The Muslim Link - July 15, 2011 by The Muslim Link

Muslim Across America

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S h a b a n 1 4 - S h a b a n 2 7 , 1 4 3 2 A . H . | w w w. M u s l i m L i n k P a p e r. c o m MD, VA, and DC. Metropolitan Area Bi-Weekly Newspaper | FREE

July 15th 2011 - July 28th 2011

Libyan-Americans: From Muhajiroon to Ansar

Local Libyan Immigrants Support Anti-Gaddaﬁ Revolution By Muslim Link Staff Yahia Tagouri immigrated to the United States from Libya in 1987. He returned only once – in 2007 when his father passed away. Last February, he watched as his homeland exploded, blowing the lid off of four decades of oppressive rule under President Momar Gaddaﬁ. Like so many ArabAmericans inspired by the freedom movement which began in Tunisia and which >> LIBYA Pg 14

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

“DC, we see nothing but victory” reverberated throughout the Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament Nationals weekend July 8-10 as DC’s 30-member strong team chanted the phrase in unison. After three days of intense competition against the nation’s best of the best in Atlanta, Georgia,

Blog Showcases Creative Side of Muslims | pg 4 Popular Islamic Software Adds .ORG To Its Name | pg 5 Imam Magid Releases “Ramadhan Reader” | pg 5

Young protesters march in front of the White House at a rally earlier this year in support of the revolt against the rule of Libyan leader Momar Gaddaﬁ. Photo by Collin David Anderson.

DC Sweeps Gold At MIST Nationals 2011 By Fatimah Waseem

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

ISLAM: Sha’bân: The CCMO Prepares For Tenth Neglected Month | pg 16 Anniversar y Of 9/11

DC saw just that. Victory. By Fatimah Waseem

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

The Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament (MIST) is a nationwide competition for Muslim high schoolers that pits teams against each other in wide ranging subjects ranging from Math and Essay Writing to Film Making and Qur’anic memorization. The >> MIST Pg 8

Debt Ceiling FAQs: What You Need to Know | pg 22

With the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks just several weeks away, area Muslim leaders plan on making sure America knows where the Muslim community stands. On the weekend of Friday, June 24, 2011, representatives from masajid as far as Manassas, Virginia and Silver Spring,

Maryland discussed plans to mark the tenth anniversary of September 11. DC’s Council of Muslim Organizations (CMO) – formally called the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations – arranged the planning sessions to foster “the resilience of our faith communities” and “the cross pollination of ideas.” >> CCMO Pg 13

ISLAM: Contentment, Peace And Honour In Life | pg 16 ISLAM: How We Should Prepare For Ramadan | pg 17 The Muslim Link

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July 15th - July 28th, 2011

INDEX

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4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News Blog Showcases Creative Side of Muslims Hiba Akhtar

Muslim Link Staff Writer It started off as a project between a couple of Muslim friends at the University of Maryland, College Park, but, since its inception, CreativeMuslims has truly taken off, establishing itself as ‘one to watch’ in the world of Muslim blogs. It is a blog that features Muslims around the world who are using creativity and their inventive talents to promote social welfare. Featured Muslims include artists, designers, musicians, and writers. According to Editor-in-Chief Anam Siddiqui, CreativeMuslims came at a time when it was needed the most. “Islamophobia has given Muslims a lot of bad publicity,” said Siddiqui. “But CreativeMuslims helps eradicate those stereotypes. We showcase feel-good stories showing Muslims in positive roles, being proactive and truly demonstrating through their creative talent what Islam is all about. This is how to prove to the world that Muslims aren’t just oppressed. Muslims have something cool and interesting to show the world.”

And, in an ironic way, CreativeMuslims itself is a model of the kind of Muslim willpower for good which it showcases. The blog began in January 2010, after founder Tubah Sultan realized that there was so much Muslim art in the world and no online platform to share it. Sultan shared the idea with fellow students Hanifah Dasti and Siddiqui, putting Siddiqui, an avid writer, in charge of the blog content, and Dasti in charge of the technical aspect. “She’s good with computers and techy stuff,” said Siddiqui. After recruiting a few interested writers, the site took off, and according to Dasti, who serves as Social Media Director of CreativeMuslims, it has seen its share of positive feedback. “We marketed CreativeMuslims at DC MIST and had so much interest and felt a lot of encouragement from the younger kids regarding the site.” She added, “Often, Muslim kids are encouraged to become doctors and engineers. This blog allows other kids who want to pursue other professions the opportunity to unite with those who share their interests, and their faith.”

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Through CreativeMuslims, Muslims truly prove that they do indeed have something cool and interesting to share. Tariq Farid is just one example. Farid is the founder of the wildly popular Edible Arrangements, a company specializing in distributing fruit baskets which look like ﬂoral bouquets. It took some CreativeMuslims research for Siddiqui to realize that it was a Muslim who came up with the idea of combining fruit and ﬂoral design. CreativeMuslims also featured Faraz Zaidi, creator of teeshirt design company Profound Aesthetic, which specializes in shirts with powerful and inspirational messages promoting peace, dispelling violence, and encouraging creativity. In his interview, Zaidi, who started the company while studying at Rutgers University, explained that he created the company as a response to a lack of creativity and expression in the market.

CreativeMuslims shed the light on other Muslim-driven efforts as well, such as a company which specializes in Islamic wallpaper, a man who created the ﬁrst light-up prayer rug, a female Muslim racecar driver, hijab designers, poets, and a feature on community Muslim

>> CREATIVE Pg 12

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS

Popular Islamic Software Adds .ORG To Its Name By Fatimah Waseem

an appropriate response from the Muslim community.

Alim is going online.

“Turn over time is rapidly decreasing. New technologies are no new story. We are falling behind. We must catch up.” the grandfather and engineer told The Muslim Link. He has experienced ﬁrst-hand this fast-paced technology race in his ofﬁce.

Muslim Link Staff Writer

After 25 years of exploring uncharted waters and battling raging seas, the world renown Islamic knowledge software developed in Silver Spring, Maryland will launch its website - www.alim.org - on August first, kicking off the blessed month of Ramadan. The website, under construction since late 2009, contains many of its predecessors features including a vast database of authentic Hadith collections, diverse Quran translations, and basic Islamic history. A dozen reciter options including but not limited to Abdul-Basit, Al-Husary, AshShatree, and Al-Hudhaify underscore how far alim.org has come from the Alim Software CD which had only four reciters. Users can repeat ayat, choose between fast and slow paced recitation and store clipped sections of text in a personalized book called ‘mynotebook.’ The feature, dubbed ‘clipping,’ is similar to keeping newspaper or magazine clippings on file. In addition to providing authentic Islamic knowledge, alim.org encourages the enrichment and discussion of it. Party influenced by Wikipedia commons, the website is designed as a social network allowing users to create groups, comment on text, and create personal profiles. This feature sets the website apart from the CD, Alim Foundation Executive Director Nehal Shah said. “In addition to scholars perspectives, people can provide their own reflection, their own perspectives,” said Shah, an active member of the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The makers of the ALIM Software also created an arabic learning software for children called Arabic Playhouse. In the early 1990s these software packages had few competitors in the English language Islamic software market. Today, such boxed software is practically obsolete as most products are solely online. Alim’s vision set sail over two decades ago, precisely on May 8th, 1986. 18 year old Shahid Shah and best friend Amir Jafri felt “something was missing” in the realm of Islamic knowledge. Recognizing this growing need, the youth founded the ISL Software company which produced the first version of the Alim Software. After tweaking and upgrading from its draft version “Hafiz,” the Alim CD hit the shelves in 1991, revolutionizing the Islamic software industry. It was the first program to combine the powers of Quranic translations, ahadith, histories, and commentaries - all on one doughnut shaped device. Despite its cutting edge technology, few savored the the Islamic knowledge pool’s benefits. “Marketing posed a great challenge,” Alim foundation’s current executive director recalled. However, after a few years of remaining on the market, sales increased. The Alim became a companion for many Muslim

families around the nation as over 6,000 copies were sold over a span of 10 years. The software has been pirated internationally and nationally, making it very difﬁcult to estimate a range of numbers. “It seems that for every one CD package, 100 were sold in Pakistan for just 10 rupees!” Shah jokingly told The Muslim Link. Pirated copies, however, hit home. Sales plummeted and Alim’s ship was at a stand still. “We were putting much in and not getting much out,” Shah said. Furthermore, given the dominance of the internet and the changing playing ﬁeld, the Alim foundation reached what seemed to be a sticking point. “It was about keeping up with the times,” Shah admitted, And it was a challenge to keep up.” This challenge was not exclusive to Alim foundation, he said. He warned that the amount of information on the web is ever expanding and requires

In late 2009, however, the winds of time pushed the founders to relaunch their vision on the Internet. ISL Software company closed several years ago, replaced by the non-proﬁt Alim Foundation where about ten staff and volunteers would work to relaunch Alim on the web. Under the guidance of Shah, Alim Foundation staff perused Islamic websites similar to the Alim CD, noting down beneﬁts and drawbacks, ideas and tools to ensure alim.org was an up-to-date search tool for all users. After collecting their search results, website construction began. However, the goal was far from competition between Islamic knowledge tools, Shah urged his staff. “We should not compete against one another, rather compliment one another,” he told them. Despite overcoming these challenges, the Alim foundation has much room to grow. Though the foundation has secured its place in the world wide web, its own web needs expanding. “The serious issue here is resources resources in technology, in money, and most importantly, in people.” Shah told The Muslim Link. However, Shah remains optimistic of what the website holds for the future. As the world will soon be graced by Ramadan, it is his hope, the world wide web will be graced by www.alim.org too.

