The Muslim American Society (MAS) is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 with the goal of promoting a comprehensive understanding of Islam and fostering a strong Muslim American identity. The organization has grown to become one of the largest and influential Muslim American organizations in the country, serving a diverse community of Muslims from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
The organization is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia and has chapters across the United States, including in major cities such as New York, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.
The founders of the Muslim American Society are a group of American Muslim leaders who recognized the need for a national organization to serve the needs of the growing Muslim American community. These leaders saw a need for a unified voice that could represent the interests of Muslims and promote a positive image of Islam in the public arena. They also recognized the importance of providing religious education and community building programs to help Muslims stay connected to their faith and heritage.
Since its founding, MAS has grown to become one of the largest and most influential Muslim American organizations in the country. The organization provides a wide range of services and programs to its members, including religious education, youth development, community building, and advocacy. These programs help Muslims stay connected to their faith, build relationships with others, and advocate for the rights and interests of their community.
Their Work
Some of its projects include:
1. Religious Education: MAS places a strong emphasis on religious education, and provides Islamic education and training to both children and adults. The organization operates Islamic schools and weekend schools across the country, where students can learn about the principles and practices of Islam, as well as study traditional subjects such as mathematics, science, and history. The MAS also offers a variety of adult education programs, including Islamic studies classes, workshops, and seminars.
2. Youth Development: MAS is committed to promoting the growth and development of young Muslims. The organization operates youth programs and clubs, where young Muslims can engage in activities, social events, and community service projects. These programs help young Muslims develop leadership skills, foster a sense of community, and build bridges with people of other backgrounds.
3. Community Building: MAS works to bring Muslims together and strengthen the bonds within the Muslim American community. This includes hosting social and cultural events, such as holiday celebrations and community picnics, as well as organizing volunteer projects and charity work. The MAS also works to build relationships with other communities and promote greater understanding between different groups.
4. Advocacy: MAS is committed to advocating for the rights and interests of the Muslim American community. The organization works with government officials and other organizations to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Muslims in the United States, including discrimination, prejudice, and civil liberties concerns. MAS also advocates for policies that support the well-being of the Muslim American community and promotes a positive image of Islam and Muslims in the public arena.
Chapters Across the U.S.
The chapters of MAS also play a critical role in serving their local communities. In addition to implementing MAS’s signature projects, the chapters provide local services and programs to their members, including religious education, youth development, and community building activities. The chapters also work to build relationships with other communities and promote greater understanding between different groups.
MAS has chapters in many cities across the United States, including in major metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. These chapters provide local services and programs to their communities, including religious education, youth programs, and community building events. They also work to build relationships with other communities and promote greater understanding between different groups.
Muslim American Society (MAS) is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 to serve the needs of the growing Muslim American community. With its headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia and chapters across the United States, MAS provides a wide range of services and programs to its members, including religious education, youth development, community building, and advocacy. The organization plays a critical role in promoting a comprehensive understanding of Islam and fostering a strong Muslim American identity.Top of FormBottom of Form
MAS provides a wide range of services and programs to its members, including religious education, youth development, community building, and advocacy. The organization also plays a critical role in promoting inter-faith dialogue and understanding between Muslims and people of other religious backgrounds.
One of the main focuses of MAS is religious education, which includes providing Islamic education and training to both children and adults. The organization operates Islamic schools and weekend schools across the country, where students can learn about the principles and practices of Islam, as well as study traditional subjects such as mathematics, science, and history. The MAS also offers a variety of adult education programs, including Islamic studies classes, workshops, and seminars. In addition to religious education, MAS places a strong emphasis on youth development. The organization operates youth programs and clubs, where young Muslims can engage in activities, social events, and community service projects. These programs help young Muslims develop leadership skills, foster a sense of community, and build bridges with people of other backgrounds.
Another key focus of MAS is community building. The organization works to bring Muslims together and strengthen the bonds within the Muslim American community. This includes hosting social and cultural events, such as holiday celebrations and community picnics, as well as organizing volunteer projects and charity work. The MAS also works to build relationships with other communities and promote greater understanding between different groups.
The MAS NY Chapter aims to promote and cultivate the Islamic faith and culture in the United States. One of the signature projects of MAS NY is the “Know Your Neighbor” project, which focuses on creating opportunities for Muslims to share their faith and narrative with the surrounding communities. The project includes several components, such as Interfaith & Community Dinners, Open Mosques, Street Da’wah, and Many Meals Food Pantries.
The Interfaith & Community Dinners provide a platform for Muslims to engage with local community leaders and faith leaders over food and conversation. This helps in breaking down misunderstandings and creating opportunities for meaningful community collaboration projects.
The Open Mosques component of the project includes several open mosques in New York where local neighbors, organizations, and politicians are invited to participate in educational presentations and guided gallery walks on Islamic topics. This gives them an opportunity to learn about the rich history and religion of Islam and engage in meaningful discussions with Muslims.
The Street Da’wah involves trained Dawah Leaders from MAS collaborating with Grassroots Dawah to take to the streets and engage with the local community. They answer questions about Islam and guide youth volunteer groups on how to explain their religion to others. This program often results in two to six conversions per weekend and directs the reverts to the Revert Reconnect Program, where they can learn more about their faith and meet with their new Muslim community.
Another important aspect of MAS’s work is the Many Meals Food Pantries, which is the first citywide food pantry run by an Islamic organization in New York. MAS aims to ensure that every community has access to healthy and sustainable meals, and thus established Many Meals Food Pantries in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens. These pantries are feeding over 10,000 patrons per year and working towards reducing the gap in food insecurity in New York City.
To stay updated on the efforts of MAS and to learn about the ways in which they are serving the community, you can connect with them on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. In doing so, you can also discover ways in which you can contribute and support their work.
Finally, MAS is committed to advocating for the rights and interests of the Muslim American community. The organization works with government officials and other organizations to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Muslims in the United States, including discrimination, prejudice, and civil liberties concerns. MAS also advocates for policies that support the well-being of the Muslim American community and promotes a positive image of Islam and Muslims in the public arena.
Muslim American Society (MAS) is a dynamic and influential organization that plays a critical role in promoting a comprehensive understanding of Islam and fostering a strong Muslim American identity. Through its various programs and initiatives, MAS serves as a powerful voice for the Muslim American community and works to bring people together and build bridges of understanding and respect.
