The Muslim Link - Rabi' al-Awwal 1430 - 02/27/09

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Feb 27 – April 2, 2009

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Muslim Link to Readers:

IT’S REACTION TIME

As newspapers across the nation downsize or disappear, TML organizes March 29 fundraiser with George Galloway and Mahdi Bray

By Muslim Link Staff The February 5, 2009 issue of TIME Magazine had a sobering headline about headlines.

MAS Freedom Foundation’s Mahdi Bray (right) and British MP George Galloway will be in Falls Church for the March 29 “Reaction Time” Muslim Link fundraising dinner.

“How to Save Your Newspaper” by former TIME managing editor Walter Isaacson put the discussion going on in newspaper editorial board rooms and beat reporter lounges everywhere in front of a nationwide readership.

It’s a discussion the staff of the Muslim Link newspaper – the Washington Baltimore region’s only dedicated Muslim community newspaper – has been having frequently for the last several months.

“We started getting hit really hard when oil prices shot up a couple >> Reaction Pg 7

Waiting to Be Heard

Deaf Muslims Convene in DC Nadirah Rasheed Muslim Link Contributing Writer Just the second of many more events and projects to come, the World of Deaf Conference presented by Global Deaf Muslim, Deaf Muslim Student Association of Gallaudet University, and Georgetown

>> Muslims Pg 10

• Students at George Mason

Gather to Attend Gaza Strip Film | PG 4

• Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Ahmed Abu Ali Appeal | PG 5 • Annual Malcolm X Program Focuses on Family | PG 5 • Judge Grants Al-Arian’s Motion for Discovery | PG 8 • ‘…whose religion and character pleases you…’ – Marital Advice | PG 15 • Five Things Everyone Should Know About Immigration | PG 18

University Muslim Ministry was well attended and a resounding success.

The all day affair that was held on Saturday, February 21 at Georgetown University in

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Attendees of the Deaf Muslims conference pose for a picture with Imam Yahya Hendi, seated at front right.

(Photo by Bilal Aslam)

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TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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INDEX

INSIDE THIS ISSUE RABI’ AL-AWWAL 1430 | FEB 27 - APRIL 2, 2009

04

Community News

15

v

Islam

17

Fataawa

18

Civil Rights

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

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World Press

27

Readers Write

29

Marketplace

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COMMUNITY NEWS

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Community News Creating links through mutual understanding and cooperation

Students at George Mason Gather to Attend Gaza Strip Film

By Rola Ghannam Muslim Link Contributing Writer Dozens of George Mason University (GMU) students gathered in meeting room C in the Johnson Center last week for the February 5th screening of the film “Gaza Strip,” a documentary directed by American film maker James Longley.

The event, titled “Gaza Strip,” was hosted

by MEtc. (Middle East Etcetera) Film Club, an organization which aims to foster a better understanding of the Middle East by organizing screenings like this, that offer unique, yet critical perspectives that are often unseen in typical media coverage. MEtc. announced the screening by word of mouth, distributing fliers, and creating an event on Facebook, a popular website among college students, often used to publicize and invite others to upcoming events, as well as keep in touch with friends and post links for articles and videos.

About 22 students attended the screening, many of whom demonstrated their solidarity with the Palestinians by arriving at the event wearing the kaffiyeh, a scarf with a black and white checkered pattern, typically worn in

“I was a little disappointed in the greater Muslim community,” said Sami Dajani, a GMU student attending the film screening with his friends and sister. Dajani, hoping for a bigger turnout, went on to convey that he feels that Muslims are not as interested as they used in being aware or involved in events like this.

Arab counties and by Palestinians.

Shortly before the film began, Hiba Ismeail, president of MEtc., spoke about the organization briefly, and then introduced Basam Haddad, the director of the Middle East Studies Program at GMU, and the faculty advisor of MEtc. Haddad, who put together the organization at GMU, worked with MEtc. to “choose this film because it raises awareness of the current situation in Gaza,” according to Ismeail, who stated that the film “is very powerful and intense.” Despite the fact that it was shot in 2001, she says, that “It still shows how bad the situation in Gaza is until now.”

Haddad agrees with Ismeail, and believes that “the Gaza story didn’t start on December

27th, when the war on Gaza started. It’s something that has a history.” That history, he says, is that “Even before the war, Gaza was under siege for about a year and a half, and was a destitute place with the highest density and population. It was one of the worst areas in the world in terms of income, nutrition and other indexes used to measure the welfare and well being of a population.

Those attending the film screening got a glimpse into the Gaza that Haddad speaks of. They are taken back to the time of the election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the intifada, and allowed to sense the reality of the situation that the Palestinians are faced with as the camera follows Palestinian children living their day to day lives. These children provide the viewers with gloomy eye witness accounts of the killing of other

Executive Director of United Palestinian Appeal Samer Badawi talks to GMU students about the situation in Gaza. Photo by the author.

Palestinian children by Israelis, and the horrors they encounter living in a war zone.

One such account is that of a13 year-old boy named Mohammed Hejazi, who recalls the killing of a friend who he says “was shot in the head and chest,” by Israeli soldiers. With tears streaming down his cheek, he later goes on to talk about how during his religious holiday’s he visits the graves of friends that were killed by Israelis to sprinkle water over >> Gaza Strip Pg 14

Muslims, Jews Cooperate in Helping Homeless Women Arif Kabir Muslim Link Contributing Writer A few days before the Presidential Inauguration, ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) announced a collaborative effort with the Presidential Inauguration Committee for the National Day of Service on January 19, 2009. They were encouraging Muslims to hold their own local service events and were told to inform ISNA about them so that their event could be put on the official inauguration website.

Seeing this, the Islamic Information Center of Dar-us-Salaam (IIC) posted their upcoming monthly trip to volunteer at the Dinner Program of Homeless Women in Washington DC. In just a few hours, the event started to rapidly fill up as people signed up for the soup

kitchen event. They were all part of a Jewish community called Shirat HaNefesh (Song of the Soul) and wanted to participate in the event alongside with the Islamic Information Center. The IIC agreed and they soon made plans to meet at Dar-us-Salaam and to go to the soup kitchen from there.

The National Day of Service came, and bystanders looked on as they watched a large group of approximately twenty Muslims and Jews walking on their way from Dar-usSalaam to the nearby Metro. When the group arrived at the Metro, they were amazed to see endless lines of people waiting to buy their tickets for the Presidential Inauguration that was to be held the next day.

Here the group split; some went back to Dar-us-Salaam and then carpooled, while

others that had Metro passes from before went on the Metro to Washington DC. On the trip there, lively conversation ensued as everybody started to talk about their religion and beliefs. Jenny Adams, organizer of the event, commented, “Some of the Jewish volunteers thanked us for explaining many things to them. We had a long conversation on many topics in the car ride. They asked many questions about Islam and Muslims, and it was a very positive exchange of knowledge”.

After both groups arrived in Washington DC, they made their way to the soup kitchen. Just as Barack Obama helped out at a homeless shelter earlier that day, the group also quickly became involved in the different tasks at the soup kitchen by preparing the food, washing the dishes, and cleaning up the trash.

As they started on their duties, they were surprised to see a barrage of journalists and photographers sweep into the kitchen. They identified themselves as part of MediaSoup, which is a group of independent journalists that are dissatisfied with the reporting of the mainstream media. They had found out about the program through the online posting of the event and after given permission, they started to snap pictures of Muslims and Jews working side by side for a worthy cause.

After all the food was prepared, the dishes were washed, the trash was cleaned, and the food was served to the homeless women, everybody felt satisfied and content. Nathan Mishler, the director of the homeless shelter, remarked, “It was really great to have such a large group. There was good energy and mix of people, and it was fun.”

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Ahmed Abu Ali Appeal WASHINGTON (Reuters -- “Supreme Court won’t hear appeal in Bush al Qaeda plot” By James Vicini ) - The U.S. Supreme Court turned down on Monday an appeal by an American citizen convicted in 2005 for plotting to assassinate then-President George W. Bush and conspiring with al Qaeda.

Ahmed Abu Ali, who was born in Texas and lived in the Washington suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, was arrested in 2003 while studying at a Saudi university and was held in Saudi custody for 20 months before being returned to the United States to face trial.

In Saudi Arabia, he signed confessions and made statements admitting to the plot against Bush and to having ties to an al Qaeda

cell. That provided the bulk of the U.S. government’s case against him.

Abu Ali’s attorneys initially raised a number of issues in appealing his conviction, but a U.S. appeals court last year rejected all of them in ruling he had received a fair trial.

His attorneys claimed he had been tortured into confessing by the Saudi police and that his legal rights had been violated because Saudi security officers testified at his trial

via live video hookup. They also challenged classified evidence presented to the jury that he was not allowed to see.

In appealing to the Supreme Court, his attorneys raised only the last issue, which involved two coded communications between Abu Ali and a suspected al Qaeda member in Saudi Arabia.

They said his constitutional right to confront his accusers had been violated when a federal judge allowed prosecutors to present the entire communications to the jury while denying access to Abu Ali and his primary vtrial attorney.

the appeal.

They said one of Abu Ali’s attorneys had seen copies of the communications and that Abu Ali and his other defense lawyers, who did not have security clearances, got copies with only slight deletions that did not affect the substance of the communications.

The Supreme Court sided with the Justice Department and refused to hear Abu Ali’s appeal without any comment.

(Source: Reuters -- Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:59pm GMT. Editing by Patricia Zengerle)

U.S. Justice Department attorneys opposed

Annual Malcolm X Program Focuses on Family

By Salahuddeen Kareem Muslim Link Contributing Writer Al-Hamdulillah, Al-Mizaan Inc., a local non-profit Islamic organization, held its 14th Annual Commemorative Program honoring the life and legacy of Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X - May Allah bless and reward his soul). The program was held on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC. At least 75 guests attended the program.

The Master of Ceremonies was Br. Ammar Hanif, a very active Muslim young adult, who works very closely with his mother Sr. Asma Hanif, cha irperson of the DC-CCMO and director of woman’s shelter (Muslimat Al-Nisaa) in Baltimore, Maryland.

Guest speakers included Br. Mauri Saalakhan, executive director of the Peace and Justice Foundation; Br. Rodnell (Yusuf) Collins, one of Hajj Malik El-Shabazz’s nephews, who had a very close, loving relationship

with his uncle prior to his assassination he wrote a book entitled Seventh Child: A Family Memoir of Malcolm X); Sr. Saffiyah Abdullah, who received Al-Mizaan’s Annual Community Service Award, and was kind enough to share with the audience two of her very inspiring, time-relevant poems; and the keynote speaker Shaikh Abdul Jalil Issa Nawee, a very humble scholar from Ghana, Africa who specializes in Islamic Studies and Arabic Language. His near one-hour lecture focused on the importance of family in Islam; marriage and its pre-requisites; the process of selecting a spouse for both males and females; the responsibilities and rights of husband and wife; and the very disturbing and harmful effects of divorce, especially when children are involved. He mentioned many Quranic verses and hadith while elaborating on these topics. Following his speech a few questions were asked. Furthermore, Shaikh Abdul Jalil encouraged Al-Mizaan to consider forming a core group that would be responsible for developing and implementing a series of pre-marriage orientation and

training sessions for males and females. The aim of these well-organized, focused sessi ons would be to thoroughly prepare potential spouses for their duties as husband and wife. Al-Mizaan’s membership welcomed this suggestion and looks forward to taking the next step in this process. Shaikh Abdul Jalil also recommended reading a very important book wherein the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him and his) spoke about the virtues and qualities of marriage for both husbands and wives, and how they should go about treating each other. He considered this book as “essential reading” for any marrying couple, whose marital aim is serving and pleasing Allah Almighty as a unit, rather than serving their own self-interests.

The program ended with du’aa for Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and Muslims throughout the world, especially those who are struggling to maintain their lives and property.

With the help of Allah Almighty, Al-Mizaan will hold its 15th Annual Commemorative

Program in February 2010. The life and legacy of Hajj Malik El-Shabazz - our beloved brother and Martyr (insha’Allah) - must be preserved, especially in this country. Let us not forget the critical role martyrs play in human society. Their faith, courage, humility, commitment, dedication, and sacrifices keep society alive and purposeful. Without their sacrifices and blood-soaked legacies pointing the way, we will become lost and misled in the illusions and distractions of life. Al-Hamdulillah, our friend, our brother, our Martyr, gave his precious life, so that we=2 0might continue the journey today.

To Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), we say, “Thank You! Thank You! Thank You, So Much!”

Peace and Blessings to all reading this program recount . From Al-Mizaan Inc. The writer is affiliated with Al-Mizaan Inc.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

An Appeal for Imam Jamil A. Al-Amin My father, Imam Jamil Al-Amin aka H. Rap Brown, was under 23 hour lock down in the super max prison in Colorado until recently when he was placed in the hole. He was stripped searched, his Quran and all other personal belongings were seized and he has been placed in a cell with no bed, no control over the lights and no shower. We are appealing to you to please write, fax or call the WARDEN of the prison, Ron Wiley, inquiring about my father’s current situation and why he has been placed even further underground, so to speak.

Please help out, it would be greatly appreciated.

Contact info for the warden is below, thank you.

Sincerely, Kairi Al-Amin Warden Ron Wiley USP Florence ADMAX U.S. Penitentiary PO Box 8500 Florence, CO 81226..... Phone: 719-784-9464 Fax: 719784-5291 Important note: The above are the correct (direct) numbers for the Admax facility where Imam Jamil is being housed. It is also important that with any communications concerning the imam, that you include his

REGISTRATION # 99974-555. It would also help if solidarity messages were sent to the imam via regular postal mail to the following: Imam Jamil A. Al-Amin, Reg # 99974-555 USP Admax, PO Box 8500 Florence, Colorado 81226

To Advertise in the Muslim Link Call

301 982 1020

Shukran (Many thanks) for all who will respond to this appeal.

[Source: El-Hajj Mauri’ Saalakhan email list, February 24, 2009]

S.I.S.T.E.R.S Takes “Occupation 101” on Tour Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said, “The believers of this Brotherhood are one body: when any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels the pain.”

This describes the emotional state that propelled Northern Virginia Muslim activist group S.I.S.T.E.R.S (Sisters in Solidarity to Educate Respond and Serve) into action as they anguished over Israel’s three-week merciless bombing of innocent civilians in Gaza. They pondered over the American public’s defense of Israel asking “Where is the outrage? Why are the victims (Palestinians) being blamed and the aggressor (Israel) being defended?”

