The Lone Star Crescent

November Hajj 2009 Issue | W: www.myCRESCENT.com | T: 214-306-7920 | E: dallas@myCRESCENT.com | In North TX Since 2006

Why Outreach Is Tougher Than It Seems?

By Bilal Mohammed “Why does Islam often seem strange?” asks Islamicty.com.

“Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world.

Perhaps this is because the religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today…” replies Islamicity.

The response, however, remains short of pinpointing the inadequacy of bridging the gap between the Muslim and the non-Muslim community. The responsibility to fill this gap lies in the hands of the larger community, while the leaders continue to serve in driver’s seat.

“For the most part, the Muslim community seems insulated within its own,” says Sarah Ronan, who interned at the Yusuf Ziya Kavakci Institute and served as a director at MAS Freedom in Dallas. She has been involved in local religious activities that gave her a chance to observe the pitfalls in communicating to fellow non-Muslims. Converted to Islam eight years ago, Ronan has first hand experienced a challenge of being American Muslim that results due to... Continues on P. 10 >> Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?”

The Prophet said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.”

-Hadeeth from Bukhari

Folks, there’s more inside... > Azhar Law Firm takes personal service to new heights ....................................................................... > A new kind of open house at Irving Masjid ....................................................................... > Cafe International opens in Plano ....................................................................... > Ummah Relief: over a decade of service ....................................................................... > Blessings of Hifz-ul-Quran ...................................................................... > Amana launches developing world fund ....................................................................... > Victory for six imams ....................................................................... > Naeem takes you to wild safari in Texas

He’s Eying

Perry’s Job (DALLAS, TX) Palestinian-American businessman and hair care products titan Farouk Shami visited Dallas to promote his run for Governor of Texas. His message is loud and clear, “bring jobs back to the U.S. and especially Texas”.

Running as Democrat his first challenge would be to win the Primary elections

next year. His company, the Houstonbased Farouk Systems, currently employs 2,000 Americans, and exports its line of hair and skin care products under the BioSilk, SunGlitz and Cationic Hydration Interlink (CHI) brands to over 90 countries worldwide. More on Shami in our January 2009 Edition InshaAllah...

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | COMMUNITY REPORT

Law Firm Takes Personal Service To New Heights

By Hazrat Amin (DALLAS, TX) Looking for immigration attorneys who have “been there and done that” themselves? If you are in the Metroplex, there is no need to go far. Immigration team of siblings Furqan and Noaman Azhar offers a personal approach to your immigration needs based on their professional qualifications and personal experience.

“Our parents came here on student visa when we were just few years old,” Furqan Azhar told The Lone Star Crescent.

“So we went through the entire immigration process ourselves and understand the needs of our clients.”

The brothers are partners in Azhar & Azhar, PLLC. They have been practicing law at different Dallas based law firms for many years and over a year ago formed their own legal practice with an emphasis in immigration and nationality law. Recently the Firm expanded to three full-time attorneys and will soon be expanding to five full-time attorneys in 2010.

Older brother Furqan (Sunny) Azhar leads the Deportation Defense Practice Team. His legal practice is devoted entirely to Immigration and Nationality Law as well as International Law. Sunny has represented over 100 clients in Federal Immigration Courts across the country. He obtained his law degree from OCU School of Law where he concentrated his course work in International Law and Relations. During his third year, Sunny received the CALI Award in American Criminal Law and Restorative Justice. He is licensed to practice law in Oklahoma and immigration law in any state.

Noaman Azhar is the managing partner of Azhar & Azhar, PLLC. His legal practice is primarily devoted to Immigration and Nationality Law and he leads the Employment Based Immigration Practice.

Noaman received his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. Noaman has successfully earned approvals for his clients in many employment based visa categories including – H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, and E-2. Noaman is licensed to practice law in Texas, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and immigration law in any state.

Farah Gopolani leads Family Law Practice Team of the firm and concentrates her practice in divorces, custody, child support, and family based immigration petitions. Farah received her law degree from South Texas College of Law. Azhar Law Firm engages in strong community ethics and service. Noaman works very closely with many North Texas

Community organizations. He regularly conducts immigration law seminars across North Texas with the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR), sits on the board of directors for the Muslim Community Center for Human Services (MCCHS), and participates regularly in Islamic Association of Collin County’s (IACC) bi-monthly legal clinic. All of the attorneys at Azhar & Azhar, PLLC recognize the importance of giving back to the community. They regularly participate in community events designed to educate members of the community who would not otherwise see or speak with an attorney.

