Memorial scholarships restores Hamdani’s legacy
If memory serves, the police captain met me over coffee on a Wednesday night in October 2001, when the world was dizzy with menace. He passed along word of a fresh worry. A young Muslim chemist, who worked in an advanced biochemistry laboratory in Midtown, had vanished on the morning of Sept. 11. Because he had once been a member of a police cadet program, he had an ID card that gave him access to police facilities. His name was Mohammad Salman Hamdani, and the captain had just been faxed a flier about him.
On it, next to a picture of Mr. Hamdani, 23, in cadet uniform, were a few handwritten notes, including: “Hold and detain. Notify: major case squad.” By the next morning, versions of the flier had arrived in police station houses across the city. Investigators had already gone through Mr. Hamdani’s computer at his family’s home. They confiscated a picture from the refrigerator door
The Muslim Community recently experienced a wave of hate that brushed through Orange County, CA, as if it were driven by the Santa Ana winds, further dividing our county along political, racial and religious lines. Islamophobia is the new kid on the block, as it is the target of the GOP and Tea Party’s divisive agenda. The Muslims are scared with numerous unanswered questions. Is Islamophobia new to the world? What do we do now? What will happen to our children? that showed him with a student from Afghanistan. One newspaper asked, “Missing or Hiding?” I wrote a short article that was headlined, “Absent Police Cadet Sought After Disappearance.” It was factually
impeccable. Also, cosmically false. On Tuesday morning, nearly a decade later, the Salman Hamdani memorial scholarship was awarded to Anam HAMDANI continues on page 8 >>
Two films explore the roadmap of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad bY DEANA NASSAR I was 13 years old in 1992 when Spike Lee released “Malcolm X.” My father, an Egyptian American immigrant, insisted we all go see it as a family. That signaled to me that this must be a big event, because I had only seen my father go to the movie theater once in my life when we begged him to take us to see “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” As I sat and watched the story of Malcolm X unfold through Lee’s lens, I knew I was receiving transformative information. Yes, I was a young Egyptian American, the daughter of immigrants, but this story of an African American, son of a Pan-African activist, who was orphaned and split up from his mother and siblings, moved up the ranks of Elijah Muhammad’s Black Nationalist organization, become a national civil rights leader, made the pilgrimage to Mecca and became an international symbol of American Islam, spoke to my own sense of identity. I learned a crucial bit of history; I was
Islamophobia exists - What can be done?
Let’s take a journey back in time to find similitudes of hate perpetrated against the early Muslims in order to gain insight on how to thrive as a religious minority in this great land of opportunity. The advent of Islam came at a time when ignorance and disbelief were at its peak, and while power, wealth and status permeated the family of Quraish. From this matrix, sprung out a Prophet named Muhammad ISLAMOPHOBIA continues on page 10 >>
more inside
given context about the country I was growing up in, the people and events who shaped it, the role my religion of Islam played in it and what place I had in it. What resonated with me so vividly at a young age, besides the clear resilience of a people who had fought to overcome government-sanctioned dehumanization, was the role Islam had in helping
them overcome their adversity and in advancing their station in the American landscape. As a young Muslim American, it made me feel that I had something special, something practical that could be used to empower myself and to improve the conditions of the community around me. MUHAMMAD continues on page 9 >>
` Fifteen-tear-old Shahzain Kureishy discusse his life-altering decision to start the Plano Masjid Hifz Program. .............................................................. ` Retirement plans require careful thought and consideration ............................................................. ` Muslim American community mourns the loss of trailblazer - Omar Ahmed ............................................................. ` Houston teacher faces the consequences of Islamophobic remark. .............................................................. ` For 20 years, MPAC has been honoring voice of courage and conscience in the entertainment industry
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The Quran is my life-changing book Publisher Melanz, LLC. P.O. Box 851764 Richardson, TX 75085 Editor Marium F. Mohiuddin| T: (512) 6577819 marium@myCrescent.com Layout & Graphics Marium F. Mohiuddin Business / Marketing Inquiries Tel: (214) 843-1593 E: ads@myCrescent.com Editorial / Writing / Events / Feedback marium@myCrescent.com CONTRIBUTORS
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One thing that has changed my life forever is the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam. It is not just any book, it consists of more than 77,700 words all in Arabic, 114 chapters and 6,666 verses, all of which by the will of God I have memorized. At 10 years old, I was the average fifth grader and living a normal life. I was not exactly religious but I would go to my mosque on the weekends and summer vacation to study the Quran. Other than that there was the everyday routine of going to school, doing homework, playing video games and occasionally hanging out with friends. Little did I know that this was all going to change. One day I came home and my parents talked to me about enrolling me into the Plano Masjid Hifz Program, a program where students memorize the Quran at the mosque. Once I agreed, my life became very busy. My day would start at 8 in the morning. We would revise parts of what they know already know of the Quran and recite it to the teacher. This would go on until 12:30 pm when we would have lunch. After this there would be homeschooling, or as I like to call it, mosqueschooling, where an academic teacher tutored us until 5 pm. Then we went back to Quran class from 5 to 7 pm. We memorized some more and prepared to recite back to our teacher for the next morning. We even had classes on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. After about 2 and a half busy years, I finally memorized the entire Quran. It was a very special moment for me. I had a huge ceremony in the mosque. Many of my relatives flew into town for it, and I received many gifts from all the community attendees. However, that is not what thrilled me the most. What did was that I had memorized the Quran, which Muslims believe to be God’s
message to mankind. It did not end there though. Memorizing it was just the beginning. Next came the hard task of revising and keeping it memorized, which I am still doing today. I go to my mosque everyday to revise unless I have too much schoolwork to do. The Quran not only filled up my schedule but also had an effect on my actions and gave me new responsibilities. Being someone who has memorized the Quran, other Muslims look up to me. I have to set an example for them to follow. Therefore, I must always be on my best behavior, whether at home, at the mosque or just hanging out with friends. This is not always easy. “With great power comes great responsibility,” warns Spiderman’s uncle to him. When I first watched the movie “Spiderman,” I did not fully understand the meaning of this quote. Now I know exactly what he was talking about. A lot of responsibilities came upon me by memorizing the Quran. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, I have to lead evening prayers called taraweeh at the mosque. Every night for a month I recite 1/30th of the Qur’an out loud in prayer with a congregation of many people. This became extremely difficult with school since I have to stay up very late. I also must spend quite some time preparing the segment I have to recite so I do not get stuck in the middle of the prayer. That has happened to me before and is not very fun. Overall memorizing the Quran has helped me become more religious. These are just some of the ways my life has changed since fifth grade. It is literally something I will never forget or at least try my best not to forget. Shahzain Kureishy, 15, is a freshman at Jasper High School in Plano, Texas and a hafiz of the Holy Qur’an.
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MPAC’sMedia Awards -- 20 years in the making MPAC’s 20th Annual Media Awards will be presented to the critically-acclaimed film “Miral,” the award-winning TV show “The Good Wife” and the documentary “Fordson” on Saturday, June 25, in Los Angeles. Each year, MPAC’s Media Awards Gala honors artists, actors, executives, authors and activists for serving as “voices of courage and conscience.”
Hollywood production which presents a Palestinian narrative from the perspective of three generations of Palestinian woman.
Since 1991, MPAC has honored those who use art and media to create enriching and humanizing portrayals of Islam and Muslims, promote diversity and social justice issues, and inspire action.
The critically acclaimed CBS television series “The Good Wife” will also be honored for two episodes this season, which focused on Islamophobia. Executive producers and writers Ted Humphrey and Leonard Dick will accept the award for the episodes “Boom” and “On Tap.”
“Miral” is a poignant drama, directed by Academy Award nominee Julian Schnabel and written by Rula Jebreal, about an orphaned Palestinian girl who grows up in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and finds herself drawn in during the Intifada of the late 1980s. Based on a true story, “Miral” is the first mainstream
The documentary “Fordson” follows a predominately Arab-American high school team from Dearborn, MI, during the last 10 days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It shows the story of a community holding onto its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in a post-9/11 era.
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Offering employee retirement plans is essential for business bY bASHAR QASEM One of the most valuable long-term benefits an employer can offer their employees is the ability to set aside savings in a retirement plan. Not only do many employees expect their company to offer some form of retirement benefit, but it can help employers attract and retain quality talent. Such plans may offer you and your employees with significant tax advantages. They can help build up your nest egg more effectively than saving in a taxable account. Starting a retirement savings plan can be easier than you think. Most retirement plans are: Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), defined contribution (DC) plans or defined benefit (DB) plans. Defined contribution and defined benefit plans can vary significantly in their complexity. Defined benefit plans require the added services of an actuary.
SEP and Simple IRAs have low start up and operating costs. In a SEP IRA, employers must contribute the same percentage of pay for each employee (including themselves). The downside is that employees cannot make payroll deductions. The advantage is that employers aren’t required to make contributions (which are a business expense for the employer) every year. On the other hand, a SIMPLE IRA allows employees to contribute a percentage of their salary. Employers are required to either match employee contributions dollar for dollar- up to 3% of an employee’s compensation- or make a fixed 2% compensation for all eligible employees. 401(K) plans allow employees to contribute a portion of their salaries. Many plans also provide for employer matching or other kinds of contributions. A safe harbor 401(K) plan can be ideal for businesses with highly compensated employees whose contributions would otherwise be
limited in a traditional 401(K) plan. A safe harbor 401(K) can help ease the administrative burden associated with various testing required of traditional 401(K) plans. In a safe harbor, mandatory employer contributions are always 100% vested. For some employers, a defined benefit plan can offer a greater benefit at retirement than any other type of plan. However, these plans require the
services of an actuary and can be very complex. For highly affluent employers, a defined benefit plan can offer tremendous tax savings. The employer is required to make mandatory contributions so they may work better for affluent small business owners. RETIREMENT continues on page 14 >>
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Briefs . . .