S.I.S.T.E.R.S members concluded the answer to the above questions was the lack of access to the hard facts in the face of a highly polished disinformation campaign waged by the media. In response, they initiated a two-pronged educational project consisting of screening a provocative award-winning documentary film on the historical root causes of the conflict in Palestine leading up to the present conflict, followed up by a political action plan, calling on Congressional representatives to end the embargo, open the

border crossings into Gaza, and to terminate military funding of Israel.

The documentary, Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority, produced and directed by Virginia natives Abdullah and Sufyan Omeish, has received enthusiastic acclaim across the country and is considered in many academic circles as the best work on this conflict to date. After viewing it, S.I.S.T.E.R.S members decided it was the perfect vehicle for educating the Ummah and began screening it in late January (continuing through the month of February) in various venues, including Masjid Mustafa, Mannassas Mosque, Zenobia Lounge, Dar Al-Hijrah, ISB, MCC in coordination with the Peace and Justice Foundation, the South Riding community, and ICM. SISTERS’ hope is that this knowledge might be passed onto others through similar public forums or intimate gatherings in their own homes.

Although the audiences numbered between 15 and 50, which represented but a fraction of the potential, it was all about quality over quantity. Those few conscientious individuals who came were the ones Allah destined to be

Although viewings of a documentary on the occupation of Palestine attracted small audiences at area masajid, SISTERS said the education empowered viewers can now engage the issue in the public arena. Photo courtesy of SISTERS. there, to absorb, to keenly feel solidarity with their suffering brothers and sisters in Palestine and to go out and educate others in their own spheres of influence. Those attendees were astounded by the film which so effectively dispelled the numerous myths surrounding the conflict and felt they now understood the history, the nature of occupation and left with literature and an action plan-- to call their congressional officials referring to bullet points and contact numbers on handouts which were distributed at the end of

the event.

One of the main hopes SISTERS had when planning this project was that it will act as a springboard for action in that others will take up this initiative by purchasing a copy of the film at www.occupation101.com in order to host individual home parties where the film is shown and discussed.

[The writer is an active member of SISTERS]

S.I.S.T.E.R.S Offers Scholarship But Few Are Applying There is free tuition money for young Muslim women in the DC Metro area! Who would turn that down?

Despite the high cost of college, organizations offering scholarships around the country are seeing low numbers of applicants and our local group, SISTERS is now included in this astounding trend.

SISTERS’ scholarship program began three years ago and now offers two $1000

scholarships to young women who are high school seniors or college students between the age of 17-24. This year the application deadline is February 28th and so far there are very few applicants.

“If we do not receive qualified applicants, we will re-evaluate the program and perhaps terminate it,” stated Laurie Jaghlit, SISTERS >> Scholarship Pg 7

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Muslim Link to Readers: IT’S REACTION TIME

Reaction >> continued from pg 1

years ago. The printers use a lot of oil, so they kept passing on increases to us. Now with the financial crisis sending waves everywhere, our advertising inquires and sign-ups have gone way down, and donations have also slowed down,” said editor Minhaj Hasan.

The non-profit newspaper – established in late 1998 -- grew rapidly since early 2002, moving from a volunteer-only operation to a six person bi-weekly newsroom by 2007.

Since then, the staff has been reduced to three full-time employees and has temporarily scaled back to a monthly paper. The newspaper

is funded both by advertising revenue and donations from the community.

Muslim voice in the public arena,” said Hasan.

international media attention to the area after Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza’s civilians.

“We are operating with a skeleton staff now, doing what we can to keep this community voice loud and clear. Going monthly was an excruciatingly painful decision,” explained Hasan.

Underscoring the pressure on the newspaper – which distributes 8,000 papers monthly to masajid and businesses across the region – a fundraising event titled “Reaction Time” will take place at Falls Church High School in Northern Virginia on Sunday afternoon, March 29. Known for its provocative, human rights oriented speaker list, the “Reaction Time” keynote address will be given by outspoken Iraq war critic George Galloway, a member of the British parliament.

Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray will also speak at the event.

Galloway is hugely popular around the world for his unapologetic criticism of Israel and the Iraq war. This month he led a large convoy and march into Gaza, bringing aid and

For tickets, visit muslimlinkpaper.com or call the Muslim Link at 301-982-1020.

After an appeal in their January 30, 2009 issue, the Muslim Link received many calls and inquires from readers concerned the paper would shut down. However, Hasan emphasized shutting down is not in the plan.

“That is a doomsday scenario. We can’t let that happen. Our community deserves better ... it deserves a respectable, representative

Scholarship >> continued from pg 6

wouldn’t know it by the low numbers of applicants.”

Chairperson. She continued, “Many people told us that this was a service that they really wanted to see in our community, but you

SISTERS hopes that they will see an increase in applicants as the deadline approaches, but will not be extending the deadline. If you or anyone you know is interested, an application can be downloaded from SISTERS website

at www.sistersinsolidarity.com or you can request an application via email at sistersinformation@gmail.com. Also, please spread the word to the entire DC Metro area.

[Source: SISTERS]

“Brother Mahdi has been really supportive of the [Muslim Link],” remarked Hasan. “He understands the value of media.”

Mahdi Bray hosts a weekly 1-hour radio show -- “The Crescent Report” -- on WUST1120 AM Sundays at 11:30 am.

If you would like the Muslim Link to be available at your establishment give us a call.

301.982.1020

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COMMUNITY NEWS

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Judge Grants Al-Arian’s Motion for Discovery

By Farkhunda Ali Muslim Link Staff Reporter A federal judge in Alexandria ruled in favor of the defense of Dr. Sami Al-Arian on Feb. 20th during a pre-trial hearing. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema denied a government motion asking the Judge to reconsider the ruling passed on Feb. 5th.

Prior to the Feb 20th hearing, Al-Arian’s legal counsels turned in two declarations by his previous attorneys Bill Moffit, and Linda Moreno stating that “non-cooperation” with the government on any subsequent cases or investigations is the heart of the 2006 plea agreement.

In other words, Al-Arian agreed to sign the please negotiations due to this very important component of his right to “refuse to testify.”

During the previous hearing in early Feb., Judge Brinkema granted Al-Arian’s motion to turn over “discovery” in order to verify the facts of the original agreement signed by both parties in Tamp Bay, Florida.

“Discovery is important in order to go forward with the case,” said Judge Brinkema.

Judge Brinkema asked the government to provide the affidavits and any corresponding evidence of what exactly happened during the 2006 plea negotiations.

Al-Arian’s attorneys argued their client is declining to testify in “good faith.” According to family members, the prosecutors promised Al-Arian that he would not have to testify or cooperate in any other case, but they broke that promise and went back on their word.

Al-Arian’s attorneys said the negotiation guidelines protect his refusal to testify in front of grand jury. Their assumption is that AlArian is within his rights to refuse to testify or cooperate on any other investigation not related to his charges.

Al-Arian will appear in court for terrorism investigation trial scheduled to begin in March 2009. He will face the charge of 1count of criminal contempt for not testifying in an unrelated case in Northern Virginia.

Since he completed most of his prison term for refusing to testify in his case, the government is bringing on the contempt charge for his refusal to testify in another case. This charge came after he already served estimated four years for criminal contempt for not testifying in his terrorism case in Florida.

Currently, he’s being accused of having knowledge or involvement in a terrorism related case where the government is investigating a think tank in Florida which received funding from International Institute of Islamic Thought, another think tank in Northern Virginia.

The facts regarding the 2006 plea deal negotiations will be critical in the Al-Arian’s defense at the upcoming trial.

Abiding by the negotiations settled in his 2006 plea agreement, Al-Arian is refusing to testify on any case since “non-cooperation” is the major component of the plea negation with the government.

“I need clear facts of evidence underlying the conditions of that document,” said Judge Brinkema.

US Attorney Gordon Kromberg argued that US Attorney’s Office in Eastern District is not barred from anything other than prosecuting

Al-Arian. Upon this condition, Attorney Kromberg stated the U.S. government is not prohibited from “compelling a testimony.”

“There is in my view a cloud as to what was actually discussed,” said Judge Brinkema when she told US Attorney Kromberg that conditions of the negotiations are unclear.

Family members say legal analysts consider this “unusual” for someone to “essentially be punished for the same crime twice.”

Al-Arian’s legal counsel requested the government to make available the initial documents of the plea agreement drafted by the attorneys of the Department of Justice (DOJ). According to counsel, these documents mysteriously disappeared during various jail transfers.

“I was encouraged by this decision. This is the first time it seems that someone is seeking justice for Sami. This case has always been a one-sided case all along,” said Dr. Mel Underbakke, colleague of Al-Arian, former professor of University of South Florida in Tampa

>> Al-Arian Pg 14

Muslims Eagerly Await Masjid Demolition

By Muslim Link Staff A masjid in Maryland will be razed within days, and area Muslims are eagerly awaiting the destruction.

Make it a Combo !

The Islamic center in Gwynn Oak, Maryland, located on the outskirts of Baltimore City where over 300 Muslims live as neighbors, was condemned last year by city officials as unsafe. After months deliberating on options, Muslim community leaders decided to rebuild the then house turned masjid from the ground up, making it the first originally built masjid in Baltimore City.

Now, the first phase of the new masjid is ready to begin – once the current facility is demolished.

“We are going to watch it come down insha’Allah. The city delayed the demolition a little due to some documents they needed

signed, and a mandatory five day advance notice surrounding homes need about the pending demolition,” explained Melvin Bilal, a board member of the Gwynn Oak community.

Masjid leaders intend to not only raze the building, but also to remove the old foundation, leaving a gaping dirt hole in the ground. A brand new concrete foundation will be laid down, insha’Allah.

“Now its a matter of how many people want to share in the blessings to complete this job,” said Brother Melvin.

A Saturday, March 14, 2009 fundraiser is planned at the Islamic Society of Baltimore to raise the remaining funds for Phase 1 of the construction. Invited speakers include area Imams and activists. For tickets and information, call Delmar Tawheed at 443324-9435 or Brother Melvin Bilal at 443538-5661.

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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The World of Deaf Muslims: Shedding Light on our Deaf Siblings Muslims >> continued from pg 1

improve the quality of education for deaf people there.

Appropriately, the first speaker, Sister Ishaa Vintinner, a deaf American Sign Language Washington, D.C. was the result of months of instructor at San Diego State University in planning by Sisters Taqwa T. Mahdi and Sarah California gave a very informative history Kalim-ullah and a host of volunteers, deaf of deaf culture, American Sign Language, and hearing. They were dedicated to making and Deaf Education in the United States. the voices of our deaf siblings heard by our Surprisingly 60% of American Sign Language hearing brothers and sisters. “Everyone is derived from French sign language and it has the right to know the truth about Allah is the third most commonly used language in and Islam, and we as a community have to the United States after English and Spanish. continue to increase our awareness and make However, deaf people do use other forms of this knowledge accessible to everyone. I pray communication such as cued speech, oral that we will continue to gain more support for speech, technical assisted devices, and voice our deaf brothers and sisters from the Muslim and video relay services. The first school for community. This conference is another the deaf in America was founded by Thomas stepping stone toward more great things to Gallaudet in 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut. come inshaAllah,” said Sister Taqwa.

The first liberal arts college for the deaf was named after Tw o s i g n Mr. Gallaudet language w h i c h interpreters Bader Alomary, President of the Deaf e v e n t u a l l y alternated became known during the Muslim Students Association of Gallaudet as Gallaudet conference, University, and Vice President of Global University in standing Washington, next to the Deaf Muslim gave the welcoming and D . C . S i s t e r podium and reminded the audience that “deaf Muslims Ishaa presented translating in sign. speech into need access to Islamic education”. sign or sign into A v e r y speech when the presenters were deaf. energetic and charismatic Nashiru Abdulai, Sister Carmen Estrada-Polley, a Muslimah Founder and President of Global Deaf Muslim who flew in from California just for the (GDM) who also presented in sign, loves to program, and local resident Tina Hudzinski initiate conversations about Islam with deaf served as the interpreters. Organizers also people and when he realized that many of arranged for captioning (speech into text them lack the proper and basic concepts of on a screen) by NCC Media Solutions. Islam, just as the people in his home country We received greetings from Kevin O’Brien, Executive Director of Campus Ministry of Georgetown University. He welcomed us on behalf of the university President and assured us that Georgetown hopes to continue to work with the Deaf Muslims and that they were thrilled to give support to such a noble effort.

Bader Alomary, President of the Deaf Muslim Students Association of Gallaudet University, and Vice President of Global Deaf Muslim gave the welcoming and reminded the audience that “deaf Muslims need access to Islamic education”. He is now a junior at Gallaudet University majoring in Deaf Education and plans on returning to Saudi Arabia to

of Ghana, he decided to establish Global Deaf Muslim, a national organization that hopefully will become international to help deaf people with Islamic education and providing interpreters at masjids in the area.

Nashiru stated, “deaf Muslims don’t want pity, don’t pity us, work with us, we need hearing Muslims to interact with deaf Muslims, learn sign language, become interpreters”.

One sister in the audience, Sarah Aslam from Orlando, Florida learned sign language in high school and is now considering becoming a sign language i n t e r p r e t e r.

She said, “the conference is well organized, the speakers are dynamic and very interesting”, needless to say the impact of the conference has motivated her to consider interpreting, even while she is

Imam Hendi said, “support for deaf Muslims is a necessity, a religious responsibility, and a social requirement” he also stated, “do not feel sad for deaf Muslims, they are not sick, just work with them”.

Deaf and hearing Muslims interact after the program, using sign language, hand signals, and lip reading. Photo by Bilal Aslam pursuing a college degree.

Global Deaf Muslim has generated a lot of response nationally and internationally, they are receiving a number of emails from deaf Muslims and Muslim parents of deaf children asking them how they can educate their deaf child about Islam. GDM has several projects and events to be initiated as soon as funding becomes available. InshaAllah, they hope to establish a visual Quran with signs that can be viewed on DVD for deaf Muslims, a sign language dictionary that will consolidate commonly held signs from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, provide interpreters at this years ISNA conference to be held in Washington, D.C., and plan for an international three day conference, timing and place yet to be decided.

B r o t h e r Abdul Hakim Khan, a deaf community leader who works with GDM was instrumental in arranging for the sign language interpreter at Darul Hijra for jumah prayers and will also be instrumental in assisting GDM with their future projects and events.

the fighting and migrated to a refugee camp in Kenya. Later the family was able to repatriate to the United States where he began to learn more about Islam.

