ABOUT IMIDIWAN
What We Do
At Imidiwan, we aim to bring the Muslim community together through creative, thought-provoking, and soul-nourishing programming and events. We see ourselves as one among a constellation of organizations serving the Muslim community in Pittsburgh and at large, and we are proud to collaborate with various institutions in the city to bring our ideas to life.
Our long-term vision is to establish a third space—a physical gathering space where we can establish more consistent programming that serves the needs of the Pittsburgh community.
The core principles and intentions for our programming are the following.
Creative and innovative: Our goal is to breathe new life to the city by offering programming that is novel and enriching. We are not a masjid and we are not reinventing the wheel. If it's already being done, we want to support that effort, not replace it.
Relevant: We are attuned to the time and place in which we're living and the issues facing Muslims in the West today. Our programming reflects that local and global consciousness so that we can intelligently navigate these complex and challenging times without losing touch with our deen.
Thought-provoking: Knowledge is central to our deen, and the Muslim ummah has historically been highly intellectual. We intend to continue this legacy by offering programming that is intellectually stimulating, enlightening, and enriching.
Soul-nourishing: The overarching sentiment of the modern era is arguably one of confusion and isolation. We intend to enliven spirits and bring moments of light to the hearts of our community by connecting people to one another, to beauty and truth, to the deen, and to God and His Messenger ﷺ.
Slow and Intentional: We are selective and intentional about which projects we put our energy towards. We also recognize that we live in a time of extreme cognitive overload, and that our audience may not have the time or capacity to engage with high-frequency programming. Hence, though our offerings may be limited, we are not absent. We simply choose to work thoughtfully and strategically so that we can maintain quality—ihsan and itqan—in everything we do.
If these principles resonate, and if you’d like to collaborate with us on events and projects, please get in touch with us here or by filling out the contact form. If you’d like to support this work and ensure it continues, you can donate here. We look forward to working with you!
Who We Are
Imidiwan is a non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA. It is run by H. Qazi, and is the natural outcome and extension of over a decade of her experience working, collaborating, and volunteering with the Muslim community in Pittsburgh, including institutions like the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, Masjid Anisa, the Pittsburgh Professional Muslim Network, and chapters of the Muslim Students Association at Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University. You can learn more about her previous projects here.
*Imidiwan is a Tamasheq word that means “companions” or “friends.” Tamasheq is spoken by the Kel-Tamasheq, commonly known as the Touareg—a nomadic group from the Sahara desert.