I have been insulted, accused, spoken about, judged, betrayed, and even left in pieces...
Being in the position that I am, I have been insulted, accused, spoken about, judged, betrayed, and even left in pieces, but it is at those exact moments that I have found true sincerity in the work and for the community.
Kintsugi is a beautiful Japanese tradition that when something breaks, it is mended back together with liquid gold. Doing so, it is able to take on the former form of the object but with a golden seal in all the places it once was broken.
As such is community work!
Community work can break your heart and if sincere, Allah, will mend it back with light that shines like gold! Recently, Ive had my share of brokenness and now waiting for God's touch to mend me back together. As Mawlana Rumi once said, Only through the wound does the light enter. Being in the position that I am, I have been insulted, accused, spoken about, judged, betrayed, and even left in pieces, but it is at those exact moments that I have found true sincerity in the work and for the community. In those moments which Allah picks up the pieces and mends them, I was and am able to push forward another year. Community work isnt for the faint of heart, I always knew this, but community work most certainly rebuilds your heart. The gold it rebuilds with is forgiveness and mercy. Forgiveness of others, forgiveness of oneself, mercy of others and mercy of oneself. This is the only answer to receiving God's mending of hearts.
Similar to those performing Kintsugi, Taleef has had countless broken hearts walk through its doors, Muslim and non Muslim alike. As our name indicates, we have had success, by Gods grace, in mending the pieces together and allowing the hearts of these individuals to find peace. Peace through the pieces, peace through the pain, peace through the trauma, peace with oneself, and lastly peace with God! From them emanates a light never seen before, coming in and through them, resembling gold shining through the cracks.
In these final moments of Ramadan, help us mend and rebuild the pieces. Help me find the capacity to move forward and see a community ready to help do Taleefs work to its fullest potential! Not only by bringing hearts together but also by mending broken ones and allowing the broken pieces of the past to come together in a more beautiful form. Let us move forward in community, religion and life together!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ali Dia
Executive Director
Donate Now, Help us!
Our goal this Ramadan is to keep Taleefs work going to many more individuals. Support us by helping us reach our Ramadan goal. Taleefs yearly budget is $1M across both campuses and we need your support to keep the vision going and the doors open!
Join us for Eid Prayer at South Side YMCA along with Sirat Chicago, U of C MSA & U of C Muslim Chaplaincy and Alif Schoolhouse. Eid Glorifications will begin at 9:30 AM CT followed by Eid Prayer & Sermon by Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director at Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
After prayer, celebratory activities such as light food, bouncy houses, childrens activities, face painting and more will follow the prayer/sermon until 12:00 PM. Be sure to bring your own prayer rugs. Please note, Eid will be announced TUESDAY NIGHT, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Taleef Collective, 43170 Osgood Rd, Fremont, CA 94539, United States, 510.573.2719