— Muslim Alliance of Indiana

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 

A joint Statement on the Hostage Stand-off in Colleyville, TX 

January 18, 2022

[Indianapolis, IN] The Indiana Muslim community, represented by the signatory organizations, is deeply disturbed by and strongly condemn the horrific act of holding 4 Jewish hostages at gunpoint at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX last Saturday. We are grateful for the safety of the hostages, who remain in our thoughts and prayers as they heal from this terrible event.  

As demonstrated by Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, it is a key tenet of our faith to love, respect and foster relationships with our neighbors from other faiths. On justice, the Quran says unequivocally: O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah witnesses for justice and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do (Qurʾān 5: 8). We reaffirm that Islam is a religion of justice, peace and calls for community building and love. Guided by those principles, Muslim communities nationwide are thriving and flourishing with and alongside their neighbors.  

We strongly believe that no one deserves to feel unsafe in their communities, let alone at their places of worship. We stand in solidarity with the local Jewish community and other faith groups, and we recommit ourselves to fighting hate in all its forms and shapes. 

Signed in peace, 

Hiba Alami, Executive Director
Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network

Fatima Hussain, Board President
Muslim Alliance of Indiana

Ismail Abdul Aleem, Imam
Masjid al-Mumineen 

Ahmed Alamine, Imam
Indianapolis Muslim Community Association

Shamaas Nyazee, Imam
Masjid E Noor 

Zaim Khalid, Gen Coordinator & Trustee
Islamic Society of Greater Lafayette

Tulha AlSalah – President
The Islamic Center of Bloomington 

Michael Saahir, Resident Imam
Nur-Allah Islamic Center

Bibi Bahrami, President
Islamic Center of Muncie

Ashhar Madni, President
Al Salam Foundation

Majdi Abusalih, President
Alhuda Foundation

How you can help:

⚠️ Donate!
You can purchase new items and drop them off at one of the locations below, or at the National Guard armories set up throughout the state. All donated items must be new, except for gently used cultural clothing (Shalwar Kameez, Hijabs, Tunics) which should be clearly labeled and can be dropped off at one of the Mosques accepting donations.

You can also make a donation to MAI or one of the many other community led efforts; we will ensure that the funds are used to purchase urgently needed items needed at Camp Atterbury.

⚠️ Volunteer!
Sign up to volunteer in the Team Rubicon warehouse near Camp Atterbury: http://teamrubiconusa.org.
Local Mosques are also looking for support with sorting, packing and dropping off donated goods – keep an eye out on our social media channels for those opportunities!

Do you speak Pashto/Dari? Sign up here for special volunteer opportunities. Or, put your name in the bank so that we can reach out when additional volunteer needs arise here!

• Daily Covid positivity rate in Indiana is 5-6k/day up from an average of 650/day in April.
• statewide death rate is twice the daily maximum in April.
• healthcare system is stretched to maximum in central Indiana.
• ER, hospitals and ICU are all full
• standard of care medical treatment may not be possible in case your loved ones are admitted.
• healthcare system is operating under Covid DISASTER guidelines.
• Indiana COVID numbers are expected to climb and stay at high level in December. Rationing of healthcare resources is imminent.

Thursday, July 30th from 3-9PM

We are proud to announce that we will be having our first ever KHATEEBFEST! [Watch here on Facebook Live or register for Zoom: bit.ly/MAIdayofarafah]

This khateebfest will host 13 Imams and speakers across Indiana and the United States, covering a variety of spiritual topics. Join us in welcoming our guest speakers as they share their knowledge, wisdom, and answer questions.

See our schedule below along with our featured guests:

3:05 | Imam Muhammad Ndiaye, Al Haqq Foundation
“Family Structure in Islam”

3:35 | Imam Ismail Abdul-Aleem, Masjid Al Mumineen Indianapolis
“My Father’s Sacrifice and How It Shaped My Spirituality”

4:05 | Abdullah Ali, Resident Khateeb-Central Indiana
“Educational Benefits We Gain From Hajj”

4:30 | Hamas Najeeb, Resident Scholar Muslim Community Center Indianapolis
“Reviving the Islamic Spirit”

5:00 | Imam Mohammad Sirajuddin Islamic Society of Michiana
“Purposeful Dawah”

5:15 | Imam Ahmed Alamine Masjid Al-Fajr Indianapolis
“Healthy Hearts and Good Manners is Your Path to Jannah”

5:45 | Dr. Sarfraz Khan Masjid Omar Geist Community Center
“How Faith Helps Manage Anxiety and Depression During Challenging Times”

6:10 | Dr. Ihsan Bagby, Assoc. Professor Islamic Studies, University of Kentucky
“Racial Justice and the Hajj”

6:30 | Imam Abdul-Latif Sackor, Islamic Center of Rhode Island
“Having Real Hope in Allah”

7:00 | Dr. Nasser Karimian, Alhuda Foundation
“Never be Outdone”

7:30 | Imam Mo Umer Al Salam Foundation
“Legacy of Ibrahim A.S.”

8:00 | Iqbal Mitiche, School of Islamic Law at the University of Madinah
“The Sacrifices of Hajar”

8:25 | Sh. Gyasi Mckinzie, B.A. Islamic University of Madinah/M.A. Theological Studies, Vanderbilt University
“Confronting Finality”
—

Note: The views expressed by guest speakers made during this event or other MAI events are those of the speaker and not of MAI. Speakers at MAI events, or their presence therein, does not constitute an endorsement of the speaker or their institution.