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FOR LOCAL MUSLIMS THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF ALLAAH PG 13

A CLEAN SLAUGHTER

Hygenic Eid Slaughter Facility Built From The Ground Up

By Farkhunda Ali Muslim Link Staff Writer

MUSLIM NEIGHBORS SHOW CLEANLINESS IS PART OF FAITH

Young Muslim Americans aspiring to influence change in the nation should heed the calls of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA).

By Muslim Link Staff

PG 6

All Aboard, Say Muslim Congressional Staffers

Area Muslims looking for a farm where they can perform the Eid Al-Adha sacrifice this year just got another clear – or clean – alternative.

While most Muslims often experience mud, wet ground, or chilly weather when sacrificing their animal at farms, new Maryland

slaughtering facility Lambco was built from the ground up to offer a safe, clean, and professional sacrificial environment.

“We’ve built an extremely clean, extremely sanitary, very customer friendly facility here,” said owner Joesph Kavanagh, who has >> Slaughter Pg 7

The group of Muslim politicos is gathering resumes for various positions on Capitol Hill.

The resumes will be sent to the Obama administration to be considered for several thousand jobs in government. The deadline for submitting resumes is November 29, 2008.

The completed Resume Book will be submitted to the new Congressional

and Committee members for recruitment. All qualified Muslim Americans displaying excellent academics and experience in policy-focused work are encouraged to apply.

The non-partisan CMSA was initiated in 2006 by Jameel Johnson, former chief of staff for Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), in order to increase diversity on the Hill and to encourage Muslims to get involved in public policy work.

Currently, the diverse 45member group is made up of men and women working in the Capitol Hill Police Department, Congressional >> Congressional Pg 11

Ellison at CAIR: “Obama Not

Our Salvation. God is.”

Imam Says Muslim Divorce Rate Approaching 50%

Muslim Link Staff Writer

By S. Junaid Hassan Muslim Link Contributing Writer

With a historic Presidential election that spotlighted Islam yet marginalized American Muslims now over, community leaders are telling Muslims to take their place in a new era.

“Our hope should not lie in any candidate or election. Our hope should lie in ourselves and in making ourselves important to the candidates,” said Ahmed Bedier, the master of ceremonies for the

On Sunday, November 23, 2008, the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring hosted a lecture by Imam Faizul Khan on “Striving for Peaceful Families”.

Keith Ellison and Nihad Awad confer at the CAIR Annual Banquet, where over 700 suporters who raised over $200K for CAIR. (Photo by Brother Razi from Manassass, VA) 14th Annual Banquet for the national office of the Council

>> Salvation Pg 2

The lecture began with Dr. Javed Ahmed of MCC introducing Imam Faizul Khan from ISWA (Islamic Society of Washington Area), mentioning his veteran involvement in both

the Muslim and Interfaith communities.

Imam Faizul Khan’s lecture was a series of essays and anecdotes from his experiences in communitybuilding and family counseling. He spoke about marriage in Islam, quoting from the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon

him), stating, “The key to peaceful families begins with the marriage.

If one looks at the Qur’an, it provides a romantic image but also shows us how to lead a peaceful, satisfying relationship.”

The Imam also listed some problems faced in contemporary Muslim marriages, especially in >> Divorce Pg 9

COMMUNITY NEWS

2

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

Ellison at CAIR: “Obama Not Our Salvation. God is.”

SALVATION >> Continued from pg 1

on American Relations (CAIR).

The November 23, 2008 dinner themed “American Muslims: Defining Ourselves” attracted a highly diverse group of over 700 Muslims to the Marriott Crystal Gateway hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

The message from speakers, though, was uniform.

Debbie Almontaser, made infamous as the founder of a “radical madrasa” in New York City by the New York Post, showed she is a symbol of courage and defiance for American Muslims nationwide.

Almontaser is the founder and former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, the first English-Arabic public school in the United States. She was forced to step down in August 2007 as the principal after an intense smear campaign by the New York Post stemming from a t-shirt that had the word ‘intifada’ on it. Almontaser was a board member of the group that created the shirt.

“The attack on me is part of a larger campaign

to silence and intimidate minority groups.

They would like nothing more than for me to remain silent,” said Almontaser from the stage, almost projecting her voice without the need for a microphone.

She offered the audience some details of the smear campaign and her subsequent lawsuit against the city for wrongful termination.

“This experience deepened my spiritual connection with God. The time has some that [Muslim Americans] reclaim the narrative of how we are defined,” she said to applause, underscoring the theme of the evening.

“Yes we can, insha’Allah,” she said before exiting the stage to more applause, playing off President-Elect Obama’s famous refrain “Yes we can.”

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad thanked supporters for coming out on the cold Sunday evening, saying it showed “commitment” to the work CAIR does.

With the American flag beside the speaking lectern, Awad talked about the message sent out by Obama’s victory.

“A whole new generation of American who do not see color and only see qualifications sent a clear message to the rest of the world,”

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he said during his address, interrupted by much applause.

Ahmed Bedier and I approve this message” to laughs.

Awad also addressed the President-Elect, saying Muslims called for a “restoration of the rule of law” and what it necessitates – ending the Iraq war, ending torture, closing Guantanamo, and ending illegal detention among others.

Popular New York Imam Siraj Wahaj conducted the fundraising. The $160,000 goal was surpassed by the end of the night with about $210,000 raised and pledged.

He said news coming from CAIR’s 35 chapters across the nation clearly show the biggest threat facing the Muslim community is “Islamophobia”. The most active exporters of Islamophobia are “extremeist websites and talk show hosts”, he said.

Awad also held up CAIR’s confrontation with radio icon Michael Savage. Last year CAIR succeeded in pressuring many of Savage’s big name advertisers like Wal-Mart, Office Max, and Sears to drop off his show after he delivered a series of bigoted attacks against Islam on air.

“CAIR is not afraid to get out in front to challenge bigotry and hatred,” said Awad. The fight against Savage cost CAIR $160,000, and Awad said it was “worth every penny”.

On the other hand, Awad also reminded the audience that anti-Muslim groups were not afraid to spend millions of dollars to spread fear and hatred of Muslims. The Clarion Fund spent an estimated $60 Million to produce and distribute almost thirty-million copies of antiIslam propaganda documentary “Obsession” to swing states on the eve of the election.

Awad’s message was again emphasized with a CAIR video with scores of news reel clips showing CAIR staffers defending Islam on the air. The video ended with a black screen with the simple sentence: “If we don’t define ourselves, others will”.

After the video, host Bedier said “I’m a

Keynote speaker Congressman Keith Ellsion (D-Minnesota) kept the majority of attendees in their seats despite the time approaching ten o’clock.

In a talk he called “Obama and the Muslim Community”, Ellison said the first thing to keep in mind is “there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger”. He recited the phrase in arabic.

Ellison – who ignited a media firestorm when he took his oath of office on Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the Qur’an – cautioned Muslims not to lapse into “complacency” after the Obama win.

“There are no guaranteed results, but we do have great opportunities,” said Ellison.

“The Muslim community has great things to offer the United States. No one will stop you from offering them. Will you?” he asked the audience.

“Obama is not our salvation. God is,” he said to thunderous clapping.

Encouraging Muslims to apply to work in the Obama government, he said Obama needs to speak openly about religious intolerance in America. “Help America be a better place,” he said in closing.

Community service awards were given to: Humza Kazmi for Youth Activism, Asma Mirza for Community Service, and attorney Matt Zimmerman for Courage. The Rosa Parks Civil Rights Scholarship was awarded to Isha Mehmood.

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Howard County, Maryland youth Maryam, age 9, and Hamzah Elhabashy, age 7, were members of the Howard County Junior Striders Cross Country team this season.

Despite the fact that they were both out sick for over half the season, on November 15th, they ran in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics Qualifying meet (only their second meet for the whole season!), in which they both qualified for the Cross Country Regional Junior Olympics last Saturday, held in Mechanicsville, VA.

They were joined by runners from across seven states. Ma sha’ALLAH la quwata illah bILLAh, Maryam had a strong finish in the 3k, and her team placed 5th overall, while Hamzah placed 8th overall (1st for Howard County, and 2nd for the local DC, MD, and Northern VA region), with his team finishing 2nd overall. Masha’Allah, great job for these young athletes!

Source: Muhammad R. Elhabashy (proud father)

INDEX

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2008

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04

Community News

13

Islam

15

Opinion & Editorials

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

Community News Creating links through mutual understanding and cooperation

Vandalism Results in Stronger Inter-Community Ties

By Hytham Younis Muslim Link Contributing Writer Early in the morning on November 1st, an unidentified man drove into the parking lot of The Islamic Center of Maryland and went from one side to the other shooting yellow paintballs at the facility. As The Qur’an says: “It may be that you dislike something which is good for you”. The result of this action of a person intending vandalism was very good for the ICM and other places of worship in the Gaithersburg area.

