The Muslim Link - April 12 2013

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April 12th 2013 - May 16th 2013

Lack of Muslim Foster Families Resulting In Children Losing Islam

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

The phone rings at 8:30pm, after Anna and Muhammad Ismail have tucked their twins in bed.

The Northern Virginia couple fostered the 6-year old twin girls for a year before they legally adopted them. The twin girls birth parents were abusive, and their parental rights were terminated by the court.

The Ismails tried to keep some connection with the birth parents but

The Muslim Link

they were unsuccessful.

The phone call this evening is coming from the Fairfax County Foster and Adoption Program Coordinator.

The coordinator needs to place a 16year old Pakistani female removed from her parent's home. Her religious background is similar to the Ismails; they are prepared for this call as registered foster parents with Fairfax County.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

PG, Anne Arundel Muslims Meet With Rep. Donna Edwards | pg 4 Practice of Hijamah Making Slow Comback In Community| pg 5 Porn Addiction Afflicting Youth, Adults Say Experts | pg 5 ISWA Imam Offers Brief History of Muslims in Guyana | pg 15 FAMILY: Spiritual Reflections on Special Needs Parenting | pg 16

>> foster Pg 26

Muslim Community Center Breaks New Ground The ground was ready for spring and a crowd The original founders, of over 200 well-wish- Dr. Hashim and his wife ers had gathered on Suzie, Dr. and Mrs. Aziz March 24th, 2013 for Ali Muhammad, Sajthe groundbreaking of jad Durrani, and Arshad the Muslim Community Quraishi as well as chilCenter expansion proj- dren and youth in conect in Silver Spring, MD. struction hats and cerImam Mohamed Abdul- emonial spades dug the lahi started with recita- ground. "Allah started it tion from the Quran and and if it is dedicated to a special prayer for the successful completion >> MCC Pg 6 of the project.

WORLD: 10 Years On, Rally for Justice for Aafia Siddiqui | pg 20 ISLAM: Taking Care of Things at Home Is Part of Piety | pg 29 OPED: Imams Must Develop Solutions for Foster Kids | pg 32 The Muslim Link

Coupons PG 38

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News PG, Anne Arundel Muslims Meet with Rep. Edwards

By Yaman Shalabi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter The Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel’s County Muslim Councils, grassroots political and civic organizations aimed at promoting Muslim involvement in political affairs, cosponsored a meeting with Maryland’s 4th District representative on Tuesday, March 26, 2013.

About 40 people attended the meeting, titled “The Federal Outlook: A Community Discussion with Representative Donna Edwards” took place at the Cabana, 14403 Greenview Drive.

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Prince George), who sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure and the Science and Technology committees, was warmly welcomed with a bouquet of flowers.

The event was aimed at bringing together Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties elected officials and their Muslim constituency and discuss the issues that affect them, explained Prince George’s County Muslim Council President Jameel Aalim-Johnson.

“Our mission is to allow Muslims to become engaged in the political affairs of our county so that we may work to establish our way of life and to improve the quality of all residents, Muslims and non-Muslims alike,” said AalimJohnson.

Aalim-Johnson helped arrange this event with the hope that Muslims would “speak out and share their thoughts with [Rep. Edwards] so that she may go to congress with a better understanding of how her constituency feels.”

Rep. Edwards provided a general over-

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view of her role in congress and the direction the United States government is heading in matters of local and foreign policy. She spoke of issues affecting transportation and immigration and urged the people to invest in such matters because “it will contribute to the overall economic growth of the country.”

She emphasized on working to create a more comprehensive immigration policy that “embraces the idea that we are a country made up of different types of people, and that we are not going to make distinctions, because we want to grow the next generation of 21st century Americans.”

Edwards believes an all-inclusive immigration policy is achievable, but congress needs “to hear the voices of the people in this room so that we do not create a more restrictive policy, which

is why I appreciate you talking about being engaged politically,” she told the attendees.

After a brief 5-minute intermission for Maghrib prayer, the people proceeded to pose questions on local matters such as government’s role in funding for the Purple line to foreign issues like the United States drone policy, which Edwards explained no “debate or discussion took place in Congress before signing off on it.”

Overall, the discussion with Rep. Edwards was very successful said Anne Arundel’s County Muslim Council President Rudwan Abu-rumman.

Muslims need to be constantly involved in the political arena, said Abu-rum>> meeting Pg 27

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Slowly But Surely, Sunnah of Cupping Seeing Revival

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter A pink yoga mat is laid out on the hard wood floor. In a crisp white coat Lani*, the hijama practitioner, takes the Made in Korea cupping set that the patient had pre-ordered online.

They go over the medical and liability forms covering diet, lifestyle, areas of pain, and medical history and hygiene.

Lani* was trained by Hijama Nation; she took the friends and family version of the course. This 6 month online course culminated in a trip to their London headquarters where she presented her final paper.

poor blood circulation, I will first do a dry cupping massage," she says as she rubs olive oil on the patient's back.

“Hijama” literally means “sucking” or

on the upper back between the shoulder blades, away from veins and arteries; though it can also be performed in other areas. Since the patient suffers from irregular menstruation, backache and el-

Muslims over centuries have always believed that it is their basic right and duty to practice Hijama. It is a forgotten sunnah and needs to be revived.

The room is tranquil with the whispers of both patient and practitioner as they make dhikr and recite verses of healing.

This is an act of worship.

bring something to its normal state. Hijama is the Islamic term used for what is known as "wet cupping". This form of medicine has been practiced for centuries by many cultures, but Muslim physicians in the Golden Ages researched and refined it into a system.

Lani* puts her hands on the patient's back, praying for healing. "You have

Cupping is performed in several steps.

The most common site for cupping is

evated heartbeat, Lani* decides to cup her on the eight sunnah points on her back.

After 3 minutes, she takes the cup off, sanitizing the area, makes small incisions in the skin with a sterile disposable diabetic lancet, and places plastic disposable cup over the skin; repeating the procedure a few times. "People get

scared of a razor, so I use this," she says showing a prick disguised in a pen. It is noted in al-Bukhari and Muslim that healing is "in the incision of a cupper.''

A sunnah hijama treatment involves the release of stagnant, subcutaneous blood from the point(s) being treated. Blood starts gathering in the cup and coagulates.

Muhib Rahman had hijama therapy done for chronic back pain. He had tried physical therapy and medication but the pain was reoccurring. He leads a physical lifestyle as the founder and trainer at Aqabah Karate, in College Park, MD. "Seventy percent of my pain went away; I don't know if it was psychological but I felt better," says Rahman. The effect was not immediate; Rahman says it took a few days to feel relief.

>> cupping Pg 12

Pornography Addiction Afflicting Youth, Adults Say Experts PGMA Youth “A Gaze Unguarded” Forum Addresses Disease Few Talk About

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

Pornography and the emotional, spiritual and psychological effects it has on a Muslim's life is a taboo topic in our communities. But this silence was broken at a local Islamic Center.

A discussion on the viewing of explicit content and its addictive effects was held at Prince George's Muslim Association in Lanham, MD on Sunday March 17, 2013. As Sunday school children streamed out of the building, a panel on A Gaze Unguarded, led by the PGMA Imam Ahmad Azzaari, educational psychologist Sarah Yazback, and life coach Zeyad Ramadan addressed the destructive effects of pornography. Audience members were strictly 13 and above of age.

This super sexual stimuli is a click away- easy to access for adolescents -whose sexual views are just formingand for practicing, masjid attending adults alike. Addiction is not the first

that have mentioned that the viewing of pornography by Muslims as a huge issue, but there has not been any elaboration on the topic and there is a lack of resources for those deal-

If you want to destroy any nation without war, create adultery or nudity common in the young generation." [Salahuddin Ayyubi] thing that comes to one's mind when one thinks of pornography- much less in the Muslim community. It is generally viewed as a clandestine activity that that 'others' do.

"There are many prominent scholars

ing with this issue," Zulekha Sayyed, one of the organizers and a member of the PGMA Youth group, explained the catalyst behind this event. 67% children have been exposed to some version of adult websites. 40 million American adults regularly visit por-

nographic websites.

Zeyad Ramadan started an online forum, Purify Your Gaze, to help Muslims struggling with sexual addictions understand how they can break free from unwanted sexual behaviors so that they can reclaim their lives once again and experience true sexuality.

He spoke at the event via Skype from California.

In 2011, thousands of doctors of the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) publicly stated that behavioral addictions (sex, food, gambling) are fundamentally like substance addictions in terms of brain changes.

"When we talk about [watching] porn >> pornography Pg 10

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

mcc

>> continued from pg 1

Allah, it will grow," said Dr. Hashim.

The project will add approximately 5,000 square foot under one roof with

MD Masjid Election Results MCC - Election results for the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees held on Saturday, March 23, 2013 for the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, Maryland were published as follows: Trustee: Hafizur Rahman – 116 votes elected; Sheik Hassan – 48 votes Directors: (3 vacancies, 3 year terms) Lubna Ejaz – 92 votes - elected;

two floors. On the list of expansion is a Wudu and ADA Toilet facility on the first floor, and an expanded women's prayer area. The second floor will have several new classrooms for the school and a conference room, which will connect to the existing building via a corridor. A daycare facility addition for

seniors is also planned in the original building.

Shabana Siddiqui – 80 votes - elected; Mohammed Shamim – 70 votes elected; Najma Khan – 63 votes; Mohammad Siddique – 62 votes; Shabbir Shah – 60 votes; Ashraf Qureshi – 39 votes.

Nominations Committee Chair (1 vacancy, 1 year term): Sami Said – 67 votes - elected; Khaled Masood – 48 votes -------ISB - Election results at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, where for the first time the Council is made up of mostly youth 30-40 years old, were announced as follows on March 24, 2013.

There were 219 community members who voted and the top eight (8) vote recipients have become the elected ISB Council members taking office along with Dr. Mohammed Abdul Khadeer as President from April 1st 2013.

Ishtiaq Chughtai, the Chair of Building & Facilities told the audience that 11 contractors were invited but only 3 out of 11 contractors submitted bids.

The MCC Expansion project commit-

1. Job Rushdan (177) 2. Hasan Hammad (168) 3. Rehan Alavi (167) 4. Saad Patel (158) 5. Kashif Iqbal (149) 6. Aijaz Hasan (148) 7. Abbas Contractor (146) 7. Attaulla Khan (146) 9. Mohsin Majid (128) 10. Mohammad Abdul Hakeem SIddiqui (112) 11. Ahmed Numan Hussain (93) The Election Committee would like to thank the candidates, as well as the membership for ensuring a successful election process.

JazakumAllah Khair, ISB Election Committee: Furqan Siddiqi, Mazhar Kapadia, Hossam El-Boghdady, Qazi Ilyas, Chaudhry Shahid Jamil.

tee investigated the contractors and on Friday March 22nd announced Tamir Construction Inc. of Annandale, VA as the final selection. This company also had the lowest bid of $822,000 The MCC expects that the work will be completed in 32 weeks.

INVE$TING 101

Understanding Stocks And Mutual Funds ~ By Joshua Brockwell ~ Author’s note: This is the first installment of a five-part feature on investing.

We hope that our readers use the series to learn more about this important subject. From building institutions to preparing for our own retirement, investing is an important, though often misunderstood, part of the American Muslim experience.

Stocks explained Simply put, a stock equals ownership. More specifically, it represents a share of ownership in a business. And businesses issue stock when they want to raise money for new projects. If you hold one or more shares of stock in a company, you actually own a tiny piece of that company. This means that you have a claim >> Investing Pg 14

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS

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PGMA Hosts Visiting Islamic Scholar

About 200 people attended Sheikh Muhammad Musa Al Shareef's lecture at Prince George's Muslim Association on April 2, 2013 which was centered on the peaceful way Islam was spread around the world, especially Africa. The sheikh gave the examples of the early Muslims, Islam was spread alcross the world. He encouraged the Muslims in America to lead by example. He said that if only 10% of the Muslims in America reached out to the members of this society with dialogue and proper actions, we can have the same effect as the early Muslims with Allah's help.

Sheikh Musa stressed that Islam is misunderstood in America and the West, and that if the American public knew the truth about Islam they would be accepting the deen, as in the early days.After about an hour's interesting talk, many times infused with good humor, Sheikh Musa took questions from the brothers gathered at the masjid and answered questions as diverse as the group gathered there. He encouraged the Muslims in America to do more than just focus on our jobs, homes and families and to spend time working for our Islam in this country.

Sheikh Musa, who is an Assistant Professor at the King Abdul Aziz Univeristy, shared the story of a Kuwaiti pediatrician who had spent a lot of his time building masajid, Islamic universities, wells, and spreading Islamic knowledge in the continent of Africa. This doctor spent time with his practice, but made time to spread dawah to Africa. He reminded us to go out in the community and talk about our Islam with our fellow Americans, as we who live here, are blessed with many opportunities to spread Islam by interaction and our examples of proper behavior and kindness to our community members.He also recommended that we can get small booklets on Islam and give them to co-workers, cashiers, and people in the general community with whom we come in contact with. He said that maybe that booklet may change the life of that person, or a family member of the person who received the booklet. He stressed that Islam is for everyone, not just for Arabs, and that we should be Muslim because we know about Islam, not just because of our forefathers. We must be active in our Islam, not take it for granted. He spoke about the Arab spring and was optimistic about Islam in the Muslim countries. Photos and Captions by Safeer Sabr

GMU Conference: Holding Onto the Rope of Allah During Spring Break

By Omama Altaleb

Muslim Link Staff Reporter FAIRFAX -- For many Muslim students, college is a time to explore the arena of higher education, gain knowledge, meet new people, find themselves and increase iman. Students at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA had the opportunity to reach all these goals in one day at the GMU Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) Holding Firm to Allah's Rope conference on Saturday March 16, 2013.

“The thing I enjoyed most about the conference as I do with most Islamic gatherings is just sitting in a room with other Muslims,” said Hamdi Abdi, a

former GMU student. “We always forget the feeling of sitting down in a common location with our Muslim brothers and sisters -- it's a refreshing one.”

The conference – Holding Firm to Allah's Rope– was GMU MSA’s first time to host a free full-day conference. Haris Ali, the president of GMU MSA, came up with the idea after attending various Islamic conferences like MSA National and DC Hidayah.

Sabera Akhter, one of the MSA events coordinators, helped in planning and preparing the conference three months >> gmu Pg 27

Imam Okasha Kameny from Philadelphia speaks about implementing the teachings of the Qur'an at the GMU MSA conference.

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Team DUS Win Streak Barely Holds At Most Competitive DC MIST In A Decade

By Fatimah Waseem Muslim Link Staff Reporter “This is going to be a landmark year,” assistant regional director Tara Mohammad said before a crowd of about 1,100 people as she announced DC MIST’s overall winning teams at its tenth anniversary. Several Eleanor Roosevelt High School competitors held their breath, wondering if this could be the end of Dar-us-Salaam’s eight-year domination over the competition.

But it wasn’t. Despite a more leveled playing field as a result of 25-member cap, DUS inched past ERHS by a mere six points, with Herndon High School taking third place, marking the end of the most competitive tournament in the ten years since high school MISTer from across the region gathered for a weekend full of competition, community, and good old fun.

“In the end, the team that works the hardest wins. I have always been proud of that,” regional director Adam Kareem said.

Competitors were tested by theme “The Patience of Champions: Rising to a Better Self” both in their competitions and throughout the weekend. In addition to the 25-member cap, the tournament featured many changes. MIST consolidated children’s book into short fiction and web design and newsletter into social media – a web-friendly news and idea platform for MSAs. Quran recitation – broken into two levels based on amount memorized – swallowed the tajweed contest while Research in Action – a community-based research project to find solutions to local challenges – replaced community service and research methods.

To the awe of many, loved regional director Adam Kareem also announced he would pass his role to assistant director Tara Mohammad. Kareem is a last-year pHD mechanical engineering student at the University of Maryland.

....

“I have always seen MIST as something that I will honestly use to push me into Jannah. I have never felt I was giving anything to MIST. I’ve always felt the reverse,” Kareem said.

Challenged by close scores and difficult decisions, many judges found increments of less than one point separated first from second place in many competitions. Overall team point differences also slimmed for the third year in a row, with DUS inching past ERHS by 6 points as compared to 36 points last year, according to DC MIST records.

Over a 100 points, however, separated Herndon High School from second place, a third place position that has long been in the dust when compared to first and second place.

“I thought [ERHS] had it. I was ready to take it all, make sujood right then and there for our hard work to pay off,” Sheima Gimie, ERHS head coach said.

“Alhamdulillah, though, we will never complain for coming second overall.

Every year we have struggles, and every year our successes are too shocking for words to describe.”

But for many competitors and organiz-

Since MIST first came to the Washington DC region 10 years ago, the number of competitors has grown from 40 to 541. Photo by Jamal Aladdin. ment where teams cheered – many times against each other - and came together.

Orange uniforms peppered among Herndon’s red, Taqwa’s maroon, and other teams’ blues, greens, and yellows, a moment Kareem said exemplified the heart and sportsmanship of the competition.

A Saturday night town hall – which address the blues, greens, and yellows of challenges faced by Muslim youth – was

“In the end, the team that works the hardest wins. I have always been proud of that,” regional director Adam Kareem said. ers, the most memorable point of the weekend wasn’t who won gold, a testament to DCMIST’s wider mission.