AL-JAZEERA ENGLISH WINS TOP JOURNALISM AWARD Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera’s English service will be awarded the highest honor of New York’s Columbia School of Journalism for its coverage of unrest in the Middle East, the university said. The Columbia Journalism Award honors “singular journalism in the public interest.” The Columbia School of Journalism is also home to the Pulitzer Prize Board, which annually honors journalism, books, drama and poetry. “Al Jazeera English has performed a great service in bringing the English-speaking world in-depth coverage of the turmoil in the Middle East,” said Columbia School of Journalism Dean Nicholas Lemann. “We salute its determination to get to the heart of a complicated story unfolding in countries where news has historically been difficult to cover.” THROUGH THE SUMMER, L.A. MUSEUM OF ART TO EXHIBIT ‘GIFTS OF THE SULTAN: THE ARTS OF GIVING AT THE ISLAMIC COURTS’ The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is set to present Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts, a major international loan exhibition running throughout the summer at the Resnick Pavilion in LA. Some of the most intriguingly spectacular examples of Islamic Art will be displayed at the travelling exhibition highlighting the historical tradition and nature of giftgiving in the Islamic world. Gifts of the Sultan flow through the richness of the Islamic world, spanning the eighth through nineteenth centuries and features more than 250 works of art and is organized by LACMA with support from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “We hope that Gifts of the Sultan will introduce new audiences to Islamic art by focusing on a practice shared by all cultures—gift exchange,” said Linda Komaroff, exhibition curator and LACMA curator of Islamic Art and department head of Art of the Middle East in a press release. “We all share a sense of delight in receiving gifts, and the many sumptuous objects presented in this exhibition will allow visitors to imagine themselves as the fortunate recipients.” The exhibition will premiere in LA from June 5 through September 5, 2011 before travelling to Houston from October 23, 2011 through January 15, 2012. The pieces featured in the exhibition range from finely woven silk carpets to intricately illustrated manuscripts and Qur’ans. Gift giving is a long-standing tradition at the Islamic courts for various political, diplomatic, appreciative and celebratory BRIEFS continued on page 7>>
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occasions. The exhibition, organized into three broad sections, will encompass intimate personal items, pious donations and pieces intended for the royal treasury itself. It will also include a smaller component presenting the work of Sadegh Tirafkan, Shahzia Sikander, and Ahmed Mater, three Islamic world artists commissioned to produce brand new work interpreting the theme of the exhibition. COUNTRY MOURNS LOSS OF MAYOR OF SAN CARLOS, CA, OMAR AHMAD - AN MUSLIM AMERICAN TRAILBLAZER Omar Ahmad, the Mayor of San Carlos and a Muslim American leader, died in May after what was believed to be a heart attack. Ahmad was elected in 2007 to the San Carlos City Council before being appointed as mayor by the council last year. He was a popular leader in the city and was the second Muslim to hold the position of mayor in the United States. Ahmad grew up in Florida and attended the University of Florida. In the late 1990s, he moved to the Bay Area, where he got involved in start-ups including Napster and Netscape.
pressing their shock and sadness.
Ahmad’s family released a statement ex-
“They say that when someone dies, he leaves only his actions for the world to see. If this is true, Omar leaves a blazing trail of memories behind him. Omar’s contagious laugh, his zest for life, and his commitment to serving his country touched so many around him.” Ahmad had a reputation as a thoughtful man with a big heart. He was “a supreme connector and helped people selflessly” in a world often characterized by competition, said Shahed Amanullah, a friend for 10 years. He made time for other community organizations and served as executive director of American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism, said Farhan Memon, another friend. “He would organize this event every year called ‘Muslim Christmas,’ “ Memon said. “A bunch of us would get together and go to a restaurant and a movie. He would dress in a Santa Claus hat and that was a way of embracing the duality of his Muslim background and American culture.” Ahmad will be missed as he was a strong Muslim leader and trailblazer. He is survived by his parents and three siblings. “Inna lillah hi wa inna ilaihi rajioon.” To Him we belong and to Him shall we return
HOUSTON TEACHER DISCIPLINED OVER OSAMA BIN LADEN COMMENT TO STUDENT
A teacher at Houston school is under investigation for mocking a Muslim student over the death of Osama bin Ladin. The teacher at Clear Brook High School is accused of an Islamophobic remark to a student in front of the class. The teacher is alleged to have told the student “I bet you’re grieving… I heard about your uncle’s death.” The Clear Creek school district was quick to respond, confirming “the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation.” Dr Aziz Siddiqui with the Islamic Society of Greater Houston said: “A lot of people are ignorant in the world, and so you just have to ignore them.”
