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SEPTEMBER 2012

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Harvard Holds Exhibition of ChineseIslamic Calligraphy

Tennessee Muslims look for better relations with opponents

he work of a master Chinese calligrapher is wowing Harvard in an exhibit titled “Arabic Islamic Calligraphy in the Chinese Tradition: Works by Master Haji Noor Deen.” Haji Noor Deen’s singular Arabic Islamic calligraphy in the Chinese style is being hosted by Harvard’s Center for Government and International Studies. The exhibit is sponsored by the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program. Arabic and Chinese work hand-in-hand in these works. Tilt your head to the left and a Chinese character for “peace” gives way to a cursive Arabic salaam — but even those who do not read either language can appreciate the beauty of Noor Deen’s work. The Chinese and Continued on page

Celebrating Eid with Refugees

Vol.18 Issue No.192

Tennessee: Muslims in Tennessee are optimistic that they will experience a pleasant change in their relations with the community of Murfreesboro after the opening of their new mosque in Tennessee. Tennessee Muslims said that there has been a two-year long heated debate and difference in opinions between the Muslims and non-Muslims of the locality over building of an Islamic center. But after the opening of it, Muslims are looking forward to normalize relations within the community and especially with their opponents. The immigrants from Iraq, Egypt, Syria and other countries, as well as American converts are the members of Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. They said that they had always found Murfreesboro to be a friendly community before the opposition started against the building of the mosque. A member of the mosque’s board of directors, Safaa Fathy, stated, “We are here 30 years and I never had a problem with the people here.” “It only started two years ago,” she added.

Continued on page 3

By Khalid Risha This Eid, when the majority of us were out praying in new clothes with our families, eating at fancy restaurants with our friends, and celebrating the holy day, a few of us were going to downtown Phoenix to pick up refugee families to maybe give them a chance this time around to do the same. Last year, Islamic Community Center Center of Tempe’s youth, Muslim Leaders of America (MLA) launched a program where they rented coach busses, to transport local refugees through out the day, Continued on page

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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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Arizona Muslims Stand with Sikhs Following Wisconsin Shooting The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement saying that American Muslims “stand with their Sikh brothers and sisters” following a deadly shooting attack targeting a house of worship of that faith in Wisconsin. In the statement, released, the Washingtonbased Muslim civil rights organization said: “While details of the attack and the motivation of the attacker are still emerging, American Muslims stand with their Sikh brothers and sisters in this time of crisis and loss. We condemn this senseless act of violence, pray for those who were killed or injured and offer sincere condolences to their loved ones.” CAIR officials are in contact with the Milwaukee Muslim community as it offers support to its Sikh neighbors. Because of this and other violent incidents, CAIR is urging mosques and houses of worship of all faiths nationwide to review advice on security procedures contained in its “Muslim Community Safety Kit.” CAIR has in the past spoken out against bias-motivated attacks on American Sikhs. [NOTE: Sikh men who wear beards and turbans as part of their faith are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.] Last year, CAIR offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals who gunned down two elderly Sikh men in Elk Grove, Calif. In 2010, CAIR called for an FBI investigation of an attack on a Sikh cab driver in West Sacramento, Calif. The driver said his passengers made anti-Muslim remarks during the attack. Two men were later arrested on charges of felony assault and commission of a hate crime.

civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect

Continued from P. 1

Tennessee Muslims ... This was the time when the Islamic center received permission to construct a new mosque to replace their overcrowded space in an office park. But non-Muslims of the community started public protests, destruction, burning of a construction vehicle and a bomb threat to the mosque. They held a protest rally and then sued the county to stop construction. The opponents of the Islamic center claimed in court that Islam is not a real religion deserving First Amendment protections. They also accused local Muslims of being a part of a plot to overthrow the US constitution and replace it with the Islamic law. However, they failed to prove their point in the court as the judge rejected their all biased claims but the construction was stopped when the judge announced in May that there was not sufficient public notice for the meeting where mosque construction was approved. Last month, a federal judge granted the mosque’s request for an emergency order that has opened the building in time for the holy month of Ramadan, which is still under way. Matt Miller has just converted to Islam and begun worshipping at the mosque when the controversy erupted. He said that all of his friends, whom he describes as “regular American bar-hopping

citizens,” support the new mosque and are happy for the congregation. He feared that opposition to the mosque might have turned violent, but he informed that a friend told him to think about it this way, “If the way you go is praying in the masjid (mosque) during Ramadan, what better way is there?” Miller expects that the opposition will vanish after the mosque holds an open house and people “see that there are no underground tunnels. We’re not here to take over the world. We just don’t want to worship in a shoebox anymore.” Fathy’s daughter, Amirah Fathy, reached Murfreesboro from Atlanta to celebrate the mosque opening with her parents. She said, “I never felt hostility because of my religion while growing up in Murfreesboro. When the controversy over the new building started it was so strange.” “I think we just got too much attention and people got nervous. People fear what they don’t understand,” she added. When she saw the spacious, 12,000-square-foot building with its high ceilings, tile hallways and numerous windows, she said, “The feeling is just overwhelming, the feeling of joy, happiness.”

