Nearly 650 people who filled Temple Emanuel for last April’s reGENERATION CONCERT FOR POSSIBILITY. We shared a memorable evening of uplifting song and celebration with a remarkable variety of twenty world class artists and inspiring interfaith clergy. Supporting the vision of reGeneration was the superb musicianship and humanity of the Yuval Ron Ensemble, Craig Taubman, Danny Maseng, the harmonic Muslim group Noor, master violinist Riad Abdel-Gawad, Ali Amr and more!

Below, if you skip to 8:45, you can watch a touch performance from the concert featured on the online news magazine, Positive Spin.

By: Editor

The Social Services Committee and the Religious Committee will hold a

Pre Ramadan – Quran Contest

for youth ages 6 to 18

Islamic Center of Southern California – Lecture Hall

on July 15, 2012

at 10 AM to 1:00 PM

Program 

• Introduction by Dr. Maher Hathout
• Quran recitation by Children in front of a judging Committee
• Children age 14- 18 years:  Sura Al -HUJURAT “49″ Verses 10-12
• Children age 10 – 13 years: Sura TAHA “20″Verses 24–35
• Children age 6- 9 years: Sura AL –MAUN “107″ verses 1 -7
• CHILDREN WILL BE ASKED TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THE MEANING
• Reading these verses & understanding the meaning will be judged by a committee
• Gifts will be given to all children

All participants are welcome to recite Quran in Ramadan on Friday’s and Saturday’s night                                                           

Application deadline is July 8, 2012; no application will be accepted after 7/8/2012

Click here to apply

By: Eba Hathout

On April 1^st, 2012, our foundation held its third interfaith event ”For the Love of Tomorrow” at the University of Southern California.  This year’s theme was ‘Nurturing the Spirit’.
You can view a video of this event below:

For a detailed listing of program speakers and select viewing, please visit the ‘Events’ section of our web site: www.HassanHathoutLegacy.org

With sincere thanks to all who made the event possible, and immense gratitude to all who continue to support us.

By: Editor

“The suffering in Palestine should be a priority for every human being with conscience,” said Dr. Maher Hathout, MPAC Senior Adviser, in a recorded message for KinderUSA‘s upcoming annual fundraising dinner.

Click here to view message.

In this recorded message, Dr. Hathout stresses the importance of giving and how this must be a conscious priority for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

On May 5, KinderUSA is celebrating “A Decade of Giving” at its 10th Anniversary Banquet Dinner. As the leading, longest-operating Muslim American charity organization working on behalf of the Palestinian children, KinderUSA works to improve lives through development and emergency relief. Despite adversity and challenges, KinderUSA has impacted more than 600,000 children and their families through its programs in Palestine and Lebanon.

The program will feature author and activist, Norman Finkelstein; the Religious Director of the Islamic Center of Southern California, Jihad Turk; and Norwegian physician, Dr. Mads Gilbert, who was one of the first Western physicians to enter Gaza during the 2008-2009 Israeli invasion as part of the Norwegian People Aid intervention.

A Decade of Giving
KinderUSA’s 10th Anniversary Banquet Dinner

WHEN:

Saturday, May 5, 2012
6:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Hilton Long Beach
701 West Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90831

TICKETS:
General Admission $75
Students $45

Babysitting is available

By: Marium Mohiuddin

MPAC’s 21st Annual Media Awards will be presented to the Academy Award winning documentary ”Saving Face,” Sundance Film Festival winner ”Kinyarwanda” and TLC on Sunday, May 13 in Los Angeles.

Each year, in coordination with the MPAC Foundation, MPAC’s Media Awards Gala honors artists, actors, executives, authors and activists for serving as “voices of courage and conscience.”

Since 1991, MPAC has honored those who use art and media to create enriching and humanizing portrayals of Islam and Muslims, promote diversity and social justice issues, and inspire action.

The Honorees

“SAVING FACE”

This 2012 Academy Award winning documentary chronicles the lives of heroic Pakistani women as they attempt to reconstruct their faces and their lives after suffering from acid burn attacks. MPAC is proud to honor director Daniel Junge and the documentary’s protagonist, plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad, for sharing this inspiring story of resilience. Every year, more than 100 people in Pakistan (mostly women) are victims of acid attacks, while many cases go unreported. With little access to reconstructive surgery, survivors are physically and emotionally scarred while many reported assailants receive minimal punishment.

“KINYARWANDA”

Based on true events, this powerful Sundance Film Festival winner tells the story of Muslim Rwandans who opened their mosques to Christians, Hutus and Tutsis during the horrific Rwandan genocide in the 1990s. MPAC is proud to honor producer, writer and director Alrick Brown for his powerful portrayal of Rwandans cooperating to save lives.