“MIST has impacted me by showing me what true teamwork and friendship means. Winning isn’t everything, but enjoying the experience along the way is what really matters,” freshman Amarah Faizan of Al-Rahmah said.

Kareem and Gimie agreed, saying the high point of the weekend was the mo-

also a high point for many competitors.

Able to move past questions about dating, drugs, depression, and other challenges, the town hall culminated in a moment where all competitors sat down on the floor of the grand ballroom, surrounded by a sea of littered round tables and chairs.

“These chairs and tables are obstacles,” Kareem said. “When you’re on the ground, they seem bigger than they actually are. You have to change your

perspective.”

He then asked the competitors to squeeze onto the ballroom’s small stage, illustrating that changing their point of view would make them see the chairs and tables as little things and find their way to their way out - the door to Jannah.

Even with this year’s burgeoning attendance and programs, the years ahead signal challenges. Attendance jumped to 541 from mere 40 in 2003, a trend that forced DC MIST organizers to limit the number of competitors to 25 per team for the first year ever. While there are no immediate plans to change venues from the United of Maryland, College Park – a venue valued for it’s accessibility, affordability and compactness- DC MIST organizers plan to look into additional revenue options to finance bigger and better tournaments.

Points and changes aside, DCMIST’s tenth anniversary ended with a ringing chant that defines its history thus far: DCMIST, we rise. DCMIST, we rose.

DCMIST, we won. DCMIST, we’re done.

The location of MIST Nationals – where top five winners from all regions compete - will be announced soon. New York or Chicago may be options, depending on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

April 12th - May 16th 2013

COMMUNITY NEWS

|9

Top 5 Placement For Each MIST Competition TOP 3 COMpetitors The top competitor will win a Google Nexus 7 tablet with wireless keyboard!

Competitor Name 1. Naeem Baig 2. Idiris Mohamed 3. Farah Kabir TOP 3 TEAMS Team Name 1. Dar-us-Salaam 2. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 3. Herndon High 2D ISLAMIC ART 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive a free art workshop from Nuqta Art! Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Suldano Abdiruhman - Western HS 2. Youssef Rhanime - Team ISA 3. Taariq Hassan - Northwestern HS 4. Huda Said - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 5. Raneem Saleh - Dar-us-Salaam 3D Islamic ART Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Tahmiid Hossain - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 2. Rahma Zakaria - Dar-us-Salaam 3. Mariam Coker - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 4. Haroon Jaweed - Dar-us-Salaam 5. Alia Haleem - Springbrook MSA BASKETBALL BOYS The 1st place team will be recognized as MVPs by 3DI Athletics! They will also receive free 3DI t-shirts, two tickets to the Miami Heat-Washington Wizards game, and admission into 3DI’s first annual tournament on June 1st.

1. Team Blair 2. T.S. Wootton 2. Hammond High School 2. Centennial 2. Marriotts Ridge High School 2. Atholton High School 2. Annandale Atoms 3. Western Tech 3. Alrahmah School BUSINESS VENTURE Team Name 1. Dar-us-Salaam 2. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 3. Paint Branch 4. Herndon High School 5. Team ISA DEBATE Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Faraz Ahsan - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 2. Maryam Ahmad - Briar Woods MSA 3. Tajbik Sheikh - Centennial 4. Zubda Khokhar - Hammond HS 5. Muhammad Hawkins - Eleanor Roosevelt HS EXTEMPORANEOUS ESSAY Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Nur Banu Simsek - tjMSA 2. Kareema Nahavandi - Team ISA 3. Samiha Islam - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 4. Farhaan Khalik - Western Tech 5. Arbaz Khatib - Eleanor Roosevelt HS EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Abrar Omeish Robinson Rams 2. Musirah Khan - Team ISA 3. Faraz Ahsan - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 4. Ahnaf Hassan - Herndon HS 5. Abdullah Baig - The Muslimeen FASHION DESIGN

Team Name 1. Team Blair 2. River Hill Hawks 2. Marriotts Ridge High School 2. Glenelg 2. Oakland Mills High School 3. Glenelg Country School 3. NewTown High 3. Mt St Joseph 3. Catonsville 3. Western Tech 4. Gaithersburg Trojans and Westfield High 5. James Madison High School 5. Dar-us-Salaam

1st and 2nd place Fashion Design winners will receive fashion accessories from Munawwar Beads!

BASKETBALL GIRLS

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Idiris Mohamed - Dar-us-Salaam 2. Nishwath Samiya - Eleanor Roosevelt High School 3. Shefa Ahsan - Dar-us-Salaam 4. Anwar Omeish - tjMSA 5. Anhar Karim - Moco Deen Champs

The 1st place team will be recognized as MVPs by 3DI Athletics! They will also receive free 3DI t-shirts and admission into 3DI’s first annual tournament on June 1st.

Team Name 1. Springbrook MSA

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Izza Qureshi - Space Ninja Smurfs 2. Zahra Nizami - Dar-us-Salaam 3. Anam Khatib - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 4. Sumaiyah Ali - Potomac Falls Panthers 5. Amirah N. Fareed - Herndon HS GRAPHIC DESIGN 1st place winner will receive a graphic design internship with the Muslim Link!

IMPROVE BOYS Team Name 1. Dar-us-Salaam 2. Team ISA 3. Herndon High School 4. The Muslimeen 5. Oakland Mills High School IMPROVE GIRLS Team Name 1. Smithsburg 2. Western High School 3. Springbrook MSA 4. West Springfield High School 5. Dar-us-Salaam MATH OLYMPICS Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Dania Benalla - Centennial 2. Nouran Younis - Centennial 3. Yusuf Khan - Moco Deen Champs 4. Raisa Noshin - The Muslimeen 5. Syed Hossain - Herndon HS MIST BOWL Team Name - Rank 1. MoCo Rockets 2. Team ISA 3. Western Tech 4. tjMSA 5. Centennial MOBILE APPS Team Name - Rank 1. Team Blair 2. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 3. Centennial 4. Team ISA 5. Herndon High School NASHEED/RAP Boys 1st place winner will receive a professional video

by Shihan Pictures!

Team Name 1. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 2. DUS MIST 3. Herndon High School 4. Team Blair 5. South Lakes Seahawks NASHEED/RAP GIRLS 1st place winner will receive a professional video

by Shihan Pictures!

Team Name 1. West Springfield High School 2. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 3. Moco Deen Champs 4. Paint Branch 5. Dar-us-Salaam ORIGINAL ORATORY Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Adib Laskar - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 2. Aymon Malik - Moco Deen Champs

3. Attiya Latif - Smithsburg 4. Danya Chowdhury - Dar-us-Salaam 5. Farah Elherazy - Team ISA PHOTOGRAPHY Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Falak Koreshi - Nur 2. Arbaz Khatib - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 3. Areege Jendi - Dar-us-Salaam 4. Ali Qaisrani - Moco Deen Champs 5. Morsel Azimi - Westfield POETRY LITERATURE 1st place winner will receive a performance spot in the GW Muslim Monologues!

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Farah Kabir - MoCo Rockets 2. Raadia Khan - Dar-us-Salaam 3. Rahma Zakaria - Dar-us-Salaam 4. Izza Qureshi - Space Ninja Smurfs 5. Maryam Elhabashy - Centennial POETRY: SPOKEN WORD 1st place winner will receive a professional video

by Shihan Pictures and a performance spot in the GW Muslim Monologues!

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Sadiyah Bashir - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 2. Mariam Coker - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 3. Anwar Omeish - tjMSA 4. Sahar Mammad - Western HS 5. Naeem Baig - Dar-us-Salaam PREPARED ESSAY 1st place winner will receive an internship with the Muslim Link!

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Urooj Fatima - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 2. Rakeen Rafiqur - Rahman Mahmud Westfield 3. Raisa Noshin - The Muslimeen 4. Ibrahim Nazar - Dar-us-Salaam 5. Dannia Salem - Team ISA QuRAN RECITATION 1 Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Aymon Malik - Moco Deen Champs 1. Warsame Hired - Bowie High School 2. Ali Aulakh - Western Tech 2. Shefa Ahsan - Dar-us-Salaam 3. Firas Al-Bakhat - Team ISA 3. Maryam Elhabashy - Centennial 4. Danya Chowdhury - Dar-us-Salaam 4. Al Hussain Ahmed - tjMSA 5. Yuser Tagouri - Dar-us-Salaam 5. Rauf Jemal - Team Blair QuRAN RECITATION 2 Competitor Name Team Name 1. Maryam Ahmad - Briar Woods MSA 1. Naeem Baig - Dar-us-Salaam 2. Abdullah Ahmad - Herndon High School

>> mist Pg 12

....

April 12th - May 16th 2013

10 |COMMUNITY NEWS pornography

>> continued from pg 5

we are talking about a disease," said the imam who is also a medical doctor. He compared addiction to pornography to sexual perversions such as fetishism, necrophilia, voyeurism.

According to reuniting.com, frequent users sometimes report obsessivecompulsive behaviors, depression, severe stress at the thought of socializing, and concentration problems. And users who try to quit report 'lingering withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, insomnia, mood swings, splitting headaches, anxiety, depression, lethargy, foggy thinking, stomach pains, disturbing dreams, flu-like symptoms, and a strong desire to strangle someone'. These symptoms are similar to brain changes common to addiction.

Nothing natural comes close to releasing as much dopamine as sex, because humans are programmed by Allah to procreate.

Dopamine is the neuro-chemical behind that is responsible for rewarddriven learning. Without it we would not have the motivation to pursue a mate or even eat. When dopamine drops, so does motivation. It is a dual edged sword as it is also the hook in all addictions. An addict's brain grows less sensitive to it, and thus, paradoxically, more desperate for it.

Before we think that this is a men only problem 1 in 3 visitors to all adult websites are women. Out of the anonymous questions (audience and through an online submission form) read by the moderator, there was plenty from women who were trying to deal with their own addiction. Other sisters asked how to save their marriage if the husband is addicted.

Spiritual Effects Imam Azzarri spent some time elaborating on the role of intimacy in Islam.

Islam is not against sexuality as long as it is enjoyed and used for halal. By terming it an addiction the panel didn't take the moral responsibility away

....

from the addict. Spiritual effects and accountability was discussed. Yazbak thinks that the Muslim community is sexually repressed due to an ignorance of correct Islamic guidelines regarding intimacy. A reluctance to educate or discuss, lack of self awareness and profound shame over missteps have resulted in an explosion of sexual of perversion. Imam Azzari stressed that one should strictly guard the gaze and stop oneself from even stepping into this path of destruction.

"Don't arouse yourself when you cannot relieve yourself," said Azzari. The

sitivity to pleasure, which leads to a need for more frequent stimulation.

Often they require more extreme material to achieve satisfaction, develop erectile dysfunction, or discover that sex with their spouses doesn't satisfy them (leading back to more porn use).

According to some experts, many porn addicts are not hooked on sex; they're hooked on Internet porn. This has led to increased marital discord in our communities. Yazback shared that 56% of divorce cases in the United States result because of obsessive online porn. Watchers of porn start com-

You must really want to get well; take your relationship with the Lord more seriously. Bring your addiction out of the darkness and into the light – find a trusted, safe person who you can talk to that can lead you to some good resources, don’t wait too long to find that person. effects of not guarding the gaze corrodes one's iman. "You promise yourself for a long time that you won't cross a certain line, but then you do, and it becomes easy to repeat that sin again. But having crossed that line only once advances you to the next level of sinfulness,' said an addict in a Muslim online forum. In response to a question, Dr. Yazbak said that porn is never recreational and people who use that excuse are deluding themselves.

"It is a continuum, a slippery slope.

An addictive process is taking place.

It is not a natural habit," she said.

The panelists also recommended finding some good faith-based recovery groups for sex addiction/get counseling.

Effects on Marriages Yazback also shared her experiences in counseling and said that the topic of sex is only ten percent of a normal marriage becomes ninety percent if something is wrong. Watchers of explicit content also frequently notice numbed sen-

paring their spouses to the actors and this leads to dissatisfaction as normal humans do not and cannot replay what they see on the screen. "Don't compare your sex life to pornography, they are professionals. They often are drugged, drunk, sexually abused.

They are real people with real issues," said Ramadan.

Road to Recovery There is hope as Internet porn addicts can recover back to their pre-addiction selves. "It is a continuous battle, but one can shift desires and false pretenses no longer have the same meaning to you as it did before. Be vigilant," said Yazbak.

The panelists were in consensus that to recover an addict needs to realize that the longer one stays away the easier it is to stay away. "The brain is an amazing thing. Nuero plastic changes in the brain cause a human being to use it or lose it," said Yazbak.

At the event at PGMA, Ramadan asked for compassion and forgiveness for the ones who are sincerely trying to recover from the addiction. "Imagine me standing in Makkah asking Allah to help me stop committing this sin, asking Allah to flick off a switch and just bring it to a stop, because I am mentally fatigued by the daily battle inside me between my shameful desires and my Muslim conscience, and I just want it to stop but its proving too difficult right now," expressed Qwerty (online), a struggling addict.

Gary Wilson, Adjunct faculty at Southern Oregon University and founder of YourBrainonPorn.com cautions that dopamine goes even higher when a payoff is uncertain. So if someone goes through a religious guilt or passionate moral struggle before he climaxes, s/he is raising her/ his dopamine. Dopamine is all about anticipation. So a "guilt-ridden porn user" is actually raising his dopamine when he "wrestles with his soul,"" says Wilson. This is important for addicts to realize who try to use deen to shame themselves into recovering.

The author of PornNation, Micheal Leahy, a book that Dr. Yazbak quoted has a mantra "What you feed grows, and what you starve dies" –to detox himself he “starved” himself of pornographic images by cutting out cable (literally) and getting rid of the Internet in his home and “fed” himself with God’s Word.

Because of this event the PGMA youth group has been approached by another college students and MSAs who want to have similar discussions at their masajid. "Ultimately we hope that these discussion will make our masjids places of positive change, and that our communities will be able to find the help they need and be better able to deal with these issues in the masjid," says Sayyed.

The event was supported by the parents of the youth group and elders in the community many of whom were in attendance. "They covered the topic well," said Azmiya, whose daughter was one of the organizers of the event.

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

12 |COMMUNITY NEWS cupping

>> continued from pg 5

Hesitant about Hijama at first, especially concerned about the training of the person doing the therapy as there are many quacks, he finally received therapy when he was referred to a man who had done hijama on several people in the PGMA community. "I would do it again, but the brother has moved out of state" says Rahman. His wife also had cupping done after childbirth.

Saba Shaikh's move from the East Coast to the Middle East enabled to get hijama treatment for her carpal tunnel.

Her sister, who resides in Saudi Arabia had migraine headaches and had exhausted all medical options. When her sister started getting hijama on her head and stopped needing medication, Shaikh knew that she had to get it done.

"The sister did hijama on some specific areas on my arm and shoulder and just after 2 sessions I was able to actually feel my fingers and the pain went away," says Shaikh.

sunnah and needs to be revived.

Practitioners say that the benefits of Hijama are many, among them detoxification of blood, stimulation of new blood formation, relieves Inflammation ad congestion. "As we age, we suffer from increased accumulation of toxins, stemming from poor diet and lifestyle, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, insecticides and other chemicals in our fruits, vegetables and meat, environmental pollutants and chemicals," writes Dr. Sohail Qureishi on his Facebook page.

He runs a hijama clinic overseas.

Finding a practitioner is one of the hurdles that many people who want to get hijama therapy done face. Most do not advertise or set up clinics as they do not have the necessary state licenses.

There is a dire need for a self-regulating agency similar to those that govern the Jewish ritual circumcision practitioners (mohelims). There are other barriers to entry-blood disposal services are very pricey and many Muslims doctors, who can practice it, don't endorse the therapy due to lack of scientific research.

The hadith that moves many to practice this sunnah is that every group of angels that the Prophet Muhammad passed on the night of the Isra said to tell the Ummah to do Hijama." (Ibn Majah 3477) Muslims over centuries have always believed that it is their basic right and duty to practice Hijama. It is a forgotten

This is why many practioners only practice it on friends and family. Lani* is a friend of a friend of a friend. She wants to make the sunnah easy on people. She doesn't charge any compensation. Although people are urged to follow the sunnah of not charging a set

mist

4. Dar-us-Salaam 5. River Hill Hawks

>> continued from pg 9

SCRAPBOOK

fee, patients are also urged to pay the therapist for their time. Some people take Lani* gifts of local honey & fruits, others present gift cards.

She books her appointments according to the lunar calendar, as each patient is given a time of day that is most beneficial for their treatment.

According to the e-book published by Hijama Nation, the reason behind practicing Hijama at certain times was that it depends on the gravitational pull and the levels of fluid/water inside the human body at certain times of the month.

Just as the moon affects the tide of the ocean, it affects the human body. Therefore, cupping should be performed on odd days of the lunar calendar when the forces of the moons assist in removing the dead blood cells."

According to hadith the best time to perform hijama is during the third week of the lunar month. The Messenger said "Whoever performs cupping (hijama) on the 17th, 19th or 21st day (of the Islamic month) then it is a cure for every disease." [Saheeh Abu Dawud].