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Continued from P. 1

Celebrating Eid with Refugees purchased gifts for each and every single one, and took them to amazing jakes with the community. In association with AMWA, early morning we be picked up 166 refugees to pray the Eid prayer with us side by side. We rented 3 buses to transport them all equipped with TVs, loaded with gatorade and water, along with movies just for the kids. We departed at 6am leaving from ICC to stop at 4 separate destinations in which refugees resided. By 9:30am we were parked infront of the civic center along side almost 6,000 other Muslims to enjoy this Eid. After Salams and smiles were shared with the community, we were soon loading on the busses, to watch more movies as we headed out to amazing jakes. At amazing Jakes we were all able to enjoy a buffet of f ood ranging from pastas, to pizza, to salads to everything they could imagine. Each person had all day passes for all the games. After a full day of fun and games, we gathered all back up at the doors, where we lined up boys and girls, to give every kid a toy that was picked up specifically for him/her with their names on it. Some tears were shed out of joy, while it mostly laughter as the kids unwrapped the previously wrapped gifts the night before. We ended the night returning each and every single one back home, inshAllah leaving a life long memory that they’ll never forget. Only to be made possible by you. Your efforts, your donations, and your support and for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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WASHINGTON -- The fate of Arizona’s immigration law is back in the hands of U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, who today is hearing a new challenge to block the controversial “show me your papers” provision that the Supreme Court upheld in June. Judge Bolton will hear from civil rights groups that are arguing that the provision promotes racial profiling. They are requesting a preliminary injunction to block

Section 2(B) of SB 1070 and another provision that bans the harboring and transporting of undocumented immigrants. The coalition includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Immigration Law Center, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

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D.C. Mayor Gray Hosts Historic Ramadan Iftar Dinner

n the last day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Aug. 17, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) hosted an Iftar dinner at the Wilson Building. Joining the Mayor in presenting this event was the D.C. Muslim Democratic Caucus along with a distinguished list of co-hosts including the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Red Toque Café, and Real Halal, LLC. Iftar is an Arabic word, that literally means “breakfast.” Traditionally it’s known as the meal Muslims enjoy at sunset following a day of fasting. During Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims are obligated to avoid eating, drinking, and sexual relations from the early morning, when the sun begins to rise, until it sets. The fasting requirement is relaxed for those who are traveling, sick, and, for women, during menstruation. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar based, the months rotate throughout the official calendar year. This year, Ramadan was observed during the summer, from late July to Aug. 18. As the first late-summer occurrence of Ramadan in forty years, Muslims were required to fast for upwards of 15 hours per day. Thus, the Iftar meal can be a big deal and is often celebrated along with family, neighbors, and friends. With an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of District residents having at least one Muslim family member, literally thousands of Iftar feasts were held in D.C. this Ramadan. These gatherings took place in homes, businesses, embassies, and even in government buildings like the White House. At the Iftar hosted by President Obama, he spoke about importance of religious freedom both here and globally, the strength of Muslim women, and the gains for Muslims over the past year since the Arab Spring. A week after the president’s remarks at the White House, Gray at the Wilson Building Iftar observed, “Regardless of your race, culture or religious beliefs, the principles of fasting, reflection and discipline -- which are upheld by the Muslim community year-round and especially in this season of Ramadan -are practices from which everyone can benefit.” “We could all use a little more discipline,” Gray said, possibly referring to some who’ve called on the veteran politician to leave office early in light of the investigation into his successful 2010

