From Sunday, October 2nd, to Wednesday, October 12th, the IECOC will hold nightly programs in commemoration of Muharram. Starting at 7:00 PM with prayers, the program will feature an English lecture by the honorable Dr. Hassanein Walji along with speeches in Farsi by the honorable Drs. Mehdi Taghiei and Fred Sahafi:
Unleashing Your Potential
An inspirational Journey towards Self-reform
Upon leaving Madinah, Imam Husein (AS) declared: Innama kharajtu litalabil islahi fi ummati jaddi ’’ (I have only risen to reform the affairs of the Ummah of my grandfather.) Ashura is a perennial opportunity for all of us to align ourselves with that call for reform. Reformation in the affairs of a community can only come about through the reform of the individuals within that society. Reform of an individual is not possible unless there is self-awareness. Self-awareness is to know one’s internal states, preferences, resources and intuitions. In other words “the art of waking up” and realizing who you really are and why you do the things you do, in the way you do them.
From the vantage point of our values, based on the world view of Tawheed, and the lofty principle of Adl, this series of lectures by Dr. Hasnain Walji will look at how our convictions beliefs shape our habits, emotions and behavior. The series, will explore some of the key areas such as personal values, habits, emotions and psychological needs that drive our behaviors how these core values to help us develop healthy social relationships for the betterment of families, community and the wider society.
When we understand “what make us tick”— why we behave the way we do, etc.–we also have insight into what makes others tick and why others behave the way they do. We are then better able to build truer and freer relationships and consequently a better society. In the toxic environment generated this political season, it is more important than ever to demonstrate by our actions and behaviors as upstanding human beings that Islam and American values are not mutually exclusive.

Hasnain Walji, Ph.D. is a researcher, speaker, and writer with over 26 books to his credit and has lectured around the world on issues relating to personal development and social Justice. (biographic link)