Soon after the incident was reported, an e-mail was received by myself, the ICM representative to the Gaithersburg Interfaith Alliance ( the GIA ). This organization boasts a large number of churches, synagogues, temples and other places where people of particular religious denominations gather for services, and was created in order to promote unity and understanding between faith groups.

The message sent to the ICM from the GIA was a letter of solidarity and support. Other messages of support then began to arrive from about a dozen member communities of the GIA. Rabbis and ministers chimed in with expressions of concern for and solidarity with the ICM community. In response, the ICM organized a coffee and tea social event, which was held on Sunday, November 23rd at 1:00pm and invited members of the GIA, as well as others.

The gathering was attended by such notables as Reverend Tim Warner and Lily Qi of the Office of Community Partnerships, Maryland Delegate Saqib Ali, Brother Mumin Baree of the Montgomery County Muslim Council, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal of Shaare Torah, Rabbi Paul Tuchman of Congregation Or Chadash, Diane Levitus, also of Or Chadash, Reverend Carol Flett of St Bartholomew’s Episcopalian Church in Laytonsville, Sister Irma Hafeez and Sister Samira Hussein, and

members of ICM’s Board of Trustees, among others.

As everyone sat down with their refreshments in hand, a lively discussion began about the importance of establishing unity of purpose between houses of worship. The talk focused on supporting each other in times of need – as in the case of a hate crime.

Reverend Tim Warner suggested that there should be more police presence and a redefining of what would constitute a hate crime. He urged those present to mobilize their communities to write letters to the authorities on this matter. Brother Saqib Ali spoke of the allocation of government funds for such a purpose – as well as for better surveillance equipment. Frank Dall, a member of Reverend Carol Flett’s congregation, expressed his desire to see public school curriculum modifications in order to better educate the public about Islam.

Brother Mumin Baree also chimed in on this subject. In response, Sister Samira Hussein recommended the use of documentaries as a social tool. Finally, Rabbi Paul Tuchman spoke about demographics which, though in a continuous process of change, seemed not to affect the mind sets of many of the Americans who are of European ancestry. He emphasized the need for people to become active and involved in community organizations in order to establish contacts between a particular group and the society at large.

The program ended with a guided tour of ICM lead by Brother Nadeem Ahmed of the Board of Trustees. The atmosphere of the gathering was one of warmth and friendliness. It was a pleasant and gratifying experience which gave everyone who attended a feeling for our mutual goals and our mutual destiny within American society.

Professor Says India’s Islamic Heritage Under Siege

By Luqman Clark Muslim Link Contributing Writer On Saturday, November 14th the Indian Muslim Council- USA hosted a lecture and presentation on Islamic cultural heritage in India at Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring. Dr. Omar Khalidi of MIT and Professor Akhtarul Wasey of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi spoke before an attentive audience of 50 about the challenges facing the Muslims of India and of the dangers facing the nation’s Islamic architecture.

Dr. Khalidi presented a slide show of the most prominent examples of Muslim architecture in Hyderabad, which he described as the only city in medieval India to be founded according to a plan. During his speech he described the systematic attempts by the Indian state to de-Islamize India, resulting in name-changes, take overs of masaajid by the Indian Army and the Indian Archaeological Survey, and the decline of literacy in Urdu, the primary language of India’s Muslims.

These actions, he claimed, demonstrate that India is not a secular state but a Hindu state.

After reciting a poem of Muhammad Iqbal, Professor Akhtarul Wasey gave a rousing speech in Urdu in which he compared the suffering of India’s Muslims to those of Husain (Allah Be Pleased with Him) under Yazeed. He criticized the current Indian leadership and cited figures such as Arundhati Roy as the true representatives

of India. In response to the caricatures and stereotypes of Muslims spread by antiminority activists, he gave examples from the Qur’an and from Islamic history which illustrated Islam’s acceptance of religious pluralism and empowerment of women.

Between the two speakers, Attaulla Khan, a member of the IMC-USA executive council, appealed to the audience to support the group. After explaining the objectives of the organization, he cited the success of recent projects, such as the campaign to have the visa of Gujurat Chief Minister and human rights violator Narendra Modi revoked and the False Encounter documentary, which documented prisoner abuse by the Indian police. He described “human rights advocacy” as “shining the light on the violators.”

The event concluded with a question and answer session. This reporter asked the speakers how Muslims who come from a non-Indian background could help our brothers and sisters in India. Dr. Khalidi responded by emphasizing the importance of aiding groups such as IMC-USA in their efforts to educate government officials and the public about human rights violations against minorities in India.

Audience response to the speakers was primarily positive. One attendee expressed his approval of IMC-USA’s work, saying that “this is not a nationalistic organization, it’s for half the Muslim Ummah.” Another attendee

Professor Akhtarul Wasey of Jamia Millia Islamia addresses a small gathering at MCC as Dr. Omar Khalidi of MIT (center) and Attaulla Khan listen. Photo

by Luqman Clark. expressed his hope that events such as this would take place in other area communities as well. There was some respectful criticism of the speakers’ ideas, including the suggestion of one audience member that Dr. Khalidi was being too harsh on the Indian government and that non-resident Indians are going to have a more skewed view than those residing in India. The doctor refused to back down, insisting that he wasn’t harsh enough in condemning Indian government actions.

Attaulla Khan said that IMC-USA strives to provide a platform for increasing education and awareness about issues of interest to the Indian community in the USA. He clarified

that the opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the position of the organization. Reiterating that India is a vibrant secular democratic country, he added that Indian society’s pluralistic ethos are under threat from right wing nationalistic groups who want to delegate India’s minorities including the Dalits, the tribals and the Christians, along with Muslims into second class citizens. He said that Muslims are joined together by people of conscience from Hindu, Dalit, Sikh, Chritian and other communities in their struggle to stand-up for rights and to ensure that the Promise of India is for all Indians.

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

5

Career Seminar Links Professionals, Youth

By Amalia Rehman Muslim Link Staff Writer

professionals that spanned a spectrum of careers.

At Dar Al–Noor Masjid, in Woodbridge, Virginia, youth coordinator Bilal Aslam is working to bring young Muslim professionals back to the masjid as mentors for the youth who seem to sorely lack worthy mentors to emulate.

Some of these young professionals had diverged into fields considered “unusual” for Muslims. That is, careers other than doctors and engineers.

One of the ways in which Br. Aslam hopes to

Karim Ramzy, who attends Virginia Tech and George Mason University, studies graphic design and business. In his discussions with

“If you have the interest, go for it. There is this wonderful feeling of satisfaction when you step back from something you just created.” Brother Ramzy focuses on the print design composite field. do this is through finding outlets for young Muslim professionals to bring something of value back to their community in the masjid.

On such outlet was an event called “College/ Career Seminar for Youth”, held on Saturday, November 22nd.

In attendance were 17 young Muslim

young Muslims interested in a career in art, he stated, “If you have the interest, go for it.

There is this wonderful feeling of satisfaction when you step back from something you just created.” Brother Ramzy focuses on the print design composite field. This is the area of graphic design used in promotions. Brother Ramzy states that graphic design is a very

The Career Seminar attendees listen to Muslim professionals discuss their careers.

Photo by Amalia Rehman. broad field with many creative outlets and opportunities.

Ateeb Ahmad attended Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. He started his career in information technology and network administration. But, as his career interests refined themselves and his work experiences had an influence on him, he has moved toward the field of forensics

in the law enforcement. Presently, he works with law enforcement to battle crimes that are promoted over the internet.

“Many non-traditional crimes are now being

>> Professionals Pg 12

Symposium Address Disparity in Mental Health

By Farkhunda Ali Muslim Link Staff Writer An estimated 50 Metropolitans attended the “2008 Urban Mental Health Initiative Symposium” co-sponsored by The Aalia Group, Inc., and Raising Expectations, Inc. Stephen T. Baron, Director of the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health joined the panel of experts on November 15, 2008 for a discussion on mental health treatment within urban communities.

The two-hour program was taped before a

The panel discussed complex issues confronting mental health professionals and consumers including disparities in access, undiagnosed symptoms, de-stigmatizing mental health disorders, and appropriateness in clinical care based on race and ethnicity, according to Director of Outreach and Communications of Aalia Group, Karim Ali. Removing the myth that mental health disease does not exist in the Muslim community, one panelist, an Imam in the American Muslim community said, “Our Prophet [peace be upon him] told us, ‘in my ummah, you will find somewhat of what you find in every nation, only less of it,’.”

Imam Johari said the Muslim’s response to the mental illness issue should extend to non-Muslims in order to contribute to the well-being of the society in whole. live audience at DC TV studio at Catholic University from 3-5PM. The panel represented professionals in the medical sciences and various faith groups. The symposium was moderated by Dr. Pamela Brewer, host of MyndTalk Radio, WPFW 89.3 FM. All aspects of the program taping were made possible by the hard work of young adults aspiring to secure a career in the arts or media.