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Hamdani’s legacy will now be celebrated HAMDANI continued from page 1>>
Ahmed, a senior graduating from Queens College and heading for medical school. In the true arc of Mr. Hamdani’s life, any association with his name is a high honor. His family arrived in Queens from Pakistan when he was 13 months old, the first of three sons. He grew up in Bayside, played football, was a “Star Wars” fan and flew the American flag on every national holiday. (His younger brothers, born in the United States, teased him by telling him to go back to Pakistan.) At Christmastime, he sang Handel’s “Messiah”; the license plates on his car said YUNG JEDI. His father, Saleem, ran a candy store on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and his mother, Talat, taught English. There were doctors in the family, and Salman — the name his family called him — intended to become one. The police cadet program helped pay his tuition at Queens College. He became an emergency medical technician and got a part-time job driving ambulances. After taking organic chemistry, he was
selected to work with two other students as a research assistant for their professor. In the small quarters of the laboratory, he was a perfect fit. “In science, you don’t
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with everything.” Mr. Hamdani graduated in June 2001 without a medical school acceptance,
After presenting Ms. Anam Ahmed [the memorial scholarship recipient] with the honor, Ms. Hamdani said she felt relieved that it would be awarded annually. ‘His legacy is established. -- Ms. Hamdani
always have everything you need, so you have to make do,” said Steven Rodriguez, a neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital who had been one of the assistants.
and got a job as a lab assistant at Rockefeller University. To get there, he took a bus from Bayside to the No. 7 train in Flushing.
“He was resourceful.”
On the morning of Sept. 11, he headed into Manhattan. Perhaps he saw the towers burning from the elevated tracks in Queens. “He would have found a way to get down there,” Mr. Ron said.
Short on money for a summer program in England, he decided to go anyway, unconcerned about details like a place to live. Eli Ron, a postdoctoral fellow at Florida State University and the other lab partner, remembered: “Sal just brought a list of hostels, and then he made an arrangement with a person renting an apartment where he would help out. I thought it was unbelievable. He was like that
Midnight came with no word. “We went from hospital to hospital,” Ms. Hamdani said this week. “It was a search in futility, but it was necessary.” Her son became one of the missing that wallpapered the city. Then the
other flier, with his police identification photo, began circulating. A copy made its way to William Hersh, the organic chemistry professor at Queens College. “I immediately called the F.B.I. and said, ‘Look, this guy is not a terrorist,’ ” he said. “I never heard from them.” The Hamdanis hoped he was secretly incarcerated somewhere. The next March, detectives arrived at their door one night, with word that his remains, found at the trade center site, had been identified. He had no business being there on the morning of 9/11, other than to help people who needed it. A few weeks ago, Ms. Hamdani, now a widow, met with President Obama at ground zero. “I thanked him for bringing Bin Laden to justice,” she said. “It sent a strong message that after 10 years my president invited us to meet. It meant my country is standing with us in solidarity.” After presenting Ms. Ahmed with the honor, Ms. Hamdani said she felt relieved that it would be awarded annually. “His legacy is established,” she said. Memory served.
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writers and actors with Hollywood professionals.
Almost 20 years later, I am still engaged with the idea of Islam as a vehicle for positive social change. This is certainly not a novel idea in the global scheme, but how it was used by African American leaders to elevate the African American Muslim community is certainly something special and deserves close examination, especially now. Too few mainstream resources have explored the African American Muslim journey, in detail. That is until now.
The first film shown, “Lost Found: The African American’s Journey to AlIslam,” was written, directed and produced by Shareef Nasir and Mizan Studios. It chronicles the creation, rise and evolution of Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam to when his son Imam Warith
This past month, the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s Hollywood Bureau co-hosted “African American Islam,” a screening at the University of Southern California of two new and revealing documentaries that recount the history and evolution of the African American Muslim journey. MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau serves as a bridge between the Muslim community and the entertainment industry. The Bureau is responsible for advancing Muslim American perspectives in the entertainment industry by serving as an information clearinghouse in Islam for the Hollywood community. The Bureau also works with the Muslim American community to nurture creative talent and connect aspiring Muslim filmmakers,
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tively eradicate the symptoms of racism was with an ideology that was equally extreme. That was what Muhammad was offering. He preached a radical philosophy of separatism and self-reliance; he was a master psychologist who reached the heart of the problem African American’s were facing at that time. He identified a
That was what Muhammad was offering. He preached a radical philosophy of separatism and self-reliance; he was a master psychologist who reached the heart of the problem African American’s were facing at that time. -- Shareef Nasir Director ‘Lost Found:The African American’s Journey to Al-Islam’
Deen Mohammed became the new leader and stripped the Nation of its internal structure and ushered in a new thinking.
lack of self-love and a lack of self-confidence, and he knew exactly how to effectively eliminate the problem.