campaign. The mayor left his guests with a prayer. “I pray that this time of celebration will remind us that we can only advance as a city and as a nation together when each of us values the contributions of the other and respects their beliefs and their practices…[M]ay we all draw upon the strength of our diversity so that we can be closer, more effective and more powerful than any of the things that would otherwise tear us apart.” The event drew over 100 Muslim business, religious, and political leaders along with distinguished non-Muslims like Franklin Garcia, chairman of the D.C. Latino Democratic Caucus. “I was pleased to see that the Muslim community was not only so well organized but they are a growing minority in the [District],” said Garcia. “You had a sense in the room that everyone was there for… a purpose that was very serious and meaningful. “The Latino community can learn from the Muslim community about the way they organized themselves,” Garcia added. Garcia also had some words of wisdom for his Muslim hosts, who earlier in the Iftar program, observed that of the over 150 judges in D.C., not a single one is Muslim, while Maryland has at least two Muslims sitting as judges. “What you do is organize, organize,” to change this fact urged Garcia. Several members of the Mayor’s cabinet attended his Iftar including DCRA Director Nick Majett; Interim Health Director Dr. Saul Levin and Ron Linton, chairman of the D.C. Taxicab Commission. While not the first such Iftar hosted by a D.C. mayor, event organizers described the event as the first to be both widely publicized and attended. Imam Talib Shareef, who leads one of the largest Muslim congregations in the District of Columbia, saluted the Mayor on hosting one of the best Iftars he’d attended throughout the month of fasting. “This Iftar was mainly for the common people,” said Imam Shareef. Concerning the Mayor’s political troubles, Imam Shareef said, “We support good works, the Mayor has done some good works and that’s what we see….We don’t pay as much attention to things we don’t see. And this [the Iftar] was an example of good works for the people.” Talib I. Karim is a freelance reporter, a lawyer and chairman of the D.C. Muslim Democratic Caucus.

sEPTEMBER 2012

MLFA Funds Legal Victory for Virginia Muslim The Muslim Legal Fund of America funded the legal victory in the case of Jamal Abusamhadaneh, a respected member of the Northern Virginia Muslim community who was denied citizenship because of discriminatory government treatment based on his faith and alleged associations. Jamal, a Jordanian by birth, came to the United States as a student in 1994 through a State Department program. He returned in 1996 and earned his masters degree. On July 10, 2002, Jamal became a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He applied for citizenship in 2008. Since entering the country, Jamal has worked for Muslim organizations, t e c h n o l o g y c o m p a n i e s , and health care institutions. He also worked for Fairfax County Police Department as a network analyst. He is married to a naturalized U.S. citizen and they have four U.S citizen children. On February 13, 2008, Jamal submitted his Application for Naturalization. After unusual delays, he finally had his naturalization interview on October 5, 2009. During this interview, due to First Amendment concerns and protections, Jamal’s attorney advised him against listing religious organizations. Although Jamal was ready and willing, he followed his attorney’s advice and did not disclose his religious affiliations. Sensing the interviewer’s hostility toward him, Jamal told his attorney during a short break that he did not have an issue with discussing his religious affiliations. When the interview continued, he asked to clarify his previous statements to include his religious affiliations. On April 30, 2010, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a decision denying Jamal citizenship. They charged that he lacked the “good moral

character” required by naturalization regulations and claimed he gave false testimony during his interview. This later claim was based on a discredited FBI document that falsely listed Jamal as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Jamal rightfully denied during his interview. Khalil Meek, Executive Director of MLFA, said that many Muslim immigrants face unusual delays and hurdles in naturalization proceedings. Meek explained that such delays and seemingly arbitrary denials often lead to expulsion of patriotic, productive members of society. These actions also result in families being separated for extended periods of time, if not permanently. “It’s not just an issue of the First Amendment or due process,” said Meek. “These are real families being affected -fathers, mothers, children as well as communities.” Jamal is now a U.S. citizen living with his family in Virginia. He attends Dar Al-Hijra Islamic Center and works in the health care industry. “The Muslim Legal Fund of America provided the support I needed to defend myself against these false accusations,” said Jamal. “Now, I’m a proud American citizen.” The Muslim Legal Fund of America is a national civil liberties legal fund that defends the U.S. Bill of Rights by supporting legal cases that involve civil liberty encroachments. Established in 2001, MLFA has defending freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right to a fair trial, due process of law and many other of our nation’s civil liberties. MLFA is currently funding its first U.S. Supreme Court petition to defend the Sixth Amendment’s right for the accused to be confronted with witnesses against them. To learn more about MLFA, visit their website at www.mlfa.org.

Notice Breek Publishing and its subsidiaries Muslim Voice, Arab Voice, Arabic Yellow Pages and Multicultural Yellow Pages will stop doing business with the following companies due to refusal to pay debts owed to Breek Publishing inc.: United Immigration Services Nile Cafe Station on McDowell/Dow Law Office Mediterranean Buffet Irene’s Happy Daycare Jerusalem Foods Prime Glass Magic Cut We decided to publish this list after we exhausted all diplomatic ways to collect from these companies and their owners for past months and years in some cases. We have full documentations proving their liabilities toward Breek Publishing inc. We also have found out that some of these businesses have a history of avoiding payments and escaping debts.

