The Muslim Link ~ Jan 1, 2009 by The Muslim Link

Read it online. w w w.muslimlink pap er.com 5 MUHARRAM . Safar . Rabi’ al-awwal . Rabi’ al-thani . Jumada Al-awwal . Jumada al-akhir . Rajab . Sha’aban . Ramadan . Shawwal . Dhu al-Qi’dah . Dhu al-Hijjah . 1430 A.H. FRIDAY, January 02, 2009

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Muslim Orgs Ask Obama for Inclusion, EvenHandedness

“ ‘WHEN WILL THE HELP OF ALLAH ARRIVE?’ UNQUESTIONABLY, THE HELP OF ALLAH IS NEAR! ”

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ISNA TRIES TO AWAKEN LEADERS AMONG AREA YOUTH, ADULTS

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By Muslim Link Staff

THOUSANDS PROTEST IN DC AS ISRAELI TERRORISM CONTINUES By Mariam Abu-Ali Muslim Link Staff Writer On Saturday December 31, Israel unleashed death and destruction on a scale not seen for the past few decades on the people of Gaza, with no signs of stopping. Despite the death of over 375 Palestinian men, women and children and more than 1900 injured, the mainstream media repeats the Israeli government’s assertions that it is defending itself and only targeting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Never mentioned is the fact that Israel was first to break the ceasefire on December 4 when it killed 6 Hamas militants in an effort to

destroy one of the tunnels which provide the only means of access to food, fuel, and supplies. Eighteen months of effectively shutting off Gaza and its 1.5 million people from the world weren’t enough. Israel is now directly targeting their homes, mosques, medical facilities, factories and the main university in Gaza. As always, the United States has defended Israel and the international community’s silence lends tacit support. In response, Americans from all creeds and origins gathered in Washington DC on Tuesday demanding an end to Israel’s unrelenting air assaults on the Gaza strip. The protest in DC, along with protests around the nation,

was organized by ANSWER Coalition, Muslim American Society Freedom, Free Palestine Alliance, and the National Council of Arab Americans. Approximately 3000 people gathered at the State Department at 4:30pm and marched through Constitution Avenue and ﬁnally to the White House. Chanting phrases such as “Free, free Palestine!” protesters wore the Palestinian checkered scarf, waved Palestinian ﬂags and held signs, some which read “Israel: Guilty of War Crimes!” and “Stop the Holocaust in Gaza.” Many expressed anger and sorrow at the

“Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the ﬁeld! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” This quote by one of America’s founding fathers Patrick Henry was repeated on December 29, 2008 in Washington DC by Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Director Mahdi Bray. At the end of the quote, Bray continued. “This is the cry of the Palestinian people because their situation is

>> Protest Pg 11

>> Obama Pg 10

Halal Restaurant Card Makes Eating Stepping Up to the Task Out More Accessible for Area Muslims For ISWA Community, It’s All Hands on Deck for New Masjid, pg 9

By Muslim Link Staff Observant Muslims don’t spend much time or money in the Washington-Baltimore region’s night spots or entertainment hubs. Drinking all night and recovering the next day is not something they consider fun. Anyway, it’s haram. But eating out is something Muslims do spend money on. In fact, a steaming plate of biryani or a specialty pizza are some of the most common forms of family entertainment

Halal diners should be on the look out for the Dining Halal signage on the doors of local halal restaurants starting this month. Photo by Muslim Link Staff. for the area’s Muslims – the afﬂuent and the not so afﬂuent among them.

>> Restaurant Pg 11

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The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

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Alive from Palestine:

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ARABESQUE: Arts of the Arab World is presented with the generous support of Presenting Underwriter, the HRH Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, the Qatar Foundation, A. Huda and Samia Farouki, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, Alice and David Rubenstein, Arcapita, Michael Kojaian, Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Mr. Smith Bagley, and the Laura Pels Foundation. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is supported through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts. Presented in cooperation with the League of Arab States. Credits current as of November 21, 2008.

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INDEX

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FRIDAY JANUARY 02, 2009

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Community News

Islam

Fataawa

Opinion & Editorials

703 556 6626 Fax: 703 556 6628 www.wanilaw.com wani@wanilaw.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Community News Creating links through mutual understanding and cooperation

MD Couple Provide Training for Re-Entry to Adolescent Criminal Oﬀenders By Farkhunda Ali

Muslim Link Staff Writer Muslim couple experienced in Information Technology provide rehabilitation program for ex-offenders to productively re-enter into society. Newly established Allima Institute is providing technology based Microenterprise and life skills training to at-risk adolescents who will in turn bring those new skillsets back to the community. Allima Institute held its first annual fundraising dinner on Dec. 28th at the Belvedere Building in Baltimore, Maryland. An estimated ﬁfty participants donated $5,000 for equipment upgrades and operational costs of the institution. “Churches and mosques don’t have the resources and facility to successfully bring these youth back into society. We need someone to be dedicated to this cause. We know that we can’t save everyone, but our faith tells us that even if we are able to save one it is like we’ve saved a nation,” said Gerald Rasheed, founder and chair of Allima Institute.

Gerald Rasheed has over twentyeight years experience in Information Te c h n o l o g y. He currently works as an IT Specialist for the Federal Government. The idea of an Allima Institute, a nonprofit organization was initiated in 2002. After designing the curricula, recruiting volunteers and partnering with corporations and businesses to provide entrepreneurships, Allima established its office and training center in Baltimore in 2007. Its services are open to youth of all faiths. Allima provides small Microenterprise training targeted at young adult males from 16-24. This six-month small business training provides four months of classroom instructions, and two months of ﬁeld instructions. “You don’t have to have a PHD to enter the world of technology. Now, we’re living in the age of systems, age of information technology. Technology does not impose

“Churches and mosques don’t have the resources and facility to successfully bring these youth back into society. We need someone to be dedicated to this cause. We know that we can’t save everyone, but our faith tells us that even if we are able to save one it is like we’ve saved a nation,” said Gerald Rasheed, founder and chair of Allima Institute. any limits on you,” said David Muhammad, offender workforce specialist with Mayor’s Ofﬁce of Employment in Baltimore City. The model of the organization is based on established systems concepts that are moving society from manufacturing to technology. It includes standards based training programs, a personalized learning environment, a family involvement component, and proposed partnerships with resources within the community to enhance quality of service. “If you want something out of life, you can get it,” said Cameron Miles, organizing director of Advocates for Children and Youth in Baltimore, Maryland. If one fails to plan, he plans to fail, according

to Miles. Because children are not getting proper education in public educational systems, the speakers referred to alternative institutions for attaining the education for “success.” Technological education will lead individuals to prosperous employment, said the speakers. Miles said community members need to stream funds for community organiztions working to provide “valuable” education for the underserved.

>> Adolescent Pg 10

Muslim Organizations Ask Obama for Inclusion, Even-Handedness By Muslim Link Staff “Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the ﬁeld! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Bray spoke as part of the American Muslim Taskforce (AMT), a coalition of twelve major Muslim organizations in the United States including the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Society of America (ISNA), and the Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), among others.

At the end of the quote, Bray continued.

AMT organized the press conference, held at the National Press Club, to present an open letter to President-elect Obama. Advising Obama to play a leading, moral role in the world starting with peace in Palestine, AMT called on the incoming President to restore law and order by returning to due process and end “COINTELPRO campaigns against Muslim and Arab American communities.” The letter also expressed AMT’s wish for the White House to “reinstate roundtables with Muslim leadership” and resume the “past policy of inclusion by bringing ... the celebration of Ramadhan and Eid in the White House with the American Muslim community”.

“This is the cry of the Palestinian people because their situation is life or death.”

