Mayor Hammoud and his administration were honored for their leadership, outreach and city services!

In this afternoon meeting in the mayor’s office in Dearborn, imam Elahi, imam Elturk and some members of the People’s Water Board Coalition met with Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, his Chief of Staff Zainab Hussein and members of their administration.

Imam Elturk read the Water Statement issued by Interfaith Justice Committee and introduced the Committee’s members.

Imam Elahi expressed his pride and admiration of the Mayor and his administration for their achievements in such a short time.

He referred to a verse from the Quran “ if no water no life” and said Michigan is lucky to be blessed with so many lakes and enough precipitation while some other States and the world are suffering from a catastrophic climate crisis.

During the meeting the committee members expressed their concerns about the low income families who may face the risk of their water shut off and asked the city administration’s policies in this regard.

Mayor Hammoud already matched a State

Program to help those poor families who are behind their water bills.

Mayor Hamooud explained the steps taken so far and also the long term plans to make sure the people’s access to water and other services specially while the pandemic is not totally ended and water is the essence of life, health and the safety of all neighborhoods.

The Mayor also talked about the city non-stop work on the city infrastructure and the City Hall website to make access to the city information easy, accurate and speedy for all Dearborn residents.

In a conversation after the meeting, the committee members expressed their happiness of the Mayor and his team openness, passion and interests to serve the people and in particular the poor and those in need of more attention and assistance!

Best prayers and wishes for their success

IHW Office
Second chance to be incarcerated in Michigan!

Imam Elahi joined Michigan United and Interfaith clergy community asking Michiganders to sign Redemption Petition asking for a second chance for those incarcerated in Michigan prisons to start a new productive life!

Addressing the media the imam called Petition one of our five freedoms in the First Amendment!

Imam Elahi asked for only 347000 signatures for the Good Time Ballot Initiative!

The imam stated that it’s our moral duty to work together to eliminate crimes, instead of creating criminal in the society!

The purpose of prisons must be not just punishment, but true rehabilitation, reformation, therapy and transformation!

To eliminate crime we must eliminate poverty and ignorance in our society. Other reasons for crimes include anger, arrogance, hate, selfishness, jealousy and greed.

This is why the imam emphasized on faith and family values in creating moral identities and balanced behavior in the society!

Imam Elahi quoted a tradition from Prophet Mohammad who said it’s more acceptable for a judge to mistakenly pardon someone who has committed a crime than mistakenly punishing someone who is innocent.

Imam asked for providing the incarcerated the tools and technology of education and moral discipline and those who earn the trust should be freed from the prisons to contribute to their families and the community rather than wasting the tax money and their own lives behind bars.

For those interested to sign the Petition please stop by at IHW every day between 10:6 et!

Other speakers in this morning press conference included:

Rev. Keyon Payton, Elder Matthews, Joseph William, Jill Young, Alex Easley and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatick.

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New mayors meeting interfaith leaders at IHW

Detroit Metropolitan Interfaith leadership met with mayors of Dearborn and Dearborn Hts at IHW.

For the first time after two years of Corona crisis, the area interfaith leaders met in persons at the Islamic House of Wisdom to congratulate mayor Abdallah Hamoud, mayor Bill Bazzi, DH City Council chair hajj Dave Abdallah, Dearborn police Chief Issa Shahin and to express their support for the new leaders in serving our cities and communities!

The interfaith leaders and activists included:

Rev. Dr. Steve Bland, Dr. Bob Bruttell, Rabbi Asher Lapitan, Pastor Colleen Nieman, imam Dawud Walid, imam Salie, Rev. David Kosbo, Rev. William Dion, the head of Governer’s interfaith director, Ms.Karen Beck, pastor Jack Eggleston, , pastor Stephen Perrine, Rev, Adams, Imam Arif Huskic, Rev. Halim Shukar, pastor David Nellist, Dr. Mary Asel, Hajja Nawal Hemadeh, sayyed Bagher Mosawi, Mr. Bilal Hamoud the runner for MI House of Representative and IHW board members!

Imam Elahi welcomed the mayors and interfaith partners taking time despite of their busy schedule to address the faith leaders and answer their questions.

Imam Elahi honored the courage of the new mayors and called the the best reason to be hopeful and optimistic about the victory of democracy in our great country.

Imam briefly shared his 31 years of interfaith experiences in Metropolitan area and honored the memory of late Hajj Khalil Alawan and late Dr. Dan Krichbaum and admired the work of current interfaith leaders.

Mentioning the stand of late Dr. King and his dream lecture, imam called for acceleration of interfaith work on social justice and elimination of poverty, gun violence and other social evils.

Imam said we must care for Ukrainian refugees but not to forget the refugees on our own borders with Mexico, condemning the Russian aggression on Ukraine but not to forget the aggression on Yemen,Syria and Gaza and tragic beheading of 81 innocents in Saudi Arabia.

Imam concluded with the famous poem from the German pastor Martin Niemoller: “First they came for…..”

Following the presentations by mayor Bazzi, mayor Bazzi, Chief Shahin, the floor opened for interactions by interfaith comments, questions and recommendations!