Farah dedicates much of her free time to serving women in her community who seek protection under the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), namely those who have been the victims of battery, cruelty and/or domestic violence.

The firm deals in a variety of immigration related cases. “Our most interesting cases are typically those involving asylum claims,” said Noaman. Azhar Law Firm helped with two major asylum cases in the past few months. One involving a national of Eritrea and the second was an Albanian from Kosovo. Both were tortured due to their political beliefs. “Thankfully we were able to secure permanent immigration relief for each client.”

Due to serious consequences to personal and family life, Sunny recommends getting help from a qualified attorney in matters of immigration. “It’s very easy for the untrained professional or layman to make mistakes in the immigration process because the petitions and procedures in immigration law are complicated and time sensitive”, he said. Sunny reminded that it is critical to carefully read and understand the instructions when filing applications. His advice to people who are looking for an attorney is “to ensure that the attorney they hire handles a wide variety of immigration cases and experienced in cases similar to the one the individual has.”

Despite the challenges of dealing with bureaucracy at US Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS), the job is very rewarding. “The best part of this job is uniting families”, explains Noaman. “Whether it means making someone here a US citizen, helping a loved one from oversees enter the US, helping someone gain asylum, or keeping someone from being deported, people’s lives are affected in a direct and meaningful way.” .......................................................................

Video Interview on myCRESCENT.com

Noaman’s

EYE ON IMMIGRATION

Immigration Questions?

Email us at dallas@myCrescent.com for Attorney Noaman Azhar. Free guidance on immigration in The Lone Star Crescent and myCrescent.com. Email your questions today and we will try to get the response published.

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | Community Report

Know Thy Neighbor Outreach At Irving Masjid Story & Photos By R. “Ruqayyah” Khalifa

12,000 Attended ThePlano International Festival Green Initiatives Diverted 60% Of Waste From Landfill

By Linda Adler On Saturday, October 10, downtown Plano’s Haggard Park came alive with the sights, sounds and tastes of the world as the 5th annual Plano International Festival transformed the park into a mini-United Nations. Over 100 cultures were featured through multicultural music and dance performances, cultural displays, children’s activities, ethnic cuisine, an international art exhibit, a parade of nations and other activities; 12,000 people attended.

“We are so happy that the Festival keeps growing each year,” stated festival president Graciela Katzer. “With countless hours of volunteer time, we brought more performances, displays and children’s activities to the park than ever before, and everyone had a great time!” The festival is designed to showcase and celebrate Plano’s rich tapestry of cultures through fun, educational activities while giving local cultural groups a chance to share their heritage with the community.

“We strive very hard to present a wide range of ethnicities in our stage performances,” stated PIFC board member and performance coordinator TJ Johnson, who has served as the Festival’s emcee since its inception in 2005. This year 19 local performing groups from 16 cultures took to the stage—African American, Latin, Indian, Argentinean, South African, German, Chinese, Hawaiian, Scottish, Turkish, Italian, Korean, Middle Eastern, American and Aztec performances were featured.

While celebrating the cultures of the world, the Festival also tried to protect the earth by reducing the amount of landfill waste it generated. Festival organizers supplied all food court vendors with biodegradable plates, bowls, cups and event utensils, and then asked all visitors to sort their trash into organic, recyclable and regular trash bins. Serving food on biodegradable food service items meant that visitors could simply drop their food waste, along with their plates, bowls and utensils, directly into the organic waste bins. In 2008, the Festival diverted over half of waste generated from landfill through this effort, earning the City of Plano’s Environmental Star of Excellence Award. This year, the Festival diverted 60% of all waste from landfill.

Kicking off the festival was a parade of nations with Plano Independent School District students carrying the flags of 80 nations into the park. Then nearly 40 people were sworn in as citizens in a naturalization ceremony. Plano mayor Phil Dyer, Mrs. International Arma Shahidi Fitzgerald, and University of Texas at Dallas School of

Management Dean Hasan Pirkul gave special remarks, along with Festival president Graciela Katzer and Multicultural Outreach Roundtable co-chair Dr. Christopher A. Parr.

The Iranian-born Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mr. Pirkul, originally from Turkey, are both naturalized citizens residing in Plano.

