As’salaamu Alaykum / Peace and Blessings be upon you,

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” [Qur’an 33:21]  

Dear MAPS Community,

As is our proud tradition each year since we started MAPS, we chronicle our efforts throughout the year in the form of an Annual Report that we traditionally distribute during our Annual Banquet. Sadly, this year we did not have our Annual Banquet because of COVID-19. Instead, we have been very busy trying to readjust to the new realities of serving the community virtually including during this past Ramadan.  Today, I am pleased to announce the virtual release of our 2019-2020 Annual Report. This report reflects how MAPS is attempting to follow the prophetic example in building a vibrant community in the Pacific Northwest, including being spiritually connected to the divine, caring for and serving those in need, engaging in the affairs of our time and advocating for justice for all, and producing leaders who stand with courage and compassion while promoting peace, hope and optimism far and wide.

To view the Annual Report click here.

The MAPS Annual Report serves many objectives: it is a commitment to transparency; a historical record of our past year activities; an alignment of our ever growing programs; a celebration of our community and a hopeful start to the launch of the coming year. The annual report provides an overview of who we are, what we are doing and where we are going as an institution and as a community. When collected over the years, it also serves as a record of our community’s history and our progression as we establish ourselves and become more and more impactful in society. An important aspect of the report is the President’s Message, which is a reflection of the past year and looks ahead to what the future holds for the community.

This year’s report is extensive – it is 100 page long with lots of pictures! It covers our finances, operations, facilities, programs and staff. It highlights the considerable work being done by the various MAPS programs (MAPS-MCRC, MAPS-AMEN, MAPS-MCOC, etc.). It highlights the work of various age groups (MAPS-YOUTH, MAPS-JUNIORS, etc.). And this year, it contains a special section on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you browse and read through the report, you will see how wide and deep of an impact we are having as a community. MAPS provides avenues of change ranging from uplifting the underprivileged, challenging societal injustices and prejudices, educating the next generation, strengthening common bonds, and envisioning a better future — all while following Islamic values and the example of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in bringing good to ourselves, to our families and to our society. I encourage you to keep contributing to these efforts, to keep imagining new ways for us to make a difference, and to keep shaping society for the betterment of all.

Putting the Annual Report together is no easy task. It requires significant work and time by many at MAPS who put in countless hours in its production. I would like to thank all those who contributed to the report – volunteers, committee leads, board members and MAPS staff. I would especially like to thank Naazneen Ali for spending many nights preparing, organizing, revising and rendering this beautiful document. Please keep all of them in your prayers.

I hope you will have as much joy and pride as I have browsing and reading this report. As always, I look forward to hearing your feedback. You can send them to me at president@mapsredmond.org.

Thank you and jazak-um-ullah-khairan (may you be blessed and rewarded).

Hyder Ali
MAPS President