Art Gala 2020: Muhsen’s Aim at Promoting Inclusivity

My favorite day of the week is Friday. Before COVID, I would dash out of my Friday morning class and drive down to the SAC. Sitting on my knees in the back of the room, I would listen intently to the Chaplain’s khutbah. He always delivered a timely and relevant message. Later, walking back to my car in the warm afternoon sun, I would reflect upon his words. A sense of peace would wash over me, knowing I was freshly equipped with wise words to help navigate the week ahead.

But what if I couldn’t hear the Chaplain? Rutgers does not have sign-language translators at Jummah or MSA events. Most mosques I know of are the same way. I would truly miss out on the best part of my week.

As an Ummah, we rarely prioritize accessibility for our disabled brothers and sisters. It’s unfortunate that deaf, blind, physically impaired, or mentally impaired Muslims might be unable to fully engage in the beautiful practices of Islam.

Disabilities should not be an obstacle in our religion.

This is why the Muhsen Organization is so important. Muhsen’s mission can be boiled down to three words: “awareness, accommodation, and acceptance” for the disabled members of our Ummah. Muhsen has implemented a plethora of programs to advance its mission, including a Masjid Certification program to ensure accessibility for all disability types, Umrah programs for groups with special needs, American Sign Language services, Braille Qurans, awareness events, respite care programs, specialized weekend schools, and much more. These programs are instrumental in advancing toward widespread accessibility for disabled Muslims.

For these reasons, RU-MSA HOPE has chosen the Muhsen Organization as the charity for this year’s Art Gala. Please continue submitting art! And, be sure to attend Art Gala on November 19th at 7:30 pm via Zoom. This is an incredible organization that deserves all the support you can give.