.

Shaam-e Ghariban (Evening of the Strangers) is one of the religious events held at IMAN mosque and cultural center in Los Angeles.

Shaam-e Ghariban is a Shia mourning ritual that involves lighting candles in commemoration of the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam—Imam Hossein (625-680)—and the tragedies that befell his family and companions.

IMAN advocates for a reformed mourning practice that does not involve ritualistic chest-beating or self-flagellation. Instead, the event includes several sermons and speeches about Imam Hossein and the lessons of his martyrdom, usually given by non-clerics.

Flyers in the IMAN hallway include ads for Iranian businesses, voter registration guides, and mosque's religious and cultural programs. 

Selection of books and films available at the mosques' library. Pictured are Family in Islam, Scary Movie, and Black Beauty.

In the hallways and the library of the IMAN mosque, the sacred is juxtaposed with the secular, the political, and the commercial.

Mosque attendees listen to the Friday Prayers’ sermon at IMAN's prayer hall.

While religious rituals and cultural events at IMAN tend to attact larger audiences, the number of regular mosque congregants is quite small.