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July 15th - July 28th, 2011

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Muslim Across America Virginia Duo Drive Coast to Coast, Stopping at Masajid Along the Way By Rana Khan

Muslim Link Staff Writer Their journey started in Northern Virginia and took them through 18 states spanning the width of the country. From the breathtaking scenery around the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee to the seemingly endless plains of the Midwest to the dusty heat of the Mojave Desert in Arizona, the two-week road trip was an experience full of challenges, surprises and lessons. The two friends, Rasheed Al-Rabbi, a senior software engineer and adjunct at George Mason University who has lived in the Northern Virginia area since 2004, and Rashed Al-Junayed, set off on the long drive on May 23, 2011. It was a trip inspired by a story Al-Rabbi had heard of a Lebanese Muslim man in the 1900’s who was intending to board a ship to come to America, but when he learned from the Captain of the ship that there were no masajid here, he decided not to come. In an attempt to “get an idea of the Muslim presence across the U.S.”, Al-Rabbi and Al-Junayed set out to see if they could pray every obligatory prayer during their trip in a masjid. Al-Rabbi says that goal was accomplished “95% of the time” with them not having to ever divert more than 50 miles off the highway to ﬁnd a masjid. The only time they couldn’t ﬁnd a masjid near their route was when they were traveling on I-70 from Las Vegas, through Utah, towards Colorado, with the closest masjid being in Salt Lake City, which would have been too long of a detour. This was an endeavor that Al-Rabbi first envisioned in 2009. However, commitments of work and family and the challenge of finding someone to accompany him on the long drive prevented the trip from materializing for almost two years. Then, in May 2011, a pause from work and the willingness of a friend to accompany him, convinced Al-Rabbi that the time was finally right and he pushed ahead to complete

the preparations for the trip as soon as possible. The route they mapped out would take them along I-40 westward to Long Beach, California, where they planned to attend the “Reviving the Islamic Spirit” conference and would bring them back along I-70 to Virgina. The absence of “any dedicated employed people in mosques to answer calls” presented a challenge to them as they tried to contact the masajid which they planned to visit. According to Al-Rabbi, of the 20 masajid that were visited on this tour, only 2 or 3 were able to be contacted ahead of time. To locate a masjid in a certain area, AlRabbi said they would first utilize online searching options (such as islamicity. com). If they encountered problems finding a masjid from there, they would use resources in the local public library. Sometimes, they would search for a halal restaurant in the area and ask the people there about any nearby masajid. In some cases, Al-Rabbi says a masjid would have an address stated online but there would be no masjid at that physical location or its vicinity. Within two cities in Utah, Al-Rabbi cited the difficulty of driving around trying to locate a masjid that had been listed online, but was not physically present. In New Mexico, the masjid they were trying to locate had been closed down. After searching at the public library of New Mexico City, they were able to locate another large masjid.

Muslim Link asked Al-Rabbi about trends he saw in the masajid he visited. He said about 80% of the masajid had full-time imams, with those that were struggling with financial resources relying on volunteers to lead prayers. However, every masjid he visited wanted a full-time imam. Al-Rabbi also said, “My focus was to find out if [the masjid governance] include the imam in their decision committee...since the imam is the person who interacts most with the congregation. Many masajid kept their imams on their decision-making committees. [In some cases however there is] conflict of interest since the imam is paid so masajid don’t allow him to be included in decisionmaking. This is one thing that needs to be improved.” Al-Rabbi says all the masajid were governed by shura/administrative committees, with members on these committees being volunteers. He says he noticed that “whoever first initiated the task of establishing the mosque were involved in the committees. [This was the] older generation. Youth involvement was very less compared to the older generation.” He also said he was impressed by the fact that “all of [the masajid] are solidly dependent on donations” and he “didn’t have a single mosque that complained about donations.”

Referring to the kind of response he received from the communities he visited, Al-Rabbi says, “I found them very, very welcoming. They appreciated the initiative and tried to provide as much information as possible. With some mosques, if you don’t give them enough notice ahead of time or just appear, they are not interested to talk or express their view.” However, he says his overall experience was very positive.

Al-Rabbi observed that the average number of congregants in the masajid for mid-day prayers during the weekday was 8-10, whereas for Isha prayer that number rose to 25-30. Masajid in more populous areas had greater numbers of congregants, even for Dhuhr prayer. Al-Rabbi says he was impressed with the number of masajid in Tennessee and its “big, active Muslim population.” He says in Memphis there were “5 mosques within a 5-mile radius” and a similarly large number of masajid in Knoxville and Nashville.

In an attempt to explore the signiﬁcance of the masjid as a nucleus of spirituality and worship for the diverse Muslim communities across America, The

“I was very happy to see that Muslims are really growing,” says Al-Rabbi. “I didn’t know that in areas like Kansas or Missouri there could be a big community [of

Muslims] praying. Every single mosque has activities and outreach that was very impressive. Every mosque I visited had a goal, a vision and was very committed to get to that goal.” However, he feels that masajid are not making adequate use of their websites and options such as online groups for their youth to encourage more involvement in the communities’ affairs need to be explored. In reference to ethnic diversity within the masajid, Al-Rabbi says he noticed people of mainly African, South Asian and Arab origin. He also observed that “whoever was attending the mosque was happy and enthused” but he didn’t see a significant presence of younger people within the masajid. “People need to get their kids involved towards the mosque,” he says. Al-Rabbi says they generally did not encounter difficulty in finding restaurants serving halal food during their trip. “Wherever there was a mosque, we were able to find at least one halal restaurant in its vicinity. I didn’t have any problems in Tennessee, California, Colorado, but in Arkansas I didn’t see any halal restaurants.” When asked which of the communities he visited he would like to revisit, Al-Rabbi said it would be the Muslim community in Flagstaff, Arizona. He said the community comprised of about 60% students and the Muslim families resident there had been trying for a long time, along with the help of the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA), to establish a masjid in the city. They had a dedicated place on campus during the summertime for offering Jummuah, Isha and Taraweeh prayers. At other times, along with campus facilities, they would offer congregational prayers in various churches and schools. “They didn’t even have a halal store,” says AlRabbi. “Even to get halal meat, [they] need to drive 2 hours.” In spite of these

>> AMERICA Pg 7

July 15th - July 28th, 2011 AMERICA

>> continued from pg 6

hardships, Al-Rabbi says he was struck by how enthusiastic and dedicated the

COMMUNITY NEWS community was towards struggling to achieve their goal. He says if he could return there, he would like to assist them in that endeavor. Back home in Northern Virginia and

The Gallup Islamic Center in New Mexico. Al-Rabbi writes about New Mexico: “We don’t have much information on individual Hispanic Muslims and communities in the colonial period in northern Mexico which became part of the US in 1845. Records indicate some Spanish speaking Muslim immigrants arrived in the US after 1880.” Islam is growing fastest among Hispanics when compared to other ethnic groups in America. All photos courtesy of Rasheed Al-Rabbi

attending his local masjid - the ADAMS center - Al-Rabbi says, “This trip really reinforced my belief that Muslims are so devoted to enriching this culture, and they are very focused.” He says he would like to undertake a similar North-South

trip along I-95 to explore the masajid and Muslim communities on the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. For now though, he is “trying to organize this data [collected from the trip] and analyze it” for patterns of interest.

Masjid Ibrahim in Kingman, Arizona. Al-Rabbi writes: “During 1980 a group of 10 Muslim medical professionals landed in Kingman. Thousands of miles away from home country and culture, they organized Friday prayer in their homes. After 9 years they decided they needed a masjid. The small community consists of only 18 families.

Masjid Granada Hills, California. “Slipping through Kingman at dawn, we headed west through the Mojave Dessert on I-40 across the width of Arizona into California through barren stretches of battered highway and railroad stops. Finally we stopped where crashing ocean waves wait at the end of Long Beach Pier. When the U.S. Camel Corps project failed, its camel master Hajj Ali – or Hi Jolly as he is known in the annals of the west – moved to San Joaquin Valley in California. At that time, around four hundred miles of ﬁelds was transformed from mechanical-intensive cultivation of grain to the labor intensive cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Yemeni and Hispanic explorer gathered into this region and signiﬁed the end of sojourning phase of migration.”

Colorado Muslim Society - “Denver – the bustling city of over 600,000 people supports a fast growing cosmopolitan city along with easy access to the beautiful Rocky Mountains, which are only 15 miles west of town. Denver is called “Mile-High City” because its ofﬁcial elevation is exactly one mile above sea level. There are about 15,000 Muslims in Colorado. CMS is the largest of six masajid.

Islamic Center of Topeka, Kansas. In 1992, the Islamic Center purchased a dilapidated one story structure and renovated it within 6 weeks for $60,000. Two years later, in 1994, a few unknown brothers visited the Friday prayer service from another country, stated that they were inspired by the work they observed and asked what they could do to help. They gave $5,000, and a few days later, $100,000 to complete the masjid construction and parking lot.

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS MIST

>> continued from pg 1

tournament began in Texas in 2002 and now takes places in over 10 regions across the US; Toronto also participates in MIST. Every year, winners from regional MIST tournaments convene at MIST Nationals. For the second year in a row, the DC region won first place, crushing home team Atlanta’s 40+ member team and bringing home 43 trophies and 76 positions. All team members acquired positions and and five competitors placed in the top ten - accumulating the highest points of the tournament’s 250+ competitors with Naeem Baig, 11th grade AlHuda student, winning first overall. First to fifth place winners of April’s regional MIST competition held at the University of Maryland in College Park advanced to the national level. Teams came from as far as Michigan, Tennessee, New York, Texas, and Toronto in what DC MIST organizer, Adam Kareem, called “the highlight of my summer.” Regions were not the only ones who could boast of their diversity. The DC team consisted of 11 schools, includingAl-Huda, Montgomery Blair, Wootton, Howard, Herndon, Smithsburg, Springbrook, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School. For long-time competitor Ammar Habib, it was this combined power that helped DC go the extra mile. “The very people that you just fiercely competed against just months ago would go out of their way to ensure your success; they would cheer until their throats ran dry; they would simply be there for you,” said Habib. The level of competition left DC competitors uncertain of their success. “What was lacking in the amount of numbers of competitors was made up by the quality of their projects and competitions,” Eleanor Roosevelt’s coach Mefruz Haque told The Muslim Link. Prior to the awards ceremony, the level of competition and passion reached a fever pitch. Atlanta, New York, and Toronto’s team faced each other off in ‘a battle of the loudest.’ The teams crowded into

Above: The DC MIST team shows off some of their trophies before leaving Atlanta on their charter bus. Right: DC MIST regional head Adam Kareem shows pride in his region with a hand gesture symbolizing DC. Kareem said MIST competitors represent a “blossoming body of talent”. Photos by Cardiff Andana. the high-ceiling hallway just outside the awards ceremony room with Atlanta, clad in bright orange, and DC, dressed for success, head to head in fierce competition. “At the beginning of the award ceremony I wasn’t sure who was going take home the big prize. Each of the other regions had so much talent throughout,” said Ahmed Fakher, a competitor of Montgomery Blair High. But DC organizers and coaches thought otherwise. Arif Kabir, Al-Huda High and one of DC’s coaches, said, “It is usually Houston that wins first place in Nationals but since they only had a handful of competitors as opposed to their usual 100-plus participants, DC was the most experienced powerhouse region competing.” The competition level of DC’s regional tournament left many expecting more. “I was surprised to see that the... competition was much lower than that of [the DC regional] MIST ,” Habib, second place winner in newsletter and first place winner in web design, told The Muslim Link. DC teams took first to third place in both competitions in what many called “a sweeping victory.” Jamal Aladdin, one of DC’s leading organizers, was impressed by the team’s cohesiveness. “DC worked very well as one cohesive unit. [Organizers] agreed that there seemed to be more structure

when compared to [the] other [teams].” For DC competitors, this organization came in large part because of it’s many coaches and supportive parents such as Osama Eshera who guided Faraz Ahsan in winning the highly competitive debate competition and especially DC’s regional director, Adam Kareem. He encouraged competitors to maintain their performance and mannerism throughout the weekend, while facilitating a healthy environment of fun. DC competitors boarded the bus to Atlanta, Thursday night. Coaches, parents, and organizers joined them on their 670 mile journey through the night. Buses arrived promptly at noon Friday, kicking off the MIST weekend at W.D. Mohammed High School.

