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Outgrowing Schools:

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Journeys In Islamic Homeschooling

DC Muslim Is Deputy Campaign Manager for Gray | pg 4

By Hena Zuberi

Head of Moroccan Party Discusses Arab Spring | pg 6

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

On Monday afternoons, the halls of Dar al Taqwa are filled with voices of excited children, playing tag with siblings and friends, showing off snow globe art projects. A cluster of 20 mothers meet in the multipurpose room, tending toddlers and babies, chatting, and readying lunch.

They form the Al-Ansar Homeschooling Cooperative, based on a consensus model where every member

participates by volunteering to teach or clean up, essentially ‘pulling their weight.’

They settle down to listen to Elizabeth, a founding member give a talk on classroom management.

In one room, Asmaa ElHaggan, mother of a ten year old son, teaches Model U.N Debate class. Seven weeks of classes are taught by mothers divided by age on topics of interest to the group or based on her expertise. By pooling money together, they recently had

a nutritionist teach a class on healthy food choices.

They hold an annual Art Fair and a Science Fair, and even hand out certificates.

There are no charges except minor material fees for supplies.

Tips are shared: ‘get an educator’s card at the library and you can get six weeks to check out books’, ‘present your portfolio for review in a binder and show

>> schools Pg 10

Muslim Brutally Murdered in Gaithersburg 7-Eleven | pg 7 Dar Al-Hijrah Expands Social Services w/ Thrift Shop | pg 7 An Al Ansar Homeschooler showing off her snow globe made in Sr. Andini's art classes held at Dar Al-Taqwa in Maryland. Photo by Muslim Link.

ADAMS Medical Clinic Offers Compassion at No Cost

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

Across the street from the post office in Chantilly, VA, right off Route 28 is the ADAMS-Sully Center. It can be spotted by the army of The Cleaning Authority company cars parked in the shared parking lot. Next to

the masjid is the new health clinic for the ADAMS Compassionate Health Network (ACHN). ACHN is a volunteer-based operation dedicated to providing quality healthcare to community members in need, >> compassion Pg 14

MakeSpace Fundraiser Attracts Support, New Ideas | pg 12 ARTS: Local Author Filling Gap in Children's Books | pg 26 WPRESS: Guantanamo -- Tell the World the Truth | pg 30 ISLAM: The “Sunnah” of Divorce and Reconcilliation | pg 31

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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Community News DC Muslim Named Deputy Campaign Manager for Vincent Gray remain present and active in their children’s lives. This widely acclaimed program had multiple benefits. “Participating inmates realized the impact of positive parenting on their children’s personal, social, and educational development, with the children having tangible evidence of their father’s love, dedication and investment in their overall development,” explains Jenkins.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray announced his reelection campaign late in December. With eight mayoral candidates competing in the April 1 primary, Chuck Thies, Gray’s campaign manager has his work cut out for him. Gray has named, as Deputy Campaign Director, Rahim Jenkins. A lifelong activist Jenkins sits in the District’s Commission on Human Rights and is a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Religious Affairs.

Early in his career, Rahim found the Righteous Men’s Commission—a local alliance of urban men dedicated to helping black youths. He has worked at grassroots level with youth, gangs, exoffenders and has a shining resume of community service. He implemented

the Abridging Program, which offered incarcerated fathers the opportunity to

Best known for his role in “The Peace Treaty”, which was brokered between such notorious Southeast Los Angeles gangs as the P J Watts Crips, Bounty Hunter Bloods, Vice Lords, and Gangsta Disciples. It was marked by celebrations, by families and friends being able to visit each other in different projects without

fear.

In 1993, he was chosen by former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelley to serve as the District’s representative to the National Association of Urban Peace and Justice’s Gang Summit. He continues to serve on this organization’s board, which is dedicated to negotiating peace between previously existing and newly formed gangs throughout the nation.

According to Jenkins, many former gang members have become ambassadors for change, traveling around the country advocating non-violence and other peaceful alternatives to destructive activity.

