The Straight Path Campaign

What is MAS?

The Muslim American Society (MAS) is a charitable, religious, social, cultural, and educational, not-for-profit organization. It is a pioneering Islamic organization, an Islamic revival, and reform movement that uplifts the individual, family, and society.

Mission
To move people to strive for God consciousness, liberty, and justice, and to convey Islam with utmost clarity.

Vision

To be a vital partner within the fabric of a virtuous and just America where Muslims are among many exemplary citizens helping to positively affect our society.

Objectives

• To present the message of Islam to everyone in America, and promote cooperation and better understanding ,
• To encourage the participation of Muslims in building a virtuous and moral society,
• To offer a viable Islamic alternative to many of our society’s prevailing problems,
• To promote family values in accordance with Islamic teaching,
• To promote the human values that Islam emphasizes: brotherhood, equality, justice, mercy, compassion, and peace, and
• To foster unity among Muslims and Muslim organizations and encourage cooperation and coordination amongst them

MAS Milestones

• MAS is a recipient of US Federal Grant as part of the President’s Faith Based Initiative Program.
• Trained over 1500 federal, state and local law enforcement officers in an outreach effort to build healthy relations between law enforcement and the American Muslim community.   Outreach Director awarded by the Justice Department for the quality of these trainings.
• Along with other national organizations, MAS participated in meetings with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to discuss joint efforts against domestic violent extremists, and to work with the government to address community concerns about DHS policies, such as racial, ethnic, and religious profiling at airports and the border, that have eroded the government’s trust and credibility with the communities.
• The first American First Muslim organization to hold a Citizen Civil Rights Hearing on Capitol Hill.  The Citizens Hearing was co-chaired by the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman John Conyers.
• MAS trained over 7000 civic and community activists.
• The organization received commendation for outstanding services by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee for “MAS Boots On The Ground”, a project that provided assistance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
• MAS established MAS Service Corps.  A major project of the service corps is the MAS Service Corps Meat Project, which provides food for shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and other social service groups serving the poor.  Also, the Corps provides school backpacks and material for needy children.
• MAS received recognition in the national media for civic and electoral achievements through MAS Freedom’s Center for Civic Empowerment and the Voting is Power (VIP) program.
• Cited by CNN and other media sources for positive programs dealing with youth on the key issues of extremism, violence, hate and intolerance.
• Presented at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia (December 2009).  Plenary speaker at an international conference on nuclear abolition, peace, and sustainable development in New York City (April, 2010).
• Developed and distributed, for congressional staff members and representatives, the first American Muslim “Four Year Legislative Agenda”.
• Hosted a Muslim Community Action Forum with the Governor of Massachusetts, where some 1,000 persons attended.
• MAS leaders serve on numerous major nonprofit organizational boards and councils, including: Steering Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations, the Board of Advisors for the Harvard University Islam in the West Project Boston Muslims Survey, and the Board of the Cooperative Program, The Interfaith Alliance, Board of Interreligious Council for Public Life, Board of Center for Jewish Muslim Relations, Religions for Peace, Interfaith Workers Justice, Washington DC Mayor’s Office on Metropolitan Ministries and The Temple of Understanding (hosted by the United Nations).