There, they enjoyed food for thought - one of MIST Atlanta’s many savory meals - and food for the soul - a youth discussion with the masjid’s leaders. Excitement increased exponentially with every day. From the “chant-off” to the awards ceremony, Sunday was surely no exception. In fact, even after MIST Nationals 2011 was ofﬁcially closed, the stupor continued. Atlanta and DC crowded outside the campus building for one last meet as the DC team posed proudly for pictures, their trophies lining the sidewalk upon which they stood. The time to leave came quickly. Regions boarded their buses, their luggage already packed.

After a brief orientation, competitors prayed Jumu’ah at Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, after which the basketball competitions began.

But they left with so much more than what they came with. New friends, new ideas, new memories, and a newly recharged iman.

Saturday’s program began bright and early and ended late into the night. Teams gathered into Kennesaw State University’s Social Sciences building, where they competed in various rooms and attended a host of mind-blowing workshops - all modeled around the tournament’s theme “Loyalty: The Key to Faith and Citizenship.”

“To see the folks from our region really grow closer to one another and come back as near and dear friends, as a Regional Director, you couldn’t be happier,” Kareem said, who added local Muslim high schoolers are a “blossoming body of talent.”

As Maghrib time approached, all of MIST Atlanta gathered at the city’s center: AlFarooq Masjid of Atlanta, a building ﬁt for the beautiful streets of Makkah.

For ﬁrst-time competitor Fakher, “...these three days will extend for a lifetime.” Nationals 2012 will be held in Toronto, inshaAllah

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS

Complete List of Winners at MIST Nationals 2011: Atlanta Overall Region 1. Washington DC 2. Atlanta 3. New York 4. Chicago 5. Houston 6. Toronto 7. Philadelphia 8. Detroit Overall Individual 1. Naeem Baig – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Zahra Saad – Crescent School (New York) 3. Fatimah Waseem – Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 4. Sadia Naseem – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 5. Ayesha Saad – Crescent School (New York) 6. Zurana Taluckder – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 6. Ilham Diwani – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 6. Ferdos Hashem – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 6. Nishath Rahman – The Bronx High School Of Science (New York) 10. Talha Ghazi – International Academy (Detroit) Category I: Knowledge and Quran Knowledge Test 1 1. Najeah Okashah – Panama City Advanced School (Atlanta) 2. Shahrazad Hired – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Niyaz Arif – Stuyvesant High School (New York) 4. Atallah Muhammad – Langston Hughes High School (Atlanta) 5. Cardiff Andana – Phelps Career High School (Washington DC) Knowledge Test 2 1. Ali Waseem – Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 2. Rabeea Ahmad – Milton High School (Atlanta) 3. Mohammad Taha Qadri – Valley Stream North High School (New York) 4. Mohammad Alkadah – Panama City Advanced School (Atlanta) 5. Mohammed Okashah – Panama City Advanced School (Atlanta) Knowledge Test 3 1. Hajur El-Haggan – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Amina S. Thomas – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Jauhara Ferguson – Langston Hughes High School (Atlanta) Knowledge Test 4 1. Reshmina Gilani – Rutherford High School (Atlanta) 2. Danial Abbasi – Kempner High School (Houston) 3. Mahnoor Samana – Austin High School (Houston) 4. Fahmida Sarmin – Central High School (Philadelphia) Brothers Quran Memorization 1. Saim Asif – Crescent School (New York) 2. Talha Ghazi – International Academy (Detroit) 3. Sameer Ali – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 4. Rakeen Raﬁqur-Rahman Mahmud – Thomas S. Wootton High School (Washington DC) 5. Mohamed Mahitula – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Sisters Quran Memorization 1. Ferdos Hashem – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 2. Reem Al-Atassi – Grayson High School (Atlanta) 3. Dania Shoukfeh – James Madison Memorial High School (Chicago) 4. Ilham Diwani – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 5. Zeynab Hassan – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Tafseer Test 1. Ayesha Saad – Crescent School (New York) 2. Zahra Saad – Crescent School (New York) 3. Maleeha Babar – Panama City Advanced School (Atlanta)

4. Fatimah Waseem – Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 5. Musarrat Haque – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) Brothers Quran Recitation (Tajweed) 1. Abdullah Ahmad – Herndon High School (Washington DC) 2. Besher Kashlan – International Academy (Detroit) 3. Naeem Baig – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 4. Usman Qadri – Smithsburg High School (Washington DC) 5. Muhtasham Sifaat – The Bronx High School Of Science (New York) Sisters Quran Recitation (Tajweed) 1. Zaynab Abidogun – Iman Academy Southwest (Houston) 2. Sadiya Dhanani – The Lovett School (Atlanta) 3. Rozana Rahman – Nur-ul-Iman (Philadelphia) 4. Sharifa Yusuf – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 5. Sharika Maliha – North Penn High School (Philadelphia) Category II: Arts 2D Art 1. Fatimah Waseem – Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 2. Raadiyah C. Verity – Islamic Society of Central New York (New York) 3. Attiya Latif – Smithsburg High School (Washington DC) 4. Fahmida Sarmin – Central High School (Philadelphia) 5. Sadia Ali – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 3D Art 1. Talha Ghazi – International Academy (Detroit) 2. Anaam Khan – Howard High School (Washington DC) 3. Sana Javed – Collins Hill High School (Atlanta) 4. Ayat Tamimi – Maryville High School (Atlanta) 5. Syed Faizuddin – College Preparatory School of America (Chicago) Digital Art 1. Bana Zayyad – Aqsa School (Chicago) 2. Shafquat Arefeen – Islamic Foundation (Toronto) 3. Mohamed Idiris – Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) 4. Zeshawn O. Khan – Milton High School (Atlanta) 5. Aatir Saleem – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Photography 1. Sadia Naseem – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 2. Zahra Saad – Crescent School (New York) 3. Mayisha Sharif – North Penn High School (Philadelphia) 4. Dhool Siad – 5. Jenine Omari – Maryville High School (Atlanta) Fashion Design 1. Khayriyyah Ramadan – W. D. Mohammed High School (Atlanta) 2. Mustabin Hossain – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Najeah Okashah – Panama City Advanced School (Atlanta) 4. Haseena Abdur-Rahman – Prince George High School (Washington DC) 5. Ayesha Saad – Crescent School (New York) Web Design 1. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 3. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 4. Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) 5. Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Category III: Writing and Oratory Children’s Book 1. Aliya Duamni – Iman Academy Southwest (Houston) 2. Mohamed Idiris – Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) 3. Nishi Sarkar – North Penn High School (Philadelphia) 4. Samira Tamimi – Maryville High School (Atlanta)

Extemporaneous Essay 1. Reem Al-Atassi – Grayson High School (Atlanta) 2. Zahra Saad – Crescent School (New York) 3. Mo’az Kassar – Naperville North High School (Chicago) 4. Zurana Taluckder – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 5. Mohammad Naﬁz Hossain – Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) Prepared Essay 1. Rozana Rahman – Nur-ul-Iman (Philadelphia) 2. Fatimah Waseem – Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 3. Zakariya Adam Salhan – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 4. Rabeea Ahmad – Milton High School (Atlanta) 5. Yaman Abdulhak – International Academy (Detroit) Extemporaneous Speaking 1. Sadia Ali – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 2. Abdul Rahman Latif – Smithsburg High School (Washington DC) 3. Saaliha Khadim – Islamic Foundation (Toronto) 4. Zubair Asgar – College Preparatory School of America (Chicago) 5. Irfaan Khalid – Plainﬁeld North High School (Chicago) Original Oratory 1. Nazifa Mim – Cypress Falls High School (Houston) 2. Ilham Diwani – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Halima Kachhvi – David & Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute (Toronto) 4. Talha Ghazi – International Academy (Detroit) 5. Nura LeBlanc – Clear Lake High School (Houston) Poetry 1. Sadia Naseem – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 2. Souhayl Diwani – Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) 3. Ayesha Saad – Crescent School (New York) 4. Anika Sikder – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 5. Rabiyyah Joseph – Heritage High School (Atlanta) Short Fiction 1. Muhtasham Sifaat – The Bronx High School Of Science (New York) 2. Aisha Alsliman – College Preparatory School of America (Chicago) 3. Sana Javed – Collins Hill High School (Atlanta) 4. Fahmida Sarmin – Central High School (Philadelphia) 5. Jauhara Ferguson – Langston Hughes High School (Atlanta) Spoken Word 1. Naeem Baig – Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Mahnoor Samana – Austin High School (Houston) 3. Ferdos Hashem – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 4. Sadiyah Bashir – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 5. Amina Muse – Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Category IV: Bracket Competitions Brothers Basketball 1. Chicago 2. New York 3. Washington DC 4. W. D. Mohammed High School (Atlanta) 5. Clarkston High School (Atlanta) & The Woodlands Secondary School (Toronto) Sisters Basketball 1. Muslim Youth of Atlanta (Atlanta) 2. Panama City Advanced School & Rutherford High School (Atlanta) 3. New York & Chicago & Houston 4. Washington DC Debate 1. Faraz Ahsan – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 2. Aminah Sallam – Stuyvesant High School (New York) 3. Joud Hassan – Maryville High School (Atlanta)

4. Arjumand Fatima – College Preparatory School of America (Chicago) 5. Muhtasham Sifaat – The Bronx High School Of Science (New York) Math Olympics 1. Zurana Taluckder – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 2. Mohammad Taha Qadri – Valley Stream North High School (New York) 3. Sadiya Dhanani – The Lovett School (Atlanta) 4. Jalil Muhammad – M&Ms (Washington DC) 5. Bana Zayyad – Aqsa School (Chicago) MIST Bowl 1. Crescent School (New York) 2. The Bronx High School Of Science / Stuyvesant High School (New York) 3. Smithsburg High School (Washington DC) 4. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 5. Panama City Advanced School (Atlanta) Category V: Group Projects Business Venture 1. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 3. Naperville North High School (Chicago) Community Service 1. W. D. Mohammed High School (Atlanta) 2. Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 3. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 4. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 5. Springbrook High School (Washington DC) Brothers Improv 1. The Woodlands Secondary School (Toronto) 2. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) 4. College Preparatory School of America (Chicago) 5. Kempner High School (Houston) Sisters Improv 1. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Prince George High School (Washington DC) 3. Milton High School (Atlanta) 4. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 5. Collins Hill High School (Atlanta) Brothers Nasheed/Rap 1. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Phelps Career High School (Washington DC) 3. Islamic Foundation School (Toronto) 4. Paint Branch High School (Washington DC) 5. Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Sisters Nasheed/Rap 1. Clarkston High School (Atlanta) 2. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Muslim Youth of Atlanta Homeschool (Atlanta) 4. Islamic Foundation (Toronto) 5. Montgomery Blair High School (Washington DC) Newsletter 1. Springbrook High School (Washington DC) 2. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 3. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 4. Kempner High School (Houston) 5. Milton High School (Atlanta) Research Methods 1. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 2. Clarkston High School (Atlanta) Scrapbook 1. The Bronx High School Of Science (New York) 2. Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Washington DC) 3. Kempner High School (Houston) 4. College Preparatory School of America (Chicago) 5. Islamic Foundation (Toronto) Short Film 1. Al-Huda High School (Washington DC) 2. Ancaster High School (Toronto) 3. Stuyvesant High School (New York) 4. Clarkston High School (Atlanta)