Brianne Weber, a student at Gallaudet, the Vice President of the Muslim Students Association of Gallaudet University, and a recent revert to Islam became deaf at 9 months old. After meeting several deaf Muslim students on campus she wanted to learn more about Islam, so she began going to the Jumah prayer at Darul Hijra even before she became Muslim.

It was during this time that she decided to become Muslim. She aspires to work with deaf children in mainstream environments.

Brianne is w o r k i n g t o w a r d integrating deaf and h e a r i n g Muslims together, instead of continuing to leave deaf Muslims in isolation.

Nashiru stated, “deaf Muslims don’t want pity, don’t pity us, work with us, we need hearing Muslims to interact with deaf Muslims, learn sign language, become interpreters”.

One of the highlights of the morning program was a panel of four, each of whom had personal stories to share of their experiences growing up deaf or being a parent of a deaf child. Brother Del from Somalia comes from a family of 8, 4 of whom who are deaf. There weren’t any schools in Somalia for the deaf, so his parents sent him and his other deaf siblings to Kuwait to go to school.

Unfortunately, they weren’t given any Islamic education at this school thus prompting him to search for an understanding of Islam from other sources. The family left Somalia during

To this author, also a revert to Islam and the mother of a deaf child who is now an adult, believes that some of the greatest challenges for her daughter growing up was a lack of communication within the Muslim community and the feelings of isolation that her daughter felt even within her extended family because everyone did not know sign language. I did attempt to establish a class for family members, however the class did not continue long enough to be beneficial.

As a result of peer pressure in high school and a lack of clear understanding of Islam, her daughter eventually left Islam.

Imam Saeed Uddin from New Jersey is the

>> Muslims II Pg 10

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Letter from the the President of the Global Deaf Muslims Assalamu Alaikum, Dear Yahya Hendi, As President of Global Deaf Muslim, I want to on behalf of the Deaf Muslim Community in America to express our profound appreciation to the Muslim Ministry at Georgetown University and Rumi Forum for paving the way for us to have such an invaluable conference. We had such a humbling experience You not only sponsored the conference but you also made sure that it happened in a way befitting a mix of Deaf and Hearing audience.

Your department made sure we had two experienced Sign Language Interpreters, even going to the extent of making it possible for Sister. Carman Estrada and Sister Ishaa Vintinner, to fly down from California to Washington, DC for the sole purpose of interpreting and presentation for the one day’s conference which turned out Mashallah.

Your compassionate but highly significant

11

COMMUNITY NEWS

contribution has given birth to 1st Global Deaf Muslim Annual Conference which should be documented.

Since Global Deaf Muslim was established in 2005, our intentions have always been to make sure that Deaf Muslims get access to communicative resources so that we will understand Islam in the same way you and other hearing do without difficulties.

And also be able to stage Deaf In Islam Conference with deaf Muslims from various nations participating, and one of many of our initiatives has always been to provide captioned presentations and Alhamdulillah, you provided exactly that, making our goal looks more realistic. With the successful hosting of the event, you not only kept your commitment to advocating for the Deaf Muslim Community but you also helped to make it happened in a time when we wanted it most.

We deaf Muslims cannot deny the fact that part of the reason that the conference was such a resounding success was in part because of the indispensable leadership and altruistic attitude of your Coordinator Sister.

Sarah KalimMullah and I pray that she will allow us to get her involved in our future work. As I have emphasized during my presentation that we have a long way to go.

However, with the confluence of energies, motivations and confidences that we have witnessed at the Conference, the path can be shorter InshaAllah.

Thank you also to Georgetown University and the entire Ministry for allowing us to use Copley Hall. May Allah(GOD) reward you all abundantly. And I sincerely pray other Muslim will come to emulate your moral and compassionate example.

Nashiru Abdulai President/Global Deaf Muslim www.globaldeafmuslim.org

How do deaf Muslims interact with the Qur’an? How do they pray in congregation?

“Deaf people typically read English translated Qurans and many others recite with help from family members.

We ‘listen’ to video interpreted sermons with captions. Many deaf Muslims recite the Quran without sounds, just reading silently. We believe Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala hears us with or without reciting with sounds. And you don’t have to be able to hear and recite verbally for Allah to hear you. In jumah we pray just like every Muslim brother and sister there except we don’t hear the sermons except when an interpreter is stationed”. -- Global Deaf Muslims President Nashiru Abdulai

Islamic Society of Baltimore Dedicates a Day to Gaza

By Arjumand Yousuf Muslim Link Staff Writer

to ask questions of the panel and further discuss the crisis.

The Islamic Society of Baltimore hosted two events on Sunday February 9, 2009; the first was an open forum to educate and promote discussion of the conflict in Gaza, the second was a fundraising dinner for Islamic Relief to get the community to act and support this devastating crisis.

The evening event focused on raising funds for Islamic Relief’s Palestine Humanitarian Crisis campaign, organized with the help of ISB’s youth group. The evening began with a quranic recitation and was followed by very touching talks by Imam Khalil from MasjidAl Nur and Imam Mahmoud from Dar-Al Taqwa. The crisis is an issue for all faiths, Imam Khalil said in his talk. He stressed that we can’t achieve peace without justice for all of humanity and emphasized our duty to support Muslims and other human beings.

Imam Mahmood spoke of the significance of Palestine and about softening our hearts “Allah unite us to help those in need” he said in his speech.

The afternoon began with a multi-faith open forum with the theme “A Common World: Seeking an understanding of the Gaza conflict.” The purpose of the event was not only to educate and promote awareness about the Gaza conflict, but to encourage dialogue amongst Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The program began with a historical talk on the background of Palestine given by Richard Bliss, attorney and former White House representativeouH. This was followed by an exchange of ideas through a panel discussion with Christian and Muslim representation.

The event concluded with the opportunity for the attendees both Muslim and non-Muslim

Belkacem Nahi, Development Coordinator for Islamic Relief highlighted the great work being done by this charitable organization wordwide, especially in Gaza and the West Bank. Islamic Relief has been supplying aid in Palestine since 1994 in the form of

emotional and psychological support, health care, clean water and providing support to orphans and families.

Just hours after the crisis, Islamic Relief was able to deliver over 3 million in much needed medical supplies and equipment to hospitals, food, water, blankets and hygiene kits.

Islamic Relief which opened its Gaza office in 1998, works with the UN and WHO to procure and distribute medicines and with the WFP for food. Supplies are often purchased locally when available. With a total staff of 80, this local office not only allows Islamic Relief to respond immediately, it ensures that supplies are being distributed adequately.

However, more funds are desperately needed.

“Once the issue leaves the front pages it seems that the public interest drops, but the need continues” said Brother Naeem Muhammad emcee for the evening, and Islamic Relief representative.

The highlight of the evening was a graphic and disturbing video of the victims and the horrific conditions in Gaza: “Why are our

neighbors living in peace but were deprived of that? What have the children done to deserve this? What did we do wrong?” said one victim in the video. The fundraising portion of the evening was carried out by Anwar Khan V.P of fund development for Islamic Relief. Brother Anwar who works out of the Dallas office urged the community to give generously. The evening ended with dinner and an auction of beautiful garments and artifacts donated by the ISB youth group. The dinner raised over 38 thousand to help our fellow Muslims in Palestine. To donate to Islamic Relief and see pictures of aid distribution visit their website at www. irw.org The Islamic Society of Baltimore would like to personally thank the following individuals from the ISB Youth Group for helping make the fundraiser a success: Madiha Tahseen, Hasan Hammad, Abdullah Shafi, Khadeeja Alavi, Rehan Alavi and Mohsin Majid.

More information about the Islamic Society of Baltimore can be found online at www. isb.org

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TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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Al-Huda School Presents

For vending and/or other info contact us at: Tel: 301-982-2061 Email: events@darussalaam.org Website: www.darussalaam.org Location: 5301 Edgewood Rd. College Park, MD 20740

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14 Gaza Strip >> continued from pg 4

them. “It has become simple for them to kill the kids and young people,” he later goes on to say.

COMMUNITY NEWS had seen. Students shared stories they heard about the violence that occurs in that part of the world and the affects it had on people.

Students were then joined by guest speakers Samer Badawi (the executive director of United Palestinian Appeal (UPA), and Samar Ridi, the operations manager at UPA.

Longley also interviews Palestinian refugees in tents, whose homes in the Khan Yunis refugee camp were destroyed and bulldozed

by Israeli tanks. One woman, whose name is not mentioned in the film, tells of how her house was bulldozed in front of her, and how she too would have been bulldozed if her daughter hadn’t cried out and warned her to move. “I can still hear the bulldozers now,” she says, clearly traumatized by the experience.

Badawi talked about the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the need to be informed and force people in this country to confront the crimes against humanity that Israel commits against Palestinians every day. “Nowhere on earth do you have a situation where a million people are refugees to begin with, and then subsequently are bombed by more than 100 tons of bombs in the course of 3 weeks, and then of those million people, a further 80,000 are made homeless for the third time in their lives, without access to food, water, shelter, healthcare, even cash.”

Directly following the film Haddad asked students to make comments on what they

He later passed out handouts which

Muslims II >> continued from pg 10

parent of a deaf child who benefited from a surgery available to deaf people called a Cochlear Implant. Through this surgery an implant is placed in such a way that signals are sent to the brain from the cochlear in the ear which stimulates the nerves so that the person can pick up enough signals to be able t o hear sounds for speech etc. This surgery doesn’t work the same for every person, however Imam Saeed’s son is doing very well with the implant. He is 7 years old and attends regular school. Though the family does not need to use sign language with their son, Imam Saeed realizes the importance of sign language within the deaf community.

Conference participants broke for salat, lunch, and networking. The hearing and deaf Muslims were encouraged to intermingle and talk to each other using sign, lip reading, and gestures. After lunch we were entertained by two deaf poets, Zohaib Qureshi and Renato Souza. They did a great job of presenting their own original poetry in sign language. It was an enjoyable experience watching poetry being signed.

Al-Arian >> continued from pg 8

Bay Florida.

Underbakke travels from state to state showing the documentary on Sami Al-Arian to educate members of church ministries about the injustices of the US government. She said the facts of the case are “outrageous” and although non-Muslims may think it is a Muslim issue, they are now

Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain at Georgetown University and Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick in Maryland was the keynote speaker. His speech was quite interesting and thought provoking.

Imam Hendi, a dedicated advocate for the deaf Muslim community stated that 3 events have changed the course of his agenda and his future agenda as an Imam and a Muslim. The events of Gaza, the death of Aasiya Z. Hassan, and the needs of the deaf Muslims have prompted him to speak up for those who are voiceless, those who have traditionally been marginalized and overlooked by the larger community, the poor (refugees), women, and the deaf.

According to Imam Hendi there are 3 ethical foundations of Islam that should be inclusive of these people, political justice which must serve every member with fairness, economic equity which should provides every member with access to wealth and education, and covenant of community which functions to help each other, to care for each other.

The Imam was quite adamant and exact in his recommendations for our deaf siblings based on the ethical foundations of Islam; Muslims should provide deaf friendly events and masjids--assume deaf Muslims are in the audience and provide interpreters, learn sign language, this being fard kifayyah (at realizing this injustice “affects all of us.”

After five-and-a-half painful years of separation, and facing harsh prison conditions, Al-Arian was released on a $340,000 bond on Sept. 2nd, 2008 reuniting with his family for the first time since the terrorism case began in 2003.

Since his detention has been reduced to a house arrest upon his release from federal prison, Al-Arian only leaves his home, resident of his oldest daughter, for doctors’ appointments or court appearances abiding by the conditions of the court.

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

highlighted UPA’s accomplishments in Gaza, and encouraged students to be actively involved by 1.) “Being informed,” and 2.)

“Donating their time and money.”

Following Badawi’s post-film discussion, students were given the chance to ask questions, and to sign up to receive emails about the latest news from UPA. Students also dropped donations in a box set up for those who wanted to give to UPA. For some participants, including a number of Muslims and Arabs attending the screening, this was a chance to come out and support the Palestinian people.

“I was a little disappointed in the greater Muslim community,” said Sami Dajani, a GMU student attending the film screening with his friends and sister. Dajani, hoping for a bigger turnout, went on to convey that he feels that Muslims are not as interested

least some of the people in the community should do this), make deaf Muslims feel welcome, provide financial support, establish a conference at Georgetown University annually. In conclusion Imam Hendi said, “support for deaf Muslims is a necessity, a religious responsibility, and a social requirement” he also stated, “do not feel sad for deaf Muslims, they are not sick, just work with them”.

A unique addition to the program due to his early involvement (1996) with the deaf Muslims on the Gallaudet University campus, Imam Raqeeb Abdul Jabbar, Community Organizer of Washington, D.C., also the parent of a deaf child established Jumah prayer on campus, and a few Islamic study classes.

Imam Raqeeb gave a very moving and informative lecture on community revitalization and inclusiveness. He strongly emphasized that revitalization (to ignite, to stimulate), and inclusiveness has to be married to absolute trust and fear of Allah, and very strong adherence to Quran and sunnah in its purity. He said we have to depend on each other. We really have to live the hadith, want for your brother what you want for yourself. Imam Raqeeb took his work with the deaf to Nigeria, West Africa. Using a He will be on house arrest until brought to trail for current charges against him or until the judge rules on the several motions for the dismissal of the case.

“It’s been wonderful to have him back home.

He’s been a source of guidance, wisdom and advice for all of us five children. It’s been gratifying to finally have him back in our lives after nearly six years. It’s difficult to put into words, but for the first couple of weeks it felt like a dream to have him back here,” said Laila Al-Arian, the eldest daughter and second to the oldest of the five children.

as they used in being aware or involved in events like this.

Other participants saw this as a learning experience and a great opportunity to inform others who are not aware of the situation in Gaza.

“I think that more people should see it, more people that aren’t just Arab and Palestinians.

The American media should portray more stuff like that,” said Mona Abed, a senior at GMU. Badawi, who was pleased with the turnout and the discussion held after the film, is hoping students take away a “renewed sense of hope and possibility that they can make a difference in the lives of Palestinians, not only by donating their time and money, but also by advocating on the core issues with their friends, neighbors, colleagues and fellow students.”

Mac computer captioning program he took the speeches of Imams such as Siraj Wahaj and others, captioned their speeches, put them on DVD and distributed them freely to deaf Muslims in Nigeria. He suggested that the captioning project could be extended locally and nationally to Muslim conferences by providing captioned DVDs of the various speeches given at the conferences. His motivation is to provide Islamic education to deaf Muslims.

Overall the conference, the first of its kind in our area was quite enjoyable and a great learning experience. We even had the additional treat of learning some basic signs. Just before the closing we had a very interactive dialogue with questions and answers, with discussions ranging from sign interpreting to educating deaf Muslims to volunteering with deaf organizations.