>> jenkins Pg 20

Annapolis Masjid Opening Planned for Ramadan

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter The small sign hammered to a wooden pole in a field of snow reads Makkah Learning Center. Located in Gambrills, Anne Arundel County, Islamic Society of Annapolis (ISA) is a small yet active community. After a recent election, a meeting was held, following a multiethnic potluck dinner.

come to terms with a proposed property due to technical difficulties in land laws. They announced that the council has found a permanent location for the Islamic Society of Annapolis and plan to move in by Ramadan. The property

planned.

President Iqbal handed out an annual report with financials and achievements of the center for the year 2013-2014.

The property is an apartment building; the top floor of the building will be rented out After the recitation of Quran by a stuto provide income for ISA. dent of the MLC’s after school program, President Rashid Iqbal introduced the new 9-member executive council of ISA. Nooruddin Bell, a pioneer of the community, Vice President Muhammad Evad Dughley, Tahir Farooq, Sajid Chaudary, Secretary Ibrahim Sheikh, Treasurer Muhammad Babar, Atta ul Haq and Amin Awan.

Several questions from the community members were addressed, including the reason for the delay in building the masjid in Annapolis. The council could not

is an apartment building; the top floor of the building will be rented out to provide income for ISA. Removing walls and constructing bathrooms will renovate the lower floor into a practical place of worship. Phase Two of the MLC is also in the works and the council is in the process of obtaining permits. A 10,000 sq. ft. hall and a 5,000 sq. ft. masjid building are

Imam Mikaeel Smith gave a presentation on the achievement of the center in education. “First and foremost is worship,” he said, sharing a 500 percent increase in Fajr attendance, “we are working on Dhuhr.” Maghrib and Isha daily attendance rose from four people to 10-15. “This is the maqsad of the masjid,” he stated.

He informed the community of the

circle of learning held after Fajr and Isha salahs, when a few hadith are explained as daily learning. “Those who get daily dose of reminder sometimes say that they needed to hear that hadith to survive the day. Some of us can not make it to the Fajr or Isha salah, so the same set of hadith are repeated,” said Imam Mikaeel. He thanked Saeed and Shafqat Babar who set up live streaming of the halaqas so those who do not make It to class can still benefit from home. “[There is] no reason to be disconnected from [the masjid],” he said.

MLC holds daily maktab, an after school program where the kids come after school to learn Quran and Islamic Studies. Ustadha Sarah, the wife of Imam Mikaeel, teaches the girls, while Br. Javed and the Imam teach the boys.

Adult classes are offered from 7 p.m. to Isha.

MLC offers Saturday adult school >> OPENING Pg 16

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

ICNA-MAS Annual Convention Coming Back to Baltimore Convention Center on Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2014 One of the major national Islamic events, the ICNA-MAS Annual Convention, is coming back to Baltimore on Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2014. It will be the 39th ICNA convention and 13th ICNA-MAS joint convention. Interestingly, the first ICNA-MAS joint convention was held at the Baltimore convention center in 2002. ICNA also organized its two previous annual conventions at this same convention center in 1999 and 2000.

has enhanced its local work in the fields of Dawah, tarbiyah, domestic relief, social services, and international relief and development. Muslim Family Day also became a popular annual event for the DC area Muslims. Alhamdulillah, we had enjoyed a wonderful cooperation from the local Muslim community leadership during our three previous conventions, and we are very much hoping for the same level of cooperation this year, insha Allah.

On Sunday, February 2nd, the ICNA metro DC area chapters organized a leadership dinner at Lal Qila restaurant in Baltimore, for the DC metro area Muslim leadership to appraise them about the forthcoming annual convention. More than 50 leaders from 20 local Islamic Centers, Masajid, and various Muslim organizations, including four ICNA chapters, participated in the dinner program. ICNA’s national president Naeem Baig, regional convention chair Maqbool Patel, and Imam Safi Khan spoke at the dinner. Dr. Mohsin Ansari, chairman of ICNA Relief, moderated

Br. Maqbool Patel assured ICNA leadership the full cooperation of the metro area Muslim community and reminded the audience that the 2002 convention was also a big event, where more than ten thousand Muslims were in attendance. He hoped that inshaAllah this year convention will be at least double that amount in participation and attendance.

