Exploring Muslim contributions to Science BY KENA SOSA Have you ever noticed the abundance of Arabic-origin words in English? As you study algebra and learn about algorithms, the influence is clear. These two terms are traced back to Astronomer, al-Khwarizmi, whose work in al-jabr was the basis for algebra today. Words brandishing their Arabic roots in al-, like almanac, alcohol, albatross, are sprinkled throughout the English language. Yet so few people are cognizant of the plentiful inventions, discoveries, and advancements that Islamic scientists and mathematicians gave in order for us to live in a modern world today. It was time someone decided
to change this. Brought about by efforts from the Medieval Studies Department of Southern Methodist University, and the Muslim Institute and most importantly the Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Studies, the contest, first of its kind for promoter Muhsin Shaheed and his co-planner, was so well-received that they are working to conduct their contest again with students from both Dallas and Fort Worth. On Sunday March 4th at 4pm, Southern Methodist University will host an awards ceremony in Dallas Hall for winners of a contest that urged high school students to learn more about Islamic contributions to science throughout history. CONTINUES ON >>>16
IMMIGRATION INITIATIVES HINDERED BY BUREAUCRACY migration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) clarified their positions last fall on prosecutorial (WASHINGTON, DC) Federal imdiscretion. The agencies pledged migration officials have not evenly to review more than 300,000 cases applied ‘prosecutorial discretion’ to deportation cases, and in some areas, currently in deportation proceedings to identify low-priority individuals have not implemented the Obama whose cases could be closed because Administration’s plan to suspend they had strong ties to the United deportation proceedings for lawStates and they posed no threat to abiding immigrants with strong ties society. to their communities. But this month in testimony During a national telephonic before Congress, ICE Director John news conference today, members of the Fair Immigration Reform Move- Morton said that as of March 5th, ICE had reviewed 142,000 nonment (FIRM) stated that there have been numerous cases where prosecu- detained cases and 23,000 detained torial discretion has not been applied cases, and that only 11,000 cases were determined to fall under ‘prossince the Obama Administration ecutorial discretion.’ Only 1,583 announced its plan last summer. cases have been closed. The Department of HomeCONTINUES ON >>> 04 land Security (DHS) and the ImBY DONNA DE LA CRUZ
AHMAD ADAM
Entrepreneur behind halal chicken in the U.S.
The right and the wrong of it OPINION BY ATTORNEY YUSUF ABDULLAH
BY YVONNE MAFFEI MYHALALKITCHEN.COM Chances are, if you live somewhere in the U.S. and you seek out halal food then you’re already aware of Crescent Foods. If not, allow me to introduce you. Crescent Foods is a Chicago-based poultry company that is involved in the entire farm to fork process of their cage-free, antibioticfree and beautifully-packaged halal chicken products. For those who are just entering the halal consumer market, you might not consider this to be extraordinary, but I can remember even less than ten short years ago, if I wanted a quality halal chicken (raised and fed properly, handled in the correct Islamic manner and thus truly tayyib, or pure, and halal) there were few options to choose from. For example, I used to go to a live poultry house and see the chicken before it met its demise, then watch it get plucked of all feathers, cut up then handed to me in a plastic bag while the meat was still warm. Hardly appetizing, but still
met basic halal standards. A few years ago when shopping at local Mediterranean markets, I began noticing Crescent chicken products in nicely-wrapped containers. Believe me, it’s not that I needed to buy meat all packaged up with a pretty label- it was more important to me that the product was clean, respectfully presented to the consumer and to know the company whose mission is clear, that stands behind their products and cares about what their producing. In effect, I felt they were listening to me, the consumer, loud and clear, even if I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted. Soon afterwards, I met Mr. Adam, the President and Founder of Crescent Foods, and his ener-
getic and loyal team of sales people, marketing and operations staff. I had recently started the My Halal Kitchen blog and was interested in knowing as much as I could about this halal product that I could use to create recipes that were previously more challenging to cook because of the sheer lack of product as well as lack of appeal. They were instantly warm and generous and all very dedicated to bringing quality halal chicken to consumers. In fact, I’ve never seen people so dedicated to a mission to bring a much-needed product to market, as well as be excited about poultry- and not just any chicken, but great chicken. CONTINUES ON >>> 09
The Trayvon Martin shooting and killing has garnered the attention of the nation. The airwaves and social media are constantly debating the issues of the case. News ratings are soaring on the ongoing developments of the case. The Stand Your Ground Laws of the states are in question. What is a stand your ground law? Simply, it means that you do not have to retreat if you reasonably believe that your life is in danger, and that you have the right to defend yourself and meet force with force, including deadly force. It is the stand your ground law in Florida that is in question in the Trayvon Martin case. The stand your ground law allows a potential defendant to be immune from CONTINUES ON >> 14
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Community Report
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MEDIA
Filmmaker is first Pakistani to win Oscar for film on acid attack victims Pakistani filmmaker and first-time Oscar nominee Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won an Academy Award on Monday for her documentary about acid attack victims, a first for a Pakistani director. Her victory shines a spotlight on a subject which affects thousands of women in Pakistan and elsewhere, but which is seldom discussed at home. In her acceptance speech, Chinoy dedicated the award to the women of Pakistan. “All the women in Pakistan working for change, don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you,” she said. ‘Saving Face’ chronicles the work of British Pakistani plastic surgeon Mohammad Jawad, who performed reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid attacks in
Pakistan. More than 100 people, mainly women and girls, are disfigured in acid attacks every year in Pakistan, although groups helping survivors say many more cases go unreported. Pakistan is the world’s thirdmost dangerous country for women, after Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, based on a survey conducted last year by the Thomson Reuters Foundation with acid attacks a common means of punishing alleged transgressions. Victims are often permanently blinded, and their scar tissue can become
IMMIGRATION FROM PAGE >>> 01 “FIRM members are calling on Secretary Napolitano to demonstrate real leadership in the implementation of this program,” said Petra Falcon, executive director of Promise Arizona. “ICE and DHS cannot continue to operate without accountability.”
