The United Maryland Muslim Council (UMMC) is an Umbrella organization of Muslims in Maryland that collaborates with many local county Muslim councils and other organizations in the State of Maryland. UMMC’s mission is to empower the Muslim community politically by engaging our members in rigorous civic discourse. UMMC wishes to activate the Muslim community’s political consciousness so that we can defend our values, beliefs, and preferred policies. We have over 50 appointments in various important state and local boards as well as commissions over the past many years in the state governments. In the past, we have worked closely with the Governor’s office and other state and local elected leaders to discuss issues of the Muslim community such as safety, education, jobs, equal opportunity as well as small business development. 

While we thank Allah SWT, the support of our community members, UMMC board members, and our partner organizations for all that we were able to achieve, we recognize that we have to work even harder to go even further. As an active community in the social, civic, and political mosaic of our great state we have to be fully engaged in delivering our responsibilities and safeguarding our rights. In today’s often toxic and volatile political atmosphere, many of our liberties are under attack by institutions that leverage populist anger to seize authoritarian power. Unless the Muslim community remains vigilant, we risk being subjugated to the whims of a society that utterly rejects the values we hold dear. It is incumbent upon us, as progenitors of Islam’s future, to fight for a fair, righteous, and equitable society. Just as the Prophet (PBUH) sought to successfully restore justice to 7th-century Arabia, we must continue the sunnah and tradition in the 21st century and beyond.

My goal as the President of UMMC for the next couple of years is twofold: increasing the involvement of Muslim youth, as they are the leaders of tomorrow, and bringing various Muslim organizations into a closer working relationship so that we have a stronger unanimous voice. Today’s youth often feel disengaged, ostracized, and apathetic to a system that ignores their concerns and excoriates their needs. We at UMMC must construct an atmosphere in which Muslim youth can be involved in both political and religious life to better defend their future. Yet unless UMMC can provide a unified and coherent organization that brings people together, our efforts will be in vain: the Muslim community is stronger together, so it is required of UMMC that we bring Muslims together in a productive manner.

I look forward to your feedback, advice, and suggestions toward this goal of greater achievements and accomplishments for our community in the Great State of Maryland.