Mayor Hamoud spent more time addressing the concern expressed by Pastor Colleen Nieman regarding: Homelessness and the Michigan Avenue Corridor -Sex trafficking in the region.

Please watch the video of this inspiring connection on this page!

Watch On Facebook: Here

Photos: Here

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Vice President Kamala Harris admired IHW vaccination and other community services!

Vice President Kamala Harris admired IHW vaccination and other community services!

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Imam Elahi joined the vaccination mobilization event addressed by Vice President Harris, Governer Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor and a group of state and national political leaders at TCF center in Detroit this afternoon.

Talking with VP Harris, the imam congratulated the administration for their great achievements in fighting COVID 19 and advancing the vaccination services.

Vice President Harris thanked imam Elahi and IHW for their preparation to host her at the House of Wisdom last Monday and regretted missing the visitation because of the flood emergency in the area.

The VP appreciated the food distribution, vaccination works, and the new effort under “Street Team’ encouraging all neighborhoods to get the shot!

IHW Office
Interfaith an instrument of aspiration for world peace and prosperity!

Interfaith an instrument of aspiration for world peace and prosperity!

Imam Elahi’s American journey of interfaith, promotion of peace and justice, standing for human rights and faith in dialogue and outreach mission started in America in 1991.

Though imam Elahi’s stands for peace in the Middle East and disagreements with certain elements of US foreign policies have faced controversies in some interfaith events, yet his sincere passion for peace and his faith for the unity and brotherhood in human family have been appreciated even by many of those who may disagree with some of his opinions!

Imam Elahi has been attending hundreds of national and international interfaith gatherings in the last 30 years.

At the same time, he has been welcoming people of faith both at the Islamic House of Wisdom and also at his residence.

Last Thursday, dozens of faith leaders from Muslims of both Shia and Sunni, Jewish and Christians met at imam Elahi’s residence for a friendly dinner, dialogue and living by the example of hospitality and love.

In addition to a group of local Shia, Sunni religious leaders and some community activists, a number of prominent Interfaith leaders including: Rev. Steve Bland senior pastor /CEO-liberty Temple Baptist Church, Rabbi Asher Lopatin the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Council, Dr. Robert Brutal the head of Interfaith Leadership of Michigan and Rev. David Kasbow the head of Detroit Family Federation attended the dinner and shared their words of introduction and expressed their enthusiasm and strong passion for dialogue and interfaith work!

Last but not the least, Senator Sylvia Santana who has served in the Michigan Senate from the 3rd district since 2019 and has been strongly supportive of interfaith dialogue also welcomed by Imam and hajja Jennifer.

Before this interfaith dinner imam Elahi welcomed and honored his old friend, Dr. Ahmad Iravani a regular participant and speaker at Davos annual summits, who joined this friendly fellowship from Washington DC.

It was a pleasant afternoon blessed with food, friendship, and clear vision for working together with respect and responsibility towards a future of peace, honoring human dignity and rights and end of unjust and ugly wars, terrorist attacks and crimes against humanity!

IHW Office
“The Pope Meets Ayatollah”: New book
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A very Informative Conversation about the new book, “The Pope Meets Ayatollah” Written by Hassan al-Hakeem & Jalal Moughania!

Imam Elahi and the Co-Author, Br. Jalal discuss the content of the book and the importance of this historic visitation and its Universal Message! Please share your thought!

"The Pope Meets the Ayatollah: An Introduction to Shi'a Islam" -please share the book with family and friends: https://www.amazon.com/Pope.../dp/1943393125/ref=sr_1_1...

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COVID-19 Vaccine Faith-Based Community Town Hall

MDHHS discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine with the faith-based community. Joining Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health, the following panelists will be part of the discussion, moderated by Dion Williams, director of Faith Based & Urban Affairs for Governor Gretchen Whitmer:

Imam Mohammed Ali Elahi, Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights

Rabbi Mark Miller, Congregation Beth El in Bloomfield Hills

Bishop Charles Ellis III, Senior Pastor, Greater Grace Temple in Detroit

Dr. Herbert Smitherman, MD, Detroit Receiving Hospital

Rev. Lydia Bucklin, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan

Watch On Facebook: HERE

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LIVE: Health in the New Year!

LIVE: Health in the New Year! Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom with Guests, Dr. Mohamad Ajjour & Hajja Dr. Vicki Ashk

Watch On Facebook: HERE

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Prayer for 2021: Imam Elahi, Governor Gretchen Whitmer & Special Guests

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Joined Imam Elahi’s first Thursday prayer service of 2021!

Imam Elahi recited some parts of Doua Komail of Imam Ali and welcomed the Governor to address the prayer participants!

During her speech, the Governor appreciated the service and at the end, she addressed the community members’ comments and questions!

While some breaking news was happening and CNN was waiting desperately to interview Governer Whitmer, she generously spent a big amount of her evening time for this virtual visitation to IHW and the members of Muslim community of Michigan!

Watch On Facebook: HERE

IHW Office