Muslim Voice Nov. 2014 issue by Arabesque Media & Breek Media

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Vol.20 Issue No. 219

Al-Aqsa Closure is Declaration of War AL-QUDS – For the first time since 1967, according to several reports, Israeli authorities have closed on Thursday, October 30, Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Quds (Occupied Jerusalem) following the shooting of a far-right Jewish rabbi. “This dangerous Israeli escalation is a declaration of war on the Palestinian people and its sacred places and on the Arab and Islamic nation,” Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina quoted him as saying by Agence France Presse (AFP). “We hold the Israeli government responsible for this dangerous escalation in Jerusalem that has reached its peak through the closure of the AlAqsa mosque this morning,” he added. Announced by Israel’s public security minister early on Thursday, Muslim worshipers were prohibited from entering the mosque “until

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further notice”. Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “a significant hike” in the number of police forces patrolling Jerusalem. “Israeli authorities shut the Al Aqsa Mosque entirely since dawn,” Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, head of the Jordan-run Organization for Muslim Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs, told Anadolu Agency. Al-Khatib said that the holy site has never been shut since 1967, when Israel occupied Al-Quds. “We are holding contacts to reopen the mosque to Muslim worshippers,” al-Khatib said. The Israeli closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound came shortly after Jewish rabbi Yehuda Glick was seriously injured in a drive-by shooting in Jerusalem late Wednesday.

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Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed to Ma’an only that a “known rightwing activist” had been shot. The attack was reported after a conference focused on the reconstruction of a Jewish temple on top of the al-Aqsa mosque was concluded at the center, with top right-wing Jewish officials and activists in attendance. Yehuda Glick is an American-born Israeli and the chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Fund, an extremist Jewish organization focused on “strengthening the relationship between Israel and the Temple Mount.” He has been previously banned by Israeli authorities from entering the compound due to provocations while on the site. Later on Thursday, Israeli police announced killing Moataz Continued on page 4

November 2014

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Terms used in this paper Alhamdulilah: Praise God Allah: Arabic word for God Fatwa: Islamic decision based on Shari’a Hadith: Sayings of the Prophet Mohammad Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca Halal: Allowed in Islam Halaqa: Group study Haram: Prohibited in Islam Hijab: Head cover for women Hijra: Migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Madina Imam: Islamic scholar Iman: Faith Inshallah: God willing Madina: City near Mecca in Saudia Arabia Masjid: Place were Muslims gather for prayer and studies Mecca: City in Saudi Arabia where Prophet Mohammad was born Pbuh: Peace be upon him Quran: Islam’s Holy book Shahadah: Is saying “I accept Allah as the one God and Mohammad as his messenger” when someone accepts Islam. Sharia’: Islamic law Shura: A council of Muslim scholars (SWT) Subhanahu Watala: Praise be to Allah Taqwa: God consciousness

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“Send Muslims Back to Where They Came From” OKLAHOMA –An Okalahoma Muslim woman expressed her dismay when a metro woman asked her to sign a petition to “send Muslims back to where they came from”, describing this as ignorance now posing problem to interfaith relations.. The Muslim woman, Deb Beneta, told KFOR news channel that a woman asked her to sign a petition asking that all Muslims “go home.” “I said, ‘I am a Muslim, but I’m an American, so where do you plan to send me?’” Beneta said. “It just offended me that someone would say I don’t belong here.” According to Beneta, the unfortunate encounter occurred this week outside a gas station in Del City. “Muslims are a peaceful people,” said Beneta. “I wish people would see us as humans and not this mythical Muslim monster.” Saying that she was a Muslim, Beneta added, the unnamed petitioner left without further confrontation. Beneta added that the latest events have put fear of her faith at an all-time high. Moreover, she asserted that ignorance remained as a main obstacle in front of building a tolerant society.

“It just offended me that someone would say I don’t belong here,” said Beneta. “I think some of the most dangerous people are noneducated people who have been stimulated by hate or fear. “Being Muslim doesn’t mean you’re from another country. I am an American,” she added. Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be the home of nearly 7-8 million Muslims.

