Our Mission
If you’re looking for high quality Muslim events in Houston, you’ve come to the right place.
Risala Foundation is dedicated to bringing the most relevant voices in the realm of American-Muslim interactions to Houston, focused particularly on the arts, education, and inspiration. Our speakers cover the broad spectrum of the Muslim faith, giving insight into the arts, education, and civic issues faced by American-Muslims. We are a volunteer run organization that aims to bring our community to life by bringing to Houston a message that enlivens and elevates our discourse. |
Extraordinary Beginnings
The name Risala Foundation honors the works of Muslim scholarship all over the world. In particular, our name honors the history of Islam in America which reaches back to the earliest days.
Bilali (Ben Ali) Muhammad was a Muslim slave in Georgia in the mid nineteenth century who was the first American Muslim community leader and the author of the first Islamic text written in the United States. His book, Risala, written in Arabic, was about Islamic beliefs and the rules on prayer and cleanliness. Risala is now preserved at The University of Georgia along with other historical American texts. It is in the footsteps of such legacies that Risala Foundation hopes to continue the tradition of carrying and delivering the message of Islam here in America. We stand united with all the mainstream Islamic organizations and seek to enlighten the Houston community with relevant programs. Our Core ValuesWe focus on issues of Muslim identity, integration, and scholarship, attempting to pave the way for an enlightened American-Muslim presence in the United States.
We encourage a thoughtful, civil, and broad approach to understanding Islam in the context of our present reality. We feel that the right question is just as important as the right answer. We are an Islamic organization committed to furthering understanding of Islam by reaching out to respected Islamic teachers across the Muslim world. We provide a forum for the foremost thinkers in the Muslim world to come to Houston and to share their ideas. Ultimately, we aim to provide greater understanding and unity among all Muslim organizations by offering different perspectives from across the beautiful spectrum of our faith. We are a “big tent” Muslim organization – regardless of where you are on the path, you are welcome. Risala Foundation has been located in Houston, TX since 2009. |