October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
This month, and always, we affirm that we will break the silence and empower women in the Muslim community so they are not forced to stay in marriages in which they are abused.
Learn about the resources available to help our loved ones and how we can support our local organizations addressing this issue.
All MCC Khutbahs on Friday, October 4, are also dedicated to this unspoken topic of forbidding domestic oppression.
Friday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Join us in-person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live
Sponsored by San Ramon Valley Islamic Center, The Rahmah Foundation, North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (NISA) & MCC East Bay
MCC proudly works with the North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (NISA), which shelters women fleeing abuse and provides skills and resources to become self-sufficient. NISA staff and volunteers will be on hand during this event.
SRVIC has generously offered to sponsor a post-program dinner for up to 200 guests. The program begins promptly at 7:15 p.m. Please arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to receive dinner tickets. Dinner will be served after the Isha prayers at 8:45 p.m.
Family Night Schedule
- 6:52 pm: Maghrib congregational prayer
- 7:15 pm: Presentation by Sumera Siddiqui, NISA
- 7:30 pm: Talk by a NISA Advocate, Case Manager
- 7:45 pm: Take A Stand Against Domestic Violence | Imam Tahir Anwar
- 8:15 to 8:45 pm: Q&A panel
- 8:45 pm: Isha congregational prayer
- 9 p.m.: Dinner served
– More Imam Tahir: https://mcceastbay.org/tahir
– Learn more about the NISA shelter: https://asknisa.org
– More domestic violence talks at MCC: http://mcceastbay.org/nisa
– More topics addressing community & social justice issues: http://mcceastbay.org/community
It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and let’s remember that Islam enjoins kindness and mercy and forbids oppression.
Domestic violence happens everywhere all the time and affects everyone. Women are the principal victims. Help us bring awareness.
During this Family Night and the four MCC Jumu’ah services, MCC will invite various local Bay Area DV organizations to have a table alongside NISA. Our Khutbahs will also focus on raising awareness of domestic violence.
Three to four million women are beaten annually, and every 15 seconds, a woman is abused in her home. Nationally, domestic violence has become the number one cause of death among women.
One reaction from our community is, “That’s a tragedy that doesn’t affect Muslim families.” But it does. While research on the prevalence of family violence among Muslims is just beginning, Imams, community leaders, and social workers across North America confirm that Muslim women, children, and men are being affected by this devastating social problem.
Physical violence can lead to broken bones, head injury, vision loss, and even death. Among victims, emotional abuse leads to a broken spirit and feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and oppression.
Domestic abuse knows no boundaries. It occurs among well-known and little-known community members, the rich, the poor, the well-educated and uneducated, foreign-born and American-born, and across all cultures, races, and religions.
Violence against women is not an Islamic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us, “I command you to be kind to women.” He said also, “The best of you is the best to his family (wife). The Quran urges husbands to be kind and considerate to their wives. “Under no circumstances does the Quran encourage, allow, or condone family violence or physical abuse. Motherhood has the highest status in Islam.
Marriage preparation education and premarital counseling can help future spouses learn skills that will assist them in developing a healthy, violence-free family life.
This problem will not be eliminated unless we act. We must recognize the signs of spousal abuse and act to prevent it and work towards its elimination. We must encourage couples to seek spiritual and professional help.
Insha-Allah (God willing), we must become partners against domestic violence. Spread the word and Stop the Hurt.
We end with a Muslim prayer for peace:
O Allah, You are As-Salaam – peace — and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor.’