Anti-Muslim sentiments have reached an all-time high after the rise of the so-called Islamic State, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Announcement

Sami Khan Wins UN's Global Painting Award A 13 year old Sami Asim Khan of Pakistani descent won the UN's International Painting Competition. The annual event is open to children 6 to 14 years of age from over 100 countries and is organized by NIKON corporation on the UN's Environment Program (UNEP) and Japan based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment. This year's them (23rd) competition was “FOOD WASTE”. Among the 69,375 entries Khan's painting was judged to be the best and the First Prize Global Winner he received the award plaque from Kenya's First Lady Margaret G. Kenyatta in Nairobi, Kenya in July 2014. The UN's Under Secretary General Mr. Achim Steine was also present at the occasion. Khan's family lives in Fremont, California. P.S.: The complete article with Sami Khan's photograph and the award ceremony can be accessed at: Nikon 23 International Children Painting Competition

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November 2014

Boston Gets First Muslim Police Captain The first Muslim police Captain has been appointed in Massachusetts’s largest city of Boston, setting a role model for the devoted American Muslims on how to fight violence with education. “I can be a voice to denounce violence, and let people know that the 1.6 billion Muslims [in the world] are just like them,” Haseeb Hosein, the first Muslim police Captain in Boston, told the Boston Globe. “I hope to be that voice that speaks out loud.” Hosein’s new post was announced on Wednesday, October 22, in a ceremony at police headquarters where he received his Captain’s shield. Assuming police leadership in Mattapan district, Hosein became the highest-ranking Muslims in Boston police department and “one of three minority captains”, police spokesman stated. The Muslim police captain, who has been serving in police for 26 years, is a former science teacher in Florida and then middle school science in the Boston school system. Moving from Trinidad to the US with his parents when he was 10, Hosein could earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s in criminal justice from Boston University. Joining the police department, the father of three has worked as a police officer in different places all over the city “including a stint in Roxbury from 1993 to 2004, before serving as a lieutenant in Hyde Park. “I know Boston, I know it real well,” he said. “I feel very committed.”

Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be the home of nearly 7-8 million Muslims. A recent Pew research found that American Muslims are the most moderate around the world. It showed that US Muslims generally express strong commitment to their faith and tend not to see an inherent conflict between being devout

and living in a modern society. Violence Vs. Education Unfolding his new policy in the police department, Hosein said he will be focusing on violence prevention and education, aiming to change the negative image of police officers. “I want my guys to go into the schools and spend 30 minutes and read” with a child, said Hosein. “I hate that police officers are always the bad guy. We should be an asset.” With about nine homicides cases in 2014 so far, Mattapan is considered as one of most “violent” districts in Boston. “For me, gun violence and education is going to be the

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emphasis,” said Hosein. Warning troublemakers, the 52-year-old Captain said: “I’m going to introduce myself to them. I’m going to have a keen, dedicated focus on them,” said Hosein. “We’re going to know them better than they know themselves.” In a bid to engage police with the community, Hosein said continue “a boat cruise for the elderly that Boyle started, as well as the district’s partnership with churches and the clergy”. “Engaging the community really works for getting guns off the streets,” he said. “If we can really truly get them on board, have them believe that they’re partners, we’re here with them. We’re

not an occupying force.” Hosein’s promotion was praised by his managers who stressed that his new post will be a positive step towards inclusion and reflecting diversity in Boston. “The promotion to captain of Haseeb Hosein goes directly to my commitment of making the police department more reflective of the community we serve,” Police Commissioner William Evans said in a statement. “It is both historic and an honor for me to promote the first black Muslim captain to my command staff.” A similar praise was shared by the mayor who deemed Hosein’s promotion as “a fantastic addition to the leadership.” “He is an exceptionally skilled, qualified officer, with over two decades of experience in our neighborhoods,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement. “He will be a strong advocate and continue to build upon the strong community relationships we have developed in Mattapan.”

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Canada Muslims in Shock over Parliament Attack TORONTO – Muslim leaders are joining Canadians across the country in expressing their shock and condemnation of Wednesday’s attack on the Parliament buildings and National War Memorial in Ottawa which killed an honor guard and injured two people.

Muslim community and organizations vented their anger with the attacks on social media.

“This is a very sad and disturbing situation for all Canadians,” the Muslim Against Terrorism and the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada said in a press release obtained by OnIslam.net.

“Regardless of who did it and why, we all stand united in keeping Canada safe and free for all,” tweeted Kanata’s Imam Sikander Hashmi.