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Harvard University Holds Exhibition of Striking ChineseIslamic Calligraphy Arabic calligraphic traditions have often been compared as the two of the world’s finest manifestations of the written word, but never likened; indeed, they are at once opposites and complements. When combined the result is an artistic piece that is a work of incredibly unique beauty, and a testimony to man’s synthesizing genius. “His calligraphy has a boldness about it, and at the same time a gentleness to it, that really conveys the sense of divine power and at the same time, beauty, grace, and subtlety,” said Elizabeth Lee-Hood, a Ph.D. student who studies Islamic devotion. “There is a sweep of the brush strokes that combines simplicity with a sense of encompassing scope.” Noor Deen uses a soft brush to make long, evocative strokes that echo the sentiment of the passages represented. “In the phrases that are actually prayers calling out to God — as in ‘O! Gracious One!’ — you see an upward sweep as if an upward reach of the human heart to God,” said Lee-Hood. Noor Deen’s free and fluid style is evident in his diverse representations of the Bismillah, a phrase that prefaces many passages of the Quran and precedes many daily activities for Muslims, and a popular calligraphic motif. In some pieces, the artist writes the phrase with a single brush stroke, as the devotee utters it with a single breath. In another piece the phrase hovers over the word “God” in the shape of a pictogram of a man kneeling in prayer.

Although Islam has a long history in China, few Westerners know much of the community or its rich artistic tradition. “Unfortunately, there is very little written in English and other Western languages about Chinese Islamic calligraphy, making the visit of Haji Noor Deen and the exhibition very special,” said Professor Ali Asani, director of the Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program and chair of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Noor Deen strives to make his work accessible, giving demonstrations at schools and community centers across the world. Harvard’s history of showcasing Islamic art dates at least as far back as 1945, when the Fogg Art Museum displayed “Treasures from the Islamic World.” The current exhibit promises to be more inviting, displaying the calligraphy much as it would be displayed in private homes and prayer spaces across the Muslim world.

To Krystina Friedlander, co-curator of the exhibit and program assistant at the Alwaleed Islamic Studies Program, the work and outreach of Noor Deen perfectly fit the program’s mission. “Showcasing a Chinese artist helps open people’s eyes to the massive diversity in

the Muslim world,” said Friedlander. “Arabic Islamic Calligraphy in the Chinese Tradition: Works by Master Haji Noor Deen” will be on exhibit through 20 August from 7 a.m.-7 p.m, MondayFriday.

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Alarming Increase of Travel Related Harassment/Bans Recently the American-Arab AntiDiscrimination Committee (ADC) has experienced an alarming increase in the number of intakes pertaining to “no-fly” list and travel-related matters. ADC is representing a number of US Citizens who are currently banned from returning home after international travel. The cases include matters involving undue delays upon entry, and intrusive/ unconstitutional questioning by officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). ADC has also contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of State in an attempt to resolve these matters. In the event the matters are not resolved ADC will proceed with appropriate and necessary legal action to ensure the issues are immediately resolved and the rights of the community are protected. Examples of the fact patterns found in the cases currently being addressed by ADC include: An Arab American male, who is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, is being denied the right to fly back to the US from Lebanon. The man, who is a US Citizen, suffers from multiple medical issues and depends on the support

of his immediate family for normal daily activities, such as using the restroom, eating, and cleansing himself. The failure of the US Government in allowing one of its own citizens to return home is not only unconscionable a n d unconstitutional; in this case it also has an impact on the citizens health and wellbeing. A 17 year old Arab American male from South Florida who was interrogated for nearly 5 hours by CBP agents. During the questioning he was asked questions such as, “Are you Muslim?” “Do you go to the Mosque?” The officers asked for the traveler’s cell phone, and upon receiving the cellphone they proceeded to download all content and data off of the device. A distinguished medical professional, also from South Florida, that

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DEARBORN— The Lebanese American Heritage Club Young Leaders Committee (LAHC-YLC) gave back to the needy this past Ramadan through its campaign, “We The People, Feed The People.” The group collected cash and canned goods on behalf of two charities, the Salvation Army and Zaman International. All proceeds and donated items went directly to the charities.

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Currently the LAHC-YLC has 25 donation food boxes stationed at 25 businesses in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Every Friday during Ramadan, LAHC-YLC members visited local mosques to collect food and monetary donations during prayer time from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Islamic Center of America and Islamic Institute of Knowledge here, in addition to the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights. Near the end of Ramadan the group hosted a dinner for Detroit’s homeless community at a mosque in Detroit. The LAHC was established in 1982, but the YLC recently launched, and celebrated its first anniversary this Summer. While the group is relatively new to the community, it has already accomplished a lot.