The continuing Israeli attacks on Gaza was also a part of the agenda for the news

This quote by one of America’s founding fathers Patrick Henry was repeated on December 29, 2008 in Washington DC by Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Director Mahdi Bray.

conference, and in some ways dominated the meeting. A somber looking Mahdi Bray addressed Americans directly. The press conference was aired on C-SPAN. “I’m appealing to the conscience of the American nation. Obama ran on a platform of change. It’s time for a change in foreign policy,” said Bray. Following an address by North Carolina State Senator Larry Shaw who warned the United States not to repeat the mistakes Russia made in Afghanistan by using only “hard [military] power” instead of “smart power”, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad asked Americans to call their congressman to demand US politicians say “we are going to be even handed ...to end this conﬂict.” “When Israel uses American taxpayers [money] to kills civilians ... it affects us all. There is no blank check. [Obama] must not repeat the mistakes of the Bush or even the

Clinton administrations,” said Awad. Aktar Hossain of Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA) gave a brief statement. “I humbly request, please, Obama administration – interact with us.” Political scientist and AMT chair Dr. Agha Saeed summed up statements made at the press conference before it ended. “It’s rare you have so much readiness to work with an incoming administration from all sides ... we are not begging, but we are ready to be partners of peace. The central [issue] is are Muslims subjects or citizen?” said Saeed. The floor was closed for questions, and moderator Ibrahim Hooper from CAIR told reporters they could conduct one-on-one interviews only. However, a female named Christine from a DC think tank insisted on disrupting the press conference, addressing Nihad Awad on his being an “un-indicted coconspirator” in the recently concluded Holy Land Foundation trial.

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Kinder USA Rep Appeals for Gaza By Ibrahim Abu-Sway Muslim Link Contributing Writer

Finally, on Sunday, December 28th, we were able to contact our rep in Jerusalem and another sister in Gaza, who broke down and cried because the situation there is so bad.

in Gaza have been deprived of basic necessities. No electricity, no medicine, barely any fresh food or clean drinking water. Sadly, this has become a way of life. Children are malnourished. Some, along with their parents, are emotionally and psychologically scarred because of all the hardship and desperation around them. So after months of suffering, how are these poor souls rewarded? They are bombarded with more misery and more hardship. Although they may not be the targets, innocent women and children suffer the most in any armed conﬂict, and so it will be in Gaza.

For nearly one year, so many of our innocent brothers, sisters, and children

Pause. Try to reﬂect. Imagine yourself and your children huddled in a dark basement

For 2 days, U.S. representatives from Kinder USA, a non-proﬁt Muslim relief organization founded in the U.S., could not reach representatives and volunteers in the West Bank or Gaza via phone or email.

for 3 days and nights. No running water. No food. Not knowing if the next bomb will land on your head. The deafening sounds of sirens and war jets everywhere. How do I protect my children, you ask? What do I say to console them? They’ve screamed, and cried, and their tears have dried up. At this moment, over 400 Palestinians have been killed. By the time this article is published, perhaps more will die and hundreds will have been injured. Many youngsters who have not even had a

>> Gaza Pg 12

Little boys with food from the Kinder USA-supported bakery. Photo courtesy of Kinder USA.

Job hunting in a recession-infected job market – Some Tips If your uncle is a Senior VP of a large fortune corporation known as “X Corp”, you could get a job in “X Corp” while pursuing your undergraduate degree. You would not have to encounter any competition at all - an exceptional scenario.

Job hunting is all about selling your services to your potential employers. And your RESUME should serve as your advertisement aimed at getting the attention from potential employers. If your advertisement is appealing it should trigger an interview.

But most job seekers experience tough competition in an unfriendly recession-infected job market where supply exceeds the demand and where employers have several candidates with a variety of skills to choose from. How should job seekers react and act to get the desired attention from potential employers?

Basically a resume should do two things for you: 1. It should generate an interview for you. 2. It should aid you in controlling the interview session effectively.

A good resume should be brief, well written and formatted, and quantify your major accomplishments. It should reflect your communication, organizational, leadership, time management and personal skills in an orderly fashion urging an employer to initiate a dialog with you. The outcome could be a telephone interview followed by an in-person interview. If your current resume is not generating interviews for you, obviously it has been working against you. Stop using it ASAP and seek counseling/ mentoring from someone experienced in this area and who can be trusted.

The ISB-based Employment/Career Counseling Services (ECCS) provides employment and career related counseling to all people regardless of color, creed or ethnic background. We have access to a variety of subject matter experts. Give us a try and you have nothing to lose. Please check out the ECCS advertisement in this publication of the Muslim Link. Please call ECCS today at 410-747-4232 to schedule an interview or email your resume for free evaluation to Omar Smith at omar.smith@isb. org.

�� A service provided by the Islamic Society of Baltimore for the community by the members of the community

List of Services provided by the Employment / Career Counseling Services (ECCS)

Employment Related Counseling

Career Related Counseling

· Evaluation of your current Resume · Re-write or improve your Resume aimed at generating job interviews · Tips on Interview preparation · Interviewing Tips / ideas and how to handle tough / tricky questions · Ideas / Strategies related to “Marketing your services to potential Employers”

· Career Change from Non-IT to IT · Career Change from IT to Non-IT · Seminar / symposium involving subject matter experts upon request · Guidance to students seeking advice on careers · Presentation given upon request on a typical IT de partment and its functional activities in a Fortune 500 corporation.

All the above services provided free of charge (Donation payable to ISB Inc; welcome) to deserving candidates regardless of color, creed and ethnic background. Please send an email to omar.smith@isb.org for additional details. For additional information please call Omar Smith at 410-747-4232 All personal information will be handled in a responsible / conﬁdential manner – a pledge from the ISB Inc.

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

VA Muslim Doctors Provides Low-cost Health Services By Farkhunda Ali

Muslim Link Staff Writer A Northern Virginian Muslim primary care has initiated a network of health care professionals that offers discounted medical services mid-and-low-income families. The Good Will Network was created in March 2008 by physician Dr. Tareq Abedin to ensure that patients without healthcare insurance would have access to affordable, quality, comprehensive healthcare. Although patients are strongly recommended to purchase health insurance, a general health screen visit to any doctor in the Network does not exceed $75.00. Two Hundred Fifty doctors in the DC Region volunteer in this charitable program. Medical services are provided through their private sites and clinics. A native of Bangladesh, Abedin completed his undergraduate degree at Cornell and later attended Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He said he wanted people to know health care does not have to cost so much. Having seen many patients throughout his career without insurance, he realized people will more likely get medical treatment if it is within their means. The Network specializes in helping people who work but who do not have health insurance. Many of their clients are self-employed, students, and middle class families. “I’m not targeting the elderly or the poor

people with Medicaid. I’m trying to help those who fall within the cracks,” said Dr. Abedin, who practices internal medicine in Loudon, Virginia. The major challenge was recruiting more doctors, added Dr. Abedin. The ﬁrst forty doctors were hard to get. After realizing this service is a good contribution to community members, the next hundred physicians signed

physician Dr. Mahsin Habib in Ashburn, Virginia.

people it does not cost much to get basic healthcare,” said Dr. Abedin.

Doctors in the Network said they want to keep healthcare simple. Although this program will not beneﬁt every person in Northern Virginia, each one of the 250 doctors has seen at least 10 patients this year thus far through the Network.

Abedin said they don’t turn any patients away due to lack of insurance or inaccessibility to proper treatment. The Network can refer patients to other clinics for different type of health services. Doctors in the Network specialize in various healthcare ﬁelds.

“I’m not targeting the elderly or the poor people with Medicaid. I’m trying to help those who fall within the cracks,” said Dr. Abedin on relatively quickly. The providers in this network have all agreed to give a cash discount for patients who have no insurance. The cash discount covers the ofﬁce visit. Ofﬁce policies and restrictions do apply. The objective of moderate cost healthcare is to encourage individuals and families to get regular physicals and seek medical treatment for long-term illnesses. Healthcare professionals in the Network said many patients wait until the last minute to seek treatment for illnesses and diseases that could be cured at an early stage. \ “Our focus is on prevention. It costs less to prevent a disease than to take care of it once the problem occurs,” said an internal medicine

They offer discounted rates so their fees are paid on time. They believe it is better for people to seek medical treatment from a physician at a low cost and not owe any debt in the long run. Physicians find this program as a beneficial alternative to providing free healthcare services. Often times, some of the doctors in the Network gave free services at their own will. However, the Network does not provide services at no charge, but a reduced rate. While these doctors do not gain significant financial profit from the small clinic fee, they said they are glad to get some reimbursements for their services.