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, outreach coordinator of Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia said Muslims tend to have “this attitude” that mental health issue is not “our” issue. He said Muslim leaders need to learn the symptoms and malignant effects of the mental illness on a person’s mind, soul, and body. Prayer is not the only cure for someone with a bi-polar disorder, chronic depression, or postpartum depression, he said.

“We need resources and trained Muslim leaders who are able to provide spiritual treatment and refer patients to therapy,” said

Imam Johari. He suggested Muslim leaders should build a network of medical doctors, counselors, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and psychologists to address this “stigma” in the Muslim community.

In the last five years, two Muslim college students committed suicide in the DC Metropolitan Area. To avoid further damage, Imam Johari asked the entire panel to think of a way to collectively respond to this issue in all of their communities. He believes it is necessary for the doctors, family members, and religious organizations to come together with their resources in order to come up with

a collective response to mental sickness.

Imam Johari said the Muslim’s response to the mental illness issue should extend to non-Muslims in order to contribute to the well-being of the society in whole.

Ali added that Muslims would be indirectly inviting people to Islam by getting involved in issues related to proper treatment for victims of mental illnesses in the inner cities.

>> Disparity Pg 12

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COMMUNITY NEWS

6

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

Muslim Neighbors Show Cleanliness is Part of Faith

By Arif Kabir Muslim Link Contributing Writer On a recent chilly morning, bright and early at 7:30 AM, several Al-Huda School students put on their winter gear and trudged to Al-Huda School.

The strange thing is, it was Sunday.

On November 16, 2008, the Dar-us-Salaam community in College Park, Maryland held their annual “Neighborhood Cleanup Day”.

The students were among several other Muslim youth who slotted the cold weekend day to put their Islam into practice by cleaning their community.

This annual event has been running for the last three years, and every year the participation increases. This year about 50 volunteers participated.

In the morning, Dar-us-Salaam served donuts and juice to the volunteers as they listened to Tanweer Ahmed, the cleanup event’s coordinator, explain the schedule. He mentioned that in the morning, the volunteers will be working on cleaning the streets and picking up litter. Later on in the day, the volunteers will be performing yard work for any of the neighbors that request the service.

With these words, the volunteers were divided into five cleanup squads and after being given trash bags, vinyl gloves, and litter sticks, they were assigned separate routes in the neighborhood to cleanup.

Mary Cook, the Council member of College Park’s District 4, attended the neighborhood cleanup event and went with the team of sister volunteers to clean their designated route.

“Thanks for inviting me to participate in the cleanup. It was great to talk to the girls. I was also glad to see there wasn’t that much trash in the section we cleaned,” commented Cook.

Other groups weren’t so lucky.

“My group was in the northern Hollywood [neighborhood] area (near the beltway) and found tons of trash. We’re all glad the area got cleaned at the end,” said Fazlul Kabir, a

member of one of the cleanup squads.

For the next three hours, the cleanup squads went throughout the neighborhood and picked up candy bar wrappers, beer bottles, soggy newspapers, aluminum cans, car tires, and every other imaginable item. If the items were recyclable, they were put into separate white bags so they could be recycled later. All other items were put in a black trash bag. If the bags ever got heavy, the group leader would contact Rizwan Khan, one of the event organizers, who was going around in his van picking up all the heavy trash bags, resupplying the group, and then dropping the trash and recyclables off at Al-Huda School.

Around 10:30 am, all the squads finished their neighborhood cleanup routes and headed back to Al-Huda School. After a short break, the volunteers headed out once more to help neighbors that had requested yard work beforehand. At first, there were about three houses that needed help, but as the nearby neighbors saw the amount of volunteers and their work, more requests were quickly given to the volunteers. For the next few hours, they raked and cleaned lawns for more than ten houses.

Patrick Wojahn, the College Park Council member representing District 1, joined the group raked for several hours alongside the other volunteers.

“I had a great time. Tell everyone there thanks for organizing the event. I’m sure the residents appreciated it,” said Wojahn.

Ibrahim, 4, rakes leaves and does his part for the neighborhood cleanup day. Bottom: Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors gather in the morning for a planning huddle before hitting the streets of their College Park, MD neighborhood. (Photos by Arif Kabir)

Around 1 pm, the time for Dhuhr prayer came in and all the volunteers flocked back to AlHuda school for prayer. Afterwards, lunch was served to the volunteers by Rizwan Khan, who bought pizza from Pizza Roma as well as veggie, seafood, and turkey subs from his Subway restaurant.

Kennis Termini, a neighbor of Dar-us-Salaam, had her yard cleaned and gave many words of thanks to the volunteers. Another neighbor commented, “You do not know how much we appreciated your work. Thank you so much!”

Organizers said the neighborhood cleanup event was a success through the mercy of Allah and through the hard work of the volunteers, who left tired but happy that they were able to service their neighbors. The neighbors in turn, were very satisfied with the help they received.

A few days after the event, James Carey, an Al-Huda neighbor, sent a special card to the school saying, “As a beneficiary of your Hollywood Cleanup program on Sunday Nov, 16, 2008, I am grateful for your initiatives and your staff and hope you will repeat the activity in 2009.”

“On every person’s joints or small bones (i.e. fingers and toes), there is sadaqah (charity) every day the sun rises. Doing justice between two people is sadaqah; assisting a man to mount his animal, or lifting up his belongings onto it is sadaqah; a good word is sadaqah; every step you take towards prayer is sadaqah; and removing harmful things from pathways is sadaqah.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

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>> Victorious Pg 7

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

7

New Facility Raises the Standard for Eid Slaughter that is ‘halal’ and ‘tayyib’ [pure, clean],” said Ghanim, who will be doing his own slaughter at Lambco this year.

SLAUGHTER >> Continued from pg 1

been in the agriculture business for 42 years.

The facility lies on his 104 acre farm in New Windsor, north of Baltimore. Much of the acreage is filled with corn and soybean crops.

Kavanagh built the facility after his brotherin-law – a Kuwaiti Muslim – encouraged him over a period of several years. Himself a Roman Catholic, Kavanagh said he was very impressed by the humanity of the Islamic sacrifice rules.

“It’s the quickest, most painless way, after 4 or 5 seconds its all over,” he said.

The facility was visited by Montgomery County Halal advocate Habib Ghanim who certified it halal as part of the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) Halal Certification Department.

“I can say this is one of the cleanest facilities on the east coast. There are places in the local area [for which] I would never issue a certificate or even take their meat. You are stepping over dead goats and animals, the stench is very bad. What [Muslims] often forget is that we are supposed to have meat

“Many people do backyard slaughtering.

This place is clean and professional,” added Ghanim.

Only 6-months old, business at the slaughter facility has been slow. But Kavanagh said he and his family are in it for the long haul.

“We’d like to have they place for generations to come, because the Muslim population is growing.”

The former bovine podiatrist has been living and working in the region for decades. He feels his experience in agriculture, USDA regulations and requirement, and with animals helps him create the right environment for animals and Muslim customers.

A picnic area for families is in the future plan for Lambco, barely one hour from the Washington DC area. Families are welcome to bring their grills on site.

“I really want people to come down – no obligations – and see the facility so they can

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George Mason University Victorious in Battle of MSAs

The winning from GMU. Photo by Sufia Alnoor

By Mehreen Rasheed Muslim Link Contributing Writer “Only one can survive. Are you ready?” challenged slogans for the first annual Battle of the MSAs on promotional flyers and videos circulating local Muslim Students’ Association chapters, as well as Facebook and YouTube.

Battle of the MSAs, a jeopardy-style knowledge bowl among fourteen metro area MSA chapters, was hosted by the MSA DC Council at George Washington University.

The event included dinner and a speech by Altaf Husain, but it was not until the quizzes began that the ferocity of the competition became almost tangible.

“It was insane, you were seriously on the edge of your seat,” recalled Nour Al-Muhtasib, UMD-College Park competitor.

After elimination rounds, fourteen schools were narrowed down to three, until George THE WINNERS BOX

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“A lot of people go to other people’s farms to do their sacrifice. I heard about a school

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teacher who accompanied her husband to sacrifice recently. There was mud everywhere and only a single hose to wash up ... the lady said she would never go again because it was so dirty,” explained Kavanagh.

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The George Mason University MSATeam won this Saturday, Nov. 15th, at the DC MSA Battle of the MSAs Islamic Jeopardy Competition.

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Mason University answered the final decisive question. American University placed second by four hundred points and Towson University in third, by another 2700 points.