“White House Pledge to Immigrant Community Being Hindered by Bureaucracy, Lack of Leadership by DHS/ICE Prosecutorial Discretion Not Being Applied to Law-Abiding Immigrants in Many Cases” Two women, Sara Martinez and Jennifer Martinez (no relation), spoke of how prosecutorial discretion has not been applied in their cases. Sara Martinez, who lives in New York, is the sole caretaker of her 6-year-old daughter. Sara faces deportation back to her native Ecuador despite having no criminal record and strong ties to the U.S. “Since I came to the U.S., I have paid my taxes on time, I’ve learned how to speak English and I have been involved in my community,” said Sara Martinez. “I have never committed a crime either in Ecuador or in the United States. I
just want to give my daughter a better life than I have had.” Jennifer Martinez’s husband, Jaime Martinez, was recently deported back to Mexico. Jaime was the sole provider for his family of four U.S.-born children, said his wife of 14 years. Jennifer Martinez and her children live in Wisconsin. “Because of a broken immigration system, my family has been torn apart,” Jennifer Martinez said. “Immigrant and Latino communities across the nation are deeply disappointed, shocked and appalled at this dismal rate of case closure,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights for Los Angeles (CHIRLA). ICE continues to use a narrow “one-size fits all” analysis in its review of cases, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appears to be content with this approach, said Isabel Vinent, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. “Secretary Napolitano risks undermining yet another promise made by President Obama to Latino and immigrant communities, and in an election year,” Vinent added. FIRM is a national coalition of grassroots organizations fighting for immigrant rights at the local, state and federal level.
infected with septicemia or gangrene. “The women who decided to be a part of the documentary did so because they wanted to make their voices heard and wanted to bring attention to this form of assault,” Chinoy said in an interview conducted before she won the Oscar.“The main reason that they are in ‘Saving Face’ is to make their stories heard and have an impact.” Many victims are women attacked by their husbands, and others assaulted for turning down a proposal of marriage. One girl in the documentary describes how she was burned after rejecting the advances of her teacher. She was 13 at the time.
Another woman featured in the film is 25year-old Rukhsana, whose husband threw acid on her and her sister-in-law doused her in gasoline before her mother-in-law lit a match and set her on fire. Chinoy said she hopes the cases in her film will resonate for others in Pakistan. “It is a story of hope with a powerful message for the Pakistani audience. I felt this would be a great way to show how Pakistanis can help other Pakistanis overcome their problems,” she said. Chinoy’s films have won international acclaim. Her 2010 documentary, Pakistan’s Taliban Generation, won an International Emmy Award.
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Briefs
Briefs ... NOW HIRING MEDICAL CLINIC ADMIN ICI Medical Clinic at Valley Ranch Masjid We are looking to fill a part-time paid position for ICI Clinic located at Valley Ranch Masjid. This is a Paid position supporting the doctors and patients. Typical responsibilities associated with this position include: Patient scheduling, Clinic administration, Follow-up activities, and miscellaneous tasks to help patient/doctors/volunteers etc when necessary. Candidate must be able to work at the clinic 6pm-9pm during the last Wednesdays of every month and selected Saturdays 10 am-2 pm as needed. Training will be provided to the selected candidate. We look forward to filling this position as soon as possible. For further information please email your resume to iciclinic@hotmail.com ...................................................................................................................................................
HAND ZABIHA HALAL CHICKEN IN 40 LB BOX Chickens are hormone free & natural fed. Free home delivery in Irving, Valley Ranch Masjid, Tuscanee, Andalus1 & 2 and around 3 miles radius around the masjid. Only exact cash or checks accepted, no credit card. For more information, pricing contact Bilal Syed 972-800-0039, Taufiq Amjad 832-868-6571, or Mufti Syed Patel 916-613-0537. Interested to visit the plant and see yourself the entire process, call to schedule. Order via email only to OnlyZabiha@gmail.com. ...................................................................................................................................................
FBI INVESTIGATING LAS VEGAS MASJID FIRE FBI was called in to investigate after a fire destroyed a mosque in North Las Vegas in February. The fire was reported at about 12:55 a.m. near Lamb Boulevard and Carey Avenue. The building was under construction at the time of the fire and was supposed to be a mortuary for the Islamic Society of Southern Nevada. About 60 firefighters from North Las Vegas, Las Vegas and Clark County responded to the fire. The fire will be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Federal officials are called out any time there is evidence of vandalism or crime committed against a religious organization. One person was questioned by authorities following a preliminary investigation, but police said they were far from determining who started the blaze. No civilians or firefighters were injured by the fire. ...................................................................................................................................................
