Dear Friends,
Every year, I greet Ramadan with renewed excitement. This holiday brings our families and our community together like nothing else. This year, I’m especially grateful for the strength of our community—the way we hold and support each other as one ummah.
A few days ago, the President publicly threatened to violate the civil rights of students exercising free speech by protesting genocide in Gaza. He posted on Truth Social: “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested.”
With each passing day, the need for our work becomes more apparent! Our ummah needs us more than ever, and I know we will rise to the challenge.
This is my son Yusuf’s first Ramadan. My wife and I are deeply committed to teaching our children an essential value of this holy month: ummah, community. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) teaches that our ummah is like a body. When one of our members feels pain, we all feel pain with them and do everything we can to mend their suffering. Just the same, our joy is greater when our ummah celebrates together, as we did at CAIR-Philadelphia’s annual banquet on February 22. The closeness of the Banquet and Ramadan this year provided a wonderful opportunity to show my sons, Mehmet and Yusuf, the love and generosity that sustain our community.
I wish this was the world I could show my children always. But the past two months have demonstrated that our ummah will likely face more pain than joy in the year ahead. CAIR-Philadelphia works every day to support our ummah, advocate for our needs, and build our cultural pride as Muslim Americans.
When Muslim students must fast for Ramadan,
CAIR advocates for religious accommodation.
When Muslim patients and prisoners lack halal meals,
CAIR advocates for diet equity.
When Muslims are portrayed falsely and disparagingly,
CAIR boldly fights back against media bias.
When Muslims face a global crisis like the war on Gaza,
CAIR provides rapid response to demand ceasefire.
When purveyors of hate try to push Muslims down,
CAIR develops programs, which combat Islamophobia, build interfaith harmony, and foster mutual understanding across religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
As a member of my ummah, a beloved part of my body, I will tell you the truth: the road through 2025 will be a difficult one for our community. But I am so glad to be traveling this road with you. CAIR-Philadelphia’s ability to contribute to our ummah’s well-being relies on the generosity of community members like you. Can we count on you to join us in ensuring that our Muslim American communities continue to be safe, seen, and valued in 2025?
JAK,
Dr. Ahmet Tekelioglu,
Executive Director, CAIR-Philadelphia