People who get treatment expecting overnight miracles will be disappointed as hijama is considered a preventative therapy. "If a person in their twenties get treatment every 6 months, they can prevent the onset of diabetes, heart dis-

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Nimo Hired - Dar-us-Salaam 2. Zubair Khan - MoCo Rockets 3. Adeena Malik - DUS MIST 4. Saba Nawaz - Eleanor Roosevelt High School 5. Ummey Hossain - Herndon High School

Tafseer Test

TEST 3 Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Anwar Omeish - tjMSA 2. Sahar Mammad - Western High School 3. Zinab Attai - Muslim Community School 4. Ayub Khan - Herndon High School 5. Rafey Iqbal - Marriotts Ridge High School

1st place winner will receive a $145 scholarship to the Al-Maghrib courses!

RESEARCH IN ACTION

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Amina Iro - Eleanor Roosevelt HS 2. Amal Isse - Fairfax High School 3. Aisha Khatib - Western Tech 4. Yomna Nassar - River Hill Hawks 5. Jannah Asaad - Paint Branch

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Noha Elansary - River Hill Hawks 2. Osama Naeem - Dar-us-Salaam 3. Heeba Malik - Moco Deen Champs 4. Arvand Homer - MoCo Rockets 5. Maryam Ghaderi - MoCo Rockets

SHORT FILM

TEST 1

Team Name 1. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 2. West Springfield High School 3. Herndon High School 4. MoCo Rockets 5. Dar-us-Salaam

Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Farah Kabir - MoCo Rockets 2. Dania Benalla - Centennial 3. Sabreen Rashid - DUS MIST 4. Amina Nahavandi - Team ISA 5. Danish Akbar - MoCo Rockets

....

Dr. Zahra Ahmad of the Dar us Salam Clinic does not practice Hijama but says that she does want to learn about it as is it a confirmed Prophetic Tradition.

"I just cannot wrap my head around the science, but will make an effort to understand it." The Journal of Contemporary Islamic Studies says the future of hijama lies in scientifically grounded studies to elevate it from a folk remedy to a valid therapy.

Team Name 1. Atholton High School 2. DUS MIST 3. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 4. Herndon High School 5. Fairfax High School

SHORT FICTION

Team Name 1. Herndon High School 2. Marriotts Ridge High School 3. Briar Woods MSA

James M. McConnell, is the author of the book Hijama versus Cupping.

He believes that hijama should not be practiced without ijaaza as it is ancient religious healing and the healer should be vetted for moral and spiritual mettle.

He received his ijaaza in Syria and has been providing Hijama services for free for thousands of people in Virginia. He also gives lessons.

TEST 2

Team Name 1. Western Tech 2. Briar Woods MSA 3. Park View Patriots 4. Team ISA 5. J.E.B. Stuart

SCIENCE FAIR

Hijama is spiritual healing, a spiritual process more than a physical process, and qualified therapists suggest finding a practitioner who understands the difference. Practioners also use hijama to remove or significantly reduce the impact of possession and black magic, based on the sunnah of the Prophet. It is recommended in the area beneath the neck and in between the shoulders (alkahil) and the two areas on the neck just beneath the ears (al-ahda'ayn).

SOCIAL MEDIA

2. Mamata Abdou - Team Blair 3. Mohammed Hayat Tayyab Marso - Parkdale High School 3. Aasiya Tori - Western Tech 4. Usman Qadri - Smithsburg 4. Zahra Nizami - Dar-us-Salaam 5. Zaakira L. Ahmed - Dar-us-Salaam 5. Hamza Choudhury - Springbrook MSA

Team Name 1. Herndon High School 2. Dar-us-Salaam 3. Park View Patriots 4. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 5. Team ISA

ease etc," says Qureishi.

TEST 4 Competitor Name - Team Name 1. Hamdi KamusSpringbrook MSA 2. Farhaan Khalik - Western Tech 3. Tanvir Hannan - Herndon High School 4. Amina Iro - Eleanor Roosevelt High School 5. Zaid Dar - Marriotts Ridge High School Source: dcmist.com

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

14 |COMMUNITY NEWS investing

>> continued from pg 6

on future earnings, and you’re able to voice your concerns about the direction of the company at shareholder meetings. Many large corporations—Apple, Coca-Cola, General Electric, etc.—are available for public investment. And you can own a piece of them by owning their stock.

When they issue stock, companies generally like to start out by setting their prices at less than $100 per share, but the price of stocks moves up or down, depending on the public’s level of interest in owning the shares. You might remember that Facebook made news last year when its shares were opened to the public for trading. That launch, called an initial public offering, fell flat as traders and analysts worried about the number of new users Facebook could attract and whether the company could meet financial expectations by selling advertisements. Because the public wasn’t convinced Facebook could make

money, the stock declined over the following weeks.

Investing in stocks through mutual funds So, how does someone become an owner, or stockholder, in a company? One way is by opening an account with a brokerage firm and buying and selling stocks yourself. But owning individual shares of stock can be a challenge. Taking the time to pick stocks one-by-one and then monitoring them is often too time-consuming and daunting for many. A popular way to invest in stocks is through mutual funds. They offer certain advantages over purchasing individual stocks. Mutual funds— like the Azzad Funds—pool the assets of a large number of investors and buy stocks or other investments on behalf of those people. They can offer professional money management and a more diversified portfolio (in other words, a mix of stocks that might not all go up or down in price at the same time). A typical mutual fund may invest in a couple hundred or so companies from lots of different industries, anything from carmakers like General Motors to clothing

retailers like Gap. And mutual funds issue their own shares to investors, which means that you become a part owner of the pool of investments directed by the fund’s money managers. Those mutual fund shares, like shares of stock, are redeemable, meaning that they can be sold back to the fund at any time for the current market value, minus redemption fees. Think of it like this: You invest in the mutual fund, which takes that money and then invests it in stocks on your behalf. Like investing in individual stocks, investing in a stock mutual fund involves certain risks, including the possibility that you may lose money.

Mutual funds are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency. But on the other hand, you should know that all mutual funds must comply with a strict set of rules monitored by a U.S. regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

And however you choose to invest, it’s important to find the right investments for your needs. Stay tuned for next week’s article, How to find halal stocks and stock funds.

Joshua Brockwell works as Investment Communications Director at Azzad Asset Management, headquartered in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Azzad serves as investment adviser to the Azzad Funds and is a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Azzad is committed to managing clients' money according to a socially responsible investment philosophy based on Islamic values and incorporating a rigorous and disciplined investment approach.

Mutual fund investments, including the Azzad Funds, are not FDIC-insured, so you may lose money. The Azzad Funds are available by prospectus only, which includes more information about the Funds’ objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the prospectus before sending any money. To request a free copy, please call 1-888-862-9923, or visit us online at www.azzadfunds. com. Azzad Asset Management serves as the investment advisor to the Azzad Funds, which are self-distributed. 4/13.

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COMMUNITY NEWS | 15

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MUSLIMS IN GUYANA

By Imam Faizul Khan Muslim Link Contributing Writer Imam Faizul Khan is the Imam of the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, Maryland. This is an edited version of a speech he delivered at America's Islamic Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in Washington DC on March 2, 2013.-- TML In 1814 one of the most prominent planters in Trinidad, William Burnley, proposed as the best method of improving the colony, the importation of free workers from India on a large scale.

It may be considered as an axiom, “he wrote, that without a change in the materials which the population of the island is composed, no beneficial alteration in its actual state can be affected”. What was required, said Burnley, was a new race of men, “healthy and free, with habits and science already formed, and sufficiently numerous to stand unsupported and distinct from our present population, on its immediate arrival!”

With a limited population in with the door to African labor closed by the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, Burnley turned his eyes to India.

This was the background of a new wave of immigration into the Caribbean. Between 1838 and 1924 nearly half a million Indians entered the region, either in Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Surinam, St. Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Martinique or other locations. The Spanish, desperately short of labor in Cuba, brought in Chinese contract workers and the Dutch introduced workers from Indonesia, principally Java. Nine tenths of the indentured Indian immigrants were from the Ganges river basins and embarked at Calcutta; the South Indian remainder came from Madras. One in six were Muslims while the rest were Hindus.

Guyana is a multi-ethnic republic situated on the northern coast of South America.

The Country is inhabited by 650 million people and are pluralistic in terms of ethnicity and religious affiliation. There are six different nationalities Guyana, Indian, African, Chinese, Portuguese, European, and Amerindians.

Amerindians are the indigenous people of Guyana. In the seventeenth century the country became populated by waves of immigrants brought in under colonialism which introduced plantation slavery and the indenture system. Thus the Dutch and later the British colonial mercantile interests shaped the socio-cultural environment of the country. Guyana remained a British colony until 1966 when it achieved independence which marked the transfer of political power to the Afro-Christina population. However, the majority are the South Asian descent and form roughly 51% of the population. Yet, they remained disenfranchised until the 1992 general elections. South Asians, who are mostly Hindus and Muslims, have always had a cordial relationship among themselves. It would seem that these two groups had come to a mutual understanding of respecting each other’s faith while culturally and even linguistically identifying with each other. In fact, Hindus and Muslims share a history of indentured labour, both having been recruited to work in the sugar cane plantations.

They came from rural districts of British India and arrived in the same ships. Furthermore, Muslims and Hindus in Guyana did not experience the bloody history of partition as did their brethren back in the subcontinent.

According to the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), there are about 125 masjids scattered throughout Guyana. Muslims from about 12% of the total population. Today in Guyana there are several active Islamic groups. Two Islamic holidays are nationally recognized in Guyana; Eid-ul-Azha or Bakra Eid and Youman Nabi or Eid-Milad-Nabi. In mid 1998 Guyana became the 56th permanent member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Guyana’s neighbor to the east, Suriname, with Muslim population of 33% is also an OIC member state.

In the early days of Islamic propagation only a handful made an impact on Muslims in Guyana. Among them are Islamic Association or British Guyana. United SADR Islamic Organization. Ulmayideen Board, The Muslim Youth Organization, Anjuman HIFAZATUL ISLAM, Muslim League, Islamic Missionaries Guild, and Muslim Youth League. Today, there are several active groups in Guyana which includes the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana, The Guyana Islamic Trust, Darul Uloom, The Guyana Unit-

ed Sadr Islamic Anjuman, The Muslim Youth League, Guyana Islamic Forum, The Muslim Youth Organization and the Hifazatul Islam.

Islam was formally reintroduced in Guyana with the arrival of South Asian Muslims in the year 1838. Yet one cannot dismiss the fact that there was a Muslim presence in Guyana even earlier than that date. There were Muslims among African slaves who were brought to Guyana.

Mandingo and Fulani Muslims were the first brought from West Africa to work in Guyana’s sugar plantations. However, the cruelty of slavery neutralized the Muslims and the practice of Islam vanished until the arrival of South Asians from the Indian subcontinent in the year 1838.

However, to this day Muslims in Guyana are referred to as Fula or Fulaman, linking them to their West African ancestry.

Micea Eilda writes that from 1835-1917, over 240,000 East Indians, mostly illiterate, Urdu-speaking villagers were brought to Guyana. Of these 84% were Indus, but 16% were Sunni Muslims. The Muslims who migrated to Guyana came from many different areas of the Indian subcontinent, including Uttar Pradesh, Sind, the Punjab, Deccan, Kashmir and the North West Frontier (Afghan areas). In fact, one of Guyana’s oldest Mosques, the Queenstown Jama Masijid was founded by the Afghan community which had apparently arrived in this country via India. Afghan and Indian Muslims living in this area laid the foundations from the Masjid.

Thus according to several accounts, there were educated Muslims among these early arrivals. One Imam reports there were two Hafizul Quran who were residing in

Conbrook, East Coast Damerara, being the last name Khan.

By 1865 the Indian Muslims of the Caribbean began making organized efforts to resist the hostility and oppression around them. The first mosque built in Guyana either from mud and grass (tapia) or wood and covered with palm leaves. It was built by Moulvie Chand Khan in Philadelphia WCD. A monument was erected in his honor. He was my great grandfather, and the Meer Khan generation came from his legacy.

To these mosques were added “Maktabs” to cater for the Islamic education of the youth. Although the Muslims were not highly educated in Arabic language, Urdu language or Islamic studies, they succeed in maintaining their faith through clinging onto the rudiments of faith and congregating on the Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam) birthday [Note: this celebration is a cultural practice and was not observed by the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam or his companions – TML] and other festive occasions. When the system of indentured labor was abolished in the first half of the twentieth century, they were able to build stronger Masjids in every community and gain higher education and training. Islam, among the Africans had almost been completely wiped out by then and most people in the Caribbean thought of Islam as an Indian religion.

Today in Guyana there is much controversy as to the cultural aspects that Muslims >> GUYANA Pg 24

....

April 12th - May 16th 2013

16 | HEALTH & FAMILY

Bittersweet: A Spiritual Perspective on Special Needs Parenting

By Zeba Khan

Alḥamdulillāh, his autism is moderate.

While writing about special needs parenting from an Islamic/Muslim/Spiritual point of view, the challenge is finding a balance between the bitter and the sweet. I have had some experience, my son Khalid was born with autism, a neurological disorder with complex genetic causes and no known cure.

In the two years since his diagnosis, I've learned more about patience and trust in Allāh than I had in my entire life before that, and having a child with autism has been a blessing that I cannot imagine

He woke up crying every two hours from the day he was born until he was almost three. He learned how to talk just last year and he occasionally still freaks out if you laugh too loudly in his vicinity. He used to bang his head against windows and walls and cry until he threw up. He's made wonderful progress, alḥamdulillāh, but at the end of the day, he still has autism, and we still have our daily challenges.

It's hard to understand autism from the outside, and to be fair, no two people are affected in the same way. On the severe end of the scale, there's our friend Dan, who does not talk, cannot walk properly and was in diapers until 13. His parents put him in leather gloves to prevent him from biting his hands to the bone when he is frustrated. On the other end of the spectrum is our friend Zaina, who has Asperger's Syndrome, which is a form of autism that Hollywood likes – she's extremely intelligent, is physically normal, but so socially impaired that she barely talks, cannot make eye contact, and cannot even begin to understand the complexities of interacting with other people.

My son Khalid is somewhere in the middle.

He has his funny quirks, but he can pass for physically normal unless he's spinning in circles or flapping his hands.

He's no genius, and his mental age may be behind his physical age, but he's slowly learned his ABC's and even attempts to play with other children.

....

and I would yell more, and it would escalate until he would be shaking with fear and I with rage and at some point it occurred to me that my own son was genuinely terrified and couldn't understand why he was being yelled out. And then, Allāh gave me sabr, and then a di-

ly he'll sit up to make sure I'm still there, but eventually he will doze off and I can finally get to bed, sometimes three or four hours after we “went to bed.” And before you accuse me of being exceptional, Aal's mother spends three hours just feeding him, three times a day. And he still hits himself.

We have been told that a child's Jannah is beneath his or her mother's feet, but in some cases, a mother's Jannah may be beneath the feet of her special needs child.

Yes, I have a lot of stories. We autism moms tend to gravitate towards one another, not because we have a manifesto or a secret handshake, but because at the end of the day when your child took off their dirty diaper in the mall and got lost in the parking lot and wouldn't eat their lunch because some of the carrots were too orange, no one else will understand you except for another autism mom.

living without. I'm sure there's more to learn still, but I know that once upon a time, I thought waiting for an hour was a long wait. Until a few months ago, putting Khalid to bed took an average of an hour and a half every night – sometimes less, often more. I would sit next to him, or lie down next to him, and wait for the screaming, bouncing, kicking, pinching and crying to fade into silence. And I

agnosis, and then the understanding that Khalid wasn't disobeying, he just had no idea what was going on.

Even today, when Khalid is having a weird night and half an hour turns into an hour and a half, I just sit in the dark and do dhikr, or plan the next day, or think, and if he's still not tired after about two hours, we just get up and go

If you want to see an adult cry, ask a father or mother what will happen to their special needs daughter or son after they die. had to sit quietly, and not move or talk, and do my best to imitate some sort of maternal rock as the storm of Khalid battered against it.

I didn't do a very good job at first, I would yell at him to lay down, and he would become scared and cry. So I would yell more, and he would scream,

Another mother, Noura, called me a few weeks ago, and she had that quiver in her voice that we all get from time to time when we need to break down a bit so that we can put ourselves back together. She had been trying to get her daughter into a school, and no school would take her. She had been trying to get her daughter into a swimming class, but when she went for her first trial, the instructor refused to accept a child with “such behaviors.” Noura had been running desperately from one place to another to get her daughter accepted into social and educational programs of any sort, because her daughter will be turning eight and has never been to school.

She told me these things crying over the phone, frustrated and burnt out and just needing to hear something to keep her going. “I just don't know,” she kept saying, “I don't know what else I can do.”

play for a bit. I'll have a glass of water I didn't know what else she could do eiand maybe even a cookie. Khalid will ther, except for what I do, which is to get on the computer (yes, he uses the ask Allāh for help. We have been told computer) and play games for as long that a child's Jannah is beneath his or as is takes for him to start looking tired, her mother's feet, but in some cases, a after which we'll go back to bed again. mother's Jannah may be beneath the feet And I'll sit next to him in the dark, and he'll roll around and count his toes, or sing quietly to himself, and occasional- >> parenting Pg 18

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

18 | HEALTH & FAMILY parenting

to support their children.