ICNA President Naeem Baig addresses the gathering of DMV masajid leaders. ICNA invited the leaders to dinner at Laal Qilaa restaurant in Baltimore to update them on the annual ICNA convention to be held this year in Baltimore. Photo courtesy of ICNA. the program.

Welcoming the Muslim leadership, Dr. Mohsin Ansari told them that after a gap of 11 years, ICNA convention is coming back to Washington DC metro

area. In between those years, we held our conventions in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and then for nine consecutive years in Hartford, CT. Alhamdulillah, we were able to outgrow the Hartford Convention Center. Meanwhile, ICNA

Addressing the gathering, ICNA national president, Br. Naeem Baig, stated >> convention Pg 20

Head of Moroccan Party Discusses Arab Spring

By Christina Tobias-Nahi

The Moroccan American Forum for Relief and Development (MAFRAD), an Alexandria humanitarian NGO doing development projects in Morocco, hosted the visit of Dr. Saadine El Othmani on February 2, 2014. Best know for being a prominent Fiqh and Jurisprudence scholar and for his position formerly as Foreign Affairs Minister of Morocco and now the current President of their Justice and Development Party - two community dialogues were held at the Arlington Hilton.

mani spoke on the Aftermath of the Arab Spring and its impact on North A f r i c a and then opened the floor up for a rich and honest discussion that covered many topics including what Dr. Othmani prefers to call the “democratic spring” because it was not only Arabs that were involved or impacted.

The first, a morning brunch, was attended by about 60 diverse members of American leadership both Muslim and of other faiths with an interest in Morocco representing the World Bank, several universities, NGOs, advocacy groups, media, masajid and the like. Dr. Oth-

Ray Martin, formally of USAID, found this rephrasing and the reminder that we need to be intelligent when we follow media and how they portray events and labels to be especially apt. When asked by the audience about the reason for his visit, Dr. Othmani expressed his interest

Muslim Link Contributing Writer

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in engaging with civil society and the ‘movers and shakers’ in the US Muslim leadership. The US and Morocco have had a long-standing relationship, since 1777 when Morocco was the first foreign country to recognize the newly independent United States.

Indeed, a year later Congress ratified a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations which is still in force and constitutes the longest unbroken treaty relationship in United States history unbeknownst to many.

Since 2006 there has been a Free Trade Agreement. Dr. Othmani spoke about the fact that while Europe is their lead trading partner, and despite their economic woes, Morocco has continued to see their GDP grow slightly.

A participant, Thomas DiFilipo President of another Alexandria NGO, was

surprised to hear about the phenomena of reverse migration with Europeans coming to Morocco seeking opportunities.

The second event, a longer afternoon program, was aimed to attract the expatriate community and families and had a similar presentation about the need for reform within stability and how the Moroccan situation, unlike what has happened around the region, has exemplified a different approach or what Dr. Othmani called the ‘Third Way” which is not maintaining status quo through force nor erupting in conflict, but trying to bring about meaningful change through consensus.

About 150 people attended and were also entertained by a local group, Assalam Voice, presenting Moroccan nasheed.

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Muslim Man Brutally Murdered in Gaithersburg 7-Eleven A Muslim man of Pakistani descent, Abdul Ghaffar, was murdered with a boxcutter style knife on January 23, 2014 in Gaithersburg, MD. Thirty-sixyear-old Shaun David King has been charged with the murder of a cheerful a father of seven. King cut the brother

more than 70 times on his neck, chin and wrists, according to prosecutors.

According to newsreports, Montgomery County Police say King attacked Abdul Ghaffar, 63, unprovoked, in the 7-Eleven store on 9051 Snouffer School

Road, early Thursday. A second worker called 911 and as officers arrived, they saw King leaving with what appeared to be blood on his hands and clothes. King tried to run away but was caught by the police.