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Republicans’ anti-Muslims rhetoric should be ignored: US Secretary of State By Farhan Iqbal

unis: Muslims are requested to ignore the anti-Muslim statements by Republican presidential hopefuls as their rhetoric against Muslims does not reflect the US policy. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, requested this to the Muslims across the US while she was addressing a town-hall style event in Tunisia, where she attended an international meeting on Syria. Clinton said, “You will learn as your democracy develops that a lot of things are said in political campaigns that should not bear a lot of attention.” “There are comments made that certainly don’t reflect the United States, don’t reflect our foreign policy, don’t reflect who we are as a people,” she added. She pointed out that Muslims live with full freedoms in the United States of America having complete religious liberty. “If you go to the United States you see mosques everywhere, you see Muslim Americans everywhere. That’s the fact,” she said while adding, “So I would not pay attention to the rhetoric.” Contesting to win the Republican Party nomination, White House aspirants

issued anti-Islam statements to entice voters. Newt Gingrich had said that he would support a Muslim candidate for the White House if he publicly renounces Shariah. Republican aspirant, Rick Santorum, had also described Islamic Shariah as “an existential threat” to the US. Former candidate, Herman Cain, had said that he would not appoint a Muslim in his administration. Cain, who withdrew from the race for the White House, later modified his position by calling for an unconstitutional “loyalty” oath for Muslim appointees. A Republican representative, Peter King, said on what he described as “radicalization” of US Muslims. Recently, a Republican Missouri lawmaker described Islam as a disease like polio while another Alaska Rep. branded Muslims as “occupiers” of American neighborhoods. Muslims in the US have been feeling a growing hostility against them after these statements by Republican representatives. Clinton came up in this situation and tried to pacify Muslims that these statements should be ignored as the US policies toward Muslims are

represented by President Obama. Clinton said, “I would say watch what president Obama says and does.” “He’s our president. He represents all of the United States,” she added. Obama had enjoyed widespread support in the Muslim world following his

Syrian regime forces kill 35 suspected opposition activists in capital By Farhan Iqbal Beirut: At least 35 suspected opposition activists were killed on Wednesday as the Syrian regime forces bombarded two central districts in Damascus and carried out house-to-house raids. According to the activists, the Syrian capital, Damascus, has now become the center of armed battle after Aleppo between Syrian forces and opposition and the fresh shelling and house-to-house raids by the forces have killed 35 suspected opposition activists in a single day.

The Syrian capital is one of many fronts where President Bashar AlAssad’s regime has been struggling against the opposition’s armed fighting. Assad’s regime has been facing severe confrontation since last 18 months from its people which has turned into a strong revolt across the country. Government forces are also engaged in a major battle for control of the northern city of Aleppo as well as smaller scale operations in the country’s south, east and center. The activists reported that regime forces in Damascus rained mortar

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election as America’s first black president. He delivered a landmark speech to the Muslim world from Cairo, where he vowed to end a decade of mistrust between Muslims and the US. However, Obama’s popularity has dropped in the Muslim world since the Cairo speech as the US continued to wage war in Muslim nations; Afghanistan and Iraq. The deadlock in the USsponsored peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians has also added to the US leader’s woes. Clinton expressed hope that incumbent President Obama will be re-elected to a second term in office. “He will be re-elected president,” she said. “I think that will be a very clear signal to the entire world as to what our values area and what our president believes,” Clinton concluded.

shells on the upscale Kafar Soussa area in early Wednesday morning which is a home to the foreign ministry, the prime minister’s office and several foreign embassies and also adjacent to Nahr Eishah. Assad’s forces appeared to be shelling the districts from the Qasioun Mountain overlooking the capital, a witness said. They said that the attacks may have been designed to kill or capture opposition mortar teams who have used the two neighborhoods in recent days to target the city’s strategically located Mazzeh military airport. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that at least 24 people were killed in Kafar Soussa on Wednesday and fierce battles were raging in an area just outside the neighborhood. On the diplomatic front, a senior UN official commented that Iran’s arms supplies to Syria are violating UN sanctions. France has also indicated that it has provided the opposition with communication and protection equipment but cautioned against foreign intervention without a UN

mandate. Meanwhile, a prominent opposition figure rejected as “more lies” comments by a senior Syrian official that Damascus would be willing to discuss Assad’s resignation but only after the opposition agreed to join in

negotiating a peaceful settlement. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Qadri Jamil, said, “As for his resignation, making his resignation a condition for dialogue effectively makes holding such a dialogue impossible.” “During the negotiating process any issues can be discussed, and we are ready to discuss even this issue,” he added. Reached in Turkey, Adib Shishakly of the Syrian National Council, a key umbrella opposition group, said, “It’s the first time that we hear such talk, but it is difficult to believe. We have grown accustomed to the regime’s lies.”