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

10 |COMMUNITY NEWS

Two Years in the Making, Imam Magid’s “Ramadhan Reader” Now Available for Purchase By Muslim Link Staff Two years ago in the Ramadhan of 2009, a young man approached ADAMS Imam Mohamed Hag Magid with a problem. While he loved listening to the entire recitation of the Qur’an in taraweeh, he didn’t understand Arabic so the meanings were lost. Imam Magid decided to send daily emails out to the community that Ramadhan, giving an overview of the meanings of that night’s recitation. The emails were very popular. Now, they’ve become a book available for purchase. “Reﬂections on the Qur’an: A Ramadhan Reader” by Imam Magid and Hanaa Unus gives a surah by surah over view of the themes and lessons of the Qur’an in a succinct 196 pages. Each surah is given just a few pages of explanation, and

Imam Magid draws practical lessons for everyday living from the verses in an easy to read, understandable text. The book is intended to be read throughout Ramadhan, not in one sitting. The book is available on Amazon.com in both print and digital format.

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July 15th - July 28th, 2011

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12 |COMMUNITY NEWS CREATIVE

>> continued from pg 4

“heroes.” But the team still isn’t done and has plans to grow and solidify the blog’s

reputation while increasing awareness about it. “We want to build a stronger team and need more writers so we can ﬁnd more subjects to feature and update more frequently. Since we’re just a few college kids, busy periods like final exams affect our productivity and we tend to go on hiatus. Hopefully with some more dedicated writers, we can

change that and update more often,” said Dasti. But the goal behind the blog will remain the same. “I hope CreativeMuslims gives people a chance to see what they can do, how they can ‘make it,’ and in what way their artistic talents can help the community,” said Siddiqui. “This

can be a platform for expanding ideas, an opportunity to network with other creative professionals, and a place to truly prove that Muslims are capable of truly changing the world when they dedicate themselves to promoting social good.”

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>> continued from pg 1

The meetings took place in Maryland, DC, and Virginia with attendees representing over seven masajid. Imam Faizul Khan of the Maryland’s Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA), Imam Talib Shareef of DC’s Masjid Muhammad, and Imam Johari Abdul Malik of Virginia’s Dar al Hijrah led the regional sessions. They discussed a variety of topics, stressing both collaborative efforts and masjid’s local initiatives. Masjids agreed to sponsor the capital’s widely-acclaimed 911 Unity Walk, a community service endeavour which attracts thousands of people and hundreds of religious organizations every year. In the past, Reverend Mpho Tutu and Arun Gandhi have spoken at the event. Representatives also discussed advertising the event in The Washington Post by splitting printing costs. Several suggestions were laid on the table including selling 2,000 T-Shirts and a hijab donning the colors of the American flag. ISWA agreed to sponsor the patriotic clothing project. However, Imam Johari reminded that the agenda of these meetings went far beyond supporting such large, group efforts. “While CMO believes in a coordinated response, every community can only do what they believe is in their scope, their power,” he stressed. Attendants were not only able to exchange ideas for such 9/11 awareness projects, but also avoid scheduling conflicts with other masjids and community events that require the combined support of area masajid, particularly with September 10th’s “United for Change” conference in the DC Convention Center. Tariq Ramadan, Hamza Yusuf, and Karen Armstrong are set to speak at the highly anticipated event. With this level of coordination, CMO hopes to avoid event conflicts and date overlaps, and encourage a full-thrust of support form the Muslim community, a challenge masajid must overcome given the increasing frequency of events. Given this objective of thinking globally, acting locally, CMO urged masjids to take advantage of the upcoming month of Ramadan. “Invite your neighbors to

COMMUNITY NEWS | 13 Iftar in advance of September 11. Reach out to your neighbors,” CMO executives advised. “These small, local initiatives should not be underestimated,” Abdul-Malik warned, addressing the concern of some Muslims who feel there should be “a national, collaborative response to match a tragedy that hit us nationally and was planned collaboratively” - as a Virginian Muslim told The Muslim Link. This initiative comes in a long line of 9/11 advocacy projects. Since 2002, Masjids

actively and vigorously organize 9/11 anniversary events designed to reach out to their neighbors and raise awareness about Islam’s true teachings. ADAMS center, a masjid in Sterling, Virginia, holds an annual peace gathering on the eve of 9/11, often inviting police and FireEMS. ISWA also holds annual reﬂection events and makes sure to reach out to the non-Muslim community. “Though a horrible event, 9/11 is something that has united us, as a Muslim community and as a nation,” Imam Johari said.

As a result of his masjid’s efforts, the Catholic Church opposite Dar-ul-Hijrah houses homeless people during the day. Dar Al- Hijrah houses them during the night. “This is the consequence of us coming together,” he said. For Jordanian-born Muslim Ala AlSulaihat, these bridge building events are just a start.“Though ten years have passed, we have only just begun” she said. “Ground zero has given us the dirt. We must never cease to plant the seeds and wait for them to bloom.”

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

14 |COMMUNITY NEWS Omeish from Virginia, a humanitarian aid committee headed by Tagouri, and a media committee.

him in direct contact with the situation of the over 60,000 Libyan refugees now in Tunisia.

continues to convulse the entire region, Tagouri is now doing what he can to support the on-going revolution in Libya.

their family members. Gaddaﬁ sent his ofﬁcials to the prison, promising to hear inmate concerns if they returned to their cells. The inmates agreed. The following day 1,280 of the inmates were assembled in a yard and gunned down with machine guns and heavy artillery. Their bodies were dumped in a massive pit and sealed over with concrete.

“[Cities] were falling quickly on the east side and we thought this will be the fastest revolution that ever took place,” recalled Tagouri. But ﬁghting continued, and Gadafﬁ regrouped.

“What the Tunisians did was unbelievable. Some families let people stay with them who they don’t know, and some [gave up] their homes for Libyan families,” said Tagouri.

When the Muslim Link called him to interview him on what local LibyanAmericans were doing to support there brethren displaced by the ﬁghting, he asked the ﬁrst question.

Though rumors were rife, family members did not know if their loved ones were dead or alive behind the prison walls. Guards took food and money from family members, promising to deliver the items

The Washington area Libyan Emergency Task Force quickly expanded to a network of Libyan task forces in major cities across the US and Canada. The first priority for these mostly new activists

Qatar and UAE built the two refugee camps Tunis and Tagouri helps provide food, medicine, clothing, and other assistance to Libyans in the camps. “We are also dealing with hundreds of rape cases,” he added, saying Gaddafi has given a “green light” to his soldiers to rape women at will.

LIBYA

>> continued from pg 1

“So, what do you know about Libya?” The question hinted at his apprehension – shared by Tunisians, Egyptians, Syrians, and other Arab-Americans put into a situation of being educators and pubic relations specialists on behalf of their compatriots on the Arab streets – that most Americans see the Arab revolutions in a time frame going back weeks, not decades. So, the medical researcher and board member of the newly formed Libyan Council of North America began giving this non-Libyan reporter a broad historical summary of the four decade rule of a tyrant who many deem mentally unsound. Starting from Gaddafi’s seizure of power through a coup in 1969, Tagouri went through the last 42 years, describing how Gaddafi halted constitutional rights and laws starting in 1973, and began publicly assassinating opposition leaders in 1977. “I am a witness to [these assassinations] because it happened in front of my eyes in Benghazi and then in Tripoli,” said Tagouri. Gaddafi even had exiled opposition leaders killed in Europe and elsewhere, he added. Through the 1980s and 1990s, both secular and Islamic opposition groups attempted to remove Gadaffi through coups or assassination. In 1996, overcrowding in Abusalem jail in the capital Tripoli prompted inmates – most of whom were members of various Islamic groups – to take over the prison. They demanded due process – many were in prison without charges or sentences – health care, and contact with

Asked if he fears for his safety because of his involvement with the Libyan Council, Tagouri said he and the other Libyan-American activists are “beyond the fear” and that “over 30,000 people have [already] given their lives for Libya.” to inmates they knew were killed. Finally in 2008, families of prisoners from the eastern city of Benghazi formed a coalition, hired a lawyer, and began protesting every Saturday in front of the court in Benghazi, demanding to know if their sons, fathers, and husbands were dead or alive. In Washington DC, Tagouri and other Libyan-Americans did the same, protesting every Saturday in front of the White House. Then, the Tunisian revolution shook the Arab world, unleashing pent up energy from the Arab street with forced Tunis’ long-time dictator from power. Just days later, the Egyptian revolution topples Mubarak. “When it was successful in Egypt also, the organizers of the protest in Libya said they will take February 17 as the day to protest. [Their] lawyers were arrested few days before [the protest], and then the entire city of Benghazi went out on Feb 17. Tanks and heavy artillery [were used] against them, that day several secret service members joined the protesters,” recalled Tagouri. Tagouri and other Libyan-Americans teleconferenced and on February 19 they formed the Libyan Emergency Task Force with three main committees: a political committee headed by Esam

was to push the international community to set-up and enforce a no-fly zone to stop Gadaffi’s planes from bombing the revolting cities. Yahia Tagouri’s home was attacked twice; no one was injured. One month later, on April 17, 300 Libyans from across the US and Canada met in Washington DC and formed the Libyan Council of North America with an aim to “facilitate and integrate humanitarian aid, political action and media outreach among various organizations, groups and individuals” in support of the Libyan people. Both Yahia Tagouri and Esam Omeish were elected to the Board. Politically, the new Libyan Council of North America helps facilitate meetings between US officials and representatives from the anti-Gaddafi forces. Earlier this year the Libyan Council of North America helped arrange such a meeting with Senator John Kerry. Asked if he fears for his safety because of his involvement with the Libyan Council, Tagouri said he and the other LibyanAmerican activists are “beyond the fear” and that “over 30,000 people have [already] given their lives for Libya.” Tagouri’s humanitarian committee responsibility on the new Council puts

Tagouri and other Libyan-American activists hope they are witnessing the last days of Gaddaﬁ’s reign. “I think if we can take Libya back to 1969, we’ll be going 40 years forward. [Gaddafi] completely destroyed the health and education systems … there is no justice. Poverty is among the highest. You are talking about a country which produces some of the ﬁnest oil in the world,” explained Tagouri. “Before February 17 [2011], if you told me there was going to be a revolution in Libya, I would have told you that you were dreaming … that Libyans are incapable of doing what the Tunisians did …. I never saw there was any chance to make a difference,” he admitted. But now he knows the Libya he left in 1987 is very different than the one he sees today and for one reason: its people. “When I talk to my brother in Libya I hear takbeer in the background and they said from day one the takbeer did not stop from the masajid,” said Tagouri, becoming emotional. “A young man lost both his legs, [he is] maybe in his early twenties from Misrata. He could not stop saying ‘alhumdulillah that my legs preceded me to jannah’ ...can you imagine what those types of people could have done given time [without this war]?” The revolution, as Tagouri sees it, occurred in the hearts of his people. For more information on the new Libyan council, visit www.Northamericanlibyans. org.

