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Don’t Let Your Diet more inside Slip In Ramadan

BY DR. LAMIA KADIR

The arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan is upon us, which means there are numerous blessings and benefits of Ramadan of us to partake and enjoy in. Allah (SWT), in His infinite mercy has prescribed Siyam (fasting) for us, though few of us are aware of its numerous health benefits.

Historically, studies of laboratory animals have shown that restriction of caloric intake increases longevity (life span), slows the rate of functional decline (aging), and reduces the incidence of agerelated diseases in a variety of species.

The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or slightly below the U.S. national requirement guidelines, thus

”We can either spend our energies fending off attacks on the proposed Islamic Center close to Ground Zero’s vicinity and everything else that is sure to come afterwards, or play by a new efficient set of rules.

Either endlessly debate on issues already framed for us, or we reframe the issues.”

no fear of malnutrition. Of course, general principles apply: 1. Eat breakfast. Suhur (pre-dawn meal) is highly encouraged, from an Islamic and scientific perspective. For years, research has shown that breakfast (the breaking of the overnight fast) provides essential nutrients and energy for concentration while keeping hunger symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and sleepiness at bay 2. Eat in moderation 3. Eat a wide variety of foods from each of the five food groups (breads/cereals, fruits/ vegetables, meat/fish/poultry, milk/cheese, fats/sugars in limited quantities) 4. Cut down on fat 5. Avoid salt 6. Drink sufficient fluid, limit caffeine (a diuretic, a substance that increases urina-

Hazrat Amin on Ground Zero Masjid P. 14 .......................................................................

tion) *See healthy menu sample for an American/ Pakistani/Middle Eastern diet on next page.

The physiological effects of fasting in humans includes the lowering of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. In fact, fasting can be considered an adjunct treatment >> Continues on page 02

“And the many aspects of Ramadan fasting, prayers, moral values, charity, the Holy Quran, family, Eid ul-Fitr provide this valuable opportunity for parents to train their children.

Whether they are your children or children you teach, education, or training, isn’t an automatic or easy process. Children don’t bring empty minds and fill them with what we say.”

Dr. Zubair Fattani shares tips on parenting during Ramadan P. 16 ................................................................................

Onboard the flotilla to the Gaza Strip

‫ ﯔ‬ISNA 2010 Conference in Chicago, IL ‫ ﯔ‬MYNA 25th Anniversary ‫ ﯔ‬L-1 Visa, a path to permanent residency ‫ ﯔ‬Furqaan Academy of Collin County, not your average Islamic School ‫ ﯔ‬Yasmin Turk on children in Senegal ‫ ﯔ‬Plano’s IACC Academy aims to improve your child’s intellect and intelligence ‫ ﯔ‬American leadership crisis ‫ ﯔ‬Texas is hot, but Quebec is cool. Sonia Laflamme shares her trip to Canada.

MOHAMMADI RECALLS THE ‘BRUTAL’ EXPERIENCE

BY ANUM HUSSAIN

Only minutes remained before sunrise.

Despite being on the top deck, completely exposed to gunfire, Fatima Mohammadi paused in the back corner of the Mavi Marmara boat to pray Fajr, the first of five daily Islamic prayers.

Just as her head turned to her left shoulder in a final salaam to end her prayers, a Turkish cameraman dropped to the ground in front of her. The cameraman was shooting live footage of the ship, a freedom flotilla, and its efforts to transport humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip.

The cameraman was aiming his camera towards the sky where Israeli helicopters hovered when he was shot.

Mohammadi, a 31-year-old attorney and volunteer onboard, ran to the man, who

spoke little English. She spotted a rubber bullet in his forearm; however, blood was pouring from his body, and upon lifting his arm further, Mohammadi discovered that he had been shot simultaneously by live bullets.

This man was one of more than 50 civilians severely injured on the six aid-carrying ships to Gaza when the Israeli armed forces attacked on May 31. Mohammadi said there were between 700-800 volunteers on deck the Mavi Marmara alone, and at least nine died on-site or in transport.

Mohammadi shared further information with The Lone Star Crescent on the trip these ships took, their purpose, and what happened while in the international waters paralleling the Israeli coastline.

Q: What was the purpose of this trip?

A: To highlight the blockade on Gaza and how it has continued. When attention is drawn away from something a lot of people forget that something is still going on, people around the world forget about those things unless we continuously highlight it in the news. One of the missions was to draw international attention to the continued siege of Gaza. Another was to actually deliver this humanitarian aid to Gaza.

They don’t export anything and in that their economy is completely dependent on what comes in, but nothing is allowed to come in. It is a hard thing to combat, especially with the massacre from 2008-20009, which destroyed so much of civilian infrastructure. We were taking in construction supplies, pre-fabricated homes, parts for machines, medicine, canned foods, things that would allow for the people of Gaza to start to rebuild the infrastructure, which was destroyed nearly two years ago and has not been touched because of the siege. And third to stand in solidarity with people of Gaza. People with just huge hearts for that area wanted to see it for themselves and bond and network with the people of Gaza. >> Continues on P.08

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02

RAMADAN 2010

FROM PAGE 01 >> (an alternative treatment used with primarty treatment) of mild to moderate non-insulin dependent diabetes (Type 2), obesity, essential hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). In addition, Ramadan provides a “rest” for the digestive system, which is responsible for the metabolism (break down/processing) of food.

Owing to the decrease in blood sugar, resting metabolic processes (business as usual) rely on providing the needed calories (energy) by burning sugar already stored in the body as well as harnessing fat from tissue. This can result in a concomitant weight reduction, as well as contribute to reducing the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and even gallstones.

In all His wisdom, Allah’s (SWT) mercy is evident even upon breaking the fast. Prophetic tradition dictates that we break with dates. Dates are rich in fructose and glucose, providing caloric benefit to the brain, gradually raising the blood sugar level, thus reducing the feeling of hunger and the need for large quantities of food.

Ramadan provides an excellent opportunity for Muslims to live a healthier lifestyle because overall, the health benefits of this month are numerous. Let us remember that it is important to take care of our bodies and ourselves during this holy month and beyond. After all, how can we serve Allah (SWT) and propagate His message if we are weak? Ramadan Mubarak!

PUBLISHER Melanz, LLC. P.O. Box 851764 Richardson, TX 75085 T: (214) 306-7920 EDITOR Marium Mohiuddin marium@myCrescent.com (512) 657-7819 LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Hazrat Amin ADVERTISING & SALES T: (214) 306-7920 E: ads@myCrescent.com EDITORIAL LETTERS / INQUIRIES / WRITING OPPORTUNITIES marium@myCrescent.com EVENTS calendar@myCrescent.com CONTRIBUTORS Kena Sosa, Zubair Fattani -PhD, Sakina Al-Amin, Ron Stern, Naeem Randhawa, Maryum Shaheed, Sonia Laflamme, Anum Hussain, Ruqayyah Khalifa, Komal Khan, Sonia Laflamme, Omar Usman, Hazrat Amin, Hassan Usmani, Jamal Saqib, Yasmin Turk, Robert Canright The Lone Star Crescent is published monthly by Melanz, LLC. We welcome and encourage readers’ feedback and opinions. All materials, articles, photos, comments or samples submitted to the The Lone Star Crescent will become property of the publisher and may be printed at our discretion. The publisher / paper takes no responsibility of claims made by advertisers, financial, legal, family and/or educational advise in its content. Readers must check and inquire themselves.

Join free online at www.myCrescent.com.

Sources: Eating Health in Ramadan, Islamicity, IC0809-3657, September 4, 2008.

