ICNA Launches Outreach and Relief efforts in Alaska

By Suzanne Khazzal

ICNA members were hosted by the largest mosque in Alaska, the Islamic Community Center of Anchorage, Alaska (ICCAA) from May 21-28 where they visited to help establish ICNA activities.

The Friday night youth group listening to a presentation.

The team included Dr. Muhammad Ayub, member of the ICNA general assembly, Washington Unit, Amir Mertaban the WhyIslam Coordinator of Southern California and Waqas Syed the Assistant General Secretary of ICNA.

Mertaban presented a Friday sermon and was followed by a youth meeting later in the day to discuss organizing youth work. Young Muslims national will follow up with the youth coordinator to support them in running a successful youth circle at the mosque.

A group discussion in progress during the workshop.

Syed and Mertaban held a Dawah 101 workshop for the community, which included Dawah tips and ICNA’s WhyIslam project. The workshop presented the crowd with interactive sessions on frequently asked questions. An estimated 24 attendees signed up to volunteer for the project.

An interactive session during the workshop.

Some of the key members of the local WhyIslam team.

After the workshop an exclusive meeting was conducted regarding establishing a local team. A local WhyIslam coordinator was assigned and several dawah opportunities in Anchorage were formalized.

Dr. Ayub helping Tanya, who embraced Islam, to proclaim the Shahadah.

Also on the agenda was the new building ICCAA is building, with ICNA’s support. Various ICNA Relief services were discussed with the ICCAA President Lamin Jobarteh. He expressed desire to work with ICNA Relief in offering social services to the local community.

Jobarteh and ICCAA Dawah Chair Dawood Abuobaid organized a meeting with Regina Boisclair, Chair of Catholic Theology and professor of Religious Studies at the Alaska Pacific University. An understanding was reached regarding organizing a major interfaith event with ICNA in the near future.

Please visit and support: The Islamic Community Center of Anchorage, Alaska (ICCAA)