TLC

Last fall, TLC debuted the first reality television show about American Muslims, aptly called “All-American Muslim,” which followed the lives of five Lebanese families in Dearborn, MI. MPAC is proud to honor TLC General Manager Amy Winters for standing by the show despite bigoted attacks from Islamophobic groups who sought to have the series canceled.

This article originally appeared on MPAC.org. Founded in 1988, MPAC is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans.[CONTACT: Marium Mohiuddin, 323-258-6722, marium@mpac.org]

By: Marium Mohiuddin

(Los Angeles – 4/18/12) — On Sunday, April 15, the Muslim Public Affairs Council brought together a panel of scholars and human rights advocates to discuss the realities of religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries.

Held before a full house at the Islamic Center of Southern California, “Minority Rights in Muslim Countries: Majority Rule NOT Majority Tyranny” highlighted an issue that is often brushed under the rug in the larger Muslim community.

A first among Muslim organizations, the event focused on reconciling Islamic ethics with the rights of minorities and arguing against the un-Islamic actions of governments that persecute religious minorities.

The event’s diverse speakers included Shia Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County; University of Southern California Professor of Political Science Eliz Sanasarian, a Christian Armenian from Iran; Tad Stahnke of Humanrights First; and Dr. Maher Hathout, MPAC’s Senior Adviser and a leading Islamic scholar. They all addressed the challenges facing religious minorities in some Muslim-majority countries, particularly since the Arab Spring.

“Persecuting and oppressing religious minorities does not make us better Muslims,” Dr. Hathout said. “Muslims do not need to believe in what religious minorities believe, neither do they have to accept it. But as human beings and fellow citizens, they deserve the same rights as Muslims in majority-Muslim countries.”

U.S. Department of State Ambassador at Large, Suzan Johnson Cook, also provided a video message for the forum speaking about the importance of everyone working together.

Imam Al-Qazwini talked about the Saudi Mufti who declared that churches should be prohibited and destroyed in Muslim countries, as one of the many examples of people who stray away from the text to pursue their own self-interest. Religious intolerance and persecution, he reminded the audience, is often a tool used by the governments to advance their own political self-interest and do not reflect the core beliefs of Islam.

The conversation also turned to the Arab Spring, where Dr. Hathout pointed out that many government’s attitudes toward religious minorities is often separate from the people’s beliefs. This is why in Egypt, Coptic Christians protected Muslims while they prayed and why Muslims protected churches from being burned amidst the chaos of the revolution.

When asked by the audience what we can do to change the reality on the ground, the speakers echoed Stahnke’s response: Education is key. Once Muslims understand that persecution of religious minorities is not accepted in Islam, they will work together with minorities to solidify their rights and equal citizenship.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, former presidential appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

This article originally appeared as an MPAC News Bulletin. Founded in 1988, MPAC is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of American Muslims. [CONTACT: Marium Mohiuddin, 323-258-6722, marium@mpac.org]

By: Editor

Claremont Lincoln University, USC’s Office of Religious Life, the Islamic Society of North America, and the Center for Global Peacebuilding at Claremont Lincoln University are co-sponsoring a conference on Muslim Perspectives on Peacebuilding, from Oct. 12-13, 2012, in Claremont, Calif.

By: Shirin Nouh

By: Elhami Nasr

On behalf of the Board of Directors of ICSC, I would like to greet all our community members with greetings of peace and blessings from Almighty Allah (SWT).  I truly thank Him for our blessed and dedicated community members.  The Board takes your recommendations and suggestions seriously and strives to respond to your demands.

Along those lines we had a “Family Night” last Friday, April 6.  Alhamdulillah, we had overwhelming participation.  The program was well attended.  The BBQ dinner was enjoyed by all.   On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Mrs. Zeina Zein, the newly appointed Chair of the Social Services Committee, and her team for making this event a big success.  I would also like to thank the staff of ICSC for all their help and support.

Insha’Allah, we are planning to continue our Family Night event on a monthly basis.  We ask for your continued support and participation, for our success depends on our extended family, which is you.  May Allah bless you all.

Dr. Elhami Nasr has been the Chairperson of the Center’s Board of Directors since February of 2012. He is a long-time member of our community, and a Professor of Engineering. 

By: Eba Hathout

On March 3^rd, 2012, the Hassan Hathout Legacy Foundation celebrated 5^th through 8^th grade student participants and winners of the Foundation’s annual essay contest “How to Grow a Loving Heart”.  Over 100 participants received honorable mention and a certificate.  The top contestants were additionally awarded a medal and a check for $200.00 in a special event attended by their families as well as their school heads and teachers at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Long Beach, California.  You can view the video of the event below,