Light and Purpose Masjid Jihad Number 1

by Aberjhani

Title

Light and Purpose Masjid Jihad Number 1

Artist

Aberjhani

Medium

Mixed Media - Mixed Media Digital Painting

Description

This majestic "Victorian Era" building sits in the heart of Savannah, Georgia (USA) and is home to Masjid Jihad, a nonprofit organization which describes its mission as one designed "to serve the religious, educational, and social needs of the growing Muslim community of Savannah as well as reaching out to our non-Muslim neighbors in an effort to provide information about our faith and way of life."

The neighborly aspect is particularly notable considering the organization has peacefully carried out its mission across the street from the Episcopal Church of St. Paul the Apostle for some 45 harmonious years. It is also among the many spiritual centers in Savannah which provide "brown bag" food giveaways to families or individuals in need.
This lesson in coexistence is obviously one from which many can benefit these days. Yet it really only sounds remarkable (to some) because we are more likely to hear news reports about violent conflicts between people from different cultural or religious backgrounds than we are to hear about those living and working peacefully side by side. But it does in fact happen and I'm hoping my digital paintings and photographs of Masjid Jihad capture some of that beautiful sense of diverse but unified community.

Contrary to religious extremist's appropriation and distorted misuse of the word "jihad," it is understood and employed at Masjid Jihad in its original spiritual sense: "...to toil, exert strenuously, be diligent, struggle, strive after, meditate upon a thing, struggle against difficulties, or strive with might." Members of Masjid Jihad come from diverse racial and national backgrounds; they identify with the North American-based leadership of Imam Wallace Deen Mohammed.

Aberjhani
author of Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah
co-author Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance

Uploaded

September 19th, 2019

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