“The Canadian Muslim community stands with the Canadian government and supports all the efforts to identify and capture the terrorists. Once again our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.” The shootings in Ottawa began about 10 am, just as the leaders of Parliament were holding their weekly meetings. The slain soldier is Nathan Cirillo, 24, a reservist serving in Hamilton from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada regiment. The dead shooting suspect, killed by the House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms, has been identified as Michael ZehafBibeau, a Canadian born in 1982. News agencies are reporting that ZehafBibeau was a Montreal resident who had a criminal record in Quebec dating back 10 years on some drug-related charges. He was also charged with robbery in 2011 in Vancouver. Reports say that he had recently reverted to Islam. Shocked by the shootings, leaders of the

“Our sincere condolence and sympathy go to the family of the brave soldier shot at War Memorial in Ottawa,” said Dr. Hamid Slimi, a Toronto-based Imam.

“All Canadians are horrified and shocked by these repulsive attacks in Ottawa and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families today,” said National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee. “We stand firm with fellow Canadians in upholding and protecting the safety and security of our country, as well as our national institutions. We commend our law enforcement agencies for putting themselves in harm’s way in order to protect all of us from terrorism.” Official Response During an address yesterday night to the nation from an undisclosed location, Prime Minster Stephen Harper said the incident in Ottawa was a ‘terrorist’ act.

wish to harm us.” Thomas Mulcair, leader of the official opposition, said he stands shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister. “At this moment Canadians are unified in grief and stricken with disbelief,” Mulcair said.

“Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world,” Prime Minister Harper said.

“Canada is shaken today but we shall not waiver. We woke up this morning in a country blessed by love, diversity and peace and tomorrow we will do the same.”

“They will have no safe haven,” he said. “Together we will remain vigilant against those at home or abroad who

“Should any other perpetrators or co-

HAJI BABA

“This attack is unforgivable,” said Liberal Leader, Justin Trudeau.

“Continued mutual cooperation and respect will help prevent the influence of distorted ideological propaganda posing as religion. We will walk forward together, not apart.”

Al-Aqsa Closure is Declaration of War

Hejazi, 32, a Palestinian who had spent 11 years in an Israeli jail and was released in 2012.

Condemnations

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“To our friends and fellow citizens in the Muslim community, Canadians know acts such as these committed in the name of Islam are an aberration of your faith,” added Trudeau.

Continued from p. 1

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conspirators exist, they must be caught and be punished to the full force of our laws. I’ve extended an offer of full support to the government, along with any assistance members of our party can provide at this time.”

The Israeli decision to close Al-Aqsa, the world Muslims’ third holiest site, has been described irrational and dangerous through several words of condemnation. “We lay responsibility for this decision on the Israeli government and police,” Al- Omar Al-Kiswani, director of AlAqsa Mosque, told Russia Today. Kiswani added that the decision would lead to destabilization and a strengthening of tensions not only in AlQuds, but in the entire region. Earlier this month, Abbas warned his government would appeal to international law to deal with alleged Israeli “aggression” against Al-Aqsa. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas warned that his government will seek international “legal measures” to deal with Israeli “aggression” against Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque. Al-Aqsa is the Muslims’ first Qiblah [direction Muslims take during prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah in Makkah and Prophet

Muhammad’s Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra’a and Al Mi’raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him.) Jordan has been supervising Al-Aqsa Mosque and other endowments in AlQuds since 1948. Israel occupied the holy city of Al-Quds, the West Bank and Golan Heights in the 1967 war and later annexed them in a move not recognized by the international community or UN resolutions. Since then, Israel has adopted a series of oppressive measures to force the Palestinians out of Al-Quds, including systematic demolition of their homes and building settlements. Sweden officially recognized the state of Palestine on Thursday, the first EU country in Western Europe to do so, reflecting growing international exasperation over the moribund IsraeliPalestinian peace process.

