Weekend Seminar Focuses on Muslim Family
 
11/29/05

Alisha Abdelilah
Reporter, IBN

Men and women of the Muslim community gathered at the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia over Thanksgiving weekend for a family day seminar focusing on nurturing the Muslim family.

The "Family Day Seminar" was a vision of Dar Al Hijrah Social Services Chairperson, Mohammed Abdelilah, and Imam Shaker El Sayed. Social Worker, Raina B. Soliman told IBN that it took up to 2 months to coordinate a seminar of family values that would "reinforce" the foundation of the community, the Muslim family.

Mufti Mohammed al Hanooti opened the seminar with a lecture on the "Islamic Perspective of Family." Hanooti's lecture touched on topics of gender roles, the definition of parenthood, and mistakes made by parents. The Mufti also emphasized the importance of the mother in the Islamic family.

"In the eyes of the child, the mother is everything," Hanooti said addressing a crowd of 50.

Lecturer Salma Abugideri touched on the roots of family violence and said "violence can happen in any family." Imam Shaker El Sayed also spoke on the roots of family violence and reminded the audience, "affection comes by giving affection."

Other speakers included Reham Nasr, who is a certified court interpreter and mediator, and Umbreen Ahmed, the director of Safe and Peaceful Families through F.A.I.T.H. Nasr and Ahmed addressed the topic of the Repercussions of Violence.

Social Services Chairperson, Mohammed Abdelilah, acted as the Master of Ceremony directing the program and commented on topics when necessary.

Seminar attendees, around 80 over the course of the day, were pampered with a complimentary buffet for lunch as well as donuts, tea, and coffee in the morning and for an afternoon snack.

Attendes were able to ask questions to speakers during Q&A sessions.

Dar Al Hijrah Social Services provides community support for needy families with a weekly food bank every Thursday that feeds up to 75 families. Social Services gives financial assistance, including but not limited to rental, legal, and utilities. The department also does rights advocacy work and acts as a mediator.

For the future, Soliman said Social Services will continue in working to help the community for the sake of Allah.