>> continued from pg 16

of her special needs child. And perhaps the father's too, Allahu 'ālim. The tables get turned on both parents, and those who were relying on their grown children for care in their old age are instead preparing to care for grown children who cannot feed, bathe, or even clothe themselves. Instead of looking forward to retirement, parents dread the time when they can no longer earn an income

If you want to see an adult cry, ask a father or mother what will happen to their special needs daughter or son after they die. If you could see inside of their head, you would see an exploding matrix of questions, fears, worries, and desperate plans. You would re-read every news story you've ever read of neglect or abuse, or even rape, of special needs adults by paid caretakers who take advantage of individuals who do not know how to defend themselves or

even speak. You would hear the point and counterpoint of a mind divided between wanting more children who could potentially care for the child, versus not wanting to risk having another child with the same genetically linked condition. You would see mental excel sheets tallying savings and money spent on current treatments versus saved for future life-long care, and money not saved for the education of the other children, and you would see a lot of figures in red. Special needs parenting is expensive. And scary. But here's something

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unexpected – it's also beautiful, and humbling, and when undertaken with trust in Allāh and faith in His decisions, it is the catalyst for spiritual evolution.

Recognizing that our special-needs children are a trial as well as an opportunity to earn blessings, we are able to change the stories we tell ourselves. When we look at our children, and Shaitaan whispers “Why you? Why your child? How could God do this to you? It's not fair”, we can bravely answer back. “Allāh chose me for this because He knew I could handle it, and He never gives anyone more than they can bear.”

I am not Khalid's Rabb, Allāh is, and when I die, He will look after Khalid with a love seventy times greater than my own. I can only save so much money and teach his sister to look out for him only so much. Khalid's care is with Allāh. His rizq is with his Lord.

And he may never learn how to work and he may never get married or hold a job, and he may die alone, or he may die before I do, but he will be raised as an innocent – one who will be exempt from the fear of judgment because he never knew what sin was. If he never had a job, then he will never be asked about his wealth. If he never speaks, he will not be asked about lying. And these things are terrifying for me to think of, to type even, but I know that Allāh has given my son autism for a reason, and all of Allāh's reasons are good reasons.

The Messenger of Allāh (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial.

When Allāh loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer.

If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him.

If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999).

Sometimes, when I look at Khalid I >> parenting I Pg 22

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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World Press

April 12th - May 16th 2013

10 Years of Imprisonment for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui marked by Demonstrations in America, London, Pakistan and South Africa

By El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan Muslim Link Contributing Writer On Friday, March 8 ("International Women's Day"), a press conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, which focused attention on the cases of three women - Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and Attorney Lynne Stewart - two prominent female political prisoners being held at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas - and the late Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist killed by an Israeli soldier in the Gaza refugee camp in March 2003. The press conference was followed later in the day by a protest rally for Dr. Siddiqui at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, DC. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani national who came to the United States in 1990 and graduated from both MIT and Brandeis University with honors. Widely respected for her humanitarian relief work and commitment to her faith (Islam), Dr. Siddiqui became a person of suspicion after the tragedy of 9/11; a suspicion which ultimately resulted in Dr. Siddiqui and her three young children (two of whom area American born citizens) becoming targets of a rendition operation not long after she returned home to Karachi, Pakistan in 2002. (The exact date of their disappearance was March 30, 2003.)

Aafia is currently imprisoned at FMC Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, under conditions that violate the US Constitution's guarantee against "cruel and unusual punishment."

The purpose of the demonstrations was to demand her release and repatriation - and until such time, that she receive the humane treatment that she is constitutionally entitled to, even as a prisoner of war of the U.S. government.

On March 29-30, the second part of the American branch of a global mobilization for Aafia Siddiqui, that marked 10 years of brutal and unwarranted imprisonment, unfolded in Fort Worth, Texas with two back-to-back demonstrations. Among the speakers was former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who attempted unsuccessfully to visit Aafia, but did receive a visit with another female political prisoner being held in the same institution, Attorney Lynne Stewart.

....

Images from the protest in Texas where Aafia Siddiqui is imprisoned. From top right, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Peace Thru Justice Foundation's Mauri Saalakhan; and protestors. Images from GeoTV.

In addition to the United States of America, demonstrations were also held in such diverse places as London, South Africa, and throughout Aafia's home country of Pakistan.

The US initiatives were undertaken by a Coalition of Conscience comprising (in alphabetical order), the American Muslim Taskforce, the Coalition to Stop FBI Repression, Families United For Justice in America, the International Action Center, the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms, the Pakistan-American Democratic Forum, Project SALAM, The Peace Thru Justice Foundation, and the United National Antiwar Coalition.

The impact of the mobilization was immediately felt. The mobilizations received favorable media coverage, and the Karachibased sister of Aafia Siddiqui and leader of the international "Free Aafia Movement," Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, released the following statement after the Fort Worth demonstra-

tions: "After ~3 months incommunicado, within days of your efforts We got 3 phone calls in 24 hours from Aafia. You All have just brightened the lives of an ailing mother, and two little children. And energized us all.

Allah has blessed your efforts in [the] US, South Africa and Pakistan. May Allah keep you safe and bless you with the best of all you desire and more. Ameen."

Aafia's brother Muhammad, who resides with his family in the United States, also sent the following message: "If you had any doubts whether your mobilization and Ramsey's request to look in on Aafia had any effect, we got the proof in the past 24 hours. Multiple calls from aafia and she even got to talk to her kids. This, after months of being held incommunicado. If there is a measure for success, for my mother and Aafia's children, this would be it."

With the March mobilizations now behind

us, and Aafia's condition rapidly deteriorating, the US branch of the international movement is now planning an intensive drive to help establish local (independent) support committees in different parts of the US, and simultaneously engage in a far more intensive and organized public education campaign regarding her plight.

Toward this end we will be contacting Muslim convention organizers (i.e. ISNA, ICNA, MAS, etc.)with a request for inclusion in this year's programs, and we are also planning to organize a Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Day in Houston, Texas, for the latter part of September 2013, insha'Allah.

Time is of the essence; Aafia will not last another 10 years of unjust imprisonment in US custody. She must be released soon, or she will die soon.

Mauri Saalakhan is the founder of the Peace Thru Justice Foundation.

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

22 | CONTINUED parenting

>> continued from pg 18

wonder what life would be like if he were 'normal.' He has the most enormous, beautiful brown eyes. He skin is a light olive, he has silky dark hair and a smile that could melt the polar ice caps.

Perhaps normalcy would be too dangerous for Khalid. Or maybe he would be fine, maybe the autism is for me. I know with absolute certainty that if my son

did not have autism, I would not have been a dedicated parent and a desperate Muslim. If I had not been pushed through fear for his future and hardship through the present, I would never have understood what it really meant to pray.

My trust in Allāh and acknowledgement of his Rububiyya (Lordship) would never have moved beyond the superficial. Can you dread for your child's future without losing hope in Allāh's mercy? Is your taqwa greater than your fear?

It has taken me some time, but I can finally thank Allāh for Khalid's autism.

It may save him from accountability , and it has definitely saved me from living in the unreal world – one where I care more about my child's postgraduate degree than his īmān. And while I have an entire lifetime of challenges to look forward to, I am keeping faith that Allāh intends nothing but good for Khalid and I. If that means waiting until the resurrection to see my son as a normal young man, then so be it. Khalid and I will meet again at Al-Kauthar, and sit in

Jannah with an eternity of ease to make up for one small lifetime of hardship.

May Allāh have mercy on all Muslims, and ease whatever difficulties they are facing, and strengthen their īmān and increase them in sabr, and reunite them with their loved ones in the company of the righteous. Āmīn.

Zeba Khan is the founder of Autism UAE.

Jazakum Allahu Khayran

To our readers, supporters, and sponsors, thank you from the Muslim Link staff for helping making our 7th annual fundraising dinner a success.

May Allah accept your efforts! Please keep your paper in your duas.

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

CONTINUED | 23

ICM Waits for Building Permit, $2M Needed to Break Ground

are just waiting for one more permit and of course, money.

To start the $6 million construction of a new masjid and youth center, the community needs to raise $2 million. They currently have $500,000 on hand.

At a fundraising dinner held at the Shady Grove campus of the University of Maryland, ICM leaders showed the community a fly through video of the new center, complete with a gymnasium, 18 classrooms for a future fulltime school, commercial kitchen, and other features.

By Muslim Link Staff The Islamic Center of Maryland in Gaithersburg, Maryland has waited years for this moment, and now they

Currently, the land development process is underway and about 65% complete. The basketball court and other areas have been cordoned off at ICM. A youth leader, Sister Asma, provided a personal account of how halaqas at ICM provided a means for her to re-link to the masjid when she most needed it through difficult times in high school.

Moderator Mannan Dasti who is also involved with the ICM Weekend School said the need for a much larger

center is obvious.

"There is tremendous strain on the resources we have right now" with overcrowding in the weekend school classrooms, he said.

Imam Ahmad Chebli conducted the fundraising, motivating the community using techniques like making the audience recite hadith outloud. The members raised around $60,000.

To learn more or donate to the project, visit www.icomd.org.

Right, New Jersey Imam Ahmad Chebli was the keynote speaker and fundraiser at the ICM dinner on April 76, 2013. Playing on the new masjid campaign theme of "Paving the Road for an Enlightened Future," the Imam said the Khalifa Umar (Allah be pleased with him) felt responsible for paying the road for a camel, so parents should feel more responsibility to pave the road for thier childrens' future.

On left, Chairman of the Board Taher Elkoshairi, Imam Chebli, Mannan Dasti, and Trustee Sayed Naved. Not pictured is youth committee member Sister Asma who spoke on the need of a place for the youth. Photos by Muslim Link.

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

24 | CONTINUED GUYANA >> continued from pg 15

brought from the subcontinent beginning with their migration in the year 1838.

There exist two camps in Guyana, one comprising the younger generation who prefer to get rid of the Indian heritage, and the other older generation who would like to preserve this tradition. Some link this tradition to Hinduism and a continuous attempt is being made to purge cultural Islam of un-Islamic innovations (bida). Van der Veer notes that these forms, brought by the indentured immigrants to the Caribbean, were heavily influenced by the cultural patters of the subcontinent. In Guyana today the younger generation who have studied in the Arabic-speaking world prefer Arabic over Urdu and view South Asian traditions a un-Islamic. In the Subcontinent Urdu helps to define a South Asian Muslim. In fact, Urdu and Islam for South Asian Muslims define one’s cultural identities.

In Guyana today, Urdu is popular among the Indo-Guyanese who watch films and listen to music from the Bombay film industry. Contributing to its role as the chief vehicle of Muslim Culture in South Asia is its important secular literature and poetry which is closely based on Persian models. However, Urdu is taking a backstage in Guyana due to English language proliferation and the Muslim orthodox movement leading to a focus on Arabic.

Only one Islamic organization in Guyana today, the United Sad’r Islamic Anjuman (which is also the oldest surviving Islamic organization in Guyana), offers Urdu in its instructional program for teaching the qasida (hums that sing praises to God and the Prophet). They regularly hold qasida competitions throughout the country and award prizes to encourage participation.

Qasida is part of the Indo legacy. It is an attempt by the Anjuman to preserve the uniqueness of Guyana’s Muslim heritage. However, by 1950 Urdu started fading with the introduction of Islamic tests in English and it has now almost disappeared. According to Pat Dial, a Guyanese historian, during the early twentieth century Urdu and Arabic were taught in the madrasah annex of the Jama Masjid and the young were introduced to the Namaz. In those early years, far more people spoke Urdu than English.

In any civilization, there is cultural synthesis. The usage of Urdu is by no means related to Hinduism. Even though it is indigenous to the subcontinent it remains a legacy of the Muslim period.

....

Other aspects of this heritage include the tradition of qasidas, tazim-o-tawquir, milaad-sharief, the dua and the nikkah, all performed in Urdu. In Guyana, as in Trinidad, as well as in the countries in the Caribbean, Muslims are saying the fatiha over food, celebrating the Prophet’s birthday (milad-un-nabi) ascension (miraj) and singing qasida, all in Urdu. However, the debate over these very rituals has created deep frictions among Guyanese Muslims.

Similar traditions are prevalent in the subcontinent, as well as in Central Asia, the Caucasus region, Turkey, Iran and other Islamic lands.

Before the 1960’s Muslim missionaries who visited Guyana came almost exclusively from the Indian subcontinent and visited frequently. This influx of missionaries and the Islamic literature they brought with them helped promote and maintain the Sunni Hanafi madhab. It was not until the 1960s that Guyanese Muslims made contacts with the Arabicspeaking world. After Guyana’s independence in 1966, the younger generation of Muslims were keen to make these contacts. Guyana established diplomatic relations with many Arab countries.

Egypt, Iraq and Libya opened embassies in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Many Muslim youths went to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Libya to study Islamic theology and the Arabic language. Eventually Arabic-speaking Muslims began to take an interest in Guyana and many traveled there to render assistance to their Muslim brethren.

However, Guyanese Muslims returning from the Arab world to Guyana began introducing changes that irked the local Muslims. They advocated changes that they believed were more authentic to Islam as well as to the Arab world. The teachings of some people who studied in Arabia and returned to Guyana confused the locals as these teachings were seen as being in conflict with aspects of the Muslim culture of the subcontinent.

One scholar notes that the Guyanese have not really benefited from the scholarships granted to students to study in Arabia, India or Pakistan because only a few have returned home and even of the few who have returned home a lesser number have made positive contributions. Some have needlessly raised juristic issues which serve only to create division and confusion in the community.

Beginning in the 1970s the Guyanese Muslims who returned from Arab educational institutions began a process of reconstructing the past. They tried to de-emphasize their Indian cultural heri-

tage by reconstructing or redefining their history. Much of it was an effort to distinguish themselves from the Hindus in order to promote a separate Muslim identity. Although the majority are descendants of South Asian indentured laborers, they presented themselves as descendants of Arabs. While their mother tongue was Urdu, many claimed that it was Arabic.

During the mid- 1970s a powerful Arabization movement had emerged, and it become more attractive for the orthodox Muslims in Guyana to be part of this movement than to trace one’s roots in Pakistan or India. This movement to create a purer Islamic identity was contested by to other traditionalists, especially the older generation. Today in Guyana many Muslims are concerned with the spread of other madhahib. The Director of Education and Dawah of the CIOG, Ahmad Hamid says, “As from 1977, Muslims in Guyana saw the introduction of the teaching of other madhahib”. These were new to the local Muslims and created some serious problems. Trustee of the Queenstown Jama Masjid, Ayube Khan, is also concerned about this division and regretted “that too much dissent has occurred because of infiltration of disruptive elements”. This same concern was raised by the Imam of the Queenstown Jama Masijid, Haji Shaheed Mohammed, who said “with petty misunderstandings, the exuberance of the youths and the need for general guidance to see that the Jamaat remains on the Hanafi madhab, being Imam of the Queenstown Jama Masid can be a trying task.”

The shift from Urdu to Arabic and the emphasis to do away with traditional practices illustrates the attempts to emphasize cultural identity. They link their practices to Hinduism, hence, would like to purge Islam of these innovations. The association of Arabic with Muslims is new in Guyana and the demand for Arabic illustrates the emphasis to differentiate from the Hindus. Muslim children are taught Arabic during the evening at Muslim schools (madrasah). These languages are restricted to religious contexts because all Guyanese Muslims speak English. There has been a movement recently in Guyana to introduce Hindi into the national curriculum. If this becomes a reality Muslims will demand Arabic or Urdu as well.

Muslims in Guyana are concerned with safeguarding the interests of their own community. They are better organized than the Hindus. Muslim religious associations and mutual aid societies support those in the community who need help.

The mosque constitutes the focal point of the local Muslim community and Islamic

teachings at the mosque and the vernacular schools aid in the adherence to Islam and its precepts. Guyanese Muslims are an endogamous group; kinship and marriage bonds further support group solidarity. The few inter-religious marriages that do occur are due to the openness of Guyanese society, the lack of purdah, and Muslim women’s participation in the labor market.

New elements derived from Middle Eastern culture, such as architecture of the mosque and its dome, have been introduced as part of the Islamization process. Nevertheless, architecture is still very pronounced in the style of mosques throughout Guyana. Another influence is the manner of greeting among Muslim men, particularly after prayers at the mosque, which involves embracing and shaking hands. The incorporation of Arabic words and terms instead of Urdu words and terms is very evident today.

For example, instead of using the Urdu word bhai (brother) many use the Arabic term akhee. Guyanese Muslim who can afford it do make the pilgrimage to Makkah. Some men have started wearing the long shirts (jilbab) which they acquired after the pilgrimage and sport long beards. Some women have started wearing the hijab, or head scarf.

There is a move toward a more literary tradition in conformity with Islam at the expense of local traditions. In this religious discourse the interpretation provided by orthodox Muslims relying on the scriptural tradition seems to become more pre dominant creating religious authority itself. There is stronger emphasis on the need to learn Arabic for the salat (daily worship) and on correct pronunciation, as well as the ability to recite, and understand the Qur’an. In Guyana today the emphasis is on practicing orthodox and Sunni Islam. This is voiced by many imams who advocate strict adherence to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam.

Most Guyanese Muslims agree that it would be best if the opponents and proponents of the Indo tradition seek their answers from the Qur’an the Sunnah and ijma (consdensus), instead of seeking drastic changes. Despite their shortcomings and lack of formal education, the early Muslims played a dynamic role in maintain the Islamic society and paved the way for us to enjoy the benefits.

For the younger generation everything that is different from the Arab world is wrong.