Medical Benefits of Fasting, Shahid Athar, M.D. Healthier Living through Fasting, Ibrahim Syed, Ph.D., Islamic Research Foundation

Ramadan In Gaza

BY IBRAHIM AMIN ABUSWAY Development Coordinator, Kinder USA Ibrahim@kinderusa.org or (703) 981-2856.

Two years ago in Gaza during Ramadan, 9-year-old Sujood walked into a KinderUSA sponsored iftar to have a bite to eat. Someone in the dinner hall noticed that Sujood was a new face and decided to inquire about her. What we found out was heart-breaking.

“My name is Sujood. I am in fourth grade. My father recently died and left me, my mom, and my 9 siblings.”

People in Gaza have been under siege and under a blockade for nearly 4 years. Very little is getting into Gaza, be it medicine, food, or clothes; forget about building materials and electrical equipment, most of that is banned. Nearly 75% of all factories are shut down, and those that are functioning struggle to find spare parts or even electricity to operate.

The dire situation in Gaza would devastate any adult, both psychologically and emotionally. Most of us here in America would not survive one week in Gaza. So what about 9-year-old Sujood? What about 9-year-old Sujood without a father? What about Sujood’s mother?

Sujood’s mother had no time to grieve, she had no time to cry, she had no time to complain. Upon the death of her husband, Sujood’s mom had to find work; she had to find work in a city with 75% unemployment! She found work, for $2 per day.

As for Sujood; well, she could not be a child anymore. She could not do what 9-year-olds do. No time to surf the Net. No time for television. No time to enjoy the beautiful weather. Sujood has to be an adult

because now she has adult tasks: she has 9 brothers and sisters to help raise; she has no father to lean on, but at least her younger siblings will lean on her in their time of weakness.

KinderUSA continues to feed some of the poorest families in Gaza. This Ramadan, we will continue to provide iftar (dinner) in various communities in Gaza.

We continue to support women’s co-ops and small farmers in Gaza, both of whom provide food for those most in need. Just like Gaza, KinderUSA is supporting farmers in the West Bank with a goal of feeding 1000 needy families during the month of Ramadan. All of KinderUSA’s projects are legal and transparent. We are a 501 c3 nonprofit charity in good standing with the US Treasury Department and registered in the European Union as an Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (AISBL). All of our projects fall under the umbrella for zakat ul maal and of course zakat/sadaqah in general. We are also accepting zakat ul fitr. Muslim scholars (ulamaa’) say that Muslim in America who give any zakat or sadaqah can declare this as a tax deduction.

It’s important that you help.

Remind your kids of struggling children and families in Gaza, the West Bank, and elsewhere. Make duaa’ for them and give from what Allah has given you. For $110, you can help feed a family of 7 during Ramadan, providing them with fresh produce, dairy, and poultry. Please consider giving a one-time or monthly donation of any amount to support KinderUSA’s relief efforts. And remember that whoever brings relief to a struggling person in this world, Allah will bring them relief in this world and the hereafter.

COMMUNITY REPORT

03

PLANO’S IACC ACADEMY AIMS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILD’S INTELLIGENCE

BY VALENCIA ASHLEY Director IACC Adacemy In an article published in the Suburban Parent, titled “10 Ways to Increase Your Child’s Intelligence”, they listed 10 factors that affect a child’s intelligence as follows: 1. Music & Art 2. Religious Beliefs 3. Study Assistance 4. Early Education 5. Fitness & Exercise 6. Plenty of Sleep 7. Foreign Languages 8. Family Time 9. Reading 10. Encouragement At IACC Academy, we can help improve your child’s intelligence by providing many of the experiences that are listed above. We offer quality Early Childhood Education in an Islamic Environment. Our Enrichment Programs give experiences in fine arts, physical education, literacy programs, introduction to the Arabic Language, Quran Recitation & Memorization, homework assistance, and positive social interaction.

THE IMPORTANCE EDUCATION

OF

EARLY CHILDHOOD

This may come as a surprise, but the experiences a child has in their earlier years can have a significant impact upon their later years. From a very young age, a child’s mind is like a sponge, absorbing everything around them and processing the information in order to better understand the world around them. “Studies show the quality of a preschool program can actually affect later learning, throughout elementary and secondary education” (Suburban Parent, 2010).

Learning is like building a house.

You must first begin with a solid founda-

tion. The earlier children gain experiences in reading, writing, and critical thinking, the stronger their foundation will become.

Beginning school with a strong foundation makes it easier for the child to build new knowledge and experiences upon it.

IACC Academy can help build this strong foundation and prepare your child for Kindergarten by offering them experiences that will help them build their fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional skills, and literacy and critical thinking skills.

NEW MANAGEMENT…NEW BEGINNING!!!

IACC Academy is looking towards the future. We have a new Director and many new and exciting plans for the near future in order to maintain and exceed the high quality service that we have been known for.

IACC Academy has been serving the Muslim Community in the DFW since 2003. We are a state licensed facility with an A+ rating from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

We are currently enrolling for our Pre-school, Pre-Kindergarten, and Early Childhood Montessori Programs. Other services we provide are infant and toddler care, Quran classes, before and after school care, and a Mother’s Day Out Program.

Currently we have a Ramadan Special. If you mention our ad in the Lone Star Crescent, you will receive 20% off the registration fee from now until September 15, 2010. That is a savings of $35.

IACC Academy would like to wish the Muslim Ummah Ramadan Mubarak!!!!!

For more information visit us at IACC Academy, 6520 Custer Rd. Plano, TX 75023. Tel: (469) 241-1447 IACC_Academy@PlanoMasjid.org http://www.iacc-academy.org *Excerpts taken from “10 ways to Increase Your Child’s Intelligence”. (2010, April). Suburban Parent, 36, 38.

Summer Scholars Program a success at YZK Institute

BY MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR IKRAM (RICHARDSON, TX) The Yusuf Ziya Kavakci Institute (YZKI) for Islamic Scholarship and Research offered a Summer Scholars Program from June 7 to July 30, 2010. The program was open for children aged 4 to 12 years and offered courses like Hifz, Islamic Calligraphy, Manners Please, Islamic Reading and Writing, Math Mania, Super Science, and Arts and Crafts. All these courses were geared towards nurturing the scholastic and creative abilities of children in an Islamic environment. In addition to offering a unique and a diverse set of courses a distinctive feature of the program was the choice to pick and choose

courses based on student’s interest.

The successful completion of the seven-weeks program was celebrated with an exhibit, which showcased the students work and their achievements. The theme of the exhibit was “The Muslim Scholars and their Legacy.” This event was open to the community and was well-attended.

At the end, Imam Yusuf Ziya Kavakci of the Islamic Association of North Texas (IANT) awarded the 2010 graduating class of around 50 young Muslim scholars with completion certificates. More information on www.yzkinstitute.org.

ISNA Convevtion Takes A Technological Step Forwrad

BY ANUM HUSSAIN The digital era arrived many years ago, and it seems as if the Islamic Society of North America is keeping up with the latest technological developments.

At this years 47th annual ISNA Convention in Chicago, three of the tail-end pages of the program had a series of vote codes. Attendees were invited to text their votes for sessions and speakers with three session codes translating to love it, like it, or not it, while five codes were designated for speakers starting at excellent down to poor.

According to ISNA officials, about 25 to 30 thousands people attended the convention at the Rosemont Convention Center in Illinois from July 2 to 5, and the new texting style of ISNA went hand-inhand with this year’s theme – “Nurturing Compassionate Communities”.

“We always keep the latest communication to help develop our community,” said Dr. Mohamed El-Sanousi, Director of Community Outreach for the ISNA program. “It was a great opportunity for our members and convention to communicate with speakers in a very professional fashion and get input.”

El-Sanousi said that having compassionate communities is crucial. In Surah Al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, the word compassion is present.

