Zaytuna’s 12000 Strong Community: Fulfilling a Prophetic Promise Since its inception in 2012, the 12000 Strong program has steadily grown to almost 3,000 monthly donors. The program is inspired by the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad s: “12000 believers will not be defeated for lack of numbers.” This powerful promise inspires Zaytuna’s monthly giving program. For Muslims, the small but consistent acts of devotion carry with them immense blessings.
initiatives. The 12000 Strong program, however, is more than just a monthly giving initiative. It is a community united towards building, God-willing, a lasting institution of learning. Zaytuna intends to cultivate this community through special programs designed just for the 12000 Strong members. As President Hamza Yusuf says, “Membership should have its privileges, and we plan to honor that. A 12000 Strong book club along with some other perks is in store for our loyal supporters.”
12000 Strong contributes ten percent of Zaytuna’s operating budget, serving as one of the cornerstones of the College’s fundraising
12,000 Hearts Beating as One I have the privilege of managing the 12000 Strong program at Zaytuna College. This unique program is founded on a beautiful hadith of our beloved Prophet, “12,000 believers will not be defeated for lack of numbers.” Through the blessings of this prophetic promise, our goal is to not only create a sustainable model for Zaytuna to flourish for future generations but to foster a community of learners that benefit from the resources produced by Zaytuna College and
spread the light of our tradition in the world. We have many great initiatives in store for our 12000 Strong community. We’re about to start a new monthly email newsletter, Read & Rise, Akram Sirafi, the in which we plan to share development programs some of the wisdom from manager at Zaytuna the Zaytuna faculty, College, manages the 12000 Strong program. students, staff, and alumni. We hope that these 12000 Strong initiatives will benefit you and help us grow as a community, in sha Allah.
The First Command Book Club Early next year, the 12000 Strong community will have the exclusive option to join a book club designed and led by President Yusuf. The book club will be a virtual interactive forum complete with scheduled meetings, reading assignments, and fruitful discussions. In its efforts to revive the intellectual literacy in our community, Zaytuna welcomes the book club as a wonderful addition to its educational initiatives. The first book for the First Command Book Club
21
