Messages of Support

Celebrating A Decade Of Community Service

The Council derives its strength from active involvement and support of our valued member organizations. Their dedicated leaders and representatives keep the Council going with collective decision-making, planning, and implementation. Their heart-felt messages below are treasured and a source of inspiration as we forge ahead together. All we can say here is THANKS for this appreciation!

Local Muslim Organizations

Message from the Muslim Community Center

"MCC is proud to be one of the founding members of the Council of Islamic Organizations, the CIO. Congratulations are in order to the CIO on its tenth anniversary, Alhamdulillah. It is through the Council that the Muslim community has earned recognition among communities of other faiths, media, & govt'l agencies. It is a good sign indeed that much more is expected out of the Council. It is this expectation that will draw the community closer & closer to the CIO, & enable it to achieve its vast potential for the community & society at large. MCC will continue to take pleasure in working with the CIO, Insha'Allah."

Mohammed Kaiseruddin,
President Muslim Community Center, Chicago

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Message from the Inner-City Muslim Action Network

"The Inner-City Muslim Action Network congratulates the CIOGC for 10 years of seeking a common platform for Muslims to come together & work for a common cause. May Allah continue to strengthen your efforts & provide us all with an opportunity to collectively excel in excellence for this noble cause."

Rami Nashashibi
Executive Director, IMAN (773) 434-IMAN www.imancentral.org

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Message from the Islamic Center of Naperville

"Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) is very thankful to Allah Suhanahu Wa Ta'alaa (SWT) that He gave us the opportunity to be part of the group of Chicagoland Muslims who were instrumental in forming the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC). We pledge to continue to work with CIOGC in the future in its good works, & to promote the ideals for which it stands. We also pray to Allah (SWT) to bring all the Chicagoland Muslims together under the CIOGC umbrella & to send us His help in coping with the difficult times befallen our communities in the aftermath of 9-11."

Tawfik Abdel-Moneim,
Ameer Majlis-e-Shura & ICN Community

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Message from the Muslim Society, Inc.

"MSI wishes the Council a heartfelt congratulations on its 10th anniversary. It is a great pleasure to see that the hard work & dedication of Muslims in Chgo has given them an organization that could represent & speak on their behalf in these difficult times. We appreciate the benefits the Council has given to the Chgo Muslim Community by being a representative organization that could communicate with the media & participate in the political arena. Again congratulations on this milestone & we pray Allah (swt) for those who have devoted their time & efforts to bring this organization to this level. Ameen."

Syed Shamshad Husain,
President

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Message from Islamic Foundation North

"We, the community of IFN feel proud to be a part of CIOGC & we are committed to fully support its efforts. We also support its endeavors of bridging the gap between Muslims & the extended community of greater Chgo. We congratulate the leadership of CIOGC for its foresight, dedication, & sense of direction for the last decade. With best wishes and support,"

M. Inam Hussain,
President, Islamic Foundation North (Libertyville)

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Message from ISNA, our Valued National Partner:

The Council cherishes our strong bonds with the Islamic Society of North America & its wise leadership. These ties have been strengthened over years of collaboration on many projects including the annual ISNA Conventions that the Council has been proud to co-host successfully. We offer with particular pride the following message from our strong supporter & an inspiring leader, ISNA's Secretary General, Dr. Sayyid Syeed.

"Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the Council. What a joy it has been to watch the birth and the growth of the Council in one decade. May Allah reward all those dedicated and hardworking leaders of Chicago who steered the Council to the present strength.

The emergence of the Council has helped us to appreciate the potential of such coordinating federations in metropolitan settings. The Council is already serving as a model for Islamic unity in other big cities from coast to coast. Your experience of institution building needs to be made available to others. For ISNA, the Council has provided a firm and credible foundation for launching our largest gatherings of Muslims, professional conferences and other projects. We are proud of our partnership The Council has been involved in building bridges of understanding between different Muslim communities and forging alliances between Muslims and other faith groups. This pioneering role of celebrating diversity within the Muslim community and in the wider mainstream has earned Chicago the popular title of being the "American Madina." It reminds us of our beloved Prophet's vision of his city Madina built on a pluralist model. The Council has taken the right role and shown the right vision. We hope and pray for continued success and blessings of Allah for the Council, Muslims of Chicago and for the Chicagoland. Amen!"

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed
Secretary General Islamic Society of North America

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Remarks from the President of the Council's Founding Committee

"As the president of the ad hoc committee that found the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, I am very grateful to Allah (swt) for the success that we were blessed with during the first ten years of the Council's existence. God willing, the next ten years will be even more fruitful with love and peace among peoples of all races, faiths, and ethnicities. The less time needed to put out fires of fear, hate, and discrimination, the more time will be spent on improving relations within our community, society, and country for the benefit of all people in the great nation.

