About Us

Halal Project began in 2009 between a circle of Muslim American friends from the San Fernando Valley who aspired to help the less fortunate on the streets of Downtown Los Angeles. Today, Halal Project has evolved into a greater effort, one that serves the needy on a monthly basis, by providing a variety of basic necessities such as food, drinks, and clothes. Moreover, for the past 3 years, we have implemented an initiative to aid Muslim families with financial hardship in buying groceries and/or paying for their utilities all while maintaining their confidentially. Halal Project promotes justice and peace through showing that Muslim Americans are a caring and active part of America’s fabric, dedicated to contributing to a better tomorrow for all. Through collaborating with local and global organizations, our efforts to eliminate hunger help uplift those in need not only in Los Angeles but also on an international scale.

Halal Project is a diverse and inclusive organization, inspired by Islamic values. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) said, “The best among you are those who serve others,” and, “Whoever sees something evil, he should change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot do even that, then in his heart.” Additionally, in the Quran, Allah (the Most High) said: Let there be among you a community who enjoin good and forbid evil; it is they that shall be successful, [3:104] and: You are the best community that has ever been brought forth for mankind: you enjoin good and forbid evil‚ [3:110]. Halal Project practices these Islamic principles of social responsibility, justice, unity and compassion through serving those in need.

Our Mission

Halal Project aims to serve the community by providing the basic necessities of life to the less fortunate. We bring people together for the greater purpose of serving the community, both locally and globally.

Meet The Team

Hana Irone

Director of Media Relations

Zia Qureshi is currently the Associate Director of Student Financial Services at California State University, Fullerton which is one of the largest universities in California. As an Associate Director, he manages the day to day activity of the Cashier’s Office, Student Accounts and the Student Contact Center. He is responsible for all cash receipts, student disbursements and auditing all satellite cashiering locations for state support and self support organizations. He is charged with developing policy, procedures and strategy to properly handle the current budget situation along with steady increase in student population for the campus. In addition to his professional career, Zia is a co-founder of Halal Project, a non-profit organization in North Los Angeles County. The impetus for establishing Halal Project was to provide meals to the homeless population in Los Angeles. Zia received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting and resides in San Fernando Valley.

Hana Irone Salim has been key organizer with The Halal Project for the last 3 years. Her passion for service started at a young age when she was inspired by her loving and humble mom to serve Allah by serving His creation and helping those in need. Her formative years were spent organizing haircuts for homeless women and children, volunteering at food banks, and working with refugee families to help them find a better life in America.

Hana dedicated her life to service and declined to run a multi-million dollar company so she could be more involved with her children and community. Her passion has inspired many mothers, individuals, and families to become more involved in community events and attain tangible skills to serve the underserved.

Two secrets to her success are named Zain and Nile. Zain (12) and Nile (8) have spent countless hours over the last six years organizing to feed the homeless of Skid Row. They grew up believing that kids can make a difference and took that pursuit into action by making hygiene kits, lunches, and cards for the people of Skid Row. They are creative and think of many ways to help the underserved by having birthday guests donate food and supplies to help kids in need.

Hana hopes to continue to fight Islamophobia and follow the Sunnah of The Prophet Muhammad (S) by serving the underserved with The Halal Project.

Humayun Siddiqui

Treasurer

Humayun Siddiqui started off with halal project as a volunteer three years ago, but after attending the first event was impressed by the group's passion to serve and felt like he can contribute more. He became an active member and now he is part of Halal projects executive Member. He has a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and work's for UCLA Health as a Programmer Analyst. He says "Halal project has given me a reason to be more responsible for the community and opened my eyes towards things bigger than just my life and challenges"

Fatma Abdelrahman

Secretary

Fatma Abdelrahman started off with Halal Project as a volunteer, while still in High school. Now she is proud to be one of Halal Project's executive board members. She is an undergraduate student at UCLA, completing her Bachelor's degree in African American studies. She is also a student at The Institute of knowledge (IOK) completing a degree in Arabic and Islamic studies. Fatma say "I am so honoured to be part of the Halal Project team. The work Halal Project does is a beautiful way to help those in need within our communities, it is a way to learn how to be grateful for all that we have, and most importantly it is a way to bring a smile to the faces of those we serve. May God bless Halal project and help us continue to do the work we do."

Zia Qureshi

President

Zia Qureshi is currently the Manager of Student Financial Services at California State University, Dominguez Hills. As the Manager, he manages the day to day activity of the Cashier’s Office, Student Accounts and Collections. He is responsible for all cash receipts, student disbursements and auditing all satellite cashiering locations for state support and self support organizations. He is charged with developing policy, procedures and strategy to properly handle the current budget situation along with steady increase in student population for the campus. In addition to his professional career, Zia is a co-founder of Halal Project, a non-profit organization in North Los Angeles County. The impetus for establishing Halal Project was to provide meals to the homeless population in Los Angeles. Zia received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting and resides in San Fernando Valley.

Mufti Ibrahim Qureshi

Director of Religious Affairs

Mohammad Ibrahim Qureshi was born in Chicago, but raised here in the San Fernando Valley. From his childhood he has immersed himself in higher Islamic education. Memorizing the entire Quran by the age of 16 & when this still didn’t quench his thirst for the Islamic sciences, he then set off to the U.K. where he studied in Darul-Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya and received his B.A. in Islamic Theology as well as completing his Thakhassus in Fiqh (Specializing in Islamic Jurisprudence). Currently he is the Imam at Northridge Islamic Center- Granada Hills.

Our Inspiration

According to the Quran, Prophet Muhammad was the most excellent example for all of humanity. Even non-Muslim historians recognize him to be one of the most successful personalities in history. In 1946 Reverend R Bosworth-Smith in “Mohammed & Mohammedanism.” wrote about the Prophet: “Head of the state as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but, he was pope without the pope’s claims, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue. If ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by a right divine It was Mohammad, for he had all the power without instruments and without its support. He cared not for dressing of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.” In 1978, Michael Hart selected Prophet Muhammad as the most influential person in history in his book, “The 100 Most Influential Persons In History”, and had this to say the following about his choice: “My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level… It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.” The Prophet’s words and actions show us the way to achieve success, not just in this world but in the hereafter as well. In short, the Prophet of Islam was a positive thinker in the full sense of the word. All his activities were result-oriented. He refrained from all negative elements of behavior that are counter-productive to achievement such as hate, envy, arrogance, greed, etc. All the actions of the Prophet were solely based on a pure intention to please God. By studying the life of the Prophet we can identify some of the principles of success. At Halal Project, we strive to emulate the Prophet through actions of charity and serve humanity regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” –Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 604

Who We Are

Halal Project is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-discriminatory local charity organization based in the San Fernando Valley, located in the heart of the City of Los Angeles. Halal Project is a sincere effort to proactively create a more compassionate world through uniting people of all backgrounds to serve others. Halal Project aims to eliminate hunger in the Los Angeles community by providing for the underprivileged in order to empower the less fortunate to fulfill their potential.

Our Sponsors
Altayebat Market
http://www.altayebat.com
EMAK Enterprises & Stallions Oakmont, Inc.
http://emakenterprises.com/
Family Motors (Auto Repair)
17454 Chatsworth Street Granada Hills, CA 91344

(818) 363-3195 | Ask for Miguel or Jesse

Islamic Center Northridge
11439 Encino Avenue, Granada Hills, CA 91344
http://www.goicn.org
Jolly Donuts
20901 Roscoe Blvd, Canoga Park, CA 91304
(818) 998-5827
ZIS Insurance services
California Health Insurance Agency
Free Call: 1-877-990-3808
http://www.zisinsurance.com