For further information feel free to visit Global Deaf Muslim website, www. globaldeafmuslim.org. free online ASL, American Sign Language course, www.lifeprint.com/asl101/ For donations, make checks payable to Global Deaf Muslim and mail to: Abdul M. Ashraf, Treasurer 591 Ashburn Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45240.

Not being able to bear the thought of another separation, Al-Arian’s family is waiting for the Judge Brinkema’s decision at their contempt trial in March 2009.

“He prays, spends time with family and helps around the house,” said Laila.

In the courtroom were approximately thirty Al-Arian’s supporters, including family, colleagues from Florida, human rights and civil rights activists, community members, extended family, and friends.

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

15

ISLAM

Islam

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

‘…whose religion and character pleases you…’ – Marital Advice

By Dr. Deema Tariq Tahboub Islamtoday.net The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Prophet said: “If someone comes to you whose religion and character pleases you, then marry him.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (1084)] On one occasion, I was giving a lecture to a group of my Muslim sisters and said: “Be sure to marry a man of good character and religion. The material trappings of life change and can be lost. A husband’s religious character is the only assurance we can have of happiness in marriage. A religious man will be generous to you in times of prosperity and will be fair to you in hard times.”

However, they were just not buying it.

Instead, they confronted me with a huge number of stories and accounts of women who married “religious” men who then behaved atrociously towards them. Those

men exhibited every ignorant and unjust behavior imaginable, all the while fancying themselves to be “men of faith”.

The sad fact is that we hear such stories all the time. It has become painfully clear that there is a real problem when it comes to the way we go about categorizing people as “religious”.

All too often, we classify someone as religious on the basis of appearances or superficial behaviors without really knowing the person’s character.

A person’s true character can only be known by learning how they conduct themselves.

It is known through their actions. We learn about another person’s character by being with them on a journey, by doing business with them, by seeing them acting under stress.

Only then can we say we really know about someone.

This makes us realize that we must look more carefully at the Prophet’s advice: “If someone comes to you whose religion and character

pleases you, then marry him.”

We must ask: Why did the Prophet (peace be upon him) make a distinction between religion and character? We know the Prophet (peace be upon him) was blessed with eloquence. He did not waste words. He never used two words when one would suffice.

When he said “religion and character”, he had a good reason for doing so.

Was the Prophet (peace be upon him) merely emphasizing the importance of religiousness by using two nearly synonymous words? Or was he saying something more –warning us that a man might be religious in some aspects of his life but still be of bad character due to shortcomings in his overall understanding?

Or maybe he was telling us that we must pay attention to all aspects of religion – both inner belief and outward conduct – when choosing a husband?

It is easy for us to see where poor religious understanding can make a “religious” man

The Many Facets of Happiness

By Sheikh Salman al-Oadah islamtoday.com I went on an outing with my children. Our main intention was to swim and for the children to have their fair share of recreation and of my quality time. It was also a chance fir me as a father, to have my rightful share of the joy of being with my children, for truly we need our children as much as they need us, if not more. I found myself busy on that day with all sorts of little tasks – like making sandwiches, setting the picnic table, and handing out sweets. It was a beautiful day to harvest some of the fruits of happiness just by enjoying ordinary activities in total relaxation and familiarity.

That day made me think about how much we, as people, speak about happiness. Hundreds of books are published every year to address the issue from a dry, philosophical standpoint.

These works strive to define happiness and reveal its connection with factors like

prosperity, pleasure, and our state of mind.

There is considerable controversy about what brings about happiness and, more essentially, what it actually means to be happy. This leads to the more mundane questions of role that health, wealth, one’s job, one’s marriage,

the most ordinary and seemingly insignificant events of our lives. It is the normal state of a person’s mind when that person is enjoying an experience or an activity. Those of us who disdain engaging in some pleasant activities, or simply fail to admit our enjoyment of them

We are happiest when we shed our ostentation and inflated sense of self-importance, so we can really listen to ourselves and acknowledge our inner needs and aspirations. and being successful play in our chances for happiness.

We might fail to see that happiness is an inner state of our being, which comes into its being within ourselves, and is often connected with

– due to our preconceived notions of what is suitable for us as adults, or as elderly people, or as people of social prominence – need to rethink some of our ideas. We should not rob ourselves of life’s small but significant pleasures.

go wrong. He might read in the texts that he has a “degree” above women and take this to mean his rights and not realize that he has responsibilities that go with those rights. Such a man becomes a dictator, not a loving husband, seizing upon his wife as narrowly as his understanding seizes upon the sacred texts.

By contrast, a man who is of overall good character, as well as being pious in his conspicuous religious observances, will be mindful of all of Islam’s teachings, including where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best of you is he who is best to his family.”

Such a man will have a balanced attitude.

He will feel acutely the heavy responsibility Allah has given him to be a good husband.

He will not see his status as a husband a reason to push his weight around. [Source: islamtoday.net]

Be like a small child and really enjoy that cup of tea you are drinking. Take time to taste it.

The same goes for a piece of chocolate or your ordinary daily meal. Enjoy it. Enjoy eating alone and in the company of people you care about.

Allah says: “There is nothing wrong with you eating together or by yourselves.” [Sûrah al-Nûr: 61] Be like a child who looks forward excitedly to taking a ride. Look forward to pleasant things. Laugh at a funny joke without first examining it to deduce whether the humor of the joke holds up under close scrutiny. Look forward to your sleep. Recognize it as being Allah’s blessing and a refreshment for your body and mind. Maybe you will dream about those you love.

Look forward to the activity that is ahead of you. Take pleasure in the accomplishment – however small – that completing your task provides you with. This can be said of reading a book, preparing a letter, a lesson >> Happiness Pg 16

16

Happiness >> continued from pg 15 that you attend, or a social event that you participate in.

Try to see the beauty of a flower in bloom, the fields of crops, a flowing stream, the sparrow’s song, and a child in play. Do not block these things from your sight, thinking them to be unimportant. Indeed, our sense of importance and of what carries weight with us – this is one of the greatest obstacles to happiness. This is an affliction that we impose upon ourselves. We need no enemy

Fataawa >> continued from pg 17 law that are relevant to your question: One: The default assumption about any substance is that it is pure. Only if its impurity is clearly established will it be regarded as impure.

ISLAM

to do this to us.

We are happiest when we are the least inhibited in acknowledging and expressing how we feel. This is the case whether we are in the company of those we know or those we do not know. Expressing our feelings should not carry with it a sense of dread as if we are disclosing the most sensitive of state secrets.

We are happiest when we shed our ostentation and inflated sense of self-importance, so we can really listen to ourselves and acknowledge our inner needs and aspirations.

This applies to the furniture and anything else that might come in contact with your clothing. The purity of these items should be assumed by default.

Two: An impure substance that is dry does not cause contamination for that which merely comes in contact with it. If the impure substance is wet, then if the wetness is clearly seen on the thing that comes in

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

We are happiest when we are not pining after unrealistic and overly idealistic dreams but look at our lives naturally, without shame, and without exaggerating things.

We are happiest when we focus keenly on the experience of the moment, taking note of the billions – nay trillions – of blessings that are right in front of us. Allah’s generosity extends to each living cell of our bodies and to everything on the land, the air, and in the sea. His grace extends to all the intangibles as well, like those feelings and sensations that we cannot describe in physical terms.

Faith is a good example, love, pleasure, the apprehension of language, longing, joy,

contact with it, only then will that thing be regarded as having been contaminated with the impurity.

This ruling includes clothing. Therefore, if a person’s clothing comes in contact with an impure substance and that substance is wet, then, the article of clothing will be regarded as having been contaminated by the impurity only if that wetness can be seen or felt on the clothing. If the clothing remains dry, it will

hope…

We may be happiest of all when we realize that happiness is not a package we receive in the mail – either by design or fortune – nor is it a degree conferred upon us like a diploma.

It is rather the feeling of the moment, if we harvest well what that moment has to offer and resolve to make the best of it. It is when we shove aside despair, worry, fear, hatred, envy, and the other negative emotions that too often preoccupy our thoughts.

We are the happiest we can be when we choose to be happy. [Source: islamtoday. com]

be regarded as uncontaminated.

In cases of doubt, a state of purity is always to be assumed. The previous state of purity is something certain. Therefore, the contamination of the clothing needs to be established with certainty, or at least an overwhelming likelihood. And Allah knows best. [Source: www.islamtoday.com]

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Fataawa

17

FATAAWA

Questions about Islamic life and practice

Ashamed from Pornography Question: Sometimes, I watch porno movies. I wonder if there is any way I can prevent myself from such sins. I really feel so ashamed. Know that I pray all times and I am a conservative Muslim.

Fatwa: All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is well-known that watching porn films is Haraam (prohibited). Here are some useful deeds that help one avoid this wicked act, Insha Allaah.

1- To call to mind that such an act constitutes a crime against the Creator, Who has granted a human being uncountable blessings and favours and that He is the Mighty, The Most Exalted, whose avenging force is great against evil-doers. A wise man said: ‘Think about the one whom you disobey, not about your misdeed.’

2- To remember that Allaah sees you; neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. Then, do you think that a slave dares to disobey his Lord who sees him? A wise saying reads: ‘Do not take disobedience lightly, since Allaah the Great sees you.’ Al-Junayd was asked: ‘How can one lower his gaze?’ He answered: ‘By knowing that Allaah Sees you before you even start to look at some thing.’

3- To recall the divine punishments that Allaah prepared for evil-doers, those who freely use their sight to look at prohibitions.

It is sufficient for one to know that looking at the opposite sex is a metaphorical form of Zina (adultery or fornication) that may lead to true Zina. The Prophet said: ‘’The child of Adam has to have his share of Zina (adultery or fornication) no matter how well he/she endeavours to avoid it. The Zina of the eyes is by gazing, the Zina of the ears is by listening, the Zina of the tongue is by talking, the Zina of the hands is by touching, the Zina of the foot is by walking [to forbidden places], and the heart desires and wishes.

Then, the private parts either submit to this or deny it.” [Muslim] Dear inquirer! Know that Allaah loves those who repent sincerely and accepts their repentance. So, if you want to gain the Divine Love, your only way is to demonstrate faithful and sincere repentance, a genuine resolve not to return to that sin again and true regret.

May Allaah grant all of us His favour to demonstrate irrevocable repentance. Allaah knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb.com ----------------------------------------------------

Kissing on the mouth among women Question: I have an important question which I hope you will answer. Please excuse us for this question, but we need to explain it to you so that we may avoid something haraam.

It has become very common among girls who claim Islamic sisterhood to kiss one another in an exaggerated fashion, such as kissing on the mouth or elsewhere, and they claim that this is part of complete love. When we explain to them that it is haraam, they say that there is no shar’i evidence to show that it is haraam, and that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to bite the tongue of Zayd ibn Haarithah, and that they are prepared to stop doing this if they are shown any shar’i evidence that it is haraam.

Praise be to Allaah. In order to establish a shar’i ruling, it is not essential that there be a text which speaks specifically of it in a Qur’aanic verse or a hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

There is no end to issues and new matters.

Hence Islam has set out basic principles which cover thousands of issues and explain their rulings. These major principles include the principle of sadd al-dharaa’i (blocking the means). In I’laam al-Muwaqqi’een, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned ninety-nine texts from the Qur’aan and Sunnah which point to the soundness of this principle. What is meant by “blocking the means” is that everything that is a means that leads to falling into something haraam is also forbidden, even if it is permissible in principal.

It is well known that Islam closes the door to things that lead to immorality, whether it is zina or perversions thereof such as homosexuality or lesbianism. Among the ways in which it has closed the door to that are the following: Forbidding men to look at women and vice versa, forbidding a man to be alone with a non-mahram woman or to shake hands with her, forbidding a woman to travel alone, and so on. Another example is the way in which

Islam closes the door to perversion and immorality that may occur between males or between women, so Islam forbids a woman to look at the ‘awrah of another woman, or a man to look at the ‘awrah of another man; it forbids sleeping in one bed beneath one cover; and it forbids looking, touching and kissing if that is done with desire, even between one woman and another, or between one man and another.

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No man should look at the ‘awrah of another man, and no woman should look at the ‘awrah of another woman. No man should lie down with another man beneath a single cover, and no woman should lie down with another woman beneath a single cover.” Narrated by Muslim (338).

The scholars have also clearly stated that this applies even between mahrams (close blood relatives). They have stated that it is forbidden for a father to kiss his daughter on the mouth and that it is even more forbidden for a brother to kiss his sister on the mouth, let alone other relatives.

Imam Ahmad was asked about a man kissing a woman who is his mahram. He said: If he has come from a journey and he does not fear that there may be any temptation. Ibn Muflih said: But he should never do that on the mouth; it should be on the cheek or on the head. Al-Adaab al-Shar’iyyah (2/256) Imam Ahmad has mentioned the following limitations with regard to kissing mahrams: 1 – There should be a special reason for it, such as having come from a journey.

2 – There should be no risk of fitnah (temptation).

Ibn Muflih (may Allaah have mercy on him) has explained an important point which is that there should be no kissing on the mouth, rather it should be on the cheek or head, because kissing the mouth has to do with desire, not the kissing of emotion such as that of a father or brother. This is clear to anyone who thinks about it.

In al-Iqnaa’ (3/156) it says: “There is nothing wrong with one who has come from a journey kissing his female mahrams, so long as he does not fear that there may be any temptation, but he should not kiss on the mouth, rather it should be on the forehead or head.”

In al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (13/130)

it says:”It is not permissible for a man to kiss the mouth or hand or anything else of another man, or for a woman to kiss another woman, or to embrace or touch their bodies, etc, if that is done by way of desire. There is no difference of opinion among the fuqaha’ on this matter …But if that is not done on the mouth, and it is done by way of respect and honouring, or to express emotion upon meeting and parting, then there is nothing wrong with it.”

If these are the words of our scholars and imams with regard to kissing mahrams such as a daughter, then how can they allow nonmahram females to kiss one another on the mouth on a daily basis, with no reason such as travelling or a lengthy absence?

In the answer to question no. 60351 on islamqa.com you will find important details on the ruling on schoolgirls kissing one another on a daily basis. What is said there about it not being allowed applies even more so to kissing on the mouth.

It should be noted that we cannot find the hadeeth mentioned in the question about the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) biting the tongue of Zayd ibn Haarithah, and we do not know where this comes from.

