Dr. Adnan Mustafa
Why is service sacred to you?
Service is sacred to me because it is one of the main tenants that resonated for me and was shown to me since childhood. It's an act of solidarity that serves me just as much as it serves the other party involved. I remember as a kid listening to the Hadith about the person that fed the dog water and is granted heaven or the other person that clears the street and how the prophet loved that act, and how visiting the sick is where you can visit Allah.
I personally thrive on connecting with people and the communal act of service is what keeps me going and was instilled in me by religion, culture, and family. A lot of acts in religion can be individual and private and service can be as well but there is also a communal act of solidarity and has the power to bring community together as well as ultimately serving our soul as well. Solidarity and bringing people together is a sacred act i can touch, feel, and see and I like that.
What does Wasat mean to you and how do you feel Wasat embodies sacred service?
Wasat means a lot to me for a lot of reasons. When we moved here in 2014 it was right when it was starting in those small gatherings and potlucks at Jam Rek Studios and it ended up feeding my soul more than my stomach. It was a warm hug of a community that sincerely cared about the faith and anyone that wanted to join. It reminded me of my small Muslims community in Eastern NC growing up and just seeing the beauty of a beautiful mixture of people that wanted to bond warmed my soul.
Wasat has evolved for sure, especially in a time of COVID, but it continues to be a sincere group of individuals and a community, trying to balance faith, practice, service and the arts while embracing the culture we are present in with recognizing the ancestors that brought us here.
Wasat embodies sacred service by showing up consistently for those in the community in a non-judgmental and open way I wish all organizations would do. Whether feeding people, having workshops on mental health, or providing a forum to simply meet others that share the same faith and providing opportunity to connect is all a service. Its service is obvious in some ways, such as providing food or resources to the homeless, but also by being a consistent organization that brings community together.
How has Wasat informed your sacred service?
Wasat gives me fuel and strength to go on with my work by relying on a community that has similar values and goals. It helps to reinforce good acts and helps to create a norm for Seattle Muslim culture that service is part of our DNA. It is talked about and done. As I continue to learn about the world and my self and figure out my place in it, Wasat helps to inform my views and soul and leads me towards continued service and creating a more just world.
What changes do you hope for from your service?
More healthy and self actualized individuals who ideally will be able to live to their fullest potential given the circumstances they are present in. That they are able to recognize the effects of the world and structural issues on their health and help create a movement and society that is more just by taking care of what they can control.
We build solidarity and wellness within the culture of the clinic such that the energy transfers to patients and we feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves and we have agency in making an impact in how this world works. To bring true happiness, health, and justice for individuals and communities that are not given the chances, resources, or privileges that others are given.
Dr. S. Adnan Mustafa joined the Kent Medical Clinic as a physician provider in August 2014. He came to the Seattle area after completing a residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After medical school, he obtained a Master's degree in public health to better serve patients and understand the social complexities of good health.
In his free time, Adnan enjoys spending time with his wife, hiking, traveling, reading, playing basketball, and cooking.