Greater than bragging rights and a trophy however, the George Mason team won a trip to Umrah. The already emotionally-charged room practically burst when this surprise was announced. In shock, the team embraced; some fell into prostration. Cheering “Allahu Akbar”, the audience too seemed moved to tears.

“It was amazing,” said Arqam Ahsan, a Virginia Commonwealth University competitor, “It was very moving to see the reaction of the winning team.” Mariam Khan from UMD-College Park agreed, “It brought tears to my eyes. You could tell they really deserved it.”

The money for Umrah was anonymously donated; the benefactor only asks well-

>> Victorious Pg 12

themselves out from being 100 points down in second place. They have earned themselves a trip to Umrah! MashAllah!But don’t worry, they will make dua for all of us, inshAllah.

Team Members: Ahmad Salman, Adil Minhas, Hafsa Abdirahman, Matt Brooks, Abdulrahman Aulabi, and Rahma Werdere.

8

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The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

COMMUNITY NEWS

9

Imam Says Muslim Divorce Rate Approaching 50% DIVORCE >> Continued from pg 1

America. These included tensions that lead to domestic violence, stating bluntly, “Domestic Violence exists in Muslim society.

It exists no matter the cultural traditions or ethnic background. [These] issues often get swept under the rug. There are even cases of Imams who simply deny it, saying that there is no domestic violence in their community”.

He reiterated later that communication and accountability were the key to managing relationships as well as avoiding problems in the future that could escalate to abuse.

An additional problem in modern marriages was due to Muslims marrying across language and cultural divides. He explained, “Though this by itself is a good thing, you have the problem of one spouse being insensitive to the other’s cultural background while taking the acceptance of their own culture for granted.”

The Imam also expressed the importance of compatibility between potential partners, and the increasing need for ‘Pre-Marital Counseling’, which includes series of

{

questions asked to the advisee about dealing with different situations related to finances, religious duties and political viewpoints.

“Mainly, communication tools for dealing with a spouse and children are what we try and talk about”, he explained later.

He followed up with reflecting on the cause of marital dissatisfaction as well as solutions

it, the number seems high”.

According to the Imam, problems in marriage could be solved and avoided later by a few simple steps. “The number one reason why marriages fail is the lack of communication, and it is no different for Muslims. Simply listening to the other person can be one of the best ways to strengthen a relationship”; he stressed that spouses shouldn’t hinder each

In his estimate, 46% of Muslim marriages in the US end in divorce, as compared to 57% overall in the US. He said, “Once again, because people don’t seek counseling and don’t talk about it, the number seems high”. to key issues that were “at the heart of the disintegrating Muslim family structure”, as he had learned through experiences in working with various communities. In his estimate, 46% of Muslim marriages in the US end in divorce, as compared to 57% overall in the US. He said, “Once again, because people don’t seek counseling and don’t talk about

others’ responsibilities and duties as defined

by Allah (Subhanahuwata’ala), and that as a rule, “In Muslim families, spouses must respect each other and work as a team if they want their family unit to prosper.” One of the main reasons for the spread of problems in Muslim Society is due to the lack of discussion on various levels including between imams

and the community, between spouses, and between the parents and children.

Dr. Javed Ahmed of the MCC Adult Open Forum panel opened the floor for questioning by asking about whether a nationalized Domestic Violence prevention program was available for victims in Muslim communities.

Imam Faizul Khan replied that there wasn’t, but that there was a great need for such a program. Both the Imam and MCC board members expressed their interest in forming a Domestic Violence outreach program at the Community Center and making it available in surrounding communities as well.

Later asked about the purpose of the Lecture series, Brother Nehal Shah, chair of the MCC committee responsible for the Sunday Adult Lecture & Open Forum, explained that, “the lecture series was meant to bring contemporary issues faced in Muslim communities to the fore.” Others stated that despite the discomfort that some issues may bring since they force Muslims to face serious problems within their communities, it was necessary to nonetheless discuss them openly if building stable families was a priority.

The Prophet said: “The most perfect Muslim in the matter of faith is someone who has excellent behavior; and the best among you are those who behave best toward their wives.”

--Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 106

}

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10

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

Islamic Relief Offers Hope to Afghan Widows, Orphans

By Fatimah Zahra Popal Muslim Link Contributing Writer The volunteers stood in two lines at the entrance of the Star Lounge & Ballroom in Annandale, Virginia, and greeted every guest as they walked in.

with pledges from other nations, the past seven years of suffering have shown that those efforts are far from adequate.

Islamic Relief’s involvement in Afghanistan dates back to 1992. With hundreds of programs running in Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kabul, Islamic Relief has offered a chance

“We have choices here like what cereal should we eat -Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies. But there, the mother barely manages to give her children a small piece of stale bread.”

Once seated at elegantly decorated tables and chairs, Imam Zia from the Mustafa Center opened Islamic Releif’s November 22, 2008 Afghan Fundraiser with recitation of the Quran. He followed it with a few words of wisdom, “Please remember that living here in the U.S. with the economic problems we have is nothing compared to what the situation is in Afghanistan.” The Mustafa Center’s Youth

at a new life for many. Their efforts include offering education, providing clean and sanitary water, and capacity building through job creation. Islamic Relief’s programs are set up in such a way that doesn’t make one dependent on them, but serve as a spring board for self-sufficiency.

The fundraiser continued with a speech

The audience cheered up somewhat after witnessing Islamic Relief’s help. Women and children were being taught English and computer skills to help get jobs. Families were happy to know they had water to use that day.

Group (MCYG) coordinators, Ali Baluch and Sufia Alnoor also reminded the guests of the plight of Afghan widows and orphans and our responsibility to help them.

from the President of the Mustafa Center, Mohammad Bashir. After paying a visit to Afghanistan, Bashir noticed that the refugee camps were mere mud huts.

The fundraiser was specifically aimed at helping the often forgotten widows and orphans in Afghanistan. After three decades of war, the country has been left in turmoil.

While there are attempts to rebuild the country

“The kids there haven’t had the opportunity to flick on a light switch or haven’t experienced the advantage of running water.” Bashir continued with his humble reality checks, “We have choices here like what cereal should we

eat -- Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies. But there, the mother barely manages to give her children a small piece of stale bread.” The audience members lowered their heads at this point.

“We at the Mustafa Center endorse Islamic Relief and their cause tonight,” Bashir added.

Belkacem Nahi, Islamic Relief ’s Development Coordinator, took the stage next and presented disheartening statistics of the conditions in Afghanistan. “Ninety percent of the 1.5 million widows in Afghanistan are illiterate. Seventy percent of the Afghan population is malnourished. Forty percent of Afghanistan’s Afghani orphans prepare to choose donated slippers. population lives on less Internet Photo than $1 a day. Twenty-five percent of children die before reaching their fifth to buy medicine. This resulted in an addiction birthday. And 72% of people over the age of problem.

15 cannot read or write.”

Islamic Relief was there to offer hope to these A DVD capturing Islamic Relief’s work in women and their children. The DVD showed Afghanistan was shown right after Nahi’s how one family got to eat only bread and speech. “I feel happy today, I learned to tea for two weeks straight. The family of 5 write my name,” says a widow holding her children lived in a small room. The audience baby daughter. Even with the dim lights, one cheered up somewhat after witnessing Islamic could easily see how the atmosphere in the Relief’s help. Women and children were being ballroom was a very solemn one, with many taught English and computer skills to help get people even sobbing. The DVD showed how jobs. Families were happy to know they had opium was a problem for many suffering water to use that day. Children were skipping because of poverty. After experiencing happily through their villages to their newly pain, many widows would make their pain go away temporarily by using opium and giving it to their children. They did this out of sheer desperation as they couldn’t afford >> Orphans Pg 14

National Muslim and Jewish Twinning Comes to DC Area The weekend of November 21, 2008 was the National Muslim and Jewish Twinning – Dialogue. It was a weekend to stand together for mutual respect and understanding between two religious communities too often wrought apart by sensationalized media, misunderstandings, and bigotry.

Four such dialogs occurred in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.

On Friday Nov 21, 2008, Rabbi Nosanchuk from Northern Virginia Hebrew congregation (NVHC) spoke to 900 Muslims after Jumaa Khutba and Prayer at ADAMS Main Center 11:45am and to 200 Muslims at ADAMS Reston Jumaa at NVHC after the 1:45pm Jumaa.

ADAMS Imam Muhammad Magid spoke to 300 Jewish Community Members at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation Shabbat Services at 6:45pm.

ADAMS and NVHC have been working togehter in Interfaith Dialogue and Friendship for over a decade. Imam Magid and Rabbi Nosnachuk spoke about PEACE and Respect.

They spoke about how we are all children of Prophet Abraham (Peace Be Upon Him) and decedents of the his two sons - Prophets Ismail and Isaac (Peace Be Upon Them).

They talked about how the Muslim and Jewish community have much in common. They asked the communities to work together in community service and PEACE to help those need here in America and around the world.