In al-Tirmidhi (2732) it is narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: Zayd ibn Haarithah came to Madeenah and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was in my house. He came to him and knocked at the door, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up and embraced him and kissed him.

But this is a da’eef (weak) hadeeth, which was classed as such by al-Albaani in Da’eef al-Tirmidhi.

And Allaah knows best. (Source: islamqa.com) ----------------------------------------------------

Sitting on Impurities Question: If I sit or recline on furniture that has come in contact with impurities, will that make my clothing impure?

Answered by Sheikh Yûsuf `Abd Allah Ahmad, professor at al-Imâm University There are two general rules of Islamic purity

>> Fataawa Pg 16

18

CIVIL RIGHTS

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Civil Rights What you don’t know can hurt you

Five Things Everyone Should Know About Immigration LEGALLY SPEAKING with Hassan Ahmad

By Hassan Ahmad, Esq. Muslim Link Contributing Writer As lawyers who deal with the US immigration system, we recognize the importance of educating the community we serve on how it works. There are several things we wish everyone knew about immigration. We present the first five here.

1.The system is based on precisely defined categories of benefits. Whether you qualify depends on how well you fit in one.

O r to be blunt, i t ’s f o r m o v e r function. Your case may be deserving, sympathetic, or even nearly perfect.

But in immigration, if you don’t meet the requirements, you won’t get the benefit. Frequently our job becomes figuring out how to fit a round peg into a square hole.

2.The system is not perfect. Mistakes will occur. If your case proceeds smoothly, consider yourself lucky.

You paid your lawyer. You paid filing fees. The government asks for additional evidence. You provide it. Then the government denies your case, saying you never responded. If you want reconsideration, pay another $585.

In the meantime, you may be out of status.

While the vast majority of cases are correctly handled, mistakes do happen.

While it’s helpful in these situations to have an attorney, we’ve noticed that the clients who expect their case to be perfect merely because they paid the

fees are often let down. It’s important to anticipate problems, and try to have a Plan B whenever possible.

3.An immigration benefit is a privilege, not a right. This may or may not be morally right, but it is the reality.

You may feel you have a right to a green card. But the simple fact is that the government is under no obligation to give you anything. The law does grant rights to people, but unfortunately, immigration benefits aren’t on the list.

If you’re charged with a crime, you have the right to an attorney. You have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. You have the right to seek relief in the courts. But there is no right to a green card.

4.Just because you know someone for whom the process of obtaining an immigration benefit was easy does not necessarily mean it will be easy for you.

5.Just because you know someone for whom the process of obtaining an immigration benefit was hard does not necessarily mean it will be hard for you.

Your case is your case. The worst thing you can do is to get a preconcieved idea of how your case should play out based on the case of someone else you know.

Even if it’s the exact same case, yours may play out differently. If you really want to know what to expect, consult with a competent attorney, who can give you advice tailored to your case.

------Hassan Ahmad, Esq. is a practicing attorney and managing partner of Nubani & Ahmad, PC. He can be contacted at hahmad@nubaniahmad. com. For more information, see ads in this issue.

IMAM POSITION The Islamic Society of Annapolis (ISA) is looking for a full time paid Resident Imam who will oversee the religious affairs at the two centers that are affiliated with the organization (Makkah Learning Center in Gambrills & the Annapolis Center in Annapolis).

T he qualified candidate will work side by side with the Shur a/Gover ning Council and is expected to have a degree in Islamic Studies, be knowledgeable about Qur’an and fiqh, competent and fluent in English and Arabic, leadership qualities, able to engage in interfaith activities, capable of interacting with the youth, dedicated to build the community and be a legal resident in the US. Interested candidates are asked to email their resume and references to ISA through email rsiddiqi@comcast.net no later than March 13th, 2009.

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF ANNAPOLIS

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SALAH TIMES

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

23

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

Salaah times for Rabi Al-Awaal 2, 1430 - Rabi Al-Thani 6, 1430 Day Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

Date March 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 April 1 2

Hijri 2/3 3/3 4/3 5/3 6/3 7/3 8/3 9/3 10/3 11/3 12/3 13/3 14/3 15/3 16/3 17/3 18/3 19/3 20/3 21/3 22/3 23/3 24/3 25/3 26/3 27/3 28/3 29/3 30/3 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 5/4 6/4

Fajr 5:29 5:28 5:26 5:26 5:23 5:22 5:20 5:19 5:17 6:16 6:14 6:13 6:11 6:10 6:08 6:06 6:05 6:03 6:02 6:00 5:58 5:57 5:55 5:53 5:52 5:50 5:48 5:47 5:45 5:43 5:41 5:40 5:38 5:36 5:35

Sunrise 6:42 6:41 6:39 6:39 6:36 6:35 6:33 6:32 6:30 7:29 7:27 7:26 7:24 7:23 7:21 7:20 7:18 7:17 7:15 7:13 7:12 7:10 7:09 7:07 7:06 7:04 7:02 7:01 6:59 6:58 6:56 6:55 6:53 6:51 6:50

Dhuhr 12:21 12:21 12:20 12:20 12:20 12:20 12:20 12:19 12:19 1:19 1:19 1:18 1:18 1:18 1:17 1:17 1:17 1:17 1:16 1:16 1:16 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:13 1:13 1:13 1:12 1:12 1:12 1:12

Asr 3:30 3:31 3:31 3:31 3:33 3:33 3:34 3:35 3:35 4:36 4:36 4:37 4:38 4:38 4:39 4:39 4:40 4:40 4:41 4:41 4:42 4:42 4:42 4:43 4:43 4:44 4:44 4:45 4:45 4:45 4:46 4:46 4:46 4:47 4:47

Maghrib 5:59 6:00 6:01 6:01 6:03 6:04 6:05 6:06 6:07 7:08 7:09 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:30 7:31 7:32 7:33

Isha 7:12 7:13 7:15 7:15 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:20 7:21 8:22 8:23 8:24 8:25 8:26 8:27 8:28 8:29 8:30 8:31 8:32 8:33 8:34 8:35 8:36 8:37 8:39 8:40 8:41 8:42 8:43 8:44 8:45 8:46 8:47 8:49

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WORLD PRESS

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

World Press

News you might have missed. News that might have missed you.

Soros Sees No Bottom For World Financial “Collapse”

could be even riots!” said Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter’s national security advisor, in a recent interview with NBC.

after originally saying that 15 opposition fighters had been killed in the strike in the Gozara district of Herat province.

By Reuters

“In 1907, when we had a massive banking crisis, when banks were beginning to collapse, there were going to be riots in the streets,” he added.

Afghan officials insisted all along that six women and two children were among those killed.

At least 3.6 million jobs have been wiped out throughout the US since the recession began in December 2007. The jobless rate officially reached a 16-year high of 7.6% (11.6 million people) last month.

Following Afghan outrage over the attack, US generals undertook an investigation, travelling to Gozara and talking to locals there.

February 21, 2009 -- - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Renowned investor George Soros said on Friday the world financial system has effectively disintegrated, adding that there is yet no prospect of a near-term resolution to the crisis.

Soros said the turbulence is actually more severe than during the Great Depression, comparing the current situation to the demise of the Soviet Union.

He said the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September marked a turning point in the functioning of the market system.

“We witnessed the collapse of the financial system,” Soros said at a Columbia University dinner. “It was placed on life support, and it’s still on life support. There’s no sign that we are anywhere near a bottom.”

His comments echoed those made earlier at the same conference by Paul Volcker, a former Federal Reserve chairman who is now a top adviser to President Barack Obama.

Vo l c k e r s a i d i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n around the world was declining even more rapidly than in the United States, which is itself under severe strain.

“I don’t remember any time, maybe even in the Great Depression, when things went down quite so fast, quite so uniformly around the world,” Volcker said.

(Reporting by Pedro Nicolaci da Costa and Juan Lagorio; Editing by Gary Hill) ----------------------------------------------------

Brzezinski Warns of Riots in US

By Press TV February 21, 2009 “Press TV” -- - -Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former national security advisor, has warned that the US could witness riots if economy continues its downward spiral.

“There’s going to be growing conflict between the classes and if people are unemployed and really hurting, hell, there

Earlier this week, a new Federal Reserve report said that US unemployment could increase to 8.8%, causing the economy to contract for a full calendar year for the first time since 1991, when a contraction of 0.2% was registered.

The generals said some anti-government fighters had also been killed in the strike.

Michael Ryan, a US brigadier general, said that the investigation proved how seriously the US takes civilian casualties.

The Obama White House has put forward an array of measures, including a $787 billion stimulus package, in the hopes of reviving the flagging economy.

The US has come under increasing criticism over the past few months over the deaths of civilians in military operations in Afghanistan.

Brzezinski, meanwhile, made some recommendations to the young administration.

Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, said that rising civilian deaths was a source of tension between Kabul and Washington.

He proposed the creation of a voluntary national solidarity fund, whose contributors would be those who became wealthy in recent times.

“Where is the moneyed class today? Why aren’t they doing something: the people who made billions, millions. I’m sort of thinking of Paulson, of Rubin [former treasury secretaries]. Why don’t they get together, and why don’t they organize a national solidarity fund in which they call on all of those who made these extraordinary amounts of money to kick some back?” he argued.

“I was worrying about it because we’re going to have millions and millions of unemployed, people really facing dire straits. And we’re going to be having that for some period of time before things hopefully improve,” said Brzezinski.

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

US admits Afghan civilian deaths

There are currently 80,000 US and Nato soldiers in Afghanistan, battling Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters.

Barack Obama, the US president, announced last week that an additional 17,000 troops would be sent to the country, in addition to the 38,000 already stationed there.

Source: Al-Jazeera and Agencies ----------------------------------------------------

Rioting rocks Nigerian city (Al-Jazeera – Feb 22 2009) At least three people have been killed in the northeastern Nigerian city of Bauchi, close to the scene of clashes between religious gangs last year.

Several churches and mosques were set on fire in the violence on Saturday and at least 28 people were injured, but it was not immediately clear what triggered the unrest.

“The military has been drafted in now and everything is coming back to normal,” Abdullahi Kwarbai, a resident, said.

Isa Yuguda, the Bauchi state governor, said: “The security agencies have been directed to deal decisively with the perpetrators of this mayhem.”

Hundreds of people died in Jos, the capital of neighbouring Plateau state, last year, in violence between Muslim and Christian gangs sparked by a disputed election.

Jos lies at the crossroads of Nigeria’s Muslim north and Christian south.

The fighting was considered the worst unrest in Africa’s most populous nation for several years.

Security forces in Plateau state were on high alert as a result of the deaths in Bauchi.

“We have placed security here in Jos on red alert. We want to forestall any eventuality here,” Dan Manjan, a spokesman for the governor of Plateau state, said by telephone.

Nigeria is roughly equally split between Christians and Muslims, although traditional animist beliefs underpin many people’s faith.

More than 200 distinct ethnic groups generally live peacefully side by side in the West African country, although civil war left one million people dead between 1967 and 1970 and there have been bouts of religious unrest since then.

Source: Al-Jazeera, Agencies ----------------------------------------------------

Big Pharma Quietly Hikes Drug Prices 100 Percent or More

By David Gutierrez, staff writer NaturalNews.com

(Al-Jazeera, Feb 22 2009) An investigation into a missile strike carried out by US-led forces in Afghanistan earlier this week has found that 13 civilians were among 16 people killed, the US military has said.

“A number of churches and mosques have been burned and at least three people killed,” the Reuters news agency quoted a Nigerian Red Cross official as saying.

Without any fanfare, pharmaceutical companies have been raising the prices of many of their drugs by 100 percent or

The military made the admission on Saturday,

But local residents said normalcy was returning to the city.

>> World Press Pg 25

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009 World Press >> continued from pg 24 more, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota.

The researchers investigated cases in which drugs had their prices increased by 100 percent or more in a single cost adjustment, finding that drug companies had done so for 26 products in 2006. Questcor Pharmaceuticals, for example, increased the price of its drug Acthar (used to treat spasms in infants) by 1,424 percent, from $1,650 per vial to a whopping $23,000.

The practice seems to be getting more common. In 2004, only 15 drugs had their prices so drastically increased. By only the first half of 2008, however, already the prices of 17 drugs had at least doubled.

“There’s no simple explanation,” said Stephen Schondelmeyer of the University of Minnesota. “Some companies seem to figure no one is watching so they can get away with it.”

The trend has started to draw legal attention, however.

Recently, Abbot Pharmaceuticals settled a lawsuit over its 400 percent price hike for Norvir, an HIV/AIDS drug. The company agreed to pay as much as $27.5 million in compensation, but not to lower the price of the drug.

Senators Amy Klobuchar and Charles Schumer have called on the Government Accountability Office to investigate the price increases. In addition, Klobuchar has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Ovation Pharmaceuticals for drastically raising the prices of four drugs in 2006. In one case, the price of the tumor drug Cosmegen increased from $16.79 per dose to $593.75 per dose, or 3,436 percent.

“This does drive up the price of health care,” said Alan Goldbloom, president of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. “Hospitals are either eating the cost or passing it along to insurers, so you and I are paying it in increased premiums.”

Sources for this story include: www.usatoday. com.

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

Hamas: Fatah Spied for Israel

By Yusri Mohamed February 24, 2009 ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - Leading Hamas member Mahmoud Zahar said on Tuesday some Palestinian officials, backed by the United States, were obstructing the dialogue due to open between Palestinian groups in Cairo on Wednesday.

25

WORLD PRESS

“There are people who want this dialogue not to take place because they will lose their positions and their privileges,” he told Reuters in an interview in the Egyptian town of Ismailia, where he was visiting his wife’s Egyptian relatives.

Zahar repeated Hamas complaints that the Fatah movement, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, has detained dozens of Hamas members in the West Bank in the past week. “These matters (the arrests) do not serve dialogue,” he added.

The arrests have added to the tension between the two largest Palestinian groups during preparations for the dialogue.

Zahar, who was Palestinian foreign minister in the government Hamas formed after winning elections in 2006, said U.S. intervention was behind the tension. “There are U.S. (intelligence) agencies working in the West Bank,” he added.

He also rejected Fatah complaints about arrests by Hamas in Gaza, where the Islamist movement is in control.

“We have published pictures of what they call political detainees in Gaza. These are people who have confessed that they provided the enemy (Israel) with information about where fighters were stationed and the tunnels (to Egypt) and the type of weaponry,” he said.

Zahar said Hamas had asked the Egyptian government to let it import 1,000 containers into Gaza for use as temporary housing for Palestinians displaced during Israel’s threeweek assault on the coastal strip, which ended in mid-January.

