Dear John,

While this Eid ul-Adha is different from any in recent history, the sentiment remains the same. Today we celebrate family, our culturally diverse community, and no matter our distance or differences, we find togetherness in our faith. The prophet Abraham reminds us that this togetherness extends beyond our umma. We are ALL one human family, united. It’s in the name of unity that we’re promoting Shia and Sunni understanding and uplifting our youth. 

I would like to personally invite you to a free online event happening tomorrow, Saturday, August 1st at 3 pm Pacific/noon Eastern. The Expressions of Unity Forum will illuminate the power of our community’s diversity, the external challenges we face, and propose steps that each and every one of us can take to address hollow tolerance and foster greater inclusion. With panelists Imam Khalid Latif, Sister Hidaya Nawee, Hajj Hassanain Rajabali, and moderated by Mohammed Mortada Qazwini, it will be a timely discussion to commemorate this particularly auspicious Eid.

The forum is a collaboration between the Islamic Center of Southern California, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, the Shia Muslim Council of Southern California, MPAC, and ICNA - and our gift to you! Don’t miss this opportunity to virtually gather with neighbors, family, friends old and new, and to find out which bright high school and college students won our Expressions of Unity essay and art contest!