Over 60 booths from thirty cultures offered everything from the fun to the exotic and educational in the cultural booth area.

Children had a host of activities to try, including breaking boards at the Ac-

tion Martial Arts booth, coloring tiles with Home Depot, testing instruments at the Plano Symphony Orchestra instrument petting zoo, dressing in Nigerian clothes at the African Village booth, and making crafts from China, Latin America and France. Children could also make the rounds of the country booths with their own Festival Passport. After answering questions and collecting passport stamps from the 20 featured countries, they colored each country’s flag in the Children’s Workshops area.

The international food court was a big attraction, with nine vendors featuring traditional dishes and treats from eight cultures. Visitors could feast on Polish kielbasa with sauerkraut from the Polish American Foundation of Texas, pad Thai from Mango Thai Cuisine, shish-kebabs from Shines Mediterranean Market and Cafe, ice cream from Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream, tropical fruit drinks from Mexico, Pakistani food, Puerto Rican fare from Asociacion Boricua de Dallas, Indian dishes from Kalachandjis, and Mediterranean delicacies from Shandiz Mediterranean Grill and Market.

About the Plano International Festival The Plano International Festival was conceived

by Plano’s Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR) to showcase and celebrate the many cultures represented by the people of Plano. It is designed to promote awareness of cultural diversity and facilitate communication between all cultural groups. It also serves to advance Plano’s visibility and standing as an international city. The Festival is sponsored by the Plano International Festival Corporation (PIFC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is underwritten by the City of Plano.

Ever since 9/11, America was put on alert for Muslim “terrorism” and still continues to be more than eight years later. On Saturday, October 10, the Islamic Center of Irving (ICI), had its open house themed “Meet Your Muslim Neighbor. ICI has been persistent in educating the public-at-large by holding several open houses yearly and making dawah throughout the DFW Metroplex area in an effort to break this kind of stereotype thinking towards Islam and Muslims. In addition, ICI also offers classes on Discover Islam, Islam 101, and Islam 102 for non-Muslims and new reverts. This year the open house was organized differently from previous years.

This time, booths were setup displaying different subjects on Islam, the Qur’an, Muslims, and the culture and some traditions of different Middle Eastern countries including some items from these countries. Guests were also free to take any of the literature, pamphlets, CDs, DVDs, and books offered at the booths to fill the gift bag given to them at the registration table.

Shortly after the guests were greeted and registered, there was a brief introductory address given in the brothers’ prayer area that started at 10:15 a.m.

The volunteer ushers, I being one of them, then gave the guest(s) a tour of the masjid as they approached their booth and showed them the progress of ICI’s expansion at the entrance off of Esters Road.

The booths guests visited ranged from information on the Qur’an, Ramadan and fasting, the American Muslim, Beliefs in Islam, and Islamic clothing; just to name a few. There was even a henna booth for the female guests to try out if they wished to do

PUBLISHER Melanz Publishing P.O. Box 851764 Richardson, TX 75085 T: (214) 306-7920 ads@myCRESCENT.com Layout & Graphics: Hazrat Amin EDITORIAL: COMMENTS / STORIES, INQUIRIES / E: dallas@myCRESCENT. com Send an email to ads@myCrescent.com for general ad inquiries or sales jobs.

CONTRIBUTORS: Bilal Mohammed, Aboobaker Ebrahim.

so. The ladies also received free hijabs/head scarves which they really enjoyed wearing at the masjid, although it was not a requirement for them, and kept it on when they left.

Some Middle Eastern food, soft drinks, water, and coffee were provided as well along with some pastries for dessert. The guests showed delight in having this opportunity to taste food from another country.

The City of Irving’s Mayor, Herbert A. Gears, was also in attendance. The ambiance from this year’s crowd was truly invigorating and they were very eager to observe and absorb all the information they were given about Islam and Muslims in addition to clearing up any misconceptions the

news media has portrayed about the religion.

Because of 9/11, Muslims and Islam are always under suspicion if not under attack. In conversing with one of the guests about this issue, he mentioned he does not pay much attention to the news’ negativism towards Muslims anymore. He went on to say that he would definitely not want someone of the likes of David Koresh or Timothy McVay in his neighborhood…much less in his home. It was really refreshing to meet so many open minded people with big hearts of understanding. There were even some guests who asked for a copy of the Qur’an if they did not see one at a booth.