RELIGION

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Religiosity in Decline Atheism on Rise PARIS - A new global survey has found that religiosity was in decline around the world, with more people declaring themselves as atheists, a trend attributed to growing economic prosperity. “Obviously, there were all the scandals in the Church over that period -that was massive,” Sinead Mooney, deputy managing director of the RED C Research company in Dublin, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Mooney was referring to repeated revelations of child sexual abuse by priests that have gravely damaged the image of Roman Catholicism in Ireland.Prosperity Drives Australians to Atheism “Also, as countries get richer, they tend to lose some sense of religion,” she said. “We did become richer -- at least at the beginning of that period.” The survey, by the WIN-Gallup International network of opinion pollsters, found a steep drop in religiosity around the world. It found that average religiosity in the 57 countries included in the poll was 59 percent, a decline of 9 points since 2005. Vietnam led the world countries in the drop in religiosity by 23 percent in the same period. Traditionally Catholic Ireland registered the second-greatest drop in the number of people calling themselves religious.

The survey of 51,927 people showed that the number of Irish who consider themselves religious had fallen by 22 percent in 2011, from 69 percent in 2005. The poll also found that the number of people declaring themselves to be convinced atheists rose from 4 percent worldwide in 2005 to 7 percent this year. The countries where most people selfidentified as religious were Ghana (96 percent), Nigeria (93 percent) and Macedonia (90 percent). The most convinced atheists were found in Japan (31 percent), Czech Republic (30 percent) and France (29 percent). Ireland was found to be joint seventh among the most atheistic of the 57 countries. Devout Africa topped the list of most devout regions of the world, with 89 percent calling themselves religious, Reuters reported. Latin America came in the second place with 84 percent, South Asia (83 percent) and the Arab world (77 percent). North Asia came in the least religious at 17 percent, followed by East Asia at 39 percent. North America reported 57 percent religiosity, Western Europe 51 percent and Eastern Europe 66 percent. Religious attachment ran high in

SHAHNAWAZ CURRIM

what the survey called global flashpoints -- mostly Muslims-majority Iraq (88 percent), Pakistan (84 percent), Afghanistan (83 percent) and Palestinian territories (65 percent). The survey offered no analysis of its results other than providing figures supporting a decades-old trend of religiosity dropping in most countries as economic development progresses. It was not clear why Vietnam, where

the communist government has allowed some religious freedom but also harassed some faith groups in recent years, led the world in the drop in religiosity.Britain was not included in the survey because of technical problems when it was carried out from last November to January, Mooney said.

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ISLAM

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Making the right decisions....Why one finds it so hard! By Fathiyyah Bashshar Some things in life are black or white, and so are easy to make decisions about. So much of life is ambiguous. Sometimes both decisions would have been right or wrong… to some extent. If we wait for absolute certainty before acting then we may never act. Sometimes there are no ‘right’ decisions, only different or alternate decisions. Trying to make the ‘right’ decision assumes that life is always simple or even simplistic. But some people respond to decision making time like a rabbit snared in the headlights of a fast approaching car. Decisiveness is the characteristic of a productive Muslim – because only by making effective decisions will you be moving forward in your life. The more you linger, and let shaytaan play with your mind, the more you’ll be slowed down and become unproductive. Master the art of effective decision making. The moment you lose grip of this art, others and circumstances will make decisions for you. I know that making a decision isn’t the most easy thing to do, especially since you’ll be responsible for the consequences of your decision. I know that it’s too comfortable not to make any decision and is actually very convenient to let others decide for you (after all, you can always blame others if things go wrong!). But is this how a Muslim should be? Is this why Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala) created your brain, your heart, and created logic, emotions and reason for you?

If you’re still not sure, here’s a 5 simple step method for making effective decisions taken from several articles to aid you in the decision making processes. 1. Think! You’ll be surprised how many people don’t think before they decide! And by thinking, I don’t mean spending few minutes staring at the ceiling waiting for a revelation to come! Thinking means brainstorming, analyzing, drawing from your experience of how best to go about a certain course of action and really taking the time to measure the implications of your decision. 2. Research/consult You’ve done the thinking part, now you’ve tens of questions… no problem, do your research! Look around, ask around, and consult others, bounce ideas from family/friends and really exhaust every possible means of understanding the implications of your decision. 3. Istikhara Subhana Allah, Allah is so merciful to us, He knew that it would be hard for us to make decisions easily, so he opened a special lines of communication for us to Him when it comes to decisions. It’s called Istikhara prayer! Just read this Hadith carefully and understand its meaning: On the authority of Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah he said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a chapter from the

