A brightly lit hall at the RISE Demonstration Center in Washington DC was prepped for Jummah. At the first Peace Movement Summit, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and BRIDGES had collaborated on, young people in the juvenile system gathered to reflect on their faith traditions on March 30, 2018.
DYRS is responsible for the supervision, custody, and care of young people charged with a delinquent act in the District. One of the goals is to improve the long-term safety of neighborhoods by ensuring that youth are living in a safe environment, properly supervised, and receiving the support they need to thrive. Since many of the youth are Muslims, the department reached out to Muslim organizations who work in the neighborhoods where some of these young people live.
Students of Al Huda School, grandsons of Sh Omar Abdul-Sabour, called the adhan. The khutbah was led by Buhaira Sabour. .
With the help of Rashidun DC, a dawah table and a Islamic clothing corner was set up to serve the youth. “What are we calling people to when we are calling people to falah- success. Where is the falah in your life?” asked Imam Abdul Ali of Ar-Rashidun Community Center. “[People out there] want a better life and they are supposed to see you and say that is I want that,” he said to the young Muslims. “Three generations in the penitentiary —they don’t want that —we are the something else they want-a rightly guided life.”
BRIDGES was officially formed in recent years, but is based on the 25 year legacy of the late Shaykh Omar Abdus-Sabour, born Sylvester Caroll Curtis, on February 10, 1944, in Washington, DC.
Shaykh Omar, as he was known amongst his students, used to gather the youth of his neighborhood on Wednesdays and feed them and teach them the fundamentals of Islam. "Starting in 1992, he opened his home every Wednesday evening, at 228 37th pl., to a group of at-risk youth, including his sons and nephews, and established a weekly halaqah (learning circles/gatherings). There, the young men engaged in Islamic studies, as well as a variety of subjects like social skills, proper grooming, eating etiquettes, culinary arts, even relationship counseling. And all based on a foundation of Service to the People. A "ghetto charm school", if you will. He periodically brought in local scholars to teach and give lectures. He would invite community elders to share their wisdom. He would also occasionally allow one of the students to teach a session. Shaykh Omar always encouraged the group to further their education, and to share the knowledge with others,” shares Abdul Malik Fuller of BRIDGES.
“On Wednesdays, we do a class and we also do Pop Up Salats,” says Buheira Sabour, Sh Omar’s son.”We go to different neighborhoods in the city and create place for the neighborhood to pray in congregation.” 15-20 students regular attend the Wednesday night sessions.
Shaykh Omar was an exceptional barber, as well as a skilled carpenter, medic, and cook, say people who now him intimately. He was known as a sharp dresser, and a straight talker.
In 1971, Sh Omar married Julia Kemba Fuller, and they were blessed with 10 children, eight girls and two boys. They also shared two older children.
"Omar was a very prolific speaker, and was the most attentive in conversation. He was utterly engaging in every situation, always willing to help out. This selfless way of life brought him to the religion of Islam. In 1970, he took his shahada (declaration of faith), and embraced Islam wholeheartedly,” shares Abdul Malik Fuller.
"He became much more active in his community, as well as building BRIDGES with others. He coordinated neighborhood cleanups. Saw to the sick, elderly and shut-in. He routinely took his children and other neighborhood youths to local parks and recreation centers, and always was present, and actively volunteering at his children's schools,” he notes, about Sh Omar.
Fuller says that Sh Omar would reach out to drug addicts, as well as dealers in the neighborhood, establishing a level of respect, and gaining a moral command of the community. "He did his best to make growing up on 37th Place much safer, not only for his family, but all families,” adds Fuller.
The team has learned the message of Brotherhood and Sisterhood, and wanting for others what you want for yourself from Sh Omar. He consistently encouraged good behavior and felt it was his duty to forbid harm, and any form of oppression.
Br Yawn ad Din, a white brother who would come on a motorbike, helped Sh Omar teach the young men, shares Luqman Sabour. He shared the story of how BRIDGES was given the keys to a house on 37th Place to host their gathering by the commissioner of their area after she saw the positive affects of their work on the young people in the area.
“Sh. Omar made great efforts to prepare these youths to be outstanding, active members of society. He would constantly remind them of their duty to their family and community. He encouraged honesty, courage, and accountability. He emphasized cleanliness and proper presentation. He stressed respect for our elders, respect for our children, and respect for ourselves...This is the legacy, we at BRIDGES vow to honor, and uphold. We were very fortunate to have had such a great mentor, and we hope to continue this tradition of social service in our community and share it with others,” says Fuller.
Abdul-Wali, another student of Sh Omar, speaking at the event advised the young Muslims in the audience that the blood of the Muslims is sacred and Muslims need to stand up for each other in other communities and neighborhoods. “Protect your Muslims and non Muslim brothers,” he advised. Service to humanity was emphasized by Musa, a committed BRIDGES volunteer.
To wrap up the event, lunch catered by Sweet Tooth was served.
These grassroots effort and solidarity amongst Muslim organizations working on the ground are a great effort to spread falah (success) in the nation’s capital was the consensus of all who came out to support the endeavor,
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