Race, Justice, Equity and Love Update

January 18, 2021

Our beloved Murshid was well aware of the divisions caused by the perception and history of race.

In the Objects of the Sufi Message, he included the goals of rooting out hatred caused by differences and distinctions, and meeting beyond the narrow national and racial boundaries. Realizing the light and power in each being can transform and transcend prejudicial and discriminatory behaviors, customs and beliefs. Still over one hundred years after Murshid planted the seed of the Inayatiyya, social, political and economic constructs still separate and divide. As Pir Zia noted, “We have work to do to open the doors of our movement, and of our hearts.”

Through the Race, Justice, Equity and Love Committee we are working to raise our racial awareness, root out unconscious biases, and create a more inclusive and welcoming movement that contributes to a culture of love, harmony and beauty.

In North America, under the auspices of Kinship, we have engaged eleven racial inquiry groups that meet monthly to explore our racial conditioning. Meeting with a consistent group of people builds a trusting environment that supports self-examination and builds skills in talking about race without causing harm. These inquiry groups have explored: racial identity; personal history of race; privilege or advantage that come from assigned or assumed racial identity; fears, tears and grief around race; and silence.

In a separate process we enlisted 33 people from North American leadership teams (the Board of Trustees, the Message Council, Young Adult Council, Astana staff and the Abode of the Message) to engage in a three-part conversation on racial awareness in January. These conversations, which looked at the personal, interpersonal and organizational perspective, were designed and facilitated by Fatima Hafiz-Muid and Onaje Muid, murids in the Inayatiyya who are skilled facilitators of inclusion, diversity and equity engagement.

In Europe, the Healing Activity has been holding monthly conversations on racial equality. These are facilitated by Farzana Dalila-Boyle who picks a topic each month based on what is arising in the group. These meetings have become a sacred space for learning as well as sharing experiences and resources on this issue. It is a mixed group. For more information please contact info@ihuk.org.

We are also happy to report that we have now started an international Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) group. The group meets on the second Saturday of every month. During our time together we have an opportunity for members to seek, learn, share, heal and affirm connections to themselves and our community while recognizing the distinct history of BIPOC people and unlearning dominant narratives. If you would like more information please contact gulrukh@inayatiyya.org

On the international front, the Inayatiyya International Board will be working with the boards from each nation to develop facilitated conversations and consciousness raising about racial awareness.

We look forward to continuing our work in 2021 to manifest justice, harmony and love in the Inayatiyya.

Gulrukh Patel, RJEL Co-Chair
Rabia Povich, RJEL Co-Chair