SPELLING BEE FEVER SPREADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTO CALIFORNIA
(GARDEN GROVE, CA) Muslim Spelling Bee hosted its second regional competition at Orange Crescent School on March 17, 2012. Students from Islamic, public, private and home school West Coast and adjoining states participated. Students were divided according to their ages into 3 groups A, B & C. Group A winners include #1 Aaminah Fatimah Mohammed (Natoma Station Elementary) and #2 Seif Hesham El Askary(Orange Crescent School). Group B joint winners for #1 were Maya Ghanem (Earths Magnet School in Newbury Park) & Safiyah Amin Lakhany (Orange Crescent School). Neha Farhan was #2 (Lincoln Alternative School Corona). In Group C #1 was Maryam Arshi Bharucha (Daar Ul Ilm - Institute of Knowledge) & #2 was Sana Zehra (Harker School). ...................................................................................................................................................
IRAN WINS FIRST OSCAR WITH ‘THE SEPARATION’ “A Separation” won the Oscar for best foreign language film, becoming the first Iranian movie to win the honor. Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, the domestic drama focuses on a couple going through a divorce and touches on traditions, justice, and malefemale relationships in modern Iran. “A Separation” was regarded as the front-runner for the foreign language Oscar after sweeping the awards circuit in Europe and the U.S. It also garnered an Oscar nomination
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Briefs for best original screenplay but failed to win in that category. It was the second Iranian film to be nominated for an Oscar, and the first to win.“At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy,” said Farhadi while accepting the Oscar. “I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment,” he added. “A Separation” has received almost universal critical acclaim, gracing
many top 10 lists for the best movies of 2011. Made for $800,000, the film has generated more than $13 million in worldwide box office sales, according to the web site Box Office Mojo, including $2.6 million in the U.S. Farhadi, who works and lives in Iran, has been reluctant to entertain theories that his film is a parable for the struggles between Iran’s young dissidents and its paternalistic mullahs, saying it is up to audiences to take from the movie what they will. Others have interpreted “A Separation” as a comment on class differences, or as a critique of Iran’s justice system, or a clash between modernity and tradition. Farhadi made the movie under Iranian censors who impose strictures on filmmakers in the name of Islamic morality and national morale. But he has said he was not confronted with censorship. ...................................................................................................................................................
BRIGHTER HORIZONS ACCREDITED FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS (GARLAND, TX) The Quality Assurance Review (QAR) team, on behalf of AdvancEd and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), reviewed on seven categories that are required at any accredited school which are Vision and Purpose, Governance and Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Documenting and Using Results, Resources and Support Systems, Stakeholder Communications and Relationships, Commitment to Continuous Improvement. The QAR team interviewed with staff, teachers, department heads, students, parents, and alumni to gather information and confirm their findings through triangulation of data presented to them. In their findings, the QAR team ranked Brighter Horizons Academy- College Preparatory three out of the seven categories as “Highly Functional”, which is the highest ranking through AdvancEd criterion. They ranked the remaining four categories as “Operational”. They concluded their report with a recommendation of Re-Accreditation. Each member of the QAR team was impressed with the Academy and the programs that are offered. They commended the Academy for fostering a familial atmosphere with open communication. It was something they heard throughout their interviews and conversations. ...................................................................................................................................................
91 PSIA RIBBONS AWARDED TO BHA STUDENTS Brighter Horizons Academy brings home 1st Place in the Elementary Division and 2nd Place in the Middle School Division at the 1AA District Meet. The Academy qualifies to compete at State, and will be represented with 30 entries! On Saturday March 3rd, BHA students competed in 19 contest categories covering a wide range of disciplines. The Academy had a total of 168 entries and brought home 91 awards. 30 of which qualify to compete at the State meet in April. The Academy also holds 11 alternate spots for State. ...................................................................................................................................................