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November 2014

FBI Questioning Mosque Leaders WASHINGTON – Worried about the increasing reports of FBI pressures on mosque imams nationwide to inform on members of their congregations, a leading US Muslim advocacy group has urged imams to seek legal assistant from an attorney, whenever they are approached by officers. “American Muslim leaders and institutions should maintain positive relations with local and federal law enforcement authorities, but those relations must be built on respect for constitutionally-protected civil rights,” Jenifer Wicks, Civil rights Litigation Director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), was quoted by Defending Dissent earlier this week. “Consulting with an attorney is the best way to protect your rights.” CAIR, the USA’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said it has received reports from around the nation of mosque officials being asked to meet with FBI agents and then being pressed to inform on members of their congregations. In an advisory to Muslim community leaders, CAIR recommended that before any

meeting with the FBI or any law enforcement agency, US Muslim leaders should seek the advice of an attorney and have that attorney present at any meeting. Wicks urged community leaders to ask for business cards from

activity without being asked by law enforcement authorities. It states: “American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protection of our national security. As Americans, we also value civil rights. All Americans

those individuals from the FBI and immediately consult with an attorney before any questioning takes place. CAIR’s “Know Your Rights and Responsibilities” pocket guide tells American Muslims to report any actual knowledge of criminal

have the constitutional right to due process and to be politically active.” “If you know of any criminal activity taking place in your community, it is both your religious and civic duty to immediately report such

activity to local and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 9/11, Muslims, estimated between six to seven million, have become sensitized to an erosion of their civil rights, with a prevailing belief that America was stigmatizing their faith. US Muslims are particularly wary of the FBI’s history of targeting members of their community. In 2009, Muslim groups threatened to suspend all contacts with the FBI over sending informants into mosques. The infamous post-9/11 technique of sending spies to mosques has been stirring uproar in the United States. The uproar escalated after media revelations that the FBI implanted a non-Muslim informant in a California mosque to seek building a terrorism case. The fake FBI operations have stirred uproar inside the United States over entrapping young people, who posed no real threat to the US security.

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Modesty: An Islamic Overview by Lolita V. Jefferson Ed.D Modesty and shyness play a special part between the affairs of the Creator and the created. All prophets and Messengers encouraged modesty, as the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said: “Indeed from the teachings of the first prophets which has reached you is, ‘If you do not have shyness, then do as you please.” (Al-Bukhari) Modesty as a sense of shame or shyness in human beings is a shrinking of the soul from foul conduct, a quality that prevents one from behaving badly towards others or encouraging others to behave badly towards you. Islamic ethics considers modesty as more than just a question of how a person dresses, and more than just modesty in front of people; rather it is reflected in a Muslim’s speech, dress, and conduct: in public in regards to people, and in private in regards to God. Any talk of modesty, therefore, must begin with the heart, not the hemline, as the Prophet of Mercy said, ‘Modesty is part of faith,’[1] and that part of faith must lie in the heart. Take reservation in speech. As with everything in Islam, speech should be moderate. Raising one’s voice in venting anger simply shows one lacks the ability to contain it, and only damage will ensue from it. Uncontrolled anger, for

example, can lead one to verbally abuse and physically assault another, both of which take off the veil of bashfulness one is endowed with, exposing the shameful ego within. The Prophet said: “A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry.” (Saheeh alBukhari) A strong person who believes feels shy in front of God and His creation, since God knows and sees everything. He feels shy to disobey his Lord and feels shame if he sins or acts inappropriately, whether in private or public. This type of modesty is acquired and is directly related to one’s faith, where one’s awareness of God increases one’s “shyness” in front of Him. Islamic morality divides modesty into natural and acquired. Modesty is a quality inherent in girls and boys, a certain type of modesty that is natural in human beings. If manifests itself, for instance, in a natural human urge to cover one’s private parts. According to the Quran, when Adam and Eve ate from the fruit of the forbidden tree, they became aware that their private parts were exposed, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise, a natural result of their modesty. Islamic scholars consider modesty to be a quality that distinguishes human beings from animals. Animals follow their instincts without feeling any shame or a sense of right or wrong. Hence,

