Spider-Man: Serving in Secret

“With great power, there must also come great responsibility” -Uncle Ben

“When you help someone, you help everyone.”  -Aunt May (Spider-Man PS4)

“The most beloved of people to Allah is the one who is most beneficial to people.” –Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat (Graded Hasan / Fair)“

Look out! Here comes the Spectacular Spider-Man event! Led by Ust. Omar Popal and Omar Farooq, join us as we discuss Spider-Man, one of the most famous and recognizable characters of the modern age, as a model example in the sacred and vital mission of serving others in Islam.

Comprised of a talk followed by discussion questions, we will explore the role and nature of community service. We will especially focus on the immense bounty one receives from God when they seek no fame, glory, or worldly reward for helping others. We will examine how those who serve, like Spider-Man, often experience great personal challenges as they sacrifice their time, relationships, and livelihoods for the greater community. Above all, we will reflect on the responsibility each of us carries to be a hero to those who need us.

Doors open at 3:45 PM, with the talk beginning at 4:00 PM. Following the talk will be a screening of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which will highlights several of the themes and topics discussed during the talk.

This event is open intended for adults and teens ages 13+. All are welcome, whether you are a fan of Spider-Man or simply interested in the lessons we can learn from fiction and apply to real life. Familiarity with Spider-Man is recommended, as this talk may contain spoilers for various Spider-Man films, animated shows, and comics. There will also likely be spoilers for the latest Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

J. Jonah Jameson may want pictures of Spider-Man, but we want you to get your tickets! So web up your spot now, and please consider making a donation if you’d like to see more events like this in the future! Don’t miss this AMAZING, SPECTACULAR, SENSATIONAL event to learn more about your favorite hero from a new perspective! Bring your friends, bring your family, bring the entire friendly neighborhood—we can’t wait to see you there!

About Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse:

Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him into the one and only Spider-Man. When he meets Peter Parker, he soon realizes that there are many others who share his special, high-flying talents. Miles must now use his newfound skills to battle the evil Kingpin, a hulking madman who can open portals to other universes and pull different versions of Spider-Man into our world.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse is Rated PG for frenetic sequences of animated action violence, thematic elements, and mild language. Parental discussion is advised.

About Ustadh Omar Popal

Ustadh Omar Popal was born and raised in Northern Virginia. He began studying the Islamic sciences at the age of 16 and his pursuit of knowledge led him to study at Madinatul Uloom in Virginia and Dar al-Qasim in Chicago where he graduated from. In a commitment to lifelong learning, he has continued his studies sitting at the feet of various scholars, most recently spending time in Istanbul for intensive studies. Ustadh Omar’s formative studies took place at Dar al-Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.  In 2018, he founded Tanwir Institute, with the mission of serving the educational and spiritual needs of the large Muslim population in the DC metropolitan area.

About Omar Farooq

Omar Farooq was born and raised in the ADAMS Center Community his whole life and is the current Programs Manger for the Qahwa Cafe.  He is the Chairman of the Muslim Youth Debate Tournament with the MAFIQ Foundation and extremely passionate about the impact of fiction on society, the lessons one can learn from art, and the deeper moral messages that can be found in film and TV.  His favorite superhero show of all time is the Spectacular Spider-Man.

• Date: August 8, 2026
• Time: 3:45 pm Eastern Time Zone (ET)
• Venue: ADAMS Sterling - Qahwa