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09 Mr. Adam is a Palestinian, born in Amman, Jordan. His father, a businessman and entrepreneur, spoke Hebrew and English; his mother knew how to speak and write English and was once a candidate to become a school principal in her locale- all rare qualities and ambitions for most people at that time. Fast forward to Mr. Adam’s travels to the U.K. and then on to the U.S. to pursue his studies in electrical engineering and we find him today as the founder and CEO of the most prominent halal poultry company in the Western hemisphere. This is what I sat down to ask him: (Answers are paraphrased since this was not a recorded interview) MHK: Why did you start a halal chicken business? What were the biggest challenges for you? He responded quite clearly, “Necessity is the mother of invention”. Mr. Adam was a consultant who exported all types of goods, whether they were clothes or electronics. He suddenly received a request for an export of halal chicken to Dubai and so to fulfill that request, researched the poultry industry by attending poultry shows, looking for a supplier and visiting farms. He says, in fact, that he began to pursue more knowledge about poultry processing when his wife asked why halal chicken looked the way it did in stores, with all the hands and feet and heads and everything people didn’t use nor wanted to really look at. As an entrepreneur always looking for ideas, he decided to pursue information about feed and secure a reliable supplier who he could work with and trust for the long haul. He met with Mr. Miller,
Conversation with Ahmad Adam a Mennonite farmer in Indiana, who he began to work with. At the time (1996) there weren’t any cut halal chickens sold in trays, but the two worked together to divide up the tasks and take the chickens to market. Mr. Adam did the hand-slaughter, around 700 birds at 35 birds per minute, starting as early as 4:30 am and delivering them to his community—all while still holding down his consulting work. It took two days to sell all of those chickens. Mr. Miller raised the chickens and Mr. Adam hand-slaughtered, cut and delivered his own chickens, where he met with increasing demand for them right in his own community. In the early years, many of the challenges came in the form of figuring out how to keep up with the demand for his product. Miller farms could no longer help to package the skyrocketing amounts of trays that needed to be fulfilled each week, so Mr. Adam built his own processing plant. Crescent also developed a relationship with Midamar, who stepped in to help by selling Crescent products online and the two maintain a solid relationship today. From day one he insisted that he wouldn’t compromise on the quality of his product, but of course it was more expensive than most others on the market. He set out to prove to store owners that it was cheaper in the long run, as well as safer (using vacuum-packed containers versus ice packed) and thus suitable for shipping across state lines, which he began to do in 1997. Midamar became the first distributor, shipping Crescent chickens as far as Honolulu, Alaska and even Bermuda. MHK: Can you tell us more about how
your chickens are raised- where are they raised and who is raising them? What are they fed or not fed that makes them different from other products on the market? Crescent birds are free-roaming (same as cage-free), humane-certified (the actual name for the certificate), humanely handled birds. Their feed is USDA-certified 100% grain-fed, vegetarian-fed (corn and soy) birds. Some are even hand-fed. One of the projects Crescent is currently working on is to have 100% non-GMO organic feed for their birds. MHK: You have an incredibly dedicated, hard-working staff here at Crescent Foodshow did you identify and bring on board such people? Crescent Foods’ Oakbrook, IL office opened in 2008. At the time, Mr. Adams knew that members of his community were really interested in becoming part of something significant, something more than just a business. Though he still envisions more volunteers and internships in the future, he currently has a dedicated staff that includes talented women who wanted to take their professional lives to the next level without compromising faith or family. He recognized their skills and their talents as a complete individual who could contribute greatly to the mission of Crescent Foods and so brought them on board to do just that. To make them comfortable in their work environment, he asked for their feedback about what type of office set up they would prefer, granting them the privacy and dignity they are duly accorded in Islam.
MHK: What is your biggest hope or dream for the future of Crescent Foods and the halal food industry as a whole in America? As the Founder of the American Halal Association, Mr. Adam wants to promote and build a national accreditation board. He is currently advocating and trying to connect scholars, industry and government to address the next steps forward. He has teamed up with ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) in discussions on establishing a National Halal Accreditation Board. He believes that by promoting halal standards, the standards will be higher overall and companies will compete to reach those standards, which is good for consumers. He also believes that this will address the issue of fraud in labeling and claims of halal as well as present a real opportunity for companies that are committed to integrity in this industry. He hopes to educate the masajid and the community on topics of what halal really means and why it’s important to do it well. With the US being the largest halal producer and the eminence of globalization he hopes to instill in the community that it is time to unify and harmonize. I would say that Mr. Ahmad Adam, the entrepreneur behind Crescent Foods, is doing more than just bring us all great chicken. He’s changing the way we think about halal, community, and the ability to rise to greater potential in this market. ....................................................................... Be sure to ‘Like” Cresecent Foods on Facebook to get details about which stores they’re in and how to find out about tasty upcoming products.
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Legal Report
DOJ takes down hate website creator
BY ALEJANDRO J. BEUTEL The United States is built on the idea of being a nation of laws, not the whims of men. As a result, it has provided its citizens with the freedom of expression – one of the pillars to any healthy democracy. Yet in order to maintain an orderly society, without fear of harm from criminal elements, our nation’s laws have also recognized that with rights comes responsibility. It is one thing to have distasteful or extreme views and talk about them in public, but keep it to just that – talk. It is another thing, however, when a person
or group of people use their freedom of expression to start asking others to participate in activities that are illegal and violent. That distinction – between free expression and solicitation to murder – is the difference between anarchy and ordered liberty. Unfortunately it appears that for a number of years, the individuals operating the Revolution Muslim website, had crossed that line. According to a recent Department of Justice press release, the operator of the Revolution Muslim website, Jesse Morton (aka “Younus Abdullah Muhammed”) pled guilty to solicitation for murder.
While the mainstream American Muslim community had consistently condemned Revolution Muslim’s extreme views and kicked them out of our, their connection to nearly eight other terror and murder plots clearly underscored not only their hate, but their disregard for human life and the law. Their lack of support was further underscored by the fact that several of the violent extremists connected to Revolution Muslim were stopped because American Muslim community members notified law enforcement of their ill intentions. MPAC is pleased that the Justice Department was able to remove this threat within our midst and bring them to justice. MPAC will continue to engage with our law enforcement officials to ensure our nation remains safe while preserving the rights and liberties that make it a strong democracy.