Seeing Hardships as a Path to Forgiveness Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

The hardships that we suffer in life are means by which our sins are pardoned. These difficulties can take many forms, like sickness, financial misfortune, or the loss of loved ones. Through these trials, Allah grants us atonement for our sins and raises our spiritual status. Allah tries those of His servants He deems best to test. Consider Job (peace be upon him) about whom Allah says: “(Remember) Job, when He cried to his Lord, ‘Truly distress has seized me, but You are the Most Merciful of those who are merciful’.” [Sūrah al-Anbiyā’: 83] In this way, Job became for later generations the ideal representation of patience and gracious resignation. Allah has made His prophets and messengers exemplars and role-models for the believers to follow, and all of them were severely tested. Some of them suffered from extreme poverty. Some of them had to endure serious illness or tragic sorrow. Some were imprisoned or endured one form of persecution or another. Allah, in his wisdom decreed this to be the case. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The prophets were the most severely tested of people.” [Sunan alTirmidh (2397) and Sunan Ibn Mjah (4023, 4024)] Therefore, when believers are beset with hardships, they should turn their Lord. They should know that enduring these difficulties might be a way for them to atone for their sins and bring them closer to Allah. It might be a

means by which their status in the Hereafter will be elevated. Even the mere prick of a thorn can be a means for the forgiveness of sins. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whatever befalls a Muslim of exhaustion, illness, worry, grief, nuisance or trouble, even though it may be no more than a prick of a thorn, earns him forgiveness by Allah of some of his sins.” [Sahh al-Bukhr] Believers should never ask why Allah decrees what He does. They should know that they are the needy, dependent ones and place their hopes in their Lord who is their Creator, and who is All-Knowing and Wise: “He cannot be questioned about what He does, but they shall be questioned.” [Sūrah al-Anbiyā’: 23] At the same time, believers can discern various aspects of Allah’s wisdom and mercy in the difficulties of life. Sickness, weakness, and poverty are among the common trials of life, but a discerning mind can often find wisdom in their existence. Nevertheless, the life of this world should not be considered in isolation. No assessment of life will be balanced unless it is considered in connection with the Hereafter – with the fact that our ultimate return is to our Lord. This is what gives contentment and composure to the believer’s heart, and acceptance of what must be endured in life. It is only this consideration that provides a balanced view of life, and through which much of the wisdom of what takes place in the world becomes evident.

Qur’an. He would say ‘if any of you intends to undertake a matter then let him pray two supererogatory units (two rak’ah naafilah) of prayer and after which he should supplicate: ‘O Allaah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and by Your power I seek strength and I ask You from Your immense favor, for verily You are able while I am not and verily You know while I do not and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allaah, if You know this affair -and here he mentions his need- to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it, and if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my life, and end, then remove it from me and remove me from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with such.’ You’re asking Allah – the One who knows everything about what’s best for you… if you’ve true yaqeen (certainty) in your dua, do you think Allah will make you take a “bad” decision? Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said, the one does Istikhara will not regret! Imagine someone saying to you, I’ll give you a formula, if you follow it, you’ll never ever regret any decision you make! Will you take up the offer?! 4. Decide/Action You’ve thought about it, asked others, and most importantly asked Allah for guidance (Subahanahu WA Ta’ala) via an Istikhara prayer, now what? ummm.. DECIDE! Take action! And jump into

your decision full force taking every conceivable first step you can make, so that you can’t reverse your decision! You wanted to open a business, and taken the above steps, NOW open it and invest your money! You wanted to propose to a particular person and you’ve done the above, pick up the phone and call her Wali now! Make the decision and act upon it quickly before shaytaan comes to whisper in your mind and puts doubt. 5. Dua/Tawakkal You’ve made the decision, taken some actions… it’s not over yet. Make dua and have trust in Allah. You may have made the right decision, but to follow through a decision correctly needs lots of dua, and trust in Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala) so don’t give up! And don’t regret decisions you’ve made after doing all the above, you only have 2 possible scenarios: either you’ve made good decisions and things are working great, or you’ve made a decision that challenged you which you can either learn from or you’ve learnt to overcome! Yes, making decisions isn’t easy, but instead of dodging them and suffering the consequences in this life and hereafter, develop your decision making muscle by making decisions daily using the above steps – whether for small decisions or big decisions – just make a decision! In conclusion I want to share this quote by William A Ward….. Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.