The clinics within the Network are staffed by doctors, nurses, and other volunteers who want to contribute their time to bring quality medical services to the community. Before providing any medical treatment or health screening, the clinics do a mandatory eligibility interview which is necessary to determine if a patient qualiﬁes for services. The Network provides regular health screening, laboratory services through Quest Diagnostics, radiology services by MRI imaging of Virginia, prescriptions by the group’s pharmacists, ongoing care for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, mental health treatment, pediatric services, and much more. “I think it is great to offer cash discounts for medical services to those who need it. It’s a situation where both the physician and the patient are gaining,” said Dr. Zubair Saeed, healthcare director at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) in Sterling, Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.goodwill-network.com.

“Yes, this program is going to decrease my proﬁt. However, it does not hurt to show

Dar-us-Salaam Sees Evidence of Economic Downturn at Annual Fundraiser By Fatma Ahmed Muslim Link Contributing Writer On Saturday December 27, 2008, the Dar-UsSalaam community held its annual fundraising dinner and family night at UMUC INN and Conference Center. One of the regions largest and fasted growing communities, the goal for the evening was $400,000. The annual donation need is currently $1.5 million. Al-Huda School, with a total student body approaching 600 in grades pre-K through 10th grade, is the community’s largest project. According to event organizers, close to 1400 attended this years dinner. However, the amount raised – over $230,000 -- was far below the goal. There were many volunteers assisting the guests most of which were Al-Huda high school students. “Volunteering is a lot of fun but it requires a lot of patience and dedication,” said volunteer Nourhaan Moustafa. Child care was provided by organizers, with about 220 children in the childcare program. The

childcare section was divided with rooms every room for a different age range. “It makes things run smoother for everyone” said Sister. Habeeba Taalibdeen who was in charge of the childcare program. After the recitation of Quran recitation by two students from Dar-us-Salaam’s full-time Hifz school, Treasurer Sayeed Jaweed gave an overview of Dar-us-Salaam’s income and expenses. In the last fiscal year, Dar-us-Salaam’s income from tuition and other services was $3,151,450 whereas the expenses were $4,550,950. A presentation by Dar-us-Salaam’s martial arts school, Aqabah Karate, wowed the crowd with young boys and girls breaking boards and performing difficult kicks and rolls. Also on the program was an address by Imam Safi Khan, a video presentation, and nasheeds by the children. Dinner was catered by Dar-us-Salaam’s community based restaurant Simply Halal. In what has become a Dar-us-Salaam tradition, deserts were catered by Muslim owned Sweet Tooth Cakes and Pastries. The program closed around 11:30 pm with youtube sensation Baba Ali of Ummah films.

Dar-us-Salaam provides tuition assistance to scores of children through donations. A recent letter received by Imam Saﬁ Khan is above.

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

COMMUNITY NEWS

ISNA Tries to Awaken Leaders Among Area Youth, Adults By Amalia Rehman Muslim Link Staff Writer ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) Day was held at ADAMS Center and Dar Al-Noor December 19th through 21st. The theme of the weekend workshop was “Awakening The Leader Within”. In both masajid participants were divided into two distinct groups, the youth and the adults. Adult workshops focused on understanding the leadership of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the ideal form of leadership, with a focus on the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a compassionate leader. The youth group focused on inspiring the youth to take action and take part in their community. “The idea is to focus on our youth as an asset, not a liability.” stated Iyad Alnachef, Youth Programming Director for MYNA (Muslim Youth of North America) and facilitator of the youth workshops. “MYNA started a revival period over the past two years and one of our main goals is to motivate and actualize

away from it. We were asked to give each other feedback and came up with ideas like choosing right peers, attending or listening to Islamic lectures, looking to parents who have a big impact in staying on the right path. I liked it. It was helpful and helped you work out ideas that you may be confused about. I would like to have it more often and for longer periods of time. Most issues were only addressed for 10 minutes or so and these issues need a lot more discussion.” “One other important discussion topic was about double standards that exist amongst immigrants. They come here and have girlfriends and stuff and yet they think their mothers and sisters are so special and pure. For example, we talked about one time when we were going to get something for lunch, one of the guys wanted to come with us, a group of girls. When one of us asked if he would allow his sisters to go with a guy, he said he would never allow his sisters to go with a guy. Another example of this type of double standard is when our Muslim society or culture holds us back from doing some

MYNA started a revival period over the past two years and one of our main goals is to motivate and actualize Muslim youth to take leadership roles in their communities Muslim youth to take leadership roles in their communities. We really want to get as many youth to join MYNA and organize with MYNA as a foundation organization. It’s about building a sense of empowerment with guidance.” One of the youth participants, Tanzia Sharmin commented, “Participants were bringing up speciﬁc issues like dating and how do I stay

of the things that we want to do because we are women. Overall, the discussions pointed out that staying on track really means to stay within your community. Peer pressure will then be from a good source,” said Sharmin. It is interesting to note that Hamza Yusuf addressed the MYNA youth at the ISNA Convention in 2000. His message focused on the nature of the human soul, the ﬁtra, as

ISNA presenters enjoy time together between workshops. Secretary General of ISNA, Mohamed Elsanousi, Dr.Sayyid Syeed, Dain Johnson, and Louay Saﬁ. Photo by the author. a susceptible spirit that is prone to being led -- thus recognizing the inﬂuence that peers have on the Muslim youth today. It is the individual who is responsible for what sights and sounds enter their hearts. These things will be evaluated on the Day of Judgment. Yusuf encouraged the youth to shut off the TV, the harbinger of corruption and vulgarity into our lives and the shaper of the implanted desires and purposes of our lives. “In order to maintain our Islamic identity, we must protect our minds. As we engage in TV watching, our brain waves go into synch with them and we are virtually hypnotized by them. Our minds are vegetated and we are in a very suggestive state, a perfect condition in which to sell us stuff,” said Yusuf. “To engage in reality, you have to disengage from unreality.” With this point in mind, Hamza Yusuf points out that this is why our youth have conversations that focus mostly on movies, music and games. He warns us of how precious our time is in this world and how

we are wasting it. He warns us that when we go to our graves, these things won’t be there with us, only our deeds. MYNA is a taking off point, where children aged 12 to 18 are taken to camps, retreats, workshops where all their time is spent in engagement between each other and Allah. These same youth are given positions of power as regional representatives, executive board members, etc that run the events and maintain the organization. At the same time, the parent organization, ISNA, works to enhance leadership that is already in the hands of adults. They wish to reframe “leadership” as “service” and coming from a compassionate perspective. Many of the exercises were to enlighten participants about conﬂict resolution and understand the origins of problems. These adult workshops were conducted by Louay M. Saﬁ, Ph.D. and Executive Director of ISNA Leadership Development Center, who has written a book on this subject.

www.IslamicBookstore.com 2048 Lord Baltimore Dr, Baltimore, MD 21244-2501 USA | Tel: 410-265-0020 ext.15 | Fax: 410-265-1233

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The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Letter from ISWA’s President Dear Brothers and Sisters, I pray for Allah’s mercy and blessings and hope this letter finds you and your family in the best of health. I would like to take this opportunity to update you about the progress of our construction and our short term plans. Alhamdulillah, construction started in August 2008 after several years of planning. Demolition, grading, foundation work, steel framing and building enclosure are now mostly completed. The HVAC, electrical, elevator, sprinkler, fire alarm, roofing, and dome and minaret construction are ongoing and contracted. The construction committee is aware of the magnitude of this project. In order to manage costs, the carpentry, drywall, enclosure, and most of the labor will be done by volunteers from the community. We have done very well so far and I am excited to see our beautiful new center taking shape. This should serve as a wonderful reminder of what we can do as a community. The cost of the center is $1.25 million, which will provide the community a new place to better serve our needs. There will be new classrooms, bigger prayer halls, a library, a gift shop, a media center, facilities for counseling, as well as the usual family events and much more. Our hope is to finish this project by this upcoming Ramadan in August 2009, Insha’Allah. The plan is to finish the first floor, landscaping, and the parking lot

for occupancy. We will continue to work on the second floor depending on our financial situation. At this time, we have to raise $300,000 to finish this project. Since we have eight months until our goal, I am optimistic we can build this beautiful facility as planned. This two phase approach will be less of a burden on our community. We will continue to work and do what we can to fulfill this beautiful goal, insha’Allah. On February 28th, 2009, we will be having our fund raising dinner at M.C.C. Please mark this date on your calendar as we are hoping to make this a special I.S.W.A. event. Once again, I thank you for your continued patience and prayers. I have faith that our community can unite together to make this dream for the future of our children a reality. May Allah bless you for your continued support. Jazak Allah Kharum, Your brother, Fazil Alie President – I.S.W.A Please send your contributions to: 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd. Silver Spring, Md. 20905. Or donate online at www.iswamd.org

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The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Stepping Up to the Task For ISWA Community, It’s All Hands on Deck for New Masjid This past Spring in April of 2008, the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) broke ground for its new masjid. A uniquely designed, three ﬂoor community center that is being built on the footprint of the house which served as ISWA’s masjid since the early 1990’s, the community is eager to re-establish juma’ prayer and community services on the property. So eager, in fact,

that many community members dedicate each weekend – Saturday and Sunday – to helping the construction along. With hammers, power tools, and hearts eager to build a house for Allah, ISWA members are stepping up to the task in front of them. This photo essay tries to capture only one day of community building – pun intended – on December 28, 2008.

ISWA President Dr. Fazil Alie (right) and Brother Hemal Mustafa inspect work being done by ISWA volunteers. Brother Hemal works for Montgomery County and donates his time to help ISWA make sure the County’s strict building standards are met. (All photos by the Muslim Link). Both young and old community members participate regularly in the construction. Pictured above is a regular volunteer who is 89 years old, masha’Allah! His 5 sons are also volunteers. The elderly brother did not want to be named or recognized.

Volunteers mostly do framing work and drywall. Experts are called in for electrical and plumbing work. The foundation, roof, and building skeleton were installed by subcontractors. Even in that case, ISWA volunteers provided labor support. Ahmed Ali, 49, a policy specialist with Montgomery County (back to camera) said “we are donating time to solicit the ajr from Allah”. He described how the construction company unloaded huge piles of cement blocks and plywood on the property. “We carried it all in” he said. So, the foundation of the community is being built – literally – on brotherhood.

Vo l u n t e e r s c o m e f r o m m a n y backgrounds, reﬂecting the diversity of ISWA. Not only are many nations represented, but many ﬁelds of expertise. Some volunteers work at Verizon, the World Bank, and others have their own businesses. Many regular volunteers purchase their own tools. One volunteer purchased a compressed air hammer for about $400. The air at the site is filled with sounds of grating wood, sliding sheet metal, banging planks, and the occasional but startling bang of compressed air tools. And of course, there is laughter. The construction site is a treasure trove of ajr.

Standing on what will be the top ﬂoor of the masjid with the steel frame of the dome in the background are (from right) ISWA Board member Firoze Deen, ISWA President Dr. Fazil Alie, Project Manager Hafeez Hassan, and Brother Sayeed.

Even the architectural design and drawings were done by ISWA volunteers a few years ago. Montgomery County’s refusal to let ISWA build anywhere else on its over 5 acre property except on the foot print of the existing house drove the vertical design, which uses virtually the same land area as the house but is much larger. The house was 2,800 square feet and the new masjid will be 14,000 square feet, insha’Allah.

10 OBAMA >> continued from pg 1

life or death.” Bray spoke as part of the American Muslim Taskforce (AMT), a coalition of twelve major Muslim organizations in the United States including the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Society of America (ISNA), and the Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), among others. AMT organized the press conference, held at the National Press Club, to present an open letter to President-elect Obama. Advising Obama to play a leading, moral role in the world starting with peace in Palestine, AMT called on the incoming President to restore law and order by returning to due process and end “COINTELPRO campaigns against Muslim and Arab American communities.” The letter also expressed AMT’s wish for the White House to “reinstate roundtables with Muslim leadership” and resume the “past policy of inclusion by bringing ... the celebration of Ramadhan and Eid in the White House with the American Muslim community”.

Adolescent >> continued from pg 4

Miles said the incarcerated youths are depending on the “love” and “encouragement” of their seniors to attain survival skills in an economically improvised society. “If we want a vision of change, we can’t keep on locking our young generation,” he said. The speakers applauded those who are teaching the adolescents to be patient. Individuals working in the law enforcement, social service, criminal justice, and re-entry programs collectively agree the responsibility relies on the experienced professional adults to guide the youth of Baltimore out of the prison cycle. “Upon returning home to a poverty stricken life with no employment, no home, deceased relatives and no support system, they [incarcerated youth with criminal record] are vulnerable to commit criminal activities to make a living,” said Elaine Rasheed, professional IT trainer, co-founder and executive director of Allima. The founders of Allima said their institution will provide personal and professional development, conflict resolution, financial management, and time management training to young adults with no support system or qualified family members. In addition, children of incarcerated parents attend a six-week technology summer camp. This group might be otherwise unlikely to

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

The continuing Israeli attacks on Gaza was also a part of the agenda for the news conference, and in some ways dominated the meeting. A somber looking Mahdi Bray addressed Americans directly. The press conference was aired on C-SPAN. “I’m appealing to the conscience of the American nation. Obama ran on a platform of change. It’s time for a change in foreign policy,” said Bray. Following an address by North Carolina State Senator Larry Shaw who warned the United States not to repeat the mistakes Russia made in Afghanistan by using only “hard [military] power” instead of “smart power”, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad asked Americans to call their congressman to demand US politicians say “we are going to be even handed ...to end this conﬂict.” “When Israel uses American taxpayers [money] to kills civilians ... it affects us all. There is no blank check. [Obama] must not repeat the mistakes of the Bush or even the Clinton administrations,” said Awad. Aktar Hossain of Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA) gave a brief statement. “I humbly request, please, Obama administration – interact with us.”

be able to benefit from a camp of this type because of financial limitations. Counseling is a component of the camp experience as well as field trips and cultural activities. “I am going to follow through a long term goal not only to teach myself, but also my children,” said Latif Daniels, resident of Baltimore. Daniels is currently incarcerated and resides in a half-way home in Baltimore City. For the next six months, he will be receiving classroom instructions and on the job training for networking and hardware. Before attending this six-month comprehensive schooling, he did not have any knowledge of computers. “I was computer illiterate,” Daniels added. Allima Institute is teaching him proper grammar usage, resume and business plan writing, MS Office, web designing, time management, and basic life skills.

“I ask the US media to be at least as critical as the Israeli media” in covering the Gaza conﬂict, said Nihad Awad. Seated is Mahdi Bray. The Muslim leaders were at the AMT press conference on December 29, 2008. Photo by the Muslim Link.

Political scientist and AMT chair Dr. Agha Saeed summed up statements made at the press conference before it ended. “It’s rare you have so much readiness to work with an incoming administration from all sides ... we are not begging, but we are ready to be partners of peace. The central [issue] is are Muslims subjects or citizen?” said Saeed.

moderator Ibrahim Hooper from CAIR told reporters they could conduct one-on-one interviews only. However, a female named Christine from a DC think tank insisted on disrupting the press conference, addressing Nihad Awad on his being an “un-indicted coconspirator” in the recently concluded Holy Land Foundation trial.

The floor was closed for questions, and

“I’m grateful for this opportunity,” added Fowlkes. Allima’s training program application screens applicants. The program admits only those with the 7th grade reading level with no violent criminal convictions or chemical dependency. At this point, they are not equipped to handle any housing or medical needs of their applicants. Their focus is to provide professional IT training with focus on one’s spiritual growth. As part of the program, all students are required to attend the weekly Friday prayer and listen to the Khutbah [sermon] to learn about the creator and his blessings upon mankind. “We are not trying to convert anyone but we want our trainees to learn about their purpose in life,” said Elaine Rasheed.

Elaine Rasheed said their professional staff members are experts on HTML, Networking, Web Designing, Keyboarding, S y s t e m s A n a l y s i s , a n d M S O ff i c e .

Most of Allima’s classroom equipments and other learning tools were donated by the State of Maryland. They are currently in need of books, monetary donations, and volunteer teachers to expand their training programs.

“I am learning many things, public speaking, presentation of a business proposal, life skills, audio hardware and software training,” said Ishmael Fowlkes, resident of Baltimore.

All of Allima’s clients are referrals from state funded re-entry initiatives, social services, half-way homes, and Department of Juvenile Services in Maryland.

Fowlkes enjoys the training on software defragmentation. After completing his ﬁeld training, he will seek a life partner for an Islamic marriage with a new beginning.

“One thing I love saying to young people coming to my court is to seek entrepreneurship. Allima Institute is an illustration of what it is like to be an entrepreneur. The people they serve are those to whom entrepreneurship

is not exposed to. They are giving them an opportunity to do so,” said Zakia Mahasa, Master in Chancery, Circuit Court of Baltimore City. “It is a courageous effort. They are talking the talk, and walking the walk.” Allima focuses on the group of underserved population which is overlooked by the general public. They are not elderly, and they are not needy children. Elaine Rasheed said people don’t think they need assistance because they are strong healthy young men. Therefore, there are not enough programs to help them adjust into society. “Without Allima’s training, I only imagined working at McDonalds with no professional growth. There aren’t many choices for me with my record,” said Fowlkes. The event speakers noted the American job market is taking its unique course at this time. The job market is tight due to global economic constraints for individuals with no criminal background. This makes it more difﬁcult for non-violent criminals to attain employment in large corporations, said Allima ofﬁcials. The training will develop professional young adults ready to compete in a competitive job market, according to Allima. “Our trainees will be looking to become a contractor and not an employee,” said Elaine Rasheed. For more information, visit www.allima. org.

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

COMMUNITY NEWS

Thousands Protest in DC as Israeli Terrorism Continues PROTEST >> continued from pg 1

indiscriminate killings of Palestinians in Gaza. Mohammad, an elderly man who moved to Virginia from Gaza eight years ago, said the events “make you weep.” He continued to say that they are “events committed by murderers and criminals who conspired with the Arab leaders.” His family has been unharmed, but they told him that the people of Gaza do not have the bare necessities for survival. “They don’t have food, electricity, or fuel, not even bread. And on top of that, there is no safety, they told me ‘Mohammad, forget us’.” Another Palestinian from Gaza, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke to his family in Gaza. They also expressed the same outlook: his family “is waiting to die,” he told the Muslim Link. Deedee, a Palestinian American from

new behavior. “It’s been happening for a long time.” Americans attended the rally for various reasons. Many attended out of a sense of duty. “We are doing the minimum that we can do to let them know that we are supporting [the people of]…Gaza and Palestine,” said Narmeen. Vicki, an American who is married to a Palestinian, attended because “my country America is not doing anything to stop the killings of the Palestinian people.” Joey F., a young American, said “I’m here because I love life and abhor violence and any destruction of life” Those who spoke to the Muslim Link also voiced their frustration at feeling helpless. “Like most Palestinians and Americans, there is not much we could do, and that’s the worst part.” Deedee said, “It’s frustrating that we as citizens are paying for the weapons supplied by the United States to Israel with our tax

“They don’t have food, electricity, or fuel, not even bread. And on top of that, there is no safety, they told me ‘Mohammad, forget us’.” Another Palestinian from Gaza, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke to his family in Gaza. They also expressed the same outlook: his family “is waiting to die,” he told the Muslim Link. Maryland, called the killings “huge atrocities” while while Reem Akad, who is originally from Ramallah, described the massacre as a “21st century holocaust.” Jacob Braverman from Maryland told the Muslim Link, “I think it’s a crime against humanity.” His father, Mark Braverman, “has a website dedicated to looking at what’s happening in Palestine in a realistic way.” Deedee went on to say that the Israeli killing on this scale is not

RESTAURANT >> continued from pg 1

Enter Dining Halal, a member card that works like a Costco card, but for halal restaurants. “Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner,” asked one local Muslim who stopped at a Dining Halal promotional table at the Darus-Salaam fundraiser on Saturday, December 27. Dining Halal, a local for-proﬁt venture, was one of the sponsoring businesses at Dar-us-Salaam’s event, held at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center in College Park, Maryland. About 20 free memberships were given out at the table. “We want to bring Muslim and non-Muslim consumers of halal together with the restaurants that are serving halal. If Muslim diners get a discount on their bill, and restaurants get more trafﬁc, its a win-win

money. We sign countless petitions: they see us, they hear us, but they don’t listen to us because they have a greater agenda.” In addition to the crowds from the DC metropolitan area, seven busloads of people came in from Raleigh, North Carolina. Rawan Jodah and Lujin H., two high school students from North Carolina, upset that “the United States is supporting Israel” were also angered situation,” explained College Park, Maryland resident Adil Faisal, the President of Dining Halal LLC. The Dining Halal program is simple but attractive. Diners purchase Dining Halal ‘member cards’ for $10. The card is good for one year. When you show your Dining Halal card at any area restaurant that accepts the card, you get a discount. The amount of discount varies and is tied to the value of your order. The more you order, the higher the discount. Kafe Kabab in Laurel, Maryland gives diners a 20% discount on orders of $75 or more. A family outing of six or seven members can easily go above $75. Several restaurants owners who spoke to the Muslim Link said business is down signiﬁcantly. Coupled with the higher cost of staples like rice and cooking oil, most owners said they are barely able to make payroll. “This is a great program,” said AbdulHameed Khan, owner of RJ Cafe in Belstville,

by Israel’s disproportionate use of force: “When one Israeli dies they feel like they can kill hundreds in return.” Vicki shared their frustration at Israel’s disproportionate use of force but was additionally frustrated at the media’s biased coverage: “One of the CNN news ladies who is supposedly on the fences outside of Gaza, said ‘did you know the Palestinian rockets killed a child.’ Excuse me! They killed a child, but it didn’t matter how many children, women and men were killed in Gaza.” Joey F. said that the crisis in Gaza is really confusing for him as an American. “The American media does not give a clear picture with multiple perspectives. It’s…what the government wants us to think. I want to learn more about what’s happening.” Most of those who spoke with the Muslim Link were hopeful about the impact of this rally and similar events around the world. Vicki thinks “This protest will help people who don’t…know anything about Palestinians. Because they don’t know, they don’t care. If there are enough people who care about Palestinians they may actually take the time to pay attention.” Joey F. believed that the rally will “raise awareness and inspire people here tonight and people in Palestine.” “It has inspired me,” he said.

Deedee spoke about the influence of Facebook in generating attention. “People on Facebook see their friends’ status updates and profile pictures… and it spark[s] curiosity, so they start researching and reading more about the issue. I have two friends who are here today because they saw what is happening through Facebook.” Many of the youth who attended the rally had heard about it through Facebook or word of mouth. When asked whether there was more that Americans can do, Deedee was troubled. “If Arab leaders got together and unified and did something as a group it would change things within minutes. It’s just that our Arab leaders are puppets and are not doing anything, and it’s very very unfortunate. But here as citizens of the United States I feel like, other than rallying and lobbying, I don’t know how else we could make a difference and let our voices be heard.” Narmeen told the Muslim Link that she doesn’t have family in Gaza “but all of them are my family. As Muslims we are one body, so if one part aches, as the Prophet (pbuh) said, then all the body aches. So I feel that all of them are our family.”

Maryland. Restaurant owners said they were quick to sign-up to be a part of the Dining Halal network because there was no up front cost, and because the discounts are up to them and can be changed.

Tanweer Ahmed of College Park, Maryland said his card will be put to good use. His family has seven members, masha’Allah. “The welcome coupons themselves pay for the card,” he said.

“Our website dininghalal.com is where diners can check out what each restaurant offers them as far as regular discounts and special member-only coupons. Even if only for the coupons, the card will pay for itself quickly,” said Dining Halal’s Adil Faisal, who works in the Information Technology ﬁeld.

The Dining Halal website also features the full menu of all participating restaurants, including prices. But Faisal has much more in mind for the website.

Dining Halal is focusing its outreach efforts on Prince George’s and Montgomery County, Maryland for now. All of the restaurants on the new network – 6 in total – are in those two counties. Later this month, Dining Halal intends to move into Northern Virginia and Baltimore. “We’ve received inquires from restaurants all over, getting to all of them quickly is a challenge,” said Faisal, whose company has no paid employees.

“We want to make dininghalal.com a kind of portal for all things related to Muslim culinary arts ... recipes, videos, and other culinary discussions. The food of the Muslim world is so diverse and says a lot about us. It’s also da’wa ... maybe the way to the public’s heart is through their stomach,” he said with a laugh. In the current recession, though, saving money for consumers and getting more clients for restaurants is no laughing matter. For more information, visit dininghalal.com.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Request For Dua’s

{ To A l l a h We Belong, and to Him is Our Return } “Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 12-22-08 It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Brother Mehboob Shaikh, the father of Sis. Parveeza Shaikh, and brother in-law to Salim Shaikh. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raajioon. To Allah we belong, and to Him we will return. Sslat ul-janazah was held at ICCL We ask Allah SWT to forgive him, have mercy on him and enter him into Jannat ul-Firdous. Aameen. (Source; Islamic Community Center of Laurel) 12-24-08 Ruqiah Homayur returned to her Allah. She was buried at National Memorial Park. (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 12-24-08 Maien Deen returned to her Lord. Inna lillahi wa innah ilayhi rajioon. (Source: Aden Funeral Service) 12-24-08 Munir Chaudhry passed away. His body was sent to Pakistan for burial. (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 12-27-08 Our young 23 year-old Brother Mohammad Usman Khalid, son of Khalid Mahmood, from Centerville, passed away in a car accident on Fairfax County Parkway on Saturday December 27th, 2008. His janazah was held at Dar Al-Noor Islamic Community Center. He was buried at the AMAA Cemetery in Stafford, VA. May Allah (SWT) forgive his sins and place him in HIS mercy and give sabr to the family to bear this loss. (Source: Mohammad Mehboob) 12-27-08 It is with great sadness that we inform you that Br. Saber Mira, father of Dr. Mohammad Mira, has passed away. Inna lillahi wa innah ilayhi rajioon (We belong to Allah and to Him we return). The salat ul-janazah was held at Islamic Society of Baltimore. May Allah SWT have mercy on his soul and grant him the highest levels of Paradise. Amin. (Source: Islamic Society of Baltimore) 12-28-08 Sis. Akhtari Begum has passed away. She was buried at at Stone Wall Memorial Park, Manassas, VA. (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 12-29-08 Br. Abu Talib, from Arlington,VA, died at Virginia Hospital. His janazah was held at Dar al Hijra. His body was sent to Bangladesh for burial. Inna lillallah wanna illehhi rajaoon. (Source: Jubran Khalil) 12-31-08 It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of beloved member of the ADAMS Community. Br. Yousuf Taufique, father of Br. Altaf Taufique, returned to Allah. Br. Yousuf was a long time member of the ADAMS Community and was a regular attendee of the daily prayers until he moved with his family to Maryland. He set an example for attendees of ADAMS with his dedication to living Islam. His presence will be deeply missed. Br. Yousuf passed peacefully surrounded by his family. Please remember Br. Yousuf in your prayers. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him the highest levels of Paradise. May Allah grant his family patience during this difficult time. The janazah prayer was held at ICM in Gaithersburg, MD. Burial was at Al Firdaus Memorial garden in Frederick, MD. (Source: Hanaa Unus) Sister Rawda died on December 31,2008 at University of Maryland Medical Center at 8:35 PM. Her janaza will be at Dar Al Hijra in Falls Church VA at 11:30 after the first khutba. She will be buried at Al-Firdous Cemetery in Maryland.

GAZA >> continued from pg 5

normal childhood may not live to experience adulthood. So what can I do? I can make duaa’. I can pray and supplicate sincerely over and over. I can educate my children about what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank. I can show my friends and community members pictures and images; “See this beautiful little girl, she’s an orphan now.” I can tell them the stories of the hundreds who have been left homeless.

I can respond to our local groups calling upon us to contact political leaders. I can bring some relief to those in need by donating money. I will give from what Allah has given me. I will give from what belongs to Allah. Indeed, giving ﬁnancially is the easiest thing. The hard work has already been done. Those who founded relief groups worked hard to do so. Those relief workers on the ground – that is hard. Your innocent brothers and sisters suffering in Gaza – that is the hardest. Kinder USA has suspended most of its projects so that we can focus solely on

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Upcoming Events In Your Area BLESSINGS IN BARGAINS WORKSHOP SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2009

SISTERS & Dar al Hijrah Social Services Presents: Blessings in Bargains Workshop Sisters Only Come learn how to save up to 85% or more on your family’s grocery bill. Learn savvy shopping strategies and how to best use coupons to maximize savings. Also learn tips and ideas for how you can use these savings to donate to items the Dar al Hijrah Food Shelf for just pennies per item. There truly are blessings in bargains! Saturday, January 3rd 1-2:30 PM Dar Al Hijrah Sister’s Meeting Room ... Laurie Jaghlit 571-217-1436 sistersinformation@gmail.com

EPC -2008 : ANNUAL ESSAY/PANEL CONTEST SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009

EPC-2008 is an annual essay/panel contest for Muslims Youths in Metro DC area. This platform provides an opportunity for our youths to develop their writing, speaking and leadership skills. This is a youth development event that should not be missed! Be a part of it and experience the difference! Top Selected Essays are Published in a Book. For more on EPC, please visit: www.EPC.Mafiq.org ... Organizer: Mafiq Foundation, Inc and CCMO Host: Islamic Center of Maryland POC: Mostafiz Chowdhury essays@Mafiq.org

MASJID AL-FALAAH FUND RAISING DINNER SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

Harford County Education Society presents the Masjid Al-Falaah Grand Fund Raising Dinner to purchase 5-acres of land for Masjid Al-Falaah, the ﬁrst Masjid in Harford County. Insha Allah, it will be held at Masjid Al-Rahmah, Islamic Society of Baltimore, 6631 Johnnycake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244. Speakers include renowned American Muslim leader Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Imam Johari Abdul Malik, the Director of outreach at Dar-Al-Hijra, and Sheikh Omar Ballouch, Scholar of Qur’an. Program begins at 4 ... RSVP to: info@lfalaah.com www.alfalaah.com; For tickets call 410-569-0429 2107 Laurel Bush Road, Suite 101 Bel Air MD 21015 info@falaah.com

THE DEBATE THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009

On the 15th January 2009, the Islam Channel will conduct a debate at SOAS University. The Debate will focus on the issue of Adoption & Fostering in the UK. These issues are of great interest to the Muslim Community at large, as many people especially religious scholars have fundamentally differing views on the issue. the Debate will bring these differences to the forefront for discussion. If you have a question or two, please e-mail them, or if you would like to be amongst the audience at the r ... text 0778 601 4459 or thedebate@islamchannel.tv thedebate@islamchannel.tv

PURIFICATION OF THE SOUL FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009

For more details please visit is at almadinainstitute.org ... info@almadinainstitute.org info@almadinainstitute.org

distributing food in Gaza. It is so bad that distributing bread has become the priority. The Kinder-supported bakery in Khan Younis is one of only 17 bakeries currently operating in Gaza. Most of the baked goods, which include cheese-stuffed and zatar-stuffed pies are being distributed by dedicated employees and volunteers who are themselves at risk, while some goods can be picked up at the bakery itself. Whether you donate to Kinder or any other legal and legitimate relief group you trust, make sure you donate. As for Kinder USA, we are in good standing with the U.S. Treasury Department, we are a 501 c-3 nonprofit registered in the U.S., and all of our activities

are legal and transparent. Call 1-888-4518908 or visit www.kinderusa.org to make your donations. Eighty dollars will feed a family of 5 for one month! Contact your friends and family and urge them to donate. We also ask those who are on boards of Islamic centers to talk about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza via the Friday khutbah or lectures. Please contact Kinder USA if you need donation forms or have any other questions and/or comments. I b r a h i m A b u s w a y i s K i n d e r U S A’s Development Coordinator and can be reached at Ibrahim@kinderusa.org or 703-981-2856.