Published by Melanz, LLC. PO Box 764 Hockessin, DE 19707 USA T: (214) 843-1593 | ads@myCrescent.com
BUSINESS MANAGER DALLAS Wadoud & Associates (214) 247-6434 WadoudAssociates@gmail.com EDITOR Marium F. Mohiuddin | T: (512) 657-7819 marium@myCrescent.com LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Hazrat Amin CONTRIBUTORS Kena Sosa, Dr. Zubair Fattani, Sakina Al-Amin, Halima Shaheed, Naeem Randhawa, Maryum Shaheed, Sonia Laflamme, Anum Hussain, Ruqayyah Khalifa, Komal Khan, Omar Usman, Hazrat Amin, Hassan Usmani, Jamal Saqib, Yasmin Turk, Robert Canright, Dr. Keisha Shaheed, Moazzam Ahmed, Shaheen Salam, John Reid, Abdul Wadoud, Dr. Muqtedar Khan 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 mailed to the The Lone Star Crescent and/or sent via email shall become property of the publisher and may be published at our discretion. The publisher takes no responsibility of claims made by advertisers, financial, legal, family and/or educational advise in its content. Readers must check and inquire themselves. Copyright 2012 by Melanz, LLC. All rights reserved. facebook.com/myCrescent
13 MUSLIM CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PAGE 01>>> High school juniors and seniors, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike, were given a list of people who made scientific breakthroughs during the medieval period and were asked to write a short paper about their discoveries. Some of the noteworthy scientists are known in the western world by western names; however, they deserve recognition in their given names as well. Noteworthy contributors were from the 8th to 16th centuries, when Islam was predominant from Spain to Asia and included Ibn Rushd Averroes who created new developments in Philosophy, Law, Medicine, and Astronomy; Moshe Ben Maimon (Maimonides) who worked in Philosophy, Judaism, and Medicine; Nasir al-Din alTusi whose work wowed in Astronomy, Trigonometry, and Ethics; Jalal al-Din Rumi, an expert in Poetry and Mysticism; and Ibn Battuta who excelled in Travelogues and Geography amongst others. First prize was for $1000 and went to Milena Gary, a junior at Booker T. Washington High School in Dallas. Cindy Oserio, a senior at Nimimtz High School in Irving, won $500 for second place. The third place winner was Aubrey Glenn, also a senior at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas. Third prize was $300. Papers were reviewed anonymously with surprising results. All three winners were girls and all three were non-Muslim, which in a way, might be quite helpful to the Muslim Institute’s cause of bringing harmony to Muslim and non-Muslim relations once more. The knowledge acquired by these students was likely very new to them and hopefully will springboard them into studying these topics at an even greater depth. The Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Studies also organizes an annual conference with the Texas Medieval Association and frequently gives professional talks about Islamic developments in Science and other fields stemming from Medieval times and modern day achievements. The Institute has given presentations at conferences, seminars and even at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. ................................................................ For information on upcoming events and opportunities to participate in activities, please contact The Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Studies. Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Studies www.impms.net SMU Medieval Studies Department http://smu.edu/medievalstudies/link.html Islamic Association of North Texas http://www.iant.com
Community Report
20 Texas penguins live on Dubai ski slope
TAFLINE LAYLIN GREEN PROPHET It’s bizarre enough that Dubai has an indoor ski slope despite outdoor summer temperatures averaging more than 40 degrees Celsius, but now a colony of penguins has taken up residence at this popular tourist attraction. Ten King Penguins listed as “least threat-
ened” on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, and 10 Gentoo Penguins which are “near threatened” were relocated from Seaworld in Texas, where a penguin breeding program has been underway for several years. Ski Dubai insists the animals are treated like royalty and are there to raise awareness, but animals rights activists are already criticizing at the move. Luxury lodgings for penguins The National reports that the penguins were brought to Ski Dubai so that guests can interact with them, and that they have been set up with luxury accommodation. “Ski Dubai has specifically built a hous-
ing area and pool at the resort to mimic an Antarctic environment. A staff of 13, including a penguin curator in charge of the well-being of the birds, was brought in from different parts of the world,” according to the paper. They are fed with imported “restaurant quality” capeline fish, a small forage fish found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, and receive bi-weekly visits from a local veterinarian in order to ensure that they are adjusting well. Leave the penguins alone People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists are less convinced by the benefits of having a colony of Penguins in Dubai – far from their natural home. Asia-Pacific senior campaigner Ashley Fruno told the paper that this is a profit-seeking venture and that if Ski Dubai were genuinely concerned about the plight of penguins and other antarctic creatures, they would simply leave them be. “Through this project we’re raising awareness about the conservation needed to sustain their natural habitat,” said Tom Sheffer, Ski Dubai’s Operations Manager. “We ask the birds what they want to do, we never force them,” adding that “As ambassadors of their species, for them we only have utmost respect.”
