Eid al-Adha 2025 President's Message – See You At Maydenbauer Center Tomorrow!
Eid al-Adha 2025 President's Message
Let’s Truly Walk in the Footsteps of our Beloved Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH)
Assalamu-Alaykum (Peace Be Upon You)
On behalf of Muslim Association of Puget Sound, I extend our heartfelt Eid greetings to each of you! Eid Mubarak.
In this hajj season, I find myself reflecting deeply on the life and legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and how his story speaks directly to us as MAPS community in our time and place.
Millions of Muslims—diverse in race, language, age, and background—are walking in the exact footsteps of Ibrahim (AS), answering the command of Allah SWT. This gathering of people from all corners of the globe as brothers and sisters is unique to Islam and a true miracle of Allah SWT. This moment is more than ritual—it is a reminder of unity, sacrifice, and long-term vision. And it is a profound reflection of our own path here in America.
Our Unity in Diversity
Just as pilgrims gather from around the world, we too are a diverse community—representing 50+ countries around the world including native-born. Hajj reminds us that diversity is not a challenge to overcome—it is a gift to embrace, a strength to build upon, a realization of the Prophetic message. We are united by something deeper than language or culture: our shared commitment to La ilaha illa Allah.
Our MAPS must reflect this unity. We must be intentional about building a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and equitable—where everyone sees themselves as part of the story.
Building Foundations: Following Ibrahim’s Legacy
When Ibrahim (AS) and his son Isma’il (AS) raised the foundations of the Kaaba, they weren’t just laying stones—they were laying a vision. They built not only for themselves, but for generations to come. They started with only their presence in the desert and yet today Makkah is welcoming millions of faithful.
In that same spirit, we have an immense opportunity to build our new campus for decades and generations to come serving multitudes of religious, education, social, outreach, youth, humanitarian services, entrepreneurship development programs. This is indeed a prophetic work, which will require sacrifice, planning, investment of our skills and money, and duas. And just as Ibrahim prayed for his work to be accepted, we too ask Allah to accept our humble efforts in establishing lasting good for our children and their children.
Br. Mahmood Khadeer is leading that effort as a COO with a team and very soon they’ll be reaching out to engage with us to get us involved and our ideas and feedback. I really would like each one of us to be part of our shared vision as this kind of opportunity doesn’t happen very often. Alhamdulillah, Allah swt has blessed us all with it, hence let’s not miss it, rather let us be at the forefront. If you want to hold house parties to engage your friends and families and have them know our vision and what’s in front of us, by all means let us know.
Sacrifice for the Greater Good
The story of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son teaches us the essence of submission: putting Allah’s command above our comfort. As a community in the Seattle area with our multiple branches, this means we must often give up ease for purpose, and invest in the unseen future with faith and dedication.
Whether it’s through time, wealth, or leadership, we each have a role to play in shaping our community’s future. We are not just residents—we are founders, builders, and caretakers of this trust.
As we envision a sustainable and vibrant future for our community, building on the work we already did in 2023 I’m pleased to share that we are announcing the launch of MAPS Endowment.
This is not about funding today—it’s about securing tomorrow. Your contribution becomes part of a sacred trust, a lasting act of sadaqah jariyah that will benefit our community long into the future.
Please visit the MAPS Endowment Info Center after the prayer to learn more and sign up. Together, let’s build a legacy that stands the test of time.
Together, we are planting seeds whose fruits our children and grandchildren will enjoy, inshaAllah.
Leadership, Legacy, and Vision
Allah made Ibrahim a leader—not just of a family, but of nations. His legacy was not just personal; it was generational. He raised children who carried the message forward and built a legacy of righteousness.
In America today, we must do the same. Let’s raise children with strong hearts and clear minds, rooted in their faith and confident in their identity. Let’s create institutions that reflect our values, serve our neighbors, and contribute to society. Let’s dream beyond survival—and begin to shape the moral and civic landscape around us for the betterment of all.
A Dua for Our Community
Like Prophet Ibrahim, let’s raise our hands and make these duas:
“My Lord, make this city ‘of Makkah’ secure and provide fruits to its people-those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.” (Qur’an 2:126)
My Lord! Make me and those ‘believers’ of my descendants keep up prayer. Our Lord! Accept my prayers (Qur’an 14:40)
Let us pray and work for a community that is:
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Safe and welcoming
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Spiritually and intellectually vibrant
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Economically empowered
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Rooted in faith and relevant to society
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Focused on building a better future for our younger generation, not just preserving the present
We as MAPS boards, Imams, executive team and staff, ask for your continued support, ideas, and prayers. Let’s walk this path together—like Ibrahim and Isma’il—laying foundations with sincerity, building with purpose, and trusting in Allah’s acceptance and guidance. Also let us not forget, Ibrahim AS was buried in Hebron, Palestine. Today, that same home is land to his descendants, people who through unimaginable hardship have shown the Muslims of the world what true faith in Allah swt means. May Allah swt alleviate their sufferings and end this genocide.
May Allah bless our families, our efforts, and this beloved community.
Mohammad Vakil
MAPS President
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Muslim Association Of Puget Sound (MAPS) | 17550 NE 67th Ct | Redmond, WA 98052 US