The purpose of these open houses is to champion the truth about this beautiful, peaceful religion of Islam and to put the non-Muslims at ease and not raise suspicions which only lead to paranoia and increased hostility. If through continuing to educate the community, increase their knowledge, and making dawah will help in living peacefully with our neighbors, then the never-ending effort is well worth it.

Lena Dirbashi, Ron Stern, Naeem Randhawa, Moazzam Ahmed, Ali Luqman, Ruqayya Khalifa, Komal Khan ADVISORS: David Hall, Imran Randhawa, Bilal Mohammed, Annie Ghazi The Lone Star Crescent is published monthly by Melanz Publishing. 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. Online at www. myCRESCENT.com

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | Community Report

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Ummah Relief Over A Decade Of Service

By Komal Khan “Not one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” This hadith by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasizes that Muslims ought not only to strive for a supreme quality of life for themselves, but also a supreme quality of life for others. True and noble as this concept maybe, so many of us in this community remain as bystanders to the tragic episodes of the Islamic world. The fault, is not completely ours, for each of us deals with our unique stresses and obstacles that demand our full attention. However, this does not mean we are allowed to dodge the obligation of zakat, or ignore the sufferings of the human family.

Organizations like Ummah Relief International maybe a way to fulfill our moral obligations. This non-profit organization gives us the chance to extend a helpful hand to those in need, either through donation or volunteer work.

Founded in 1993, Ummah Relief has dedicated itself to providing food, items such as clothing, medical treatment, and even schools to areas that have been struck by natural and humanitarian disaster. One of its first and major projects concerned the Bosnian Crisis in 1995. From 1992 to 1995, Bosnia hosted one of the largest ethnic genocides that targeted a particular Muslim group.

Suffering as a result of war atrocities is immeasurable, however, when forced to bring this genocide to scale, one would be faced with the statistic of over 2.2 million victims.

Ummah Relief’s arrival in 1995 would give little but significant solace to a portion of those victims. During their involvement Um-

mah Relief “Distributed thousands of dollars as well as dry food, medicine, and clothing” (direct quote from URI). Such projects have been successfully carried out either through the collaboration of other non-profit organizations, or through solo strategic work. During its sixteen years of existence, not only has it provided humanitarian aid but it has also provided a trusting name. Their current projects include rebuilding mosques and housing in both Pakistan and Kashmir. As a result of these projects, communities once struck by travesty are now being resurrected through both capital and compassion.

Other notable projects include aiding those displaced in Swat, Pakistan. The Swat project was in response to recent militant insurgency. These particular projects are a reminder that humanitarian work is not always safe and that the Ummah Relief organization is not risk averse when working to end the suffering of others.

Although the overall revenue accumulated for Ummah Relief is adequate, it is always the objective of a non-profit to expand. Groups like Ummah Relief provide an active body to dispense utilitarianistic ideas and actions. Without our contributions, the growth of a non-profit organization can be stifled and worse yet, such humanitarian projects can come to a halt.

So how can we help and soak up such goodness? The simple answer: Contribute through your time, your money, or even through your voice. With Hajj season on its way, the opportunity and reward has never been greater. .......................................................................

Please visit www.ummahrelief.org for more information.

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | QURAN & COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Blessings Of Quran Memorization

By Komal Khan Alif, Ba, Tha, Sa…As adults we are able to recognize theses sounds as the beginning to the Arabic “ABC’s”. Arabic, is acknowledged as one of the most beautifully written languages in the world.

Calligraphy from the Quran, has been perfected and even translated into art.

Not only does it carry artistic merit, but also its unaltered dialect has preserved the meaning of Quran since the time of the prophet (PBUH).

Yet as a child, Arabic, in a predominately English speaking culture can be the metaphorical Mount Everst when approaching Islam. I can personally attest to the struggle of this linguistic climb, because as a child I was a nomad of numerous schools of Arabic.

Finally, with the encouragement of my parents, and a very patient teacher I was able to control my wondering mind and embrace the divine words of the Quran.

So just in case you haven’t noticed, the definition of Hifz cannot be found in a Google search engine.

The practice requires a little more spiritual depth in a definition than what a modern and convenient tool of technological ingenuity can provide for.