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the less modesty a person has, the more he resembles animals. The more modesty a person has, the closer he is to being human. Islam has mandated certain legislations which induce this sense of modesty within humans. These legislation range from seeking permission before entering any room and distancing one from others while relieving oneself, to mandating certain manners of dress for men and women alike. Another way that modesty may be attained is by associating with modest people - people in whose presence a person feels embarrassed to do anything shameful - as the Prophet said: “I advise you to be shy toward God, the Exalted, in the same way that you are shy toward a pious man from your people.” Being shy of a stranger’s gaze is one of the driving forces behind modesty in dress. This can be seen in children, who naturally shy away from strangers, sometimes hiding from them in their mother’s skirts or behind their father’s legs. In Islam, screening most of your body off from the gaze of a stranger, especially of the opposite sex, is actually mandated as a means to avoid falling into conduct that may lead to extra-marital or pre-marital sex. God says, “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! God is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their chests, and not to reveal their adornment.” (Quran 24:30) The verse then mentions the people before whom one is exempted from veiling; the ones who cannot be called ‘strangers’. Also, the command is relaxed as one matures: an aged woman who has no hope of marriage can discard the overcoats that screen what they are wearing underneath. As seen from this verse, Islamic ethics view modesty not as a virtue for women only, but for men as well. Thus, men must also dress modestly, being careful to wear loose flowing and opaque clothes through which the area between their waist and knees be totally covered. Tight pants or translucent clothing is prohibited. This modesty is reflected upon Muslim male clothing throughout the world, long shirts reaching below the thighs, and loose flowing trousers. It may still seem, however, that women bear the main brunt of ‘dressing modestly’. When one reflects, however, about the predator and the prey in illegal relations between the sexes; the prey which is hidden escapes being a victim. Besides, another verse says modesty in

dress actually identifies one as being a believing woman, a ‘target’ which the devout Muslim, or any decent man, would be motivated to protect rather than abuse. The way to develop modesty is to think about whether he or she would do the sin they are contemplating in front of their parents. A person with a shred of shame in their heart will not commit any lewd act in front of their parents. So what about doing so in front of God? Is not God much worthier that such acts not be done in His sight? Thus, Islam considers that the modesty of a believer in front of God must be greater than in front of people. This is manifest in the saying of the Prophet when a man asked him about remaining naked in the house while alone. The Prophet responded: “God is more deserving than other people of shyness.” (Abu Dawood) Early Muslims used to say, “Be shy toward God when you are in private in the same way you are shy in front of people when you are in public.” Another one of their sayings is, “Do not be a devoted slave of God in your public behavior while you are an enemy to Him in your private affairs.” Modesty can therefore be seen as the means by which morals and ethics in society are maintained and pursued. Shyness from people and society may be a reason to be modest, but this modesty will not remain due to the fact that what is immodest one day in a secular society may be totally acceptable in another. Thus, the key to modesty is knowing that God is aware of what you do and shying away from that which He forbids. God only desires what is best for us. So to seek what is best for us is to submit to what He has in mind for us. The only way to properly know what that is, is to believe in what he sent down to us through His Prophet, Muhammad, and to embrace the religion (Islam) that His Messenger brought us.

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Canadians Scrub Hate Messages off Mosque COLD LAKE – When news spread that a mosque in Cold Lake had been vandalized overnight, residents of the north-eastern Alberta city showed up to express their disappointment and to scrub off the hate messages and repair the house of worship. “I just came to help these guys get it off the building and bring them supplies, a ladder, graffiti remover,” Nikki Williams, a Cold Lake resident, told Global News. “The people who go to this mosque, I’ve been born and raised with since I was a little kid. This is their home.” The MAC Islamic Centre of Cold Lake has been vandalized, with its windows smashed and the graffiti “go home” and “Canada” spray-painted on the exterior of the building. Cold Lake residents scrubbed off the hate message and replaced them with posters reading, “Love your neighbor” and “You are home.” “We don’t condone this at all,” Williams said. “We’re a very tight community – the Muslims along with every other religion in this town – Cold Lake is their home.” The vandalism was discovered on Friday morning by Mahmoud El-Kadri, a director at the mosque, when he arrived for the early morning prayer at 6 am. As soon as Mayor Craig Copeland heard of the vandalism, he drove over to the

mosque to offer support to the Muslim community. “Just what’s spray painted on the mosque, I mean, ‘go home’… The Muslim community here is at home here in Cold Lake,” said Mayor Copeland. The mayor says that his community is upset at the desecration of the house of worship. “All of Cold Lake is rallying around the mosque and the Muslim community,” he said. “So many people from Cold Lake were coming up to them and apologizing and saying this by no means represents Cold Lake… There were actually several people in tears.” Genia Leskiw, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake, calls the vandalism ‘un-Canadian.’ “It’s undemocratic and un-Canadian,” said Leskiw. “It’s unbelievable. It floors me. I’m so upset by this.” “Coward Act” Jason Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, issued a statement condemning the act of vandalism against the Cold Lake Mosque. “Earlier today vandals spray painted the Cold Lake Mosque in Cold Lake, Alberta with hate messages,” said Minister Kenney. “This cowardly act is unacceptable and has no place in Canada.”