A group of Hamas engineers arrived in Cairo on Monday to study the purchase of the 1,000 containers.

Hamas has also asked Egypt to press Israel to let wood, glass, aluminium, steel and electrical supplies into Gaza to rebuild what was destroyed in the offensive, he said.

Israel has restricted supplies of building materials to Gaza, saying some of them might help Hamas rearm and earn the movement credit with Palestinians living in Gaza.

Zahar declined to give any commitment that Hamas would cooperate with U.S. and Israeli attempts to stop the movement receiving money and weapons from abroad.

their abusers, are forgotten past.”

By Binyam Mohamed February 24, 2009 “The Guardian” - - I hope you will understand that after everything I have been through, I am neither physically nor mentally capable of facing the media on the moment of my arrival back to Britain.

Please forgive me if I make a simple statement through my lawyer. I hope to be able to do better in days to come, when I am on the road to recovery.

I have been through an experience that I never thought to encounter in my darkest nightmares. Before this ordeal, “torture” was an abstract word to me. I could never have imagined that I would be its victim. It is still difficult for me to believe that I was abducted, hauled from one country to the next, and tortured in medieval ways – all orchestrated by the United States government.

While I want to recover, and put it all as far in my past as I can, I also know I have an obligation to the people who still remain in those torture chambers. My own despair was greatest when I thought that everyone had abandoned me. I have a duty to make sure that nobody else is forgotten.

I am grateful that, in the end, I was not simply left to my fate. I am grateful to my lawyers and other staff at Reprieve, and to Lt Col Yvonne Bradley, who fought for my freedom.

I am grateful to the members of the British Foreign Office who worked for my release.

And I want to thank people around Britain who wrote to me in Guantánamo Bay to keep my spirits up, as well as to the members of the media who tried to make sure that the world knew what was going on. I know I would not be home in Britain today, if it were not for everyone’s support. Indeed, I might not be alive at all.

I wish I could say that it is all over, but it is not. There are still 241 Muslim prisoners in Guantánamo. Many have long since been cleared even by the US military, yet cannot go anywhere as they face persecution. For example, Ahmed bel Bacha lived here in Britain, and desperately needs a home.

Then there are thousands of other prisoners held by the US elsewhere around the world, with no charges, and without access to their families.

Worse Than My Darkest Nightmare

And I have to say, more in sadness than in anger, that many have been complicit in my own horrors over the past seven years. For myself, the very worst moment came when I realised in Morocco that the people who were torturing me were receiving questions and materials from British intelligence. I had met with British intelligence in Pakistan. I had been open with them. Yet the very people who I had hoped would come to my rescue, I later realised, had allied themselves with my abusers.

As I gain my freedom, I am determined that neither those who remain in detention, nor

I am not asking for vengeance; only that the truth should be made known, so that nobody

“It’s our right to bring in everything -- money and arms. We will not give anyone any commitment on this subject,” he said.

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

in the future should have to endure what I have endured. Thank you.

This is the statement issued by Binyam Mohamed on his return to the UK from Guantanamo Bay. ----------------------------------------------------

Iraq’s Shocking Human Toll: About 1 Million Killed, 4.5 Million Displaced, 1-2 Million Widows, 5 Million Orphans

By John Tirman, The Nation February 2, 2009 We are now able to estimate the number of Iraqis who have died in the war instigated by the Bush administration. Looking at the empirical evidence of Bush’s war legacy will put his claims of victory in perspective. Of course, even by his standards -- “stability” -- the jury is out. Most independent analysts would say it’s too soon to judge the political outcome. Nearly six years after the invasion, the country remains riven by sectarian politics and major unresolved issues, like the status of Kirkuk.

We have a better grasp of the human costs of the war. For example, the United Nations estimates that there are about 4.5 million displaced Iraqis -- more than half of them refugees -- or about one in every six citizens.

Only 5 percent have chosen to return to their homes over the past year, a period of reduced violence from the high levels of 2005-07. The availability of healthcare, clean water, functioning schools, jobs and so forth remains elusive. According to Unicef, many provinces report that less than 40 percent of households have access to clean water.

More than 40 percent of children in Basra, and more than 70 percent in Baghdad, cannot attend school.

The mortality caused by the war is also high.

Several household surveys were conducted between 2004 and 2007. While there are differences among them, the range suggests a congruence of estimates. But none have been conducted for eighteen months, and the two most reliable surveys were completed in mid-2006. The higher of those found 650,000 “excess deaths” (mortality attributable to war); the other yielded 400,000. The war remained ferocious for twelve to fifteen months after those surveys were finished and then began to subside. Iraq Body Count, a London NGO that uses English-language press reports from Iraq to count civilian deaths, provides a means to update the 2006 estimates. While it is known to be an undercount, because press reports are incomplete and Baghdadcentric, IBC nonetheless provides useful trends, which are striking. Its estimates are nearing 100,000, more than double its June

>> World Press II Pg 26

26

WORLD PRESS

World Press II >> continued from pg 25 2006 figure of 45,000. (It does not count nonviolent excess deaths -- from health emergencies, for example -- or insurgent deaths.)

If this is an acceptable marker, a plausible estimate of total deaths can be calculated by doubling the totals of the 2006 household surveys, which used a much more reliable and sophisticated method for estimates that draws on long experience in epidemiology. So we have, at present, between 800,000 and 1.3 million “excess deaths” as we approach the sixyear anniversary of this war.

This gruesome figure makes sense when reading of claims

by Iraqi officials that there are 1-2 million war widows and 5 million orphans. This constitutes direct empirical evidence of total excess mortality and indirect, though confirming, evidence of the displaced and the bereaved and of general insecurity. The overall figures are stunning: 4.5 million displaced, 1-2 million widows, 5 million orphans, about 1 million dead -- in one way or another, affecting nearly one in two Iraqis.

By any sensible measure, it would be difficult to describe this as a victory of any kind. It speaks volumes about the repair work we must do for Iraqis, and it should caution us against the savage wars we are prone to.

Now that Bush is gone, perhaps the United States can honestly face the damage we have wrought and the responsibilities we must accept from it.

John Tirman is Executive Director of MIT’s Center for International Studies.

[Source: www.alternet.org/ story/123818]

REPORTERS WANTED EMAIL EDITOR@ MUSLIMLINKPAPER.COM

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-us-Salaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: 240-209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2009

27

OPINION

Readers Write My Domestic Violence Story As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barkatuh, I would like to remain anonymous, while I share my story of domestic violence.

While domestic violence is on the rise amongst American Muslimahs, no one seems to care. I, in addition to many of my friends, are or have been the victims of domestic violence. While my situation appears to be much more severe than many, there is no reason that Muslimahs should be subjected to such foolishness by those who claim to be adhering to the sunnah.

As a new Muslimah, I was introduced to my

Harsh Treatment of Zakat Recipients Can Destroy a Life Assalamu’alykum, With regard to the article about mosques giving out Zakat (“The Condition of Charity in Our Community” in the January 30, 2009 issue of the Muslim Link), I thought about suicide for the first time ever in my life after the harsh treatment I received at an area masjid when I asked for zakat. I actually went to the mosque and asked the Imam if it was permissible in Islam to make dua to ask Allah to take your life since I knew it was not permissible to take one’s own life.

Zakat Applications Protect the Community My heart breaks when I read stories like the “Condition of Charity in Our Community” [January 30, 2009 Muslim Link issue], but it is a myth that masjids have this large amount of zakaat cash that they just refuse to distribute - at least in my experience in dealing with this issue. (That is why I have an issue with the cartoon above) The need is great and most people in need are not aware of the dozens - possibly hundreds - of others who are also in need. The masjid just can not afford to give everyone everything that they request. So they must be meticulous in how they distribute it.

former husband. I knew that “dating” was out because that occurred during the days of old.

I did not have a wakil, and was introduced to him by mutual associates. Upon talking to him, I now see that I never actually listened to what he was saying. In addition, being a new Muslim, I did not know that many of the things that he said and did were inappropriate for Muslims. Being that I was told that having taken shahadah, my slate was “wiped clean”, I did not dare want to fall into fornication.

We both decided that it was best that we get married. The person that married us stood in as my wakil.

I knew that the brother had been incarcerated before. As a non-Muslim, I would have never considered marrying someone that had been incarcerated for “ten” years. Statistics show that the majority of former prisoners are mentally ill! I decided to let the fact that he was Muslim supersede logic. My naivety as

Muslims have a false notion that if they have good intentions they are somehow exempt from liability. The fact of the matter is that good intentions are between the believer and Allah. Allah rewards believers for good intentions. But humans hold each other liable.

When someone is down and out and already at their wits end the last thing you want to do is treat them harshly and tell them they are lying about their financial situation.

I and many people I have spoken with have had a similar experience with the people at that Mosque. The people in charge, the “case workers”, are some of the most inhumane people I have ever met. They insist on humiliating you by speaking with you in the middle of the hall in a loud voice where others are present. Don’t tell me that the reason they

Those who work in giving out charity and zakaah in the masjids are very hard working individuals - who are often volunteering I might add! Those who volunteer must take this responsibility as a trust that they are going to distribute this money in a proper way which brings me to the next point.

There is an application process precisely because there are thieves out there that lied to get zakaat money in the past. Those who work/volunteer in this field know exactly what I am talking about. Yes, people genuinely in need suffer as a result of the application process, but how else can we ascertain that we are giving money to someone in genuine need? As I said, the zakaat money is usually not much (compared to the need) and it would run out very quickly without this system.

a new Muslimah prevailed. The first incident that was a little alarming was the fact that he insisted upon attending a “Christmas” dinner at his mother’s house. While I was a little upset, I complied because he was my husband. Things got progressively worse.

I started to find out about his association with many non-Muslim females. When I approached him, he stated that they were just friends. I advised him that I thought that Islamically, we were not supposed to have “friends” of the opposite sex. Next, it progressed to him leaving on the weekends to “cool off”. Needless to say, whenever I called his mother’s house, he was not there.

During the interim of trying to “salvage the marriage”, I became pregnant. I was often left to fend for myself so that he could go and stay out on the weekends. It was Allah’s

>> Violence Pg 28

conduct your interview in the hall is because of separating the genders.

The Zakat Committees are obsessed with documentation. The attitudes of the employees are a direct result of the corporate culture that has been established by this and similar masajid. In the “third world” it is perfectly acceptable to treat poor people as if they are not human, as if they are to be blamed for being poor and as if they are simply lazy. The employees are controlled by the board. The board dictates the situation, and confidentiality is non existent.

If they were truly trying to help Muslims they would hire social workers who are legally bound by HIPAA laws so that when the trust

>> Treatment Pg 28

I can go on with other issues, but suffice it to say that there is more to this than people simply holding onto the zakaat money in some unIslamic way. I wanted to speak for that side.

The answer - in my humble opinion - is to remind the wider community more often to give zakaah (and charity for these needs) right here in the local community - where there is much need - as well as to stop those who commit fraud whenever we are aware of it.

Tariq Nelson Northern VA [To view more reader comments on this very important issue of Zakat disbursements, visit muslimlinkpaper.com and search for “Condition of Charity”. -- TML]

28

OPINION

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Violence >> continued from pg 27

mercy that when I went into pre-term labor, he just happened to be there that particular weekend.

Whenever he became angry, he would throw things at me, etc. During my second month of pregnancy, he beat me with a belt so severely that it left bruises all over my body. I took out a warrant on him, but I never went to court.

He threatened to send his friends after me if I went to court. Also, I had just gotten a new job, and I didn’t want to miss work. Without boring you with details, things became progressively worse.

I sought a khulah (judgement for Islamic divorce initiated by the wife) and was granted one...alhamdulillah! I still have to deal with this man because we have a child together. He is insistent that whomever I marry must not have any dealings with his child. He advised me that if I get married, my new husband is to only salaam my child, and nothing else.

Islamically, I was advised that the children are supposed to go with the father after the age of 7. Unfortunately, because of his mental illness, I do not feel that my child will be safe nor at his optimal health...and Allah knows best. I have been receiving death threats from him and have been assaulted by him. Although I have no faith in the judicial system, I finally decided to resort to them.

I, currently, have some legalities pending. It was even suggested that I go into protective custody. My faith in Allah will not allow me to do so!!! I have no choice but to rely on Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala’s mercy in this matter.

I would like to reiterate that the Imams and wakils needs to really investigate these brothers, thoroughly, before marrying them to sisters. Sisters are supposed to be protected.

We all know that there are scenarios in which the sisters insist upon marrying brothers after being warned not to. This is not the majority of cases. Many of the brothers are marrying sisters to men that they would not dare marry their daughters to. Hopefully for sisters in this situation, you know that you are not alone and to rely on Allah. For the brothers, please try and not “hook sisters up” with brothers that you’ve only seen in the masjid and know nothing about.

Sister “A”, Maryland

Treatment >> continued from pg 27 is broken the social worker loses their license.

That would send a signal to all Mosques and Muslim run non profits that your level of professionalism must meet the standards set by the country you have chosen to live in and

the laws therein. And if someone commits suicide because of the harsh treatment at that place the government would not allow it to function and hopefully people would go to jail. Personal piety is wonderful if you live in a Mosque or a cave but we all have to venture out in the real world.

If I ever have the ability to donate money to

a shelter or other non profit I will make sure it does not go to a Muslim run entity where the employees only credentials is Personal piety.

point of my life. Subjecting myself and my personal life to the scrutiny of these Zakat committee people was the lowest point of my life.

Personal Piety is not the only criteria for Muslims to be successful. They also have to follow sound principles of transparency and fairness. Being poor was not the lowest

Brother T. Northern VA

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

29

MARKETPLACE

Marketplace

Your Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle

www.DININGHALAL.com NOW ACCEPTED AT THE FOLLOWING RESTAURANTS Kafe Kabab, Simply Halal, RJ Cafe, Silver Spoon, Maurya Kababs and Curries, Pizza Roma, Maiwand Kabob (Burtonsville), Gourmet Shish Kebab, Skewers House of Kababs, Mandarin Halal Chinese Restaurant.

30

MARKETPLACE: EDUCATION

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

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TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

31

restaurant review

Mandarin Restaurant

Where Family and Great Food Stick Together

By Jann McClary Muslim Link Staff Writer Wanna eat some sticky-finger-lickin’chicken? The Yu brothers have some in their kitchen for you. They brought it over from Pakistan. Well, not like on the plane or anything. But they’ve managed to meld some of the tastes of their home with the flavors of their heritage, in a wonderful bi-cultural pot. What’s that about? It’s about some really satisfying food!