Beth El will work with the Islamic Center of Maryland in Gaithersburg to hold “Judaism 101 and Islam 101” classes on the fundamentals of each religion.

In the District, Tifereth Israel’s Rabbi Ethan Seidel invited Imam Mohamed Abdullah and other members of the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring to a Shabbat dinner.

Temple Solel’s Rabbi Steve Weisman addressed Muslims at the Islamic Society of Southern Prince George’s County in Temple Hills, while Imam Khalil Shadeed addressed the Bowie synagogue.

The Weekend of Twinnings is a first of its kind gathering across the United States and Canada bringing together 50 mosques and 50 synagogues and representing over 100,000 Muslims and Jews for the purpose of confronting Islamophobia and antiSemitism. Events took place in nearly every major city, including New York , Los Angeles , Chicago , Boston , and Washington , D.C. In conjunction with the numerous events across the country, The Weekend of Twinnings will coincide with two widely-seen public calls for an end to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, a full-page advertisement in the New York Times and a broadcast Public Service Announcement on CNN.

In 2007, The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding led by Rabbi Marc Schneier, president and Russell Simmons, chairman hosted the first National Summit of Imams and Rabbis. Imam Abu Namous, former head imam of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, was also a host of the National Summit. The summit, which was held in New York , brought together rabbis and imams from 11 major cities in the United States and Canada with scholars and experts on Muslim-Jews relationship.

Participants included, among others, Dr. Sayyid Muhammed Syeed, Islamic Society of North America, Ambassador Abdul Wahab, permanent observer of the Organizations of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations, and Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress.

Source: Rizwan Jaka

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL >> Continued from pg 1 Library, Congressional Research, and Congressional Budget and Information Technology. Muslims on the Hill are equally representative of young male and female graduates with degrees in different fields.

There are many other young Muslims who do constituency work in district offices.

Aqila Zafar, a young Muslim woman is applying for a legislative correspondent position on the Hill. Aqila Zafar currently works in a Law firm and working toward attending law school.

introduce issues that are of interest to the American Muslim community. These staffers have the ability to gain professional experience while creating an environment friendly to Muslims.

Saleh said CMSA accommodates all differences in understanding Islam. Its members are both Sunni and Shia. “Unlike lots of other organizations which tend to be lean toward one ethnicity, CMSA by far is the most diverse. We have a good representation of Arabs, Afro-Americans, South Asians, Reverts, and Latinos.”

By including all the variety of opinions of Islam, CMSA is standing for unity among Muslims, said Saleh. Generally Congressmen representing states with large Muslim constituency have Muslim staffers in their offices. These Congressmen are depending on their staff for valuable information prevalent to understanding their constituents.

The non-partisan CMSA was initiated in 2006 by Jameel Johnson, former chief of staff for Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), in order to increase diversity on the Hill and to encourage Muslims to get involved in public policy work.

“A new administration and Congress is among us and with that brings new hope and ideas for a better future. I can’t help but want to join in on the change and contribute to it. As a second generation Pakistani-American living in the US, I have really reaped the benefits of the American dream. This country has given me so much and to serve it in any way would be an honor,” said Aqila Zafar, originally from a small town in Illinois.

CMSA is networking to get more media exposure and increase awareness. CMSA members said young Muslims need to know their involvement on Hill is in demand.

American Muslims would be eliminating a good career opportunity in government work by thinking they will not be hired because of

“I am here to protect, honor, and serve my Congressman. Though professional work, we open opportunity to discuss Islam when the need arises,” said Saleh, who serves as the program and outreach coordinator of the organization.

Throughout the year, CMSA hosts public policy, religious & cultural, and professional development gatherings to keep everyone informed and to socialize. This past Ramadan, CMSA served 800 DC Muslims at the annual Congressional Iftar. In February 2008 during Black History Month, CMSA invited Amir Mohammad, an African American Muslim, and an independent researcher who collected several artifacts on the African American Muslim presence and experience in America.

Many American Muslims interested in public policy work moved from their home state to the District to get involved and network with the firms lobbying for special interests on the Hill.

These young Muslims in their mid-twenties said they want to serve Representatives, work for the best interest of the American nation, and to make sure the Muslim’s voice in policy making is present on all issues relating to religion.

As legislative staffers, Muslims on Hill introduce issues that are of interest to the American Muslim community.

These staffers have the ability to gain professional experience while creating an environment friendly to Muslims. their religious faith, they said.

“I am able to express my opinion as an African American, and as a Muslim. My job is to help my Congressman stay abreast in representing his constituents. I’m able to grow professionally and spiritually on the Hill,” said Jihad Saleh, Legislative Assistant for Congressman Meeks (D-NY).

Saleh said he built his trust by networking with other organizations present on Capitol Hill, working honestly to serve his Congressman, and by offering good recommendations about educational issues.

As legislative staffers, Muslims on Hill

“The main reason I moved to DC from California was to get involved in the public policy arena. Working in the public sphere for the betterment of this country serves this purpose and allows us to develop a better understanding and appreciation of the democratic system as well as knowledge of how best to promote issues that impact disparate communities, including Muslims,” said Walid Zafar, 22, currently works for a public health consulting firm.

Zafar encouraged other American-Muslims to take opportunities to give back and tear down misrepresentations of Muslims and Islam.

11

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)” 11-13-08 – Anisha Sikaji, born 1928, passed away in early November. Her janazah was held at Darul Nur in Manassas, VA. She was buried at Stafford Cemetery.

(Source: Aden Muslim Funeral Services) 11-03-08 - Hannaan Amer, born 2004, passed away in early November. Her janazah was held at Darul Nur in Manassas, VA. She was buried at Stafford Cemetery.(Source: (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 11-14-08 - Hamida Abdi, aged 78 and originally from Afghanistan, has passed away. Her funeral prayer was held at Darul Nur in Manassas, VA. She was buried at Stafford Cemetery.(Source: Aden Funeral Services) 11 - 1 3 - 0 8 - M o h a m m e d K h a n , b o r n 1 9 5 0 i n P a k i s t a n , p a s s e d away in the Dulles Airport while enroute to Pakistan. His body was prepared for shipment overseas. (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 11-16-08 - Najiba Akbar, born 1936 in Afghanistan, passed away. Her janazah and burial was at Arlington Nation Cemetery. (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 11-18-08 - Dawood (David) Powell, aged 58 and from the Darul Hijra Community, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 at the Veteran’s Hospital. He is survived by an extended family. His janazah was held Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 at Darul Hijra in Falls Church, VA. He was buried at Stafford Cemetery. (Source: Aden Funeral Services) 11-20-08 - Abdul-Wali Wali, born in the U.S., passed away at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. His janazah was held Nov. 21, 2008 at 411 K Street NW in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and two sons.

(Source: Br. Abd-Allah Afeefy) 11-24-08 - Syed Niamat Ali returned peacefully to Allah on Nov. 24, 2008.

(Source: Br. Syed Akhtar Alam) 11-25-08 - Mrs. Anwara Khatoon, 82, beloved mother of Dr. Anwar Huq of Silver Spring, MD, mother-in-law of Dr. Shameem Huq (Helen), and a loving elder of many Washingtonians, passed away at Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, MD. She is survived by a daughter, a son, and a host of relatives and mourners. Her janaza was held Nov. 26, 2008 at Muslim Community Center. She was buried at Maryland National Memorial Park in Laurel, MD. (Source: Br. Ashraf Ahmed ) 11-26-08 - It is with great sadness and grief that we give you the news that Br. Sami Khalifa passed away. His family owns the Flower Den in Bradlick Shopping Center, next to Mustafa Center. His janaza prayer was held at Nov. 26, 2008 at Dar al Hijra Islamic Center.(Source: Mustafa Center)

Zafar hopes to be hired by a Representative who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

CMSA members corresponded with one another on a formal level as event planning necessitates. They meet with all of their members weekly to provide updates on ongoing policy issues, House Briefings, and other government relation matters.

Noura Erakat said working on the Hill has been a very rewarding experience. Her background in grassroots and international legal advocacy regarding Palestinian human rights brought her to Congress in shaping domestic policies in the US. “Because the political philosophy underlying

advocacy for Palestinian human rights and marginalized communities in the US in regards to their health, labor, food safety, emergency preparedness, and economic well being are the same, it wasn’t a difficult transition to make. In the process I’ve learned an incredible amount about our legislative process and government oversight and accountability. It has enriched me as a citizen and as an advocate,” said Erakat, 28, counsel for Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) member of Domestic Policy Subcommittee, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

For more information on Capitol Hill job opportunities, contact Jihad Saleh at cmsa. resume@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY NEWS

12 PROFESSIONALS >> Continued from pg 5

perpetrated over the internet. They include things like child solicitation and pornography, piracy, fraud, and email hacking. Just recently, a hacker got into the George Mason University email system and sent out a message from the provost stating that the elections were to be held on a different day than previously scheduled. We also set up internet sting operations on web site chat rooms and monitor internet activities that may be suspicious,” explained Ahmad.