They fail to contemplate that from Albania to Zanzibar the Muslim world speaks

April 12th - May 16th 2013 many languages and hails from many different traditions. Here in Guyana, they tried to replace Urdu with Arabic. Instead it would have been easier to build upon what the Guyanese Muslims had knowledge of and that is Urdu. Where the Muslims arrived in Guyana their medium of communication was Urdu, and only a handful could read and write Arabic. In fact for the early Muslims Urdu provided the basis for their understanding of Islam and the Qur’an. Urdu today is a dying language in Guyana, while in India it is being held hostage by Hindu zealots. On the other hand, Arabic has not made any significant impact among the Muslims in Guyana.

Thus, it would seem unrealistic the younger generations of Guyanese Muslims who have returned to Guyana from the Arab world to demand the cleansing of established traditions, which has caused tension in the community. Guyanese Muslims themselves have come to Guyana from a region with a rich history in art, architecture, literature, math, science and other areas, and so they have a rich heritage of their own. This should be recognized by the learned men. They should strive for unity in preserving the uniqueness of Guyanese Muslim culture.

Speaking Arabic or dressing like an Arab won’t make one an Arab or a Muslim.

It only reinforces low self-esteem and erects a barrier between them and other Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

As Guyana was approaching independence, Muslims were taking positions based on ideologies and aligning themselves with political parties. Muslims were found in both the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), which were Guyana’s two main political parties.

The Caribbean East Indian connection to the subcontinent is deep-rooted. Brinsley Samaroo observes. There has been a marked closeness between the Muslims in this part of the world and India up to 1947, and with Pakistan since that time.

In Guyana up to the 1960s, the Muslim leadership came exclusively from Muslims of South Asian descent who had studied in either Pakistan or India.

The movement to purge Islam of Indo traditions continues unabated in Guyana today. Friction between the younger and the older generations, or the Arab camp and the Indo camp, continue to stifle the full potential of this minority community that has done well for itself in Guyana in the past. Yet another challenge that Guyanese Muslims face in this diverse land is

CONTINUED | 25 to provide the bridge and reduce polarization of Muslims and non-Muslims. At the same time a rational understanding and appreciation of Indo traditions and reconciliation with that the Arabic-speaking world needs to be reached. The situation is complicated by the fact that a majority of Guyanese Muslims today cannot speak or write either Arabic or Urdu. Thus, the push to make radical changes stems from the lack of balanced education and informed opinion. If Arab-ness legitimizes everything, as the orthodox movement in Guyana claims, then without knowing, they subscribe to the superiority of the

Arab world.

Guyanese Muslims who are returning from educational institutions in the Arab world are also encouraging the younger generation to study in the Arabic-speaking countries instead of in Pakistan, India or Malaysia. Many Islamic organizations Guyana today have their preferences of where they wish to send young people to study. Some of these organizations have forged strong ties with Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt. However, Muslims still have the opportunities to study in Malaysia, Pakistan or India. But

the latter countries are not the choices of the newer generation of Muslims. The once vibrant relationship with Pakistan and India has now withered. The intelligentsia now looks to the Arabic-speaking world for leadership and religious guidance, and for opportunities to better present Islam to the Nation of Guyana.

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

26 | CONTINUED FOSTER

>> continued from pg 1

In the middle of the night, she arrived at the Ismail home, frail, alone, leaving behind many siblings, with a small backpack- the only thing to call her own. She stayed for three weeks and won a place in their hearts. Placements are temporary and can last anywhere from overnight to several months.

"When the call comes we have the choice to say no, specify gender and age preferences; there is no pressure from the county," says Anna, an administrative supervisor at Canon USA and Muhammad, who works for the Department of Justice.

The Ismails say becoming a foster or adoptive parent is not hard. What is required is an open mind, a compassionate heart and a stable home environment. A valid US visa (citizenship is not necessary) is required to become a foster parent. Whether single, married, separated or divorced, as long as there is adequate space for the child in your home, and one is over 21 years of age, one can apply. A background check and a home study for safety and space by a social worker will assess renters or homeowners for eligibility.

The Need For Muslim Foster Parents There is a nation wide need for Muslim foster families, a fact underscored by the tragic case in Michigan of the children of Rehab and Ahmed Amer.

The American Arab Discrimination Committee (ADC) has been working on the Amer family case for nearly two decades. According to the office of Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), in 1985, Rehab and Ahmed Amer lost two of their children to Michigan’s foster care system after the death of their toddler Samier, who died of head injuries after a fall in a bathtub. Although Rehab was acquitted in August 1986 of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with the death, the State refused to return the Amers’ other two children to them and removed a third child from the Amers’ custody four months after Rehab’s acquittal.

....

The Amers’ children were sent to live with an evangelical Christian family, renaming the Amers’ children and raising them as Christians. Today, only one of Amers’ three living children, Mohamed Ali, now known as Adam, communicates with them.

Similar cases are happening in the Washington Metro area.

“We get calls for Muslim foster families, for Muslim children…and we cannot place them. When everyone says no, that means they are placed wherever the state can place them. That will be within a culture and religion that is foreign to them. Every day they are within a non-Muslim home diminishes their Muslim identity,” Molley Dagget of the Lutheran Social Services told the Muslim Link. Dagget, who holds a masters in social work, is based in Baltimore.

Mona Fadulalla, whose daughter is with an orthodox Christian foster family in Springfield, VA, fears for her 17 year old's loss of identity.

"The last time I saw her she was dressed in a small skirt that her foster mother bought for her," she said. Mona is looking for a Muslim foster family who can open their home for her daughter. She was taken away after the judge found Mona incapable of taking care of teenagers. An older son had dropped out of high school, and her daughter was getting into fights at school and caught with friends who were shoplifting. She ran away from the first foster home she was placed in where, according to her mother, she was exposed to illicit sexual activity.

In the Amer's case, Rehab’s brother petitioned to be a foster parent to the Amers’ three children, but was denied his petition even though he had previously served as a foster parent for other children. This case spurred changes in the foster care system requiring placement agencies in Michigan to give special preference for relatives when making a decision. The “Rehab and Ahmed Amer Foster Care Improvement Act of 2013” is currently making its way through Congress. According to ADC, the legislation will enhance the existing federal policy of encouraging state foster care programs to place children in the care of willing and able relatives.

"Fairfax County's first priority is to reunite the family of origin; keeping the best interest of the child in mind," says Rosa Suau, a community educator for Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption at an informational event held at Dar al Hijrah in Falls Church this past March. Foster parents are responsible for the day-to-day care of the children, but social workers and the courts make major decisions, sometimes involving birth parents. All counties provide a stipend for foster children to help cover costs. Fairfax County pays for dental/ health insurance. Resources for parenting, a psychologist, a social worker, and ongoing training are also provided for foster parents.

Children live with the foster family until problems in the birth family are sorted out. While the investigation is taking place, the child needs a place to stay.

Sometimes the problem is multifaceted.

When an abuse incident is reported, the county errs on the side of caution and Child Protective Services (CPS) makes a snap decision at the time. Upon further investigation, CPS may decide that the best place for the child is the home of origin. If the abuse is egregious, the termination of the birth parents' rights are initiated in court.

Anna Ismail says one of her foster daughters told her that she did not want to face her parents. The Ismails did face hostile stares from the birth family as they entered the court. “I can understand; I wouldn't want to see my daughter with another family," she said. But knowing that they were there to support a vulnerable young person deal with fear, anger, resentment and uncertainty as she faced her family helped them deal with their own angst. These tense scenarios often deter Muslims from fostering; an unfamiliar legal process and finances are other reasons more Muslims don't take in Muslim children in need of support. There are less than five Muslim families in the Northern Virginia Area registered as foster families.

"The term foster child still carries stigma," says Anna Ismail," people think that there is something wrong with the kids." Abuse, neglect, parental incompetence, and having an unaccompanied refugee status are some of the many

reasons why a child may be in the foster care system. Currently, there are 10,867 children in foster care in Maryland.

Muslim social workers say the lack of Muslim foster families is a failure on the part of the community. Many are unfamiliar with the concept of fostering.

Imam Faizul Khan of the Islamic Society of Washington Area (ISWA) says that across Muslim cultures, adopting and fostering children takes different forms. "Fostering (kafalah) means to assume partial or complete responsibility for a child who has been temporarily or permanently deprived of parental care," explains Imam Faizul Khan. He clarifies that adoptions where the child assumes the family name of the foster family is forbidden in Islam, whereas fostering is highly recommended.

Due to Islamic restrictions on gender mixing, it is less common for Muslims to assume custody of unrelated children, as they are concerned that the child will be a non-mahram living in their home.

"Our first priority should be to place Muslim children in Muslim homes. It is always difficult for non Muslims to raise the child as a Muslim in a non Muslim home," says Imam Faizul Khan.

He says Islam's prohibition on a man being alone with a woman unless he is her mahram, and its requirement that women wear the hjiab in front of nonmahram men are often used as reasons why fostering is not an option for Muslim families.

Imam Faizul Khan acknowledges the need to set up some mechanism whereas the community can take responsibility to effectively offer this service to provide foster care to Muslim children who need it.

Kafalah is a neglected Sunnah; the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam himself was both a foster child and a foster parent. There is great spiritual benefit in taking care of children who are needy, abused, and neglected. "It is as great for you as it is for the child," says Iman Potter, who fostered and adopted her friend's daughter after she passed away from breast cancer. Each and every Muslim needs to make the niyyah (intention) to foster a child in >> foster I Pg 27

April 12th - May 16th 2013

CONTINUED | 27

meeting

gmu

>> continued from pg 4

>> continued from pg 7

man. “We listened to and discussed issues that are important to the Muslims in the United States. We may not have liked all the answers but we should continue to have an open dialogue with our government,” he said.

prior, in December. “We all liked the idea, said bismillah, and decided to push for it,” Akhter said.

“The government is trying,” concluded Rep. Edwards. “We cannot fix everything, but we try.”

foster I

>> continued from pg 26

need. Muslims believe taking care of there children is a part of the faith and that Allah provides the means if one makes the intention.

Faith played a large role in the Ismails' decision. They take one day at a time, one week at a time, relying on Allah.

Families interested in becoming foster care families should attend attend orientation meetings at 7 pm on the 2nd Monday of each month Department of Family Services, Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia 22035.

Find information about becoming a foster family in your region: h t t p : / / w w w. l o u d o u n . g o v / i n d e x . aspx?NID=544 http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/fc/ http://www.princegeorgescountymd. gov/Government/AgencyIndex/Social_ Services/fostercare.asp http://www.adoptuskids.org/for-families/how-to-foster/receiving-a-fosterplacement http://www6.montgomerycountymd. gov/hhstmpl.asp?url=/content/hhs/ childwelfare/foster.asp

Hifz School Opens In Frederick, MD

The conference started at 10 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. There were four sessions by local speakers Abu Hamza Hijjee and Sulaiman Jalloh, and by Mohamed El Shinawy and Okasha Kameny who came from New York and Philadelphia.

“We tried to get speakers that were local enough to be available to come, yet popular enough to attract attendees to the event,” Akhter said.

The theme of the conference was unity of the ummah. The organizers wanted to bring the community together to learn about the brotherhood and sisterhood in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, and how it can be applied among the Muslim community today.

One of the speakers, Mohamed El Shinawy, advised the youth in the room to strengthen their brotherhood/sisterhood by strengthening their iman.

Okasha Kameny, the last speaker of the day, reminded the students to practice and apply what the scholars have taught them. “The main purpose of listening to the words of Allah is to practice what is received,” Kameny said.

Ultimately, the main message of the conference was to learn from the sahaba, Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam) companions, and emulate the unity they had by making iman the basis of our relationships.

Abdi benefited from the conference and learned that the key to unity in the Muslim ummah is to attach ourselves to the Quran.

Akhter, on the other hand, learned that Muslims in outlying areas of Maryland like Washington, Frederick, and Montgomery Counties now have the opportunity to send their children to memorize the entire Qur'an at a new hifz school started at the Islamic Society of Frederick.

The sisters side at the GMU MSA conference seemed more full than the brothers side, and organizers say their audience was only about half of what they wanted. Photos by Aysha Esam Azraq Allah plans everything in the best way.

“It just takes some effort to see the blessings and mercy behind what happens when we don't expect it.”

Overall, the sentiment about the conference was that it was uplifting. Abdi said that the conference met her expectations.

“I honestly didn't go into the conference expecting anything other than to feel strengthened as a community, and the need to attach yourself with the Muslim ummah -- that is what I had felt when I came out of it,” Abdi said.

Unfortunately, not all expectations were met from a logistical standpoint. The MSA planned for over 300 attendees, but about half actually came. Attendees came from places as far as Baltimore, MD and Richmond, VA. “We had made a considerable loss in terms of finances. Some of us felt down about it, and other board members reminded us consolingly, ‘We may have lost from the dunya, but insha'Allah we Started this past March, the school currently enrolls 6 male and female students. The teacher, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Azhary, learned the sciences of the Qur'an and Sharia at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.

"My boys are more motivated now to memorize than they were before," said

gained for the aakhirah,’” Akhter said.

By the Grace of Allah, Akhter mentioned that the donations from the attendees compensated the MSA financially.

Akhter looks back on the conference and suggests some changes. She thought that having the event during spring break may have not been the best idea, since not as many people showed up. Furthermore, two other major events in the community were taking place simultaneously, possibly inhibiting a greater turnout.

However, despite the lower turnout, Akhter is optimistic that the conference will continue and become an annual affair.

As one of the attendees, Abdi hopes the conference will continue in the future.

“Having almost a whole day's worth of lectures really helps encompass you in the remembrance of Allah,” Abdi said.

Sohrab Shahab who lives in Hagerstown. "[Sheikh Ahmed] is very good at managing time in the class."

The school operates from 8am to 12pm Monday through Friday. For more information see page 35 in this issue of the Muslim Link.

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28 | CONTINUED

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

April 12th - May 16th 2013

ISLAM | 29

Islam

Taking Care of Things at Home

By Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

members of the family to the places where they have to go? Who will entertain the guests? Who will pick up so-and-so from the airport? Should the “pious” member of the family be the one to say: “Sorry. I have no time. I am busy!” ?

We picture a young religious person at the Islamic center or reciting the Qur’ân. Sadly, we never think of him at home with his family.

When we think of a young religious person, too often we think of someone who spends all his time with other Muslims, going to the Islamic center, or attending religious classes. When he is not outside engaged in these outside activities, we think of him devoting all his time to personal devotions like reading Islamic books, reciting the Qur’ân, or listening to recorded lectures. Sadly, we do not think of this young person having anything whatsoever to do with the rest of the household.

This is, in fact, a grave mistake that many religious young people make. The worldly needs of the household must be met.

Who, then, is going to purchase the household’s needs? Who will take

This “pious” person has failed to carry out his proper role at home.

Therefore, someone else will have to be the one to carry it out.

This “pious” person has failed to carry out his proper role at home. Therefore, someone else will have to be the one to carry it out. That someone else may be deficient in his religion, but because he is the one taking care of the needs of the household, he is going to be the one to have the greatest influence. His words will be heeded and his commands obeyed. His opinions will carry weight.

As for the religious young person, his word will carry no weight whatsoever, since he never does anything to benefit anyone else.

Sometimes the situation is even worse than this. There are cases, especially

>> HOME Pg 30

FATWA: The Difference Between Sponsoring Orphans and Adopting Them Question: Many refugees are entering the USA from Kosova, they may be sponsored by christain organizations.

Some brothers want to sponsor the orphans by allowing them to live in their homes and feeding them. A scholar here said that it is Haraam to adopt someone in Islaam, and he discouraged the people from sponsoring the orphans. My question is, doesn't Islaam allow us to adopt the orphans, only that the orphan does not change his last name, nor is he considered the child of the one adopting him.

Answer: Praise be to Allaah. There is a difference between adoption and sponsoring orphans.

A – Adoption means that a man takes an

orphan and makes him like one of his own children, calling him after him, so that the orphan is not allowed to marry one of the man’s daughters, and so the sons of the adoptive father are regarded as brothers of the orphan and his daughters are regarded as his sisters, and his (the father’s) sisters are regarded as his paternal aunts, and so on. This was one of the things that were done during the first Jaahiliyyah, and some of the Sahaabah carried the names of their adoptive fathers, as in the case of al-Miqdaad ibn al-Aswad whose real father’s name was ‘Amr, but he was called ibn (son of) alAswad, after the man who had adopted him.

This continued into the early days of Islam, until Allaah forbade that, accord-

ing to a well-known story. Zayd ibn Haarithah was called Zayd ibn Muhammad, and he was the husband of Zaynab bint Jahsh, then Zayd divorced her.

It was narrated that Anas said: When Zaynab’s ‘iddah came to an end, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Zayd ibn Haarithah, “Go and tell her about me (that I want to marry her).”

So he went to her and found her kneading dough. He said, “O Zaynab, good news. The Messenger of Allaah wants to marry you.” She said, “I will not do anything until I consult with my Lord.”

Then she got up and went to her prayerplace, then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came and entered upon her.

Concerning this, Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning): “And (remember) when you said to him (Zayd bin Haarithah the freed‑slave of the Prophet) on whom Allaah has bestowed grace (by guiding him to Islam) and you (O Muhammad too) have done favour (by manumitting him): ‘Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allaah.’

But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allaah has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allaah will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) >> ORPHANS Pg 34

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

30 |

Salaah times for April 12th - May 16th , 2013

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

---Hadith in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim

Prayer times generated from www.islamicfinder.com for the WASHINGTON, DC area.

home

>> continued from pg 29

in the Gulf states, where the religious person does not leave the affairs of the household to another family member, but rather to a servant or the driver.