An hour before my interview with Imam Shaikh Sayid Ahmed Abdullahi, I could not help but flashback to the challenges I faced in my childhood. The image of stern Imams, foreign dialects, and over-

all demanded discipline made me become reacquainted with some old nerves. I had not directly spoken to an Imam for years, “how on earth could I carry on a conversation concerning Hifz?” Before I stepped into the classroom, I tried to shed all my worries outside the door. Finally he was ready. My meeting with Imam Abdullahi of the Islamic association of Carrollton shattered my preconceived notions and eased my embedded worries from childhood. Throughout, our interview I could not help but be honored to be in the presence of an individual who emulated pure kindness and who provided valuable knowledge individuals of all ages could comfortably appreciate and understand.

Imam Abdullahi went on to stress the importance of memorization, along with the meaning a child will be able to grasp in adulthood. “You will get privilege as a hafiz of the Quran, and that blessing will also be passed on to your parents”.

So just in case you haven’t noticed, the definition of Hifz cannot be found in a Google search engine. The practice requires a little more spiritual depth in a definition than what a modern and convenient tool of technological ingenuity can provide for. The first question I asked Imam Abdullahi was “What is Hifz?” He referred to a verse from Surah of Al ‘Ankabût (Surah: 29 V:49) “Nay here are the signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge” The meaning of this particular verse can be found in the newest publication of the Quran by translator Abdullah Yusuf

“The more you memorize Quran, the more your brain will be active and ready to learn.”

It is apparent that by allowing your children to study hifz you are preventing them from being a bystander in Islam’s disintegration and instead encouraging them to be a preserver of the Quran.

Ali. “It applies both literary and spiritual insight. To men so endowed, Allah’s revelations and signs are self evident. They commend themselves to their hearts, minds, and understandings, which are typified in Arabic by the word of sadr, “breast”.

This simple verse goes beyond the informal meaning of “Quranic memorization”. The line alone encapsulated the very essence of Islam and our obligations.

Throughout our discussion came the reoccurring themes of knowledge, salvation, and preservation. The reason of preservation was probably the most intriguing to me.

“Firoq Kifia- if one or two members of the community take care of everything then all of the people will okay, but if none take care of it they will all get sin. The memorization of Quran is like this. There should at least be one member of the community that should memorize.” Imam Abdullahi went on to stress the importance of memorization, along with the meaning a child will be able to grasp in adulthood. “You will get privilege as a hafiz of the Quran, and that blessing will also be passed on to your parents”.

It is apparent that by allowing your

children to study hifz you are preventing them from being a bystander in Islam’s disintegration and instead encouraging them to be a preserver of the Quran (or the guidelines of life). As the discussion moved to children studying hifz, Imam Abdullahi agreed that hifz strengthens the bond between a child and Allah. He emphasized that specific development stages of a child are imperative in their recollection of Islam later on in life. He compared hifz to conditioning in an athletic event. “The more you memorize Quran, the more your brain will be active and ready to learn.” Furthermore “When a person memorizes the Quran, it cures all the diseases of the heart” This includes the stresses of our daily life. By developing a strong bond with Allah, Imam Abdullahi emphasized that a sense of peace resonates throughout life.

Finally hifz has a great deal of cultural significance. Hifz removes the barrier of ethnic diversity in Islam, and unites all in the universal dialect of the prophet (PBUH).

Arabic is similar to the function of a “dictionary”. The Imam stressed that when one becomes familiar with the fundamentals of Islam, which includes the process of memorization, there is a sense a comfort that can be found in every kind of community. Imam Abdullahi ought to be very familiar with this concept as a native Somali, a student from Pakistan, and most importantly a man who is fluent in many languages. His experience as a citizen of this world proves that a strong sense of a Muslim identity can be a great companion for the journey of life.

On behalf of my community and especially my generation I can easily say that we are so very grateful and blessed to have an Imam who provides both clarity and great consideration for the people around him.

Perhaps it is time we all shake off the stern, unapproachable, and intimidating images of our childhood and pay homage to the host of our second home (the Masjid). Not only that, but perhaps it’s time to acknowledge our potential, and most definitely our children’s potential, to be among the divinely privileged.

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | MONEY & TECHNOLOGY

SATURNA LAUNCHES THE ISLAMIC AMANA DEVELOPING WORLD FUND

By Victoria Odinotska (Bellingham, WA) - Saturna Capital Corporation, adviser to the Amana Mutual Funds Trust, has launched the Amana Developing World Fund (AMDWX). The new fund is the third in the Amana Funds family, the largest US-based fund family designed for American Muslim investors, which includes the Amana Income Fund (AMANX) and the Amana Growth Fund (AMAGX). They are managed in compliance with Islamic (sharia) principles.