Other interesting career choices were brought forward by Tariq Al-Muhtasib who works as a life and business coach. Nosheen Sheikh is a “head hunter/recruiter” for the aerospace industry. Her future plans are uncertain, but she likes what she is doing and the company she works for. Ali Faruk, who studied public administration at Virginia Commonwealth University, works for a company in Richmond that is a nonprofit coalition of faith organizations working to lobby for the interests of the underprivileged.

Brother Faruk is a registered lobbyist, but of a slightly unusual strain. Nimra Khan, who studied at Virginia Commonwealth University, is now a social worker. Jumaina Siddiqui, who attended New York University and American University, studied politics and political policy. She now works for a think

VICTORIOUS >> Continued from pg 7

wishers to pray for him and his family.

“The last thing I expected was for us to win. It was a really great feeling” said Abdulrahman Aulabi of the GMU team, “when they announced it, I was shocked…my legs couldn’t hold my body.”

“The George Mason Sheeps” as they have been nicknamed after the winning answer, plan to make Umrah next summer.

The idea for Battle of the MSAs was collaborative effort developed by Sufia Alnoor, Secretary of MSA DC Council, and Ubaid Bandukra, DC Council Treasurer and the project’s Amir. They drew inspiration from MIST’s Scholastic Bowl, and worked with its organizers, looking to them for experience.

Despite its parallels to MIST however, Battle of the MSAs was organized with different goals in mind.

“Holding this event at a collegiate level is important, especially in such a crucial time in our lives when we’re in college...we are establishing our Islamic identities and are being faced with so many challenges,” said DC Council Vice President Saud Inam.

Alnoor agreed, pointing to the importance of communication, “We have over fourteen MSAs in the area but some are near dead. We should be helping one another out...that’s what brothers and sisters do [for each other].”

Upcoming Events In Your Area

tank in Washington DC. Besides those mentioned there were several others who represented the fields of law, pharmacy, medicine, engineering, business finance, bio-medical technology, administration and business information technology. The group’s accomplishments filled some audience members with the potential of the young Muslim generation.

Brother Aslam explained the goal of the event.

“We wanted to show the youth group what kind of future opportunities exist for them and second, we wanted to bring a group of young professionals to the masjid. We are hoping to tie this generation to the masjid through activities that will involve them. One of the things we did was start a half hour late, giving time for the youth to socialize with some of the presenters. Brother Ali Faruk and I had this idea since last year and have been developing ideas to facilitate this,” said Aslam.

In a way, they are the children of all the Muslims in the United States. They represent the generation of American Muslims born and raised in the United States. Brother Aslam, through this event, and others planned for the future, hopes to bring their presence back into the masajid.

Through activities like these, some participants hoped the young, professional Muslims won’t

Bandukra noted the growing need for a “support network” among MSAs, wherein they help each other by sharing knowledge and resources in addition to brotherhood.

“The main purpose is bringing us together for the sake of Allah, because after we establish the unity, after we know each other, then we have the potential for a lot more,” he said, “the potential...of all these MSAs working together fisabeelillah is greater than the individual parts.”

“I think we accomplished this goal and many others through the grace of Allah,” remarked MSA DC Council President Ramy Zamzam, voicing the overall positivity toward the end result, “bringing Muslims together for good is a great blessing, and these events do just that.”

The Council now looks to the future, hoping that Battle of the MSAs has generated greater interest in area MSA collaboration and other DC Council events such as Project Downtown to be held December 6 LIST OF COMPETING MSAs Georgetown University George Washington University Virginia Commonwealth University University of Maryland Baltimore County University of Maryland - College Park American University Northern Virginia Community College Towson University Howard University Johns Hopkins University George Mason University University of Virginia Montgomery College - Rockville College of William and Mary

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

COMMUNUITY CLOTHING SWAP Saturday, November 29, 2008

Community Clothing Swap has been scheduled just in time for the season change and Eid-al-Adha. The weekend-long event will take place on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30 at the Muslim Community Center (MCC), 15200 New Hampshire Ave. , Silver Spring , Md. The swaps have been a great way for members of the community to share clothing, shoes, baby equipment, toys and household items (such as bed linens, dishes and other kitchen items, etc.) with one another. Here’s how ...

Sis. Zahirah sakina.productions@verizon.net

Eid Celebration Saturday, December 13, 2008

An Eid Celebration event for the entire family. Many fun and rides such as cotton candy, moon bounce, balloon artist, vendors galore, popcorn, face painting, henna, pizza & Much more! ... youth@isb.org youth@isb.org

Al-Madina - Trials of the Messengers Seminar Saturday, December 20, 2008

An In-Depth look into the lives of Adam, Ayyub and Isa (alayhim as’salam) Teachers: Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Muhammad Bin Yahya Ninowy, Ustdath Abdullah Bin Hamid Ali Location: New Destiny Family Worship Center 1330 Livingston Avenue #5 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Date: Saturday December 20th, 2008 10am - 5pm Location: 1330 Livingston Avenue #5 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Cost: $25 ($30 at door) In today’s era, we do not realize the struggle our beloved pro ... info@almadinainstitute.org info@almadinai nstitute.org

Home of the Heart Saturday, December 27, 2008

Idris Ali~Altaf Husain~Safi Khan ~Baba Ali of ummah films~ at UMUC INN and Conference Center by Marriott 3501 University Blvd East, Adelphi, MD 20783 ... www.darussalaam.org or call 301-982-2061~ funding@darussalaam.org

ALLIMA INSTITUTE FUND RAISER Sunday, December 28, 2008

Allima Institute Now Fffers Salat-ul Jumah each week at 1:15 and doors are also open for all other prayers as well. We will also be holding our first fund-raising event on Sunday, December 28 from 4-6pm. Theme: “Vision of Change A Community Benefit for Our Young People.” Location: 1 East Chase Street The Belvedere Building, (2nd floor) Baltimore, MD 21202 Toll Free: 888-8584543 , Fax: 443-703-2295 http:\\www.allima. org Email: contactus@allima.org ...

888-858-4543 contactus@allima.org

EPC -2008 : Annual Essay/Panel Contest Sunday, January 4, 2009 EPC-2008 is an annual essay/panel contest for Muslims Youths in Metro DC area. This platform provides an opportunity for our youths to develop their writing, speaking and leadership skills. This is a youth development event that should not be missed! Be a part of it and experience the difference! Top Selected Essays are Published in a Book. For more on EPC, please visit:www.EPC.Mafiq.org ...

Organizer: Mafiq Foundation, Inc and CCMO Host: Islamic Center of Maryland POC: Mostafiz Chowdhury essays@Mafiq.org

Purification of the Soul Friday, January 30, 2009

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

Home of the Heart 2008 Fundraising Dinner and Family Night Saturday, December 27th at 4:30 pm with Special Guests: Abdalla

DISPARITY >> Continued from pg 5 A recent survey conducted in October 2008 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found minorities in the United States are less likely to have access to treatment for depression and “less likely to receive adequate care when treatment is available.”

According to statistics of the Algeria Study completed by the APA, 33 percent of Caucasians received proper care when diagnosed with depression while only 22 percent of Latinos, 13 percent of Asians, and 12 percent of Afro-Americans received adequate attention.

The program presented varying perspectives regarding approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of mental illnesses within urban communities. The panelists discussed sustainable solutions that will adequately address current disparity in access to treatment, diagnoses, and long term care.

“The symposium went well. Panelists were professional and the questions from the audience were great. We need to address the issue of discrimination and misdiagnoses of mental health diseases in the urban communities,” said Abeo Anderson, Founder and Executive Director of Raising Expectation, DC-based non-profit young adult enrichment organization serving youth between twelve and twenty-two.

The Aalia Group was established in 2006 to create educational opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles through the power of media.

The organization is funded by charitable donations from corporations and other nonprofit foundations. Ali, founder of Aalia, received his Master’s in independent media from Arlington Independent Media Studios in Arlington, Virginia. Aalia Group plans to host more educational programs in the future.

For information on Aalia Group’s upcoming programs and to find out the day the show will be aired on cable television, please visit www.aaliagrp.org.

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

Islam

ISLAM

13

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

Kaa’bah: The House Of Allaah Kaa’bah: It’s Size and History!

The small, cubed building known as the Ka’abah may not rival skyscrapers in height or mansions in width, but its impact on history and human beings is unmatched. The Ka’abah is the building towards which Muslims face five times a day, everyday, in prayer. This has been the case since the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) over 1400 years ago.