“The Compassionate, the Merciful,” he said in a phone interview. “God is the compassionate, and so we are also called to be compassionate to our society and to humanity as a whole.”

The various sessions throughout

the weekend all connected to the theme of “Nurturing Compassionate Communities.”

The ISNA program is split three ways: ISNA sessions for all attendess, Muslim Student Association (MSA) sessions for college studentsw, and Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) sessions for youth from the age of 12-18. Each group has sevearl sessions occurring simultaneously throughout the day.

El-Sanousi said that ISNA is a major event that brings family and friends together, providing an opportunity for the Muslim community across the country to convene.

“The convention is very crucial because it is important as the Muslim community is still in a stage of development,” El-Sanousi said. “We come together [to discuss] our issues to help develop communities. ISNA has been having this event for 47 years now, and each year it is getting better and better.”

About 40 different speakers spoke including Altaf Hussain, Imam Hamza Yusuf, Dr, Ingrid Mattson, Nouman Ali Khan, Omar Mahmood, Imam Siraj Wahajj, and Tariq Ramadan.

This years ISNA program also had a special events series which included a National Qira’at Competition, an Islamic Art Exhibit, Entertainment Sessions, Islamic Film Festival, 3-D movie showings, and a Meet the Authors Program.

Next year’s ISNA will be in Chicago, and will still fall on July Fourth weekend because Ramadan will still fall during that time, and Eid-ul-Fitr may fall on those days.

04

IMMIGRATION

YOU CAN VIEW AND DO A LOT MORE ON OUR INTERACTIVE AND USER FRIENDLY WEBSITE. SOME OF THE ARTICLES AND CONTENT AVAILABLE ONLINE TO READ & PARTICIPATE ARE: ‫ ﯔ‬Indonesian Muslims found out they have been praying in the wrong direction! ‫ ﯔ‬More Muslims trying to find their soul mate online. ‫ ﯔ‬Ramadan and moon sighting. What’s your opinion? ‫ ﯔ‬American Idol’s Islamic twist. Is it really Islamic? ‫ ﯔ‬Parliment of World Religions Summite coming to Dallas ‫ ﯔ‬Shop Closure on September 11, creates a headache for its owner. ‫ ﯔ‬Robert Canright on economics and prosperity for our children ‫ ﯔ‬Muslimah Writers Alliance Launches “No Gaza Student Left Behind” campaign ‫ ﯔ‬Community photos & videos ‫ ﯔ‬POST & MANGAE EVENTS, ADD REMARKS, JOIN DISCUSSIONS, NETWORK, SHARE YOUR OPINION UNEDITED! ‫ ﯔ‬Join Free Today at www.myCrescent.com ‫ ﯔ‬ASK ABOUT SPECIALS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION!

L-1A Visa: The Pathway to Permanent Residency for Mangers and Executives

By Noaman Azhar, Attorney at Law The L-1A visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign executives and managers to work in the United States for up to seven years. One of the primary benefits of the L-1A visa is that it is a dual-intent visa that permits visa holder to obtain a green card without having to secure an approved labor certification or demonstrate continued nonimmigrant intent.

Individuals who have worked abroad as an executive or manager for 1 continuous year within the past 3 years are eligible for an L-1A visa. The L-1A applicant, however, must come to the U.S. and work for a qualifying business entity where s/he will provide services for the US company as an executive or manager.

The first hurdle L-1A applicants must prove is that they meet the legal definition of an executive or manager. An executive directs the management of the organization or a major component or function thereof, establishes the goals or policies of the company and exercises wide latitude in discretionary decision-making.

A manager is responsible for the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of the organization’s major functions and operates through personal employees to reach the organization’s objectives. A manager, and not an executive, is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and often has the authority to hire staff, and make decisions on behalf of the company.

This can be demonstrated through a detailed job description, organizational chart, payroll sheets, and other related company docu-

mentation.

The second hurdle L-1A applicants must prove is that the company that exists abroad, in which they are an executive or manager, also has a qualifying business entity in the US. There are only 4 types of business entities in the US that can extend employment to an alien seeking an L-1A visa – a parent company, a branch, a subsidiary, or an affiliate. In order to demonstrate that the U.S. and foreign company have the requisite qualifying relationship, there must be evidence of a systematic and continuous flow of goods or services within the context of a structured business. In other words, there has to be more than just an agent’s office in either the U.S. or the foreign company – the companies have to be engaged in systematic business operations.

When opening a new company in the US for the purposes of securing an L-1A visa, an applicant must demonstrate the business has the ability to be operational.

Therefore, sufficient real estate space must be secured for the new office, the intended US business entity must show it will support an executive or managerial position within 1 year, a sufficient monetary investment in the US company must be made, and the financial ability of the foreign company to compensate the applicant and to begin doing business in the U.S. must be evident.

Noaman is an attorney and Managing Partner at Azhar & Azhar, PLLC. The information provided in this article is not immigration advice and should not be interpreted as immigration advice. This article is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship.

As always, readers should consult with an experienced immigration attorney before making any immigration decisions on their case.

ADVERTISING & SALES INQUIRIES? CALL (214) 306-7920 | E: ADS@MYCRESCENT.COM

05

COMMUNITY REPORT

06

COMMUNITY WORK

WHEN THE THIRST OF RAMADAN STRIKES, THINK OF THE CHILDREN OF SENEGAL

BY YASMIN TURK With the world being my oyster, I decided I wanted to do my summer internship near the beach. Lucky for me, my husband is from a coastal African nation with all the sun and sand I could ask for. (Plus with a 94 percent Muslim population, I wouldn’t look as conspicuous in my summer hijabwear!)

Being an aspiring do-gooder who would love to work for the United Nations or USAID (United States Agency for International Development), as well as a graduate student with the Lydon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, I found the perfect organizational fit when I was introduced to a New-York based organization Americans For African Children’s Education (AFACE).

The director, a charismatic Senegalese expat, conveyed a sincere desire to help children in his African homeland through exporting America’s greatest cultural value ̶ volunteerism. AFACE recruits volunteers in Senegal to renovate schools and engage in supporting education within communities.

With a plan to visit schools needing renovations and document the conditions through video and pictures, I was off to Senegal.

Though I am a first generation American-Palestinian and have traveled to the developing world previously, my heart could not have prepared for what I saw in the schools of Senegal. The most cheerful, smiling children were overcrowded in schools that were literally crumbling around them. I saw a classroom where the roof had actually fallen in during the school day, leaving one student hospitalized with a head injury. At another school, we stood on the second floor, looking down through cracks, and saw the first floor. With cement floors riddled with holes, students had to be careful not to get injured on their way to the chalkboard. It seems that since Senegal

gained independence from French colonization in 1960, the maintenance of schools has been a challenge. Additionally, the nation ranks 18 for highest population growth, testing the limits of the capacity of schools. With a population so young, the need for schooling is critical.

After the first days of visiting school after school and listening to stories about students fainting due to hunger, buildings posing safety hazards to students and teachers, I began to feel overwhelmed. Then I went to Mallick Sy High School, and my perspective shifted. This wasn’t just any school; it was my husband’s alma mater.

I was able to listen to the students in their own voice, particularly from a group called the English Lovers Club, and identify all the beautiful potential and hope they have.

They had made it all the way to high school through the hardships of their environment with a sense of appreciation and purpose.

They loved their school and were able to tell me what they needed to make their school a better place to learn.

One boy told me how some of the kids from rural areas cannot afford transportation and had to walk up to 5 kilometers to school each day. Once at school, there is no free drinking water, only water for sale that most cannot afford to purchase. With no food or drink provided at school, some kids go the entire day with nothing to drink or eat, making it difficult to focus and be

successful in school.

