
International Institute of Tolerance (IIT) was founded on the principle of Justice and Equality
The International Institute of Tolerance was founded on the principle of Justice and Equality. IIT's services are religious and charitable, and grounded in the Islamic faith. One of the principle aims of the Institute is to integrate Muslim Americans into our pluralistic American society. The Institution is focused on working in harmony with other faith groups and civic organizations to enhance our collective futures.
The Institute provides religious, educational, and social services to advance justice and promote compassion. Outside its religious services, the Institute’s charitable intent can be found in its outreach program. This is the essence of the Islamic value system which drives the Institute’s role and functions.
Our services
IIT offers a variety of programs; religious, educational, and social to advance the well-being of our community
NAZIRA & WEEKEND CLASSES
Nazira classes for children held every Tuesday & Wednesday 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Religious classes for children held every Saturday 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS
Darood-e-Nariya every Tuesday (after Maghrib in summer/ after Isha in winter)
Other spiritual programs including Muharram, Rabi-ul-Awwal, Rabi-ul Aakhir, Miraj, Nisfus Shabaan, and the Holy Month of Ramadan.
LIFE WELLNESS & EMPOWERMENT
Professional counseling including grief counseling, family counseling and performance of Marriage services and funeral rites
Our Programs
IIT's Feed the Homeless Program
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) declared: None is a true believer until he wants for his fellow human being what he wants for himself. Driven by this declaration, IIT founded its Feed the Homeless program in Ramadan 2007, serving 125 cold meals once a month. Members congregated at the Center after the Fajr Salah, prepared the sandwiches, made meal bags consisting of sandwiches, water, bananas, and muffins. Today, IIT is proud to announce that we serve over 1,200 hot meals a month to the homeless community downtown by partnering with Los Angeles Mission. Instead of coldcut sandwiches, we now cook chicken curry and rice, and serve a meal package twice a month!
Building Bridges & Joining Hands
Our Building Bridges program is driven by the command of the Qur’an
”You have been raised as a Community of believers to enjoin what is good and
forbid what is evil, and fear Allah” [3:110]
Inspired by the above Qur’anic verse, IIT launched the 'Building Bridges" and “Joining Hands” project which affords its members to contribute to worthy causes locally and around the world to make the world a better place. Our focus is to create forums of discussion and exchange to foster peace and tolerance. Since Social justice is the core of Islamic life, we have been involved, and continue to be involved in partnerships in the following events:
Community Welfare and Spiritual Empowerment
IIT offers a variety of programs; religious, educational, and social to advance the well-being of our community. These include daily congregational prayers, Friday sermons, Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan, observance of Spiritual Nights every Thursday Nights, Qaderi Khatam every alternate Friday night, festivities, special prayer services, counseling, marriage, and burial rites. Under the leadership of the Imam Qari Ashraf Carrim, IIT ensures the spiritual well-being of its congregation. We offer spiritual, family, marriage, stress, and grief counseling, and undertake hospital visits for the sick. IIT also offers DCFS interpreter services for Muslim clients, and regularly refers members to agencies to seek help that cannot be given by us. We also issue quarterly Newsletters for the benefit of the community. IIT supports local businesses of our congregants in our area.