The Size of the Kaa’bah: The current height of the Kaa’bah is 39 feet, 6 inches and total size comes to 627 square feet.

The inside room of the Kaa’bah is 13X9 meters.

The Kaa’bah’s walls are one meter wide. The floor inside is 2.2 meters higher than the place where people perform Tawaaf.

The ceiling and roof are two levels made out of wood. They were reconstructed with teak which is capped with stainless steel.

The walls are all made of stone. The stones inside are unpolished, while the ones outside are polished.

This small building has been constructed and reconstructed by Prophets Adam, Ibrahim,

Bait ul Ateeq-which means, according to one meaning, the earliest and ancient. According to the second meaning, it means independent and liberating. Both meanings could be taken Bayt ul Haram-the honorable house The Kaa’bah has been reconstructed up to 12 times. Scholars and historians say that the Kaa’bah has been reconstructed between five to 12 times. The very first construction of the Kaa’bah was done by Prophet Adam.

Allah says in the Qur’ân that this was the first house that was built for humanity to worship Allah. After this, Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail rebuilt the Kaa’bah. The measurements of the Kaa’bah’s Ibrahimic foundation are as follows: -the eastern wall was 48 feet and 6 inches -the Hateem side wall was 33 feet -the side between the black stone and the Yemeni corner was 30 feet -the Western side was 46.5 feet Following this, there were several constructions before the Prophet Muhammad’s time.

Scholars and historians say that the Kaa’bah has been reconstructed between five to 12 times. The very first construction of the Kaa’bah was done by Prophet Adam.

Allah says in the Qur’ân that this was the first house that was built for humanity to worship Allah.

Ismail and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). No other building has had this honor. Yet, not very much is known about the details of this small but significant building.

Did you know the Kaa’bah was reconstructed as recently as close to four years ago? Did you know that the Kaa’bah has been subjected to danger by natural disasters like flooding, as well as human attacks?

If you didn’t keep reading. You’ll find some rarely heard of information discussed below and discover facts about the Kaa’bah many are unaware of.

The other names of the Kaa’bah Literally, Kaa’bah in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige. The word Kaa’bah may also be derivative of a word meaning a cube.

Some of these other names include:

Reconstruction of Kaa’bah by Quraish Prophet Muhammad participated in one of its reconstructions before he became a Prophet.

After a flash flood, the Kaa’bah was damaged and its walls cracked. It needed rebuilding.

This responsibility was divided among the Quraish’s four tribes. Prophet Muhammad helped with this reconstruction. Once the walls were erected, it was time to place the Black Stone, (theHajar ul Aswad) on the eastern wall of the Kaa’bah. Arguments erupted about who would have the honor of putting the Black Stone in its place. A fight was about to break out over the issue, when Abu Umayyah, Makkah’s oldest man, proposed that the first man to enter the gate of the mosque the following morning would decide the matter.

That man was the Prophet. The Makkans

were ecstatic. “This is the trustworthy one (Al-Ameen),” they shouted in a chorus. “This is Muhammad”. He came to them and they asked him to decide on the matter. He agreed.

Prophet Muhammad proposed a solution that all agreed to-putting the Black Stone on a cloak, the elders of each of the clans held on to one edge of the cloak and carried the stone to its place. The Prophet then picked up the stone and placed it on the wall of the Kaa’bah. Since the tribe of Quraish did not have sufficient funds, this reconstruction did not include the entire foundation of the Kaa’bah as built by Prophet Ibrahim. This is the first time the Kaa’bah acquired the cubical shape it has now unlike the rectangle shape which it had earlier.

The portion of the Kaa’bah left out is called Hateem now. Construction After the Prophet’s Time-Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr The Syrian army destroyed the Kaa’bah in Muharram 64 (Hijri date) and before the next Hajj Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, reconstructed the Kaa’bah from the ground up.

Ibn az-Zubayr wanted to make the Kaa’bah how the Prophet Muhammad wanted it, on the foundation of the Prophet Ibrahim. Ibn az-Zubayr said, “I heard Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) say, ‘The Prophet said: “If your people had not quite recently abandoned the Ignorance (Unbelief), and if I had sufficient provisions to rebuild it [the Kaa’bah], I would have added five cubits to it from the Hijr. Also, I would make two doors; one for people to enter therein and the other to exit.” (Bukhaaree).

Ibn az-Zubayr said, “Today, I can afford to do it and I do not fear the people. Ibn az-Zubayr built the Kaa’bah on Prophet Ibrahim’s foundation. He put the roof on three pillars with the wood of Aoud (a perfumed wood

with aroma which is traditionally burned to get a good smell out of it in Arabia).In his construction he put two doors, one facing the east the other facing the west, as the Prophet wanted but did not do in his lifetime. He rebuilt the Kaa’bah on the Prophet Ibrahim’s foundation, which meant that the Hateem area was included. The Hateem is the area adjacent to the Kaa’bah enclosed by a low semi-circular wall.

Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr also made the following additions and modifications: -put a small window close to the roof of the Kaa’bah to allow for light.

-moved the door of the Kaa’bah to ground level and added a second door to the Kaa’bah.

-added nine cubits to the height of the Kaa’bah, making it twenty cubits high.

-its walls were two cubits wide.

-reduced the pillars inside the House to three instead of six as were earlier built by Quraish.

For reconstruction, ibn az-Zubayr put up four pillars around Kaa’bah and hung cloth over them until the building was completed. People began to do Tawaf around these pillars at all times, so Tawaf of the Kaa’bah was never abandoned,even during reconstruction.

During Abdul Malik bin Marwan’s time In 74 Hijri (or 693 according to the Gregorian calendar), Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf al-Thaqafi, the known tyrant of that time, with the approval of Umayyad KHALIFAH Abdul Malik bin Marwan, demolished what Ibn az-Zubayr had added to it from the older foundation of

>> Kaa’bah Pg 14

14 KAA’BAH >> continued from pg 13 Prophet Ibrahim, restore its old structure as the Quraish had it. Some of the changes he made were the following: -he rebuilt it in the smaller shape which is found today -took out the Hateem -walled up the western door (whose signs are still visible today) and left the rest as it was pulled down the wall in the Hateem area.

-removed the wooden ladder Ibn azZubayr had put inside the Kaa’bah.

-reduced the door’s height by five cubits When Abdul Malik bin Marwan came for Umra and heard the Hadith that it was wish of Prophet for the Kaa’bah to be constructed the way Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr had built it, he regretted his actions.

Imam Malik’s advice to the KHALIFAH Harun al Rasheed Abbasi Khalifa Harun al Rasheed wanted to rebuild the Kaa’bah the way the Prophet Muhammad wanted and the way Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr built it. But when he consulted Imam Malik, the Imam asked the KHALIFAH to change his mind because constant demolition and rebuilding is not respectful and would become a toy in the hands of kings. Each one would want to demolish and rebuild the Kaa’bah.

Based on this advice, Harun al Rasheed did not reconstruct the Kaa’bah. The structure remained in the same construction for 966 years, with minor repairs here and there.

Reconstruction during Sultan Murad Khan’s time In the year 1039 Hijri, because of heavy rain, flood and hail, two of the Kaa’bah’s walls fell down. The flood during which this occurred took place on the 19th of Shaban 1039 Hijri which continued constantly, so the water in the Kaa’bah became almost close to half of its walls, about 10 feet from the ground level. On Thursday the 20th of Shaban 1039 Hijri, the eastern and western walls fell down.

ISLAM When flood receded on Friday the 21st of Shaban, the cleanup started. Again, a curtain, the way Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr established on 4 pillars, was put up, and the reconstruction started on the 26th of Ramadan. The rest of the walls except for the one near the Black Stone, were demolished. By the 2nd of ZulHijjah 1040 the construction was taking place under the guidance of Sultan Murad Khan, the Ottoman Khalifa. From the point of the Black stone and below, the current construction is the same as that done by Abdullah ibn azZubayr. The construction which was done under the auspices of Murad Khan was exactly the one done at the time of Abdul Malik ibn Marwan which is the way the Quraysh had built it before Prophethood. On Rajab 281377, One historian counted the total stones of the Kaa’bah and they were 1,614. These stones are of different shapes. But the stones which are inside the outer wall which is visible are not counted in there.

Reconstruction of the Kaa’bah In 1996 A major reconstruction of the Kaa’bah took place between May 1996 and October 1996.

This was after a period of about 400 years (since Sultan Murad Khan’s time). During this reconstruction the only original thing left from the Kaa’bah are the stones. All other material has been replaced including the ceiling and the roof and its wood.

What is inside the Kaa’bah?

-there are two pillars inside (others report 3 pillars) -there is a table on the side to put items like perfume -there are two lantern-type lamps hanging from the ceiling -the space can accommodate about 50 people -there are no electric lights inside -the walls and floors are of marble -there are no windows inside -there is only one door -the upper inside walls of the Kaa’bah were covered with some kind of curtain with the Kalimah written on it.

