Bay Area Muslims Organize "Help Japan Day" 3/18/11

Muslim organizations declare Friday, March 18 a day of “donations and prayer” to help Japanese disaster victims

03/18/11 – In response to the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency in Japan, Muslim mosques and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area are asking their members and supporters to make Friday, March 18 a special day of prayers and charitable donations to support Japanese relief efforts.

Several Bay Area Muslim mosques will make this announcement at their weekly prayer services on Friday, March 18. They recommend making donations to Japanese Community and Cultural Center of Northern California. Several Bay Area Muslim organizations will present a joint check to this center.

Maha Elgenaidi, President of the Islamic Networks Group, says It is times like this that demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of helping those in need, which is the goal of all faiths. We extend our condolences and our support to the Japanese people, and pray for a quick end to their suffering. 

For more information, please contact Jason van Boom, Director of Development and Marketing at Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California at (510) 219-2431 or at [email protected].

New ING Presentation: Challenging Stereotypes through Education and Example

In the light of rising Islamophobia it is critical for American Muslims to have a voice and clarify mis-perceptions about their faith. This presentation emphasizes the importance of religious tolerance and dialogue in Islam and the need to clarify the teachings of Islam to our neighbors and co-workers both through education and our own actions As citizens of this country and the world, it is also critical that we exert our responsibility through civic engagement and participation.

This presentation was designed for youth and adults. To request a presentation for your Sunday school or masjid, please contact [email protected]

ING Now Delivers Cultural Competency to Dental Students 

ING has scheduled its second presentation for dental students at UCSF titled Dental Care for the Muslim Patient. Similar to ING’s presentation on Healthcare for the Muslim Patient, the presentation first provides a brief overview about Muslims and their faith before describing some of the specific practices that might impact a Muslim dental patient.

Upcoming ING presentations about Women in Islam during National Women’s History Month

March is National Women’s History Month, and while ING addresses the topic of Muslim women throughout the year, this month we will be featuring four presentations on the topic. These include a description of Muslim Women Around the World for the Three Cups of Tea Society in Walnut Creek on Saturday, March 19th; a discussion about hijab at St. Mary’s College in Moraga  in two classes on March 29th; and participation in a panel discussion in If We Were in Charge: Women as Middle East Peacemakers  Conference at San Jose City College on March 31st. As Muslim women in North Africa and the Middle East are reasserting their role and their identity, it is important to have a new look at their place and their importance for their community and the world.