While in Senegal, this story hit me like a ton of bricks. The first word in the local language of Wolof I learned upon arrival was “tanganaa.” It means hot. Senegal is hot, and most of the country is without air conditioning for the most part. Water kept me alive while I was there, and the idea of kids going the entire school day without it, was a reminder of all that I take for granted in my comfortable Texas life. Kids should not have to go without clean drinking water anywhere. The children of Mallick Sy are motivated, brilliant, and hopeful. They deserve clean water.

There is a lot to be done, no doubt.

Looking at the big picture the task seems overwhelming. One thing can make a difference however. Bringing clean drinking water to Mallick Sy is one project that impacts thousands of students in a very real way, and it can be done realistically. As a summer in Ramadan in Texas is upon us, the value of water will surely cross my mind, and if it crosses yours as well, I hope you will consider that donating to this project through AFACE.org.

In the end, my summer internship in Senegal did not turn out to be quite the beachy adventure I anticipated, but

it renewed my sense of relevance in life.

Sometimes I get caught up in school, work, family, and planning who I should invite for iftar, but when it comes down to it, my life needs to be about more than the small world I live in. I am connected to my sisters and brothers around the world who won’t know how things work out with Lindsay Lohan’s latest drama, but will definitely know if I let them down or actually did something to make a difference now that I know I am needed.

Islamic Relief Steps Up Efforts In Pakistan After Massive Flooding Islamic Relief USA, is launching an emergency campaign to aid the more than 300,000 victims of flashfloods and landslides in northwest Pakistan. Hundreds of homes and thousands of acres of farmland were destroyed in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, uprooting entire communities and isolating victims, according to media reports. Government officials cite that around 400 people are dead with the toll steadily climbing, but aid workers claim a little higher number. “There were no boats, so we had to use our beds or inflate tubes to float to safer places,” said Ghani Mohammad of Charsadda, one of the worst-affected districts. “We have not received any help.

There is no food and no water.”

Abed Ayoub, CEO of Islamic Relief USA, said, “Confusion and desperation are spreading amongst the victims as conditions worsen and supplies dwindle,” “We are calling on all Americans of different backgrounds to help.”

Islamic Relief USA emergency’s appeal will help provide food, water, clothing, and shelter to the thousands of flood victims. More on www.IslamicReliefUSA.org.

07

COMMUNITY REPORT

08 From Page 01 >> Q: Were all members on the flotilla volunteers?

A: Yes. Obviously people from the media were sent by their reporting agencies, sort of employees, but have to call them volunteers too. People from various organizations and of course with IHH, the main organizing group for the flotilla, had international employees including president, chairman, executive board. They’re still volunteers,of course, but they do come in a particular capacity.

COMMUNITY REPORT

we were being bombed from every direction; bullets whizzing left and right prior to soldiers boarding ship. When the soldiers dropped down onto the ship that was when the volunteers were in self-defense. Only 50 or so volunteers were on deck when commandos landed and they were met with anything anyone could get a hold of: little bars, wooden pegs from broomsticks, anything.

Q: What interactions were made when the Israelis discovered you?

A: They knew that we were doing this; they had very in-depth discussions about the flotilla and how they would react to the flotilla preceding the convoy. I can’t verify this but this is based on scholarly research and people who have researched the convey, it was an explicit decision to attack the flotilla, not something that took place at just a military sort of level. They knew about us the entire time. It wasn’t until the morning of the attack that they actually approached in such a hostile and rapid manner. To my knowledge there was no communication between Israeli warships or officials and the flotilla that was leading the ships down the coast. I’m unaware of there being any communication although there is some fabricated videos in the media showing Israeli generals making contact with the boat.

Q: What were some of the “weapons” used?

A: In one video they said piles of “weapons,” and a video showed axes and hammers all down on the mechanics area on the first deck of boat, lower than anyone went.

They showed tool boxes around sides of the ships; obviously we’re on a ship things go wrong and we need to have tools in the middle of the sea. Everything they pointed out is very typical for any ship to have. I think it was a violation of sea law for a captain to not be adequately prepared for taking civilians out. Another pile showed gas masks.

We were between 700-800 people, and there were probably only 30 gas masks. I have no idea what they’re purpose was, some of them were even scuba masks and eye coverings. They also showed pile of knives, and if you look at the size proportion of that pile, those knives were kitchen knives.

It was obvious with wooden handles; the second deck was where the crews kitchen was and that was pretty much all that they showed in video. If any guns were on board then they were flare guns for safety reasons, I think even Gilligan had flare guns.

Q: Did you attack them first?

A: Absolutely not. We had nothing on board with which to attack anybody who was not within 3 feet of us with. The Israeli rafts surrounded us with about six to 10 soldiers per raft. It was pre-dawn, very dark outside.

The attack was very quiet, and the rafts made literally no noise. We could only see them out in the distance. The ships light had to be shining down on the raft. The Israelis were in all black camouflage, and they were shooting the entire time –– sound bombs and what they say were paintball guns, and tear gas. None of these things I had never encountered before. It literally sounded like

Q: Are there any other “rumors” out there that you would like to address?

A: First is that they did not attempt any other negotiations. There was no communication with the Israelis to handle the flotilla in any other way other than militarily. They could have diverted the ship, altered our path, in a peaceful manner. Of course, there would be some sort of stand off in middle of ocean for diplomatic relations. We could have had U.N. peace keepers onboard to search it because supposedly they didn’t know what was on ship even though we said we would allow U.N. team to search.

We had been checked in Turkey, all of their

fears to their security or fears of weapons into Gaza were completely unfounded and could have been resolved in a dozen different ways. In fact they fabricated conversations with the ships after attack to show that they did in fact have some sort of civil response.

Second, we absolutely did not attack until the soldiers landed onboard shooting weapons for nearly an hour. Before soldiers landed onboard, we already had dozens wounded and the Israelis made a very quick transition from using rubber bullets to using live ammunition. They completely had control of the upper two decks; it was violent and brutal until we left Israel. People were getting beat in the airport. On our way out, we were still being beat by soldiers and militaryl they were brutal to all of us. They

Bengal Coast’s Asian Fusion Lacks Originality

BY MARIUM MOHIUDDIN Boasting a menu of mixed cuisines from “the other Asia,” – India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia – Bengal Coast strives to combine flavors to create a strong, exotic menu, but ends up turning out a more watered-down version.

On a recent Tuesday night, my monthly dinner group took a chance on this restaurant that sits in the Centrum Plaza Building at the corner of Cedar Springs Road and Welborn Street.

Swathed in dark elegance, with a lounge-like atmosphere, the Bengal Coast is owned by Mark Brezinski, the co-founder of Pei Wei, a restaurant Bengal Coast is similar, too, in that they are selling the same

style of simple Asian cuisine. The walls are decorated with large pictures from the owner’s trips to different countries, and the artwork stands as a mark of confidence that the restaurant and their owners have mastered these cuisines.

It was a new experience for some of the members of the dinner group who were not familiar with Indian cuisine and were curious about such staples as samosas.

We started off with appetizers of Spinach & Onion Ring Pakora and Crab Stuffed Samosas. The pakoras were not as expected – heavy on the spinach but light on the batter. The onion ring on top was not expected, as it didn’t really fit with the Asian menu.

However, the samosas were a welcome

change.

As a lover of crab rangoons, the samosas were a combination of that filling with a light shell – they were perfect, but that could be my bias.

The group then placed their orders, with two orders of Pad Thai, Chicken Tikka Masala, Traditional Vegetarian Thali, and Chicken Vindaloo. Each dish was pleasant and presented well. The Pad Thai was

kidnapped every boat and every passenger, and we were held for essentially three night and three days. God willing if they do allow for the investigation, which I think is absolutely necessary, it would be another thing for Israel to be called out on whether or not makes a difference in their policies. .......................................................................