Source: www.allaahuakbar.net/hajj/hajj.htm

ORPHANS >> continued from pg 10 built schools. There was hope.

Imam Johari from Dar al Hijrah was the guest speaker and fund raiser for the night. “From the food you eat tonight, you will realize that there will be people who can only wish to have that.” Johari went on to take the audience out of their comfort zones, “We complain about our residence, ‘my home is too small’ but this is a dream for others.”

Before proceeding to the fundraiser portion, Johari painted a thought for us, “I want you to have a vision for Afghanistan: An Afghanistan with no poverty. How many of you are willing to be a part of the solution?”

The audience raised their hands.

The funds were collected rather fast. People continued raising their hands to contribute to the noble cause. A total of $60,000 was raised from an audience of 200.

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

The guests lined up to help themselves to a buffet of exotic Afghan food, so exotic, that perhaps the unfortunate in Afghanistan can only wish to have it. I am sure that night when we feasted on such fine dishes of Qabuli Palau, qorma, Spinach, shami kabob, and eggplant, it must have been hard swallowing with all the Afghans widows and orphans on our minds.

Top: The haram was flooded several times in history. Here, people continue the tawaf by swimming. Bottom: A cut-away diagram of the Ka’ba. Muslims do not worship the Ka’ba, but it marks the direction for prayer for Muslims worldwide. It is also the first house of Allah established on Earth. (Internet Photos)

STAFF WRITERS WANTED

Islamic Relief is registered in all 50 states, with 67 offices across the world. It is an American organization with Islamic values: trust. Every cent will go to help the widows and orphans in Afghanistan. Will you help change someone’s life?

The Muslim Link newspaper is looking for full and part-time candidates to fill upcoming staff writer positions.

To donate, please visit https://www.irw.org/ donate_now/ and select “Afghanistan.”May Allah reward you for your help.

The ideal candidates are committed Muslims who have a penchant for good writing, are involved in community work, have a strong work ethic, and believe in establishing Muslim media.

To join our team and start on a job which offers ground breaking opportunities and excitement, send your resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to the editor at editor@muslimlinkpaper.com.

The Muslim Link, November 28, 2008

EDITORS DESK Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager : Jann McClary News Desk: Umm ‘Abdullah (Events) Distribution: Elwaleed Elshowya Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Lensay Abadula Amina Ali Farkhunda Ali Fasiha Khan Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Maryam bint DawudMussallihullah Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published every other Friday on a Bi-Weekly Schedule and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam.

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: 240-209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2008

OPINION AND EDITORIALS

Letters to the Editor Stop Sensationalized Headlines!

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu.

May Allah reward you for the valuable service you provide to the Muslim community. May Allah increase the paper in goodness and ease the financial strain on it.

I am writing to express concern about the sub-heading of your lead article “Voting for Obama, Muslims ‘Embody Mainstream’” from your November 14, 2008 issue: “Despite 89% of Muslim voters choosing Obama, concerns grow after appointment Israeli, Indian with ties to anti-Muslim terrorism”.

As Muslims our wish is to judge others how we ourselves would want to be judged. The allegation that two Obama appointees have “ties to anti-Muslim terrorism” (without even the journalists favorite “alleged” clause) was sensationalized and, more importantly, completely unsubstantiated by the article.

How many Muslims do we know that are in prison right now just because of this kind of guilt-by-association?

Similar in vain was the reprint of the Paul Roberts article (Conned Again) which had troubling statements (ex. the statement that Rahm Emanuel comes from a “terrorist family”... what is that supposed to mean???) It was a completely lopsided article which some may argue was tinged with anti-Jewish undertones and completely did not belong in TML. I enjoy reading the Muslim Link and was sorry to read about its downsizing. I hope future issues will be have more of your own writers’ contributions and less ranting from the non-Muslim blog world. We need more positive stories of the difference Muslims are making in our communities. Reading too many stories about the anti Muslim agenda of powers-that-be just paralyzes us.

Jazakamullah khair.

Umm Basheer College Park, MD

Rahm and Sonal. Who will say: “that’s wrong for Obama to do that!” We thought we should at least tell the Muslim community what Mr. Obama is doing while they support and cheer him on. The Muslim Link is focused on about positive Muslim contributions. But should we sit by silently as our community gets humiliated time and time again? We think -at least sometimes -- we should say “shame on you!”. --TML -----------------------------------------------------

Why I Voted Green Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim and As salaamu alaikum, Just like the block vote by Muslims for George W. Bush 8 years ago, I’m afraid that this block vote for Obama in 2008 will leave a lot of Muslims disappointed and disillusioned.

I voted this year, more so to make a statement, rather than to be a part of the so called democratic process.

I voted as an independent for the green party because lets face it, democrats and republicans are two sides of the same coin. Their agendas and goals are essentially the same, perhaps the means of achieving their agenda and goals only slightly differ. I realized early on in Obama’s campaign that he was already bought and paid for by the Jewish lobby, the multinational corporations, and others who control the wealth of America. It bothers me a lot that he continually speaks about saving the middle class but hardly ever mentions the poor and the social ills in this country that have morally corrupted the United States at its core.

As a Muslimah of African-American descent, I realize the historical nature of an AfricanAmerican being elected as president of the United States. However, lets face it, in order for Obama to win this election he had to have the backing of some very powerful and wealthy individuals. His wholehearted support of Israel and his cursory acknowledgment of the plight of the Palestinian people is suspect to say the least. Obama talked about ending the war in Iraq and bringing home the troops, however, at the same time he is also talking about escalating the war in Afghanistan, because according to him that’s where Bin Laden is and that’s where the real terrorists are.

Wa’alykum as salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, It is common knowledge and even acknowledged by the main stream press that Rahm Emanuel’s father was part of an Israeli hit squad that helped terrorize Palestinian families into running from their villages in the 1940s. As for Sonal Shah, respectable media in India are abuzz about her links to militant Hindu groups, but the American media are giving her a pass. We didn’t think that was fair or appropriate, and hence the sub-headline.

As for the op-ed by Paul Roberts, we feel it is not a rant; Paul Roberts is a highly accomplished former US official who is an award-winning journalist and writer.

I admit that Obama is very intelligent, smart, and quite charismatic and these are some of the things that I admire about him in spite of my inability to support him as president.

I don’t see how his platform of change and hope are going to trickle down to the most needy of this country, the blacks, the Native Americans, the poor whites, etc. As a new president he will be inheriting an economic mess from eight years of crime and corruption. you have to wonder and ask yourself, why, why now has a black man been promoted to run for president of the United States. Look very closely at his platform and keep in mind that he was not nominated and elected to be a friend to the Muslims.

Muslims supported Obama, and then what does he do in return? Appoint the likes of

Nadirah Rasheed, age 59 Gaithersburg, MD

15

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Muslim Voter Priorities Are Concerning [An excerpt from Mauri Saalakhan’s email commentary from November 19 – TML] To my Muslim brothers and sisters I note the following. A report in The Muslim Link newspaper (“Voting for Obama Muslims Embody Mainstream,” 11/14/08), left me a little concerned.

One paragraph in particular read: “The AMT survey found the economy was the “most important issue” for Muslim voters, with 63% of the sample group saying it was the number one issue. Only 16% cited the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as the most important issue influencing their vote. Despite [Agha] Saeed saying civil rights was the number one issue for the AMT, only 4% of the Muslim voters polled said it was the most influential factor in their vote.”

In my humble opinion, this is a sad commentary on the state of Islamic consciousness among Muslims in America; it poses a direct challenge for Muslim leaders in this part of the world. One can understand the “economy” being the number one concern for the nonMuslim community (and a major concern for Muslims in America); but for it to be the “number one concern” for the Muslim electorate by such a wide margin is troubling indeed.

With the living hell that many Muslims have been going through, as a result of wrong-headed and opportunistic Post 9/11 foreign and domestic policy, such findings graphically reveal the gulf that exists between Muslims of varying stripes within MuslimAmerican society. While volumes could be written on this issue, because of space and time limitations, I will simply end this commentary with the following.

It would behoove those of us who truly care about the health and welfare of America to reflect deeply on an observation made by the imminent scholar, Sheikh Ibn Taymeeyah: “Civilization is rooted in justice, and the consequences of oppression are devastating. Therefore, it is said that ALLAH aids the just state even if it is nonMuslim, yet withhold his help from the oppressive state even if it is Muslim.”

As we reflect over this timeless truth, let me suggest that we (Muslims in America) need to engage in an intra-community dialogue on what it means to be MUSLIM and AMERICAN. Toward this end, we have already begun work on a small book that will be entitled: CAN I BE MUSLIM AND AMERICAN? An Exploration of Identity Politics and Patriotism in Post 9/11 America.