Robbery was not a motive in this crime.

Family members say that King knew Ghaffar. "He used to [be] a customer," the family member said to news channels. "He had an argument with him one time."The judge has ordered psychiatric testing for King.

Dar Al-Hijrah Expands Social Services with Thrift Shop

By Hena Zuberi

more people discover the thrift shop, the team hopes the revenues will increase.

“Spread the word” says Jabrin.

Muslim Link Staff Reporter Last August, Dar al Hijrah (DAH) moved the Social Services Department into the brick house on the masjid lot.

This finally gave DAH Social Services the space to open a community thrift shop in August 2013. A washer-dryer unit was fitted in the new Social Services Building to wash gently used donations before they are ironed and hung up for resale. Everything from abayas, electronics, toys, household items, to light furniture is for sale. The thrift store serves donors, as well as those in need of low cost items.

Recycling goods by reusing them is another Islamic ethos that is upheld.

“Instead of going to Goodwill, they can bring [donations] to us,” says Tahani Jabrin, the Director Social Services at Dar Al Hijrah and a familiar face at DAH; the center issues tax deductible receipts for donations. Recently, the thrift store hosted a successful coat drive.

While all quality donations are accept-

ed, the shop will not accept out of season items, as it does not have the space to store them.

Families can stretch their household budgets while shopping at the thrift store. It is located on the lower level of what was known as the book shop.

“People who refuse handouts appreciate being able to buy with pride,” confides Jabrin.

Since the store cannot hold large item

donations, Social Services started a matching program where donors and their donations, such as heavy furniture, are matched with families in need of the items; in this way they helped 42 families in 2013. “You can see their eyes sparkling with happiness,” bubbled Jabrin.

The store is gaining traction, making up to $200 a day, depending on the traffic in the masjid. All proceeds support the department’s services for the needy. As

Dar al Hijrah is in partnership with the Fairfax County Social Services “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" (TANF) work program. TANF is a cash assistance program for families with dependent children. The goal of TANF work program is to end the dependence on public assistance by preparing the candidate for a job by helping with job readiness and skills training, vocational training and assisting them in finding and keeping a job. Through the program, DAH found four Muslim sisters who volunteer an average of 20-30 hours per week at the DAH Thrift Shop in order to gain experience.

Certificates of accomplishment will be given to those who volunteered at least 60 hours to the shop, beefing up resumes with retail experience. “The volunteers say they feel the barakah in our work. We have a good team at Dar al Hijrah,” says Jabrin. >> thrift Pg 20

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Essay Competition Held in NoVA, Looks to Go National

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter “In this day and age people are interested in writing, Alhamdulillah,” Sh. Abdurafaa Ouertani, Imam of ADAMS, welcomed the young writers and speakers to the Annual Essay Panel Competition (EPC) held in Sterling, VA on January 25, 2014.

Adib Laskar, the Master of Ceremonies, started by encouraging the participants.

He reminded them that writing is an Islamic tradition, as Allah swears by the pen in the Quran. A steady participant since the third grade, Laskar is now a first year in college. Mohammad Mahboob, President of Mafiq Foundation the nonprofit which organizes the event, thanked the participants and volunteers and kicked off the competition.

This is EPC’s 12th year of celebrating leadership in the youth of the DC Metro. Hundreds of participants and family members, who had come out to support them, crowded the halls of the ADAMS Center. “Alhamdulillah, over the years, EPC has grown from couple of dozens of participants in 2002 to 170 [registered] in 2013,” says Mostafiz Chowdhury, director of EPC. 143 youth actually participated in this year’s theme of the Akhirah- the Hereafter. The levels were divided by grades.

Each level had an iteration of the topic.

Al Huda School had 32 participants and Al Rahmah School had 29.

Through the year, several workshops were held at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, Dar us Salaam, Islamic Society Washington Area, Prince George’s Muslim Association and ADAMS Center led by youth, who are EPC veterans like Danya Chowdhry and Aziza Salako of Al Huda School.

