Muslim of the Week
The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California has named Adel Syed as its Muslim of the Week. A Council announcement says:
Adel gives back to his community through time at the UMMA Community Clinic and as an advisor to the Institute of Knowledge. He describes his involvement, “I have been fortunate to be involved with the UMMA Community Clinic for the past six years in addition to serving as an advisor to the Institute of Knowledge. Currently, at the UMMA Community Clinic, we are working on preparing for a new line of service to the community, a dental facility that will serve both the campus community of Fremont High School in South Los Angeles in addition to the community at-large.”
It is the power of community that, Adel asserts, is the Muslim community’s greatest asset. He claims, “We have so much to offer as a Muslim community and our diversity is a strength we need to continue to harness.”
Adel’s personal journey led him to commit himself to serve others. He shares, “As a young child, my family and I moved to the United States during the first Gulf War. My journey to be in service to others was instilled in me by my parents who always go out of their way to be in the service of others [...] My journey today is also built on the shoulders of the African American Muslim community who have continued to show what resilience and building community looks like in addition to all those who paved a path of service and striving for building equitable communities.”
Lastly, Adel draws inspiration from his faith as he says, "My faith inspires me to serve and the belief that it’s through the service of others that we find our own place in this world. The following hadith continues to inspire me:
‘He who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection, and he who finds relief for one who is hard pressed, Allah would make things easy for him in the world and in the Hereafter, and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the Hereafter. Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother.’”
For his commitment to his faith, his community, and the service of others, we name Adel Syed as our newest Muslim of the Week.
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