Dignitaries pose for a group photo at IHW in Dearborn Heights.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Hundreds of guests gathered at the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) in Dearborn Heights on Sunday, November 16 for a fundraising dinner that honored four community dignitaries. 

Those in attendance included Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko, Wayne Mayor Al Haidous, Consul General of Lebanon Bilal Qabalan, and The Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani.

Dr. Mohammad Ajjour, the founding chairman and a member of IHW’s advisory council, welcomed the dinner guests and spoke about services and contributions of IHW to the community. 

During the event, four distinguished guests were honored for their qualities and contributions to our community and country. Sir Michel Berry was introduced by IHW Vice Chair Hajjah Vicki Ashker and was honored for an outstanding lifetime of leadership, vision, courageous community and national outreach, hard work and social services.

Neemat Haidous Turfe was introduced by Dr. Hoda Amin and honored for outstanding faith and family values,  humanitarian services and promoting the culture of  cooperation and volunteerism in the community. 

Mahmoud Al-Hadidi was introduced by Siblani and honored for outstanding dedication, community leadership, promoting unity, moderation and social services.

Sayyed Hamid Al-Sadr was introduced by Ali Ghossein and honored for outstanding moral values for his ties to the Sadr Foundation, a non-profit organization that has aided orphans both in the Middle East and the U.S. 

Mohammad Ali Elahi,  the leader of the IHW, spoke about the mission of the mosque and its role in constructing the character of the community based on faith and moral values. He added that creating a truthful, trustworthy, compassionate, educated and  ethical and community is the main mission of the mosque.

Elahi condemned the recent crimes of ISIS in beheading American aid worker Peter Kassig  and 19 Syrian citizens. He also condemned Islamophobia and Christian extremists who resisted the prayer of peaceful Muslims in Washington National Cathedral earlier this month. Elahi asked Muslims and Christians to work together against hate, injustice, racism, war and violence.