Anum Hussain is a sophomore at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts studying Broadcast Journalism. She joined The Lone Star Crescent as a freelance writer in July 2010.

Anum’s family descends from Pakistan and she currently lives in Windham, New Hampshire.

a expected hit, while the more traditional Indian dishes fell short. The strong flavors were mixed from dish to dish – some being too salty and others too bland. The dishes, as well as the menu, lacked the pungency of Asian dishes, and seemed to be smoothed down for American taste buds.

However the biggest disappointment was the nan. Naan should be a staple at any Indian restaurant, but when multiple have to be ordered because of how small they are, it takes away from the meal’s authenticity.

The service was cheerful and courteous, but slow to attend to our table, though the restaurant was empty that night.

A discrepancy on the bill didn’t help to end the night on a good note.

Though it was watered down version of authentic cuisine, I was surprised that on a recent Saturday night the restaurant was filled with many Asian diners. That has to say something about a restaurant. ....................................................

Do you have passion for dining and good food? Do you want to share your food critic skills with thousands of our readers.

Contact the editor at marium@myCrescent. com today to see if you qualify to write dining reviews for The Lone Star Crescent. Get published!

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COMMUNITY REPORT

MYNA Alumni Celebrate 25 Years Of Friendship, Spiritual Growth

BY ANUM HUSSAIN Article: After a year apart, hundreds of Muslim adolescents embrace one another as they are united once again at the Muslim Youth of North America’s (MYNA) annual conference at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) national convention. Or at least that has been 16-year-old Tesneem Alkiek’s experience every year she has attended. And this year, she was treated to an even bigger gathering and MYNA experience when she saw hundreds of MYNA alumni greet each other at MYNA’s 25th anniversary celebration at this year’s conference in Chicago.

As a part of the MYNA at ISNA program, the alumni reunion was 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 4. As people entered the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Rosemont, they were reacquainted with MYNA friends past and present.

The scene of alumni hugging and recalling old memories is what amazed Alkiek, a current active MYNA member who served as speaker chair for this year’s MYNA program. Alkiek witnessed a parallel between seeing her own friends at MYNA events and the alumni greeting each other on that Sunday afternoon.

“It was a great feeling,” said Iman Salam, a former West Zone representative, as she met old friends. “It totally rejuvenates you and makes you want to do more for MYNA. The friendships I made through MYNA are pretty much lifelong friendships.”

Salam said she joined MYNA when she was about 14-years-old and has been an on-and-off member for 15 years. In addition to Dr. Jawad Shah, Habeeb Quadri, and others, Salam was a speaker at the gala event. She spoke on her involvement with MYNA and what the program means to her.

Salam, who grew up in Santa Clara, said MYNA was a “life altering” experience because she came from a family that was not extremely active in its mosque’s activities. “It’s so cliche to say but I wouldn’t be who I am today without MYNA. MYNA means a lot to me.”

Besides speakers who retold attendees about the experiences with MYNA, the reunion event also included a slideshow of memories and a lunch.

And MYNA is not stopping here; its grow even more. Alkiek said that the program has been developing in the past few years and the executive committee is growing to reach the different MYNA regions, including Ohio and Indiana.

“I think people now are so lucky to have made those friends at MYNA camps,” Alkiek said, after seeing the alumni reconnect. “InshAllah, I can keep those friends and share those memories in the future.”

MYNA – Something I Would Wish Upon Any Youth

BY MARIUM MOHIUDDIN Imam Siraj Wahhaj took to the podium at the MYNA conference in 1993, and just like that, my world blew apart and everything changed. Yes, that may sound a little dramatic, but for a 15-year-old girl who was begrudgingly attending her first ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) conference, and subsequently her first MYNA (Muslim Youth of North America) conference, this message of Islam felt new and vibrant. And that is what MYNA has felt for many of us who joined its ranks as teenagers thoughout the years.

As MYNA celebrated its 25th anniversary, I cannot help but think back on all the MYNA events I attended, and the impact this organization and the people

involved with it made upon my life. The impact wasn’t isolated to me as others have expressed the same feeling. As is the same with many of us who were involved, when my sisters and I became actively involved, we roped in all my cousins and the small Muslim community I grew up in, College Station.

Growing up in a small, conservative and predominantly Christian town, MYNA had become my savior. Every possible holiday (even Easter weekend) was spent at either a MYNA camp, conference, or retreat. I feel blessed that my parents saw the need for us to go, and poured their money into making this happen.

After that initial ISNA conference, I was sold about MYNA, and I wanted to be a part of this large community. Our next exposure came a few months later during that following winter holiday when my older sister, my cousin, and a friend and I made the hike to Troy, MI., >>> page 12 from

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COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Happenings Around The Town

12 page 10 >>> to attend a MYNA camp. It was a memorable week, and one that is still talked about today. For four Texans, the December Michigan air was unbearable, and we all fell victim to colds and flues. Having to walk outside to get to the bathroom, power outages, and walking to sessions didn’t help either. But we all braved it and from there, I saw the power of youth and what they can accomplish. I attended my first election at that MYNA camp, where Fatima Salman became president. I also met lifelong friends, my future brother-in-law, and two cabin-mates who later became my sister-in-laws, when their brother married my cousin.

MYNA has been accused of being a grand social network for youth to hang out with friends or (shocking) get married. And yes, there is no denying that I met many of my friends through MYNA; however, it was through these friends that I was able to increase my awareness and understanding of Islam and be around Muslim youth who knew what it was like to be part of the first-generation in America. I finally felt comfortable expressing my beliefs, which is something I refrained from doing at home.

Keep in mind, this was pre-9/11 and the knowledge of Islam of was limited to we don’t eat pork and women cover their hair.

Marriage? Yes, there have been a lot of “MYNA marriages,” but for parents, what better way could they hope for their children to find a spouse then through the Islamic setting of MYNA camps where we were attending to gain knowledge and increase our relationship with Allah (swt) under the constant supervision of counselors, advisers, speakers, and organizers.

Finally, one of the greatest things I learned at such as young age were invaluable leadership skills. By the next year, at age 16, I was learning communications

COMMENT and public relations skills – after all we were the high schoolers contacting masjid board members about hosting halaqahs or day seminars. I learned how to balance budgets, organize camps and conferences, and lead other youth by setting up a local MYNA chapter. The aggressive training we received was remarkable for that young of an age. I remember absorbing it all in, but as an adult, I can see how well it was taught and how much I still use it today.

Though I graduated from MYNA and went on to MSA and other organizations, I think I can speak for many that there is a fondness in my heart for MYNA that will never go away, and honestly, that love actually supersedes my involvement with other Muslim organizations.

I was sad that I was not able to attend the MYNA anniversary gala at the ISNA convention in Chicago on July Fourth weekend, but one thing that made me happy was to hear that MYNA is still growing and trying to impact the youth today.

I would wish my MYNA experience upon any youth in North America. We were children traveling around the country from Montreal to Chicago to St. Louis to Plainfield (Sorry West coast, I never quite made it there – Central Zone was the best, after all!!), accomplishing tangible goals and living our lives as responsibly as possible.

I look back at the tasks we accomplished with amazement – such dedication and devotion sometimes can only be found in the young. Many of those that were leaders then have gone on to become leaders in their community now, so it proved to be one of the best training grounds. Look into MYNA; what are you waiting for?

Go to www.myna.org for more information about upcoming camp, retreats, and conferences.

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BUSINESS Q & A

14

OPINION

BEYOND THE GROUND ZERO MASJID BY “HAZRAT” AMIN When Marium, (our editor), reminded me to finish my opinion piece on the orchestrated (she did not say orchestrated) masjid controversy at Ground Zero, I said “sure, don’t worry, I will do it.” This after I had already assured her couple of weeks ago – but somehow never got to it.

