December 20, 2013 The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) organized a special Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Herndon, Virginia. The central feature of the event was the ADAMS Award to Dr. Jamal Barzinji for his lifelong distinguished service to the American Muslim community and for the ADAMAS community, in particular. Another award was presented to IIIT for its key and formative role in the establishing and continued support for ADAMS on its activities.
Several prominent leaders from the ADAMS community spoke at the event, including Imam Mohammad Magid, ADAMS Religious Director, Wael Khairo, ADMAS Executive Director, Farooq Syed, the outgoing President of ADAMS, Rizwan Jaka, Chairman of the Board, and others.
Dr. Jamal Barzinji, in his acceptance speech, reminded the audience of the history of ADAMS, its humble beginnings and the sacrifices of a multitude of pioneer individuals and their families to build a model community in Northern Virginia that is now an example in its inclusiveness and respect for diversity, its openness to other faiths communities, its engagement in charitable and relief works and its encouragement of civil and political involvement of Muslims in the affairs of the broader American Society. He commended the leadership of ADAMS, particularly Imam Mohammad Magid for his exemplary role and stewardship.
Dr. Abubaker AlShingieti, Executive Director of IIIT, USA, accepted the ADAMS Award on behalf of IIIT and thanked ADAMS Board of Trustees for their recognition of the special relationship between IIIT and ADAMS and pledged to continue the relationship in pursuit of the common interest of ADAMS and IIIT.
Jamal Barzinji was one of the early leaders of the US Muslim Brotherhood who helped to found much of the infrastructure of the Brotherhood in the US. For a profile of Dr. Barzinji, go here.
The All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) is a prominent Muslim community organization in the Washington metropolitan area and a number of important U.S. Brotherhood leaders are known to have been members of ADAMS. The Imam and Executive Director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) is Mohamed Magid, also the current President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) describes itself as “a private, non-profit, academic, cultural and educational institution, concerned with general issues of Islamic thought and education” and using the slogan “Towards Islamization of Knowledge and Reform of Islamic Thought.” The concept for IIIT was developed at a meeting held in Lugano, Switzerland that was attended by many luminaries of the Global Muslim Brotherhood including Youssef Qaradawi. IIIIT was founded in the U.S. in 1980 by U.S. Muslim Brotherhood leaders including Iraqi-born Jamal Barzinji and Hisham Altalib who wished to promote the Islamization of Knowledge as conceived by Ismail Al-Faruqi and who were also early leaders of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). A1991 internal document of the US Muslim Brotherhood, introduced as evidence in the holy Land Foundation trial, included IIIT in “a list of our organizations and organizations of our friends.” IIIT was associated with the now defunct SAAR Foundation, a network of Islamic organizations located in Northern Virginia that was raided by the Federal government in March 2002 in connection with the financing of terrorism and both organizations had been under investigation at that time by the U.S. Justice Department until at least mid 2007. The organization appeared to have withdrawn from public view following the 2002 raids but seems to be enjoying a renaissance of late. The IIIT Council of Scholars includes a number of important individuals from the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood such as Ingrid Mattson, the former President of ISNA. IIIT has a network of affiliates located in Europe, Africa, the MIddle East, and Asia and is heavily involved with publishing and promoting publications by Global Muslim Brotherhood leaders including Youssef Qaradawi who, according to one source, serves as an IIIT trustee.
The GMBDW reported in October 2013 that tUS Naval Academy instructor Ermin Sinanovic is now serving as the IIIT Research Director.