The driver is the one to take the girls to school and to the shops. This stranger, then, is the one who stays with them for hours on end in the car or at the shopping center.

This is a serious shortcoming on the part of the religious person.

Serving the members of one’s family is the best way to influence them. A religious young person should safeguard

....

Day

Date

Hijri

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

April 12

2/6

5:18

6:35

1:09

4:51

7:43

9:00 9:02

Sat

13

3/6

5:16

6:34

1:09

4:51

7:44

Sun

14

4/6

5:15

6:32

1:09

4:51

7:45

9:03

Mon

15

5/6

5:13

6:31

1:09

4:51

7:46

9:04 9:05

Tue

16

6/6

5:11

6:29

1:08

4:52

7:47

Wed

17

7/6

5:10

6:28

1:08

4:52

7:48

9:06

Thu

18

8/6

5:08

6:27

1:08

4:52

7:49

9:08

Fri

19

9/6

5:06

6:25

1:08

4:52

7:50

9:09 9:10

Sat

20

10/6

5:05

6:24

1:07

4:53

7:51

Sun

21

11/6

5:03

6:22

1:07

4:53

7:52

9:11

Mon

22

12/6

5:01

6:21

1:07

4:53

7:53

9:13

Tue

23

13/6

5:00

6:20

1:07

4:53

7:54

9:14

Wed

24

14/6

4:58

6:18

1:07

4:53

7:55

9:15

Thu

25

15/6

4:57

6:17

1:06

4:54

7:56

9:16

Fri

26

16/6

4:55

6:16

1:06

4:54

7:57

9:18

Sat

27

17/6

4:53

6:14

1:06

4:54

7:58

9:19

Sun

28

18/6

4:52

6:13

1:06

4:54

7:58

9:20

Mon

29

19/6

4:50

6:12

1:06

4:55

7:59

9:21

Tue

30

20/6

4:49

6:11

1:06

4:55

8:00

9:23

Wed

1

21/6

4:47

6:09

1:06

4:55

8:01

9:24

Thu

2

22/6

4:46

6:08

1:05

4:55

8:02

9:25

Fri

3

23/6

4:44

6:07

1:05

4:55

8:03

9:26

Sat

4

24/6

4:43

6:06

1:05

4:56

8:04

9:28

Sun

5

25/6

4:41

6:05

1:05

4:56

8:05

9:29

Mon

6

26/6

4:40

6:04

1:05

4:56

8:06

9:30

Tue

7

27/6

4:39

6:03

1:05

4:56

8:07

9:32

Wed

8

28/6

4:37

6:02

1:05

4:56

8:08

9:33

Thu

9

29/6

4:36

6:01

1:05

4:57

8:09

9:34

Fri

10

30/6

4:34

6:00

1:05

4:57

8:10

9:35

Sat

11

1/7

4:33

5:59

1:05

4:57

8:11

9:37

Sun

12

2/7

4:32

5:58

1:05

4:57

8:12

9:38

Mon

13

3/7

4:31

5:57

1:05

4:58

8:13

9:39

Tue

14

4/7

4:29

5:56

1:05

4:58

8:14

9:40

Wed

15

5/7

4:28

5:55

1:05

4:58

8:15

9:42

Thu

16

6/7

4:27

5:54

1:05

4:58

8:15

9:43

the weaker members of the family from having to leave the home too much. He should take care of their needs himself.

He should go to the shop for them.

His home is not some hotel where he goes to sleep, eat, and drink. It is definitely not his place to do nothing but act like an emperor, ordering others around and piling on prohibitions without providing any alternatives.

If you want to be listened to, then you have to expend some time and effort to make sure that your household’s needs are met. You must take the time to get the things that they need and take them where they need to go.

Some of our religious young men and women do not carry out the housework

that their families expect of them. They seek to excuse themselves from their household chores with excuses like reading the Qur’ân or listening to a taped lecture!

Then they wonders how they can have a positive affect on the other members of their household who are engaged in sinful activites.

In order to be able to counteract the sinful behavior that goes on in the home and bring about positive change, you must first build up your own position within your household by serving your family and catering to their needs. Do not make yourself invisible. Make your presence known by doing things for others.

Some of our young, religious people flee from their homes in one way or another after becoming religious. They feel that they cannot bear staying at home surrounded by what they regard as sinful behavior or as their family’s casual religious attitudes.

Some seek to escape the temptations at home by going overseas to study or by simply moving away from home. There are often clear signs in their behavior that they are merely running away.

Some of them even leave home without their parents’ permission.

They forget that when a man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) if he could

>> HOME II Pg 31

April 12th - May 16th 2013

OBITS & EVENTS| 31

Request For Dua’s

{ To A llah We B e l o n g , an d t o Hi m is Ou r R e tu r n } “Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 3-12-13 Br. Achmadi Abdulrashid passed away yesterday, Br. Achmadi Abdulrashid is father of Br. Gatut Achmadi, Sr. Irma Breneman, and Sr. Synthia. May Allah(SWT) grant him forgiveness, shower mercy upon him, widen his grave and ease his way into the next life - Ameen. May Allah(SWT) Grant him highest level in Jannat-ul-Firdous - Ameen. May Allah(SWT) give sabr to his family at this difficult time - Ameen. Namaz-e-Janazah was on March 12, 2013 in Sterling, Virginia. (Source: F. Syed) 3-14-13 Momen Ara Chowdhury, mother of Nurul and Kibria Chowdhury, has passed away. May Allah accept her good deeds, forgive her shortcomings and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. Salaat ul Janazah was on March 15 2013 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Source: ICM) 3-22-13 Mohammed Sharif has passed away. He left his wife and Habib and Shumona. His Janaza prayer was March 23, 2013 in Sterling, Virginia.

(Source: M. Ullah) 3-28-13 Mohammed Anwer Khan, the father of Akhter and Zulfiqar Ali Khan, has passed away. May Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. Salaat ul Janazah was on March 29, 2013 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Source: ICM) 3-31-13 Sr. Ferdous Noor Hussain has returned to Allah(SWT). May Allah (SWT) grant her Jannah, accept her in His Mercy & Love and Grant sabr to her family and friends. Janazah prayer was April 1, 2013 in Sterling, Virginia. (Source: E. Baig) 3-31-13 Sri Mulowati Djamin, mother of Donny and Dwi Miranda Chan, has passed away. May Allah accept her good deeds, forgive her shortcomings and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. Salaat ul Janazah was on April 1, 2013 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Source: ICM) 4-5-13 Abdul Bari Usman, father of Khurshid Usmani, has passed away.

May Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. Salaat ul Janazah was on April 5, 2013 in Frederick, Maryland. (Source: ICM)

home II

>> continued from pg 30

go to war, the Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately asked him if his parents were alive. When he said that they were, the Prophet said: “Your jihad is to take care of your parents!” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (2728) and Sahîh Muslim (4623)] They also forget that when another young man approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) to go and fight, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him

if his mother was alive. When he found out that she was, he told the man: “Woe unto you! Attend her at her feet and you will attain Paradise.” [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (2771). The hadîth is authentic (sahîh)]

Upcoming Events In Your Area Al-Huda High School SGA Family Ice Skating Night Friday, April 12 2013, 5:30pm - 8:30pm It is that time of the year again! Al Huda High School SGA is planning for the Annual Ice Skating. Sisters and Brothers will skate separately. Sisters will skate from 5:30 to 7:30, and brothers from 6:30-8:30 on separate rinks, inshaaAllah. Fill in the form and do not forget to pay online $15, or $17 at the door. For tickets, go to https://duscommunity.wufoo.com/ forms/annual-sga-family-night-2013/ Location: The Gardens Ice House, Laurel, MD Contact: SGA@AlHuda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BCMC Health Fair Saturday, April 13 2013, 10:00am - 3:00pm Baltimore County Muslim Council presents Health for Life, Screening and Healthcare Day. Free counseling includes: Maryland General Hospital- Blood Glucose & Cholesterol testing; Blood pressure, diabetes risk, tobacco cessation, vision testing, pediatric counseling, general health screening, cholesterol screening, lower back pain counseling, general women health, kids obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and lot more. Educational seminars on different disease. Face painting, henna, balloons, and lots more for kids.

Location: Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB), 6631 Johnnycake Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244 Contact: info@bcmcmd.org or call Dr Younus 410-530-3608 or Br Saleem Ahmed 410369-6590 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ADAMS Spring Festival Saturday, April 13 2013, 11:00am - 6:00pm Traditional and islamic clothing, cultural art, jewelry, and home decorations, kulfi biryani, samosa, dolma, channa chaat, dahi phulki, haleem, hummus, kashmiri chai, cotton candy, hot dogs, nachos, ice-cones, children arts and crafts, games. Decorate your own cookies and cupcakes. Face painting and henna. Breakfast special 11:00am to 1:00pm, Halwa puri.

Family Fun. Free Admission.

Location: 46903 Sugarland Road, Sterling, VA 20164 Contact: 703-433-1325 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iMuslimah Special Home of the Heart Event Sunday, April 14 2013, 10:30am - 3:30pm Topic: Seeking the truth- Life Changing stories. We will have a Jewelry & Watch auction, bazaar, food, games and much more in sha Allah! We are looking for volunteers to help at our event on Sunday April 14th. To sign up to volunteer, please use this link https://docs. google.com/a/muslimlinkpaper.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dF9NRGhIR1A0O VlhNVRmNnY0amVsdXc6MA#gid=0 Location: Dar-us-Salaam (sisters' musallah) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PGMA Sisters' Rejuvenation Day Saturday, April 20 2013 by admin Hits : 52 Includes Extensive Bazaar, food, beauty services, and free classes.

Location: Prince George's Muslim Association, 9150 Lanham Severn Rd, Lanham, MD 20706 . Contact: sisters@pgmamd.org or 301-459-4942

abandoned his father and mother.

So, if we want Paradise, the quickest way to get there is by honoring our mothers.

`Umar asked him what was going on and the old man said: “He left for Syria and abandoned his two elderly parents.”

Upon hearing this, `Umar shed tears and promptly wrote to Yazîd ordering the young man to be returned with all of his possessions to `Umar.

During the reign of `Umar b. al-Khattâb, a young man named Kullâb volunteered to fight in Syria with the army of Yazîd b. Abî Sufyân. The boy’s father approached `Umar and appealed to him in poetic verse about how his son had

When the man arrived, `Umar asked him: “So you are Kullâb?” Then he said to him: “Go to your parents and honor them, and stay with them until they die.” [Ibn `Asâkir, Târîkh Dimashq (50/270, 276)]

Sometimes a person is unable to cope with his duties as a Muslim at home.

Such a person is definitely not going to be able to engage in this effort of disseminating Islam to others. How can a person who cannot even cope with his duties in his own home think he can take on broader responsibilities?

The first duty of our young people is to establish themselves at home by fulfilling their responsibilities to their families.

....

32 | OPINION

April 12th - May 16th 2013

Opinion

Imams Must Come Up With Islamic Solutions for Foster Children

By Imam Firdaws Ladan Undoubtedly, leaving our Muslim children at the mercy of non-Muslims will have a serious effect on their belief. I have problems with some of my colleague Imams who don’t consider what I call ‘Modernization’. By this I mean, not applying the principle of ‘Badeel’ Abolishing and Substituting’ – when educating our communities and the Muslim ummah as a whole. I believe it is high time Imams start looking at sensitive and controversial issues confronting Muslims as well as Islam outside the box, in order to come out with a better and lasting solution.

With regard to adoption, the question now is, is it an issue of ‘Mahramism’ or the issue of preventing illegal contacts with the opposite sex? Critical analysis will show that it is all about preventing illegal contact with the opposite sex and not about mahram. For example: Aren’t the two children born by the same parents mahrams to each other? If so, why then did Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam) command us to separate their beds at the age of ten?

As Imams, we should always try to have substitutes for our children in whatever we forbid them. Because even when Allah forbade Al-Azlaam - divining arrows, He substituted it with AlIstikhaarah – special du’a for guidance.

This is because He says: “We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?

Q: 2:106 I remember listening to one of my colleague Imams during a visit to his masjid while he was speaking about ‘Adoption In Islam”. Considering the environment as well as the implication of condemning adoption in America, we should realize the government is calling families to be selfless by adopting poor children who might need a family to live with.

Instead of condemning adoption in its totality, the Imam considered what in the adoption system is called ‘Open Adoption’, which is an agreement between adoptive parents and biological parents that addresses continuing contact between biological parents and the adopted child. This can be from regular letters to frequent visits. Though it is called adoption, it doesn’t alter the legality of the adoption.

In this type of adoption, the parents of the adopted child choose an adoptive family for their child – they may be Muslims or even relatives, choose the amount of contacts they want with adoptive family as their child grows, keep the adopted child in contact with other siblings of the biological parents.

The selfless act of placing their child for open adoption is to give him the best life possible. And knowing who his parents are helps the child to develop and maintain his lineage and identity – reasons why Islam abolishes adoption.

The adoptive family in this open adoption serve as guardians and care takers, which in Islam is called ‘Kafaalah’ “…….and put her in the care of Zakariyyah” Q:3:38 The above definition of adoption may therefore mean that, the biological parents can get back their child anytime they need.

After listening to this perfect khutbah, I said to myself, won’t the open adoption be a perfect substitute for Muslims who want to adopt and take care of others children as well as earn a living?

After all, the Prophet Muhammad was

foster cared along with Abdullah Bin Al-Harith and his two sisters Aneesah Bint Al – Harith and Hudhaafah Bint Al-Harith. And also Abu Sufyaan Bin Al-Harith Bin Abdul Mutalib.

We must create solutions for taking care of children whose parents cannot take care of them instead of deterring Muslims from taking in foster children and leaving them at the mercy of non-Muslims foster parents or on the street. It is high time we have an Islamic system of foster care whereby the children can be separated into girls and boys facility, the same way we separate among our ‘biological’ children - who are mahrams to one another, as we are commanded

by Prophet Muhammad (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wasallam). Muslims should also support the proposed federal legislation known as the ‘Amer Act’ which allows children taken by Child Protective Services the right to live with other family members, instead of being exposed to environments that differ with their upbringing.

Imam Firdaws Ladan is the Imam of the Ibn Taymiyyah masjid in Prince George's County, Maryland.

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

| 33

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------NORTHERN VIRGINIA ---------------------------------------------------------------All Muslim Brothers Association 3900 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 Tel: 703-647-0515 Jumma Prayer Only - 1:15 P.m ---------------------------------------------------------------Icna VA Center: 2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306.

Tel: 703-660-1255 ---------------------------------------------------------------Idara Dawat-o-irshad: 4803 VAlley St, Alexandria, VA 22312 Tel: 703-256-8622 ww.irshad.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Mustafa Center: 6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003 Tel: 703-658-7134 www.mustafacenter.org E-mail: Mustafacenter@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Baitul Mukarram: 2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550 ---------------------------------------------------------------Zakaria Islamic Academy: Galesbury Lane, Chantilly, VA 20151 Tel: 571-969-2123 www.ziacademy.org E-mail: Contact@ziacademy.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Badr Community Center Of Dumfries: 17794 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026 Tel: 703-585-1689/703-554-7983 www.bccd.org E-mail: Info@bccd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Ul-ghuraba (Masjid Ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al Hijrah: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030 www.hijrah.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Moroccan American community Organization Center 5613 Lessaburg Pike,#1 Falls Church,Va 22041 Info@macous.org Www.macous.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, Richamond, VA 23226 Tel: 804-673-4177 www.isgr.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al Rahman: 1305 Hull St., Richmond, VA 23224 Tel: 804-232-7640 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjidullah Of Richmond: 211 North Ave., Richmond, VA 23222 Tel: 804-321-8864/804-647-4297 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar-ul Huda: 6666 Commerce St., Springfield, VA 22150, Tel: 703-922-0111 www.darulhuda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Foundation of America: 6606 Electronic Drive, Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Noor: 8608 Pohick Rd, Springfield, VA 22153 Tel: 703-451-7615 ----------------------------------------------------------------Adams Center: 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling,VA 20164, Tel: 703-433-1325 www.adamscenter.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Heritage Center (Ihc): 262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056 ---------------------------------------------------------------WASHINGTON D.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------First Hijra Muslim Comm. Center: 4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20011 www.firsthijrah.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Ivy City Masjid: 2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 Tel: 202-904-9668 E-mail: masjidivycity@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-islam: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, D.C. 20019 E-mail: Imammusa@hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Muhammad: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832 | www. masjidmuhammad.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Society Of Washington, D.c.