I recently sat with producer/director Shareef Nasir to discuss his project. Nasir told me he was inspired to make this film because he saw an important story of a people who had been through a unique transformation. The traumatic history of slavery and unrelenting racist climate posed an extreme challenge. Nasir argues that the only real way to effec-
Muhammad took core Islamic ideas and fashioned a message to address the immediate needs of his people. To rebuild confidence and self-reliance in his community, he emphasized Quranic principles of discipline, morality, personal decorum, modesty and respect for self and others. He discouraged the consumption of drugs, tobacco and alcohol, while
stressing the importance of physical fitness and a healthy diet. “Lost-Found” makes a compelling case for Muhammad’s unconventional methodology while revealing that while Muhammad may have digressed from the traditional interpretation of Islam, he was effective in applying the spirit of Islam. He achieved indisputable results, evidenced by a beautiful and continually expanding, upstanding and self-sufficient community that would eventually make an additional transformation when they embraced mainstream Islam under the guidance of Muhammad’s, Arabiceducated son, Imam Mohammed. “I did not want to make him something he was not and I did not want to take away from what he was,” Nasir said. “He never claimed to be a man of religion. He said, ‘I came to clean you up, the one after me will teach you religion.’ I try not to judge how we got here, we went through the back door, down the creek up the alley way but we got here. It was all a part of Allah’s divine plan.” The second film, Baitcal Production’s, “The Legacy of Iman W. Deen Mohammed,” follows the life of Imam Mohammed, and it picks it up where “LostFound” leaves off, featuring rare footage MUHAMMAD continues on page 9 >>
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It’s time for our community to face Islamophobia ISLAMOPHOBIA continued from page 1>>
(pbuh), appointed by the one and only Creator, God, who imparted peace amongst his neighbors and offered solace for the poor and the widows. Justice and equality for all was his way, with truth and sincerity in every day. Despite the aggression and animosity of the Arab’s and the Quraishi tribe, the prophet (pbuh) continued to enjoin righteousness throughout the land irrespective of the malicious plots of his aggressors to take his life. And still, in the face of tyranny, his love, kindness, mercy and concern for the community extended so far and wide that even when he fled Mecca to escape persecution, the prophet (pbuh) left behind his cousin Ali to protect the possessions of the community that were left with him, hence why he was known as the trustworthy, and he therefore, instructed Ali to return each of the belongings to their rightful owner. In the first migration of Islam, the prophet (pbuh) sent the early Muslims, 12 men and 4 women, to take refuge under the Christian King of Abyssinia, Al-Najashi, who was a fair and just ruler. The prophet (p) knew that the Muslims would be safe under the reign of the Christian King for that land was known as the land of truth. After the second Islamic migration to Medina, the prophet (p) continued to build alliances with people outside of his clan as he imparted equality and justice throughout. In the 9th year after migration, a Christian delegation from Najran, a
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of 33 years of his life and legacy. The film explores the transition the Imam took the Nation through and the journey from his father’s teachings to the teachings of the Quran. Father and son duo, Samir and Lon Muqaddam embarked on a project with Imam Mohammed in 1975 to document the transition of the Nation of Islam. “My father and I followed the Imam for a total of 33 years around the globe,” said Lon Muqaddam. “We accompanied him in Palestine, at the Vatican and all over the nation, wherever he spoke, in an effort to record this vital piece of history.” Both films have been released at a time when Islamophobia is on the rise and few of Muslim Americans feel equipped to face the new and escalating challenges that come with this negative attention.
region in Yemen, traveled to Medina to visit the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They heard about Islam and were eager to learn more, especially after they heard about the teachings
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and neither through tyranny or oppression; but rather through mutual respect, tolerance, dialogue and communication between people of different races, faiths and cultures.
First, we must recognize our own faults and admit to our short comings. As a community, we have failed in our primary responsibilities and our duties to Allah (swt), as depicted in the regressive nature and status of our Ummah.
of Jesus in the Qur’an. The Prophet (p) welcomed the sixty person delegation and invited them to stay in the mosque and worship as they pleased. This marked the first ever interfaith delegation between the Muslims and Christians under the prophet’s reign; second only to the one that occurred during the first migration under the Christian King of Abyssinia, Al-Najashi. Prior to leaving Medina, the Christian Delegation of Najran signed a peace agreement with the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and asked him to send with them a representative from amongst the Muslim community, to accompany them back to Najran in order to provide their people back home with an opportunity to learn about this new world religion as well. The Prophet (pbuh) honored their request and sent Abu Ubaida Al-Jarrah to escort the delegation back to Najran. Islam spread to the outer limits of the earth from the Far East to the Far West but never by the sword
May Alhassen, a Ph.D. candidate at University of Southern California’s American Studies and Ethnicity program, recently organized a film screening and panel discussion of the two films in Los Angeles. “Post 9/11 the Muslim communities’ visibility has increased and the narrative have been largely shaped by immigrant Muslims,” Alhassen said, adding that this is the prime time for these stories to be told. “Well, the African American narrative steps in and says ‘Hey, we have been here and this is our story and history and you could learn from it.’ It’s more than just coincidence that a good amount of stories are starting to come out now.” “African American Muslim history is also the history Islam in this country and beyond that it’s American history,” she said. Her intention in organizing the screening was to show the films to Muslim youth, particularly children of immigrants.