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Opinion
The Prophet’s birthday - a day of celebration? BY DR. MUQTEDAR KHAN “Indeed, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation” (Qu’ran 33:56) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is deeply revered in the Islamic tradition. Every time Muslims mention his name and every time they offer prayers, they seek blessings for him. For Muslims, Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) actions, words and silences all tantamount to divine law. No human has ever been so revered by so many. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is remembered and celebrated all the time by Muslims. After all, his name is Muhammad, which means the most praised one. Muslims glorify him in prayer and poetry: “Do not ask me, friend; where is Muhammad? Hidden in myheart, there is Muhammad! Is there need to wander to Medina? Here and there – apparent is Muhammad. In my heart and eyes resides forever From the day of covenant, Muhammad …” - Annemarie Schimmel, There is controversy raging for more than a millennium, surfacing every year over whether Muslims should celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (Eid Milad Al-Nabi) or not. This year, Feb. 4 (the 12 of Rabi al-Awwal) was the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). There are many who celebrated his birthday (Mawlid) with abandon, immersing themselves in cherishing his memory and enjoying moments of spiritual ecstasy singing his praises. From Damascus to Delhi, Tehran to Timbuktu, there will be sweets, music, poetry and celebration. For them it will be as if the entire universe is chanting: Ya Muhammad, Ya Muhammad, Ya Muhammad…. (O Muhammad). Then there are those who pretended as if there is nothing special about that day. They scowled, frowned, fumed and muttered “bid’ah, bid’ah bid’ah” … (inTHE RIGHT AND THE WRONG OF IT FROM PAGE 01 >> prosecution if the potential defendant is an innocent victim of aggression. George Zimmerman, the shooter
and killer of Trayvon alleges that Trayvon Martin was the aggressor and that Treyvon would have killed Zimmerman with Zimmerman’s gun had not Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon. Trayvon is dead and cannot speak to tell his side of the conflict and his death. Zimmerman now claims immunity from prosecution by way of Florida’s stand your ground law. I don’t have a
novation) at those who partake in Mawlid. That day for them sadly, held no special joy. Please note: This short article focuses on the two polar positions on Mawlid. The views of a vast number of Muslims basically are positioned between these two extremes. There are many who do not celebrate Mawlid but they do not frown up those who do, and many of those who do celebrate it, but in a low key fashion. The Anti-Party Party For nearly a thousand years, a minority of Muslim orthodoxy, including some jurists and more recently the followers of Wahhabi Islam (from Saudi Arabia), insist that celebrating Mawlid is a bid’ah, or innovation. Their argument is that God Most High has perfected His religion through revelation and through the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This is clear from the Qu’ran and some Hadith (prophetic traditions). Thus, any new practice, or ritual addition to the faith is innovation (bid’ah) and therefore must be rejected. Neither does the Qu’ran command Muslims to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), nor did the Prophet (pbuh) or his companions do so. For the anti-party party therefore Mawlid is a bid’ah and unacceptable. Here are some of their sources: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” problem with stand your ground laws per se if they reflect what has always been the common law of human nature. The common law of human nature is the right of self defense. In order to allege self defense, one cannot be the aggressor in the conflict and the amount of force cannot exceed the amount of the force that is necessary. That means that you cannot start the physical conflict or be the aggressor and then claim a stand your ground self defense. It also means that if someone simply pushes you, bumps into you, shoves you, talks words that you do not like, or even fights with you, that you do not have the right to kill them unless there is a reasonable belief that your life is in jeopardy. For this reason, I believe that stand your ground laws should not provide absolute immunity from prosecution, especially when a death is involved. At best, stand your grounds laws should provide the limited immunity of qualified immunity or conditional immunity from prosecution. This limited immunity should be qualified or conditioned upon the facts, witnesses, and evidence supporting the claim of self defense.
(Qu’ran 5:3) “Every innovation is a misguidance, and every misguidance goes to Hell fire.” (Sahih Muslim). Based on the above sources and other ahadith that The Prophet’s birthday - a day of celebration? forbid innovation, a minority of Muslims not only do not celebrate the Mawlid, but also condemn the celebration as un-Islamic and celebrators as those destined to go to hell. The Party of Muhammad Many Muslims celebrate Mawlid. The practice began in Egypt in the 11th century and then gradually spread to other parts of the Muslim World. The main advocates of Mawlid are the Sufis, through whom this practice became a widespread tradition even as some jurists continued to oppose it. Traditional scholars have developed a theology of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the most important, most beautiful and the most perfect of all of God’s creations. Using hadith and the Qu’ran, they argue that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was created from the light of God himself, long before Adam. They maintain that the universe itself was created for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) long after he was created. They also conclude that the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birthday is the celebration of tawhid (oneness of God), the birth of Islam and the birth of the one who is most beloved to God All Mighty. For these scholars, the very existence of the universe is a celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), so they find even the suggestion of not celebrating Mawlid appalling. Here are some of their sources:
“Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] – they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah.” (Qu’ran 48:10) “The first thing that God created was my light, and the first thing that God created was my spirit and I was a Prophet while Adam was still between water and clay. “ (Ahadith-i-Mathnawi) I must confess, I find the Sufi narratives on the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) uplifting and also befuddling. They are at once beautiful and absurd. They are more like the ruminations of a highly imaginative lover than those of a systematic theologian. It’s like saying my beloved is more beautiful than the moon. Wonderful thought — one can sing it to music and also inspire and move people. But what does it mean for a person to be more beautiful than a lump of mud and rock? Many cultures for centuries, however, have marveled at its beauty. Undoubtedly, beauty lies in the heart of the beholder. Sufi theories are intriguing because they are supported by sacred sources like the verse I cited above (5:15). Without the Sufi imagination, one would think that word “light” in 5:15 was metaphorical, as something that illuminates, meaning the Prophet’s (pbuh) sunnah illuminates the shariah.