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IMMIGRATION

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Been Denied Citizenship And Think The Officer Was Wrong? Ask A Federal Judge To Look At Your Case. By Eric Bjotvedt Immigration Atorney Welcome to another edition of Immigration Korner™, a monthly article which brings you the information you want and need to know about your particular immigration concerns or immigration in general. During July, I received many questions from readers about people getting their citizenship denied improperly or never getting a decision. I dedicate this article to helping you understand what your options are in situations like this. People in this situation I often advise to file a request for a new hearing, which is like an appeal, or to keep contacting CIS for the status of their cases. When a new hearing is set, the person is usually interviewed by a new officer who refuses to change the decision and often is unable to explain why he or she refuses to change the decision. Or, the CIS simply gives the person little information regarding their status. The result: you do not get your citizenship. There may be hope for many of you with the help of a federal judge. Most people do not pursue this option for citizenship because they are unaware of this option or think it costs too much. What you can do is file a mandamus action in the United States District Court, or you can treat the CIS’s inaction on your case as a denial and file an appeal to the federal court. Filing A Mandamus Action With mandamus, you are asking a federal judge to order the INS to do act on your application. When you

file a mandamus action against the federal government, the government has sixty days to file an answer. What usually happens before the sixty days is up is the U.S. Attorney’s office will contact the CIS office to get a report on the case. If the CIS concludes

a fresh new look at your case. This means the judge will not determine if the CIS officer was correct but rather he or she will simply determine if you are eligible. The great thing about this is that you will have a person with significant legal experience and

that your case was misplaced or fell threw the cracks, they can correct the problem and schedule you within days for interview without waiting for a federal judge’s order. But not all cases are easy. Appealing Your Denied Application To Federal Court The law allows you to file an appeal to federal court where a judge will take

training to interpret and analyze a law that was not properly analyzed and interpreted by the CIS officer who denied your case. So what if your application has not been denied but you have been waiting a very long time for a an interview? Treat this type of case as already being denied and file your case directly with the federal court.

So what if you have been interviewed but never received the letter CIS promised they were going to mail you? The naturalization statute states that the CIS must make its decision on your application within 120 days from the date of your interview, or you are entitled to ask the federal court for fresh look at your case. Because of this law and the fact the CIS must prepare a written decision, the officer will often ask you to withdraw your application. Never sign anything withdrawing your application. Just tell the officer you will wait 120 days for his or her decision. If you do not receive it or it is improperly denied, then consider asking a federal judge to take a fresh look because the CIS no longer has jurisdiction to do anything. The matter will be in the hands of the court and the CIS will have to explain themselves to a judge which they do not enjoy doing. When you contact CIS to find out the status, you will find you get the runaround. When you file a court action, the U.S. Attorney becomes the person who contacts the CIS “for you.” Since he or she must have an answer for the court within 60 days, he or she will not get the run-around. Instead, he or she will get answers and resolution to your case. I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Immigration Korner™ and hope this article offered you useful insight into making your immigration decisions. Thank you for your interest and I continue to welcome your questions. Just Visit Me At™ www.visitmylawyer.com and become part of the interactive Immigration Korner™.

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Veal with Large Lima Beans (Mish Qingjji me Barbunja) Ingredients 1 kg veal 1 kg of large lima beans 1 large onion 1 can of tomatoes or 3 large fresh ones salt, pepper Instructions Select shoulder parts of the veal and cut them into 5 cm cubes. Wash the meat thoroughly with cold water and drain. Grate the onions Cut the ends off the lima beans and clean them well (you can also cut them in half if you desire). 1. Place the meat in a pot together with butter and grated onions and stir fry for a few minutes. 2. As the meat is frying, add water until the pieces are covered. 3. Add salt, pepper, and only two to three

tablespoons of tomatoes (note: tomatoes can be cut into pieces to the size of your choice). Cover the pot and let the meat boil. 4. Add the lima beans to the meat after it has been boiling for several minutes. Also add water until everything in the pot is covered. 5. Finally, when the beans are done boiling, add the rest of the tomatoes. Then let the stew boil for a few more minutes so that the liquid can thicken. Note: Tomatoes should not be added all at once in the beginning, since they don’t allow the lima beans to boil at the right pace. If you would rather use fresh tomatoes, when you add the lima beans, add whole tomatoes instead of cut ones.

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CALENDAR / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Phoenix Prayer Times

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September 2012 • Shawal/Thul Quedah 1433 H

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ISLAMIC WEEKEND SCHOOLS

Directions to the Islamic Cultural Center Cemetery

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

From the Islamic Cultural Center (ICC):

Check our website for up to date information www.tempemasjid.com

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

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

sEPTEMBER 2012