It is appropriate at this time to reflect on the founding and growth of this organization. Much of the credit goes to Dr. Ibrahim Elghindy for planting the seed and for calling the first meeting of heads of Muslim associations. That action resulted in the election of the Ad Hoc Committee to look into the formation of an umbrella organization. The nine members of the Ad hoc committee, including vice-president Dr. Mohammed Kaiseruddin, spent days and months in research, preparations, and meetings until Alhamdulillah, the by-laws were accepted and endorsed by all the major (in size of membership) Mosques and Islamic Centers. Other organizations later joined the Council.

The Council was blessed from the beginning, having dedicated persons to serve in leadership positions. The first chairman of the Council, Dr. Kaiseruddin initiated many programs including " food for the poor", and the media relations committee. Dr. Talal Sunbulli followed as chairman and strengthened the Council; he instituted the outreach program with interfaith dialogues. Br. Kareem Irfan, the current chair, improved and expanded the effectiveness of the Council in several areas including the media, dialogues, and outreach. Under his leadership, a Council office was opened, and of particular significance is the relationship with the Catholic Theological Union-Cardinal Bernardin Center, where a Catholic-Muslim Studies Program was initiated. I am honored to serve on the Bernardin Center's Advisory Board."

Talat M. Othman
President Founding Committee of CIOGC

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Message from the Islamic Association of Palestine

"Congratulations to the Council on its tenth anniversary. It is only 10 years young & getting better. May Allah (swt) guide & grant the leaders of this great organization the wisdom to build a great Muslim community, for a better America."

Rafiq Jabr,
President Islamic Assn of Palestine

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Message from the Superintendent of Police of Chicago

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Message from the National Conference for Community and Justice

"The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Chicago and Northern Illinois Region has worked together with Chicago area Muslim communities for the last fifty years. Founded in 1927, it has always been the mission of NCCJ to fight bias, bigotry and racism in America by promoting understanding and respect through advocacy, conflict resolution, and education. Since the founding of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, its support of and cooperation with NCCJ to build inclusive communities has led to initiatives of even greater impact and import. Our greater civic community is fortunate because of the CIOGC's efforts to organize and galvanize the peaceful efforts of the diverse Muslim communities in the Chicago area. On the tenth anniversary of the C.I.O.G.C., we express our deep appreciation to the Council and all its members for its organization and leadership."

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Message from the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Council

Greetings of Peace!  The Christian and Jewish leaders, who unite together with the leaders of the American-Muslim community in membership on the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago join in recognizing the ten year anniversary of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.  The presence of your organization in the life of our community is truly a cause for celebration.

Together we face daunting challenges.  Together we share a common cause, to honor God, to serve God's people, to work for justice, to join in peace and harmony across lines that might easily divide us.

We are pleased and honored to mark the end of the first decade of your Council's life and work and the beginning of a new decade of service.  The relationship which we share with CIOGC is one of our most important and valued realities.  It will continue to grow in the years to come.  We give thanks to God for bringing you to this anniversary time and for bringing us together to share the blessings of our All-merciful God.

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Message from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

"Assalamu Alaikum from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

We are honored to be working with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago to uphold our country's immigrant tradition, to work for freedom and equality, and to promote our common values of family, faith, and hard work."

36 S. Wabash, Suite 1425 Chicago, IL 60603 312.332.7360 tel 312.332.7044 fax www.icirr.org"

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Congratulations from the Council's past Chairman

Islamic tradition has taught us that passage of years is not a merit for recognition. Rather dedicated effort and goals that were achieved is. Ten years ago Dr. El Gindi was the maverick who galvanized the receptive atmosphere in Chicago around the idea for a council in Chicago. Now the CIO has grown beyond recognition and acceptance to expectation and demands of it, that increased by the pressure of these difficult times.

Outside our community it is the CIO representatives which articulate our community's stand and concern and organize the Muslim participation in the civic responsibility in the Chicago area. Islam and Muslims are an integral part of America and we are here to stay, no matter how much pressure and intimidation we face. For that, our collective vision has to seek Allah's (S) direction in steering in this stormy, tidy sea. For sure those who strive for the cause of Allah (S), Allah (S) will guide them to the right direction.

Talal Sunbulli
Chairman 1996-2000

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Message from the Council's First Chairman

Chicago's Muslim community has been widely recognized as the best organized and cohesive among all the metropolitan communities in the U.S. This recognition has been given since the seventies and the eighties. The formation of the Council of Islamic Organizations, the CIO, in the early nineties gave the community the much needed platform for further strengthening the bonds and continuing to be the most cohesive community. True to its mission, the CIO has provided a unified voice to the Muslim community, and has accomplished feats that would not have been possible for individual organizations. It has put the community on the religious, civic and cultural map of Chicago, especially for the individuals, organizations that are not Muslim, and for governmental agencies and corporations. The CIO deserves the community recognition, and is rightfully receiving it. It has a vast potential for growth in the coming years, which will be realized support Insha'Allah, with help from Allah (swt) and community support.

Mohammed Kaiseruddin
First Chairman, 1992-1996

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© 2002 CIOGC Updated: 4-Nov-2002