US Muslims on making mosque spaces for all

Tuesday 03 Nov 2015 - 11:14 Makkah mean time-21-1-1437

MUHSEN's aim is to improve the lives of people with disabilities, which affects all ages. Image from OnIslam

Chicago, (IINA) - For years, Muslims in the US have focused on building mosques, community centers, schools, and halal grocery stores.
Today, the needs of Muslim communities have evolved and the next step is to build facilities that better address the needs of women and children, the sick, elderly, disabled, minorities, and new Muslim reverts, OnIslam reported quoting advocates.
“Our grandparents and parents lived in this country in a much simpler time,” said Joohi Tahir, executive director of Muslim Student Association National and MUHSEN (Muslims Understanding & Helping Special Education Needs).
Tahir stated tjos during a session held weeks ago at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA's) 52nd annual Convention, which discussed promoting and building inclusive and welcoming mosques for all Muslims.
“Never did we really take the time to look into our own community issues. Our focus was all about how we could live, function, and thrive within this country, while maintaining our Islamic principles,” Tahir added.
Accommodating the generation of “Unmosqued” Muslims, including new reverts who often can feel like they don't fit in within traditional mosque communities, is the challenge many mosques are facing.
“We as humans have a need to be part of something,” Tahir said. “No one really welcomes new Muslims beyond saying salaam.”
MUHSEN's aim is to improve the lives of people with disabilities, which affects all ages, Tahir said.
Held from September 4-7 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, Illinois, the theme of this year’s event was: “Stories of Resilience: Strengthening the American Muslim Narrative.”
Concurrent to the ISNA Convention, parallel conferences were held by the ISNA affiliated organizations - the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), Association of Muslim Scientists, Engineers and Technology Professionals (AMSET), Muslim Students Association (MSA) and Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA).
MSA National also has been working to get more Muslims involved in disability causes, such as autism walks, said Omar Suleiman, an Islamic scholar who founded MUHSEN and a current MSA advisor.
SM/IINA

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