Some contestants were nervous, and others were beaming with confidence.

Boys punctuated their speeches with Quranic ayahs about the akhirah, and girls prompted the audience about the state of their souls with hadith. Fathers guarded doors to make sure speakers were not disturbed mid speech and mothers filmed as their shining stars spoke. Parents and grandparents shifted between rooms supporting participants in their families. Tasneem Ahmad had seven grandchildren taking part in the event. Sitting in the front row, she celebrated the children with soft calls of takbeer.

A lot of boys participated in Level 1-4, but participation from young men waned off in the Level 5 and 6 categories. This is a concern as these are the future khateebs of our community and need this training.

The competition also has a multimedia and poster component. The posters were displayed in the foyer of the ADAMS Center. Highschooler Youmna Nassar won first place in Multimedia Presentation and Youser Tagouri in the Poster Competition, while Middle >> EPC Pg 18

....

Epc Results: Level 1 1st Place: Amina Bandarkar 2nd Place: Khadijah Samiya 3rd Place: Sunnah F Syed Special Essay: Yusef, H, Seidahmed Special Speech: Aabidah Aliya Ahmed Level 2 1st Place: Noorah Latifa Ahmed 2nd Place: Musa Ahmad 3rd Place: Nazaaha Fatimah Farooq Special Speech: Marwa Aligabi Special Essay: Farouq Gbadamosi Level 3 1st Place: Saad Jameel 2nd Place: Faateha T Syed 3rd Place: Shaheer Ali Imam Special Speech: Yumna Rahman Special Essay: Zahrah Imran Siddiqui Level 4: 1st Place: Ilsa Mir 2nd Place: Huma R Chowdhury 3rd Place: Zaynub Imran Siddiqui Special Speech: Sumaya A. Shameem Special Essay: Kaamila Noor Rabani Level 5: 1st Place: Amirah Ahmad 2nd Place: Afaaf Ahmad 3rd Place: Yomna A. Nassar Special Speech: Zaynab Gholston Special Essay: Zahrah Mir Level 6: 1st Place: Danya Chowdhury 2nd Place: Aziza M. Salako 3rd Place: Jinan M. Oubaid Special Speech: Rabia A Baig Special Essay: Nida Akhtar

Multimedia Results High School: 1st Place: Yomna Nassar 2nd Place: Ruqayyah Khan 3rd Place: Shefa Ahsan

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Outgrowing Schools: Journeys In Islamic Homeschooling Schools

>> continued from pg 1

them your daily schedule’, ‘I use lyrical recitation of Quran and that passes for the music requirement.' It’s a close knit, egalitarian group supporting each other in Islam and in their homeschooling journeys.

Driving in once a week from as far as Frederick, Silver Springs, Laurel to Ellicott City to give their children a taste of the classroom, Al Ansar moms are also active in arranging educational field trips for the 100 homeschooling families on their email listserv. They covered the Medical Museum, Owens Science Center, the Newseum, Ladew Garden, and a glass blowing factory last session. The next trips planned are to NASA and the U.S. Capitol.

“The DC area is great for free activities,” says one mother. The cultural and historical offerings are so rich, many homeschooling families rely heavily on the city’s cultural institutions, landmarks, museums, libraries and historical sites. The Maryland Science Center offered homeschool programming in the month of January. Maryland History Society has educational tours.

On Tuesdays, Heidi Wahba’s kids take a history class at the Sandy Spring Museum in Olney. On Wednesdays, they intern with Bryant County Critters in Gaithersburg assisting the instructor.

Group study on Thursdays, the week is finished off with a debate class with friends at the Makkah Learning Center in Gambrills. “I spend a lot of time in the car,” she says, driving her four children all over the state from their home in Brookville. It’s worth it to her. Her son was bullied ‘too much” in school, so she discussed it with a few Muslim friends, bought her first book called “Teach Your Own: John Bolt’s Book of Homeschooling”, joined 3-4 homeschooler listservs and never looked back. Building a solid foundation of Islamic beliefs is worth every minute to her. “My kids don’t follow the crowd.”

