deeb, son of the shaykh, followed with talking about “Adab” and putting things where they fit. He spoke about the mosque serving as a community center. It is a place originally thought to serve the spiritual needs of those that are seeking the Divine. However, it must strive to meet the needs of a community holistically and be much more. He used the Arabic word “Kulliyyah” meaning “All” and spoke of it being a social space, where individuals and families gather. It is also a place of learning, in which the libraries must be full of books, articles, and materials that are relevant and updated. He encouraged holding Arabic classes, as well as English classes for the newer congregants, especially with refugees and new immigrants coming to the United States. He himself was of Syrian descent and spoke reminiscing of what his country of origin was like before its internal conflicts during the Arab spring.
Imam Tahir Anwar was the keynote speaker, reminding us all that the mosques are supported by their congregants and that the community grows very quickly once it is established. His mention of the movie “Top Gun” was a crowd-pleaser, saying that when he watched it as a child it fascinated him, and he wanted to be hero like Tom Cruise’s character. Now he is helping mosques develop and grow, and it is the work of real-life heroes. Anwar asked all of us to contribute and help our community do its work.
The highlight of the evening was to see Br Asif Haq receive the Distinguished Service Award after fifteen years of being part of the SALAM team. He has recently been serving as the outreach and learning director and has helped build bridges in the greater Sacramento community by doing interfaith work, representing SALAM at numerous events, and giving presentations at schools, colleges, universities, and other religious institutions. He called SALAM founder Dr Metwalli Amer, as the guiding, shining light of the organization, and acknowledged his presentation partners, especially Sister Anne Kjemtrup. He appreciated the support and prayers of friends and family in the community. The evening concluded with a heartfelt Dua by Shaykh Saad ElHelaly.
Crest Café catered a delicious meal of Mediterranean food with two kinds of rice, pita bread, eggplant, chicken, beef kabobs and lamb. The reception hall was full of congregants of numerous ethnicities and cultures, all being part of the SALAM community. The lovely evening was enjoyed by all and sundry.