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“Canada is a strong, peaceful, pluralistic nation, and Canadians will not stand for crimes of intolerance and bigotry against anyone,” he added. “As Minister for Multiculturalism, I call on Canadians to firmly reject this and any other cowardly expressions of hatred against Canadians of any faith.” Residents, including soldiers, have been showing up at the mosque throughout the day to offer support to the Muslim community. “These guys are peaceful, and I think it’s important for the community to show them that we know the difference between extremists and a religion,” Cold Lake resident Matt Downy told Reuters, bringing a vase of flowers to the mosque. Thankful The kindness and support of Cold Lake residents have touched Cold Lake’s Muslim community. “I want to thank everybody,” Mahmoud El-Kadri told Global News. “I am in my country, my home, but they assured for me that I am in my country, in my home.” “I had calls from all over Canada, from Vancouver, from Ottawa… Toronto… Edmonton,” added El-Kadri. “When I came this morning and I felt the support of Cold Lake, I really forgot what happened.

“I forgot the windows, I forget about the writing… It made me feel like I am one of the Cold Lake people.” The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), which administers the mosque, issued a statement thanking the residents of Cold Lake for the overwhelming support. “Today, we received an overwhelming and heartfelt response of support from friends across the community who assisted in a clean-up following an overnight incident at the local Mosque,” stated the organization. “We’re extremely grateful for the support. It is a reminder of the great country we live in and the values that we, as Canadians, hold dear.” Meanwhile, Canadians are taking to social media to offer support to the Muslim community and thank residents of Cold Lake. “Huge thanks to good people of Cold Lake, AB (incl. soldiers) for coming out to clean vandalism at mosque,” tweeted Kanata’s Imam Sikander Hashmi. “We’re united against hate & fear.” “This is why Canada is truly an Abode of Peace,” tweeted Ingrid Mattson. The RCMP is investigating the incident and police are asking Muslims who fear for their safety to contact them.

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November 2014

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US Muslims Prefer Democrats: CAIR Survey

A new survey has found that US Muslims are becoming more engaged with politics, with about two-thirds of the religious minority planning to vote in the coming November elections and half of them are Democratic Party supporters against Republicans. “We’ve seen a general trend of Muslims slowly shifting toward the Democratic Party post-2000 and the election of [George W.] Bush,” Robert McCaw, government affairs manager of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told Washington Post. “There has always been Muslim support for Republicans — that 15 percent is pretty constant. What we also see, though, is 23 percent

declined to answer or are unaffiliated. Their votes are up for grabs.” Carried out by CAIR, the survey tested the opinion of 1,500 Muslim registered voters. Out those voters, 69 percent plan to cast ballots in the Nov. 4 midterm elections and 16 percent do not plan to vote. Fourteen percent declined to answer. Announced last Wednesday, the survey was conducted only in the five states with the largest Muslim populations: California, New York, Illinois, Florida and Texas. CAIR also polled Muslims living in Virginia, a “future toss-up state,” Mr. McCaw said. McCaw said CAIR has been conducting pre-election surveys for presidential races in an effort “to trace Muslim voting behavior to a greater degree and draw more attention to Muslim voters who are well positioned in swing and battleground states.” Similar to the 2012 results, the top

issues for voters are the economy, health care and civil liberties. For the first time, the survey added in the issue of Islamophobia “to see how the community responded to that,” Mr. McCaw said. “With recent headlines and fears, it ranked higher than [civil rights] in past years.” Nationally, 15 percent of Muslim voters said Islamophobia is the most important issue for them. New Political Power For some analysts, the results of the survey would not affect GOP, noting that Muslims compose about 1 percent of the national voting population. “I don’t see Muslim voters as having a major influence on the outcome of elections this cycle,” Geoffrey Skelley, spokesman for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said. “Looking at the states they pulled none of those states have particularly competitive statewide races going on.” Other, however, disagreed, seeing active Muslim youth as a growing political force that parties should be keen on attracting.

