As-salamu ‘alaykum dear BIS Community,
This Giving Tuesday, we ask you to give to BIS to support our work of shaping future leaders of the Muslim American community.
Since the crisis in Palestine began on October 7, we have seen its impact on the Muslim community in America. We are all horrified at what is happening to our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Many of us struggle to manage our emotions and go on with business as usual while this oppression continues. Moreover, since the beginning of the crisis, hate crimes against Muslims and bullying have been on the rise. On October 18, a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy named Wadea al-Fayoume was brutally killed in Illinois in an act of hate against Muslims. This weekend, three Palestinian college students were shot in Vermont in another act of hate. We hear stories every day about Muslim children being bullied and censored for voicing support for Palestine. And we are all too familiar with the misinformation about the conflict in the American news media.
Many Muslims in America are seeking religious and spiritual support during this time. More than ever, we need religious leaders who are trained to respond to crises and support Muslims through difficult times in a spiritually meaningful way. We need these leaders to be in masajid, on college campuses, and in various other community settings. Additionally, we need Muslim leaders to work in advocacy and be media ambassadors for the community, especially in moments like this.
This is where BIS comes in. The Boston Islamic Seminary is working to train religious leaders who will guide communities through crises, provide spiritual care and counseling, and serve as representatives of the community in advocacy efforts. We are training leaders who will become the imams, chaplains, masjid directors, community outreach specialists, teachers, and social justice advocates of tomorrow.
We invite you to join us in this important work. Please donate generously to support our efforts to train and shape future Muslim community leaders. Alhamdulillah, an anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations to BIS today and tomorrow up to $10,000. That means when you give today or tomorrow, you can double your impact and double your reward! You can donate online or send a check to BIS at 60 Willow Street, Chelsea, MA 02150.
Your donations are tax-deductible and zakat-eligible.
Thank you for your support. May Allah reward you for your generosity!
With Gratitude,
The BIS Family
BIS is planning several community initiatives in connection with the current Gaza crisis. The first of these to be launched is the following:
