The Muslim Link - January 18, 2013 by The Muslim Link

Over $600K Raised for New Dar-us-salaam campus PG 14

ISLAM: The VERY Real Benefits of Belief In the Unseen PG 28 Like & Follow us

6 Rabi Al-Awwal - 4 Rabi Al-Thani, 1434 A.H. | www.MuslimLinkPaper.com January 18th 2013 - February 14th 2013

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New Masjid A Testament To Interfaith VA Muslims Supported By Neighboring Cooperation Alexandria Churches While Masjid Being Built By Hena Zuberi

On the western shores of the Potomac River is the home of the Islamic Circle of North America's Virginia chapter in Alexandria. This culturally and historically rich city recently added a new house of worship, enhancing the region's interfaith diversity. An inaugural event was held on January 5, 2013 as the Muslim com-

Germantown Masjid Starting Consturction in Summer | pg 6 Praying In High School | pg 6

Latina Immigrants: The New Ambassadors of Islam Tucked away in a quiet rural neighborhood in Somerset, New Jersey is the brown brick building that houses the New Jersey Chapter of the Islamic Center of North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (ICNA) WhyIslam Project. Within its confines, in a second floor office with rose-colored

MCC Hosts Seminar On Surah Yaseen | pg 4

Women's Health Focus at Anne Arundel Seminar | pg 5

>> masjid Pg 16

Muslim Link Contributing Writer

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Lectures, Seminars, and Halaqas: What's the Point?| pg 5

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

By Wendy Diaz

The Muslim Link

CIVIL: Anti-Muslim Violence Out Of Control in the US | pg 28

walls, sits the administrative assistant and only female employee of the department, Nahela Morales. In a long black garment and gray headscarf, Morales sits in front of a computer entering notes and taking phone calls from

>> latina Pg 18

Inter-Faith Groups Call for Closing of Guantanamo | pg 7

ISLAM: Kindness Helps Makes Things Better | pg 29 Nahela Morales taking calls at the WhyIslam office.Â Morales became Muslim after immigrating to the United States from Mexico and is now doing da'wa to Spanish speaking immigrants in the United States. Photo by Wendy Diaz.

The Muslim Link

Coupons PG 36

January 18th - February 14th 2013

Jazakum Allahu Khayran! Thank You!

Dar-us-Salaam and Al-Huda School would like to thank everyone who made our "Home of the Heart" Fundraising Dinner such a memorable night. We thank everyone who came out in support of this great endevour. To find out more aobut this campaign visit www.homeoftheheart.org

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News MCC Hosts Seminar On Surah Yaseen By Hena Zuberi

The instructor, ANJ as he is affectionately known, gave the youth khatirah at the Muslim Community Center on Friday, January 4 on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Faith and the Communityâ&#x20AC;? bringing the audience to tears with his explanation of the life of Salman al Farsi.

Muslim Link Staff Reporter On a sunny Saturday, January 5th, 2013, students from all over the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area convened at the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring, Maryland to learn from Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda of Al-Qalam and Bayyinah Institutes in Dallas, TX. They were grandmothers and preteens, mothers with daughters and fathers holding toddlers. There were serious students of knowledge and the casual learners. "This will probably be the only time I'll be teaching the Surah Yaseen course on the East Coast. There are a lot more projects coming up, so I will not be able to teach it out there. If you wanted to take it, now would be the time," Shaykh Abdul Nasir said in a video message prior to coming.

Abdul Nasir Jangda (above) and Noman Ali Khan of the Bayyinah Institute in Texas fly across the nation to deliver short courses on Arabic language and select topics from the Qur'an. Jangda was at MCC this month and will be in Balitmore in early February in shaa Allah. Photo courtesy of Anaara Media LLC / Fuad Kamal. Sister Najma Khan of the MCC's women's committee was working the registration table as the line wove around the entrance and outside the building. There were more than 300 students in

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attendance; all the tables and chairs were full for the 5 hour class.

The students learned that Surah Yaseen was a Makkan surah. The Makkan surahs: Surah Faatir, Yaseen, and Saba are a complete curriculum of iman (faith): tawhid (the Oneness of Allah), risalah (Messengership of Muhammad

The topic, "Surah Yaseen, a Literary Analysis" was close to many hearts.

>> yaseen Pg 24

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS

Lectures, Seminars, and Halaqas: What's the Point?

ADAMS Center Forming Education Oversight Committee to Integrate Common Themes Across All Programs Education and Beyond

tional programs targeting adults. Hasan has encountered many Muslim families who are struggling with divorce and suggested that there should be more educational programs for adults that encourage family values.

By: Omama Altaleb

A meeting was held on Saturday Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. – 12p.m. in the ADAMS Center Youth room in hopes to appoint an Education Oversight Committee to oversee all educational programs and activities conducted by ADAMS. Their main goal is to introduce a common and integrated theme across education at all levels.

The youth, on the other hand, have separate programs from the adults and children. There is the Young Muslims Evening School (YMES), an afterschool program for 10-17 year- olds to learn Islamic Studies, Qur’an, and to also engage in activities like sports and games. Other programs include the Youth Education Program (YEP) which is also known as Saturday school, youth groups, clubs, camps and the Taleem ul Quran program.

The purpose of the meeting was to seek input from community members especially those with academic experience. Iqbal Unus, one of the Board of Trustees members at ADAMS, moderated the session with approximately eight other community members present.

Iqbal Unus, an ADAMS Trustee who has done extensive work helping Islamic organizations with strategic planning, leads the discussion on integrating the various educational programs and Sajjad Ahmad, who was formerly inEducation has been a huge part of AD- services offered by the ADAMS Center. Photo by Omama Altalib. volved with YEP and has background in AMS Center’s mission since the very beginning. There are various educational programs at ADAMS that cater to adults, youth and children. As for adults, education is implemented through different facets like khutbahs. In addition, the Qurtaba Institute, which is based in ADAMS, offers certificates and occasional lectures. On a regular basis, lectures are given from local

scholars as well as visiting scholars like Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. Additionally, seminars that focus on specific issues like domestic violence are also included as well as skill trainings on IT, parenting and interfaith events. During the meeting, one of the issues discussed was that Muslim adults in

the community are having difficulty in differentiating culture from religion. Azra Hasan, one of the members participating in the discussion and a social worker who deals with Muslim families, explained that there are many immigrant women in the Muslim community who are not educated enough, moreover stressing the need for educa-

education, mentioned that the purpose should be to supplement public education with Islamic knowledge and to ask ourselves “how does Islam impact current issues.” For example, he indicated how Muslim youth aren’t going to learn about the 1,001 inventions exhibit at the National Geographic in D.C. from their >> education Pg 24

Women's Health Focus at Anne Arundel Seminar By Urooj Zulfiqar

the Muslim women community about women’s health issues.

Millersville, MD--The Anne Arundel County Muslim Council hosted its first women’s issue awareness seminar at Makkah Learning Center (MLC) on January 6, 2013 after Maghrib prayer. The seminar was conducted by Dr. Homayara Aziz, an Obstetrics and Gynecologist specialist at the BaltimoreWashington Medical Center.

“Often as women, we fail to pay heed to our body due to our daily demands at home or cultural demands,” Dr. Aziz explained to the community members. “As women, we rarely pay attention to ourselves because our responsibility for our loved ones comes before us. Often we ignore our body’s issues thinking them to be of minor concerns, but we shouldn’t.”

Dr. Homayara Aziz highlighted relevant issues concerning the MLC women’s population, which was a good amount considering it was very short notice. The goal of the seminar was to educate

Some of the issues that Dr. Aziz highlighted in details with the community were: the types of breast cancer and how to recognize the symptoms and act upon

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

them, issues during pregnancy and what to do if you feel something wrong with your pregnancy such as pain or other issues, and the last thing she talked about was the menstrual cycle and what can be done to help all types of women who have specific issues related to them. She also talked about certain medicines that were related to these issues. After the lecture, Dr. Aziz listened to the concerns of women in private and gave medical advice to them and encouraged them to speak out their problems to their doctors. She encouraged everyone in the room to be outspoken about their problems in general and not to ignore them.

Saiqa Atta, the chair of AACMC, shared her joy on the success of the event. “I am glad that we held this seminar today. The turn out and support of this community was amazing. It feels good to give back to the community. We need a Muslim doctor in our community, especially a female doctor such as Dr. Aziz, to help this community build together as a foundation. I’ve gotten such a positive response on this seminar from everyone who attended and for Dr. Aziz especially. We plan to host more of such seminars in the future. I know >> health Pg 24

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Germantown Masjid Construction Expected to Start this Summer By Hena Zuberi

15, 2012, but only $13,000 was raised. "Our estimated cost [of] the project right now is at $1.75 million, we are still getting more bids and trying our best to find the best quality quotation," says Imam Ammar Najjar.

Muslim Link Staff Reporter The project to build an Islamic center in Germantown, MD, off Highway 270, has been in the works for a long 14 years and the dream is now materializing for the community. As reported by the 2010 United States Census, Germantown is the third most populous city in Maryland, after Baltimore and Columbia. It has an estimated population of 86, 395. There are no other Islamic Centers or masajid in this 21st Century "Corridor City" or within a 10-mile radius. According to the management of Islamic Society of Germantown (ISG), over 400 Muslim families live in the

The proposed Islamic Society of Germantown masjid (above) will have two floors, a prayer area large enough for 283 people, four classrooms, a bookstore, commercial kitchen, and parking for 78 cars. Image courtesy of Islamic Society of Germantown. close vicinity who need a place to pray, worship, learn more about Islam, and carry out necessary religious and cul-

tural ceremonies. The last fundraiser was held on Dec

ISG has raised $665,000 so far. According to Ammar Najjar this is enough to start construction. He says ISG is trying its best to manage the money is an effective manner in order to get the shell of the building constructed. The management thinks they can erect a closed building with windows, doors, roofing, framing, masonry in addition to all purchase orders for materials. "It is a little tough but we will do our best, in sha

>> germantown Pg 25

Praying By the Rules High School Students Navigate First Amendment Rights, School Policies to Perform Salah By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

When the parents of Hayat and Habeeb Marso chose to send her two sons to Parkdale High School in Riverdale, MD after they had completed memorizing the entire Qur'an at Dar-us-Salaam's full-time hifdz school in College Park, she wasn't worried. It was tough leaving beloved teachers, but their training at Dar-us-Salaam had made them strong enough to handle public school. Hayat and Habeeb Marso are actively involved in the Muslim Student Association of their new school. Their principal, Cheryl Logan turns to Hayat for advice on Muslim issues. A major issue of concern for many Muslims is being able to offer their daily prayers, and prayer in public school has always been an 'issue'. A

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lot of parents at Parkdale are frustrated that their kids cannot pray in school. "We got into major trouble last year as we were hiding and praying in congregation," Hayat says as he soberly wraps up the leopard print prayer rug in his family's prayer room. Last year, the principal, Cheryl Logan told the students that they could not pray in congregation.. At a recent bullying seminar hosted by CAIR at Dar-us-Salaam, Hayat consulted with Todd Gallagher, an attorney with CAIR. Habeeb also spoke with a local lawyer to learn more about the laws. As the MSA President who will graduate in May, Hayat maintains that it is his responsibility to pave the way for students who will follow him. >> praying Pg 15

In public high schools and college campuses across the nation, Muslim students gather to perform their daily salah, finding space under stairwells, in empty classrooms, or outdoors in warmer months. The group prayer is not only a religious activity, but also a social get together as students develop friendships that help them maintain a strong Muslim identity on campus. Bottom Photo, Habeeb Marso leads his fellow students in prayer in an empty classroom at Parkdale High School. Photos by Muslim Link.

January 18th - February 14th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS

On 11th Anniversary, Inter-Faith Groups Call for Closing of Guantanamo On Jan 11, 2013, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) joined the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) and other human rights and faith organizations for an Interfaith Prayer Service to close the prison at Guantรกnamo Bay. This day marked the 11th anniversary of the arrival of the first prisoners at Guantรกnamo Bay. It has been four years since President Barack Obama pledged to close the detention facility. ISNA states that after reports of the atrocities that took place there, it serves as a powerful symbol of U.S.-sponsored torture as long as it remains open. Witness Against Torture held a week

of nonviolent direct actions including Fasting for Justice, a week long fast to raise awareness and vigils in front of the Department of Justice and The CIA buildings. Witness Against Torture was formed in 2005 when 25 Americans went to Guantรกnamo Bay and attempted to visit the detention facility. They work with various human rights and interfaith organizations to shut down the detention center. The interfaith prayer service took place in downtown Washington, where religious leaders shared their analysis of the current challenges and opportunities for closing Guantรกnamo. Many in

>> guantanamo Pg 25

Activists in Washington DC dress up like Guantanamo prisoners to protest the on-going illegal detention of Muslims at the US base on the 11th anniversary of the notorious prison. Photo courtesy of Witness Against Torture.

Preemptive Prosecution Is Legal Persecution, Say Rights Advocates Falls Church Fundraiser Held In Support of Prisoners, Families By Hena Zuberi

Dar Al Hijrah on December 16th, 2012.

Muslim Link Staff Reporter In the time it took for the Muslim Legal Fund to plan and complete its fundraising tour with Dr. Tariq Ramadan, federal prosecutors had announced yet another arrest from a terrorism sting; they announce one at the rate of about one every 60 days. The MLFA was in Falls Church, VA for a fundraising event at

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numerous public interest cases, Shaykh Ibrahim Dremali, the Holyland Foundation, Aafia Siddiqui, as well as other legal challenges faced by the Muslim community, including immigration and healthcare. "Two hundred names preemptively prosecuted by the United States government are on this wall," said Khalil Meek, the Executive Director and co-

founder of MLFA while pointing to a wall of names of the incarcerated temporarily set up in the main hall at Dar al Hijrah. "Not one person [was] injured by any of them [their alleged crimes were] non-violent and non-lethal. The crime is ideology. This is happening in courts all over the country, "said Meek. >> fundraiser Pg 20

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

NoVA Scouts to Play Important Role At Inauguration By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter Scouts have participated at every presidential inauguration since Woodrow Wilson's in 1913. This year a Muslim Boy Scout troop from Virginia will be a part of the inauguration on Monday January 21, 2013. Troop 114, selected to be one of the Boy Scout Troops from the National Capital Area Council to be a part of the Presidential Inauguration, is from Fairfax, VA. This is a special honor as 2700 Scouts and Leaders volunteered, but only 750 youth and adults were selected. There are 22,000 boys in the NCA Council. They range from 11-14 in age. A maximum of 10 youth and 2 adults serve from each troop. The Muslim Link was told by the troop's leadership that the criteria for selection was "the willingness and ability to complete the effort, commit for the hardship as there will be no conveniences." There was also a lottery for selection. Scout leaders will attend a mandatory meeting on Friday, January 18, 2013 at Howard University School of Law in Washington D.C. As thousands converge into the capital, for security reasons, the Secret Service locks down the city on Inauguration Day. Vehicular traffic in and around the parade route, including public parking, is curtailed except for official business. Security will be complex and many roads will be closed. Parking will be extremely limited. "We are preparing next Sunday, January 20 by revisiting the code of honor, and addressing safety. We also have to leave extremely early in the morning," said Scout Leader of Troop 114 Abdul Rashid Abdullah. "We will be training this coming Friday, [and receiving] the manuals. I do not think the boys realize the [size] of

the event yet. My main concern is the food and the weather. The boys must be able to withstand the weather. This is a first and one shot chance. They will not get this opportunity again," said Rashid. The community from the Islamic Center of Northern Virginia Trust (ICNVT) raised the $30 per scout expense for the trip to Washington DC. This scout troop hosts Hajj and Ramadan Workshops at the ICNVT masjid on Shirley Gate Drive. "The Presidential Inaugural Committee has asked the Scouts to assist them with the parade route, assisting with American Disability Association (ADA) team, and bleacher responsibility," said Br. Rashid. According to the Boy Scouts of America website volunteers for access control bleacher will focus specifically on ensuring guests remain in areas appropriate to their credentials. ADA team volunteers will direct individuals with disabilities to the specific ADA sections from the security checkpoints, and they will check individuals in. Volunteers will guide all selfidentifying individuals with disabilities through specific magnetometers. Lines are anticipated to be very long, so these volunteers need to make sure that attendees are greeted and informed about what can and cannot be taken into the venue. "We are very proud that our unit will be representing the Muslim Community of ICNVT. This is a great honor and will provide memories to our youth for a lifetime," said the administration of ICNVT in an email. If you are interested in learning more about their scouting program, please visit http://www.muslimscouting.org

ABOVE: Abdul Rashid Abdullah (far right) with other scout leaders and community members at the Muslim Scouting booth at the 2012 Islamic Society of North America annual convention. CENTER: Scouts from Troop 114 of the Islamic Center of Northern Virginia Trust (ICNVT) will be helping with crowd control at the Presidential Inauguration this month. They will also cater to disabled guests. BELOW: The Boy Scouts of America encourages scouts to express their faith. At a massive Boy Scouts â&#x20AC;&#x153;jamboreeâ&#x20AC;? with tens of thousands of scouts, the worship center pictured here was built by scout members. All photos courtesy of Abdul Rashid Abdullah.

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS

ADAMS Youth Usher In Winter With Sugar and Spice By Omama Altalib

Muslim Link Staff Reporter Among the many issues concerning the Muslim community in America is the state of the youth. However, despite the temptations surrounding today’s youth, Muslim teenagers seem to still be connected to the masjid as proved by the ADAMS Winter Youth Festival. On Saturday December 29, 2012, ADAMS Center youth hosted their first Winter Youth Festival at the mosque in Sterling, VA. South Lakes high school senior and Adams Youth coordinator, Sana Rauf, came up with the idea of having a winter festival specifically for the youth since she believes that the ADAMS seasonal festivals are usually catered to the adults. Therefore, the Winter Youth festival featured plenty of activities local youth would enjoy such as a gingerbread house/mosque competition, a movie room , a game room with an X-box, and a Ping-Pong room. There were over fifty youth present, dispersed between the different activities. In the main floor, where food and drinks were sold, four groups of youth were competing in a gingerbread mosque competition. One group used the floating mosque of Jeddah as a blueprint for their creation while another group strived to emulate the Blue Mosque in Turkey. Rauf got the idea of a gingerbread mosque competition from her high school, “last year, our MSA won most school-spirited because we made the Kabaa, and I thought it would be fun to do that at ADAMS,” said Rauf. The competition started around 2:30 p.m. as the groups spread cream cheese frosting onto the graham crackers of their base. The winner of the competition was revealed at the end and was chosen by a panel of judges including ADAMS Youth director and member of Native Deen Joshua Salaam. The winning mosque was the gingerbread replica of the Floating mosque of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Rauf, who is also on the Adams Youth Council which is comprised of about 15 youth from different youth programs

who come up with ideas for events, described the event as “semi-successful, since word wasn’t spread out enough” despite promoting the event on Facebook and Twitter. She mentioned, “usually we have more of a turnout.” Some past events Rauf referred to were the ADAMS fundraising dinner which was put on by the youth as well as the first Youth Conference in June, the first Youth talent show in September, and the Sisters’ annual prom. Joshua Salaam, who has been the Youth Director at ADAMS for over six years, wasn’t as worried about the turnout. “I hope events like this help bridge the gap between the masjid and the youth to become a source of more than prayer- a source for social interaction, activism, bonding, fun, in addition to the Quranic knowledge and Islamic Studies.” Some mosques in America have struggled in attracting the youth to get more involved; however, ADAMS does not seem to have this issue. Salaam advises other mosques to prep their regular attendees and to develop a system where if a problem arises, the leadership knows how to solve it before bringing the youth so “they don’t push the youth out.”

ADAMS youth work together to build a masjid out of gingerbread and candies at the ADAMS Youth Winter Festival. Photo by Omama Altalib.

Salaam thinks that one of the biggest challenges facing the youth currently is “the gap between their parents. Sometimes it’s a generation, culture, or emotional gap.” One way youth programs and events help reduce this issue is through camps. ADAMS has various camps and retreats during the year like the weeklong spring camp during spring break. “We have a lot of camps for the youth to teach them how to be kind to their parents and I think that masajid have neglected to do the same for parents,” said Salaam. Even though Salaam’s role as Youth Director is difficult at times, he still loves “seeing youth grow and grow up and get more involved.” “What I love most is seeing them become mature, going off to college, and to know I was there to get them through some things, it’s rewarding.”

One of the sweetest masajid on Earth, complete with chocolate windows, chocolate truffle mini-domes, cream cheese frosting and candy dome, gingerbread walls, and twizzler artwork. Photo by Omama Altalib.

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

10 |COMMUNITY NEWS

Palm National: Shade for Small Businesses As Credit Wells Dry By Muslim Link Staff America heard a lot about the value of small businesses during the 2012 election season. Both Republicans and Democrats repeated the same line – that small business is the engine that drives economic growth and provides jobs. However, small businesses were hit hard during the credit crisis and its aftermath. Lending from banks became much more difficult since banks had more faith in loan repayments from larger companies, and credit card limits and cash advances from credit cards were severely rolled back. For small businesses needing cash to expand, the waiting time and the limited options often left them in between tough choices: close their doors, down size, or take out high interest loans from aggressive lenders. On top of all of this, for conscientious Muslim small businesses owners, interest loans are not even an option. Enter Palm National Partners. The New York based firm has been quietly helping both Muslim and nonMuslim small businesses with interest free cash for a little over one year, during which time they grew into a 72 employee company and entered 25 states including Maryland and Virginia. But they aren't lenders. Speaking to the Muslim Link, founding

member and Managing Director Alex Gemici explained that Palm provides capital to small businesses through a “asset sale-leaseback” program. Palm purchases assets from the business and then leases those assets back to the small business. For example, if a restaurant needs $25,000 to buy a new walk-in cooler, Palm will purchase some of their assets valued at around $25,000 like ovens, stoves, and other hard assets. The restaurant gets the lump sum payment of $25,000 from Palm, and Palm assumes

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ownership of the ovens and stoves. Then, Palm leases the ovens and stoves to the restaurant – the equipment never leaves the restaurant – so the restaurant owner can continue normal operations. The lease agreement is structured so that after a set time period like 6 months, the restaurant owner pays off the lease and takes back ownership of the ovens and stoves. Each lease payment – Palm's program requires daily automatic payments directly from the businesses' bank account – has Palm's profit built in. The model is considered an “Ijara” type transaction and is sharia compliant ac-

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Palm's small business clients also exceeded expectations, Gemici said.

Dr. Al-Shubaily, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Faculty of Shariah and Fundamentals of Islam, a Master’s Degree from the Department of Comparative Jurisprudence at Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, and a Ph.D in Islamic Jurisprudence from the same university, is one of the world's most respected experts on Islamic finance. He is a member of numerous Shariah boards of a number of banks and financial insti-

“We assumed 25% of clients would want more financing after the end of a 6-month term. In reality, 75% want [more financing] and [they want it] well before the 6-months is up,” he explained. In addition, he said Palm's delinquency rate is 1/3 less than that of conventional small businesses lenders. “For some reason our clients pays their bills,” he said. Palm's security lies in the value of the assets they purchase from their client.

New York based Palm National Partners is providing interest free capital to small businesses in 25 states including Maryland and Virginia. The sharia-compliant program is overseen by Dr. Yousef Al-Shubaily.

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cording to Dr. Yousef Abdullah AlShubaily, the Shariah Scholar of Palm National Partners.

tutions in Saudi Arabia, Arab Gulf countries, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Alex Gemici said Dr. Al-Shubaily plays an active role in Palm's program, appointing an in-house sharia compliance officer who works full-time in Palm's New York office. “[Our program is governed] by a very strict process,” explained Gemici. “We are not allowed to change even a comma in the [lease] agreement without Dr. Shubaily's approval.” Although Palm is focused on Muslim small businesses clients, about one-third of their clients have been non-Muslims. Currently, Palm offers capital infusion in amounts from $10,000 to $300,000 for lease periods ranging from 3-months to 12-months. The typical transaction is around $50,000 with a lease term of 6-months. Gemici declined to give specific customer numbers, but said the response from the US market has been far greater than expected. “Our month over month growth is around 12%, so every four months we are doubling our volume,” he said.

What might surprise many small businesses is the non-traditional application process. Palm doesn't look at profit and loss statements, business plans, or even credit scores; the key factor in getting approved for capital is cash flow. Palm requires 12-months of bank statements to determine the prospective client's “short term projected cash flow”which in turn determines the lease amount. Of all the applications, about 40% get funded. In contrast to the 6-12 weeks it takes to get approval and funding for a standard bank loan, Palm's approval and funding time is 5-10 days. “Our clients are looking for quick funding, and small businesses usually wait till the last minute, so time is very important for them,” said Gemici. It appears time is on Palm's side as well. By the end of this year, they plan on being in all 50 states, the Arabian Gulf countries, the United Kingdom, and Colombia. Next year, they plan on being in another 12 countries. Later this year they will open their second US office, most likely in Northern Virginia, according to Gemici. Palm was founded by Doug Naidus, the founder of World Business Lenders, a national small business lender, Fahad Abdullah Al-Rajhi from the prominent Al-Rajhi family of Saudi Arabia, the founders of Al-Rajhi Bank, the largest Islamic Bank in the world, and Alex Gemici, former Head of Deutsche Bank’s real estate finance, mortgage origination, trading and warehouse capital businesses in the Middle East and Africa. To learn more visit www.palmnational. com.

January 18th - February 14th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS | 11

Effort Begins to Establish Masjid In Hunt Valley MD By Arjumand Yousuf

of the Hunt Valley Community Center.

From the outside it looks like just another Pharmaceutical company. A red brick building tucked away in an industrial complex in Hunt Valley, MD. On the inside, Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii) is the site where nearly thirty brothers gather weekly to pray Jummah, the congregational Friday prayer.

In the past 20 years “it had been discussed within the Muslim community to establish a center. We never had a critical mass or focused a team to move forward.” says Brother Akbar. With the Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB) serving those in the East, and The An-Nur Foundation of Maryland serving those in the west, the need for a center in the North became very evident he states.

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

The brothers that come for prayer predominately work in Hunt Valley and its surrounding areas, some even reside there. The “Hunt Valley Community Center” was registered with the State of Maryland in 2010 as a nonprofit organization. Consisting of four founding directors that also comprise the Board of Trustees and seven Board of Directors, the organization was formed to serve the Muslim community north of the city of Baltimore. Since July of 2010, Dr Syed E. Abidi (owner of Pii) has generously offered the group a room for prayer. This previously unused room has been converted into a mussulah with wall to wall carpeting, a small area for wudu and a place for shoes. The room, although mainly used for Jummah is available for prayer all the time. This past Ramadan, area Muslims were able to perform the Taraweh prayers with an average of twenty-five brothers in attendance says Brother Akbar Ansari one of the founding Directors

Seven years ago, members of the community started praying Magrib and Isha daily in Brother Khalid Khan’s (one of the founding directors) home. Qari Zahid, one of the teachers of the Hufaz program at ISB has also been teaching children how to read Quran on a weekly basis in Brother Khalid’s home. Jummah prayers were also started at this same brother’s home, especially for the convenience of people working in Timonium, Cockeysville, and Hunt Valley. Then in 2009, a core group of Brothers and Sisters got together and discussed how to establish a Muslim Center in Hunt Valley that would offer the five daily prayers to the residents as well as serve as a community center for Muslims living between Towson and Parkton, explains Brother Akbar. As a result, The “Hunt Valley Community Center” was established in 2010. Since that time, the organiza-

tion has been offering prayers at Pii while looking for a suitable space to rent or purchase. Nonetheless, the search for a new place has not been without obstacles. There are several factors that need to be considered including size and location. Some properties have been too large, others too small explains Brother Akbar. When deciding on a location issues such as proximity to a restaurant with an alcoholic license, and sufficient parking space without bothersome neighbors nearby are all challenges the group has faced. Presently, the organization is interested in acquiring a church in Timonium, and is currently undergoing negotiations with the Church Management to purchase this property. Conveniently located off York Rd, and well main-

tained, the facility has over 10 classrooms, a multi-purpose room, and is fully equipped with kitchen facilities. If acquired, little work will be needed to make the place functional to offer the five daily prayers, Quran classes, and other community activities says Brother Akbar. The organization will know in a couple of weeks if a price can be mutually agreed upon between both parties. This will be the first step. “The next step will be to rally the community to pitch in and provide enough funds to buy this place” says Brother Akbar. The organization plans to initiate fundraising efforts once a price for the property has been determined. Is there a new masjid being planned for your area? Let us know by emailing editor@muslimlinkpaper.com.

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12 |COMMUNITY NEWS

Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs Hosts Film, Food Drive By Urooj Zulfiqar

crowds from members of the interfaith community, both young and old.

In the light of the holiday festivities, the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs ended the year with its first annual Interfaith Food Drive and Documentary screening, raising about 237 pounds of food for the Maryland Food Bank.

The main purpose of the event was to recognize and celebrate a community’s commitment to service and charity, while fostering a dialogue to discuss the strengths and commonalities of the three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through the documentary screening of, “Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.”

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

Often religious differences create a rift between Muslims and members of Christian and Jewish faith, but it was refreshing to see people from different faiths coming together to help those in need and to learn about each other. The event, “Three Faiths, One God, One Service,” was held on December 20, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in Annapolis, MD at the Miller Senate Building, attracting

Among the crowd was the documentary’s director and producer, Gerald Krell l, and the photographer and editor, Meyer Odze. They led a panel discussion following the documentary answering questions from the audience. Auteur Productions, Ltd. Is a television production company in Washington,

D.C. The principals of the organization are Krell, Odze and Adam Krell. Krell and Odze have garnered many international awards for a wide range of documentaries and educational programs that took them to every continent to cover a variety of subjects. Prior to forming their own company they were senior documentary producers with the United States Information Agency. Both Krell and Odze received their Master of Arts degree in Cinema from UCLA. They have also interviewed high level officials such as: Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright, and Nancy Reagan. Anwer Hasan, the Chair of Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs (GCMEAA), took the po-

dium and welcomed the audience. “The Commission and I strongly believe there is much more that unites our community than divides it… And that is why we found it imperative to start hosting an interfaith and service event,” said Hasan. Thanking organizers Siron Zidon and Iman, and everyone for attending and contributing to the food drive – donations went to the Maryland Food Bank – Hasan said he hopes to continue the event as an annual tradition. Krell also addressed the gathering, highlighting what he thought was one of the most important aspects of his

>> governor Pg 16

Tarbiyah Academy Says Opening May Be Delayed By Muslim Link Staff Tarbiyah Academy, the new International Baccalaureate full-time Islamic school being planned by Muslims in Howard County, Maryland, updated the community on their efforts to open their doors for incoming elementary school students. In an email to supporters, the Tarbiyah Academy board announced the formation of three committees: curriculum

development, human resources, and fundraising. They also said that due to a need for start-up capital, the Fall 2013 opening will likely be delayed till Fall 2014. In addition, the board said it sent community members Shabana Ahmed and Mona Kamal to an International Baccalaureate (‘IB’) curriculum orientation session; schools which follow the highly praised IB curriculum are required to send their teaching staff to IB training sessions.

“They came back energized with fresh ideas and insights, and have contributed tremendously to the further enrichment of our curriculum,” said the email update from the Tarbiyah board. In addition to curriculum development, the board and volunteers are also working to develop student application packets, teacher qualifications, training sessions, and policies for governing and running the school.

Tarbiyah Academy needs $700,000 in start-up capital, after which the board says the school should be self-sustaining. Tarbiyah Academy will be hosting a biryani bash dinner on February 2, 2013 at Dar al Taqwa. The board invites all to come learn more about the project and enjoy culturally different biryani dishes. To learn more, visit www.tarbiyahacademy.org.

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS | 13

Inquisitive High School Girls Visit PGMA By April Short

Muslim Link Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, January 9, 2013, the Prince George's Muslim Association (PGMA) in Lanham, Maryland had the pleasure of hosting Elizabeth Seton Catholic High School.

Approximately 75 female students and three chaperons, wearing head scarves entered PGMA eager to hear about Islam. They were greeted by the Imam and a few sisters from the Muslim community. As they approached the main musalla, they removed their shoes and

filed in to hear PGMA Imam Ahmad Azzaari give his presentation. They listened attentively and often nodded their heads in agreement to the similarities of Islam and Judaism, and Islam and Christianity. The comparison and contrast gave them a better understanding and made the information easy to grasp.

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Using his personality and humor, Imam Azzaari did an excellent job bridging the gap and opening the door for further discussion. The students were quiet and very observant as they watched the Salat al-Zuhr. They asked questions that demonstrated they were cognizant of the actions and behavior of the Muslims during prayer. For instance, they wondered why some men wore hats and others did not. What was the song the Imam was singing? Why do we take off our shoes? Why do some men have beards and others do not? What are the different positions? Why are there more men than women? How long does it take to memorize the Qu'ran? Interestingly enough, they did not ask why women pray behind the men. After Salat al-Zuhr some of the brothers stayed in the musalla and listened to Imam Azzaari finish his presentation. They also participated in the Q&A session. Their actions displayed a sense of unity and love for Islam. When the youngest student of the Hifzh program recited they were in total awe. As they departed, some of the students approached the Imam and asked additional questions. Alhumdulillah we were afforded the opportunity to host and give dawah to Elizabeth Seton Catholic High School Seniors. As a former Catholic and recipient of a catholic education, it brought tears to the eyes of this author. I saw them engaged and respectful of Muslims and the way we worship our Rabb. I was chosen by Allah subhana wa taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ala to be his servant and I pray that he has touched their hearts, as well. April Short is the Sisters Committee Secretary for the Prince George's Muslim Association (PGMA).

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14 |COMMUNITY NEWS

Banquet Success Shows Community Support for New Campus, Says Dar-us-Salaam Muslim Link Staff

ment was provided by Al-Huda School students and young martial artists from Dar-us-Salaam's Aqabah Karate.

On Saturday, December 22, 2012, over 1,700 Muslims representing masajid from across the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan region came out in support of Dar-us-Salaam's campaign to purchase a 66-acre property in Howard County, Maryland as a new education and community campus. Dar-us-Salaam – the College Park community that is home to the pre-K through 12th grade Al-Huda School – signed a contract to purchase the former Catholic school campus in Ramadan; they have till summer 2013 to raise the $8 million needed for the property plus an additional $2 million for settlement costs and development. The fund raising drive, called the “Home of the Heart” campaign, started

The $600,000 goal was surpassed by about $15,000, according to preliminary figures from Dar-us-Salaam's funding development office.

well before the December dinner with small fundraisers in homes and one to one presentations on the project. The banquet – held at the North Bethesda Marriott Conference Center – was the first major, community wide event for the Home of the Heart campaign.

Imam Siraj Wahaj, Imam Karim Abu Zaid (former Imam of the Prince George's Muslim Association and now the Imam of Masjid Abu Bakr in Colorado), Dr. Altaf Hussain, and Imam Safi Khan headlined the event. Entertain-

“This dinner was a big show of support for the campaign, and it shows there is a lot of excitement for the new campus in shaa Allah,” said Dar-us-Salaam shura member Sayeed Jaweed. “We are committed to keep working hard to raise the rest of the funds … although the amount seems large our faith promises that if we sincerely do it for Allah's pleasure, He will make it happen,” added Jaweed. To learn more about the new campus project, visit www.homeoftheheart.org.

Announcements from the Muslim Link New Addition to the Ummah ? The Muslim Link is now welcoming new souls from Jannah. If your family, by the Mercy of Allah, has recently been blessed with a baby, share the good news with the community. Please send the baby's name, the father's first and last name, the mother's first and last name, time of birth, weight, height, the city of birth, date of birth (both Hijri/Gregorian) , and baby's gender. You can also add who else in the family is welcoming the baby (grandparents, siblings, etc), the name of the people who did the tahneek and read the adhan. Photos of the baby are appreciated. BarakAllah Feekum and may your homes stay blessed. Announcements should be emailed to announcements@muslimlinkpaper.com. Just Married? Have you recently been married? Share the news with your Muslim brothers and sisters through the Muslim Link. Please send the first and last name of the bride, city of origin, first and last name of the groom, city of origin, parents' names, avenue, city where the nikaah was performed, name of the person who officiated the nikaah and the avenue, city of the valima. May Allah bless you and your spouse and may He unite both of you in goodness.~The Muslim Link Announcements should be emailed to announcements@muslimlinkpaper.com. Paying Our Respects The Muslim Link will be tweeting out janazah/funeral information from all area mosques and community centers, In Shaa Allah. Many people miss funerals because they find out too late, so our new service will help inform our readers in real time. We will use these hashtags: #JanazahDC #JanazahVA and #JanazahMD. Please share janazah information and we will retweet it. Follow us @TheMuslimLink

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

CONTINUED| 15

praying

As the MSA President who will graduate in May, Hayat maintains that it is his responsibility to pave the way for students who will follow him.

>> continued from pg 6

It’s not that students of any faith can’t pray in school, no matter what the general public thinks. They can. And Muslim students do, in empty classrooms, under stairwells, and library corners. They just can’t do it with the support of the school, because that’s a violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. What this means is that the school administration cannot lead prayers or mandate that students attend prayer. The ruling according to the First Amendment Center “requires that teachers and administrators neither promote nor denigrate religion — a commitment to state neutrality that protects the religious freedom of students of all faiths and no faith.” The U.S. Supreme Court banned official prayers in public schools, but religion is not taboo in schools. That's because the same First Amendment that separates church and state also gives students like the Marsos the right to freely practice their faith. Abdul Karim Taufique is the MSA Vice-President at Roosevelt High School in the same school district. He says that they have no issues with holding salah at school. Since they follow a different period system, student can easily pray at lunch time. They host Friday prayers after classes, where he delivers the Khutbah."There is no process. The Principal gave permission so anyone can pray in the library media room," says Abdul-Karim. "We cannot have daily congregational salah after classes at Parkdale, as there is not enough time and we will miss our bus home and our lunch schedule is such that some students have lunch before Dhuhr time starts," says Hayat. "Ms. Logan needs to prepare for an increase in Muslim students coming to her school," says Afeefa Marso, Hayat and Habeeb's mother. With Dar-us-

Salaam and its K-12 Al-Huda School set to relocate to Howard County after this school year, there will be a vacuum and "those area residents who cannot move or send their children to the future Dar us Salam campus in Cookesville, will look for options such as the local high schools." Arabic as a foreign language and the International Baccalaureate program makes Parkdale a viable option for some parents. So instead of making it a public issue, Hayat and the Parkdale MSA decided to continue the gentle and diplomatic approach. The MSA invited parents and Principal Logan to an MSA meeting and they discussed the process of getting permission to pray in congregation for Dhuhr salah. Principal Logan said she would need to see report cards and good behavior. But 4 weeks passed without results. Hayat and his peer's parents continue emailing their requests and recently have convinced the administration. "Requests for prayers are done by parents of students, not by organizations. This ensures that the parent is aware that the student has made a request. To date the ones that have been requested have all been granted," says Cheryl Logan, the principal of Parkdale High School in an email to the Muslim Link. All parents who had given written permission received this good news on January 13, 2013. On Monday, January 14, 2013, students will be directed to a location to pray Dhuhr prayer in jam'ah from 12:45 to 1:00. They will be excused from class 10 minutes early so that they can fulfill this obligation.

Giving the students a pass from class to pray without good grades, decent behavior and parental permission would open the gates for trouble. Some kids used the excuse to pray in the past to skip class and get into fights. "They wear kufis" says Hayat, just as they would a gang color. ‘Fake Muslims’ is how they are known in the tough halls of Parkdale High School. Habeeb said some of these students have taken their Shahadah because one of the Hispanic converts who gave them dawah is immensely popular. He gave up everything for Islam. But the others are so used to street violence and drugs that they can't give it up. Gang culture is a part of their life. The hesitancy in granting permission does not seem to stem from prejudice; the problem is the school's culture. Logan has a tough task in the running of Parkdale High. She replaced Mr. David P. Burton as principal, inheriting a school that did not have a good record or reputation, marred by gang violence. The school gets a 3 out of 10 ranking on greatschools.org. But things are changing now as graduation rates are at 93%. She runs a tight ship. "Many things have changed at Parkdale with a new principal and administration staff, they have insured our safety and we are receiving the best education that PG County has to offer," writes a student. In 2010, Logan implemented the parent patrol to prevent violence and fights and other illegal behavior in the hallways."She is a great principal, the school has changed under her management," says Hayat. "We don't have this problem at Roo-

sevelt High," says Abdul-Karim, "some people were skipping salah to goof around but we took care of them by talking to them. I can understand why their principal was not granting them permission." Hayat's next jihad is to receive permission for Jum’ah salah. Many students are signed out by parents to attend Jumu'ah at nearby Prince George's County Muslim Association (PGMA) or Dar-us-Salaam. The students who get left behind are the ones who embrace Islam in high school unknown to their parents, many who are devout followers of other faiths."A brother who was a taxi driver used to come and pick the convert brothers and take them to Friday prayer, but then the principal found out and she was very upset," says Hayat. At the last MSA meeting at Parkdale High, there were at least three students who raised their hand when asked if they were the only Muslims in their families. Some of these students are as young as 14. Students accepting Islam in high school without parental permission is a national phenomenon having its own unique issues. Young Muslims, a national youth organization, recently posted this message on their Facebook page based on the feedback from the various chapters: "Guys, can we all just stop for a minute and legitimately make some sincere duas for all the revert Muslims, please? I think we seriously take for >> prayer II Pg 19

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

16 | CONTINUED masjid

>> continued from pg 1

munity just finished building its new masjid near Route 1 in the Mount Vernon area. The construction project started 3 years ago. Before this construction the community worshiped in a trailer and a house built on the property. According to Rameez Abid, President of ICNAVA, the building was too small for the growing community. During the years of construction and trying to collect funds the administration rented a place, right around the corner from the site.

is being asked to park on the streets. Relations with neighbors are always a concern for Islamic centers. Abid thanks Allah that the masjid has been well-received. "We are the only nonresidential property on the street. We knocked on every single door with Mrs. Fields cookies, to let them know that we are here. They were happy and excited, [no one] showed any concern," says Abid. Parking was initially an issue, but Abid says the ICNA-VA hired a police officer. They also split Jumu'ah salah into three sessions which addressed the issue effectively.

According to Abid, the project cost approximately a million dollars, and became operational over one month ago. "We [have] started full-time five salah in the new building," said Muhammad Zahid Khan, the Managing Director. Other services offered are zakat relief, a youth group and a sister's halaqah, interfaith services and other volunteering opportunities. The community volunteers at homeless shelter and clothing drive etc.

"[We] have good relations with neighboring churches, we were renting church space for Jumu'ah; [this] caused a controversy across the nation," said Abid. During construction which started in the summer of 2010, the masjid administration rented a small place for daily prayers, but they had difficulty renting a hall for Friday prayers. They contacted the Aldersgate United Methodist Church and spoke with the pastor, who offered to rent the church’s multipurpose hall to the Islamic Center.

The two story facility can accommodate 115 people in the prayer hall. The sisters' musallah is on the second floor. There is an office on each floor. Four bathrooms with three wudu spaces in each bathroom are accessible to the attendees. The administration doesn't foresee any problems with accommodation."We plan to have host Taraweeh this Ramadan [and] we will be okay in sha Allah," says Abid. The parking is limited, around 15-30 spots and the community

When Fox News picked up the story and aired it, this gesture of friendship caused a backlash of angry mail and phone calls to Aldersgate’s pastors. Mike Huckabee, former Presidential candidate, expressed his anger about this move on national TV. Church pastor Jason Micheli and former Republican Senator George Allen, a congregant, faced political pressure as several members left the church in protest.

governor

trasts the religious practices of the three faiths, including the rituals of fasting and marriage. It also features a dramatic and moving example of reconciliation as the father of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl opens a dialogue between Muslims and Jews to create better understanding between the two faiths.

>> continued from pg 12

work. “[The documentary] is a gate-way to learning the commonalities between three major religions. I hope you enjoy watching the documentary just as we enjoyed making it,” he said. “Three Faiths, One God” captures a broad range of voices and ideas of ordinary people and respected scholars in the interfaith field. The program con-

....

Earlier in December, the documentary was aired all across the United States on PBS stations. Following the documentary, a small discussion was led by the filmmakers

Despite this, these good relations have fostered mutual caring. According to Khan, at the local homeless shelter, during Christmas, masjid volunteers take over so that their Christian neighbors can take time off for their holiday. The center has just hired Shaykh Abdul Rahman Khan as Imam, a graduate of Madinah University. Originally from Guyana, Imam Khan, formerly of Villa Park Islamic Center in Chicago also served at the Islamic Society of Baltimore as principal of Al-Rahmah School. The masjid caters to more than 50 Muslim families. There are two other mussallahs in the area."We will probably need a bigger place in the future, [based] on the Increasing numbers during Isha and Fajr. We may buy more land next door [but] we haven't really finalized the plan for the future. We want to grow [and] eventually have a full time Islamic school," said Abid. Being a part of a national organization like ICNA has opened up doors for the masjid. The masjid is run by an ICNA local chapter. All members of the board are required to understand the mission and policies, and join ICNA's general assembly. "Zahid Bukhari the National President lives in Maryland and Naeem Baig, ICNA's Vice-President lives in Sterling, VA, so we are very connected. They attend our BOD meetings and advise us," shared Abid Abid finds the ICNA masajid organized and interconnected. ICNA provides interest-free loans as well as guidance.

answering questions and taking comments from the guests. “I feel the film as way to reach to everyone in our society who thinks we are different from each other,” Rizwan Siddiqi, President of the Howard County Muslim Council said. “It helps eliminate the little doubt that many have about Jews, Christians, or Muslims. As a Muslim, it gives me satisfaction that we have something to convince people that we are peace-loving people as opposed to the image that has been created of us in the society by the extremists … I think we should hold screenings in our individual communities to make people

Discussions of goal-setting, help with expenses and analysis are all perks of being an ICNA masjid. "We are always able to go to them, for example when [the masjid] needed a $100,000 loan.," says Abid. They push out a certain agenda for halaqahs,with topics that focus on current events like dealing with attacks on Shariah. Other benefits include new ideas, the Young Muslim program and nationally recognized humanitarian efforts. Abid mentioned that he never personally had any issues with working with ICNA."They are open minded. I am 28 years old, so anyone who is committed can be part of the board," said Abid. There are no strict age limits or degree requirements. When asked if people in the community who are not a part of ICNA have any issues with their masjid being labeled as an ICNA masjid, Abid said "some people are independent, but the vast majority just need a place to pray and read Qur'an and leave. We have had some issues come up in the past, but we have included [those members] in our BOD community meetings. The community is invited to board meetings; we are inclusive in our decision making process. We need suggestions, advice, and criticism as we are connected to the community. " The administration believes that input and good advice from these community members gives effective results. "The [people] running our school are not part of ICNA [and] we have allowed them to do that, we have no problems with non-ICNA members."

be aware of other religions around us,” said Siddiqi. The film is available in Arabic and has been distributed throughout United States. “Our goal was to not just [to] facilitate a food drive,” organizer Ms. Zidan explained. “[We wanted] to also foster a dialogue in order to understand each other. And we were able to achieve that today. I am thankful for my fellow commissioners’ efforts in distributing the information about tonight’s event to their networks,” she said.

January 18th - February 14th 2013

CONTINUED| 17

Capturing ICNA VA Masjid's Official Opening

On right, newly hired Imam of the ICNA VA masjid Sheikh Abdurrahman Khan, who previously served as Imam of Chicago's Islamic Foundation as well as Principal of Baltimore's Al-Rahmah School. Imam Abdurrahman recalled valuable lessons he learned attending Catholic school in his home of British Guyana. Left, ICNA National president Dr. Zahid Bukhari (far left) presents one of several awards to an interfaith leader for supporting the Muslim community while the masjid was being built. All photos by the Muslim Link.

On right, ICNA VA masjid president Rameez Abid accepts a commendation plaque from State Delegate Scott Surovell. The plaque reads: "The House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia hereby offers sincerest congratulations to the Islamic Circle of North America Northern Virginia Chapter in recognition of the completion of the ICNA-Northern Virginia Chapter Mosque." At left, Naeem Baig talks about the history of the ICNA VA masjid and describes ICNA National. "All 37 ICNA chapters across the United States raise their money locally and they spend it locally for the benefit of not just the Muslim community, but all members of the community and society," said Baig, who heads the ICNA Council for Social Justice.

On right, Dar Al-Hijrah Imam Shaker Elsayed describes the role of the masjid in Islam to the inter-faith guests. "At our masjid in Dar Al-Hijrah, I tell our Christian friends 'if you don't take this place as your place, then we've failed to make you feel at home' â&#x20AC;Ś I hope that every visitor today will feel that [the ICNA masjid] is as much yours as it is [the Muslims]," said Imam Shaker. On left, a ribbon cutting ceremony at the end of the inauguration program.

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18 | CONTINUED

January 18th - February 14th 2013

latina

profound understanding of monotheism.

>> continued from pg 1

“Most Latino Muslim converts have had personal experiences with Muslims that first drew them closer to Islam,” he explains. “These Muslims may be their friends, acquaintances, classmates, coworkers, bosses, marriage partners, or others. By interacting with Muslims, a non-Muslim learns about Islamic monotheism for the first time.”

the program’s hotline, 1-877-WhyIslam, a resource for individuals to ask questions about Islam. Morales, a Mexican immigrant and recent convert to Islam, is the national Spanish-language outreach coordinator for WhyIslam, a project of ICNA that disseminates Islamic information nationwide. But Morales is also taking her teachings beyond the border: She recently led a trip to bring Islamic literature, food and clothing to Mexico. Morales is part of a growing movement of immigrant Muslim converts from Latin America – many of whom are women -- who are now helping to bring the religion back to their home countries. Latina Immigrant Women Finding a Place in Islam According to WhyIslam’s 2012 Annual Report, 19 percent of the 2,862 converts it assisted in 2011 were Latinos, and more than half of those (55 percent) were women. These statistics are based on data gathered from the 2,862 converts the organization worked with in 2011. The 2011 U.S. Mosque Survey, which interviewed leaders at a sample of 524 mosques across the country, found that the number of new female converts to Islam had increased 8 percent since 2000, up from 32 percent to 41 percent. The report also found that Latinos accounted for 12 percent of all new converts to Islam in the United States in 2011, a six-percent increase over the year 2000. Morales believes Latina immigrant women are drawn to Islam because of the sense of “belonging” they find within the Muslim community. “Many immigrants are here by themselves and when they come into the mosque and see faces smiling, they feel welcome,” she says. “Islam teaches that a Muslim is a brother to another Muslim, and that brotherhood is very appealing.” Experts say the phenomenon of a growing number of Latino immigrants converting to Islam is due in part to migration trends. Muslims and Latino immigrants are living side by side in urban neighborhoods across the country, in states such

....

Liliana Anaya (lower left) teaching a class in the Othman Ibn Affan mosque in Colombia. Anaya immigrated to the United States to study and took her shahadah while at college. She decided to return to her home country to teach Islam. “I felt that Muslims in [America] are already part of the fabric of the society, but here [in Colombia], we are in the baby steps. If I want something, I have to create it,” she said. Photo courtesy of Muhammad Isa Garcia.

The report also found that Latinos accounted for 12 percent of all new converts to Islam in the United States in 2011, a six-percent increase over the year 2000. as California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois, which according to data from the Migration Policy Institute host the largest number of immigrants from Latin America. Combined, these five states constituted 72.5 percent of the total foreign-born population from Latin America in the United States. According to The American Mosque 2011 Report, these five states also have the highest number of mosques in the U.S., reflect-

tions including the American Muslim Association of North America (AMANA). “More women than men convert, both in AMANA offices and in the mosques in Southern Florida,” Ruiz says. Latina immigrants, he says, can feel exploited both in Latin America and the United States. The higher status afforded women in Islam and their modest dress, he believes, offers a sensible alternative. “I have heard from Latina wom-

Latina immigrants, he says, can feel exploited both in Latin America and the United States. The higher status afforded women in Islam and their modest dress, he believes, offers a sensible alternative. ing a growing Muslim presence there. Wilfredo Ruiz, an attorney and political analyst on the Islamic world, as well as a Muslim chaplain, affirms that women are embracing Islam at a higher rate than men. A native of Puerto Rico, Ruiz converted to Islam in 2003 and currently resides in South Florida, where he works closely with various non-profit organiza-

en saying that they seek protection, and they find [that] protection and respect in Islam,” he says. Juan Galvan, executive director of the Latino-American Dawah Association and author of Latino Muslims: Our Journeys to Islam, believes that Islam also may have a special appeal because it reveals to them what he calls a more

Because Islam emphasizes God’s, or Allah’s, oneness, Galvan says, it presents Latinos with a unique alternative to traditional Christian theologies that accept the existence of holy deities – Jesus, the Holy Spirit, saints and miracle workers -- which are connected to, yet distinct, from God. “While Protestantism may have fewer intermediaries than Catholicism, Latinos come to Islam because they believe in a concept of God that acknowledges Him as the Most Powerful and therefore, needs no son,” says Galvan, who is himself a Mexican-American who converted to Islam in the summer of 2001. Morales’ path to Islam: Mexico to U.S. to Mexico Morales found in Islam after

her own place a turbulent past.

In 1979, Morales’ mother risked crossing the border into the United States illegally and alone, leaving her infant daughter behind in Mexico under her grandmother’s care. When Morales was 5 years old, she was finally reunited with her mother, who by that time had settled in Los Angeles. Mother and daughter gained amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. However, even as a U.S. citizen, Morales recalls feeling out of place. “It was a very difficult adjustment since I did not speak English,” says Morales. “I remember entering the school system and not being able to communicate with my teachers or peers. I wanted to go back home [to Mexico].” Adding to her difficulties, Morales was the victim of years of neglect and abuse at home, and as a pre-teen she was removed from her mother’s custody and placed in foster care and group homes, until ultimately she was able >> latina II Pg 22

January 18th - February 14th 2013

CONTINUED| 19 praying II

>> continued from pg 15

granted the blessings and ease of being 'born' or 'brought up' as a Muslim. Some of my revert friends have to lie to their parents to be able to pray, some can’t pray, some have yet to visit a Masjid, some are threatened on a daily basis and verbally abused. Some have even been disowned to the point that they live with some of my other friends. I’m not going to act like I understand how they feel but it must be so hard when you finally found something your heart warms up to and that very thing is the cause of your family hating you. Just please try to imagine how difficult that must be. Please make dua that Allah makes it easy for all our brothers and sisters who recently accepted Islam, may He bless them with an endless amount of sabr and may He soften the hearts of their parents/family. Keep doing what you do you guys, inshaAllah you’ll all be rewarded for your struggles. We’re thinking of you always." This echoed the feelings that the students at Parkdale have for their friends whose parents have not accepted Islam. At the Muslim Student Association meeting at Parkdale, the boys roll out the bright yellow chart paper to lay out a musallah. Hayat calls the Iqamah, while his younger brother Habeeb leads the salah. Adnan gives a khatirah on the prohibition of wasting time. Their friend, Elon, the popular kid, is also there. A green kufi on his head, he whips out an MP3 player and blasts a lecture by a British shaykh that he listens to online. It is after school hours and Elon can share the faith that he has accepted with his brothers and sisters, without breaking any of Principal Logan's rules.

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a matter of time that the rest of the us will be smothered by them. The names in pink [on the wall] are peace activists in jail...under the [same] material support theory."

fundraiser

>> continued from pg 7

He had taken this message to the packed halls in Detroit, MI, and spoken earlier in the day at the ADAMS Sully Center in Virginia. "These cases hurt the community, and the families that are ostracized," said Meeks. Many of the prisoners were just outspoken critics of the government policy. The Dar al Hijrah crowd nodded a collective nod as they have been targets of the federal law enforcement policy known variously as preemption, prevention, and disruption. Sabri Benkahla, who grew up attending Dar AlHijrah, was one of 11 men accused of training for combat in part by playing paintball in the Virginia. In a new book, The Terror Factor: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War on Terror, journalist Trevor Aaronson explores how the Federal Bureau of Investigation is manufacturing terrorism cases against young men, working like a spy agency to solve cases before they happen. "But how many of these would-be terrorists would have acted were it not for an FBI agent provocateur helping them? Is it possible that the FBI is creating the very enemy we fear?" writes Aaronson. In these cases, the FBI uses one of its more than 15,000 registered informants—many of them criminals, others trying to settle immigration violations—to identify potential terrorists. These agents befriend and conspire with the potential terrorist. The FBI then provides the means necessary for these would-be terrorists to move forward with a plot—in some cases even planting specific ideas for attacks. There are 508 such cases. The FBI deems these are needed prevention tactics and disagrees with the entrapment defenses. The plots are fictional but the intent is real says the FBI. Stephen Downs, Esq., former Chief Attorney of New York State's Division of Ethical Conduct and the co-founder of Project Salam, is following over 800 cases. ProjectSalam.org is an online support and legal advocacy platform, which examines the legal veracity of

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He pointed out there were African American from the 1960s whose names were on the wall. According to Downs, they were given years of solitary confinement to send out a message from the government, to humiliate prisoners and the ideology."It is unfair and barbaric and needs to be stopped," says Downs.

"Two hundred names preemptively prosecuted by the United States government are on this wall," said Khalil Meek, the Executive Director and cofounder of MLFA while pointing to a wall of names of the incarcerated temporarily set up in the main hall at Dar al Hijrah. "Not one person [was] injured by any of them [their alleged crimes were] non-violent and non-lethal. The crime is ideology. This is happening in courts all over the country.” Photo by Muslim Link.

The educational campaigns that NCPCF addresses are two fold, aimed at Muslims and non Muslims. When he speaks at masajid, Downs hopes he can get through to the young men that their loose talk about jihad is the opening that the FBI needs to send an agent provocateur to them. He believes that if his message can reach his non Muslim audience, and they are exposed to how many young men with low IQs and mental health problems have been targeted for years, he could turn public perception. Downs let the community know that they can participate in letter writing campaigns to prisoners, and the families of prisoners who feel marginalized. He described a recent event where several families came together in a social setting. "For the first time they felt that they could speak about the pain that they were suffering," said Downs.

"At least half the talks I give around the country are to peace groups that recognize the Muslim community is like the canary in the coal mine," said Attorney Stephen Downs. "If the Muslim community is suffering because their civil rights have been taken away from them it is only a matter of time that the rest of the us will be smothered by them. The names in pink [on the wall] are peace activists in jail...under the [same] material support theory." cases in which Muslims have been convicted and given extremely long sentences. In his speech, Downs introduced the hall to the work of the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms, of which he is the Executive Director. NCPCF, made up of 20 Muslim and non-Muslim civil groups to complement the work of the MLFA, aims to mobilize public opinion and prevent future cases. Project Salam collaborated to form the

NCPCF, a coalition whose mission is to educate the public about the erosion of civil and political freedoms in the society and the abuses of prisoners within the U.S. criminal justice system especially after 9/11. "At least half the talks I give around the country are to peace groups that recognize the Muslim community is like the canary in the coal mine," Downs explained. "If the Muslim community is suffering because their civil rights have been taken away from them it is only

Raeed N. Tayeh, an MLFA board member and former resident of Northern Virginia, read off names of Muslims from the Falls Church community who were victims of injustice. In Virginia Paintball case, Tayeh recalled the judge stating she knew the defendants had not committed a crime but she was bound to give them the draconian sentence."When the hands of a judge are tied then you should be very afraid," said Tayeh. Tayeh introduced the audience to Jamal Abusamhadaneh; MLFA has successfully spent $80,000 on his landmark citizenship trial. The audience erupted in applause.

>> fundraiser II Pg 26

‫ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬

January 18th - February 14th 2013

CONTINUED| 21

MCC Arabic Language Program

Semester Starts: Saturday February 2, 2013 PROGRAM GOAL: • Meaningful Communication in Spoken and Written Arabic • Comprehension of Arabic Texts including the Quran

Levels (7 semesters total from start, less depending on placement): • Introductory (Letter recognition, vocabulary) • Beginners I and II (Vocabulary, dialogue, reading and some grammar) • Intermediate I and II (All of the above and heavy emphasis on grammar) • Advanced I and II (All of the above, meaningful writing, reading and conversation) CLASS INFORMATION: Classes will be held every Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours each day between 8 AM and 10 AM REGISTRATION: IN-PERSON: Saturday January 26, 2013, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (MCC Library) ONLINE: http://mccmd.org/education/arabic PLACEMENT TEST: FOR NEW STUDENTS Saturday January 26, 2013, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM TUITION: $300 persemester plus $50 registration fee Instructors wanted: The MCC is adding to its panel of qualiied instructors for the Arabic Language Center. Applicants must be proiciant in Arabic and English languages with substantial teaching experience. ALL POSITIONS ARE PAID. Email your resume to education@mccmd.org ....

January 18th - February 14th 2013

22 | CONTINUED latina II

>> continued from pg 18 to settle on her own and finish college. She moved to New York in 2001. Shortly after her relocation, the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurred at the World Trade Center. When news reports blamed Muslim extremists, Morales began to research Islam. “I was watching the news and they were always showing [Muslim] people shouting ‘Allahu-akbar,’ God is great, so I thought, if your God is so great, why is he allowing you to kill people? If Muslims say Islam [is about] peace, then this doesn’t make sense.” She decided to find the answers herself and purchased a copy of the Quran, Islam’s holy book. Morales also began befriending Muslim women on MySpace. “They were so nice, and I became more curious. One of the Muslim women I met happened to be Puerto Rican, and she got in touch with someone in California that could send me an information package about Islam with books, a Quran, a prayer rug, and a hijab [headscarf].” Morales continued to make contact with Muslims through the Internet and searched online for the closest mosque to her new home in North Bergen, New Jersey. She began visiting the mosque and eventually converted in 2003, and continues to be an active member of the North Hudson Islamic Educational Center, or NHIEC. NHIEC is situated in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and 30 percent of its congregants are Latinos. The Latino influence is so great that the mosque offers simultaneous Spanish translation of its Friday sermons and Islamic studies classes, and even hosts an annual “Hispanic Muslim Day.” During one of her visits to the NHIEC mosque in 2009, a WhyIslam worker overheard Morales speaking Spanish and he asked her if she would be interested in a bilingual position with the company. “I asked [God] to please send me a job where I would be able to worship and wear my veil. I knew right then my prayer was being answered,” says Morales. She has been working with them for more than three years, and recently led a cam-

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paign to deliver Islamic literature and audio, clothing, and toiletries to a needy Muslim community in Mexico City. Morales’ family members in Mexico, who are mostly Catholic, were not accepting of her decision to practice Islam or of her modest style of dress. They accused her of turning her back on her culture. However, in her most recent trip to her hometown of Cuernavaca, she took the opportunity to talk to them more about her religion.

stress, and after browsing the Internet and finding a YouTube video of Quran recitation, she decided to look into Islam. Her best friend, who was Puerto Rican, had already become a Muslim, and Duarte followed in her footsteps.

Far from Home: Living as an undocumented Latina Muslim in Chicago

She attended the local Islamic center to openly declare her faith and was warmly received by the women in the mosque, who gave her scarves, books, and a copy of the Quran. Now as an immigrant and a Muslim, she continues to struggle with her status. “This is my home. Chicago has been my home and I don’t recall any other,” she says when asked about returning to Mexico. But she has found a community among other Latino Muslims, and participates regularly in events held by the Latino Muslims of Chicago, an Islamic group that serves the needs of Latinos.

“Mexican Americans are the category of Latinos that make up the largest percentage of the Latino Muslim converts in the U.S.,” says Juan Galvan. Since 9/11, Muslims and Latinos, especially Mexicans, have been affected by stricter immigration laws throughout the United States.

Limited by her immigration status, however, her own local outreach efforts cannot expand beyond her immediate family so she reaches out to others through her Facebook page, where she posts information about Islam in the form of articles and videos.

In Chicago, Illinois, Isabela Duarte, a Mexican immigrant and Muslim convert, lives in fear as a result. Duarte, who is now 30, has been in the United States since the age of 7, but she is still undocumented. Her family crossed the border and moved to Chicago in 1990. She was able to attend school as her parents worked.

Muslims Back Home

“It is obvious that Islam is still very strange in Mexico,” Morales said, “But it is also very clear that people want to learn about it.” Since her visit she says her family has become more supportive.

When she finished high school, Duarte was left with no other choice but to work. “I figured that there was no possibility of furthering my education because I’d lack assistance due to my status,” she explains. She landed an administrative position in a social services agency. However, as a result of the recession and state cuts, Duarte lost her job. “That’s when my real struggles began. I searched for jobs everywhere. Immigration laws became tougher; therefore most places of employment denied me any type of opportunity regardless of the experience I had.” She settled for babysitting jobs, where she could be paid under the table. In the winter of 2008, while her parents, who are still undocumented, faced foreclosure, unemployment, and a divorce, Duarte had an emotional breakdown. She began searching for a remedy for her

According to the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life, over the next 20 years, the only region where the percentage increase in the number of Muslims will be greater than it was over the last 20 years is the Americas, largely due to immigration to the U.S. and Canada from South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. In North and South America, the estimated Muslim population in 2010 was 5,256,000. This number is expected to more than double by the year 2030. Liliana Anaya, a Muslim convert from Colombia and a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., is familiar with the trend. The mosque in her hometown, Barranquilla, Colombia, reports an average of four conversions a month. Anaya’s journey as a Latina immigrant in America began when she was in college. She entered the United States on a student visa and transferred to Rollins University in Orlando, Florida to study English and complete her undergraduate degree in political science and international relations. Anaya converted to Islam in June

2002 after taking a course on theology. When a Muslim classmate told her that Jesus was not the son of God, she began reading the Quran and called a local mosque to find out more. “I wanted to refute him and prove him wrong,” she says. “It was more of an act of rebellion because in my mind, I never really believed Jesus was God’s son. I thought he was just a special person who came with a message.” After taking classes in the mosque and learning about Jesus’ standing as a prophet in Islam, she declared her testimony of faith. After finishing her undergraduate studies, Anaya attended American University to complete a Master’s Degree in international peace and conflict resolution. She got a job at a non-profit organization offering mediation for criminal, district, and county court systems in northern Virginia. During this time, she met her husband, a Muslim convert from Argentina, and together they applied for U.S. citizenship. While Anaya was expecting their first child, she decided to travel back to her country to give birth. After their arrival, she and her husband discovered the Othman bin Affan Mosque in Barranquilla, a small Muslim community that lacked adequate resources. Because Anaya’s husband had earned a degree in Islamic Propagation from Umm Al Qura University in Saudi Arabia, they became involved in the mosque, organizing and teaching classes. “I felt that Muslims in the states are already part of the fabric of the society,” Anaya describes, “But here [in Colombia], we are in the baby steps. If I want something, I have to create it. If I want Islamic classes for my children, I have to create them.” Anaya and her husband are now in the process of establishing an Islamic school for the Muslims in Barranquilla, and both have renounced the possibility of settling in the U.S., due to their involvement with the mosque in Colombia. “The Muslim community here needs us, so we can’t move,” Anaya says. This story was made possible by a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies, and was produced as part of New America Media’s Women Immigrants Fellowship Program.

January 18th - February 14th 2013

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>> continued from pg 5

history classes in public schools. Most of the people present agreed that the public education system in America has an impact, which can be perceived as negative at times, based on how children build their character, and how they are raised within the system. Uzma Rasheed, who was also involved with Saturday School and continues to work with the youth, added that books, T.V., magazines and media as a whole plays a major role in impacting the youth and everyone in general. Hasan, who is also a mother of three children, two of which are in elementary school, said, “we knew we were coming to a western country and our

goal was to make the best of what we had.” Luckily, there are programs for children at ADAMS to gain Islamic knowledge. Sunday School (CEP) is open for children who are between ages four to twelve. Quran school, Girl scouts, Boy scouts, and Cub scouts are also active programs. Moreover, Radiant Hearts Academy is a day school at ADAMS available to Pre K and up to second grade homeschoolers.

health

well. She was glad to have found that more and more people were interested in the issues by the end of the night. She felt she had accomplished her goal of the night. Many women had asked for her contact information and she said that nothing could please her more than helping the community.

Dr. Aziz was in praise of the seminar as

Rasheed added, “It should be to encourage youth and adults to learn as a characteristic of themselves.”

“I think most mosques are realizing the need for a central point, goal and foundation to foster education,” said Hasan. The mission now for the proposed committee is to unite all educational programs under a theme and purpose to further improve the system and make it more efficient and beneficial to all. As Ahmad said, “we need to keep planting the seed, watering it, and in due time, it will grow.”

During the meeting, Unus expressed a deep concern that only 30% of the Mus-

He explored the exegesis with relevant everyday examples, relating modern life to the times of Aasia (may Allah's mercy and blessings be on her) and the messengers that were spoken about in Surah Yaseen.

that not only me, but my fellow friends here gained something out of tonight’s seminar,” said Atta.

Therefore, more discussions and meetings will occur to finalize the committee.

Therefore, the meeting’s goal was to establish a central purpose for educa-

As he explained the language of the Surah Yaseen, verse by verse, Shaykh Abdul Nasir told the students that "when Allah takes an oath, Allah is leveraging the credibility of what we already know to another credibility." The

>> continued from pg 5

Hasan said, “I think the main purpose should be to build character to survive in institutions like the family.”

Overall, the collective response was that the central purpose of education at ADAMS should include building character, encouraging positive behavioral change, promoting productive citizenship and to learn about Islamic history and origins.

salAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and the reality of the Akhirah.

>> continued from pg 4

lims in the ADAMS area are coming to the Mosque. With a strong education program and coordination, this very well may increase the number of attendees.

The Education Oversight Committee is in the process of forming. Eventually, whoever is chosen to be on the committee would have to report to the Board of Trustees and develop a mission statement/policy which all educational programs at ADAMS would adhere to.

composite qualities of Aziz and Rahman (confident + merciful) were used for Allah, Al-Nabi, and Al-Quran. "Allah uses the credibility of the Qur’an to establish the credibility of the Prophet (salAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam)."

yaseen

tion at ADAMS. Unus proposed a question to the attendees, “we are spending money and time on these educational programs, what is it that we are trying to achieve?”

"This was such an amazing and beneficial course. The deep spiritual connections and analogies were mind blowing. Could not have spent Saturday doing anything better. Jazakumullahu Khairan for bringing this course to MCC," Sarah K. wrote on the Facebook event page for this event. The only criticism echoed through the attendees was that since the event was advertised as a family event, quality

“I am really glad that we finally had something like this tonight. I learned a lot from tonight’s session and I hope to gain more in the future if we plan to host such events in the future. I just wish we had something like this before but never-the-less it’s better late than

babysitting services and a on-site lunch option would have made it easier for the attendees to concentrate solely on the class. Shaykh Abdul Nasir will be teaching Accepted Supplications, a powerful weekend seminar that educates students on the etiquette of making dua along with the beauty of their meanings at the Islamic Society of Baltimore over the weekend of February 8th, 2013.

never,” said one young attendee who requested anonymity. Isha prayers followed to bring the night to a successful close. Considering that it was a pot-luck, the food was delicious and truly reflected the efforts of the whole community.

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>> continued from pg 7

attendance also participated in a rally at the U.S. Supreme Court earlier in the day. At the Supreme Court, Witness Against Torture was joined with Amgermantown

>> continued from pg 6

Allah," said Imam Ammar Najjar in an interview with the Muslim Link. ISG purchased one acre of land with a full payment of $300,000. Water and sewer management were completed and fully paid off for a total of $130,000. "The work on the [public water and sewage] line to ISG started in 2004 and ended in 2006. That line is from the intersection of 355 and Middlebrook all the way to the masjid property, roughly 500-600 feet long line," said Najjar. Delays occurred when ISG combined

CONTINUED | 25 nesty International (AIUSA), the Center for Constitutional Rights(CCR), the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), and others ISNA National Director Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed joined the prayer service to share an Islamic perspective on the issue of torture. "Our Prophet Muhammad tells three parcels of land which they purchased for the masjid to acquire what is called a Record Plat. ISG has resubmitted building plans. The Record Plat is expected to be completed by the end of January and upon one final payment of $5000 ISG will also complete the Architectural plan. "Our building plans were resubmitted to the Department of Permitting Services in the first week of December. We are hoping by the end of this month to finalize them in sha Allah, that includes our Architectural Plans as well," said Najjar. "The response of the community is that they are excited of course [about] the

us that a woman who, despite whatever piety she may have had, entered the hellfire because she kept a cat confined for so long without food or water that it died. If we as Muslims must give this much priority to a cat, imagine the extent to which we must prioritize providing basic rights to human beings. Torture is something which could never be progress,"said Najjar. He says the community understands that delays were caused by the county process. However, there are some longtime Germantown residents who gave up on the project after being longtime supporters. There are also some concerns in the community about the size of the proposed building and the challenge of accommodating the ever growing Muslim population in Germantown. Najjar thinks the community should build this center, allow it to run, and then look to expansion. "Location is prime compared to the size plus the larger the project the more [financial] load on the community," says Najjar who is managing the project. As far the non-Muslim neighbors, Najj-

permissible in Islam." "Guantánamo Bay is a symbol of our nation’s use of torture," stated the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. "Closing the detention facility at Guantánamo is one of the steps needed to end U.S.-sponsored torture forever.”

ar said he only heard one concern raised regarding noise and that would be addressed in the approved site plan. Construction is expected to start in May 2013. "My message to everyone who can read my statement is that this project has overcome tremendous obstacles and many challenges by the grace of Allah. Soon we will have our building permit to start the construction of our masjid, in sha Allah. How long will this take us to complete? That depends on your financial support," says Imam Najjar. For more information on the project or to donate, visit www.isgtown.org.

• Ages 4 to Adults • Reading, Memorization & Tajweed • Part-Time Hifzh Program College Park, MD

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26 | CONTINUED

Haris Chaudhry, 9, of Laurel, a fourth-grader at Montpelier Elementary (far right) and his teammates secure a spot in the elementary school quarterfinals for the Prince George's County Science Bowl. They are hoping for a victory in the weekly game show which is televised on TV channels 96/38. Can you answer this question? While the femur is the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest bone, the sartorius, running from the ilium to the top of the tibia, is the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest what? Photo courtesy of the Gazette. fundraiser II

>> continued from pg 20

At the event held at Dar Al Hijrah, the speakers made a case for the Muslim Legal Fund. " We believe in Ikram al Muslimeen, loving for your brother what you love for yourself, including liberty [and] justice," said Meeks. Imam Shaker Elsayed came up to the podium and told the congregation that the MLFA and NCPCF were his honored guests and soon after the funds started flowing in. He reminded them that one of the uses of zakah is the freeing of prisoners. "We don't want your money while you are scared, give with confidence," said Tayeh. The Dar Al Hijrah community under-

stood the MLFA's vison and a significant amount of money was raised on. 'After hearing these stories, I think they could target our communities' youth next," whispered one sister as she signed the pledge form. The organizers introduced Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University for his keynote address. Dr. Ramadan himself was a victim of the Patriot Act. In 2004, Ramadan had accepted a job to become a tenured professor at the University of Notre Dame, but days before his arrival, the Bush administration revoked his visa. "Ask yourself, you are Muslim. no one is preventing you from learning about your religion. How much time are you giving to your mind, to your heart, at

the end of the day we can sit down and blame the government, blame everyone. Before asking them to like us what are we doing to respect ourselves. Say La ililla ha illalah and liberate yourself from ignorance," said Ramadan, captivating the audience. Shahawar Matin Siraj's mother, Shahin Parvez was at the MLFA event clutching a frayed handwritten letter, folded and unfolded a thousand times from informant, Osama Al Dawoodi. The letter stated that he had never received the entire money promised to him by the FBI. A look of worn desperation in her eyes, Shahin pointed to several more women in the room, some with babies in their arms, others networking with activists; all wanting justice and someone to hear their story. "My son is innocent. Maybe

not having a child would have been better than this torture,"said Shahin. Siraj, who was convicted in a plot to bomb the New York Subway in 2007, has an IQ of 78. His lawyer Martin Stolar expected to win an acquittal through the entrapment defense but Siraj was given a 30 year sentence. Not much as changed over the past 5 years when Stolar said that the FBI is creating crimes to solve crimes so they can claim a victory in the war on terror. This event was a blunt reminder that when the civil liberties of one group of citizens are threatened and people are convicted based on ideology and thought crimes, it sets up legal precedents which endanger the entire country's freedoms.

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Community Announcements Eman 'Abdur-Rahman,daughter of Umar Abdur Rahman, a junior at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD was welcomed into the National Honor Society at an Induction Ceremony on November 14, 2012. NHS is more than just an honor roll. Each Honor Society chapter establishes rules for membership that are based upon a student's outstanding performance in the areas of: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character). These criteria for selection form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are built. Her hard work and diligence are manifested by the honor they bestowed upon her. Brother Umar and his family are very proud of her achievements. Mabrook Eman, may Allah bless your educational journey and make you a source of blessings for all your brothers and sisters in Islam ! The nomination process for the 2013 NHS Scholarship Program is now open. The deadline for the student portion of the nomination form is January 28, 2013. The Muslim Link encourages students to make use of all programs that can benefit our communities. If someone in your family has been honored received a promotion or a scholarship, please send us an email at announcements@muslimlinkpaper.com

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28 | CIVIL RIGHTS

Civil Rights

January 18th - February 14th 2013

Anti-Muslim Violence Spiraling Out Of Control In America On the evening of December 27, an Indian immigrant to America named Sunando Sen was pushed by a stranger onto the subway tracks in New York City and struck and killed by an oncoming train. Sen had called New York home for years, and after years of hard work and struggle had recently managed to achieve his lifelong goal of opening a small business of his own, a copy shop in Upper Manhattan. His roommate, MD Khan expressed shock at the death of his friend, a soft spoken man who liked to stay up late watching comedy shows and listening to music: "He was so nice, gentle and quietâ&#x20AC;Ś It's broken my heart." The following day, the NYPD announced the arrest of Erika Menendez, a 31-year-old woman who had been spotted on security footage fleeing the scene after Sen had been pushed. Upon being detained and taken to a 112th Precinct police station for questioning, Menendez confessed to Sen's murder and revealed as her motivation a desire to commit violence against Muslims. As she told detectives: "I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks because I hate Hindus and Muslimsâ&#x20AC;Ś Ever since 2001 when they put down the Twin Towers, I've been beating them up." Sunando Sen was not a Muslim, but as a brown-skinned foreigner living in the United States, he was targeted and killed in an act of hate which is the byproduct of an ongoing campaign of bigotry and demonisation against Muslims living in America. Muslim-Americans, as well as Hindus, Sikhs and others who purportedly "look Muslim" have been humiliated, assaulted and in many cases murdered by individuals often galvanised to violence by politicians and media figures who have enthusiastically engaged in public hate-

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of his rhetoric. A man opened fire on an Illinois mosque while it was packed with hundreds of congregants for Ramadan. The next day, another mosque was hit with an acid bomb thrown at a window while worshippers had gathered for night services. Despite these attacks against Illinois Muslims in the wake of his statements, Walsh steadfastly refused to apologise for his rhetoric demonising the MuslimAmericans and instead doubled-down on his blanket accusations against them, a reflection of the mainstream acceptability of anti-Muslim rhetoric by political figures in the US today. mongering against the Muslim community in the country.

edly plunging a knife into his victims' body.

Anti-Muslim violence increases

Far from being aberrations, these incidents are in line with national statistics which show anti-Muslim violence in America nearing record highs, a trend which comes in tandem with highly public campaigns against mosque construction as well as fear-mongering by politicians and media figures regarding alleged plots by Muslim-Americans to override the constitution and impose Islamic law on the country.

The 9/11 attacks precipitated a surge in hate crimes, but even as the events themselves recede further into history, the level of hatred and violence directed at Muslim communities is paradoxically increasing. Within the past month, in New York alone, police have suspected racial hatred as being the motive behind several crimes. This includes a string of murders specifically targeting Middle Eastern storekeepers in Brooklyn, the last of whom, a 78-year old Iranian immigrant named Rahmatollah Vahidipour, was shot to death while closing his boutique and whose lifeless body was then dragged to a backroom and covered over with merchandise from his store. Within the same week as Vahidipour's murder another Muslim man was viciously beaten by two men who preceded their attack by asking him whether he was "a Hindu or a Muslim", while another man was stabbed several times outside of a mosque in a random attack by an assailant who screamed "I'm going to kill you Muslim", while repeat-

The US election cycle also saw Muslims used as convenient targets for politicians seeking office, with one example being incumbent Illinois House of Representatives Republican Joe Walsh who told a cheering crowd at a campaign rally that "Muslims are here trying to kill Americans everyday", before making a baseless and highly incendiary claim that radical Islam had "infiltrated" the Chicago suburbs and that Muslims there were planning an attack that would "make 9/11 look like child's play". While working the crowd into hysterics was a convenient campaign strategy for Walsh, just days later the Muslim community experienced the consequences

Indeed the use of Muslims as a punching bag by opportunistic politicians seeking a minority group to scapegoat has become a regular feature of American political life which shows no signs of abating, despite the "trickledown" effect by which this bigotry is now manifesting itself in real violence against innocent Muslim-Americans on a regular basis. Behind this hatemongering lies a deep cynicism, as leading anti-Muslim politicians such as Newt Gingrich who have warned of "stealth jihad" and other nefarious plots by Muslims in America were within recent years helping facilitate Sharia-compliant finance programmes in the country and who maintained notably cordial relations with prominent Muslim leaders. Political hatemongering With Muslim-bashing becoming politically fashionable in recent years, politicians such as Gingrich have markedly changed their tune and it has been to the detriment of Muslim-Americans, as well as to the general level of social cohesion and tolerance in the country.

>> ANti-Muslim Pg 32

January 18th - February 14th 2013

ISLAM | 29

Islam

The Very Real Benefits of Believing In the Unseen By Sadaf Farooqui OnIslam.net Imagine attending an event where everything, from the carpets, to the drapery, to the furniture, dish-ware, cutlery, floral arrangements, to the lighting, color coordination and menu are no less than pictureperfect! Besides enjoying the perfect environs, what else are you sure the guests would do? They will undoubtedly inquire about who or which company arranged and managed the event so impeccably. The more highclass and sophisticated the cuisine, decor and ambiance, the greater the received praise for the organizers and event managers who brought it all together. The same can be said for any perfectly made, exotic culinary dish or dessert; a classy and visually appealing dress or outfit, or any other product of human ingenuity and creativity: the more valuable and finished the end-product, the greater the praise it will get, and the higher esteem, demand, and value will its ‘creator’ garner and enjoy.

It is no wonder then that the “designers” who make it big in their respective industries regardless of what they design or create - be it clothing, home interiors, civic infrastructure, furniture, jewelry, food, hairstyles, technological gadgetry, or scientific inventions - are recognized and respected through and because of their created products. The more faultfree, visually appealing, smoothly func-

thing just automatically fell into place on its own, without anyone calling the shots. Would you expect anyone with a sane mind to believe this story? Any eye that observes and any receptive heart that reflects, can easily ‘find’ Him and believe in Him. Analogically, God has created whatever

One of the remarkable qualities of those who believe in the Unseen is how they remain calm and unruffled in face of both extreme grief or euphoric joy. tional and beneficial for general use the latter are, the more value, money, respect, demand and awe will its designer be able to demand and receive. Now imagine if when the guests at the beautifully decorated event inquire which company or individual created the idea behind it and then succeeded in practically executing it so perfectly, they are told that no one did anything; rather, every-

is in the heavens and the earth, and He has done an awe-inspiring perfect job of creation that takes one’s breath away, even if one ponders upon only the most microscopic, minuscule aspect of one of His creations, such as the structure of a single human cell, or the intricate way the wing of a mosquito is made. The Creator has spread all of the signs of His powers around us, which point clear-

ly to His omnipotence and omnipresence, beholding which, any eye that observes and any receptive heart that reflects, can easily ‘find’ Him and believe in Him, without even seeing Him. What is Al-Ghaib? The Arabic word “ghaib” means that which is absent, hidden, remote, distant or concealed, beyond the reach of perception by sense or mental abilities. (Lane’s Lexicon) The above example was actually an analogy for the Islamic faith in the Unseen, or “Al-Ghaib” - that which is not physically perceptible or visible. Al-Ghaib (The Unseen) forms a foundational basis of a Muslim’s creed, upon which their outwardly righteous actions are based, and upon the purity and correctness of which, they will be granted acceptance and fruition by God: {This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance for those who are conscious (of Allah). Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend >> unseen Pg 30

BE KIND. IT WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER Aishah (radhi ta'ala unha) said: "The Messenger of Allah (sallahu alayhiwassallam) said: 'When Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) wills some good towards the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them.'" (Reported by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad, 6/71; Sahih al-Jami, 303) According to another report: "When Allah loves the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them." (Reported by Ibn Abi al-Dunya and others; Sahih al-Jami, 1704) In other words, they start to be kind to one another. This is one of the means of attaining happiness in the home, for kindness is very beneficial between the spouses, and with the children, and it brings results that cannot be achieved through harshness, as the Prophet (sallahu alyhiwassalam.) said: "Allah loves kindness and rewards it in such a way that He does not reward for harshness or for anything else." (Reported by Muslim, Kitaab al-Birr wa'l-Sillah wa'l-Aadaab, 2592)

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

30 | CONTINUED unseen

>> continued from pg 29

out of what We have provided for them;} (Al-Baqarah 2: 2-3) Abu Jafar Al-Razi quoted Al-Rabi` ibn Anas, reporting from Abu Al-Aliyah about God's statement, {Those who have faith in the Al-Ghaib}, “They believe in Allah, His angels, Books, Messengers, the Last Day, His Paradise, Fire and in the meeting with Him. They also believe in life after death and in Resurrection. All of this is the Ghaib.'' (Tafsir ibn Kathir) As Muslims, the basic foundation of our faith lies upon our belief in a deity that we cannot see, hear, or feel - Allah, the one and only God, - and the other beings or entities created by Him that we can also not see, hear, or feel, such as His angels, Divine revelation, Paradise and Hell Fire, the Hereafter of which the life in the grave or “barzakh” is also a part, and the Preserved Tablet, to name a few. There is one additional aspect of believing in the Unseen and that applies only to those Muslims who believed in and loved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) without having seen him or met him, which includes us. For such, there is greater reward for believing in him than those who lived with him and witnessed him receive the Divine revelation right in their midst. This means that for us, Prophet Muhammad too, is part of believing in the Unseen. How Believing In Al-Ghaib Affects the Muslim Since the life of this world is a test, it would not hold any meaning had each human being been able to clearly see and hear God, and then promptly believed in Him as the one and only God. If God were to reveal Himself in His full majesty, all of mankind would fall into prostration and believe in Him without even a moment’s hesitation or shadow of a doubt. So God hid Himself and all His mighty powers behind a curtain of the Unseen, but left His signs everywhere for mankind to ponder, reflect upon and seek Him through. He then intermittently sent His Messengers and revealed His Scriptures to guide mankind on how to dwell on earth according to His commands to gain His ultimate pleasure.

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Those who believe in God, His angels, Books, past Prophets, and the hereafter without having seen Him, are very different from those who do not believe; who deny the omnipresence of one God and the components of the unseen. Below are a few of the effects that their faith in the Unseen has upon their lives and persons: Detachment from the World and What’s in It: Indifference to Worldly Gain The life of this world is full of outward glitter and material blessings, which mankind covets and pursues in order to maximize their comforts, pleasures and enjoyment of this life.

the life of this world. They find it difficult to quell their greed for material wealth, and constantly work hard to achieve these tangible goals during the short life of this world. Believers in the Unseen however, practice “delayed gratification”. They do every good deed, small or big, hidden or open, out of a conviction of receiving reward for it in the hereafter. On the same token, they also abstain from, and regularly repent for, evil deeds, unintentional wrongdoings and sins, out of fear of God (not out of fear of anyone else), whom they believe to be all-knowing, all-aware. Because of this, they do not commit injustices or crimes even in the absence of law enforcing agencies or ruling authorities.

The ever-tempting world calls mankind towards itself, but its reality turns out to be the exact opposite of its outer facade, leaving nothing but a feeling of emptiness inside the one who lusts after it. The ever-present reality of death often does little to thwart this “hot pursuit” among most people. However, the believer whose heart is firmly convinced of the Unseen i.e. the eternal, permanent life of the hereafter; who fears the accountability and retribution therein, possesses and displays a consistent praiseworthy emotional detachment to the temporary and frivolous enjoyments and pleasures of the life of this world. Consistency and Steadfastness upon Good Actions Based on Unswerving Conviction People who have no belief in God or the Last Day, do whatever they want, as, when, and how they want to. Some of them refrain from doing anything wrong out of fear of worldly authorities or law enforcement agencies, but the minute these latter forces become ineffective, they commit crimes or breaches against the law, wronging others in a frenzied state of lust, anger, hunger, or greed. As the flip side of the same coin, such who do not believe in the Unseen (in particular, the eternal blessings of the Last Day that will never wane), end up loving and coveting the material provisions, luxuries and other tangible blessings of

As a result, one of the greatest impacts of believing in the Unseen that is apparent on sincere believers is their consistency and steadfastness upon doing good and abstaining from evil, in public or in private, even where no one else besides God can see them. Moderation in Expressions of Joy and Grief Believing in the Unseen, such as the eternal joys and torments in the hereafter, enables and empowers believers to undermine those in this world as insignificant, trivial, and most of all, transient and temporary in nature. One of the remarkable qualities of those who believe in the Unseen is how they remain calm and unruffled in face of both extreme grief or euphoric joy. During the former, they practice patience and forbearance to gain the pleasure of God, keeping their trust and hope in Him to grant imminent relief from distress and ease after adversity. And during phases of pleasure and happiness in which they receive worldly blessings of any sort, they remain cool and collected in their expression of joy,

thanking God in their hearts for granting them happiness, and expressing their gratitude through their external faculties moderately, by not doing anything to enjoy themselves that could anger God, break His rules, or cross His limits. Total Reliance upon the Creator, No Expectations from Creation As if all the above effects of believing in the Unseen are not incredible enough, this belief also “frees” a believer from having expectations of perfection from God's creation. What this means in layman’s terms is, that by putting their complete trust in God only, a believer never gets disappointed when people, due to their human shortcomings, limited intellect and weaknesses/failings, time and again let him down, or behave in a manner contrary to, or lower than, what he expected from them. A person who believes in preordainment (which is also a part of belief in the Unseen) knows that whatever benefit or loss he or she will encounter in life was written in his or her decree by God. For example, if death or loss overtakes their family suddenly, they will not lament the apparent, physical, worldly causes of this sad occurrence, but instead, accept it as the decree of God that came to pass despite full human efforts to avert it. Conclusion Believing in the Unseen embodies the antithesis of the apparent but deceptive glitter, glamor, and attractiveness that God has cloaked over the life of this world as a test of faith. The ever-tempting world calls mankind towards itself, but its reality turns out to be the exact opposite of its outer facade, leaving nothing but a feeling of emptiness inside the one who lusts after it. As for belief in the Unseen, it might outwardly appear to be ‘illogical’ to the disbelievers (who scoff at those who give up worldly enjoyment in obedience of a God they cannot even see), boring, unenjoyable and dull as a way of life, but it is actually the best way to live in this world, as it brings tranquility upon the soul, happiness to the heart, and peace to the mind, freeing the self from pursuit of base desires and temptations, and turning it unswervingly towards the submission and worship of its Creator.

January 18th - February 14th 2013

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

32 |

Salaah times for January 18th - February 14th, 2013

If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it fi ve times a day, do you think he would have any fi lth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, “That is like the fi ve daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them.”

---Hadith in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim Prayer times generated from www.islamicfinder.com for the WASHINGTON, DC area.

anti-Muslim

>> continued from pg 28

In addition to political hatemongering, the past several years have seen a highly organised and well-funded group of anti-Muslim activists who have been sponsoring campaigns targeting Muslims across the country. Leading figures in this movement such as Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer have led a crusade to vilify Muslims throughout the country and to exclude them from public life through campaigns of smears and hate-mongering which have cast Muslim-Americans as an insidious fifth column within the country. Their views have gotten considerable popular attention, and thanks to a docu-

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Date

Hijri

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

Jan 18

6/3

6:06

7:23

12:19

2:55

5:14

6:32

Sat

7/3

6:06

7:23

12:19

2:56

5:15

6:33

Sun

8/3

6:06

7:22

12:20

2:57

5:16

6:34

Mon

9/3

6:05

7:22

12:20

2:58

5:18

6:35

Tue

10/3

6:05

7:21

12:20

2:59

5:19

6:36

Wed

11/3

6:05

7:21

12:20

2:59

5:19

6:36

Thu

12/3

6:04

7:21

12:21

3:00

5:20

6:37

Fri

13/3

6:03

7:19

12:21

3:02

5:22

6:39

Sat

14/3

6:02

7:19

12:21

3:03

5:23

6:40

Sun

15/3

6:02

7:18

12:21

3:04

5:24

6:41

Mon

16/3

6:01

7:17

12:22

3:05

5:26

6:42

Tue

17/3

6:00

7:16

12:22

3:06

5:27

6:43

Wed

18/3

6:00

7:15

12:22

3:07

5:28

6:44

Thu

19/3

5:59

7:15

12:22

3:08

5:29

6:45

Fri

Feb 1

20/3

5:58

7:14

12:22

3:09

5:30

6:46

Sat

21/3

5:57

7:13

12:22

3:10

5:31

6:47

Sun

22/3

5:57

7:12

12:22

3:11

5:33

6:48

Mon

23/3

5:56

7:11

12:23

3:11

5:34

6:49

Tue

24/3

5:55

7:10

12:23

3:12

5:35

6:50

Wed

25/3

5:54

7:09

12:23

3:13

5:36

6:51

Thu

26/3

5:54

7:09

12:23

3:13

5:36

6:51

Fri

27/3

5:53

7:08

12:23

3:14

5:37

6:52

Sat

28/3

5:51

7:06

12:23

3:16

5:40

6:54

Sun

29/3

5:50

7:04

12:23

3:17

5:41

6:55

Mon

1/4

5:49

7:03

12:23

3:18

5:42

6:56

Tue

2/4

5:48

7:02

12:23

3:19

5:43

6:58

Wed

3/4

5:47

7:01

12:23

3:20

5:44

6:59

Thu

4/4

5:46

7:00

12:23

3:21

5:45

7:00

mented network of funders and media associates they have managed to bring their message to people across the United States. In the past few months, a major controversy erupted when Geller's anti-Muslim organisation sponsored the placement of Islamophobic advertisements at major subway stations in New York as well as in other cities across the country. Some advertisements depicted pictures of the 9/11 attacks with verses from the Quran superimposed, while others called Muslims "savages" and implored people to "fight Jihad". While the campaign has been challenged by many liberal commentators, including one infamous incident in which EgyptianAmerican activist Mona Eltahawy was arrested for attempting to cover a sign with pink spray paint, they continue to

run across the country and to spread a message of indiscriminate, vitriolic hatred towards Muslim-Americans in a manner unlikely to be tolerated were it to pertain to any other minority group. While correlation does not necessarily imply causation, the question must be asked - what effect do advertisements such as these have on the psyches' of people such as Erika Menendez? Was Sunando Sen, a law-abiding, hardworking immigrant who had given his life to achieving the American dream and who was pushed to his death by a woman who "hated Muslims" a direct victim of this campaign of bigotry? That he lost his life on the same subway system which for months has played host to hateful, incendiary advertisements such as Geller's is a tragic irony but is in many ways the natural result of a national culture of anti-Muslim bigotry that has become mainstream in both

politics and popular culture. The sad, inescapable truth is that Sen will likely not be the last victim of the accelerating phenomena of violence against Muslims in the United States the only question today is how far into the darkness America must travel before it decides to take a stand against it. Murtaza Hussain is a Toronto-based writer and analyst focused on issues related to Middle Eastern politics. Follow him on Twitter: @MazMHussain The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy. Source: Al Jazeera

January 18th - February 14th 2013

OBITS & EVENTS | 33

Request For Dua’s

{ To A llah We B e l o n g , an d t o Hi m is Ou r R e tu r n } “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)” 12-10-12 Sr. Shanaz Masood, wife of Br. Hassan Masood, has passed away. She was Sister-in-law of Br. Kamal, ADAMS Fairfax committee member. May Allah have mercy on her and forgive all her sins and Grant her highest level in Jannatul Firdous. May Allah Grant sabr to the Family. Ameen. Janazah was on December 10, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia. (Source: F. Syed) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-10-12 Ahmed M. Muhsin, beloved son of Vazir and Sithy Muhsin, loving brother of Zainab and brother-in law of Malik Magdon Ismail, has passed away. May Allah (swt) in His infinite mercy forgive his shortcomings and accept him in Jannat ul Firdaus and give Sabr to the family in their time of sorrow. Ameen. Salaat ul Janazah was on December 11, 2012 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Source: ICM) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-15-12 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of sister Maherunnissa Abro, the mother of brother Kamran Abro. The Janaza was on December 15, 2012 in Ellicott City, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower her with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant her the highest ranks in paradise, and give her family support and patience during these difficult times. (Source: MCC) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-21-12 Br. Idriss Sankoh has passed away. Janazah for Br. Idriss was on December 22, 2012 in Manassas, Virginia. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannah, accept him in His Mercy & Love and grant Sabr to his family and friends. (Source: Dar AlNoor) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-23-12 Br. Fariduddin Ahmed, father of Br. Nadeem Ahmed (who is a member of ADAMS Operations Oversight Committee), has passed away. Salaat-e-Janazah was on December 24, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia. O Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him, grant him well being and pardon him and receive him honorably. Expand his place of entry and bathe him with water, snow and ice and cleanse him of sin as you cleanse a white garment from dirt. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the fire, Ameen. (Source: S. Moktadir) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-28-12 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of passing of Brother Larbi Nejjar, father of our beloved community membter Brother Nabil Najjar. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower him with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant him the highest ranks in paradise, and give his family support and patience during these difficult times. (Source: Dar Al-Taqwa) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-29-12 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of brother Syed Ahmed Zia (Tanveer). The janazah was on December 30, 2012 in Laurel, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower him with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant him the highest ranks in paradise, and give his family support and patience during these difficult times. (Source: ICCL) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-29-12 Br. Mohammed Rafique Uddin has passed away. Salaat-e-Janazah was on December 30, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia. O Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him, grant him well being and pardon him and receive him honorably. Expand his place of entry and bathe him with water, snow and ice and cleanse him of sin as you cleanse a white garment from dirt. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the fire, Ameen. (Source: S. Moktadir) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-02-13 Brother Hassan Madni has passed away. Janazah prayer was on January 3, 2013 in Manassas, Virginia. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannah, accept him in His Mercy & Love and grant Sabr to his family and friends. (Source: Dar Alnoor) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-06-13 It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Brother Alhaji Foday Sherif. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannatul Firdaus and may HE grant his family ease. Janazah Salat for Brother Alhaji Foday Sherif was on January 7, 2013 in Lanham, Maryland. (Source: PGMA) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-10-13 Sr. Naima Usmani, Mother of Sr. Nighat Arif and Mother-in-law of Br. Sheikh Salman Shafiq, passed away. Janazah was on January 10, 2013 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah have mercy on her and forgive all her sins and Grant her highest level in Jannatul Firdous. May Allah Grant sabr to the Family. Ameen. (Source: F. Syed) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-10-13 The Board of Directors, Imam, Executive Director, and the staff of Dar Al-Hijrah and the Muslim community in Northern Virginia extend its deepest condolences to our Br Aurang Zeb His Father-in-law Mohammad Hussain has passed away. Salat Aljanazah was on January 11, 2013 in Falls Church, Virginia. May Allah grant him Jannah and give his family patience. (Source: Dar Al-Hijrah) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-10-13 It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Brother Umaru Bayorh. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannatul Firdaus and may HE grant his family ease. Janazah Salat for Brother Umaru was on Januray 11, 2013 in Lanham, Maryland. (Source: PGMA)

Upcoming Events In Your Area Tajweed classes by PGMA's Imam Azzaari Friday, January 18 2013 Learn Tajweed with a professional ijaazah certified qur'an recitor. Comprehensive and interactive Tajweed classes with Imam Dr Ahmad Azzaari. Brothers: Every Sunday between Maghrib and Isha, Classroom #2. Sisters: Every Friday between Maghrib and Isha, Classroom #2. Contact the Main office for registration 301459-4942. Location: PGMA, 9150 Lanham Severn Rd, Lanham MD, 20706 Contact: For more information, go to http://www.pgmamd.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ILIA Snow Tubing Retreat Saturday, January 19 2013, 1:30pm - 10:30pm Islamic Leadership Institute of America presents Avalanche- Courage: The Door to Da'wah. Group activities, discussions and more. Departure from College Park and Ellicott City. Brothers 8+. Fees Include: Snow Tubing, Discussion, Buffet Dinner, Snacks, Bus. Location: Pennsylvania Contact: RSVP here: http://avalanche201.eventbrite.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iMuslimah Halaqah Friday, January 25 2013, 5:30pm - 7:30pm Join us for the next iMuslimah Halaqah. Topic: Women of the Qur'an Aasiyah. Location: Dar-us-Salaam, Sisters' Musallah ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ILIA Event: Resume Writing Saturday, January 26 2013, 9:00am - 1:00pm Islamic Leadership Institute of America Professional Services Division: Resume Writing with Br Riaz Hasan. College Graduates and Professionals (ages 21 and up) Cost: $25 Location: 3290 Pine Orchard Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Contact: To register, go to http://resumewritingriazhassan.eventbrite.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bayyinah Seminar: Accepted Supplication Friday, February 08 2013 The prophet (pbuh) is described as being constantly engaged in the remembrance of Allah. We have a rich collection of daily supplications that keep us connected to Allah, are a means of blessing in every aspect of our lives, and provide solutions to our everyday problems. Daily supplications is a powerful weekend seminar that educates students on the etiquette of making dua along with the beauty of their meanings. Instructor: Abdul Nasir Jangda. Course timings: Friday, February 8th, 7PM to 10PM; Saturday, February 9th, 10AM to 6PM, and Sunday, February 10th, 10AM to 6PM. Tuition: $85. Location: Islamic Society of Baltimore, 6631 Johnnycake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244 Contact: To register and for more information, go to http://bayyinah.com/courses/accepted-supplication/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Women's Committee of Masjid As-Saffat Conference Friday, March 29 2013 Alhamdulillah sisters, it’s that time again. We graciously extend this invitation for you to spend a weekend with The Women’s Committee of Masjid As-Saffat and your Muslim sisters from around the world. This year’s theme will venture into topics that all Muslim women can relate to, whether you are new to Islam, or one who has been practicing Islam for many years. Participants will be able to choose from a variety of informative workshops designed to increase our knowledge and iman, both of which are necessary if we are to evolve from a Muslimah to a Muminah to a Muhsinah. Our ultimate goal is to please Allah (SWTA); therefore, we will discuss best practices, according to Qur’an and Sunnah, to achieve our goal. Dates: Friday, March 29th through Sunday, March 31st. Our first session will be Friday evening along with our Meet and Greet, Insha’Allah. Our weekend will continue with day and evening activities on Saturday and a half day on Sunday. With the exception of Friday prayer, all events are for women only (no children except nursing babies). This year our maximum adult registration is 630 participants, which includes both online and mail-in registration. We will be hosting our young sisters concurrently with the Women's Committee program, separate sessions will be conducted (attendees must be ages 12-19). Youth program also includes four meals, entertainment and swimming. Registration Info: Rasheita Turner 301-915-4514; Vending Info: Zakia Amin 410-340-9747; Ad Journal Application: Rehana b. Yahya 443-691-7033; Email: womens_committee@hotmail.com Web Site: (do not put www) womens_committee.tripod.com Location: Turf Valley Conference Center and Resort, Ellicott City, MD Contact: For registration for attendees and vendors: go to www.womenscommittee.eventbrite.com