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and up thru the 15th century, Muslims, Christians and Jews stood together against oppression, tyranny and persecution. As Unitarians and believers in One God, the citizens of all of three Abrahamic faiths protected one another from oppressive regimes and non-believing sovereign leaders.
repeated itself, over and over, as we experience, though on a much smaller scale, aggression, animosity, and isolation of our community in the face of ignorance about our faith. A deceptive picture indeed for we can never truly understand the tyranny that plagued our predecessors and our Prophets! Nonetheless, it is high time that we, as a community, reclaim accountability, take responsibility and seize the opportunity of this “Islamophobic” environment in which we reside. As we face this daunting challenge, we need to take the lessons from history and learn from those who were successful in overcoming hate and aggression in society due to their faith. Accountability
“Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does well, and follows the way of Abraham, the true in faith? For God did take Abraham for a friend.” (4:125)
First we must recognize our own faults and admit to our short comings. As a community, we have failed in our primary responsibilities and our duties to Allah (s), as depicted in the regressive nature and status of our Ummah. It is our duty to correct and reclaim the relationship with our Creator and worship Him as He would have us worship. This is prefaced by acquiring the appropriate knowledge of our faith, which in turn will strengthen our relationship with the Creator and allow us to convey His message about Him to others; in essence, fulfilling our two primary responsibilities with our Lord. And remember, God has not asked us to convert, convince or compel anyone to accept our faith rather we are only to inform others about our faith in good dialogue, just as the Prophet (pbuh) did.
As we see it today, history has
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Together they fled persecution and migrated to seek freedom. During this time, the Islamic world experienced the great renaissance of the Golden Ages, while the rest of the world and Europe lived in the Dark Ages of ignorance, barbarism and gloom. The Christians and Jews enjoyed the renaissance as they lived side by side with the Muslims under the Islamic civilization of AlAndalus Spain for 700 years.
“I feel like it is a really comprehensive way of understanding our own history,” Alhassen said. “To watch the journey and mass conversion of hundreds of thousands of people under the leadership of W. Deen Mohammed in the face of all the social unrest of the civil rights era and to see how they overcame their struggles, really puts into perspective the challenges that Muslims are facing in this country today.” I am personally re-energized and re-inspired by these documentaries, in much the same way that I was 20 years ago, in that theater with my family. Both films reveal previously untold history about the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X and the not so coincidental position that Imam Mohammed inherited. Many young Muslims do not know our history in the United States, and many of us struggle because we have not placed ourselves in our proper historical context. How many of our youth know who
Imam Mohammed was or the fact that he was responsible for the mass conversion of hundreds of thousands of Muslims? “I remember his dedication to creating a respect for Islam in America that was always the essence of what he was trying to say,” said Lon Muqaddam. “Muslim Americans can make a difference not just in America but in the world. He wanted to see the community give what it had to offer. He loved being a Muslim. He loved the Prophet (PBUH), and he loved the message that Islam had to offer to humanity. He felt proud to be a Muslim, and he made you feel like God gave you something special.” To me, that is the value of looking back and understanding how those who paved a way for us used Islam as a vehicle to better themselves, their community and all of humanity.
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The Prophets (pbuh) left us with his last advice, “guard your prayers and look after the poor and the weak”. Do not blame nor be angry with the aggressors and hate mongers out there for they are ill informed about our faith and if given the opportunity, I believe, will be delighted to a respectful dialogue amongst the members of our faith. In times of confrontation, remember patience and prayer, just as the Prophet (pbuh) did in the face of humiliation and persecution. Do not be judgmental! God Almighty is the best of all judges and thus He relieves us of this role. Open and unbiased minds will achieve greater fluidity and bear boundless fruits than those who choose to crawl under a rock or hide in a clamped shell. Reach out and be there even for those who may not like you, just as the prophets Abraham, Muhammad, Moses and Jesus did. Agree to disagree, and that’s OK, but know that they are your brothers and sisters in humanity. O ye who believe! Be the helpers of God as said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, “Who will be my helpers to (the work Of) God?” the Disciples said: “We are God’s helpers!” (61:14) Recognize that the unfamiliarity and the disconnection are due to our absence across several platforms by way of civic engagements, interfaith delegations, political and economic forums, and equally important mainstream media and communication outlets. Reach out, converse, communicate, extend your hand and follow the commandment of love thy neighbor, just as the prophets did. Get to know the Mayor, the City Councilmen, the Police and Firefighters, the banker, the grocer and the postman. Had we been there, the term Islamophobia could have been spared. Responsibility Know your rights. Be informed. Have the right perspective. As Muslims, we should be saying, Islamophobia What, Who? No such thing! This new term was concocted by the GOP and the Tea Partiers to instill fear in the hearts of the people by way of manipulation and propaganda, in order for corporate America to monetize and profit from as many industries as possible, i.e. weapons, military, etc... As American Muslims, we have fallen victim to their dirty political plots and now it is our responsibility to dismantle their agenda, dispel the myths, correct the lies and distorted truths and this, my friends, is not going to happen from the comfort of your living room couch. We need to un-write this word out of every dictionary, encyclopedia, Wikipedia, news story, and most importantly, our vocabulary. Other terms, similarly, are being used to divide our community such as “assimilated Muslim”, “Sharia Complaint