“The Amana Developing World Fund serves the growing demand for investment opportunities in emerging markets while expanding the field of portfolio diversification options for the American Muslim community,” said Monem Salam, vice president and director of Islamic investing at Saturna Capital, and deputy portfolio manager of the Amana funds.

The Amana Developing World Fund’s objective is long-term capital growth through a strategy of investing at least 80% of assets in common stocks of companies with a 50% or more exposure to countries with developing economies and/or markets.

It will diversify its investments across countries of the developing world and will predominantly follow a value investment style.

“The fund will invest in companies j y of their assets and revthat have the majority

enues in the emerging market countries, yet may be headquartered in both developing and more advanced economies. We believe this broader approach may help reduce the fund’s foreign investing risk”, said Nicholas Kaiser, chairman of Saturna Capital and portfolio manager of the new fund.

Nicholas Kaiser has been lead-manager of the Amana Funds since 1989 and the secular Sextant International Fund (SSIFX) since 1995. The Amana Developing World Fund enables him to integrate two decades of Islamic fund management experience with the international investing expertise behind the Sextant International Fund.

Islamic principles require that investors share in profit and loss, receive no interest, avoid debt, and eschew investments in businesses not permitted by Islamic law.

Prohibited businesses include pork processing, gambling, production or sale of liquor, insurance, and interest-based banks or finance associations. In accordance with these principles, the Amana Funds make no investments that pay interest, purchase no bonds or debentures, and do not invest in prohibited businesses or firms that carry high debt loads.

For more information, call 888/73-AMANA or visit amanafunds.com.

Some minor design issues and multimedia quibbles aside, the Motorola Droid is the most powerful and fastest Google Android device to date. It fully embraces the openness of the Android platform and offers Verizon customers a smartphone that certainly rivals the other touch-screen devices on the market.

-Cnet.com ........................................................................

..the camera was unpleasant to use, the application selection feels thin in both quantity and quality (despite the claim of 10,000 options), and the phone has bits of basic, non-intuitive functionality that might chafe on some users after a while. But even still, it’s hard not to recommend the DROID to potential buyers eager to do more with their devices. It’s easily the best Android phone to date..

-Engadget.com

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | TRAVEL

A Wildlife Safari Travel Dubai Cheaply In Dallas!

Fact Or Fiction?

By Derek Michael

Story By Naeem Randhawa Want the experience of a wildlife safari without getting on a plane? Then grab the camera and take a short 2-hour drive southwest of Dallas to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is dedicated to the preservation of exotic, threatened, and endangered species. The animals roam freely in pastures on the 1650-acre ranch. The public drives along the property on Wildlife Drive, 9.5 miles that winds through the savanna and wooded hillsides, offering picture perfect Kodak moments.

Along the way, feed the giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and wide variety of antelopes, deer and giraffes.

Midway along the drive, you will find yourself at the Overlook with its picturesque view of the pastures. There you can enjoy a great lunch at the Overlook Café. I was pleasantly surprised by the marinated chicken salad, actually made with a mix of fresh lettuces and loaded with fresh vegetables, and served with a tasty vinaigrette on the side. The Outlook also offers children the chance to pet some animals at the Children’s Animal Center and great souvenirs can be found at the Nature Store.

Since the main mission of Fossil Rim is conservation of endangered species, they participate in Species Survival Plans (SSPs); managed-breeding programs that ensure that a large, diverse, genetically viable population exists of captive endangered species that will eventually permit the breeding and release of the animals into their natural habitat. Among their many success stories is the White Rhino, a social animal likes to huddle up with its rhino buddies for an afternoon siesta. Two rhino calves have been born at Fossil Rim since 1999. This is a great accomplishment since rhinos are rarely born in captivity.

The best way to learn about the Center’s conservation efforts is to take a guided “Behind the Scenes” tour which will lead you along the main Wildlife Drive to the Intensive Management Area (IMA), reserved for animals that are more sensitive and require a quieter environment in which to flourish and reproduce. There you will see a native Texan, the Attwater Prairie-Chicken that exists only in the wild along the Gulf Coastal prairie. The Maned, Mexican Gray, and Red wolf are also part of the IMA and many pups have been born at the Center. Another inhabitant of the IMA is the Southern Black Rhino; a solitary animal; it prefers to graze alone in its enclosed pen.