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

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16 | ISLAM

Islam

Sha’bân: The Neglected Month By Ust. Abu Eesa Niamatullah One would agree that from the most unfortunate things possible is to be the rightful recipient of some good news – a present maybe, a gift of money, a bequest etc – but then one remains unaware of this fact, or doesn’t pay attention to all the phone calls informing him of such glad tidings. So there’s your present waiting for you, and you’re not really aware to its full worth or value – no-one else is going to claim it on your behalf and if you knew its real signiﬁcance, you’d never leave it to waste! Yet the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, told us, as narrated by al-Imâm al-Bayhaqî, that: “Sha’bân is a month between Rajab and Ramadhân, much neglected by people. In it, the actions of all servants are raised to the Lord of the Worlds; I love that my actions are not presented except that I am fasting.” Here is a man, the wisest and most eager of creation to obtain all possible good,

who saw this blessed month of Sha’bân very differently to many of us. He, peace be upon him, would never leave it to waste, rather he would be seen fasting almost the entire month of Sha’bân, only ever surpassed by the fasting of the whole of Ramadhân.

So often do many of us think we can just turn up to the show in Ramadhân, take a seat and watch the game, see the team win and go home happy at the end. What a huge mistake.

So why exactly is that? There are numerous authentic reports that detail how the majority of Sha’bân was spent by our beloved Prophet in a state of fasting; a state which heightens our God-consciousness, makes us aware of our desires and the need for their control, makes us aware of the problems and difﬁculties of so many poor people around the world when we feel those pangs of hunger. The fasting one becomes very mindful of their tongue and how they abuse by it, their eyes and how they deviate from purity, their hearts and how much ﬁlth enters it without wilful control. All in all, there is nothing more conducive to sincerely worshipping our Master, the Lord of the Worlds than doing so whilst fasting.

But doesn’t that occur whenever someone is fasting? Why then the month of Sha’bân? With Ramadhân just around the corner, where many of us really do ‘make it or break it’ for the rest of the year due to the quality of our ‘ibâdah (worship) in it, it becomes paramount to prepare properly for this once in a lifetime opportunity. After all, do you know whether you’ll ever be lucky enough to greet another one? Weren’t the Sahâbah (Companions) described by Ma’lâ bin Fadhl as those people who spent six months of the year asking Allâh to accept their ‘ibâdah of their previous Ramadhân and the next six months asking just to be allowed to reach the next one? So often do many of us think we can just

turn up to the show in Ramadhân, take a seat and watch the game, see the team win and go home happy at the end. What a huge mistake. Spending thirty odd days of Ramadhân refraining from food and drink from morning to night isn’t the second pillar of Islam known as Siyâm. No – I think people might be getting a bit confused there don’t you? That’s just a hungry and thirsty person, someone who in reality, has just wasted his time. Rather as the Prophet, peace be upon him, advised us, we need to avoid all the wellknown slips of the tongue, eyes, heart and really just our desires in general in

>> SHA’BAN Pg 19

True Contentment, Peace And Honour In This Life Allâh has stated: “Whoever does righteous deeds – whether male or female – while a believer, We shall certainly give them a good life and We will certainly grant them their rewards in accordance to the best of what they used to perform.” [AnNahl 16:97] In his commentary to this verse, Ibn Kathîr notes that this means that whoever performs the righteous deeds, which are acts of obedience in accord with the Qur’ân and Sunnah, will be given a good life in this world and in the Hereafter he will receive rewards according to the best of what he used to perform. He stated

that “the good life” implies all forms of contentment and tranquility. Such has been reported from ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Abbâs, Ikrimah and Wahb bin Munnabih. It is also recorded from Ibn ‘Abbâs that it means happiness. Ad-Dhuhâk states that it refers to lawful provisions and worship in this life. [1] As noted previously, every Muslim must realize that true success and happiness do not lie in the possessing of wealth, power, status, ﬁne cars and houses and all of the

>> CONTENTMENT Pg 21

“If you do not find any sweetness and relaxation in your heart from a [good] deed, then you should suspect your heart. Verily, Allâh is grateful. That is, He must reward the doer of the deed for his deed in this world by a sweetness he finds in his heart, a stronger feeling of relaxation and a joy in his eyes. If the person does not find these things, it means that something has entered upon his deed [and made it not correct and purely for Allâh’s sake.”

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

ISLAM | 17

How Should We Prepare for Ramadhan? Question: How can we prepare for Ramadan? What are the best deeds in this blessed month?. -----------------------------------------------Answer: Praise be to Allah. Firstly: You have done well to ask this question, because you have asked how to prepare for the month of Ramadan. Many people misunderstand the true nature of fasting, and they make it an occasion for eating and drinking, making special sweets and staying up late at night and watching shows on satellite TV. They make preparations for that long before Ramadan, lest they miss out on some food or prices go up. They prepare by buying food, preparing drinks and looking at the satellite TV guide so they can choose which shows to follow and which to ignore. They are truly unaware of the real nature of fasting in Ramadan; they take worship and piety out of the month and make it just for their bellies and their eyes. Secondly: Others are aware of the real nature of fasting in the month of Ramadan, so they start to prepare from Sha’baan, and some of them even start before that. Among the best ways of preparing for the month of Ramadan are: 1 - Sincere repentance This is obligatory at all times, but because of the approach of a great and blessed month, it is even more important to hasten to repent from sins between you and your Lord, and between you and other people by giving them their rights, so that when the blessed month begins you may busy yourself with acts of worship with a clean heart and peace of mind. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful” [al-Noor 24:31] It was narrated from al-Agharr ibn Yasaar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O people, repent to Allah for I repent to Him one hundred times

each day.” Narrated by Muslim (2702). 2 - Du’aa’ (supplication) It was narrated from some of the salaf that they used to pray to Allah for six months that they would live until Ramadan, then they would pray for ﬁve months afterwards that He would accept it from them. The Muslim should ask his Lord to let him live until Ramadan with a strong religious commitment and good physical health, and he should ask Him to help him obey Him during the month, and ask Him to accept his good deeds from Him. 3 - Rejoicing at the approach of the blessed month The arrival of Ramadan is one of the great blessings that Allah bestows upon His Muslim slave, because Ramadan is one of the occasions of good in which the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. It is the month of the Qur’an and of decisive battles in the history of our religion. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Say: ‘In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur’an); therein let them rejoice.’ That is better than what (the wealth) they amass” [Yoonus 10:58] 4 - Discharging the duty of any outstanding obligatory fasts It was narrated that Abu Salamah said: I heard ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) say: I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadan and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha’baan. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1849) and Muslim (1146). Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: From her keenness to do that in Sha’baan it may be understood that it is not permissible to delay making them up until another Ramadan begins. Fath al-Baari (4/191). >> RAMADAN Pg 20

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Two Practical Ways to Prepare for Ramadan Ofﬁce of Admissions at Tooba University (www.toobauniversity.org) With Ramadan just around the corner, we look at 2 practical things that we can do today to prepare for the blessed month of Ramadan. Remain Steadfast and Patient, In Deed and Word This year, for those of us who work and live in the DC metropolitan area, a single day’s fast will last for more than 13 hours. Under normal circumstances, we may deal with certain problems in a particularly good manner, but take away food and drink for over 13 hours- and add to that the heat of the southern sunand our way of dealing with ourselves and others may suddenly change. This is what we have to look out for this Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said in a Sahih Hadith, “It may be that all a fasting person gets from his fast is hunger and thirst, and it may be that all a person who prays at night gets from his prayer is sleeplessness.” Fasting does not mean that we only abstain from food and drink, rather it also means that we abstain from lying, falsehood and all types of vulgar and idle speech. In the coming days and throughout all our days, let the words of Allah ‬continue to guide us, when He says: “And those who remain patient, seeking their Lord’s Countenance, perform

Prayers and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, and defend against evil with good, for such there is a good end” (Surrat Ar-Rad: 22) Fast a Few Days During the Month of Shaban There is no better way to prepare for Ramadan than to start fasting from now. In fact, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) fasted more in this month, the month of Shaban, than any other month (besides Ramadan). Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) said about that in a Sahih Hadith, “I never saw the Messenger of Allah fast more in a month than he did in Shaban.” When asked about it the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said in another Sahih Hadith, “That (Shaban) is a month the people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” By fasting a few days before Ramadan, we not only get the reward of the fast Insha’Allah, but we also get the reward of following the example of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). Think that if we do encounter any great ordeal during our voluntary fast before Ramadan, it may weigh hard on us that day, but greater than that, under the Inﬁnite Wisdom of Allah it may come to serve as a reminder when we need it on a day in Ramadan.

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

18 | ADVERTISEMENT

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Planning and implementing lessons, develop lesson plans that support project based learning ensuring attainment of gradeby-grade regulated learning standards. Willingness to be held accountable for student results. • Ability to teach Language Arts to students using appropriate learning activities. • Create lesson plans and instructional materials to provide individualized and small group instruction and be able to differentiate student’s instruction adapting the curriculum according to VA SOL standards. • Foster student’s behavioral standard to achieve a group learning atmosphere in the classroom. • Evaluate students’ progress, keep records, and prepare semester progress reports to communicate with parents to discuss student’s progress. • Cooperate with staff members to assess students in solving learning problems and participate in curriculum development programs as required. • Requisition books / instructional aids and maintain classroom inventory records. • Knowledge of cultural difference of students and ability to incorporate differences into teaching. • Decorating and maintaining the classroom • Follow all State Health requirements.

