Dear Friend,
As-Salaam 'Alaykum: May the peace and blessings of Ramadan be upon you, inside and outside your home. We write you during this blessed month to ask for your help.
We are fulfilling a long-held vision, and have formally launched Zaytuna College, a most ambitious and dynamic venture, which is planned as the first accredited Muslim college in the United States. Admissions into the Bachelor's degree program will open this October, and we plan to welcome our first freshman class in Fall 2010, insha'Allah.
This endeavor is entirely dependent upon Allah's providence and then, upon how American Muslims like you respond to our plea. To put it bluntly, our community desperately needs this college, and this college desperately needs your help to succeed.
This is your college; it is for the American Muslim community, and we are convinced it will be a banner of pride for every Muslim. We want our youth to see the beauty, the vibrancy, and, most importantly, the relevance of this religion and its wonderful teachings embodied in a thriving college that is academically rigorous and spiritually nurturing.
We invite you to participate in this historic endeavor by providing the seed investment crucial for such a venture. Our tradition is one of giving and sacrifice. The Qu'ran demands two sacrifices: lives and wealth. We are committed to giving our lives, and we need your commitment of wealth.
We know that you are a generous person concerned about the future of your faith in America. May your Ramadan be one of renewal and increased faith. If you are going through hardship, give what you can, and may Allah bless it and return it to you many times over. "Wealth does not diminish due to charity," our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, said. He was "more generous than a fecundating wind and most generous in Ramadan."
Thank you for your support and for not turning away this important plea for help.
Your brothers in Islam,
Zaid Shakir and Hamza Yusuf
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