Zahirah Eppard and Moira McGuire are pros; they are grandmothers and have homeschooled several children

....

between the two of them.

McGuire recommends that families new to homeschooling do it for more than a year. “A year is just not enough time as you need to adjust your ideas about education or your child needs to adjust theirs”. Skeptical of ‘traditional’ schooling, which she says isn’t traditional at all, she found herself unschooling, a self-directed approach to education. “In the beginning, I didn’t understand that I am an unschooler,” says McGuire. Her husband had a different, more planned approach. They have learned how to balance their approaches to their childrens’ education.

She thinks for parents new to the idea, especially who are pulling their children out from schools need to know that a year is spent of struggling with the question - ‘am I doing the right thing?’

Some choose to homeschool because they see a lot of time wasted in public school and feel that their children can complete the 12 year curriculum at an accelerated pace. Creativity and flexibility are priorities for some and others want to build a solid Islamic identity.

Currently more than 1.5 million children homeschool in the United States.

According to the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland’s homeschool enrollment nearly doubled over the past 15 years.

Hifdh of the Quran is a major reason why many families choose to homeschool. Without the pressure of public or private schools structured curriculum, Hifdh students tend to complete their memorization quicker. Husna Hamza has three older daughters who are completing their hifdh at The Hifz School at Dar us Salaam; she homeschools her daughters and her younger sons.

When Hamza’s girls were attending private school, she felt their relationship was more about their schooling and less about mothering--the boss-employee routine--ordering them around from the minute the day started to adhere to someone else’s schedule. Now she focuses on teaching her six children life skills and likes that she is not bound by a curriculum or artificial structure.

“Home is the best, I don’t think young

From left, homeschooling students Yusuf AlKoshairi, Hafiz Abdullah Shaikh, Abdul Rahman Lee, and Zayd Zaghari brainstorming civic issues in the Model UN and debate class organized by Al Ansar Homeschool Group for 6-9th graders at Dar al Taqwa. Photo by the Muslim Link. children should be away from home for such long periods of time,” she shares.

She feels it is important for the health of the family - for bonding with parents and siblings.

Maryland is an active hub for homeschoolers, but is relatively homeschool unfriendly at the governmental level.

Many states such as California and Pennsylvania provide resources, curriculums, let homeschoolers borrow books from the public school system, allow homeschoolers to take some classes in public high schools, have access to many public school extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, etc.). Some provide public schooling at home by sending district teachers to the house. The District of Columbia pays for virtual homeschool programs such as K-12. com. The only resource that Maryland provides is that the homeschooled student may sit for standardized state testing.

But this didn’t stop Andini Gullivan’s homeschooling journey which started when her daughter was also bullied in school. Her mother fell ill overseas and she took her two daughters with her to Indonesia for an extended stay. Her husband, a public school teacher, was opposed to the idea, but when he saw the progress the girls made under Andini’s tutelage he acceded. He now wants

their daughters to home school through college.

She like structure and has organized her Gullivan Academy to suit her and her daughter’s learning styles. These days the girls are studying the Khulafa Rashideen in History. She helps run a Muslim Homeschooling page on Facebook, which frequently offers tips and articles. The family moved from Virginia and finds more Muslim homeschooling families in Maryland. They do miss the resources in Virginia and the fact that Virginia doesn’t require portfolio review or reporting, but revel in the company.

Nahiya Saeed says seeing your child learn how to read and knowing that it was a result of your hard work is so rewarding. Participants use many different methods, ”different strokes for different folks”, says Saeed who went to public school. She has taught in the school system and feels the system is overworked with 30 students in a class room. “I don’t think homeschooled kids are smarter, but they tend to be more patient, less frustrated and less stressed as they receive a safe, tailor-made education.”

>> schools II Pg 22

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12 |COMMUNITY NEWS

MakeSpace Fundraiser Attracts Support and New Ideas

By Christina Tobias-Nahi

nics, and the TED like talk series just to bring some fun into the equation.

