New Mural at Los Angeles Mosque Symbolizes Patience Following Hate Attack
A mural titled Sabr at Fajr was unveiled on Monday at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown, weeks after the mosque was vandalized with hate-related graffiti, the LAist reported on Tuesday.
Created by artist Saj Issa, the artwork features a prickly pear cactus — known in Arabic as sabbaar — a symbol that evokes patience and endurance.
The title blends “Sabr,” meaning patience in Arabic, and “Fajr,” the name of the Muslim pre-dawn prayer. The cactus itself, central to the mural, links not only to the Arabic word for patience but also to the cultural roots of both the Middle Eastern and Latino communities in Los Angeles.
“This is not just a painting, it represents so much more,” said Robin Toma, director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. He emphasized the resilience of a community that has endured prejudice, while also highlighting the mural as a sign of inclusion and belonging.
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The artwork was funded in part by the county's LA vs Hate initiative and produced by public art firm MuralColors.
According to Salam Al-Marayati of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, it is believed to be the first mural of its kind at a mosque in the United States.
Dina Chehata of CAIR-LA noted that the mural arrives amid rising anti-Muslim hate crimes, calling it a “reminder that patience is an act of resistance.”
Source: Agencies
