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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Assalamu Alaikum brothers and sisters, welcome to Islamic Civic Society of America Event in Minneapolis, MN.

The purpose of this event is to connect the fine lines between individual, family, community and Society in a balanced manner.

Our community is at cross-roads with so many deep social problems, which resulted from years of war and lack of proper education, governance, and civic responsibility. The problems are enormous whether be high number of delinquent youth, high divorce rate, students struggling in school, misunderstanding of Islam, lack of cooperation for the public interest and personal development. These are some of the challenges our community faces. In order to respond these deep social problems effectively, the Islamic Civic Society of America took the initiative to adopt the following model to develop theà individualà family à community àsociety.

The whole society is made up of individuals who make a family, then families make a community and then communities make a society. First, individual has to be raised well spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically to become strong and fit. I put spiritually first, because I believe a human being consists of two important elements (soul and body). Each of these elements has special needs. For example, in order for the body to grow, it needs food, medicine, exercises, etc. and this is what many parents put emphasis on. It is essential and necessary to stress on this part. However, the soul also needs same care if not more. The care of the soul is not by means of food, nor medication nor exercises, but through proper education and spiritual uplifting. By education, I mean, education with ethic and civic responsibilities, where everybody plays his or her role to enjoin the good
and to forbid the evil.

In order to have a good family, individuals have to be prepared. We know that a good husband and wife lay the foundations of a good family. If the two or one of them is not prepared mentally, physically, religiously, and academically, they will not be able to establish a strong family and most likely this family will collapse completely. By the same token, if one of them has a strong foundation of what makes a good family, while the other is not, the family, will most likely face a divorce and children will be the most effected in this process, more than the parents. The two individuals are disproportionate to each other.

Therefore, when there are no strong and well balanced individuals, the family will not be possible, so when there is no good and strong families, there will never be strong and good community, and when there is no good and strong community, there will never be a strong and good society. We need to adopt this model to produce a solid individual, who is physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially fit. Then two solid individuals can produce a family, who displays compassion, love, respect, tolerance, and understanding. Then two solid families will create strong community which leads to create strong and stable society where universal humanity, perseverance, cooperation, and unity are the norms.

These are deeply rooted in Islam. Therefore, The Islamic Civic Society of America (ICSA) is providing you all the above through education, guidance, involvement, and affiliation.
Abdikadir Ibrahim

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