“There has come to you from Allah a light (Muhammad) and a clear Book.” (Qu’ran 5:15)
The Middle Path I agree with the Anti-Party Party, that adding anything to Islam is a bid’ah, and that it violates and compromises the sanctity of divine revelations. But there’s a caveat. We must not forget that rendering what is permitted as forbidden is just as bad as deeming what is forbidden as permitted. We must be careful how we define bid’ah. Why deprive Muslims the joy of celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when we accept so many other things that are neither revealed in the Qu’ran nor introduced by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Here is a short list to make my point. Isn’t celebrating the Saudi National Day (Sept. 23) bid’ah? Well, they might say, yes, but it is not associated with Islam. How about visas for Hajj, or Hajj fees? Isn’t that bid’ah? The Prophet and his companions never charged a Hajj fee. Why pray 20 rakath in taraweeh? The defense that the second Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) deemed it bid’ah Hasanah — the beautiful innovation — complicates the matter further. Clearly this innovation is not leading to hell, since the Prophet (pbuh) himself attested that Caliph Umar was destined for heaven. What about all the things we have
Because Zimmerman (as of April 1, 2012) had yet to be arrested, there is a great public outcry for an arrest and a full and fair investigation. The case is being
debated in the media and the full facts of the conflict and portrait of the main characters involved are being leaked to the general public in small pieces at a time. Needless to say, the debate is heated and emotionally charged. The debate has now expanded to a broad discussion over race relations that are good for television ratings but I’m not convinced that such a debate will decrease Black homicide. Further, such broad race debates will not increase the relevant facts of the Treyvon Martin homicide. The truth of the matter as I see it is that the facts of the Treyvon Martin killing need and cry out for further investigation so that justice is done. However, justice is not one sided. Mr. Zimmerman is also entitled to defend himself against any civil or criminal charges brought against him. A focus on Whites killing Blacks should not be the focus of the justice. Blacks kill Blacks far more than Whites kill Blacks. The focus of justice must be whether Mr. Zimmerman, regardless of his skin color, killed Treyvon Martin in self defense. And that’s the right and the wrong of it.
15 done, since the Prophet’s (pbuh) time, in the name of Islam, which neither the Prophet (pbuh) nor his companions did? For example, writing commentaries on the Qu’ran, formulating jurisprudence, inventing innovative legal methods like qiyas and developed the concept of the “Islamic state.” Indeed, the Wahhabis seem to have no problem with monarchy; they condemn the celebration of Prophet’s (pbuh) birthday, but condone Saudi monarchy. Is monarchy not bid’ah. Why permit monarchy and forbid Mawlid? I am not comfortable with these sanctimonious double standards on bid’ah. I think the idea of no innovation applies to Islam alone – Islam as understood from the famous Hadith of Islam, Iman and Ihsan, According to it, Islam means Tawheed, five daily prayers, fasting in Ramadan, Zakath and performing Hajj. Any innovation in these categories or apart from them is unacceptable. I find the Sufi theories of Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) excellence very interesting, but too far from sacred texts to be employed in making legal rulings about the permissibility of an act of worship. I find it difficult to imagine celebration of Mawlid as a form of divinely ordained worship. We worship Allah the most high, not Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who is his messenger. But, I also want to emphasize that a cardinal rule of Islamic jurisprudential is that “Everything is permitted unless explicitly forbidden by either Allah or his Messenger.” It is on this basis that we permit all the technological and institutional innovations, which were not present at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions.I find nothing in the Qu’ran or in the Prophetic traditions that explicitly forbids me from celebrating the Prophet’s (pbuh) life, his
Opinion teachings, his morality, his manners, his sacrifices, his struggles and his birth. Hence, I conclude that celebrating Mawlid is not worship, but it is not forbidden either, like putting an air conditioner or an extravagant chandelier in a mosque. They add comfort and beauty to the place of worship, but are not elements of worship. Muslims have their religion Islam, and they also have their culture. We celebrate marriages, we celebrate national days, independence days, and we celebrate the victories of our favorite soccer and cricket teams. We celebrate our children’s achievements and now many American Muslims also celebrate Thanksgiving as a cultural holiday. Can we not then also celebrate the life of the man who is dearest to us without deeming it as an act of worship? We do not want any divine reward for celebrating the Prophet’s (pbuh) birthday, celebrating it is reward enough. It is enough that it is a pleasure here and now that neither embellishes the hereafter nor imperils it. For me the day of Mawlid has extra meaning, for my daughter Ruhi was also born on the 12 of Rabi al-Awwal (1423). I consider it a special blessing. On Saturday, Feb. 4, I went with my family to a nice restaurant for a double celebration. This markig period she got on the distinguished honor roll (all A’s!), so she picks the restaurant. And, while we enjoyed good food, I regaled my family with traditions and stories about the mercy, the wisdom, the compassion and the struggles of the most praised man – Muhammad (pbuh). Allah did not send him except as mercy to all the worlds (Qu’ran 21:107). ....................................................................... Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Associate Professor in the University of Delaware. He is also a fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. His website is www.ijtihad.org