Here I am sitting, sorting out videos, articles, and trying to make sense of the “refudiation” theory laid out by former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin. I missed the days of only print, it was easy to compile and research. No one could just twitter your whole work down the drain. Now it’s like a multi-dimensional search from print, online, cell phones, to social networks. And don’t get me started about radio talk shows and TV news analyses. By the time I studied “every” resource on the subject, new information had already grown to the size of a Sunday paper.

So what do I think of the masjid two blocks from Ground Zero? The bigger question is why anyone cares of what I think? Most of The Lone Star Crescent audience can see through the ignorance of a few. The majority of people know that the location in question has already been used as a prayer of worship for a long time.

In fact, technically, the “Ground Zero”

masjid did not need an approval from the City of New York for its remodeling and new construction. And last but not least, Muslims know that majority of Americans stand behind the community center. It is a powerful response to those who wanted to spread fear and will stand tall in the face of criminals who hide behind religion to legitimize violence in hopes to gain power.

What’s the significance of this turbulence? I believe it is a great opportunity for American Muslims to dig a little deeper.

For once, let’s think ahead. The actual contention is improper planning and reactionbased public relations (PR). It is more of a planning weakness in the community that transcends into PR and outreach. The Muslim community in the United States, with all their efforts and tremendous contributions, is, so far, unable to implement strategic planning. Zoom out far enough, and we can see that the Ground Zero masjid controversy is a symptom of series planning errors. Our community’s expansion in the U.S. and Canada has been impressive, but with all the best intentions, we left a trail of strategic errors in masjid growth plans.

Let’s enlighten ourselves with this planning and PR puzzle. Our weakness has been thinking small and implementing big.

Don’t agree? Let’s clarify little bit more.

Thinking big is about considering all possible dimensions. Thinking big is

considering diversity of opinions that will always be there. Thinking big is developing unity, not uniformity. Thinking big is to create a nurturing environment for all, not just those who agree with your opinion. Thinking big requires thinking ahead. Size and acreage of the Islamic center has nothing to do with thinking big.

From New England to California and the Cascades of Northwest to the Florida Keys, communities everywhere are competing on vertical growth. Here is a typical story we all hear and have heard.

Few families started a musalla, found a big parcel of land far away, built a large center, started an Islamic school, and now looking to expand. The end result usually is a place with less than 10 percent participation due to logistics and difference of opinions.

Real strategic planning uses community’s difference of opinion as strength. A shallow blueprint can only think in terms of physical grandeur structure, a story being repeated across the country.

So we can either spend our energies fending off attacks on the proposed Islamic Center close to Ground Zero’s vicinity and everything else that is sure to come afterwards, or play by a new efficient set of rules. Either endlessly debate on issues already framed for us, or we re-frame the issues.

Alhamdulillah, building a masjid is our lesson No. 1 in strategic planning and PR, however, it is sadly occupied with politics and control. There is no individual or institution to blame, but collectively

Look Around! America is facing a leadership crisis, but can we fix it?

BY ROBERT CANRIGHT What is the best kept secret in America? It is certainly not that our schools are in trouble. Type in “dumbing down” in the search box at Amazon.com, and you will find many pages of published books discussing this subject. However, enter “leadership crisis,” and you won’t find a single book with that phrase in its title. Lido Anthony “Lee” Iacocca, the former president and CEO of Chrysler Corporation wrote a book titled, “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?”

So people have noticed the problem, but it is not widely discussed. The best kept secret in America is the deep, long-lasting leadership crisis that is devastating this country.

Every month, almost every week, there is a new disaster or scandal in America. In June, Gen. Stanley McChrystal gave an interview to Rolling Stone magazine that could only lead to his being fired. What was the bigger failure: McChrystal’s derogatory comments about the President of the United States or the President’s blunder in appointing McChrystal to command the Afghanistan effort? Selecting solid team members is a vital leadership skill that is sadly lacking

in America. Other examples of poor team selection include President George W. Bush and Sanford “Sandy” Weill, the former CEO and chairman of Citigroup, Inc. Bush made poor choices in appointing Michael D. Brown to head FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) before Hurricane Katrina and Alberto Gonzales to head the U.S. Justice Department as the attorney general.

Weill built Citigroup into the largest company on Earth, measured by capitalization, and then picked Charles Prince to succeed him as chairman and CEO of Citigroup and run the company into the ground.

There is a domino effect to bad leadership. A bad leader will select bad lieutenants, who select bad department heads, and then who select bad supervisors. An organization riddled with bad leadership then lurches from one disaster to another, such as British Petroleum (BP), which recently saw its CEO Tony Hayward step down . We are all familiar with the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig platform that exploded on April 20, killing 11 people and leaking oil in the Gulf of Mexico. But we should not forget that BP’s Thunder Horse, a large offshore deepwater oil field, almost collapsed and

sank in 2005 when BP installed a check valve backwards. The BP oil refinery in Texas City exploded in 2005, just two months after consultants, the Telos Group, declared it a life-threatening workplace. BP is like a mad dog that needs to be put down, but it is allowed to continue killing Americans in its work sites.

There are things we can do to fix the American leadership crisis. Neither you nor I alone can fix this problem, but enough of us can work together to fix this crisis. The first step is for more Americans to embrace integrity and competence as values we live by. The next step is for us to insist our leaders be competent people who act with integrity. If you fit this description, then think about running for public office.

If you do not want to run for office, then consider forming an independent political club with like-minded friends and vote as a block for candidates who actually stand for something. If your voice is not heard in local elections, it will not be heard at the state or national level.

We need to educate a new generation of leaders who are committed to competence and integrity. A friend returned

all of us have a part in it. That’s the good news, meaning all of us can implement the alternative. Instead of building large Islamic centers, we should refocus on community building. Consider easy and walking distance access to the masjid. Leave growth room for new people who may have different perspective on things. Understand that there will always be friction internally from Muslims and externally from our nonMuslims neighbors. Also understand that opposition in almost all the cases is not a conspiracy or an attempt against unity.

At least a small masjid or a prayer room in every neighborhood association (with few Muslim families) can do wonders in a short period that no giant center can achieve in years. First and foremost, we can free ourselves from “running” the big centers. Volunteer hours can actually go to community services rather than fundraising and property upkeep. We can actually get to know Muslims living just yards away.

Outreach will automatically start when people witness Muslim neighbors walking to the masjid five times a day. More informal exchange of interfaith ideas could take place frequently and is powerful in breaking stereotypes on both sides. In this age of hostility, when people learn about grand plans for Islamic centers, they get nervous and based on their insufficient knowledge, rightfully so. Friendship and trust is established through humility, and plans for majestic structures implies otherwise.

The Ground Zero Islamic Center provides an opportune time for us to go back and evaluate our growth strategy.

Should we perpetually embark on a path to defend what’s already our religious right, or utilize an agile approach? Should we struggle with maintenance, bills, and politics of grandiose centers or share our mores and resolve to improve education, health care, and economy? Do we prefer large centers with small daily congregations or smaller masajid accessible in every neighborhood?

We are at ground zero again, time to think big and act small. .......................................................................

Join this conversation online at www.myCrescent.com.

from missionary work in Africa and told me some people there do not know you need to wash your hands before handling food to help remove possible germs. That is an example of education for better hygiene. What we lack in America is education for political and economic hygiene: Do not cheat or steal in the course of doing business or you will pass along the disease of corruption to society. Cheating is rampant in American high schools, and it is widespread in our universities; however, our leadership looks the other way. Vice President Joe Biden had a record in college of plageriazing and political life. Wall Street manifests an epidemic of cheating. You cannot help but wonder if our leaders permit cheating because they are cheaters.