After a day of adventure, you can relax and spend the night in luxury at the Lodge at Fossil Rim where spacious elegant rooms with jacuzzis await you. For the adventurer at heart, enjoy an African Safari adventure at the Foothills Safari Camp. Safari-styled tented cabins sleep four in air- conditioned comfort with private baths. However you spend your day, whether cruising in your car or checking in for an overnight stay, the entire family will enjoy the trip, and you’ll have some great photos to take home with you.

Fossil Rim also offers special events throughout the year such as “Sunset Safari,” a fabulous dinner followed by a wildlife tour; “Cheetah Challenge,” the annual Cross Country 5K Trail Run; “Ride the Rim,” a wildlife mountain bike tour; “Halloween Overnight;” a sleepover the kids will never forget; and the “Wild Egg Safari Easter Egg Hunt,” among others. ......................................................................

By JustSayGo.com More info at www.fossilrim.org

You do not need a sheikh’s oil riches to travel to Dubai. In fact, I would argue that you can get there and back, have fun like a rockstar, and still spend less than you would have taking the family to Walt Disney World.

Away from fancy hotels and the amazing shopping malls, along the back alleys is a world full of cheap and great cafes, bargain bazaars that will make any trinket hunter swoon, and places where the real Dubai goes to play.

Better yet, though, it does not have the crime or mystique than an underground world in America or Europe would.

The best places to eat should be a stop along the palm treed Al Dhiyafah Street in Satwa. This is one of the few roads in the city that you can walk down. It has what seems to be hundreds of cafes with very nice roadside terraces. Six to eight dollars gets you fed like a king.

The food is, of course, delicious and exotic, if you choose it to be. Or you can find something to suit your less adventurous tastes.

Similar bargains are available on the World Trade Center Road. This has about 25 curry houses that compete against each other. This means you and your guest can eat for two for about 20 or 30 bucks.

If Indian is not your thing, try Main Street Karama, where you can find freshly grilled meats and bread and it tough to spend more than seven dollars for lunch.

Lots of options exist, especially if you are willing to get off of the beaten path just a little bit. .......................................................................

For more free resources and advice for a trip or vacation in Dubai: http://dubaivacationstoday.blogspot.com/ ________________________________ Comments / Suggestions / Feedback?

Email to dallas@myCrescent.com

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The Lone Star Crescent | November 2009 | Tougher than it seems? From page 01>>

Continues from page 01 >> to lack of information within non-Muslim community members in the country.

“I know what it means being an American non-Muslim”, said Ronan emphasizing the need for better ways of outreach communications.

The challenges, according to her, remain unsolved unless there is a change in the leadership. “Most of the Muslim leaders in Dallas are knowledgeable about the religion but lacks the understanding of needs of the American Muslims and non-Muslims since most of them are foreigners”. Ronan added that “having more than 200 thousand Muslims in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area, it doesn’t seem that we have penetrated the rest of the community.”

However, other community and religious leaders have a different opinion.

“I looked at this from a different perspective,” said Azhar Azeez, President of Islamic Association of Carrollton (Carrollton Masjid) and member of the Executive Council of ISNA (Islamic Society of North America).

Speaking at his Plano office, Azeez said, “for years, the immigrant community seems like disconnected from the rest of the community.” One of the reasons, according to Azeez, for not seeing a lot of success on the outreach front is that Islam is a younger religion in America. Nevertheless, he said that things have changed since the

last few years thanks to the establishment of more Islamic institutions and the inter-faith and intra-faith dialogues that have been undertaken.

“One thing we have to understand is that we spent most of our time building Masajid, and Islamic schools.” In its September-October issue, Islamic Horizons magazine, published

by ISNA, also acknowledges this growth of Muslim community in DFW. Established in 1991, both Irving & Carrollton Masajid have dawah and outreach programs designed to reach Muslims and non-Muslims.

Irving’s outreach program includes seminars, weekly classes, campus class and ansar dawah programs. Carrollton Masjid has a strong history interfaith, refugee and social service projects.

Some Masajid, however, do not seem to have a plan at all or not have not designed a specific tool to reach non-Muslim community members.

“Certainly we are more than satisfied with what we have done”, Azeez stated.

However, he added, there is a room for improvement.