LESSONS FOR LIBYA BY ROBERT CANRIGHT In my last article, I suggested that we could provide an example of democracy for the Egyptians. This month the citizens of Libya and Syria are struggling for freedom. I am reminded of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, where it says, “Aux armes, citoyens” (To arms, citizens). The citizens of France were dying in the streets in 1789 as the citizens of Libya are dying today. Our military and the French military are supporting the people of Libya with rockets, and we can support the Libyans by voting in our local elections. How can we sit home on election day when the people of Libya are dying to have the freedom to vote that we take for granted? Election day for the Plano ISD and the Plano City Council is Saturday May 14, 2011, with early voting starting May 2. We all need to leave our homes and vote in these elections. However, how can you make an intelligent choice if the candidates are not talking to the public? Education is my passion, so my focus is on the races for the Plano ISD Board of Trustees. Two weeks after the deadline for filing only one of the five candidates, Steve Day, has a website available to the public. At the time I write this column we can learn about only 1 of the 5 candidates. This is a big part of what is wrong with American politics: most candidates do not want to tell the public what they really think, what they really believe in. If you do not know enough about
the candidates then maybe you should stay home and not vote. Or maybe someone who is better informed can tell you who to vote for. Well, that is exactly what politicians want. Politicians do not want voters who think for themselves to go vote because the results become unpredictable. If you stay home then the politicians will be making deals behind closed doors to get the votes of special interest groups, which can be more predictable. Colonel Qaddafi can take lessons from Plano on how to maneuver around the democratic process. A brutal dictatorship is unnecessary if voters stay home or vote as they are told because none of the candidates will take a stand or express their true feelings. If only one candidate for the Plano ISD has a website that tells you about his values, then vote for that candidate. Plano should be an example for the citizens of Libya, not an example for Colonel Qaddafi. As the Libyan people sing, “To arms, citizens,” we in Plano should sing, “To vote, citizens!”
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Opinion
Studies about national security should put to bed fears of Muslims & Islam BY MARIUM MOHIUDDIN A study conducted by the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security (TCTHS) has proven that contrary to the popular belief homegrown terrorism by Muslims in the United States, are not a threat. The author of the report, Charles Kurzman, professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, said “terrorism by Muslim Americans is a miniscule threat to public safety.” The report, “Muslim American Terrorism in the Decade Since 9/11,” concluded that in 2011, “Muslim American terrorist plots led to no fatalities in the United States, and the year’s four indictments for terrorist financing indictments involved relatively small amounts of money.” Moreover, the study noted that in 2011, the number of violent plots of terrorism over the last ten years and the number of those who have been convicted or indicted for supporting terrorism have both dropped. This conclusion falls in line with the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s report, “Post-9/11 Terrorism Incident Database” which concludes: • Since 9/11, only 44 percent of suspects publicly associated with terrorism were prosecuted under terrorism or national security statute. • Evidence clearly indicates a general rise in violent extremism across ideologies, but • There is little evidence of rising ideological extremism among Muslim Americans. Both the MPAC and TCTHS studies indicate that no one religion has a monopoly on violent extremism. The academic research shows that the repeated hyping of the threat from extremists within Muslim American community is overblown and based on gross distortions. It is important for all Americans to remain alert to any type of violent extremism while keeping “real threats” in perspective. This is also one more reason why our nation cannot afford to distance itself from the values of religious tolerance and pluralism that make it strong. According to MPAC’s report, “Muslim communities helped US security officials to prevent nearly two out of every five al-Qaeda plots threatening the United States since 9/11.” Building and maintaining effective and productive relationships between the Muslim American community and law enforcement will only enhance our vigilance against violence. While homegrown radicalization may have decreased, it is still a tangible challenge law enforcement must tackle. So the deliberate attempt to marginalize an entire faith community by anti-Muslim hate industry not only contrary to our nation’s values, it recklessly damages our important law enforcement partnership that keeps our nation safe. In what seems to be an unfortunate recent trend, law enforcement training materials not only attacks Islam but presents an inaccurate portrayal of Islam and Muslims. This has only damaged the extremely important relationship that should be forged between these two groups. This is why in the efforts to be vigilant against Muslim extremism, our nation also needs to be aware of anti-Muslim hate and extremism.
The reality is that the Muslim American community has been aiding law enforcement in tracing violent elements while in the midst of anti-Muslim hate leaders warning officials that mainstream Muslims are “violent and radical.” The epidemic of violent extremism created by fear-mongers in an effort to divide America never materialized. The academic research proves otherwise – Muslims and Islam do not pose a threat to this country, and the community’s continued efforts have proven to be a source of positivity. The academic research is an added and very important arrow in the quiver of mainstream Americans of all faiths and political orientations: provides important solid evidence – something that extremists on all sides lack – that Muslims and Islam do not pose a threat to this country, and in fact are a source of strength for our nation. For the sake of our nation’s values (and its public safety) we continue our call
to all our fellow Americans: facts, not hate and distortions, must lead the discussion.