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July 15th - July 28th, 2011 SHA’BAN

>> continued from pg 16

order to be one who fulfils the conditions of Ramadhân. We need to make sure that we adorn our fasting with all other possible extra good actions such as praying extra nawâfil (voluntary prayers), giving charity, re-establishing family ties, increasing our social and da’wah (presenting Islam to non-Muslims) work, displaying generosity to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, extra dhikr (remembrance), memorisation of the Qur’ân etc. Surely that is the whole point here – that we fast so as to be more aware of our actions and that they are presented to Allâh, the Most High, in their best possible light. Only with such a high quality day of fasting can we really have hoped to achieve the desired consequence – that all our previous sins are forgiven and that we enter His Garden with His pleasure, if Allâh wills it. But don’t think such a day is easy to come by. Rather it is the exception although it shouldn’t be like that. Hence the greatness of Sha’bân, that blessed opportunity to see whether we can make the mark, the mock exam before the impending finals, the last practice in front of the mirror before the key interview – although each practice is important itself, mistakes that are made here are blessed ones if they are learned from and not repeated at the key moment. This has to be our aim in the remaining days of Sha’bân. Try and make it a real and sincere practice effort for Ramadhân which is only a few weeks away – keep a note of all your external and internal actions during the day whilst you refrain from food and drink and be horrified at the amount of rubbish we espouse from our bodies on a daily basis. It’s going to be a major wake-up call and all praise is due to Allâh for that – I would rather that

ISLAM | 19 I’m rudely awoken today than be found in a drunken stupor during Laylat’l-Qadr (the Night of Power) … Don’t you want to take full advantage of Ramadhân when it comes? Don’t you want to proﬁt whilst the doors of Heaven are thrown wide open, the doors of Hell are slammed shut and our greatest detractors of all, the devils, are ﬁrmly chained up? Which believer doesn’t welcome those open doors and which sinner of us doesn’t sigh with relief at the taming of the Fire – if but just for a small moment?

Ramadhân without a care in the world, not having conditioned our bodies, physically and spiritually in Sha’bân? How can we work on preserving our energy during Ramadhân, not simply to last till Sunset, but to pray all the extra sunnah available if we don’t try and test ourselves now? How will we know the looseness of our eyes if we don’t catch the eyes out now? How will we ever realise how much we gossip and backbite during Ramadhân when we don’t try refraining ourselves from the rafath (ﬁlth) and ﬁsq (evil) during our fasts today?

How on Earth can we possibly achieve this if we just dive into Ramadhân without a care in the world, not having conditioned our bodies, physically and spiritually in Sha’bân? For as the poet said, “Whoever is shown mercy in Ramadhân is marhûm (blessed, receiver of mercy), whoever prohibits for himself its good is mahrûm (devoid of blessing and good) and whoever doesn’t take provision and sustenance from it is malûm (has no-one to blame but himself).” So at this ‘neglected time’, when the majority of our friends, family and community are not paying attention to what could be gained, where the environment is not conducive to steeling one’s resolve and focus on that which is good, where people are concentrating on ‘enjoying’ themselves as much as possible before the ‘hardships’ of Ramadhân – during this time, let us strive to perfect ourselves now and learn from our mistakes whilst we prepare for the ‘Big One’, so as to really achieve the objective behind fasting and indeed life itself – to become those who are constantly aware of Allâh (al-Muttaqûn). How on Earth can we possibly achieve this if we just dive into

Surely, the fact that we can perfect ourselves and reach the true goal during Ramadhân simply by exerting ourselves now during Sha’bân is a compelling argument for why the Companions observed that when they saw the Prophet, peace be upon him, fasting at this time, they thought he’d never eat again – may Allâh bless him, give him eternal peace and reward him with the very greatest of rewards! Last, but certainly not least, for those who look for bargains and the like at such times (and who wouldn’t considering how miskeen to our Lord we all are!), there is another super jackpot moment in this blessed month. If all the obvious beneﬁts were not enough, we also have a special night in which forgiveness is on a unique limited offer for the Believers. In a much disputed hasan narration collected by ibn Hibbân, one of many other weak ahâdîth, it is reported that on the authority of Mu’âdh ibn Jabal, may Allâh be pleased with him, that the

Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Allâh looks to His creation on the middle night of Sha’bân and forgives all of His creation, except for the one who ascribes partners to Him and the one who holds malice against others.” Which one of us isn’t in need of this special moment of forgiveness? Yes, Allâh, the Most High, descends in the last third of every night offering salvation to us but here is another special moment for us to profit from, not restricted by the length of the night and specifically chosen by Sayyidina Mustapha, peace be upon him, to strive for. Let us use this night to beseech our Lord for His bounty and pardon, prioritising our good deeds. After all, this is a night of forgiveness so what else better to do but to seek it! But at the same time, let us not put our hopes into just this one night but use these many sanctified days ahead to do exactly that – get ahead. Al-Imâm ibn al-Jawzi, may Allâh have mercy upon him, was once asked: “Is it better for me to make tasbîh (glorification of Allah) or to make istighfâr (seek forgiveness)?” He replied, “The dirty robe is more in need of soap than perfume.” Hasan, may Allâh be pleased with him, once said: “Increase in making istighfâr for you’ll never know when His Mercy will next descend.” Indeed. So let us be aware of these blessed times in our times of need – let us pay attention to that which is neglected and make our Sha’bân and Ramadhân our sources of salvation. -----------------------------------------------[Source: PropheticGuidance http:// alternativeentertainment.wordpress. com/2009/07/24/shaban-the-neglectedmonth-2/]

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

20 | SALAAH TIMES

Salaah times for July 15th - July 28th , 2011 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.

CLOSER II

>> continued from pg 17

5 - Seeking knowledge in order to be able to follow the rulings on fasting and to understand the virtues of Ramadan. 6 - Hastening to complete any tasks that may distract the Muslim from doing acts of worship. 7 - Sitting with one’s family members - wife and children - to tell them of the rulings on fasting and encourage the young ones to fast. 8 - Preparing some books which can be read at home or given to the imam of the mosque to read to the people during Ramadan. 9 - Fasting some of the month of Sha’baan

Day

Date

Hijri

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

July 15

14/8

4:25

5:54

1:15

5:10

8:33

10:04

Sat

15/8

4:26

5:55

1:15

5:09

8:33

10:03

Sun

16/8

4:27

5:56

1:15

5:09

8:32

10:02

Mon

17/8

4:28

5:57

1:15

5:09

8:32

10:01

Tue

18/8

4:29

5:57

1:15

5:09

8:31

10:00

Wed

19/8

4:30

5:58

1:15

5:09

8:30

9:59

Thu

20/8

4:32

5:59

1:15

5:09

8:30

9:58

Fri

21/8

4:33

6:00

1:15

5:09

8:29

9:57

Sat

22/8

4:34

6:01

1:15

5:09

8:28

9:56

Sun

23/8

4:35

6:01

1:15

5:09

8:27

9:55

Mon

24/8

4:36

6:02

1:15

5:09

8:27

9:54

Tue

25/8

4:37

6:03

1:15

5:08

8:26

9:53

Wed

26/8

4:39

6:04

1:15

5:08

8:25

9:52

Thu

27/8

4:40

6:05

1:15

5:08

8:24

9:50

in preparation for fasting Ramadan. It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast until we said: He will not break his fast, and he used not to fast until we said: He will not fast. And I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) complete a month of fasting except Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha’baan. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1868) and Muslim (1156). It was narrated that Usaamah ibn Zayd said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any month as you fast in Sha’baan? He said: “That is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan, but it is a month in which people’s deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds and I would like my deeds to

be taken up when I am fasting.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i (2357); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i. This hadeeth explains the wisdom behind fasting in Sha’baan, which is that it is a month in which deeds are taken up (to Allah). Some of the scholars mentioned another reason, which is that this fasting is like Sunnah prayers offered beforehand in relation to the obligatory prayer; they prepare the soul for performing the obligatory action, and the same may be said of fasting Sha’baan before Ramadan. 10 - Reading Qur’an Salamah ibn Kuhayl said: It was said that Sha’baan was the month of the Qur’an readers. When Sha’baan began, ‘Amr ibn Qays would close his shop and free his time for

reading Qur’an. Abu Bakr al-Balkhi said: The month of Rajab is the month for planting, the month of Sha’baan is the month of irrigating the crops, and the month of Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crops. He also said: The likeness of the month of Rajab is that of the wind, the likeness of Sha’baan is that of the clouds and the likeness of Ramadan is that of the rain; whoever does not plant and sow in Rajab, and does not irrigate in Sha’baan, how can he reap in Ramadan? Now Rajab has passed, so what will you do in Sha’baan if you are seeking Ramadan? This is how your Prophet and the early generations of the ummah were in this blessed month, so what will you do? And Allah is the Source of strength. [Source: islamic-life.com]

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July 15th - July 28th, 2011

WORLD PRESS | 21 [sall-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] said:

CONTENTMENT

>> continued from pg 16

allurements of this world. In fact, those worldly possessions are not even the things that actually make a person rich in a true sense. The Prophet [sall-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] explained this fact most succinctly when he stated: “True richness is not via much property and belongings but true richness is in selfcontentment.” [Al-Bukhârî and Muslim]

“If a person’s main concern is the Hereafter, Allâh puts his richness in his heart, makes his affairs together for him and gives to him the world while it is not desirable to him. And if a person’s main concern is this world, Allâh will put his poverty in front of his eyes, make his affairs disunited and will not give him of this world save what has been decreed for him.” [3]

“If the human had one valley of gold, he would love to have two valleys worth.” [Al-Bukhârî]

The real rest and the real happiness can only come to those whom Allâh blesses with such a blessing and which is received when one puriﬁes one’s soul and worships Allâh alone with a true and complete form of worship. When a person accomplishes these matters, he becomes overcome with a joy that never leaves him and that is difﬁcult to put into words. Ibn Taymiyyah attempted to express the joy that he felt from his faith in Allâh and the deeds he performed. He once said: “In this world there is a Paradise that whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise in the Hereafter.” He also said: “What can my enemies do to me? Certainly, my paradise and garden are in my chest.” [4] In fact, Ibn Qayyim, Ibn Taymiyyah’s closest student who would visit him often in the citadel prison, stated:

In fact, it is due to this misconception as to wherein lies the true happiness of this life that many are of the false impression that it is impossible to “enjoy” or be happy in both the life of this world as well as that of the Hereafter. [2] In reality, though, by concentrating one’s intention on the Hereafter, the matters of this world become much “easier” and less tense. Allah thereby increases one’s happiness in this world. In a very important hadîth for this day and age, the Messenger of Allah

“Allah knows that I have never seen anyone having a better life than him. [This was true] even though he was in straitened circumstances and not living in luxuries and comforts. On the contrary, he was on the opposite extreme. Even though he faced imprisonment, torture and threats, he still had the most pleasurable life among the people, with the most relaxed feelings, strongest in heart and happiest of all of them. The experiencing of joy could be seen on his face. Whenever we were

Indeed, there is no real beneﬁt to any worldly possessions if one’s soul is uneasy, depressed, extremely doubtful about its own future, full of anxiety and always desiring for more when it can never be content with what it has. In general though, this is what happens to human beings; they are always ﬁlled with anxiety, concerned about losing what they have while always yearning for more. The Messenger of Allah [sall-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] pointed out this general fact of mankind when he said:

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very fearful, feeling bad expectations and felt the earth constricting upon us, we would come to him and we only needed to see him and listen to his words that all of those emotions would leave us. Instead, we would be filled with rest, strength, certainty and tranquility. Exalted be the One who allows His servant to witness His Paradise before he meets Him.” [5] Of course, such a beautiful feeling from one’s faith was not restricted to Ibn Taymiyyah. Ibn Qayyim quotes another devout Muslim as saying: “If the kings and the children of the kings knew what [felicity] we are in, they would fight us over it with their swords.” Yet another stated: “The inhabitants of this world are miserable. They leave this world and they do not taste the most wonderful aspect that it contains.” When asked what that was, he replied: “Love for Allâh, knowing Him and remembering Him.” Ibn Qayyim also quoted another who said: “There comes some times in which I say: ‘If the people of Paradise are in a state like this, they are enjoying a good life’.” [6] On the other hand, Allâh says: “And he fails who corrupts (khâb) it.” (Ash-Shams 91:10). The Arabic word “al-khaybah” has many aspects to it, including: 1. Weakness in one’s soul, as the soul does not have the strength and courage to follow what it knows is the truth; 2. Hesitation and confusion as every time it wants to do good; the soul drags it back down and fights it; 3. True psychological humiliation as he is worshiping something that has no benefit to it and it is not worthy of a human being to be worshiping something of that nature;

4. Cowardice and stinginess as his soul knows that he is disobeying his Lord and he cannot look forward to anything positive; hence, he has to hang on to his life and everything that he possesses in the strongest fashion; 5. Loss of modesty and dignity as his soul drives him to be shameless acts to the point that he accepts them, supports them and loses all shame concerning them. This is all part of the reality that happens to him in this world. And that is all much less the disgrace that he will face in the Hereafter. [7] Footnotes: 1) Ibn Kathîr, Tafsîr, Vol. 4, P.601 2) Cf., al-Bilâli, P.127 3) Recorded by at-Tirmidhî and Ibn Majâh. According to al-Albânî it is sahîh. See al-Albânî, Sahîh al-Jâmi’, Vol. 2, Pgs. 1110-1111 4) Quoted in Ibn Qayyim, al-Wâbil asSayyib, P.73 5) Ibn Qayyim, al-Wâbil as-Sayyib, P.73 6) See Ibn Qayyim, al-Wâbil as-Sayyib, P.73. Ibn Qayyim also quoted Ibn Tamiyyiah as saying: “If you do not find any sweetness and relaxation in your heart from a [good] deed, then you should suspect your heart. Verily, Allâh is grateful. That is, He must reward the doer of the deed for his deed in this world by a sweetness he finds in his heart, a stronger feeling of relaxation and a joy in his eyes. If the person does not find these things, it means that something has entered upon his deed [and made it not correct and purely for Allâh’s sake.” See Ibn Qayyim, Madârij, Vol. 2, P. 68 7) For a similar discussion, see al-Bilâli, P.33. -----------------------------------------------Source: abuhatim.wordpress.com. Excerpted from Purification of the Soul: Concept, Process and Means By Jamâl ad-Dîn M. Zarabozo, Pgs. 475-479.

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

22 | WORLD PRESS

World Press

Debt Ceiling FAQs: What You Need to Know By Jeanne Sahadi,

senior writer @CNNMoney May 18, 2011 NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- It’s ofﬁcial: The U.S. government hit the debt ceiling on May 16. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congress he would have to suspend investments in federal retirement funds until Aug. 2 in order to create room for the government to continue borrowing in the debt markets. The funds will be made whole once the debt limit is increased, Geithner said in a letter. “Federal retirees and employees will be unaffected by these actions.” He went on to urge Congress once again to raise the country’s legal borrowing limit soon “to protect the full faith and credit of the United States and avoid catastrophic economic consequences for citizens.” Congress, meanwhile, is not showing any signs of budging. Many Republicans and some Democrats say they won’t raise it unless Congress and President Obama agree to signiﬁcant spending cuts and other ways to curb debt. Geithner told Congress that he estimates he has enough legal hoop-jumping tricks

is a ﬁscal spendthrift.

How is the ceiling determined? They don’t admit it, but lawmakers tacitly agree to raise the debt ceiling ever y time they vote for a spending hike or tax cut. to cover them for another 11 weeks or so.

Congress had to sign off every time the federal government issued debt.

But then he said that’s it. If lawmakers don’t get it together by Aug. 2, the United States will no longer be able to pay its bills in full.

How high is the debt limit right now? The ceiling is currently set at $14.294 trillion. The country’s accrued debt hit that mark on the morning of May 16.

The rhetoric about whether to raise the ceiling and under what conditions has been loud, harsh and, at times, misleading. Exasperatingly, it’s far from over.

But by taking various extraordinary measures like suspending investments in federal retirement funds, Geithner will be able to bring total debt down enough to allow the government to continue borrowing until Aug. 2.

What is the debt ceiling exactly? It’s a cap set by Congress on the amount of debt the federal government can legally borrow. The cap applies to debt owed to the public (i.e., anyone who buys U.S. bonds) plus debt owed to federal government trust funds such as those for Social Security and Medicare. The ﬁrst limit was set in 1917 and set at $11.5 billion, according to the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget. Previously,

Hence, by the end of trade on May 17, total debt subject to the limit was a mere $25 million shy of the official cap -- or $14,293,975,000,000. Total debt can fluctuate up or down on any given day. How is the ceiling determined? They don’t admit it, but lawmakers tacitly agree to raise the debt ceiling every time they vote for a spending hike or tax cut. “Congress has already passed and the president has already signed legislation that increases spending or decreases revenues. Those decisions have already been made,” said Susan Irving, director for federal budget issues at the Government Accountability Office. So in reality arguing over the debt ceiling is essentially arguing over whether to pay the bills the country has already incurred. But politicians who make a stink about the debt ceiling will always try to make the case that the guy who votes to raise it

And politics, of course, permeates the whole debate. Lawmakers who want to make hay of the issue for political gain may push for a small increase so the debate comes up again soon. Others may want a bigger increase so they don’t have to revisit the issue for awhile. How many times has the ceiling been raised? Since March 1962, the debt ceiling has been raised 74 times, according to the Congressional Research Service. Ten of those times have occurred since 2001. Expect more of the same over the next decade. Barring major changes to spending and tax policies, “Congress would repeatedly face demands to raise the debt limit,” CRS wrote. Why does Congress even bother to set a debt limit? In theory, the limit is supposed to help Congress control spending. In reality, it doesn’t. Every time the debt limit needs to be raised, lawmakers and the president are forced to take stock of the country’s ﬁscal direction, which isn’t a bad thing necessarily. But the decision about how high to set the ceiling is divorced from lawmakers’ decisions to pass spending hikes and tax cuts. It’s also made after the fact, so it doesn’t do much to pull in the purse strings. That’s why budget experts say it would be better to tie the debt limit decision to lawmakers’ legislative actions. What happens if Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling before Aug. 2? No one knows for sure. But the going assumption is that no good can come of it. Treasury would not have authority to

>> DEBT Pg 23

July 15th - July 28th, 2011 DEBT

>> continued from pg 22

borrow any more money. And that can be a problem since the government borrows to make up the difference between what it spends and what it takes in. It uses that borrowed money to help fund operations and pay creditors. Geithner’s critics say he could prevent default by simply paying the interest due to bondholders. But since average spending -- minus interest -- outpaces revenue by about $118 billion a month, Geithner won’t be able to pay all the country’s bills. That means he will have to pick and choose who to pay and who to put off every day. And there’s no guarantee that paying interest while shirking other legal obligations will protect the country from the perception of default. Geithner said it would be akin to a homeowner who pays his mortgage but puts off his car loan, credit cards, insurance premiums and utilities. The mortgage is taken care of, but the homeowner’s credit could still be damaged. Ultimately, if lawmakers fail to raise the ceiling this year, they will have two choices, both awful. They could either cut spending or raise taxes by several hundred billion dollars just to get through Sept. 30, which is the end of the ﬁscal year. Or they could acknowledge that the country would be unable to pay what it owes in full and the United States could effectively default on some of its obligations.

WORLD PRESS | 23 The first option would be impossible to execute without serious economic repercussions. And the second option could cripple the economy and send world markets into a tailspin. “Not only the default but efforts to resolve it would arguably have negative repercussions on both domestic and international financial markets and economies,” according to the CRS. At a minimum, a default could hurt U.S. bonds, the dollar and investors’ portfolios. “Our bond market and stock market would crash,” said former Congressional Budget Director Rudolph Penner. Will reaching the debt ceiling for good cause a government shutdown? Not technically. A government shutdown occurs if lawmakers fail to appropriate money for federal agencies and programs. By contrast, if the debt ceiling is breached, Uncle Sam would still have revenue coming in that could be used to fund the government, Penner noted. But if Geithner is coming up short by $118 billion every month, and lawmakers just decide to cut spending by that amount, that could effectively mean a partial government shutdown. -----------------------------------------------In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

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July 15th - July 28th, 2011

24 | OBITS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Request For Dua’s

{ To Allah We B e l o n g , a n d t o H i m i s O u r R e t u 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)”

Upcoming Events In Your Area 18th Annual TILMW Conference From Friday, July 15 2011 - To Sunday, July 17 2011 he International League of Muslim Women, Inc (TILMW) will hold their 18th Annual conference hosted by the Washington DC Chapter. Theme: “Better Health for Families Strengthens Community Life” July 15th-July 17th. Families are encouraged to attend. Location: Event held at the Sheridan National Hotel. Contact: To register and make hotel reservation, visit www.tilmw18thannualconference.eventbrite.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qurtuba Institute: A Powerhouse Weekend, Imam Sirhaj Wahhaj Friday, July 15 2011, 7:00pm - 10:00pm

6-29-11 To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return (2:156) It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sister Shahnaz Patel’s mother, Mrs. Hajira Adam Ebrahim Patel. May Allah (SWT) forgive her sins, give her family patience, grant her safety in the grave, and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus. (Souce: ISB)

The Qurtuba Institute presents a Powerhouse Weekend! Imam Suhaib Webb, Imam Sirhaj Wahhaj, Dr. Jonathan A. C. Brown. Friday, July 15th, Empowering Our Youth, Community forum with Imam Magid, 7:0010:00PM; Saturday, July 16th, Wisdom and Beautiful Teachings, A Dawah Workshop (Registration is required for this event), 11AM-6PM; Sunday, July 17th, A Prophet’s Place in the Lives of Muslims: Muhammad, A Very Short Introduction, 2-4PM. Location: All Sessions at: ADAMS Center, Main Hall. Contact: please send questions & registration to, qurtuba@adamscenter.us --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Janazah Workshop @ IRHSCA Sunday, July 17 2011, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

