San Diego Teen’s Eid Project Brings Hope to Children After Mosque Attack

A 17 year old Muslim student in San Diego is drawing national attention for an act of compassion following the deadly attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego earlier this month.

Sarah Abdin launched a community effort to assemble Eid gift bags for elementary school children connected to the Islamic Center of San Diego. The project was created in response to the trauma experienced by many young students following the May 18 attack on the mosque, which left three people dead and deeply impacted families across the community. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)

According to local reporting, Abdin was motivated after learning that a friend's younger sister was among the children present during the attack. She explained that if she had experienced such a traumatic event as a child, she would have wanted to feel surrounded by support, care, and community. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)

Abdin organized a fundraiser and began assembling approximately 150 Eid gift bags filled with toys, treats, activities, posters, slime, puzzle sets, and art supplies. Within 48 hours, she raised more than $2,000 to support the effort. Additional donations have continued to come in as community members rallied behind the project. (ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV)

The Shia Muslim Foundation strongly praises Sarah Abdin for her leadership, compassion, and commitment to helping children during a difficult moment for the Muslim community. While acts of violence seek to create fear and trauma, efforts such as this demonstrate the strength, resilience, and humanity that continue to define American Muslim communities.

What makes this story particularly powerful is that it comes from a young Muslim woman who chose action over despair. Rather than allowing tragedy to define the moment, she worked to create joy for children preparing to celebrate Eid al Adha. Her project serves as a reminder that community healing often begins with simple acts of kindness.

The fundraiser page states that the goodie bags are intended to remind the children that they are loved, supported, and surrounded by a caring community. Funds are being used to purchase supplies and prepare the bags for distribution to students connected to the Islamic Center of San Diego. (GoFundMe)

At a time when many Muslim families across the country continue to grapple with concerns about safety, Sarah Abdin's effort stands as an example of the compassion and solidarity that emerge even in the aftermath of tragedy. The Shia Muslim Foundation commends her initiative and hopes her example inspires others to support children and families affected by violence, hatred, and discrimination.

The fundraiser can be found here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/eid-goodie-bags-islamic-center-sd

American Shia Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice

May 27, 2026

BURTONSVILLE, MD -- The Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF) extends warm greetings to Muslims and neighbors of all faiths on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, observed this year on May 27, 2026. This holy day is among the most significant in the Islamic calendar and holds deep spiritual meaning for Muslim communities around the world, including the growing Shia Muslim community in the United States.

What Is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha, which translates from Arabic as the "Festival of Sacrifice," commemorates the extraordinary act of faith performed by the Prophet Ibrahim (known in the Judeo-Christian tradition as Abraham). According to Islamic belief, the Prophet Ibrahim received a divine command to sacrifice his son, the Prophet Ismail. Both father and son submitted to the will of God with complete trust and devotion. At the moment of sacrifice, God intervened and replaced Ismail with a ram, demonstrating that the true purpose of the test was the purity of Ibrahim's submission and faith, not the act of sacrifice itself.

This account, affirmed in the Holy Quran, is understood by Muslims as one of the defining moments in the history of monotheistic faith. It reflects the covenant between the human soul and God, and the willingness to surrender personal attachment in service of the divine will. It is a narrative shared, in varying forms, across the Abrahamic traditions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

The Shia Muslim Observance of Eid al-Adha

For Shia Muslims, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This date coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage, during which millions of Muslims from across the globe gather in and around the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform rites that trace back to the Prophet Ibrahim and his family.

The day begins with a special congregational prayer, followed by the act of Udhiyya, or ritual sacrifice, in which an animal such as a sheep, goat, or cow is offered in remembrance of Ibrahim's devotion. The meat is distributed in three portions: one for the family, one for friends and neighbors, and one for those in need. This practice emphasizes the values of community, generosity, and the obligation to care for the poor.

Shia tradition also emphasizes on this day the recitation of specific supplications and the performance of Ziyarat, a form of prayerful salutation directed to the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt, the Prophet's household. These practices reflect the Shia understanding that the spiritual lessons of Eid al-Adha are inseparable from the broader teachings of the Prophet and his family.

A Message of Unity and Service

The Shia Muslim Foundation sees in Eid al-Adha an enduring reminder that faith is demonstrated not merely in words or ritual, but in sacrifice, service, and solidarity with those who are most vulnerable. SMF calls upon the broader American community to recognize the rich tradition that Eid al-Adha represents, and to appreciate the contributions of American Muslims who carry this tradition as an expression of their deepest values.

We wish all who observe this blessed day a joyous and spiritually fulfilling Eid al-Adha. Eid Mubarak.

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a national organization dedicated to the civic, legal, and community advancement of Shia Muslims in the United States. SMF engages with government officials, civil society, and interfaith partners to ensure that the voices and rights of Shia American communities are represented and protected.

Shia Muslim Foundation Condemns Deadly Attack on Islamic Center of San Diego

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Shia Muslim Foundation strongly condemns today's deadly attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, where three men were killed, including a security guard, before the two suspected gunmen were later found dead. This was an attack on Muslims, on a house of worship, and on the basic right of every American to pray without fear.

"The murder of innocent people at a mosque is an act of terror against the Muslim community and against religious freedom itself. American Muslims should not have to pray in fear, bury loved ones because of hatred, or wonder whether their children will come home safely from a mosque. This attack did not happen in a vacuum. Anti-Muslim hatred has been normalized, inflamed, and ignored for far too long." — Rahat Husain, Executive Director, Shia Muslim Foundation

SMF stands in full solidarity with the victims, their families, the Islamic Center of San Diego, and the Muslim community across California and the United States.

Authorities have stated that the attack is being investigated as a hate crime. SMF calls on federal, state, and local law enforcement to pursue the investigation with full seriousness, including any evidence of anti-Muslim ideology, online radicalization, planning, coordination, or broader threats to Muslim institutions.

"This weekend, SMF and Idara-e-Jaferia convened a major Community Safety and Security Summit in Maryland focused specifically on protecting our communities and houses of worship. Today's tragedy is a devastating reminder that these threats are real. Vigilance, coordination, and serious security investment are no longer optional." — Rahat Husain, Executive Director, Shia Muslim Foundation

SMF has spent recent months engaging law enforcement, homeland security officials, and elected leaders about mosque security and the rising threat environment facing Muslim communities. The Foundation urges every level of government to expand direct security coordination with mosques and Islamic centers, improve threat sharing, support nonprofit security funding, and treat anti-Muslim violence as a serious domestic security concern.

"No mosque, synagogue, church, temple, or house of worship should become a crime scene. The Muslim community will not be intimidated into silence or fear. We stand united, unbroken, and committed to protecting one another." — Rahat Husain, Executive Director, Shia Muslim Foundation

Recent SMF Work on Community Safety and Muslim Civic Protection

• San Diego Mosque Shooting Puts Muslim House of Worship Security in National Spotlight After SMF Safety Summit

• Shia Muslim Foundation Meets with Maryland Governor's Office of Homeland Security to Address Safety of Shia Mosques Statewide

• Shia Muslim Foundation, UMAA, and Idara-e-Jaferia Hold Historic Senate Meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen and His National Security Team

• SMF Community Brief: Hajj Travel Guidance for American Muslims

About the Shia Muslim Foundation

The Shia Muslim Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization focused on civic engagement, advocacy, education, and protecting the rights and welfare of Shia Muslims and Muslim communities worldwide.