The Springfield Plaza, in Springfield, VA is home to Mandarin Restaurant, known by it’s informal name as Mandarin Halal. It’s a busy spot on a weekend night, with most of the tables taken up by families. Big families.

With lots of little kids. It’s easy to count no less than five extended families passing around steaming bowls and platters to wives, aunties, sisters-in-law, husbands, grandmoms, little sisters and a couple of friends, all at the same table. It doesn’t get any more familyfriendly. Which is totally natural because Mandarin Restaurant is a family-run place.

There’s main chef Kevin Yu in the kitchen stirring up homemade sauces and entrées, with brother Richard doing backup on one of the other four stoves. Kevin’s sister-in-

law Lynette heads up the front, managing the place and overseeing everything else, including the teriyaki beef she makes.

Now, back to the sticky chicken. Almost everybody can relate to good chicken wings, so the General Tso’s chicken wings that Mandarin offers are a real treat. Not sure exactly if the real General ever actually ate this dish (though there are several amusing, albeit conflicting reports of it’s origins), but no doubt he’d salute the ones served here.

First of all, they’re not those little stingy wingettes most restaurants give out. Mandarin gives you the whole wing, and they’re big and meaty and fried in a light batter, so they’re not heavy. Then they get coated in Kevin’s sticky, tangy sauce that blends hints of citrus and soy. At $7.50 it seems pricey for an appetizer, but when a platter of 8 of them arrive at your table and your table-mates are plotting which pieces they’ll fight over, it’s actually very reasonable. Two or three people can easily be satisfied attacking, er...eating a few of these.

Lynette may be great at running a tightly operating restaurant, but she could make a second career with her teriyaki beef. It’s a totally uncomplicated dish of thinly sliced

strips of beef, marinated in a few simple ingredients like hoisin sauce, garlic, and soy, then threaded on bamboo sticks and quickly deep-fried. They come out so juicy and medium rare inside that you’re almost certain to think they were grilled. They’re not oily in the least, and the only other thing you may need is another plate of them. $5.00.

Worth it.

spicy influence with just one or two renegade green chilies trying to disguise themselves among the green onions that decorate this dish. This is a meat-eaters meal, with a platter piled high with tender shoe-lace thin strips of sautéed beef and sweet onions in a brown sauce. Again, there’s enough to share easily and the $10.95 price won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

The Pakistani influence is subtle, but it peeks out in the spicy dishes like eggplant in garlic sauce, chili chicken or the Hakka crispy chicken .The Hakka are a group of ethnic Chinese who settled around the area known as Manchuria in China. They eventually migrated to Malaysia, northern India, Pakistan and beyond, taking the unique flavors of their cooking with them, and once they settled in Mumbai and Kolkata they took up the spices and ingredients closest to what they used in China, and the blending began.

So if you think you’re about to bite into some colorful bell peppers, think again and watch out for those little red and green chilies.

So pack up your extended family, and their kids, and their friends and grab a big table at Mandarin Restaurant. Sip some sweet horchata flecked with nutmeg and cinnamon, or a lassi or an icy mango shake before your food arrives. Then get ready to pass those bowls and platters, and lick your sticky fingers.

Mandarin Restaurant – 6366 Commerce St., Springfield Plaza (inside the plaza next to Sears Auto), Springfield, VA 22150. 703912-5855 or 703-912-3118. Open Sun – Mon and Wed – Thurs 11am to 10 pm, last dine in 9:30pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Fri – Sat 11 am to 11 pm, last dine in 10:30 pm.

The Mongolian beef, one of the most requested menu items, give a brief nod to the

VOLUNTEER TO DISTRIBUTE

THE MUSLIM LINK IN YOUR AREA If you would like to earn blessings from Allah and help the Muslim Link, consider helping us with our distribution. To learn more, email office@muslimlinkpaper.com or call 301-982-1020

32

MARKETPLACE: EDUCATION/LEGAL

THE WASHINGTON ISLAMIC ACADEMY

NOW HIRING Qualified Teachers

WIAʼs NEW Facility APPLY FOR A TEACHING POSITION TODAY! The Washington Islamic Academy (WIA) was instituted in 2000 as an affiliate of Dar-Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Falls Church, Virginia, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

WIA is an elementary school with grades pre-K through 8th. WIA is hiring qualified teachers, please send or fax your resume and references to the address listed below. WIA offers teachers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Teachers Help WIA Students:

Small Personalized Classrooms

• Learn, Implement, and use Islam in their personal life • Develop a strong Muslim identity, based on the Qurʼan and Sunnah • Sharpen critical thinking skills, ingenuity, and motivation to excel in their academic and professional careers

Curriculum: WIA utilizes the Virginiaʼs Standards of Learning (SOL) and Fairfax County Public Schoolʼs Curriculum by using innovative educational materials, resources, and teaching techniques. Our curriculum incorporates specialized Arabic, Qurʼan, and Islamic Studies.

6408 Edsall Rd Alexandria, VA 22312

Tel: 703-941-6977 • Fax: 703-941-6273 •wiaoffice@gmail.com

www.washingtonislamicacademy.org

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

33

MARKETPLACE: HEALTHCARE

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HairSystems in Rockville

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Private Room available for sisters wearing Hijab.

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Color starts at $40 and Highlights start at $45

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34

MARKETPLACE: GROCERY & REAL ESTATE

Rahma’s Shop A taste of Dubai in the USA for all occasions ����������������������� Islamic clothing, Scarves, Pashmina Shawls, Lace Materials, Rugs, Bakhoor/Incense?Churai, Smokeless charcoal & Incense, Burners, Perfumes & Jells, Aqua sprays, 21 karat Gold jewelry, Abayas, Hijabs, Jallabiyas, African Gowns & Dresses and MORE...

TEL:240.305.6354/301.989.9231, FAX 301.384.2975 EMAIL rahmatg@hotmail.com

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES WE PROVIDE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN PREMIUM COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ASSESTS OFFERING 5% - 8% PREFERRED RETURN ON EQUITY FOR A TERM OF 3-5 YEARS.

For details call: (410) 988-2929 or Email: info@HMJmanagement.com

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

35

MARKETPLACE: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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Business visas, Family visas, Fiancé visas Investor visas, Removal proceedings and more...

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COMMERCIAL BROKERAGE & BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES

We broker deals; acquire Franchises, prepare business plans, negotiate to buy or sell businesses, conduct audits, advise on financial restructurings and more...

Atty Laher is member of the NY & DC Bar; Atty since 1991; MBA; Laher Law Group, PLLC may associate with specialist attorneys/ service providers to assemble the right team for your case

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TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

CLASSIFIEDS

TML Classifieds

Place a personal classified ad. Call us at 301-982-1020 $1 per 3 words. You may place a classified on muslimlinkpaper.com free of charge. All classifieds run 3 months in the marketplace section. To place a classified, email office@muslimlinkpaper.com with the exact text of the classified, and send a check or money order payable to the Muslim Link to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Rd, College Park MD 20740.

EMPLOYMENT HOME HEALTH AIDE NEEDED

Seeking compassionate home health aide with respect for the elderly starting on Sundays for lovely, modern Muslim women in Arlington. Send information about certifications (eg. CNA), experience,and languages spoken to nafeaygen@yahoo.com or call 202-215-5160. $11+/hour to start. Experience in nursing homes preferred, but will train the right person with proper commitment.

02-27-09

Please call (301)236-0233.

12-19-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BASEMENT APT FOR RENT

Three rooms with living room basement. New kitchen and bathroom included. Plenty of storage spaces. Brand new carpet. Conveniently located near PGMA and University of Maryland. Asking for $1200, including ultilies. Please email b.rakey@yahoo.com or call cell monday-friday after 7pm or weekends. 11-14-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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FOR SALE

SALES POSITION

Muslim with strong community ties for sales position, selling USDA certified Halal lamb and goat to restaurants and markets.

Please call 443-527-2526.

01-30-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOMESTIC HELP WANTED

Experienced house keeper, child care, cooking, live-in person for McLean, VA home. Tuesday-Saturday with flexibility.

Energetic, trustworthy, and gentle person with recent references.

English-speaking preferred. Driving a plus. Starting salary from $350 a week with extra consideration for experience and ability. Call 703-851-7979 12-12-08

CAR FOR SALE

2004 Mercury Sable. Gray interior/exterior. PS/PB, sunroof, PW, auto., 115K miles. Good condition. $6000 obo. Contact Shezad A. Khan 301-535-6188 02-27-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

AD SPACE

Have something to sell? A TV? A Car? Books? HOUSE? try advertising in the Muslim Link classfied section!

Call 301-982-1020, or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com Only 1 $ per 3 words!

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CHILDCARE EXCHANGE TEDDY BEAR DAY CARE

Fairfax County permit-First Aid/CPR Certified.-Food ProgramMulti-child Discount-20 years caring.-Extensive Child Care training-Computer Skills & games-Near Pool & PlaygroundFull-Time Opening for Infants to Age 12 -Emphasis on Language Arts-Located in Annandale near by Littler River Trnpk. and John Marr Dr. Call Mrs. Lodhi(703)941-0944.

01-30-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BABYSITTING IN MY HOME

I am available to babysit at my Silver Spring home. Children age 1 and up. Call for information. 301-593-4769.

2-27-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ISLAMIC DAYCARE

Licensed Islamic Daycare at my Home in Bowie/Mitchellville Near PGMA. First Aid/CPR certified. Have opening for infants to age 12. Willing to teach Quran. For more information, please call 310-249-9744 02-27-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIVE-IN NANNY WANTED

Need live-in nanny for 6-month old in Baltimore. Light housekeeping. Begin in June. References requested. Please call 443-708-5183.

02-27-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

RENTAL LARGE TOWNHOUSE

Townhome at Mont. Vill. 5 bdrms, 3.5 baths. Walk-out basement. New windows, floor, toilets, stove. $1450 per month. Call 740-751-6563 or 240-751-6568 01-30-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ROOMS FOR RENT – DC

Three bedrooms one basement for rent in NE Washington, DC 20011. Conveniently located 2.1 miles from Masjid Ahlul Quran Wal Hadeeth, 1.3 miles from Avondale Islamic Center and .4 miles from Fort Totten metro rail (red,green and yellow lines). Rooms range from $162.50-$250.00 per week including utilities. Please email brother Akil at akilalasim@gmail.com or call Mon-Sun (202)281-0046 01-09-30 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ONE ROOM FOR IMMEDIATE RENT

One room with attached bathroom, and washer/dryer at 5010 Edgewood Rd., College Park. Available immediately for rent. $650.00 per month including utilities.

SERVICES EVERGREEN ORGANIC LANDSCAPES

Pesticide/chemical-free landscaping. We offer these services: Plant trees, shrubs and flowers; leaf removal; prune small trees and shrubs; remove fallen trees; weed and grass removal; edging and mulching; privacy screens. We also do landscape design plans for a $50 fee. I am a professional with over 15 years gardening experience and a degree in Plant Studies.

We serve Northern VA, N.W. DC, and Montgomery County, MD. Remember, now is the best time to plant bulbs for spring flowers, and now is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Call 571-277-6241 02-27-09

EVERGREEN ORGANIC LANDSCAPES

Pesticide/chemical-free landscaping. We offer these services: Plant trees, shrubs and flowers; leaf removal; prune small trees and shrubs; remove fallen trees; weed and grass removal; edging and mulching; privacy screens. We also do landscape design plans for a $50 fee. I am a professional with over 15 years gardening experience and a degree in Plant Studies.

We serve Northern VA, N.W. DC, and Montgomery County, MD. Remember, now is the best time to plant bulbs for spring flowers, and now is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Call 571-277-6241 11-14-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

LAWN MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

Outdoor garden plants, very cheap, $1 - $5. Shrubs, perennials, evergreen trees. Now is good time to plant! Annandale, VA 571-277-6241 11-14-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MATRIMONIAL

SEEKING PRACTICING MUSLIMA

U.S.-born man, 39 years old, Arab parents, previously married, speaks English, Arabic, French, Associates degree.

Seeks attractive, practicing Muslima with good character, any nationality ok. Send photo with letter describing yourself and contact information to M.L. Advertisement, PO Box 1922, Annandale, VA 22003-9556.

02-27-09

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HOME REMODELING

Noon Construction Company. For all your home repair needs.

Basement finishing, drywall, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, windows, painting, doorways.

Call Ghulam Rasool 703-785-6055 01-30-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HANDYMAN AVAILABLE

Assalamu’alaykum! My name is Varga Syahroni. I am an experienced technician in DC/MD/VA. I offer service and repair for cooling, heating, plumbing, refrigerator, dish washers, dryer machines and much more. Call me for reliable service! Free estimates (301) 792-1004 or email varga_syahroni@yahoo.com 11-14-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEEKING MUSLIM LADY

41, good-looking, educated, well-settled, easy-going, loving, athletic, US citizen, religious, Hajji, Sunni Indian guy seeking to marry a Muslim female of 35-42 age. Race and nationality unimportant. I have some physical intimacy issues. If you are interested, please contact me at yaarali786@yahoo.com 11-28-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISCELLANEOUS PEN PAL NEEDED

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BROTHER SEEKS WIFE

Gentleman, 50, seeks wife, prefers widow from our unfortunate war in Iraq. Would like someone that is religious and educated.

Children no problem, but should be able to have children.

Will correspond anywhere in the world. Please contact me at rabah@hotmail.com 01-30-09

SEEKING SISTER

and afford all from the comfort of your home! Our services are for seniors and loved ones needing assistance with activities of daily living. We also provide Mother’s Helpers for that mother in need. Companionship, Hygiene Care, Meal Preparation, Errands, Grocery, Light Housekeeping, Grooming, Dressing, Medication Reminders, Doctors Appointments. *Low Rates* *No Deposit* *Bonded & Insured* www.lovinghomecare.org FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION CALL: 301-490-1146 02-27-09

Gentleman, 57, from Iran, no children. Non-smoker, taxi driver.

Seeking Muslim lady for marriage. For more information please call Ali from 7am to 7pm ,7 days a week. 202-669-5699 12-19-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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SEEKING MUSLIMA

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LOVING HOME CARE ELDER CARE/ NANNY SERVICE Loving Home Care we provide care you can trust

BROTHER SEEKING WIFE

21-year old white Sunni Muslim, seeking Muslima, any race.

Write to Justin Kline, GS-5436, 301 Morea Rd. Frackville, PA 17932 01-30-09

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I have a friend who is Muslim. He gave me a few pamphlets telling the basics about the Muslim religion. The first thing that caught my eye was the phrase “Islam simply means to achieve peace.” Right now, I’m not a religious person, I just haven’t found my way yet. I would love to learn more about Islam. I am in prison and and looking to put my faith into something.