This notion is shared by his col-

league Manzur Mahmud, President of the Islamic Association of Collin County (Plano Masjid). “Most of our programs are successful”, said Mahmud with a more affirming gesture, outlining the programs launched from his community. Plano Masjid has been

executing open houses, Islam 101 classes and Sharing Ramadan, a program designed to educate city and school officials about the values of Ramadan.

“We don’t just stop there. We take it one step further and designed a project called ‘Islam for the new converts’,” Mahmud added. The success, according to him, is measured by the number of attendees and their feedback.

“We haven’t done any open houses for the last three years despite its success,” Mahmud acknowledged. “This is just because some projects are better than the others.” he concluded One of the oldest Masajid in Dallas, Islamic Association of North Texas’s (IANT), outreach program delivers variety of services including Discover Islam – an open house that includes a tour and a question answer session, a speakers bureau –providing speakers upon request and a free provision of literature. According to IANT’s website, it spent a total of $ 2187.00 in the year 2008 in order to undertake its outreach program.

Despite the fact that almost all the Masajid in Dallas have an outreach and dawah department, it seems that they are unable to breakthrough in large due to several challenges. The challenges differ from one Masjid to another.

IANT has lack of human resources to undertake it dawah and outreach programs.

“There is an overwhelming amount of work that needs to be done” said Ahmed Alinur, Head of Dawah and Outreach department.

The requests to attend several occasions, to speak for different groups and to conduct one on one lectures goes to one person who serves on volunteer basis as board member.

Alinur gives a nod for a need of either more volunteers or a full time professional worker who can accomplish the outreach programs effectively if the organization has to go further in its goals.

Several projects had been accomplished so far but the demand is still higher than the capacity of the community.

“We can’t even handle the current demand for day to day calls let alone managing aggressive outreach and dawah programs”, he added. Even though the Masjid has been conducting various outreach programs, according to Alinur, the tasks have been undertaken on a volunteer basis. He said that it is difficult to get a lot of volun-

teers onboard.

Irving Masjid also engages with political leadership and media. “.. We provide local media and community contacts to ultimately clarify misconceptions regarding Islam and Muslims,” according to a statement on its website.

Nonetheless, the point of clearing misconceptions reflects an approach of knee-jerk reaction. Overall this is a negative strategy of outreach. “We Muslims are more reactive instead of being proactive,” said Ronan stating some of the incidents after the 9/11 catastrophe and the situation after the arrest of the leaders of Holy Land Foundation.

Allen resident, Minhaj Ahmed agrees with this notion but differs on who bears the responsibility. “We are not interested until it hurts,” said Ahmed referring to the tradition of being reactive within the community. However, he said, this overwhelming task should not only be carried out by the Masajid and the leaders. According to him, the tasks are “not even doable if left only for the Masajid.”

“The root of the problem is our own lack of dedication,” he added with regret that the religion is abandoned by Muslims since them as individuals are not fulfilling their responsibility. There are hundreds of reverts who need mentoring and Masajid cannot reach all of them. “All Muslims should be ambassadors” he concluded. .......................................................................

Comments to dallas@myCrescent.com

Victory For Six Imams ‘Flying While Muslim’ Case (WASHINGTON, D.C) Council On American Islamic Relations (CAIR) hailed what it called a “victory for justice and civil rights” in the case of the six imams who said their rights were violated in 2006 when they were removed from a US Airways flight in Minnesota and arrested.

According to the terms of the settlement, the six religious leaders will receive an undisclosed amount in compensation for the incident and that the case was resolved to “the satisfaction of all parties.” CAIR has championed the imams’ rights since they were removed from the plane.

“The settlement of this case is a clear victory for justice and civil rights over fear and the phenomenon of ‘flying while Muslim’ in the post9/11 era,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “We thank all those who supported the imams through the lengthy and difficult legal process.”

In July, a judge in Minnesota sided with the imams on key issues in their lawsuit against those involved in their removal from the plane. U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery cleared the way for a trial by denying several motions to dismiss the case and ruling that a law passed by Congress after the incident does not grant protection from lawsuits to those sued by the imams.

Judge Montgomery also ruled that the actions of the imams prior to their flight did not justify their detention. She noted that the imams were subjected to “extreme fear and humiliation of being falsely identified as dangerous terrorists.”

(Source: CAIR)

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The Lone Star Crescent | July 2009 | CAREER