Muslim”, and my favorite one, “Radical Muslim or Radical Islam” as was stated in the Peter King hearings. These are fictitious and foreign labels used to brand and divide us. The point is you are either “MUSLIM”, and you follow the tenets of Islam, or you are “NOT”. PERIOD! End of Story! This perspective will shine once we whole heartedly submit ourselves to the highest authority, God. Educate yourselves, your families, and set an example of excellence and good moral character for your neighbors. As American Muslims, we represent Islam to the rest of the world. Kindness to parents, guidance for children, respect for humanity, and living with integrity should all be reflected in our Islamic character when represented at school, work, home, and it should not only be limited within the confines of the mosque. People will remember what you do but will be quick to question or forget what you say. When in doubt, look for guidance and examples from the lives of the Prophets. Opportunity The greatest opportunity we have today is to have a conversation. Notice that I did not say dialogue. I said, “have a conversation”. In the minds of most, a dialogue means a formal back and forth exchange of centric views in a preplanned setting, usually at a noted date and time and between two or more persons. Not that I’m opposed to dialogue but
we have become accustomed and limited to such divisive frameworks of discussions that we’ve been polarized away from real engagement and real connection on a rudimentary level. Conversations are informal, mutual exchanges that occur regularly at the airport or in an airplane, at the mall, in a public restroom, at the social security office, with the grocer, and after school on the field while watching your child’s soccer game. It is about letting the world know who you are and what you stand for without preparing a pre-scripted speech. It is where your actions speak louder than your words. It your opportunity to show your true colors! I recently took my 6 year old daughter out for dinner to a seafood restaurant. The tables were situated so close to one another and a nice couple dressed in uniform sat beside us. Rayanah asked me about their uniforms and their line of work. Not quite sure myself, I said to her, “why don’t you go ahead and ask them”. Rayanah was too shy and so I turned to them and said, “excuse me, my daughter is curious to know about your uniform and what you do”. The couple thought her curiosity was cute and we all became mutually engaged in a pleasant conversation. I uttered neither one word about Islam nor about my faith yet the nameless EMT couple left dinner tonight with a glimpse of what it means to engage a Muslim American. By
the same token, my 6 year old daughter left dinner tonight feeling happy to share the space and a friendly conversation with two well mannered, professional Americans. I have heard countless stories from my Muslim sisters who have been frowned upon, stared down, spat at, cursed by and subjected to unthinkable remarks due to their choice to wear the headscarf, ‘the hijab’. Under my breath and in secrecy, I’ve always thanked God for sparing me that kind of public humiliation. And tonight, at dinner, it dawned on me that it wasn’t by coincidence that I’ve escaped the public threats and the dirty looks that many of my dear Muslim sisters have encountered. It is who I am that exudes through my persona. I am proud to be an American Muslim and I don’t see myself any different from my non-Muslim American classmates, co-workers, neighbors, and the rest of the American society that encases me. They are no better, nor am I any less. I recognize the beauty in our differences and I use our differences to bring about positive aspects in our relationships. I realize that we are all brothers and sisters in humanity; after all, we share the same set of parents, Adam and Eve. Nadia Hassan is a passionate community activist in Villa Park, CA.
health
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Q& Don’t forget sunscreen, A even if your skin is dark HEALTH ADVICE
With summer here, it’s time for sunscreen and skin protection. It doesn’t matter how fair one is, suscreen is essential, especially in the face of the hot, Texas sun. How much sunscreen do I need to use on my kids? Many experts report that most people don’t use enough sunscreen on their kids. A good rule of thumb is that you should use approximately half a teaspoon of sunscreen for your child’s head and neck and each arm and one teaspoon to his chest and abdomen, back, and each leg. A larger child may need a little more though. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using an ounce of sunscreen for a young adult. Another good general rule is to use a palmful of sunscreen to cover your child’s body. Since larger kids have larger hands, that helps you adjust the amount of sunscreen for different-size kids. Do you need to use sunscreen if you have dark skin? Yes, everyone should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to 30 all of the time when they are
going to be out in the sun. Even people with deeply pigmented skin, who rarely burn, should use sunscreen. So use sunscreen, no matter your race or ethnic origin, because it is a myth that people with dark skin don’t need sunscreen. Is it ever healthy to get a tan? No, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. And a ‘base tan’ is not a substitute for sunscreen either. A tan from artificial light, like a tanning bed, isn’t healthy either and may raise a person’s risk of melanoma. Not surprisingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes the use of tanning salons by children under the age of 21. Will going out in the sun without sunscreen to get a tan make your teen’s acne go away? Acne is a fact of life for many teens and most will do anything to make themselves look better. Getting a tan isn’t one of the things they should be doing though. A tan may make their pimples look better temporarily, but the damage the sun exposure does to their skin and pores
will just cause an even larger breakout a few weeks later. Your pediatrician and/or a pediatric dermatologist can offer much healthier ways to control your teen’s acne and recommend a non-comedogenic sunscreen too. SUNSCREEN continues on page 14 >>
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FEATURE
Go ‘Undercover’ with Iman Zawahry’s documentary bY NADIA HASSAN Of all the places to be in the month of Ramadan, on assignment, I found myself attending the 3rd Annual Feel Good Film Festival in Hollywood on the first Saturday of Ramadan. The purpose was to interview Iman Zawahry, a female film maker and to watch her latest award-winning short film “Undercover” which is about Nada Assad, a woman who wore hijab and who’s only hope was to accomplish her life long dream to be an undercover detective. Watching the film, Zawahry and I were the only two hijabi’s in the audience of about 400 non-Muslim guests aside from my husband who accompanied me. To my surprise, the Hollywood audience seemed to love the film indicated by the loud and prolonged applause which ¬¬stood its ground longer than the other feature film that was also shown during that segment.
