With Allah’s Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer

 

    From the Imam’s Desk

A monthly newsletter from Imam Michael “Mikal” Saahir

Nur-Allah Islamic Center – Indianapolis, IN

 

Photograph provided by Ronald Sharif

October 10, 2006 | Ramadhan 17, 1427           Volume 2, Number 2

 

As-Salaam Alaikum. Welcome to another edition of From the Imam’s Desk a periodical type of “newsletter” designed to keep the membership of Nur-Allah Islamic Center informed and update on events and progress of my office as the Imam and the progress of our Islamic center in general.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR ALLOWING SO MUCH TIME TO PASS SINCE THE LAST UPDATE

REMINDER: This periodical is not intended to replace our need for a regular community-wide newsletter. So please sit back, relax, read and enjoy this update From the Imam’s Desk.

 

As we prepare for another Parent Appreciation Banquet, our 14^th Al-Hamdulillah, let us remember our parents through out the year. Each day with them is special and a gift from Allah (G-d).

Please visit our website www.nurallah.org/PAB.html for more information on this event.

This year will be a special banquet. Our leader, Imam W. Deen Mohammed will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate degree from President Boniface Hardin of Martin University. We should do all within our ability to fill every seat in the banquet hall.

What an honor for our Islamic community in Indianapolis to be one of the few locations where our Imam has had such an honor bestowed upon him.

 

Below are some of the events and activities that I have done as the Resident Imam of Nur-Allah Islamic Center. I do not list them to brag but for two reasons: To keep you informed, and also to inspire all of us to continue to do more as Believers.

From Imam Michael “Mikal” Saahir

 

EVENTS and ACTIVITIES for 2006

 

January

·        4th: Habitat for Humanity meeting for House of Abraham (HOA).

·        9th: Interfaith Alliance of Indianapolis meeting

·        19th: National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) at Methodist Hospital

·        24th: Interfaith Clergy meeting

·        25th: Met with Camilla Wise and Dorothy Herron at Martin University for HOA, accompanied w/Bro Kareem Bilal

 

February

·        9^th Habitat for Humanity

·        9^th FaithCEP (NAMI)

·        13^th Met with Mr. Jim Payton re: Imam WDM on Radio 1310 AM

·        13^th Met with Reverend Clough of First Congregational Church

·        15^th Interviewed John Welch for Muslim Journal accompanied w/Bro Kareem Bilal

·        16^th Met with NAIC’s insurance agent

 

March

·        1^st Habitat for Humanity Prayer Breakfast

·        2^nd Met with Paul Robinson of Radio Station 1310 WTLC for promotion accompanied w/ Bro Talib-Din

·        3^rd Race Relations Network meeting

·        6^th Spoke with student body at Indianapolis Met alternative school for “Pick me Up” day.

·        8^th Habitat for Humanity meeting

·        11^th Attended Focolare Couple’s meeting along with my wife Carolyn, Judge David and Brenda Shaheed, Kareem and Linda Bilal.

·        12^th Performed the sermon at First Congregational Church

·        17^th Filmed a segment for documentary on inmate re-entry with April Crowe.

·        20^th Met with City-County Council District 17, Councilor Mary Moriarty Adams along with my wife Carolyn, Judge David and Brenda Shaheed, Kareem and Linda Bilal.

·        21^st Attended dinner at Butler University to honor Rev. Sharon Watkins, the President of the Christian Church (The Disciples of Christ).

·        23^rd Interfaith Clergy meting

·        27^th Attended an Interfaith Passover Seder at Congregation Beth El-Zedek (Jewish Synagogue)

 

April

·        4^th Performed benediction at Dr. martin Luther King recognition program.

·        4^th FaithCEP meeting to review videos on mental illness.

·        17^th Recorded meditations for Channel-8

·        19^th Performed wedding of Wahid and Sonjia Taha

·        21^st Planning meeting for Encounters in the Spirit of Universal Brotherhood

·        22^nd Encounters in the Spirit of Universal Brotherhood at Martin University

·        25^th Attended NAMI workshop at Christian Theological Seminary with Brother Kareem Bilal and Sister Carol Allender.

 

May

·        5^th Performed Jumah prayer at ISNA

·        13^th Spoke at Dinner in Evansville, IN accompanied by wife and Brother Jihad Aamir

·        14^th Led a discussion on Islam at St. Thomas Church on five pillars and six Islamic beliefs

·        14^th Spoke at Correctional Industrial Complex in Pendleton, IN

·        16^th Habitat for Humanity meeting on HOA

·        18^th Interfaith Clergy meeting

 

June

·        7^th Attended House of Abraham “Volunteer Orientation” at Church Federation accompanied by Ghaazee Wazeer and Kareem Bilal

·        10^th Participated in NAMI’s “Walk for the Mind of America” with Carolyn Saahir, Carol Allender, Saabirah Ahmad, and Shia Mustafa

·        12^th Attended NAMI meeting with my wife Carolyn

·        13^th House of Abraham planning meeting

·        21^st Attended meeting along w/Bro Greg Bilal. NAMI, Narcotic Anonymous leaders, and Martin Univ. Psychology staff discuss mental health workshops for Afri-Amer community to be held at Martin Univ.

·        28^th Participated in the House of Abraham ground breaking ceremony

·        29^th Class on Islam with Sister Brenda Shaheed at Martin University

 

July

·        6^th HOA build on Pan Am Plaza

·        7^th First day of volunteering at the actual build site for the HOA

·        16^th Attended and participated in the Focolare Mariapolis in Valparaiso, IN

·        18^th Attended the International Reception at the University of Indianapolis

·        20^th Inducted into the “Who’s Who in Black Indianapolis”. Other NAIC members include Judge David Shaheed and Brother Ronald Foster Sharif.

·        30^th Volunteer day at HOA build site.

 

August

·        5^th & 6^th Volunteered at the HOA build site

·        11^th United Jumah prayer downtown at University Park (Vermont and Pennsylvania Sts.)

·        12^th Final volunteer day at HOA build site

·        13^th HOA Home Dedication for family

·        17^th Panelist at the National Assoc. of Black Journalist along with sisters Suhailah Siddeeq-Berhane and Brenda Shaheed. Panel made news on the AP wire

·        21^st Meeting at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to plan September 11^th Program

·        23^rd Meeting at SS: Peter & Paul Church to plan Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

·        24^th Interfaith Clergy meeting at CTS

·        29^th Interfaith Thanksgiving Planning meeting

·        (Unsure of date) - Met with Gov. Mitch Daniel’s Asst. Eric Holcomb with Imams Umar Al-Khattab, Muhammad Siddeeq, and Sister Khadijah Muhammad

 

September

·        1^st – 3^rd Attended The Mosque Cares Muslim Convention

·        8^th Met with Gov. Mitch Daniel’s Asst. Eric Holcomb with Imams Umar Al-Khattab, Amin Al-Ghani, C. Abdullah Nabaa, Ismail Abdul-Aleem

·        10^th Believers met at NAIC to clean up alley  behind Islamic Center in commemoration of 9-11 Respond to the Call

·        11^th Met at Governor’s mansion to discuss plans for iftar at the mansion

·        12^th Detroit, MI for two-day Midwest Regional Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims

·        16^th Spoke at the Muslim Alliance of Indiana retreat held at ISNA in Plainfield, IN

·        16^th Spoke at the Cincinnati Islamic Center’s Pre-Ramadan dinner

·        20^th Clara Mohammed Weekend School staff meeting

·        25^th Iftar at the Governor’s Mansion

 

October

·        12^th Recipient of NAMI’s “Giving Heart Award”