July 1995 Dear Editor

This Ummah is a Single Ummah

by Sr. Hiba Nasser

And verily this Ummah of your is a single Ummah and I am your Lord and Cherisher, therefore fear Me and no other. But people have cut off their affair of unity, between them into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself. (23:52-53).

After much planning, discussion, and voting, we have finally achieved a structure that is set up to represent everyone and to help us all to work together and to stay balanced as a Muslim community. The ISGC can do that if we use it properly. In the past, a lot of things did not get done or were not clear because no one talked to anyone else, and because the officers kept changing every year under the MSA (which is fine for students, but not conducive to growth as a permanent community). Now that has changed. Different people know what others are doing, who to contact regarding a particular issue, women are listened to for the first time, women and men can each feel that they are truly represented in a governing and administrative body. Now it is possible that we are being asked to consider a step backwards. It has been proposed by a few that women separate themselves into a sub-organization. Let me explain why I think we should stay intact as a unified organization.

For those of you who do not know, there has been a long history of almost no communication between men and women on the business of the masjid, planning major events, working towards common goals (i.e. full-time school, programs for everyone, both social and educational etc.) There was no one representing all the women (or all the men). Men and women did not know what was going on with the other even when it was a common concern or an Islamic project on which we could collaborate. When it comes to the community needs, goals, and other projects, there needs to be some clear, regular, and timely communication so that everyone who wants to can work together wisely. Also, there are ways now in which we are successfully collaborating without attending meetings together for everything.

It may be that some small groups feel that they are not here permanently and do not have a vested interest in a structure that focuses on permanency. That's a valid feeling but they can meet, study together, socialize, whatever they want and not have to be a separate or "sub' organization of the ISGC. The nature of the ISGC is to be all-inclusive but it allows for some separateness now if we want it. A proposal to separate ourselves from it formally is moving backwards. Nothing in Islam teaches separateness in the Ummah. we are to be a unified community.

The ISGC has a structure that allows for personal differences. Women and men can have separate study groups, separate meetings, and other events. We can pray in separate rooms or the same room, as you like. there is representation for men and women. We can go to a GBR (woman or man) or the Executive Committee or even the Board of Trustees - whoever is appropriate. We can offer help, complain, work, ask questions, literally anything we want to do that is Islamically correct.

The ISGC has not been in place for very long. we need to at least try the system. We can challenge each entity to do something different or better. We have the structure to do anything!

I truly believe that the BOT and the Executive Committee will keep the checks and balances in place so that no one goes too far in any direction. If they don't, you and I can challenge them to do the right thing. The current structure allows for correction from the general membership.

The ISGC is not an entity that came in, imposed something strange on us, and now we have to protect ourselves. No, this is an organization that the majority voted in, and in which we still have a voice. Let's try working with them and help each other to grow in the right direction. We have a lot to accomplish and we must do it together. Let's wait and give everyone a chance to develop. They are inviting our help and criticism - that's part of the structure we have voted in.
Keep in mind, that in the end, we are not meeting just for the sake of meeting; we are not studying Islam just to fill hours: we are trying to establish an Islamic community. The ISGC is one vehicle to do that.

May Allah guide us. May we grow together into a stronger, unified community and, Insha'Allah, make the ISGC the beginning of a true Islamic society beyond our walls.