(MswDC): Howard Center, Room 805 (Above Hu Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236

---------------------------------------------------------------The Islamic Center: 2551 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343 www.theislamiccenter.com ---------------------------------------------------------------MARYLAND ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Annapolis (Isa): 2635 Riva Rd. Suite 110, Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.isamd.org Email: Info@islamannapolis.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Bait-Allah Masjid of Baltimore Inc 200 S. Calhoun Street Baltimore, MD 21223 Imam’s cell: 571-721-9938 email: baitallahmasjid@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Bilal Dawah Center, Inc: 1910 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 410-945-1515 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar ul Uloom: 6334 Dogwoood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207, Tel: 410-493-0785 Email: Darululoommd@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ul-haq: 514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-728-1363 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-mumineen: 2642 Harford Rd., Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel: 410-467-8798 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Jamaat Al-Muslimeen: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel: 443-622-2962 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-rahmah/isb: 6631 Johnnycake Rd., Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869 | www.isb.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid As Saffat: 1335 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-669-0655 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Easton 126 Port Street Unit # 1 Easton, MD 21601 Tel: 410-829 7924 islamicsocietyofeastonmd.yolasite.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Irhsca (Islamic Research And Hum. Services Center Of America): 1 Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040 www.irhsca.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Southern Pg County (Isspgc): P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240 603 4618 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar-us-Salaam: 5301 Edgewood Rd., College Park, MD 20740,

Tel: 301-982-9848 www.duscommunity.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Zamzam 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Tel: 410-284-2840 www.masjidzamzam.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar al-Taqwa: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711 www.taqwa.net ---------------------------------------------------------------Maryum Islamic Center (MIC) 3280 Pine Orchard Lane Suite A Ellicott City, MD 21042 Tel: 443-574-5188 www.maryumcenter.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Hikmah: 11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington, MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Frederick (Isf): 1250 Key Parkway, Frederick,md 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090 www.isfmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Maryland (Icm): 19411 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg,md 20879 Tel:301-840-9440 www.icomd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Makkah Learning Center (Mlc): 814 Brandy Farms Ln., Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.isamd.org Email: Info@mlcmd.org----------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Germantown (Isg): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (240)-277-7758 www.isgtown.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ibn Taymiyyah: 8000 Mlk Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-322-8105 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society of Western Maryland: 2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922 ---------------------------------------------------------------Southern Maryland Islamic Center (Smic): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639 Tel: 410-535-0000 ---------------------------------------------------------------Avondale Islamic Center: 4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782 Tel: 301-779-9292 ---------------------------------------------------------------Prince Georges Muslim Assoc.(Pgma): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd., Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942 www.pgmamd.org

Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441 E-mail: Imam@pgmamd.org.

---------------------------------------------------------------Turkish American Community Center 9704 Good Luck Rd, Lanham, MD 20706 Tel: 301-459-9589 www.taccenter.org ---------------------------------------------------------------La Plata Masjid: 111 Howard Street, La Plata, MD 20646 Tel: 301-609-8769 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Com. Center Of Laurel (ICCL): 7306 Contee Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 Tel: 301-317-4584 www.icclmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Ghurabaa: 8220 Washington St., South Laurel, MD 20724.

Tel: 301-604-3295 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Lexington Park 22583 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20619 Tel: 240-538-7839 or 561-414-0994 www.iclpmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Medina Center: 11600 Falls Road, Potomac MD 20854 www.medinacenter.net E-mail: Admin@medinacenter.net ---------------------------------------------------------------Randallstown Islamic Center 9019 Marcella Ave. Randallstown, MD 21133 Tel: 410-971-4018 www.ricbaltimore.org E-mail: Info@ricbaltimore.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of The Washington Area (Iswa): 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-879-0930 www.iswamd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Education Society of Maryland 11504 Veirs Mills Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Tel: 301- 933-3838 ---------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Community Center (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 Tel: 301-384-3454 www.mccmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Imaam: (Jumuah Only) Jumuah: 12:50pm 3201 Randolph Rd, Wheaton, MD 20906 www.imaam.org Email: Fridayprayer@imaam.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid An-nur: 5418 Ebenezer Road, White Marsh, MD 21162 Tel: 410-663-9637 Fax: 410-663-9817 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-inshirah: 7832 Fairbrook Road, Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

34 | CONTINUED orphans Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager: Stephanie Benmoha Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Omama Altalib Urooj Fatima Yaman Shalabi Fatimah Waseem 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

....

>> continued from pg 29

whereas Allaah had a better right that you should fear Him. So when Zayd had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allaah’s Command must be fulfilled” – Narrated by Muslim, 1428 B – Allaah has forbidden adoption because it causes knowledge of people’s lineage to be lost, and we have been commanded to preserve people’s lineage.

It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “There is no man who knowingly calls himself after someone other than his father but he has committed kufr. Whoever claims to belong to people to whom he has no ties of blood, let him take his place in Hell.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3317; Muslim, 61) What is meant by “committed kufr” is that he has done an act of kufr, not that he is beyond the pale of Islam.

This may generate hatred and resent-

ment between the adopted son and the children of the adoptive father, because it will cause them to lose out on something that is rightfully theirs, which will go to this orphan unlawfully who they know is not entitled to it as they are.

Sponsoring an orphan means that a man brings the orphan to live in his house, or he sponsors him somewhere other than his house, without giving him his name or forbidding that which is permitted or permitting that which is forbidden, as is the case with adoption. Rather the one who sponsors an orphan is doing a generous deed. So there can be no comparison between one who sponsors an orphan and one who adopts a child, because of the great difference between them and because sponsoring orphans is something which is encouraged in Islam.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: The best thing is to work honestly in their property, and if you mix your affairs with theirs, then they are your brothers. And Allaah knows him who means mischief (e.g. to swallow their property) from him who means good (e.g. to save their property). And if Allaah had wished, He could have put you into difficulties. Truly, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise” [al-Baqarah 2:220]

ing orphans is a means of being together with him in Paradise.

It was narrated that Sahl ibn Sa’d said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be like this in Paradise” – and he gestured with his index and middle fingers, holding them slightly apart. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4998) But we must point out that when these orphans reach adolescence, they must be separated from the wives and daughters of the sponsor. We should not do good with one hand and do evil with the other. We should also note that the one who is sponsored may be an orphaned girl and she may be beautiful and may become attractive before adolescence, so the sponsor must watch his sons lest they fall into doing haraam things with the orphans, because this could happen and be a means of causing mischief which it will be difficult to put right.

We encourage our brothers to sponsor orphans, for this is something that is rarely done except by those whom Allaah has made righteous and caused them to love good and feel compassion for the orphans and the poor, especially our brothers in Kosova and Chechnya who are faced with hardship and difficulties. We ask Allaah to relieve them of their distress. And Allaah knows best.

[Source: Islam Q&A]

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that sponsor-

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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(2) 8� Subs, 2 Fries or Chips & 2 Cans of Soda

$15.99 + Tax

CONVENIENT TO UMBC CAMPUS Last order taken 15 minutes before closing

Our menu includes appetizers, pizza, strombolis, subs, sandwiches, hot dogs, pasta, platters, wraps, salads, wings, and desserts.

Come try our HALAL diner!

Special Discount for Catering Order

MINIMUM $11.00

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HALAL MENUS

April 12th - May 16th 2013

FRESH PIZZA DELIGHTS Hand tossed/thin crust. ultra thin crust available 12” only. choice of wheat or white Pers.8”

Med. 12”

Cheese 6.24 10.24 1 Topping 6.74 11.24 2 Topping 7.24 12.24 Additional Toppings 50 99 SPECIALTY PIZZAS Pers.8”

Med. 12”

Classic White Pizza 7.74 11.99

Lg. 14”

X-Lg. 16”

12.00 13.24 13.30 14.74 14.60 16.24 1.30

1.50

Lg. 14”

X-Lg. 16”

13.99

15.99

$

Monster 20”

14.99 16.99 18.99 1.99

$

Monster 20”

19.99

Olive oil, oregano, blend of provoone and american, mozzarella, cheese and garlic

Deluxe Classic White Pizza 8.24 12.49 14.49

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Fresh Pizza Burger 100% beef fresh made burger, pizza sauce, pizza cheese

Falafel Wrap Gyro Wrap

Roast Beef (Hot or cold) Grilled Chicken Breast Fresh Chicken Salad Beef Gyro Sub Chicken Gyro Sub Fresh Seafood Salad Chicken of Beef Shish Kabob Chicken Tikka Kabob Chicken Parmesan

22.99

6.24

Chicken or beef, gyro sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, oil and vinegar

Cheese Steak Wrap

Lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, onions and American cheese

Eggplant

Lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise

Hot Dog Wrap

With chili, cheese and onion

Fish Filet or Tilapia Wrap

Chicken fillet, pizza sauce, provolone cheese

Lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise

Chicken filet Eggplant Parmesan

Lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise

BLT Wrap

Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ranch dressing

Italian Meatball

Everything on white pizza plus feta cheese and red onion

Meatball, pizza sauce, provolone cheese

Chicken Tikka Kabob Wrap

Shrimp Pizza 8.24 12.49

100% Real Turkey (Hot or cold) Ham & Cheese (Hot or cold) BBq Chicken Cheese Steak

Jumbo Shrimp Wrap

14.49

16.49

20.49

Shrimp, Old Bay and extra cheese

Crab Pizza

Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ranch dressing Lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise

Crab Cake Wrap

Chicken, BBQ Sauce

8.24 12.49

14.49

16.49

20.49

100% crabmeat, Old Bay and extra cheese

Meat Lover’s 9.24 14.99

16.99

18.99

22.99

FRESH WRAPS Available in white and whole wheat flour Buffalo Chicken Wrap 6.24 Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap

Italian Steak 9.24 14.99

Chicken BLT Wrap

16.99

18.99

22.99

Steak, mushrooms, green peppers and onions

Greek Pizza 9.24 14.99

6.24

Lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, onions, hot peppers and American cheese

16.99

18.99

22.99

Grilled Chicken Wrap Lettuce, tomato, onions and American cheese

Shish Kabob Pizza 9.24 14.99

Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise and American cheese

16.99

18.99

Chicken Cheese Steak Wrap 22.99

chiken or beef, onions, green peppers

16.99

18.99

22.99

FRESH OVERSTUFFED SUBS & Available in white and whole wheat bread choice of free fixing: 8” 6.49 12” 10.49 20” 15.99 Philadelphia Steak Philadelphia Cheesesteak Italian Cheesesteak steak, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, pizza sauce, provolone cheese

Chicken Cheesesteak Italian Hot Cut Italian Cold Cut Fresh Hamburger 100% beef Fresh Cheeseburger 100% beef Pizza Sub Pizza Steak

Grilled Veggie Wrap

6.24 6.24 6.24

Mixed veggies with American cheese, mayonnaise and hot peppers

spicy chicken, green peppers and onions

Steak, Pizza sauce, pizza cheese

6.24

Smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, American cheese and mayonnaise

gyro meat (Chicken or beef), feta cheese, black olives, red onions, green peppers and exta cheese

Chicken Tikka Pizza 9.24 14.99

6.24

Lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese and creamy Caesar dressing

Spicy Chicken Wrap

Turkey Wrap

6.24

(Specify hot or cold) Lettuce, tomato, onion and ranch dressing

Tuna Wrap

6.24 6.24 6.24

6.74

FRESH PLATTERS

All platters served with french fries or mashed potatoes. We use trans fat-free cooking oil

Chicken Nugget Platter (12) Hot Roast Beef with Gravy Hot Turkey with Gravy Popcorn Shrimp Clam Strips Tilapia Fish (2) Gyro Platter Beef or chicken with mini Greek salad

Jumbo Shrimp (7) Seafood Combo

1 Crab cake, 1 tilapia fish and 4 jumbo shrimp

Chicken Shish Kabob, Beef Shish Kabob or Chicken Tikka Kabob Platter

Lettuce, tomatoes, onions and mayonnaise

6.74

6.24

6.24 6.24

6.24

Lettuce, tomato, feta cheese, green pepper, onions, cucumber, banana pepper and black olives

Tandoori Chicken Platter

Lettuce, toamtoes, onions and mayonnaise

Chicken Salad

Greek Wrap

6.24

Lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise

Seafood Salad Wrap

6.24

$ Lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. Fresh homemade crab cake

Lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese, bleu cheese and Buffalo sauce

Beef pepperoni, ground beef, sausage, Italian salami, beef bacon, turkey ham and double cheese

6.24

Chicken or Beef Shish Kabob Wrap 6.24

Eggplant, pizza sauce, pizza cheese

16.49

6.24

Lettuce, tomato and onions with choice of sweet, cucumber or Buffalo sauce

$

8.49 8.49 8.49 8.49 8.49 9.24 9.24

11.24 11.24 8.99

Served with fresh bread and mini salad with choice of dressing

8.99

Served with fresh bread, mini salad and choice of dressing

BUFFALO OR BONELESS WINGS & Served with french fries and bleu cheese or ranch (Specify hot or cold} Ham, salami, provolone cheese, fire (very hot). Hot. Buffalo Atomic. lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise Mild. BBQ Sauce. Honey BBQ, Honey Garlic, Ham & Cheese Wrap 6.24 Honey Mustard or Old Bay Style (Specify hot or cold) Lettuce, tomato, onion, American cheese and mayonnaise 5 Pieces 4.24 Roast Beef Wrap 6.24 10 Pieces 8.24 (Specify hot or cold) Lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise and onions 15 Pieces 11.24 Chili & Cheese Wrap 6.24 20 Pieces 14.24 Fresh in house made chili and American cheese 30 Pieces 18.24 Cheeseburger Wrap 6.24 Extra Blue Cheese, Extra Ranch or Celery .50 Italian Wrap

Lettuce, tomato, onions, mayonnaise and American cheese

6.24

(We used trans fat-free cooking oil)

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HALAL MENUS

April 12th - May 16th 2013

April 12th - May 16th 2013

HALAL MENUS

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HALAL MENUS

April 12th - May 16th 2013

April 12th - May 16th 2013

HALAL MENUS

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HALAL MENUS

April 12th - May 16th 2013

6901 Security Blvd Windsor Mill, MD 21244 SEOUL PLAZA (Second Floor)

Behind Mall Across from Grand Auto Body Shop

osplacemd@yahoo.com 410-597-9920 or 410-960-6951

11am to 10pm Daily

Signature DiSheS Beef Beef hunan Style Shredded Beef Schezuan Beef with Broccoli

$9.95 $9.95 $9.95

LamB Lamb hunan Style Shredded Lamb Schezuan style Lamb Curry

$9.95 $9.95 $9.95

ChiCken kung Pao Chicken Diced Chicken w/fresh hot Peppers Orange Chicken

$8.95 $9.95 $11.95

Vegetarian Sauteed Brococli in garlic Sauce Sauteed String Bean

$7.95 $7.95

PakiStani & inDian SPeCiaLtieS all Dishes listed below are served with your choice of one naan or roti Beef kabob (2) Chicken kabob (2) Chicken tikka (with bone) mutton karahi (1 lb. pre-cook weight) Beef haleem Beef nihari Chicken Steak (12 Pieces) Paye

$5.95 $5.95 $5.95 $10.95 $8.95 $8.95 $11.95 $9.99

DeSSertS Kulfi (one) Mango Kulfi (one)

$1.99 $1.99

YOu Can finD Our fuLL menu at

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www.OSPLaCe.net

April 12th - May 16th 2013

HALAL MENUS

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 51

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Open 365 Days 10:30am-9:30pm

Call 301-990-6868

SALADS House Salad $4.99 Fish Kabob Salad $9.43 Greek Salad $5.99 Lamb / Beef Kabob Salad $8.95 Chicken Kabob Salad $8.95 Choice of Dressing - Italian, Blue Cheese, Ranch & Chutney KIDS LOVE IT! 6 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks $6.98 With French Fries 6 Pcs Buffalo Wings served with fries $6.98 Hot, mild or BBQ & blue cheese or green sauce 25 Pcs Shrimp Basket with Fries $6.98 5 Jumbo Size Chicken Fingers and Fries $6.98 7 Chicken Nuggets & Fries Kids Love It ! $6.98 JUMBO SIZE BUFFALO WINGS Hot, mild or barbeque 10 Pcs Wings $6.98 20 Pcs Wings $12.99 30 Pcs Wings $18.99 50 Pcs Wings $29.99 DESSERTS Rice Pudding $3.50 Baklava Or Ice Cream $2.50 Cheesecake $2.50 STARTERS Hummus $3.50 A perfect blend of chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic & tahini Meat Samosa 2 Pcs $2.50 Two crisps pastry mildly spiced, filled with ground beef Vegetable Samosa 2 Pcs $1.50 Two crisps pastry spiced with mildly spiced veggie Potato Cutlet /Aloo Tikki 2 Pcs $1.50 Potato cutlet mixed with spices & cilantro Jalapeno Poppers 5 Pcs $4.99 NEW! Jalapeno Poppers 5 Pcs w/fries $5.99 Grape Leaves 5 Pcs $3.99 Stuffed with rice, onions, lemon juice & parsley cooked in olive oil

INDIAN & PAKISTANI CURRY ENTREES

Served with baked bread or rice & salad Karahi Chicken Boneless $9.99 Boneless breast, sauteed with onions, tomato and ginger Spinach & Potato Mix $8.99 Boneless Goat / Lamb Karahi $12.99 Tender pieces of goat cooked into gravy with our special spices Butter Chicken $10.99 Cooked in yogurt tomatoes and tasteful with mild traditional spices Chicken or Beef Kabob Masala $12.99 Chicken Jalfarezi $9.99

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HALAL MENUS

Boneless chicken breast curry with selective vegetables Nehari Spicy beef curry cooked overnight Chick Peas Curry A blend of tasty spices and rich gravy (you have to taste to enjoy) Fried Eggplant Eggplant with sauteed onions, tomatoes and special spices Daal Lentil Cooked in traditional way RICE Basmati Rice (with Zafran) Chicken Biryani Served with yogurt raita sauce, Add Extra sauce 0.50¢ Veggie Biryani

THE KABOB ENTREES

All entrees are served with freshly baked naan, basmati rice, green sauce and salad.