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MASJID LISTING

34 |

January 18th - February 14th 2013

Do you have additions, changes, or corrections to the event listings in the Muslim Link? Email us at events@muslimlinkpaper.com, or call us at 301-982-1020. --------------------------------------------------------------------------NORTHERN VIRGINIA ---------------------------------------------------------------All Muslim Brothers Association 3900 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 Tel: 703-647-0515 Jumma Prayer Only - 1:15 P.m ---------------------------------------------------------------Icna VA Center: 2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306. Tel: 703-660-1255 ---------------------------------------------------------------Idara Dawat-o-irshad: 4803 VAlley St, Alexandria, VA 22312 Tel: 703-256-8622 ww.irshad.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Mustafa Center: 6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003 Tel: 703-658-7134 www.mustafacenter.org E-mail: Mustafacenter@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Baitul Mukarram: 2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550 ---------------------------------------------------------------Zakaria Islamic Academy: Galesbury Lane, Chantilly, VA 20151 Tel: 571-969-2123 www.ziacademy.org E-mail: Contact@ziacademy.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Badr Community Center Of Dumfries: 17794 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026 Tel: 703-585-1689/703-554-7983 www.bccd.org E-mail: Info@bccd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Ul-ghuraba (Masjid Ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al Hijrah: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030 www.hijrah.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Northern VA Trust (Icnvt): 4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 Tel: 703-591-0999 www.icnvt.org E-mail: Info@icnvt.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al-noor (Muslim Assoc. Of VA): 5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808 Fax: 703-221-8513 www.daralnoor.org ----------------------------------------------------------------Manassas Mosque: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Virginia: 1241 Buford Rd., Richmond, VA 23235 Tel: 804-320-7333

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www.icVA1.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Greater Richmond (Isgr): 6324 Rigsby Road, Richamond, VA 23226 Tel: 804-673-4177 www.isgr.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al Rahman: 1305 Hull St., Richmond, VA 23224 Tel: 804-232-7640 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjidullah Of Richmond: 211 North Ave., Richmond, VA 23222 Tel: 804-321-8864/804-647-4297 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar-ul Huda: 6666 Commerce St., Springfield, VA 22150, Tel: 703-922-0111 www.darulhuda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Foundation of America: 6606 Electronic Drive, Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Noor: 8608 Pohick Rd, Springfield, VA 22153 Tel: 703-451-7615 ----------------------------------------------------------------Adams Center: 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling,VA 20164, Tel: 703-433-1325 www.adamscenter.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Heritage Center (Ihc): 262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056 ---------------------------------------------------------------WASHINGTON D.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------First Hijra Muslim Comm. Center: 4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20011 www.firsthijrah.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Ivy City Masjid: 2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 Tel: 202-904-9668 E-mail: masjidivycity@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-islam: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, D.C. 20019 E-mail: Imammusa@hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Muhammad: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832 | www. masjidmuhammad.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Society Of Washington, D.c. (MswDC): Howard Center, Room 805 (Above Hu Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236 ---------------------------------------------------------------The Islamic Center: 2551 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343

www.theislamiccenter.com ---------------------------------------------------------------MARYLAND ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Annapolis (Isa): 2635 Riva Rd. Suite 110, Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.isamd.org Email: Info@islamannapolis.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Bait-Allah Masjid of Baltimore Inc 200 S. Calhoun Street Baltimore, MD 21223 Imam’s cell: 571-721-9938 email: baitallahmasjid@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Bilal Dawah Center, Inc: 1910 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 410-945-1515 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar ul Uloom: 6334 Dogwoood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207, Tel: 410-493-0785 Email: Darululoommd@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ul-haq: 514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-728-1363 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-mumineen: 2642 Harford Rd., Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel: 410-467-8798 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Jamaat Al-Muslimeen: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel: 443-622-2962 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-rahmah/isb: 6631 Johnnycake Rd., Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869 | www.isb.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid As Saffat: 1335 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-669-0655 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Easton 126 Port Street Unit # 1 Easton, MD 21601 Tel: 410-829 7924 islamicsocietyofeastonmd.yolasite.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Irhsca (Islamic Research And Hum. Services Center Of America): 1 Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040 www.irhsca.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Southern Pg County (Isspgc): P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240 603 4618 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar-us-Salaam: 5301 Edgewood Rd., College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848 www.duscommunity.org ----------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Zamzam 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Tel: 410-284-2840 www.masjidzamzam.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar al-Taqwa: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711 www.taqwa.net ---------------------------------------------------------------Maryum Islamic Center (MIC) 3280 Pine Orchard Lane Suite A Ellicott City, MD 21042 Tel: 443-574-5188 www.maryumcenter.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Hikmah: 11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington, MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Frederick (Isf): 1250 Key Parkway, Frederick,md 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090 www.isfmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Maryland (Icm): 19411 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg,md 20879 Tel:301-840-9440 www.icomd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Makkah Learning Center (Mlc): 814 Brandy Farms Ln., Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.isamd.org Email: Info@mlcmd.org----------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Germantown (Isg): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (240)-277-7758 www.isgtown.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ibn Taymiyyah: 8000 Mlk Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-322-8105 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society of Western Maryland: 2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922 ---------------------------------------------------------------Southern Maryland Islamic Center (Smic): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639 Tel: 410-535-0000 ---------------------------------------------------------------Avondale Islamic Center: 4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782 Tel: 301-779-9292 ---------------------------------------------------------------Prince Georges Muslim Assoc.(Pgma): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd., Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942 www.pgmamd.org Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441 E-mail: Imam@pgmamd.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------

Turkish American Community Center 9704 Good Luck Rd, Lanham, MD 20706 Tel: 301-459-9589 www.taccenter.org ---------------------------------------------------------------La Plata Masjid: 111 Howard Street, La Plata, MD 20646 Tel: 301-609-8769 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Com. Center Of Laurel (ICCL): 7306 Contee Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 Tel: 301-317-4584 www.icclmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Ghurabaa: 8220 Washington St., South Laurel, MD 20724. Tel: 301-604-3295 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Lexington Park 22583 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20619 Tel: 240-538-7839 or 561-414-0994 www.iclpmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Medina Center: 11600 Falls Road, Potomac MD 20854 www.medinacenter.net E-mail: Admin@medinacenter.net ---------------------------------------------------------------Randallstown Islamic Center 9019 Marcella Ave. Randallstown, MD 21133 Tel: 410-971-4018 www.ricbaltimore.org E-mail: Info@ricbaltimore.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of The Washington Area (Iswa): 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-879-0930 www.iswamd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Education Society of Maryland 11504 Veirs Mills Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Tel: 301- 933-3838 ---------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Community Center (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 Tel: 301-384-3454 www.mccmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Imaam: (Jumuah Only) Jumuah: 12:50pm 3201 Randolph Rd, Wheaton, MD 20906 www.imaam.org Email: Fridayprayer@imaam.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid An-nur: 5418 Ebenezer Road, White Marsh, MD 21162 Tel: 410-663-9637 Fax: 410-663-9817 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-inshirah: 7832 Fairbrook Road, Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977

January 18th - February 14th 2013

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 35

Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager: Stephanie Benmoha Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Urooj Fatima Omama Altalib Fatimah Waseem Hena Zuberi Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published every other week on Fridays 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 taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 office@ muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2013

Subscribe to the Muslim Link! To get the Muslim Link print edition in the mail, send $5 for shipping and handling per issue using check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Road, College Park MD 20740. To make payments over the phone using a credit card, call the Muslim Link office at 301-982-1020. Subscribe to the online version of the newspaper so you get it in your email inbox FREE each issue. To subscribe for free, go to muslimlinkpaper.com.

Attention Inmates: As much as we would like to, we are unable to honor requests for free subscriptions at this time. To subscribe, follow the instructions above.

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Two Locations 6201 Greenbelt Rd, Suite U8B College Park, Md 20740

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616 Charles Street, Suite 201 La Plata, Md 20646

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

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January 18th - February 14th 2013 Classifieds

Place a personal classified ad. Call us at 301-982-1020. Office@muslimlinkpaper.com We invite you to place a classified on the web FREE of charge at www.muslimlinkpaper.com. Classifieds in the print edition of the Muslim Link newspaper are only $1 for every 3 words. All classifieds run for 3 issues in the Marketplace section. Get started by emailing your exact text to office@muslimlinkpaper.com and then call in your credit card payment to 301-982-1020 or send a check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Rd, College Park MD 20740.

Childcare Exchange MUSLIM CHILDCARE PROVIDER Available to care for your children ages infant to 4 years old. 5 years of experience caring for children and 2 years of CPR and First Aid training. jameelia86@gmail.com or 202-6178728.

Employment OPENING FOR OFFICE COORDINATOR Open position for full time Office Coordinator for local Project Management Company in Greenbelt, MD. Must have excellent communication and organizational skills, and be proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word and Excel. Salary based on experience/capabilities, starting at $9$12/Hr. Email resumes to cmclp@mail. com -----------------------------------------------QUR'AN AND ARABIC TEACHERS NEEDED Teacher needed for Qur'an and Arabic Language for the Moroccan American Community Organization Center. If interested, please email macopresident@ gmail.com or call 703-386-6775 -----------------------------------------------HIRING QUALIFIED TEACHERS FOR WEEKEND ISLAMIC SCHOOL This is a paid position but candidate must be proficient in teaching Quran, Arabic and Islamic studies. If interested, please call 703-660-1255 or e-mail resume to Icna.Islamic.School@gmail.com. -----------------------------------------------INTERPRETER NEEDED Wanted- Interpreter of Farsi, Russian, Tajek and English. Reading and writing

simple papers. 301-229-0232. -----------------------------------------------FURNITURE REPAIR TECHNICIANS NEEDED In home furniture repair technicians is needed to work in the MD, DC, VA and surrounding areas. The Technician needs to have: clean drivers license, criminal back ground check, vehicle and gps, tools of the trade, computer with internet access fax, scan and print also. Skills needed: At least 1 year of experience in the following categories- Leather and Vynl cleaning and repairs, Wood touch up and refinishing, Upholstery-hand sewing, Sleeper mechanism and recliner repair. Must have a good knowledge of case good furniture cabinet door and drawer alignment ect. We are willing to train qualified applicants. $25 flat rate per service call with a $5 per service call gas allowance. Training is available. Manuel Baquero, Any Furniture Service Inc. Office 301.332.2127 or Mobile 204.461.1210 or 240.587.7050 Fax 301.302.0987 www.anyfurnitureservice. com

Matrimonial SEEKING GOOD-NATURED HUSBAND Sunni Muslim Urdu-speaking Indian parents from religious family seek alliance for their daughter Pharm.D from USA,5'3'', 35 years, pious (performs hajj/umrah), never married , goodnatured ,beautiful, seeking educated professional from similar background. Pediatric Pharmacist in a prestigious hospital in Maryland. Contact: 917498625965 OR 443-858-2605(MD) -----------------------------------------------SEEKING MARRIAGE MINDED MUSLIMA Sunni Muslim, incarcerated, 42, 6'1", 210 lbs from Guyana seeks marriage minded Muslima age 35-50. Kurt Miller

98A6702, Eastern Corr. Fac., P.O. Box 338 Napanoch, NY 12458. For more info, contact my face book at Sammie Cole 93 At yahoo.com -----------------------------------------------SEEKING SOUL MATE AND WIFE As Salaam Alaikum, This ad is from a 6'1", 200 lbs African American, 54 year old in shape, strong muslim of the Sunnah. I'm childless, sincere, without vices. Compassionate and monogamous. In search of a friend, companion, soul mate, and wife. Shabazz Mohammad 14064-053, F.C.I. Atlanta, P.O. Box 150160, Atlanta, GA 30315. -----------------------------------------------SEEKING HUSBAND She is a children's doctor, 28 years, very political, beautiful and nice. She`s born and graduated in USA. Originally from Egypt. She's looking for good Muslim husband same her born and graduate from USA. Prefer doctor close to h er age. If interested, please call 410-2824201 or email fatmakhalil12@yahoo. com. -----------------------------------------------SEEKING RELIGIOUS WIFE My friend who is American citizen living in Virginia,widower,welleducated (Ph.D),retired Technical Director,religious Sunni Muslim of Pakistani-origin is interested for marriage to religious Muslimah from Pakistan,India or Bangladesh background. If you are interested or if you know who may be interested, please call me in strict confidence at 540-6642654. JAK.

Miscellaneous SUNNI MUSLIM MALE SEEKING PENPAL Sunni Muslim male, age 24, seeking penpal. Fun, attentive, easy going, smart. Currently incarcerated. Brandon Duke #154638, P.O. Box 2017, Buena

Vista, CO 81211. -----------------------------------------------SEEKING FRIENDSHIP Pakistani Mujahid male, age 38, incarcerated. Calling all Ummah's, Muslims & Muslimah's to extend to me your friendship, for we are allies & protector's to each other. Contact me @ Jason Sanders (B-38349) P.O. Box 1000 Menard, Illinois 62259 A.K.A. "AlAmir Osama" Jazzak Allah Khair -----------------------------------------------LONELY IN AMERICA Pakistani, Sunni Muslim Male, Age 43. Funny, understanding, and easy-going. Seeks friendship. Nadeem Khan, Box 1900, Pound, VA 24279.-----------------------------------------------

Services

TEACHER AVAILABLE FOR ARABIC AND ISLAMIC STUDIES Teach Arabic and lessons in Islam. Bachelor Degree in studies Islamic. Location: my location or yours. Time: 9am -1pm. For women: Monday to Thursday. For students: Saturday. 2 hours per session [small fee]. Contact Touria Elfakir 410 467 1259 -----------------------------------------------NEED A RIDE TO THE AIRPORT? Professional sedan transportation service specializing in Airport and Corporate Accounts. Serving Maryland/ Washington DC/Virginia. Muslim owned for 8 years. 24 hour availability. Call 443-588-5508 or visit our website: www.RoyalSedan.com. -----------------------------------------------HOME SERVICES Licensed contractor. Home improvement work, interior/exterior painting, drywall install/repair, brick/concrete repair. License # 30385946 Estimates done. Contact Br Allen Scott at 443-538-7643 (cell). ------------------------------------------------

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January 18th - February 14th 2013

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