Zawahry did a phenomenal job in the production of “undercover” in that it presents the Hijab in such a disarming manner to non-Muslims while concu0rrently depicting the commonalities that exist between the Muslim faith and that of the Jewish faith as Muslims and Jews worked side by side in the pig factory. The pinnacle of humor culminates in the end of the film to reveal the true identity of the owner of the pig factory; a hilarious finale. Director of four short films, American born Zawahry was raised in Panama City, Florida. The young 29 year old Muslimah has made great strides and has left quite an impression in the film industry with her film productions, receiving several awards for her outstanding productions. Humorous and entertaining, Zawahry has found a way to produce films that reveal a
human element to the lives of American Muslims. Among her many successes in film, Zawahry qualified as a finalist in the NBC Comedy Short Cuts, where she became a finalist to pitch a sitcom to the
NBC executives. Drawing from her life experiences as a first generation Egyptian American Muslim, Zawahry finds humor in the cross cultural environment of her upbringing. Zawahry explains: “It certainly made my upbringing unique. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for the extreme dichotomy that existed between my cultural Arab background and my growing up in America. The experience is priceless because it gives me a unique perspective that allows me to tell stories through that lens. The ultimate theme of my short films is to convey that there is no contradiction between being a Muslim or an Arab and being an American.” After graduation from the University of Florida, Zawahry started out as a free lance journalist working for Bridges TV until she attended Florida State University’s Graduate Film program where she directed three short films which put her on the road map for entry into a number of film festivals and receipt of a number of Academy and Emmy Awards. She is currently the recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation Award and received $20,000 as a scholarship for her outstanding performance in her debut of “Undercover”, in which she produced, directed and cowrote. Zawahry also received a $5,000 scholarship, the highest amount granted, from the Islamic Scholarship Fund to finish shooting “Undercover”. Despite her successes, Zawahry has faced challenges with respect to the career choice that she’s made. For starters, the elder members of her family are skeptical of her career in film because the only two career choices that were given to her, prior to her getting married, were “doctor or doctor”. Everyone in her family is a doctor and therefore she stands out like the black sheep. Complimentarily, she frequently gets criticized by her close friends for not pursuing her career to its fullest potential due to the importance she places on her family life. Zawahry continually sacrifices and limits her role in film so that she can spend more time with her family. Zawahry is a wife to ZAWALRY continues on page 14 >>
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Feature
ZAWALRY continued from page 13 >>
RETIREMENT continued from page 5 >>
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Mohammad Sherif, 29, an attorney and mother to Zayn Sherif, 6, who keeps her on her toes.
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What does SPF on my sunscreen’s label stand for?
She has been disparaged by her friends for passing up a number of opportunities in Hollywood to stay close to kin. Her biggest supporter is her husband Mohammad only second to her “baby” Zayn. Zawahry plans to continue her work in comedy. For the first time, she is currently working on a feature length film with Azhar Usman and Mo Amer, the guys from “Allah Made Me Funny.” As a journalist, I admire Zawahry’s commitment to this field as I strongly believe that her brand of media will contribute to changing the negative image of Muslims within mainstream Media; unfortunately, we as a community do not have enough people pursuing this goal along side her. In her own words, Zawahry says: “I use comedy to break down barriers so that people can let down their guards and feel more comfortable in the face diversity”.
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SPF is an acronym for sun protection factor. Do you have to reapply sunscreen if it says that it is ‘waterproof’ or that it has ‘all day protection’? Yes, no sunscreen is truly waterproof. Instead, it can be water resistant and may need to be reapplied every few hours or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. And no sunscreen really provides all day protection. Even with an SPF of 50+, you should still reapply it every 2 hours, or sooner if you have been in the water or sweating a lot. Does using a sunscreen or sunblock block your body’s ability to make vitamin D from sun exposure? Yes, and while some experts use that fact to recommend unprotected sun exposure, if your child is following nutrition guidelines for drinking milk, then she should be getting enough vitamin D. Talk to your pediatrician if you think your child needs more vitamin D, especially if he doesn’t drink milk, has very dark skin, and/or is rarely in the sun.
Does a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 provide twice the protection as one that has an SPF of 15? No. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 provides protection against 93% of UVB rays, while one with an SPF of 30 provides 97% protection. Keep in mind that a sunscreen with an SPF of 2 only provides 50% protection, so be sure to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to 30. When should you apply sunscreen on your kids? You should apply your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you are going to be exposed to the sun. Since it takes time for the sunscreen to be absorbed by your skin, you should apply it in advance. If you wait until you are already outside or until your child shows signs of getting red, then he will have a longer period of being unprotected and will be more at risk for getting a sunburn. Can you get a sunburn on a cloudy day? Clouds don’t block the UV rays that cause sunburn, so you can still get a sunburn when it is cloudy outside. Since UV rays can be reflected off of water, sand, snow, and concrete, you can even get a sunburn in the shade.