Veggie Kabob Fresh tomatoes, onions, green peppers & zucchini flame broiled to perfection Ground Beef Kabob (Combo #9) 2 skewers of mouth watering ground beef, onions & cilantro grilled to perfection Boneless Chicken Kabob Tender chicken marinated in a blend of spices skewered and charcoal grilled Extra skewer of chicken for Boneless Tandoori Chicken Kabob Blend of hot spices Extra skewer of chicken for Lamb Kabob Tender chunks of lamb marinated in spices skewered and charcoal grilled Extra skewer of lamb for Beef Steak Kabob Pieces of tenderloin beef marinated in our seasonings, flame broiled to perfection Extra skewer of beef for Fish Kabob Marinated salmon chunks in special seasoning and flamed broiled to perfection Fish Combo (Salmon) With any meat or vegetable Silver Spoon (Combo #1) Chicken kabob and veggie kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #2) Chicken kabob and ground beef kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #3) Chicken kabob and beef steak kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #4) Lamb kabob and veggie kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #5)

April 12th - May 16th 2013

$10.99 $7.99

$7.99 $7.99

$2.99 $9.42 $7.99

$7.99

$10.99

$9.99

$2.99 $9.99 $2.99 $10.99

$3.99 $9.99

$3.99 $11.99

$14.99

Lamb kabob and ground beef kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #6) Chicken kabob and lamb kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #7) Beef kabob and lamb kabob Silver Spoon (Combo #8) Ground beef kabob and steak kabob

KABOB ROLLS

Veggie Kabob Roll Fish Kabob Roll Beef Steak Kabob Roll Lamb Kabob Roll Chicken Kabob Roll Ground Beef Kabob Roll Chicken Kabob Roll Or Tandoori Chicken Kabob Roll SIDE ORDERS Tandoori Naan Leavened white flour naan freshly baked Garlic Naan Leavened white flour naan freshly baked in tandoor topped with garlic Plain Paratha Multi layered bread cooked with butter Aloo Paratha Bread stuffed with potatoes and spices Basmati Rice Raita French Fries Onion Rings Chick Peas Curry GYRO - $4.99 With French Fries With Onion Rings With Fresh Salad NEW! With Jalapeno Poppers 6 Pcs with Fries $5.99 INDIVIDUAL SKEWER OF MEAT Veggie Kabob Or Ground Beef Kabob Beef Steak Kabob Or Chicken Kabob Lamb Kabob Fish Kabob Boneless Tandoori Chicken Kabobs EXTRAS Extra Chutney - 0.25¢ • Extra Raita

$12.99 $12.99 $12.99

$7.99 $8.99 $7.99 $8.99 $7.99 $7.99 $7.99 $1.25 $1.98

$2.50 $2.99 $2.99 $1.50 $1.99 $2.50 $2.99 $6.98 $7.40 $6.98

$3.49 $4.72 $4.72 $5.66 $4.72 0.50¢

$11.99 $12.99 $12.99 $12.99 $12.99

MUST TRY FAVORITES !

Boneless Goat / Lamb Karahi Butter Chicken Spinach & Potato Curry Beef Steak Kabob

$12.99 $10.99 $8.99 $9.99

HALAL MENUS

April 12th - May 16th 2013

APPETIZERS Buffalo Wings (Buffalo Hot, or RJ Recipe Barbecue sauce)

8pcs 14pcs 28pcs 54pcs 100pcs Vegetable Mini Samosa (6pcs) Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Beef Mini Samosa (6pcs) Chicken Tenders (4pcs) (8pcs) Garlic Bread (4pcs) Add Cheese Cheese Fries (Small/Large)

$6.99 $12.99 $24.99 $46 99 $89.99 $4.99 $3 49 $6.99 $4.99 $8.99 $3 99 $0 99 $3 99/$5.99

SOUPS, SALADS AND SIDES Salads Add 1.99 for extra chicken

Chef Salad

$7 99

Romaine, cheese, eggs, tomato, turkey, cucumber, onion, and carrots.

Greek Salad

$7.99

$6.99

Romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese, and carrots.

Garden Salad

$6.99

Iceberg Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and carrots.

Santa-fe grilled beef Salad

$10.99

Grilled beef, lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced onions, and diced green peppers.

SOUP Chicken Noodle Soup of the day Homemade Chilli SIDES Steak seasoned fries Small $2.59 Onion Rings Small $2.49 Baked Potato

Cup $4.99 $4.99 $5.99

Large $4.99 Large $3.49

Bowl $6.99 $6.99 $7.99

$2 99

--Add Sour Cream & Chives $0 50 --Add Turkey Bacon & Cheese $0 75

Steamed Broccoli Sauteed w/ Butter RJ’s Boardwalk Fries Small Large $1.79 $2.99 SUBS HOT SUBS 8” Philly Steak & Cheese $6.49 Philly Chicken Steak $6.49

$6.49 8” $6.49 $6.49 $5.99 $6.99 8” $7.99 $7.99 $7.99

$11.99 12” $11 99 $11.99 $10.99 $11.99 12” $12.99 $12.99 $12.99

8” $6.49 $6.49 $6.49 $6.49 $11.99

12” $11.99 $11.99 $11.99 $6.99 $11.99

$3.49

12” $11.99 $11.99

SANDWICHES RJ’s Swiss Cheeseburger Bacon Cheeseburger Hamburger Cheeseburger Chicken Club Classic Club Reuben Hot Pastrami & Swiss BLT Grilled Cheese SEAFOOD Grilled Salmon Sandwich w/Fries Cajun Tilapia Sandwich w/Fries Signature Crab Cake w/ Fries GYROS Lamb Gyro Lamb Gyro Platter w/ Fries Chicken Gyro Chicken Gyro Platter w/ Fries VEGETARIAN Deluxe Veggie Melt Grilled Vegetables Curried Chickpeas DESSERTS Triple Chocolate Cake Cheese Cake Red Velvet Carrot Cake Homemade Apple Crumbs - w/ Vanilla Ice Cream

CHEF SPECIALS Country Chicken Fried Steak w/ Mushroom Gravy

$16.99

Served with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Vegetables

BBQ Beef Short Ribs

$16.99

Served with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Ve etables

Grilled Lamb Chops

$16.99

Served with Basmati Rice, Salad and Yogurt Sauce

Beef Wellington

$24 99

Served with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans

Rib Eye

$28.99

Served with Baked Potatoes or Steamed Broccoli

Cajun Rib Eye

$2899

Served with Mashed Potatoes or Steamed Broccoli

Hawaiian Rib Eye

$28.99

Served with Mashed Potatoes or Steamed Broccoli

Lamb Chop.Masala

$18.99

Served with Vegetable Biryani, Salad, Yogurt Sauce, and Na’an

$5.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99 $6.99 $6 .99

Chicken Cordon Bleu

$16.99

Served with Broccoli

Stuffed Lobster w/ Crabmeat

$28 99

Served with Broccoli and Baked Potatoes

- Cajun Chicken Filet on Jamaican Coco Bread

Romaine. feta cheese, black olives, diced tomato, red onion, and cucumber

Caesar Salad

Meatball Sub COLD SUBS Roast Beef Hoagie Tuna Honey Smoked Turkey SEAFOOD SUBS Blackened Cajun Catfish Buffalo Style Catfish Fish Sub CHICKEN HOT CHICKEN SUBS Grilled Chicken Tikka Chicken Steak Sub BBQ Chicken Breast Buffalo Chicken Style Montery Jack Chicken HOT CHICKEN SANDWICHES Breaded Chicken Filet Grilled Chicken w/Honey Mustard BBQ Chicken Filet Breaded Buffalo Chicken Chicken Quesadilla Chef Sandwich

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 53

$5.99 $4 49 $3.49 $399 $6.49 $6 49 $649 $6.49 $499 $2.99 $10.99 $10.99 $11.99 $6.49 $7.99 $6.49 $7.99 $5.99 $5.99 $5.99 $3.99 $3.59 $3 99 $3.99 $5.99

Grilled Cajun Rockfish, Flounder, or Salmon Fried or Szechuan

$26.99

Fried or Szechuan Style, Served with Basmati Rice and Grilled Vegetables

PIZZAS Cheese Pizza Meat Eaters

14” $10.99 $17 49

16” $11.99 $20.99

Sausage, Beef Pepperoni, Turkey Ham, Turkey Bacon

Veggie Pizza

$1749

$20.55

Green Peppers, Onions, Mushrooms, Black Olives, Tomatoes & Pepper Rings

Deluxe Pizza

$17.49

$21.99

Pepperoni, Green Peppers, Onion & Mushrooms

Supreme

$17.99

$2199

Beef, Turkey Ham, Pepperoni, Turkey Bacon, Onions, Black Olives, Green Peppers & Mushrooms

Chicken Tikka Supreme $1749 $20.99 Pizza Toppings Pepperoni Black Olives Ground Beef Green Peppers Turkey Sausage Jalapenos Turkey Ham Tomatoes Turkey Bacon Mushrooms Anchovies’ Extra Cheese 14” $1.99 16” $2.69 Extra Topping 14” $1.79 16” $2.29 BEVERAGES Mango Shake $3.49 Mango Lassi $3.49 Yogurt Lassi $2.99 Hot Tea $2.99 Spice Chai $2.99 Coffee Small 1.99 Large $1.49

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 59

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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email: Jalab4@aol.com

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inquiries? contact raHma GHanim Direct line: (240) 305-6354 | Store: (301) 879-3598 or (301) 879-3596 Fax: (301) 879-3597 | Email: rahmainternationalstore@gmail.com Join our Facebook page and group: Rahma International Store

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 61

Full Time Hifzh Now Available in Frederick!

"Whoever reads the Qur'an and learns and acts according to it, will be adorned on the Day of Judgment with a crown of Light whose gleam is like that of the sun, and his parents will be dressed in two garments that the world can never be equal to. Thereupon, they will question, 'For what reason are we dressed in these garments?' lt will be said, 'This is by virtue of your son who memorized the Qur'an." (Reported by Al-Hakim) Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The most desolate house is that in which there is no (recitation of the) Qur'an." (Reported by Al-Hakim) Announcing a new full time intensive hifz program in your backyard.

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Azhary is Hafiz-ul-Qur'an and is an Alim of Shariah from Al-Azhar University and will be teaching ten highly motivated and talented children to memorize the entire Qu'ran at the Islamic Society of Frederick.

Help buy your family's ticket to Jannah and make sure your home is not desolate. For more information please contact Sheikh Ahmed Al-Azhary at 347-636-2654

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

Rendezvous Travel & Tours Last Ten Days of Ramadan

5881 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100 Falls Church, VA 22041 Phone# 703.931.6000

Package Includes:

Air Fare from Washington Dulles on July 28 and Returning on August 8 3 days in Medina/Accommodation at Dalla-Taiba Hotel (4 star) 7 days in Mecca/Accommodation at Al-Shohada Hotel (5 star) Breakfast (Iftar) Ramadan Included Processing Umrah Visa

Quad Room: $4,100

Sightseeing in Medina

Triple Room: $4,500 $4,700

Limited Seats Available on Saudi Airlines

Double Room: $5,500 $5,600

For details about the 2013 (1434) Hajj Program, check online at www.besthajj.com or www.rendezvoushajj.com Ramadan Mubarak!!! ....

April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

PHD Salon Barber Shop Specializing in Natural Hair Care Braids, Twists, Locs, Press & Curl, Shampoo & Conditioner, Corn Rows, Weaves, Set-Roller Wrap, and much more...

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To Advertise in the Muslim Link Call

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 69

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

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April 12th - May 16th 2013

Classifieds | 71 MP - ADVERTISEMENT

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

Childcare Exchange MUSLIM CHILDCARE PROVIDER Available to care for your children ages infant to 4 years old. 5 years of experience caring for children and 2 years of CPR and First Aid training. jameelia86@ gmail.com or 202-617-8728.

Employment OPENING FOR OFFICE MANAGER Open position for full time Office Manager for local Construction/ Development Company in Greenbelt, MD. Must have excellent communication and organizational skills, and be proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word and Excel. Salary based on experience/capabilities, starting at $11-$15/Hr. Email resumes to cmclp@ mail.com -------------------------------------------------INTERPRETER NEEDED Wanted- Interpreter of Farsi, Russian, Tajek and English. Reading and writing simple papers. 301-229-0232.

-------------------------------------------------FULL TIME SENIOR ACCOUNTANT CAIR, Council on American-Islamic Relations seeks an experienced, fulltime accountant at its Washington, D.C., headquarters reporting to the national executive director. This senior accountant is responsible for applying accounting principles and procedures to analyze financial information, preparing accurate and timely financial reports and statements, ensuring appropriate accounting control procedures, and supervising junior accounting staff.

Accounting degree or equivalent; knowledge of accepted accounting practices and principles; knowledge of auditing practices and principles; knowledge of applicable laws, codes and regulations; a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the management of financial systems and budgets, financial reporting, financial data analysis, auditing, taxation and providing financial advice. CPA

certification preferred but not required.

For a more detailed job description visit our website at www.cair.com. Please email a resume, cover letter and salary requirements to labusway@cair.com.

-------------------------------------------------PART TIME JUNIOR ACCOUNTANT CAIR- Council on American-Islamic Relations seeks a part-time accountant at its Washington, D.C., headquarters reporting to the senior accountant.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent; knowledge of accounting principles and practices and financial reporting; knowledge of local, state and federal laws regarding finances and taxation; accounts payable; previous experience of general accounting; proficiency in relevant accounting software. Please email resume and cover letter to labusway@cair.com -------------------------------------------------EMPLOYEES NEEDED FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUION The International Institute of Arabic is starting soon in Northern Virginia. We are hiring qualified sales representatives who have good experience in training and education. We are also hiring experienced Arabic teachers. If interested, email your resume to hr@iiarabic.com

Matrimonial SEEKING MARRIAGE MINDED MUSLIMA Sunni Muslim, incarcerated, 42, 6'1", 210 lbs from Guyana seeks marriage minded Muslima age 35-50. Kurt Miller 98A6702, Eastern Corr. Fac., P.O. Box 338 Napanoch, NY 12458. For more info, contact my face book at Sammie Cole 93 At yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------LOOKING FOR A SOUL MATE Arab citizen doctor is seeking alliance for his sister-in-law; Muslimah, sunni 40Y never married, Moroccan. Diploma, Masters, 12Y in insurance. Fluent Arabic, English & French. Piose Beautiful, & atletic. Please email: alwaysis@hotmail. com subject: serious marriage candidate.

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SEEKING HUSBAND She is a children's doctor, 28 years, very political, beautiful and nice. She`s born and graduated in USA. Originally from Egypt. She's looking for good Sunni Muslim husband same her born and graduate from U.S.A due to the cultural similarities. Prefer Arabic doctor close to her age maximum 5 year difference. If interested, please call 410-282-4201 or email fatmakhalil12@yahoo.com.

-------------------------------------------------SEEKING FOR HUSBAND 44 years old Single Girl Never Married, looking for a 40-47 years old Professional Sunni Religious man. Single, Divorce.

If interested please email: ayesha7300@ hotmail.com

Miscellaneous LONELY IN AMERICA Pakistani, Sunni Muslim Male, Age 43.

Funny, understanding, and easy-going.

Seeks friendship. Nadeem Khan, Box 1900, Pound, VA 24279.

Rental 2 ROOMS FOR RENT 2 Rooms available to rent for any 2 single brothers or sisters. Close to Muslim Community Center, Wheaton Mall, and less than 1 block from Wheaton Metro.

Available anytime. $400 per month, all included. 301-922-1839.

-------------------------------------------------SISTER NEEDS HOUSING Senior community activist seeking housing, preferable 2 bedroom apartment or small house. Located in Washington DC, or nearby Maryland or Virginia.

Income source is retirement and disability.

Please contact Sis Bahijah Abdus-Salaam at 202-367-5421.

-------------------------------------------------BOWIE BASEMENT APARTMENT 2BR/ 1 BA, Basement Apartment Conveniently located 6 minutes from

PGMA. Washer dryer/Gas/Water/Electric Utilities Included. The apartment has 1500 sq feet of living space including a separate entrance, nice size BR, LVR, Dining Room, and private kitchen. Plenty of street parking in safe family oriented community. Close access to parks, running trails, tennis courts and pool.

Available for immediate occupancy.

First month's rent and $1000.00 deposit required. References and verifiable employment required. Call today for a viewing appointment. M-F 6-8 Sa-Su 11-1 240.230.7374.

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Services EXPERIENCED TUTOR Tutor w/over 5 years of experience in subjects including but not limited to: Math: Basic math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Trig., Pre-Calc., Calculus I, II, & III, Diff. Eqns., STAT, SAT Math Prep, SAT Math Subject Prep, GRE Math Prep, and more. Any level elementary - college.

Science: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.

Computer: MS Office Apps. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project, C Programming, Javascript, and MATLAB Please contact me at: 202-352-0132 or email me at: Hassan.moustafa12@gmail. com.

-------------------------------------------------HOME SERVICES Licensed contractor. Home improvement work, interior/exterior painting, drywall install/repair, brick/concrete repair.

License # 30385946 Estimates done.

Contact Br Allen Scott at 443-538-7643 (cell).

-------------------------------------------------LOVING HOME CARE Providing elder and child care you can trust and afford. Companionship, hygiene care, meal preparation, housekeeping, shopping, doctor appointments. Loving, dependable caregivers for Live-in, Full, Part time. Call: 301-490-1146 www. lovinghomecare.org.

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