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Islam

ISLAM

The way of life given to us by our Creator and practiced by our Messenger Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam

“ ‘When will the Help of Allah arrive?’ Unquestionably, the Help of Allah is near! ” – Part 1 By Muhammad Kamil Ahmad As the world stands by witnessing yet another episode in the ongoing war of terror on Muslim occupied land, the true believer stands watching in a state of awe, between grief, rage, and hope. With more than three hundred killed and over a thousand injured, Ghazza moves into its sixth day of Israeli bombardment. Although the Palestinian issue is not a new one, in the last few decades the world has seen an escalation of aggression against the Muslim world as a whole. Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosova, Afghanistan, and Iraq are just to name a few. As this aggression increases over time the believers wonder when the aid from Allah will arrive. In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) teaches us a lesson. That lesson is that as hardship and afﬂiction escalates, ease and alleviation draws nearer and nearer. Allah says: “For indeed, with hardship will be ease. Indeed, with hardship will be ease.” [Ash-Sharh 94:5,6] And He says: “They continued until, when the messengers gave up hope and were certain

that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.” [Yusuf 12:110] It is also in times like these that Allah wishes to bring out the true colours of individuals. This serves to purify the ranks of the true believers so that when the victory comes it is handed to the few who remained firm and did not back out. Allah says: “Allah would not leave the believers in the state you are in presently until He separates the evil from the good.” [Aali ‘Imran 3:179] And we see this happening before our eyes. The traitors and hypocrites who were embedded within the ranks of the believers are now becoming exposed. They have turned their backs on our brothers and sisters in Ghazza. Those who are familiar with the Seerah of the Prophet (SAW) will ﬁnd that this same incident took place in the time of the Prophet (SAW). It was at the battle of Uhud when the Muslims marched out to the battleﬁeld that the hypocrites led by their leader Ubay bin Sulul decided to

turn back with nearly a third of the army. To conclude, although the Ummah is feeling severe pain over the events unraveling in Ghazza, let us not forget that Allah has not abandoned us. Allah says: “And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare in horror.” [Ibrahim 14:42] It may seem that the enemy is far stronger and mightier than us at the moment, but as they plan their plots Allah too plans. Allah (SWT) revealed to the Prophet (SAW) when the disbelievers of Makkah plotted to get rid of him: “And remember, when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” [Al-Anfal 8:30] And let us not consider the events in Ghazza as being negative for the Ummah, Allah says: “Do not think it bad for you, rather it i s g o o d f o r y o u . ” [ A n - N u r 2 4 : 11 ]

So do not despair Ya Ummat-ul-Islam, for there is light at the end of the tunnel signaling that victory is near. “And it does not grieve me that a man or a woman or a child from Chechnya dies, because Insha Allah they are martyrs. However, by Allah, what grieves me greatly is the silence of the Muslim countries regarding this. Otherwise, it should have been mandatory to sever relations with Russia from every angle, and if they had done that Russia would have halted at its limit, and they would not have harmed them at all. However, unfortunately the Muslim countries – and by that I mean the leaders of the Muslim countries, forget the general public, the general public may have fervor and enthusiasm however they do not have the capability – they are silent and have said nothing. This is, by Allah, what grieves me. A Muslim republic, young and fresh, has these types of acts committed against it and we remain silent?” -- Shaikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-’Uthaimeen The writer is a senior level student at the University of Madeenah in Saudi Arabia. He blogs at http://m-kamil-ahmad.blogspot. com.

‘Allah’s are the most beautiful names. Beseech Him with Them’ “And Allah’s are the most beautiful names, so beseech Him with them, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did. “ [Sûrah al-A`râf: 180] By Sheikh Khâlid al-Sayf Professor at al-Imâm University Our faith in Allah includes everything that Allah’s names and attributes entail. We believe everything that Allah tells us about Himself in the Qur’ân and everything that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us about regarding Allah.

However, there is a habit that some people have of assigning certain of Allah’s names to beseeching speciﬁc needs or to asking Allah to cure particular illnesses. This practice is unfounded. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not prescribe the use of specific names for specific needs.

We believe that all is al-Rahmân (the Beneficent), al-Rahîm (the Merciful), alKhâliq (the Creator), al-Razzâq (the Provider), as we believe in all of His sublime attributes.

We as Muslims should refrain from becoming formulistic in our supplications without any scriptural basis for doing so, but we should rather supplicate sincerely from our hearts, calling upon Allah with the names that come to mind for what we are asking for.

It is enjoined upon us to call upon Allah by His names when we beseech Him in prayer. Each one of His names is rich in meaning, each telling us something more about Allah. Each is suitable for any of our various supplications.

There are certain supplications that we ﬁnd in the Prophet’s example that he offered on particular occasions. These supplications naturally include mention of Allah’s names.

For example, the Prophet taught us to say in times of distress [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5870) and Sahîh Muslim (4909)]: There is no God but Allah, the Mighty, the Gentle. There is no God but Allah, Lord of the Magniﬁcent Throne. There is no God but Allah, Lord of the Heavens and Lord of the Earth and Lord of the Noble Throne. Then there is the supplication for healing. Â’ishah relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would seek protection for members of his family by wiping them with his right hand over them and reciting the following supplication [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5743)]: O Allah! Lord of humanity! Cure as you are the Curer. There is no cure except for your cure… a cure that will not leave any illness behind. We should recite these supplications when

the occasion arises for them. Otherwise, we should not single out certain names of Allah and recite them on specific occasions or when supplicating for particular needs. What we can do is simply call upon Allah with the name that we feel to be best suited for our needs when we supplicate Him. We can beseech Allah as al-Razzâq (the Provider), saying for instance: “O Allah, you are the Provider. Provide for me.” Likewise, we can say: “O Àzîz (Almighty), strengthen me.” What is important is that we do not treat these practices as if they were ritual formula or as if they were specifically prescribed for us. And Allah knows best. [Source: http://www. islamtoday.com/showme2.cfm?cat_id=37�_ cat_id=2063 ]

FATAAWA

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

Fataawa Questions about Islamic life and practice

Chairs in the Prayer Line Question: There are some elderly people who attend our mosque and find it difficult to bow and prostrate during their prayers. They offer their prayers seated on chairs. Now, there is some confusion in our community regarding how the chairs should be situated in the ranks. At present, the chairs are placed so they extend back into the second row. This causes an inconvenience for those who are praying in the second row, forcing thee worshipers standing behind the chairs to step back when they bow and prostrate, making the row uneven. The suggestion has been made to move the chairs forward, but some people object that this makes the feet of the seated worshipers out of line with the feet of those who are standing in the first rank. Some people insist that the heels of all worshipers must line up together at all times. How can we resolve this impasse? Answered by Sheikh Khâlid b. Sa`ûd alRashûd Scholars agree that keeping the ranks straight is desirable in congregational prayer. Anas relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Straighten your ranks, for indeed straightening the ranks is part of prayer.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

him) turned to the people and said three times: “Mind your ranks.” Then he said: “I swear by Allah, you will mind your ranks or Allah will divide your hearts.” Al-Nu`mân b. Bashîr then gives us an account of how the worshipers responded to this exhortation. He says: “I saw each man place his shoulder against the next man’s shoulder and his ankle against his ankle.” [Sunan Abî Dâwûd] Also, Anas b. Mâlik relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Mind your ranks. I can see you behind my back.” Anas likewise gives us an account of how the worshipers responded to this exhortation. He says: “We used to place our ankles to the ankles of these standing next to us.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî] However, with respect to elderly and inﬁrm worshipers who pray in a sitting position – whether they are seated in chairs or on the ﬂoor – it is not possible for them to line up both their feet and their shoulders. The question, then, is: which criterion must be used to determine their keeping in line with their fellow worshipers? The answer is that seated worshipers should keep their shoulders in line with the ranks and not worry about their feet. The reasons for this are as follows:

This straightens of the ranks applies to both the shoulders and the feet. Regarding the shoulders, Ibn Mas`ûd relates: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to go by and touch us on the shoulders, saying: “Be in line. Do not differ and cause your hearts to differ…” [Sahîh Muslim]

1. When a seated worshiper lines up his feet with the rest of the worshipers in the rank, this paces most of his body behind the rank. The body of the seated worshiper is actually situated between two ranks, neither fully in the ﬁrst nor in the second, and this creates a clear disturbance in the congregation.