Anyone willing to teach me about the Islamic religion, please write to me at Michael Bushman, #33897, W-A East 122, PO Box 250, Draper, UT 84020. Male or female, please help me achieve peace.

02-27-09

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Family Home Health Agency provides professional personal care and companionship services for senior citizens. We also provide complete customized care and help with daily living tasks for disabled and injured individuals of any age. Our experienced caregivers provide up to 24 hour service in the comfort of your own home. We accept Medicaid and private pay. Call Family Home Care Services Inc. at 703-933-2223.

02-27-09

301-704-6360 or matrimonials@shah.org 01-30-09

76-year old Muslim man looking for sister 55 years old or older friend for (haleefah)to assist me in things I can do. If interested write to Br. Syed Hassan, PO Box 6861, Alexandria, VA 22306 01-30-09

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MUSLIM BRIDE WANTED

Looking for a graduate Sunni Muslim girl, between 25 - 30 years, from Indian or Pakistani moderate Sunni family, for a 36 year-old Sunni Indian Muslim, working in Pharmaceutical medical research. Contact drasifhaque@yahoo.com 01-30-09 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOOKING FOR MUSLIM LADY

Pakistani Sunni Muslim male, age 40. Kind-hearted, funny and easy-going. Seeks female. Race/nationality is unimportant.

Please send photo/phone. Nadeem Khan, 227131, PO Box 860, Oakwood, VA 24631 01-30-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEEKING MARRIAGE-MINDED WOMAN

I’m seeking a marriage-minded woman who’s friendly, supportive and has a great personality. Race, nationality, age is unimportant. I’m 39 years old, 6ft, 1in, 210 lbs, brown eyes and single. I’m drug- and disease-free, non-smoker. Dislikes: lies, drama, games. If interested, please contact me at: Kurt Miller, 98A6702, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 354 Hunter St., Ossining, NY 10562 01-30-09

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NEED TO CONTACT

Ummu-Zainab from Germantown, please call Nooruddin 410591-7930.Salaam.

01-30-09 --------------------------------------------------------------------------BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Start your own VoIP or Calling Card Business! Investment begins at $ 5,000 Call Today 703-871-5273 bizop@ipsmarx. com 01-30-09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARABIC DVDS CHILDREN’S ARABIC DVDS – NEW in packaging – 10 “Alam Simsim” (SesameStreet) and 6 Bakkar (Season 5). $100 for set of 16. Free Shipping.

Contact: zubeidaa@gmail.com 1-30-09

--------------------------------------------------PEN PALS WANTED

I am a 20 year old Muslim convert serving the second half of a twenty year sentence in prison for a crime I’m not guilty of.

I have no outside friends and almost no family. I am college educated, I love the Qur’an, Arabic, poetry, art and sports.

I pray to Allah T’Ala to make this ad a source of many new Muslim friendships. If interested, please write to: Michael Coonce, #29197, U.S.P., P O Box 250, Draper, UT 84020 09-12-08 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLACE YOUR PERSONAL AD

Interested in placing a classified ad ?? Stop waiting and call the Muslim Link now !! You can reach us at 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com Only 1 $ per 3 words!

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WWW.WORKHALAL.COM A job site for Muslims.

02-27-09

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SEEKING MUSLIM GROOM

Indo Pakistani Sunni Muslim parents are inviting communication from a well educated, financially independent & secure, practicing Muslim for their 42year-old daughter. She is divorced, independent, self-motivated, attractive, charming, and well educated in US with a Masters degree; she has a 17 year old, highly disciplined son who will soon be independent.

Contact 301-221-3751,

Looking for a place for your ad?

Stop looking! try our classified section Call the muslim link now !

301.982.1020 Call Now . . . !

MASJID LOCATOR Do you have additions, changes, or corrections to the event listings in the Muslim Link? Email us at events@muslimlinkpaper.com, or call us at 301-982-1020.

MASJID LOCATOR

8500 Hilltop Rd., Fairfax, VA 22031 Tel: 703-641-4890, www.iiasa.org

IRHSCA (ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND HUM. SERVICES OF AMERICA): Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040, www.irhsca.org.

ISLAMIC CENTER OF MARYLAND (ICM): 19401 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg,MD 20879 Tel:301-840-9440, www.icomd.org.

ISLAMIC CENTER OF NORTHERN VA TRUST (ICNVT): 4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 Tel: 703-941-6558, E-mail: info@icnvt.org www.icnvt.org

ISLAMIC COM. CENTER OF LAUREL (ICCL): 7306 Contee Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 Tel: 301-317-4584, www.icclmd.org.

ADAMS CENTER: 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling,VA 20164, Tel: 703-433-1325, www.adamscenter.org.

AVONDALE ISLAMIC CENTER: 4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782, Tel: 301-779-9292.

BAITUL MUKARRAM: 2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550.

DAR AL HIJRAH: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030, www.hijrah.org.

DAR AL-SALAAM: 15250 Dumfries Rd., Mannassas,VA 20112.

DAR UL-GHURABA (Masjid ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487, Tel. 434-348-786.

DAR-UL HUDA: 6666 Commerce St., Springfield, VA 22150, Tel: 703-922-0111, www.darulhuda.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.

DAR-US-SALAAM: 5301 Edgewood Rd. College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848, www.darussalaam.org.

DAR AL-TAQWA: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711, www.taqwa.net.

FIRST HIJRA MUSLIM COMM. CENTER: 4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, DC 20011 www.firsthijrah.org.

ICNA VA CENTER: 2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306.

IDARA DAWAT-O-IRSHAD: 4803 Valley St, Alexandria, VA 22312 703-256-8622, www.irshad.org.

INDONESIAN MUSLIM ASSOC. IN AMERICA (IMAAM): 1611 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20851 Tel: 240-453-0808, e-mail: fkadir@imaamnet.org.

INST.OF ISLAMIC AND ARABIC SCIENCES IN AMERICA (IIASA):

ISLAMIC FOUND. OF AMERICA (IFA): 6606 Electronic Dr., Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982, www.ifa.ws.

ISLAMIC HERITAGE CENTER (IHC): 262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF ANNAPOLIS (ISA): 2635 Riva RdSuite 110Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.islamannapolis.org, Email: info@islamannapolis.org

ISLAMIC SOC. OF FREDERICK (ISF): 1250 Key Parkway , Frederick,MD 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090, www.isfmd.org.

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN (ISG): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (301)-972-0504, www.isgtown.org.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF SOUTHERN PG COUNTY (ISSPGC): PO Box 251 Upper Marlboro, MD 20773; 7400 Temple Hill Rd., Camp Springs, MD Tel: 301-627-5710.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF THE WASHINGTON AREA (ISWA): 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-879-0930, www.iswamd.org.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF WESTERN MARYLAND: 2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922.

IVY CITY MASJID: 2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 Tel: 202-529-3100.

LA PLATA MASJID: 111 Howard Street, La Plata, MD 20646 Tel: 301-609-8769.

MAKKAH LEARNING CENTER (MLC): 814 Brandy Farms Ln Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.mlcmd.org, Email: info@mlcmd.org

MANASSAS MOSQUE: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537.

MASJID AL-GHURABAA: 8220 Washington St., South, Laurel, MD 20724. Tel: 301-604-3295.

MASJID AL-HIKMAH:

MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009.

MASJID UL-HAQ: 514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-728-1363.

MASJID AL-ISLAM: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, DC 20019 Tel: 202-581-1616, e-mail: imammusa@hotmail.com

MASJID AL-INSHIRAH: 7832 Fairbrook Road , Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977, Fax: 410-298-0266, www.al-inshirahweb.net.

MASJID AL-MUMINEEN: 2642 Harford Rd. Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel: 410-467-8798.

MASJID JAMAAT AL-MUSLIMEEN: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel. 410-435-5000.

MASJID MUHAMMAD: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832.

MASJID AL-NOOR: 10012 Harford Rd., Carney, MD 21234 Tel: 410-663-9637, Fax: 410-663-9817.

MASJID AL-RAHMAH/ISB: 6631 Johnny Cake 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.

MASJID BAIT-ALLAH: 1910 Frederick Avenue (2 Floor) Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 443-224-4423, E-mail:info@masjidbaitallah.org. www.masjidbaitallah.org

MASJID TAQWA ANNOOR: 8000 MLK Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-772-5969.

MEDINA CENTER: 9426 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda MD 20814 www.medinacenter.net

MUSLIM COM. CENTER (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-384-3454, www.mccmd.org.

MUSLIM SOC. OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (MSWDC): Howard Center, Room 805 (Above HU Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236, www.mswdc.org.

MUSTAFA CENTER: 6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003.

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, imam@pgmamd.org.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND ISLAMIC CENTER(SMIC): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639.

Tel: 410- 535-0000 THE ISLAMIC CENTER: 2551 Mass. Ave. NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343.

11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington,

The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said: “”There are seven (types of persons) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade:… (one of them is) a person whose heart is attached to the masjid…” (Bukhari, Muslim)

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MARKETPLACE: iNFORMATION

Request For Dua’s

{ To A l l a h We Belong, and to Him is Our Return } “Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.”

(Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 1-28-09 Our dearest young brother, Ayan Khan Jr., aged 11 months, has returned to his Lord. Inna lilallahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon. He was removed from Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., then washed, shrouded and taken to ICM in Gaithersburg for salat-ul janazah. He was then buried in Al Firdaus Memorial Garden in Frederick, MD. (Source; Jubran Khalil) 1-28-09 Both Ibrahim Ghobashi, of Egypt, and Ismail Abdulkarim Kanna, an Iraqi-American, have died. Salat-ul janazah was prayed for both men at Dar al Hijrah, and both were then buried at AMAA Cemetery in Stafford, VA. (Source; Jubran Khalil) 1-29-09 Br. Fekry Amin died peacefully at home. Inna lilallahi wa inna lailihi raajioon. Every soul shall taste death. His salat-ul janazah was at Dar al Hijra, after which he was buried at Washington National Cemetery in Maryland.

2-1-09 Mohammed Kabir, former Afganistan Transportation Minister, passed away at home in Herndon, VA of natural causes.

2-14-09 Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon (From Allah do we come and to Him do we return). It is with deep sadness and regret that I inform the community that Sis. Sherry Samadani, the wife of our dear beloved brother, Reza Samadani, returned to Allah before Fajr prayers on February 14, 2009. She is survived by her husband, and five children: Tony, Michael, Daniel, Monica and Michelle. The janazah for our beloved sister was held at ADAMS Center and her burial was at Sterling Cemetery Sterling, VA. Our warmest and most heartfelt prayers and duas go out the family. May Allah shower patience upon the family during these difficult times and forgive Sis. Sherry and make her grave a garden from the Gardens of Paradise.

Ameen.

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

Upcoming Events In Your Area WOMEN’S VOICES FORUM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 04 2009, 9:30AM - 12:30PM

Fairfax County Commission for Women (CFW) hosts this year’s forum reflecting on these topics: diversity, economics, education, environment, health care, public policy, public safety, relationships, and values. All women and girls are encouraged to attend this event because the CFW would like to start an intergenerational conversation about and between the women and girls of Fairfax County as they view, examine and celebrate their lives through a prism of change. This forum is free and open to the public.

Location: Fairfax County Government Center, Forum & Board Auditorium, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035 Contact: For information and to register 703-324-5730, TTY 703-324-5706, www.fairfaxcounty.gov./ofw Registration is required by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4.

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FAMILY FUN NIGHT! SATURDAY, MARCH 21 2009, 5:00PM - 9:00PM

It’s Family Fun Night at ADAMS Center! Bring the whole family for * Mini bazaar * Youth activities * Arts & crafts for kids * Poster contest * Mad Science show...and MORE! Taste delicious food from Capitol Hill Tandoor Grill, a Bake Sale from Al Fatih, cotton candy, popcorn. ADMISSION IS FREE! Food is available at a cost. All are welcome, please come join in the fun.

Location: ADAMS Center, 46903 Sugarland Road Sterling,VA 20164 Contact: 703-433-1325, Sr. Sarah Jaka – sarsis25@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Sr. Zehra Ghori – zehra@ghori.com If you are interested in advertising your business in our Family Fun Night Bag, please contact: sarsis25@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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LIST YOUR EVENTS FOR

FREE

AT MUSLIMLINKPAPER.COM OR CALL 301-982-1020

ICM’S SPRING FUNDRAISING DINNER “LET’S PAVE THE WAY” SATURDAY, MARCH 28 2009, 5:30PM - 10:30PM Islamic Center of Maryland intends to hold its fundraiser this year on Saturday March 28th at 5:30 PM. Tickets are on sale at ICM: Single $25.00, Family $50.00.

Location: Bohrer Park Activity Center, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (Next to Gaithersburg High School) Contact: 301-840-9440 We need volunteers to raise funds among friends, family and organizations. We are also actively looking for someone experienced or interested in writing grant proposals to solicit funds from the county, state, and the federal government.

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THE MUSLIM LINK “REACTION TIME” EVENT SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2009 3:30PM

at Falls Church High School Join the TML team, MAS Freedom Foundation’s Mahdi Bray and British MP George Galloway as we rally support for your community voice. For tickets and more information, call 301-982-1020 or visit muslimlinkpaper.com.

TML, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 | Feb 27 - April 2, 2009

ADVERTISEMENT

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Its no wonder that scientists are spending more and more resources examining, testing, and developing honey-based medical treatments. As early as December 26, 2007, the Associated Press ran a story titled “Honey makes medical comeback”.

One company that has believed in the restorative power of honey for a long time is HoneyDerm, Inc., a Lansing, Michigan based company that spent years bringing the healing power of honey to people suffering from hair loss, dandruff, and skin disease.

Their most famous product line is Hairback Lotion and Hairtonix Shampoo, that “helps stimulate new hair growth and thicken existing hair”. Honeyderm, Inc also claims the products solve dandruff and scalp psoriasis.

The Muslim Link requested access to some of Honeyderm’s customers, and Brother Mahmoud from Honeyderm gladly offered us some phone numbers.

Brother Hasan, in his late 30’s is from Maryland and suffers from the common skin disease eczema. “I’ve had eczema since high school, and it got worse as the years went on. I went to a dermatologist and he recommended a cortisone-type prescription cream.

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I even called [Honeyderm] with the great feedback,” recalled Najeebudheen. He told us that Allah creates shifa in many things, and Honeyderm’s products are a part of that. “For dandruff problems, this is the total solution,” he told us from his mobile phone.

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