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Too Many have passed unprepared, Ensure that you are aﬀorded a Muslim Burial. Attendance is Free. Conducted by: Universal Mortuary. Contact: Registration Required: Call 301 324 5040 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al Maghrib Class: Torch Bearers Friday, July 22 - SundayJuly 24, 2011 Join us for Nurayn’s next class Torch Bearers: Scholars of Islam with Shaykh Waleed Basyouni. Weekend of July 22-24. Torch Bearers is an exciting and amazing seminar that will take us into the lives of some of the greatest scholars in the history of Islam. Everyone is welcome to Attend. The tuition is $85. Register online for Free to reserve your spot: http://almaghrib.org/seminars/494. Location: University of Maryland at College Park in Room 1101 of the Bioscience Research Building. Contact: Any questions, please email ameerah.nurayn@almaghrib.org or ameer.nurayn@almaghrib.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ramadan Workshop @ ICM Saturday, July 23 2011, 10:00am - 3:00pm Are you ready for Ramadan? ISNA & The Qurtuba Institute join Islamic Center of Maryland to bring you a spiritually uplifting one-day seminar. The topics will include discussions on: Fiqh issues relating to fasting and the spiritual dimensions of fasting; Taqwa and nearness to Allah SWT. Relationship between the Quran and Ramadan; How to hold on tightly to the rope to gain nearness to the Source; Fasting and Islamic Morals: How does the practice of Sabr and Shukr train us for the next 11 months. Lunch will be served insha Allah Location: Islamic Center of Maryland, ICM 19411 Woodﬁeld Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Merits and Fiqh of Zakah Workshop Saturday, July 23 2011, 10:00am - 5:00pm New interactive program on merits and fiqh of Zakah including onsite Zakah consulting and food drive. Taught by Safi Khan. Not sure if you missed something in your zakah calculation? Try one of our onsite, trained zakah consultants who will calculate your yearly zakah due, right on site! It will also be the last day of the community food drive, so bring nonperishable food items with you, or drop them off at Dar-ussalaam any day from July 18th to July 23rd. Location: Dar-us-Salaam musalla. Contact: To find out which documents to bring with you, email info@zakahfoundation.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ISB Summer Fest 2011 Saturday, July 23 2011, 12:00pm - 7:00pm ISB Summer Fest 2011. Featuring: 26’ Rock Climbing Wall, Bumper Cars, Obstacle Course, Dunk Tank, Lickety Split Mechanical Ride, Laser Tag, Basketball Contest, Wrecking Ball, Animal Show with Leopards, Camel Rides, Balloon Artist, Mobile Aquarium, Moon Bounces, Water Buﬀalo Ride, iPad Giveaway, Gyros, Grand BBQ, Ice Cream, Grand Bazaar and More. Large Groups and Summer Camps are welcome, please call 443-904-6296 for discounted rates. To purchase tickets, go to htpp://isb.org/summerfest. Location: 6631 Johnnycake Road, Baltimore, MD 21244 . Contact: For more info, sponsorship or vending inquiries, contact us at summerfest@isb.org.

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager: Stephanie Benmoha Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Fatimah Waseem Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Photography: Cardiff Andana 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 ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: (240) 209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2011

| 25

LINUX GURU?

System Administrator/Helpdesk Specialist Needed Al-Huda School in College Park, MD has an immediate need for a Mid Level Linux/Windows Administrator for its 100+ user network. The qualiﬁed candidate must be a permanent US resident and legally authorized to work in the US. • 2+ years experience in Linux systems administration, network design and troubleshooting • Ability to manage time and balance competing priorities • Ability to document changes and present solutions to non-technical audiences • Experience working with the following technologies and products: Samba, Windows desktop, Quickbooks, OpenOfﬁce, Ubuntu Server, Windows Server, server virtualization, Unix shell scripting, bash, python, cron, Windows scheduler, logical volume management, remote access technologies For immediate consideration, please send resume to jobs@alhuda.org

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.

MASJID LOCATOR

26 |

July 15th - July 28th, 2011

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 (BCCD): 17794 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026 Tel: 703-585-1689/703-5547983 | 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 www.icVA1.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Greater Richmond (ISGR): 6324 Rigsby Road, Richmond, 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: 202-529-3100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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: 410-891-8451 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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: 301-461-9325 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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

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Understa nding

INSIDE:

MATRIMONIAL

Muslims aro und from food and the world are abstaining dri This special mo nk for an entire month . nth in the 12month Islamic calendar is call ed Ramadhan. month, your During this Muslim neighb ors, friends, and co-workers are trying to foc relationship with their Cre us on their ator. On top of their work or Americans are school schedule, Muslim spending the ir days fasting and their eve nings at their houses of wo ship praying and rdoing charita ble work. This special new sletter will hel understand wh p you at Ramadhan is all about.

Frequently Asked Questions:

with dates. Although not required, many Muslims attend the masjid3 at night to engage in special night prayers called “taraweeh”.

Q: What is Ramadhan?

A: Ramadhan is the name of the ninth Islamic lunar month. Muslims believe Ramadhan is the month in which Allah1 revealed the holy scriptures to mankind. Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and intimate relations with their spouse during the daylight hours of the blessed month. It is a time for Muslims to contemplate on their belief and increase their faith by actively increasing in worship, prayer, reading and study of the Qur’an, and acts of charity. It is an opportunity for spiritual as well as physical puriﬁcation.

Q: Do Muslims not eat and drink for a whole month?

A: No. Muslims are ordered to abstain from food, drink and sensual pleasures from the break of dawn until sunset throughout the whole month. So, during the evening hours Muslims may eat and drink as they please. Many Muslims take this opportunity to invite friends and family over to share in the spirit of Ramadhan.

Q: What do Muslims do during Ramadhan?

A: Muslims usually wake before dawn to take a small meal called “suhoor”. They abstain from eating, drinking and sensual pleasures during the daylight hours of the blessed month. Muslims exert more effort in worship, charity, and generally practicing higher morals during Ramadhan. At sunset, Muslims break their fast, usually with a meal with family and friends or at their local Islamic center. Following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad2, Muslims usually break their fast

the difﬁculty of the fast is evenly distributed between Muslims living in the northern and southern hemispheres. For Muslim Americans, the fasts will get longer over the next several years as Ramadhan falls in the long days of summer.

Q: How can non-Muslim co-workers and friends help someone who is fasting?

Q: Do all Muslims need to fast?

A: Fasting is only obligated on Muslims who have reached puberty, are sane and are healthy. Children are exempt, but are encouraged to fast some days too, or a portion of a day, to train them for when they are obliged to fast. The sick are exempted from fasting by order of Allah in the Qur’an.

Q: What do Muslims believe they gain from fasting?

A: Some of the main benefits of Ramadhan are a sense of self-purification and reflection and a renewed focus on spirituality. Also, by feeling the pangs of hunger, Muslims develop an increased compassion for those in need of the necessities of life. Muslims also appreciate the feeling of togetherness shared by family and friends throughout the month. Perhaps the greatest practical benefit is the yearly lesson in self-restraint and discipline that finds its way into other aspects of a Muslim’s life after Ramadhan.

Q: Why does Ramadhan begin on a different day each year?

A: Because Ramadhan is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days earlier each year. Throughout a Muslim’s lifetime, Ramadhan will fall both during winter months, when the days are short, and summer months, when the days are long and the fast is more difﬁcult. In this way,

Footnotes: 1The name of God in Arabic, 2Muslims say ‘peace be upon him’ when mentioning the prophets. 3 House of worship, lit; “place of prostration”

A: Employers, co-workers and teachers can help by understanding the signiﬁcance of Ramadhan and by showing a willingness to make minor allowances for its physical demands. Special consideration can be given to such things as requests for vacation time, and the need for ﬂexible early morning or evening work schedules. It is also very important that Muslim workers and students be given time to attend Eid prayers at the end of Ramadhan. Hospital workers should be aware that injections and oral medications might break the fast. Patients should be given the opportunity to decide whether or not their condition exempts them from fasting.

Q: Do people normally lose weight during Ramadhan?

A: Some people do lose weight, but others may not. It is recommended that meals eaten during Ramadhan be light, and the Prophet Muhammad emphasized eating with moderation in general. However, most people can’t resist sampling special sweets and foods associated with Ramadhan !

Ramadhan–the Month of the Qur’an Although the month-long fast is usually the main aspect of Ramadhan covered by mass media, for Muslims around the world Ramadhan is known as the month of the Qur’an. The Qur’an describes Ramadhan as the “month in which the Qur’an was revealed”. Muslims endeavor to recite the entire book during Ramadhan, and worshipers listen to the melodious recitation of the Qur’an during the “taraweeh” prayers offered every night at the masjid. Here are some interesting facts about what Muslims believe about the Qur’an that might surprise you!

A Final Revelation:

Muslims believe the Qur’an is the literal word of Allah (the name for God in Arabic), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the Arabic language by the Angel Gabriel over a 23 year span. Muslims believe that Allah also revealed books to the Prophet Moses (the Torah), Prophet Jesus (the Gospel), Prophet David (the Psalms), and other prophets. However, Muslims believe those scriptures were changed over time. To Muslims, the Qur’an supersedes the previous revelations and is Allah’s ﬁnal revelation to mankind.

The Most Read and Memorized Book in the World:

The word “Qur’an” is an Arabic word meaning “recital”. Muslims recite passages from the Qur’an in their ﬁve daily prayers from memory. Also, tens of millions of Muslims young and old, male and female have committed the entire Qur’an to memory even though most of them are not Arabic speaking! People who memorize the entire Qur’an are given special respect in the Muslim community, even if they are children. Interestingly, the ﬁrst word revealed in the Qur’an was “Read”!

The Size of the Qur’an:

The Qur’an is divided into 114 chapters of varying length. The longest chapter has 286 verses while the shortest chapter has 3.The total number of verses is 6,240. Reading straight through, the Qur’an can be ﬁnished in about 10 hours. You can listen to the Qur’an online at sites like http://tanzil.info [english and arabic]

What the Qur’an Talks About:

The Qur’an is addressed to all of mankind. Using stories, parables, commands, and reasoning, the Qur’an teaches mankind about the Creator and man’s relationship to Him. It also instructs people as to their duties to their Creator, to their family and humanity in general, to the society and environment, and to their own selves. It lays down general codes of conduct for individuals and societies, and also sets down speciﬁc laws relating to such things as marriage and inheritance.

Many Prophets Mentioned in the Qur’an:

The Qur’an discusses the Prophetic mission at many places and references previous Prophets and their stories. In all, 26 Prophets are mentioned by name. Prophet Moses is the most mentioned prophet – 135 times. Prophet Abraham is mentioned 67 times, while Prophet Muhammad is mentioned 5 times. Other prophets mentioned include Prophets Adam, Noah, Jesus, Aaron, David, Solomon, Jacob, and Joseph.

Continued next page >>

Inside spread of the Ramadan Primer

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