ISNA Matters Safaa Zarzour Leaves Office of ISNA Secretary General Safaa Zarzour, who served as ISNA secretary general for three years until January 2013, has moved on to another position, announced the ISNA Board of Directors and Executive Council. ISNA expressed its appreciation for the contributions his tenure provided and supported his decision to focus on family and education. For the past three years, Zarzour traveled extensively addressing communities around the country, and representing ISNA and Muslims in various forums in the American mainstream and overseas. He will continue to be a partner in ISNA activities such as education. He participated in the second ISNA West Coast Education Forum this January. Prior to joining ISNA, Zarzour served the community in multiple capacities.
Zarzour is a passionate educator, having served as a teacher and then principal at Universal School, one of the largest PreK-12 independent Islamic schools in the U.S., for more than a decade. During his tenure at Universal, the school tripled its enrollment and became known among
ISNA President Prays for Obama’s Success Imam Mohamed Magid said a prayer, Dr. Abdullah Khouj called the Adhan, and Laila Muhammad conducted the closing prayer on Jan. 22, at the 57th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with prayers from national Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders. Magid is the ISNA president and director of the All-Dulles Area Muslim Society. Khouj is the Islamic Center director and chief imam. And Laila Muhammad is the eldest child of 12
Imam WD Mohammed. Magid joined other faith leaders in praying for the president’s ability to address our nation’s needs and challenges throughout his second term. “Guide, we beseech You, O Allah, all those to whom we commit the government of this nation,” Magid said in his prayer. “Give them the discernment and self-control necessary to our time. May they consider all questions calmly, negotiate sincerely, and act wisely and promptly
Islamic schools in North America for pioneering educational and social service programs, as well as outstanding student academic achievement. In the last 15 years, Zarzour helped establish and has served on the boards of a variety of local community and advocacy organizations, including being the chairman and a founding member of CAIR-Chicago. As an attorney, Zarzour is a principal of the law firm of Zarzour, Khalil & Tabbara, LLC. He focused his law practice in the areas of local government, education and nonprofit law. ISNA has launched the search for a new appointee. In the meanwhile, ISNA continues its work of organizing programs and services to the Muslim American community under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer Habibe Ali.
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in all things. Give them the desire to uphold the right, abhorring the wrong and performing that which is just so that in all things, Your will may be done.” The service held at the National Cathedral in D.C. was led by The Very Rev. Gary Hall, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, and attended by both President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and their spouses. Approximately 2,200 people attended. On Jan. 21, Imam Magid and ISNAU.S. vice president Azhar Azeez attended the second inauguration of President Obama, congratulating our nation’s leader on four more years. On Jan. 20, ISNA co-sponsored the Muslim American Inaugural Benefit Gala in D.C., which provided a venue for Muslim Americans to celebrate a national event as well as their achievements over the past four years. Imam Magid spoke at the event and members of ISNA’s Majlis ash-Shura were in attendance. At the event, Rashad Hussain, Obama’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, congratulated ISNA on its 50th anniversary of outstanding service to the Muslim American community.
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Islamic Horizons March/April 2013