America clearly suffers a leadership crisis from a lack of integrity and competence, but the lack of coverage in our newspapers leads us to conclude this crisis must be a secret. Yet with education and personal commitment this crisis can be met head-on. If the American people organize then we can take back our government and restore this nation to greatness. Wherever this movement towards integrity and competence begins, there prosperity will flower first because good business is honest business. Let us make Texas the fountainhead of this new movement, so we can secure the blessings of liberty and prosperity to ourselves and our children. .......................................................................

Submit your opinions to marium@myCrescent.com

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TRAVEL

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OPINION

RAMADAN

The Perfect Time To Train Your Child

BY DR. ZUBAIR FATTANI, PHD Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “No father has given a greater gift to his children than good moral training.”

And the many aspects of Ramadan ̶ fasting, prayers, moral values, charity, the Holy Quran, family, Eid ul-Fitr ̶ provide this valuable opportunity for parents to train their children. Whether they are your children or children you teach, education, or training, isn’t an automatic or easy process.

Children don’t bring empty minds and fill them with what we say. Training requires effort, energy and a few techniques to take off.

Here are some training tips and techniques to help educate your children and transform their minds and memories this Ramadan:

HIGHLIGHT THE BIG IDEAS Ask yourself how many equations or formulas you remember from your twelfth-grade math textbook. It might be five or two or none. Let’s be honest, most of us retained little of the details we learned.

If this happened to us, then it’s a gurantee that things will slip from your children’s minds, too. Children will not retain all the fiqh rulings of zakat or wudu or salah, and they won’t need to. Make sure the little that they retain is what you want them to remember. Focus on the big ideas, such as the awareness that Allah (SWT) is watching us, that we get our rulings from the Quran and the Sunnah, and that prayer is a means of self-purification. Repeat these ideas every day in different ways. While these principles will be instilled in their minds, show them how to learn the rest on their own, when they need it.

LET THEM LEAD! Children often take responsibilities more seriously than adults. Prophet Muhammad (saw), appointed young adults such Ali, Anas and Usamah ibn Zaid for important assignments that sometimes required them to lead even older and more experienced companions.

Give children leadership of important tasks and let them step out of the picture. Assign one child to wake up all his siblings for suhur. Let someone else be in charge of updating the iftar time every evening. Allow the children to plan, budget, and buy Eid gifts for all the relatives. Let them choose which task they want to be in charge of.

GET EXCITED! Children will catch on to your enthusiasm.

Show some excitement and passion about the topic you’re teaching. Show them that you can’t wait for Ramadan to begin. Be mindful of prayer times and decorate the house in anticipation of Eid. Prophet Muhammad (saw), taught by example. His character and actions mo-

tivated people to love and emulate him. Be the best example you want your kids to be.

Make a genuine effort to love the activities you want your kids to love.

COMBINE LOVE WITH LEARNING Al-Aqra’b. Habis saw Prophet Muhammad (saw), kissing his grandson Hassan . He said “I have 10 children, but I have never kissed any one of them, whereupon Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon

him, said ‘He who does not show mercy, no mercy would be shown to him.’ ˮ Show children that you love them, regardless of how they perform. Allow each child to progress at his own pace. Comparing them to others by saying thing such as “look at your cousin Aminah; she’s already finished the fifteenth juz,” will only lower your child’s self-esteem and discourage what she’s already accomplishing.

Excessive competition and comparison can often result in helplessness and lack of motivation for children who learn in different ways or at a slower pace. Allow

children to judge their own progress and compare themselves to their former level rather than that of others.

Make this Ramadan the beginning of a memorable and long-lasting training experience for you and your children. .......................................................................

Dr. Zubair Fattani -PhD, is an associate professor of economics at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is also a guest lecturer this summer at the University of California at Berkeley.

You can write to him at dr_ fattani@ hotmail. com. Dr. Fattani is from Karachi, Pakistan, where his parents still live. His wife, Shazia, is a hafiza and studying to be an alimah.

They have one daughter, Zakia, who is 2 years old. .......................................................................

Share your ideas about training and educating children during Ramadan on www. myCrescent.com.

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18

NEW IN THE COMMUNITY

Furqaan Academy of Collin County NOT YOUR AVERAGE ISLAMIC SCHOOL

BY SAKINA AL-AMIN It would seem “franchise” is not yet an idea that has been embraced by Muslim entrepreneurs. Sure hundreds of American Muslims own a business, but it is uncommon, even unheard of, to have a chain of Muslim-owned establishments that stretch across state borders.

Fortunately, and not a moment too soon, Al-Furqaan Foundation is taking a grand step to remedy the Islamic franchise dilemma by opening specialized schools throughout the nation. Though the respected Islamic foundation is Chicago-based, their newest school will be opening miles south in Allen, Texas.

The school, Furqaan AcademyCollin County, is a “full-time Hifz and Islamic School” starting at the Kindergarten level and going to the 5th grade. Although a portion of the academics offered will cover Islamic topics, the goal is for the academy to become a full-fledged college preparatory for Muslim children. Ultimately, a middle school and high school will be added on for the residents of the recently booming Collin County on a year by year basis.

What is different about Al-Furqaan Foundation schools is, unlike most other Islamic institutions, none of the schools will be centered around or affiliated with a mosque. This is deemed a definite advantage by the founder and president of Al-Furqaan Foundation and its entities, Wajahat Sayeed, who said “Furqaan Academies get to bypass any potentiality of ‘masjid politics’ ” that would have to play a part in decision making for a school.

Sayeed was anxious to speak about the team of teachers, all of whom are eager, qualified, and diverse Muslims, from the local area. The director, principal, chairpersons, and administration staff of FACC, are already in place and committed to offering families the following: 1) Memorization of the Qur’an, that is, an integrated hifz program, as well as the option of a two year full-time hifz program for girls and boys, separately 2) Mastery of Arabic, that is, Arabic as a

Second Language for students who did not necessarily grow up hearing it in the home 3) Traditional Islamic knowledge, that is the history and values of the Islamic faith, 4) Adherence to Plano Independent School District Curriculum (Certified Academic Standard in Texas) for core subjects in math, science, language arts, social studies, 5) Standardized testing that is CTBS (National) & TAKS (State) Offered for the state of Texas.

Meeting both the Islamic and academic standards as such, Furqaan Academy, is aiming to combine the best of both worlds for the modern Muslim family.

From a business standpoint, the Al-Furqaan Foundation franchise style model seems to take into consideration the two most common negative opinions surrounding Islamic schools, and then provides a solution to them. For example, some Muslims think Islamic schools focus too heavily on Islamic and Quranic studies, while allowing general academics to suffer, resulting in rejection from the best universities. But, in the case of Furqaan Academy, the curriculum approved meets standards set by the state. Additionally, students will benefit from classes that are in place to prepare them for standardized tests needed for college.

The second common complaint against American Islamic schools is that they are subject to the desires of the masjid community, rather than the parents who have enrolled their children in the school. It is thought that the masjid that makes decisions regarding classes offered, expansion projects, and teachers to hire for its connected Islamic school. Many families, who travel quite a distance to have their children attend an Islamic school, are patrons of a different mosque, closer to their residence.

This may cause conflict because they may adhere to different set up procedues and presedences. With the Furqaan Academy franchise, there is no mosque to contend with. The schools will be geared and sustained by the parents of the students and the school teachers and staff. Essentially, the vision of the Al-Furqaan Foundation will set the tune for the schools without micromanaging the local community.