“Look at the Hispanic population. They came of age and wanted to be part of the democratic process,” Kathleen Moore, professor and chairwoman of the Religious Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said. Even though Muslims only make up 1 percent of voters, in a swing state “their vote will matter, because it’s such a marginal difference,” Moore said. “So Florida being a swing state, Ohio being a swing state, if they constitute as much as 2 or 3 percent, that will matter in the outcome,” she said. More specific numbers for each state are set to be released Monday, but the national trends “do reflect the local environment,” McCaw said. Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be the home of nearly 7-8 million Muslims. A recent Pew research found that American Muslims are the most moderate around the world. It showed that US Muslims generally express strong commitment to their faith and tend not to see an inherent conflict between being devout and living in a modern society.

Teacher Position: The Toledo Islamic Academy is seeking a qualified and highly motivated elementary school teacher. Qualifications include a bachelors degree or higher, teaching certificate and classroom experience. Please email employment.tiaus gmal. com with: • Cover letter detailing your professional and educational background as well as teaching philosophy. • Recent Resume • Names and Contact information of three professional references

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Phoenix Prayer Times

November 2014 • Muharam/Safar 1436 H

November 2014

Directions to the Islamic Cultural Center Cemetery

From the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC):

ISLAMIC WEEKEND SCHOOLS Islamic Community Center of Phoenix: Islamic Cultural Center: Muslim Community Mosque: Masjid Omar ICNEV Weekend Islamic School ACA Weekend School Sultan Education in Chandler Greenway Islamic Academy

Sunday at 9:45 am-1:20 pm. Sunday at 10:00 am Sunday at 10:00 am until 2:30 pm. Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Tel: (480) 346-2081Classes held on Sunday K thru’ grade 12 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 am-1:15 pm. www.azacademy.org/weekend Saturdays & Sundays - children/adults 480-593-7066 Tajweed, Islamic Studies, & Arabic Language 602-565-0500

1) Go South on Forest to University Drive. Turn right. 2) Go West on University to the I-10 highway. Take I-10 East. 3) Proceed on I-10 East (~12 Miles). Exit at Queen Creek Rd. (EXIT #164). 4) Turn right on route 347 South. Proceed for about 14 miles. 5) Turn right on route 238 West. Proceed for about 8.7 miles. 6) Turn right on unnamed/unpaved street after you see the street sign which reads “36 miles” and proceed to the cemetery.

IN CASE OF DEATH • Call Sandy at Angel’s Burial, at 480-962-6435 • Total cost is $1,800.00

Check our website for up to date information www.tempemasjid.com ISLAMIC CENTERS IN ARIZONA

PHOENIX Arizona Cultural Academy 7810 S. 42nd Pl. • Phoenix 602-454-1222 Islamic Center of Arizona 9032 N. 9th St. • Phoenix

Islamic Center of N. Phoenix 13246 N. 23rd Ave. 85029 602-371-3440 Islamic Comnty Ctr of Phx 7516 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix • 602-249-0496 Muslim Community Mosque 1818 N. 32nd St. • Phoenix 602-306-4959 Masjid Al-Rahmah 2645 E. McDowell Rd. • Phoenix 602-275-5493 Masjid Muhammad Ibn Abdullah

5648 N. 15th ave. Phoenix, AZ 85015 602-413-5279

Al Rasoul Mosque 5302 N. 35th Ave. • Phoenix 602-864-1817

CHANDLER Masjid AsSalam 1071 N. Alma School Rd.• Chandler 480-250-7522

PEORIA Greenway Islamic Center 6724 West Greenway • Peoria, Islamic Center of East Valley AZ www.greenwaymasjid.com 425 N. Alma School Dr. • Chandler TEMPE 602-388-9900 Islamic Comnty Ctr of Tempe LAVEEN 131 E. 6th Street • Tempe 480-894-6070 Islamic Center of Laveen P.O. Box 1107 • Laveen Masjid Al Mahdi 602-361-4401 1016 S. River Dr. • Tempe MARICOPA 480-557-9699 Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah Masjid Omar Bin Al-Khattab 44370 W. Arizona Ave. Maricopa Arizona 85138 6225 S.McClintock • Tempe contact# (602)312-7913 480-775-6627 MESA Masjid-el-Noor 55 N. Matlock • Mesa 480-644-0074 SCOTTSDALE Islamic Center of N.E. Valley 12125 E. Via Linda • Scottsdale 480-612-4044

CASA GRANDE Masjid Sajda is located c/o: The Legacy Suites 540 North Cacheris Court Casa Grande`, Arizona 85122 480.332.8618