Assalam o alaikum brothers and sisters,
Global Deaf Muslim has been servicing the Deaf Muslim community in the United State of America with the ultimate aim of reaching out to the International Community and internationalizing Global Deaf Muslim. Since its inception, GDM has worked to provide invaluable services to the Muslim Deaf Community in the U.S This organization GDM, though quite young, is
the first of its kind initiated for the benefit of Muslims who are deaf. Since its inception in 2005 our primary objective and purpose has been to advocate for and promote Islamic education for deaf Muslims around the world. Given the magnitude of the needs of deaf Muslims and the realization that there is virtually no credible organization around the world fulfilling their needs, GDM has taken the challenge of being an active voice for deaf Muslims. We seek to develop a comprehensive program to educate all deaf Muslims about Islam. Allah, in His infinite wisdom has made Islam accessible to all people, including Muslims who are deaf; however, we have to use an approach that will require a different path from hearing people. We’ll have to bring hearing and deaf Muslims together and make full utilization of the various technologies that exist to assist deaf Muslims in the learning and communicating process. To that end GDM has already begun to make strides in reaching out to deaf and hearing Muslims nationally and internationally. We have worked with Muslim organizations to provide interpreters at a series of conferences. We have also hosted Islamic Exposure Presentation for deaf Muslims at the Islamic Center of Southern California, we hosted Iftar dinners with speakers at the Gallaudet University in Washington, National Technical for the Deaf in Rochester, NY and provided free American Sign Language(ASL) lessons at the Islamic Center of Rochester. We also worked with Masjids(mosques) to provide interpreters for the Jumaah Prayer and our most recent accomplishment was a one day symposium in February 2009 on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. which brought together deaf and hearing Muslims for the sole purpose of educating everyone about the needs, concerns, and issues facing deaf Muslims. The recurring themes of the seminar was the need for ending the isolation, the lack of Islamic education facing deaf Muslims, and the need for communication between the hearing and the deaf. Insha Allah, our next project, is Global Deaf Muslim Deaf in Islam Conference in 2010 would be at Dubai World Trade Center from February 14-16 in 2010 which we hope would bring deaf Muslim world together with hearing Muslims in an effort to provide a forum of exchange between both groups but primarily to work on the common goals of deaf Muslims to develop a comprehensive program to educate all deaf Muslims about Islam and to encourage global network connection. The conference will foster and encourage the exchange of thoughts, experiences, discussions, and developments for deaf Muslims. The conference aims to provide opportunities for ideas and to work on the common goal of dismantling Islamic isolation of the deaf. Even deaf brothers and sisters must learn and cannot be put aside from the pursuit of learning Islam. The conference will serve to advocate for the recognition of sign language, deaf culture, and to agree on a common sign language to make religious communication more universal and to empower deaf Muslims around the world and most importantly a series of speakers both deaf speakers and hearing speakers on a series of important Islamic topics and on pressuring issues concerning the Deaf Muslim community. Any contribution to make this a success will greatly be appreciated and grateful for, your contribution will help us hire interpreters (American Sign language Interpreters, British Sign language Interpreters’(BSL) Urdu, Arabic sign and etc including their flights, fees and accommodation. We at Global Deaf Muslim are fully committed to the success of the Deaf Muslim community globally. Al Hamdulillah For the pleasure of Allah and for the good of the Muslim Ummah we pray that this will be a success for everyone concerned, Insha’Allah. GDM truly appreciates your contribution to keep our vision alive and help us continue to provide beneficial projects and services to the Deaf Muslim community in and around the World. Whatever helping hand extended to us would instill in us a sense of eternal gratification. Finally, we thank you for your support, contribution and love for the Islamic well being of the Deaf Community world wide and ask for your continued support and contribution. We encourage you all to consider participating in our conference in 2010, which would be of historic significance for every one concerned. May Allah in his infinite wisdom and mercy make it a success for us all
Executive Committee,
Global Deaf Muslim (GDM)