In the case of non-Muslims and Muslims alike, FACC is leaving no choice but to be taken seriously. They are striving

to fulfill a quality service that is obligatory in a community of Muslims, while simultaneously strengthening the economy of a region that has only just recently seen significant growth and development. What is most remarkable about all this is that Collin County is now a place that can accept and sustain an Islamic school, due to the thriving Muslim community there. This is certainly something for the state of Texas to be proud of!

More info on www.FurqaanAcademy.org/ CollinCounty

19 STORY & PHOTOS BY SONIA LAFLAMME My husband and I felt an urge to go to the mountains, so we took our little boy, Zakaria, and teamed up with extended family for a trip to Mont-Tremblant, a beautiful area of Quebec, Canada, located in the Laurentian Mountains, approximately 81 miles from Montreal. It is also easily reached by air via New York and Toronto since the construction of the Mont-Tremblant International Airport.

Mont-Tremblant takes its name from the “trembling mountain,” a description given to it by the Algonquins, a popula-

tion of Native Canadians in Quebec and one of the first inhabitants of North America.

Tremblant had been a summer tourist destination for many years when a wealthy American millionaire, Joe Ryan, wanted to turn it into a winter destination for skiers, claiming he would build “the biggest ski center in the East.” In 1939, the resort was completed and its popularity began.

We are warmly greeted at the Chateau Beauvallon, a luxurious hotel nestled by a lake. Our spacious three-bedroom suite was elegantly decorated with Shaker-style furniture and offered a living room with a gas-burning fireplace for cool summer nights and a full kitchen with granite countertops. The weather was sunny, so we all changed to go swimming in the outdoor pool. There is an indoor pool, too, if it turns cooler. We also had some downtime at the lake, just skimming pebbles with the kids.

Later, I had a good workout in the gym and got my appetite going for dinner. While we were there, one of our highlights was taking breakfast on our private balcony with a view of the pool and the lake. What a perfect way to start the day It’s a great hotel for families because of the full kitchen and it is nestled in a tranquil setting. As well as being quiet, it’s very convenient. It is just a quick drive to the Tremblant Resort Village and four championship golf courses ̶ Le Diable and Le Géant in Tremblant and La Belle and La Bête in Gray Rocks.

You can spend all day doing activities and relax in the evenings. During the winter, the resort offers a free ski shuttle to the ski resort. Families can budget when they come here by eating at the hotel in-

TRAVEL

SAY ‘BONJOUR’

TO MONT-TREMBLANT stead of going out to restaurants. The hotel restaurant has a changing menu of Quebec and international dishes including steak, chicken, salmon and shrimp.

To enjoy the great outdoors, we headed out to The Mont-Tremblant National Park for a hike and picnic. It is the largest park in Quebec, and it is a picture postcard

of forests and mountains with 400 lakes and streams. Summer activities allow visitors to get up close and personal with the scenery and wildlife. There are cycling trails for bikers, and hikers and backpackers have miles of trails to choose from of varying lengths and levels of difficulty, so it’s good for families with young children. Camping is allowed in the park including camping in a yurt, a portable wood-lattice structure traditionally used by Central Asian nomads.

Seeing the landscape from the water is a special experience, and there are various modes of boating transport for hire, such as canoe, kayak, or pedal boat. It’s a popular area for fishing, too, particularly for trout and pike.

A unique feature of the park that I wish we had been able to do is the Diable Via Ferrata, but it would be difficult with a small child in tow. The “Via Ferrata” is a network of cables, bridges, and footpaths that let climbers, and non-climbers alike, ascend 655 feet and navigate a mountain or rock face, in this case the Vache Noire rock face, which overhangs the Rivière du Diable. It’s a safe way to go climbing, and I bet there’s a real sense of achievement from doing it.

We also explored and played at the Tremblant resort, everything they offer is such a good value. The Laurentian Mountains make a fabulous backdrop, and the Mont-Tremblant village is a pedestrian village at the base of the mountain noted for its European style streets. It is so pretty, especially at night when the buildings are lit up.

We used the three, five, or seven

activity card, which is a great scheme for families wanting to save money on activities. You get to enjoy the Panoramic Gondola ride and then choose another two, four, or six more activities. The gondola takes passengers to the summit of MontTremblant, the highest peak in the Lauren-

tians. It’s a thrilling ride, and we all enjoyed the amazing view from the summit. It’s here where we gathered for the Birds of Prey Show, an impressive display of trained raptors. They fly really close above making everyone gasp. They are the royalty of this grand landscape, and it is a privilege to see them.

There are so many activities on the list; it’s not possible to fit them all in! Children and adults can have a go on the 30-foot climbing tower, try rafting on a white water excursion, or enjoy some off-road dune buggy tours. We decided to pick the Alpine Luge option, a three-wheeler cart race that winds down a track along the mountain. We also rode on an electric boat, a motorized miniature replica, just like a riverboat from the Mississippi.

We also got the chance to go to the Centre Nautique Pierre Plouffe, a water sports facility, named after the operator Pierre Plouffe, a former World Cup water ski champion who won the Canadian Ski Championship 19 times. The center is located along the shores of Lake Tremblant at the Beach & Tennis Club, and there is a variety of watercraft including pedal boats, canoes and kayaks, but the most popular activity is water skiing. We have a fun time on the 1-hour pontoon tour, a terrific way of seeing the fabulous landscape reflected in the clear waters and under a blue sky.

Pierre is a friendly and outgoing man, and he entertained us with stories about the history of the lake. Today, the shoreline is dotted with some very expensive mansions, many of them owned by wealthy New Yorkers who come here to escape the city.

The center runs a Day Camp for children aged 7 years and above where they can participate in different water sports or miniature golf. They can also dive off the artificial iceberg anchored in the lake.

Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort is a playground for winter sports. It’s popular with skiers of all abilities and the mountain has 95 trails. There is also a snow park for the snowboarders, but that’s not all. The resort has facilities for ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, tubing, and dogsledding. Snowfall here averages more than 12 feet a year, but the

resort boasts “the most powerful snowmaking system in Eastern Canada” to back it up.

Another great peak for winter fun in Mont-Tremblant is the Mont Blanc ski resort. It is the second highest peak in the region and offers 41 trails, and it has one of the highest verticals, perfect for skiers and snowboarders alike. Mont Blanc is great for families with younger children, while mom and dad enjoy the slopes, the kids can enjoy the slides and many other activities offered at the Laurentian’s largest indoor play park, Jungle Magique.

Dining out in the village is a cosmopolitan experience with cuisine from around the world ̶ Italian, French, Japanese,

and Lebanese, along with local Quebec dishes. Shopping is a pleasant amble through charming streets lined with gift stores, art and craft stores, and stores for clothing and sporting goods. There is also a cinema and a conference center.

Mont- Tremblant is a terrific destination in any season. The scenery can’t be beaten and there are plenty of things to do if you want to be active. It’s also a great place to chill. Add all this to a big Canadian welcome, and it’s hard to resist the “trembling mountain.” To book the perfect vacation, make sure you check out the Tourism MontTremblant website. They offer a guide to all the attractions, activities and ongoing events in the area, as well as special package deals

for accommodations and activities.

For more information: Tourism Mont-Tremblant http://www.tourismemonttremblant.com/en/ 1.877. 425.2434 Chateau Beauvallon http://www.chateaubeauvallon.com/en/ 1.888.681.6611 Mont-Tremblant National Park http://www.sepaq.com/pq/mot/ 1.800.665.6527 Resort Tremblant www.tremblant.ca 1 .888. 738.1777 Center Nautique Pierre Plouffe http://www.tremblantnautique.com 1.888.681.5634 Golf Gray Rocks http://www.golflabelleetlabete.com/ 1.800.567.6744 Ski Mont Blanc http://www.skimontblanc.com 1.800.567.6715 (USA) 1.819.688.2444 (CDN)

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