Regarding the feet, al-Nu`mân b. Bashîr relates: The Prophet (peace be upon

2. The practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicates giving priority to the shoulders. As we saw in the hadîth narrated by Ibn

Mas`ûd, the Prophet used to pass down the line of worshipers and straighten them out by touching them on the shoulders. Also, in his verbal commands, he speciﬁcally mentioned the shoulders. This shows that keeping the shoulders in line is the paramount concern when straightening the ranks for prayer. 3. The lower part of the body follows the upper part. In people’s everyday dealings – when they line up for any reason and when they meet with each other – they usually focus on the upper body. The lower body follows suit. In summary, the following general rule can be applied: Worshipers should line up both their shoulders and feet if they can. If it is impossible to do both, then the shoulders take precedence. If, for some reason, it is altogether impossible for a worshipper to keep his shoulders in line with the other worshipers – as would be the case with a hunchback – then that person should keep his feet in line with the rest of the worshipers. And Allah knows best. -----------------------------------------------------

Athan and Iqamah by Different People Question: Does the mu’adhdhin also have to call the iqamah, or does he simply have the greatest right to be the one to call it? This has become a problematic issue at our mosque, where the mu’adhdhin gets upset if someone else calls the iqamah (which sometimes happens when the mu’adhdhdin has to attend to some other issue when the prayer is about to begin). He is under the impression that calling the iqamah is one of his rights.

Fasting the Day of `Ashura’ Fasting on Muharram 10, known as the Day of `Ashura’, expiates for the sins of the past year. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa [Moses] fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari) The following year, Allah commanded the

Muslims to fast the month of Ramadan, and the fasting of Àshura’ became optional. It is also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to fast on the ninth and tenth. Ibn Àbbas reported: The Messenger of Allah fasted on the day of Àshura’ and ordered the people to fast on it. The people said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.” The Prophet said, “When the following year comes, Allah willing, we shall fast on the ninth.” The death of the Prophet came before the following year. (Muslim and Abu Dawud) Thus, according to scholars, you may choose to fast Àshura’ on three days (ninth, tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth); or

one day only (the tenth). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura’ (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year.” (Muslim) But this expiation of minor sins comes only if you avoid major sins. It is a big mistake to rely on fasting a single day to “wipe your slate clean.” If you neglect your daily Prayers or the fast of Ramadan, or if you backbite, lie, commit adultery or other major sins, fasting on `Ashura’ alone will not atone for your sins.

Answered by the Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh `Abd alWahhâb al-Turayrî There is a hadîth to indicate that the person who calls the adhân (the main call to prayer) should also call the iqâmah (the second call to prayer). It has been related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever offers the adhân should be the one who to offer the iqâmah”. [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (199), Sunan Abû Dâwûd (514) and Sunan Ibn Mâjah (717)] However, this hadîth is weak. It has been declared weak by numerous hadîth scholars, including al-Albânî. Therefore, it cannot be used as evidence that the same person should call the adhân and iqâmah. In any event, even if this hadîth had it been authentic, it would merely have indicated a preference. It certainly does not indicate an obligation that the one who offers the iqâmah must be the same person who had already offered the adhân. It is permissible for anyone to offer the iqâmah. In the case of your mosque, the mosque’s officials can set down certain policies to prevent confusion or hard feelings. Whatever policies the mosque administration sets down should be respected by all. Therefore, if the administration makes it a rule that the iqâmah must be given by the same person who had already offered the adhân, then this is what should be followed. And Allah knows best. [Source: IslamToday.net]

The 10th of Muharram may fall on January 7th, 2009. Check with your local Masjid. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting the day of `Ashura’ (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year.” (Muslim)

The Muslim Link, January 02, 2009

EDITORS DESK Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager : Jann McClary News Desk: Umm ‘Abdullah (Events) Distribution: Elwaleed Elshowya Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Lensay Abadula Amina Ali Farkhunda Ali Fasiha Khan Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Maryam bint DawudMussallihullah Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published every other Friday on a Bi-Weekly Schedule and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam. The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: 240-209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2008

OPINION AND EDITORIALS

Making Our Mark, Even Just Once a Month The issue of the Muslim Link in your hands right now is the last bi-weekly print issue for at least the next year. After much deliberation, we’ve decided to scale back our printing to monthly rather than every 2-weeks. Our avid readers will bemoan this decision, while others won’t even notice. But we’d like to spend some ink and page space on explaining why we are switching to a monthly. The most obvious reason is cost. The Muslim Link faced financial challenges to its regularity since it started in late 1998. With our rapid growth starting in 2002, our advertising revenue increased, but not as fast as our expenses. We hoped for the best, and in 2006, we started appealing to our readers directly through the Muslim Link’s own annual fundraising dinner. Still, our combined advertising and donation revenue stream was not able to sustain our new size – a bi-weekly with 6 full-time employees distributing almost 12,000 papers every two weeks. Over the last year we made some painful cuts to our staff. With the worsening economy putting pressure on our donor base, our donations have dropped. Today, we are making cuts to our printing and publishing cycle. We’ve said it many times before in these pages: it takes very little from a dedicated minority of our readers to keep this valuable community resource strong. If just ten percent of our readers – about 1,000 people – donated just $10 per month to the Muslim Link, we would not have to restructure our operation, insha’Allah. However, that type of dedication on a large scale has proved hard to muster from readers. A word needs to be said about newspapers in today’s wired world. Some readers advise us to do away with a paper issue outright, and to publish our stories

online only. We feel this is not in the community’s best interest. The value of the Muslim Link is that it ‘lives among us’ – physical papers can be seen at the masjid as well as on people’s kitchen tables. That which is present is more likely to be discussed. People do discuss stories we run, and that interaction is central to the value of this paper. Like a plow to soil, the interactivity we bring to the community loosens its boundaries and barriers, enriching its ideas so inspiration can flow and take root. If left totally behind a computer screen, we feel the Muslim Link will be reduced to a few mouse clicks -- plugged in but unplugged from the current of the community. Delivering a physical copy of the Muslim Link to masjid stands at least once a month will keep us connected to you, so you can be connected to you. Even though it looks like a promising media is scaling back its operation, alhumdulillah there is a silver lining. Besides the ﬁnancial one, deﬁning our focus as a newspaper – and sticking to it -- has been a constant challenge for us. However tempting it is to splash our own headlines on the front page about Obama’s win, or the economy, or the shoe throwing incident, these news items are the fodder of other media. The Muslim Link ‘s pages are reserved for you – the reader. We report on your masajid, your community, and your issues. With that type of content, we feel our pages are priceless. Going monthly will help us maintain that focus, since the longer time period between issues will make being current secondary to being in-depth. Our aim is to continue providing summary event coverage of happenings in the local Muslim community, while devoting more journalistic resources to investigative, local stories. At the same time, we’ll work on improving the quality of our writing and reporting. Going monthly will also allow us to replace some of the great content we

removed like Cooking with Sister Heather, the crossword challenge, and real estate around area masajid. For our advertisers, we hope to reduce rates so they can remain connected to the important Muslim markets during the on-going recession. Additionally, reorganizing as a monthly operation will open opportunities to make our website a better place for our online readers to collaborate and interact. We intend to publish stories on muslimlinkpaper.com throughout the month, not just once a month, so our readers can remain current between print issues. Alhumdulillah, the Muslim Link has made its mark on the Muslim community and also on our non-Muslim neighbors and coworkers. We’ve helped valuable projects like Muslimat Al-Nisaa’s Baltimore women’s homeless shelter gain support by writing about homelessness and reporting on events they host, and we’ve helped Muslim businesses grow with marketing and our sincere advice. For the community members who have been wronged – Dr. Ali Al-Timimi, Dr. Abdul-Haleem AlAshqar, Ali Chandia, Ahmed Abu-Ali, Sabri Ben-Kahla, Seif Chapman, Ismail Royer, Masoud Khan, and others – we are and will continue to be a voice that speaks up in their defense while sadly most other Muslim organizations seek to distance themselves from these brothers. With the blessing of Allah, we’ve made our mark. We report on under-reported issues affecting our community, like abuses by immigration authorities. The New America Media Foundation saw the mark we made when they awarded us “First Place in Immigration Reporting” last month out of about 80 other news outlets. We hope you – our readers – can see the marks we’ve made. Its on us to make the marks, and its on you to etch them in stone. With firstly your duas and then with your involvement and donations, we ask that you make sure this paper is read far beyond the new year. ~ TML