The Islamic Social Services Association, USA(ISSA) convened a marriage summit and 25th anniversary gala on Saturday, November 02, 2024. The event was held on the Tempe, AZ campus of Arizona State University. ISSA was founded by Dr. Aneesah Nadir, LCSW.
Dr. Nadir has been a tireless proponent of developing healthier Muslim families and has lectured, authored, and mentored in this realm for many decades. The attendees at the summit consisted of Imams, Practitioners, and Lay people interested in healthy Muslim marriages.
Attendees witnessed a series of panels that addressed various topics such as:
- What is going well with Muslim marriages?
- What are the challenges and how have they evolved over time?
- What are the challenges singles are facing in North America?
- Are there unique challenges depending on age or ethnicity?
The experts and other attendees discussed these issues and acknowledged that the issues that singles have been facing are happening throughout the country.
The positives and challenges of Muslim marriages were highlighted to develop healthier marital connections. Issues that were discussed during the sessions centered on the following issues:
- There was an emphasis on “Being Garments for one another” as stated in the Qur’an.
- The garment is symbolic of protection; it was emphasized that marriage is a protective entity, and essential to healthy communities.
- There was a discussion on the role of social media in influencing Muslim marriages, and how apps are being utilized to facilitate marriages. The dangers of online meetings were highlighted as well( haram hook-ups, green card seekers, etc.)
The attendees and presenters agreed that the leadership of Masajid needed to be more involved in marriage preparation by developing marriage information sessions. There should also be opportunities for the unmosqued to find suitable mates. The healthy and unhealthy aspects of culture were also highlighted, and the recommendation that deen and character should be the primary factors when choosing a mate.
Marriage should be the goal of all young people, and parents of sons should also establish mahr(dowry) accounts to assist them in showing up for marriage in a positive light.
It was also emphasized that people who are in stable unions should mentor new couples to help them develop best practices to establish a marriage that lasts. The sessions demonstrated that much is needed to develop healthier marriages in the Muslim community, and these needs should be systematized. Couples should develop a level of emotional intelligence before marriage. It was also noted that Muslim couples can be impacted by the greater society.
The Summit culminated with a GALA with several speakers including Imam Adeyinka Mendes who was able to communicate to the attendees the importance of emphasizing Islam in marriage, and Baba Ali founder of Half Our Deen who was able to share how men and women need to recognize and embrace their differences. Overall ISSA’s 25th anniversary activities attested to the fact that the community continues to have a role in helping people attain and maintain healthy marriages.
Here are some photos from the conference and gala