10/20/16: Imams Council Meeting, discussing Crucial Community Challenges!
Imams Council Meeting, discussing Crucial Community Challenges!
Earlier today, we finished the meeting of the Michigan Imams Council, hosting two honorable guests from ISNA at the Pelham Community Center.
The ISNA delegation presented an interesting orientation about the challenges facing the mosques in America. While many of the community members come to the mosques asking for help during their life struggles, yet a low percentage of Muslims get involved in the administration and activities of the mosques.
The absence of a strong community involvement might be the biggest challenge in many mosques in the US. Unfortunately, very few Shia imams attend the Council meetings.
Addressing both guests and the imams, Imam Elahi asked for some dialogue about the Shia-Sunni perspectives on certain issues for the sake of more understanding and unity among the Muslim communities in the US.
Of course we signed the Code of Honor at the IHW in 2007, yet a continuous respectful dialogue is needed to bring more closeness and cooperation.
Imam Elahi gave an example about Ashura! Imam Hussein was the son of the prophet we all (Shia & Sunni) love and follow. Yet, no mention of the sacrifice of the family of the Prophet (pbut) and their heartbreaking, merciless massacre in most of the mosques on the day of Ashura!!
Even worse, some of the mosques talk about Ashura like it's a day of joy and celebration, based on some questionable hadith! So we need to be aware of certain sensitivities among ourselves and our traditions.
A big part of today's conversation was dedicated to youth issues from the danger of drugs, alcohol, depression and suicide to marriage, family and staying faithful as more moral tsunamis are targeting this generation!
We also talked about the importance of Muslim participation in the upcoming elections, though none of the presidential candidates is perfect; however let's go ahead with the best of our knowledge and conscience!
Please send your comments about more involvement in the mosque and cooperation in dealing with the youth or other social issues!