With a goal to raise funds for the future site, the organizers garnered just over $70,000 towards their goal and then everyone was treated to a wonderfully delicious Afghani dinner.

Muslim Link Contributing Writer It was a packed house, standing room only with well over 250 guests that gathered to drink tea and hear the message of Imam Zia and MakeSpace at their fundraising dinner held on January 31, 2014 at Dunya Banquet Hall in Alexandria, Virginia.

Derived from Surat Al-Mujādila (58:11) in the Quran, which urges communities to make space and be a welcoming place to build community, participants old and new to the movement enjoined everyone to become part of the solution.

The vision as they explained it, is not another masjid, but what was referred to numerous times as a “third” space – beyond the realms of home and work, where one could ‘feel at home’ to congregate and socialize with colleagues and peers in a safe space for both spiritual growth but also relaxation. (To get the idea think Starbucks but completely halal with Wi-Fi hubs and conference rooms for young professionals to discuss business ventures).

As Dr. Altaf Husain explained, this concept of being ‘unmosqued’ is being watched with interest and may become trend setting nationally. Indeed, according to a recent Pew study shared

by Haris Tarin of Muslim Public Affairs Council, American society is becoming at the same time, ‘more spiritual but less religious.’ The institutions of faith, as evidenced by the survey, were deemed to be losing relevance with youth. So it is not a fancy building made of bricks and mortar that will attract the less attached back to their roots, but like hut of the Prophet that was only made of mud and palm fronds yet changed the trajectory of the world, what is important is to offer a place where the people are diverse (thus intra-faith being as important as interfaith) and where space and time is made for camaraderie.

Sister Noha Gaber, assisting with strategic planning, asked the audience to

ICM Opens Food Bank It is getting increasing hard to make ends meet, with the price of staples increasing. To help alleviate the burden and help folks stretch their limited budgets, the Social Services at the Islamic Center of Maryland announced the beginning of the ICM Food Bank. Initially the only drop off location will be at ICM in Gaithersburg, MD. The center will collect donations of nonperishable items on an ongoing basis. Items requested are: rice, oil, sugar, pasta, pasta sauce, tuna, ce-

....

real, coffee, tea, canned milk, kids snacks, beans, laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. For those who would like to donate premade packages can make a check out to ICM and include "Food Bank" on the memo line. A basic box of food items costs $50.

For more information, please call 301 840 9440 or email: icmadmin@ icomd.org

‘imagine’ their ideal community center. She then went on to explain that the model is to make the space selfsustaining, through a café initially, and later perhaps a gymnasium or a daycare.

What is impressive is that, though not yet possessing a space of their own, MakeSpace has already been actively making a name for themselves through spiritual undertakings, including weekly prayers and halaqas and Ramadan activities. There have been educational programs including for High School MSA leaders and Thursday networking events for young professionals to name a few. All ages have been encouraged to join the community service projects such as food banking and shelter events.

There have been the yoga classes, pic-

The evening concluded with a spiritual reflection by Imam Zia Makdoom.

Over the course of the event, there was a lot of wisdom conferred by the elders and a lot of energy and enthusiasm by those younger about what it is they want to make their faith hold relevance in their lives beyond just attending a weekly prayer.

MakeSpace hopes to be able to harness what everyone can bring and make the community center that attractive hub and indeed to make it fully inclusive, it would be ideal to be near a metro station for those living in the area without cars or maybe not yet even of driving age to fully participate and engage.

Indeed, anyone knowing of such a potential site that would be large enough to be multi-purpose or with future room to grow out should contact MakeSpace.

The best way to reach them or learn more, or get involved on some of the planning committees, is at facebook. com/imakespace.

CAIR-MD Welcome Article Removal Decision The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIRMD) welcomed the decision of officials at Baltimore talk radio station WCBM AM 680 to remove an anti-Muslim article that was re-published on its website.

The article by an anti-Muslim blogger read in part: "The ideology of Islam (a totalitarian system cloaked in the burqa of religion) views itself as above all other religions and systems ... Everywhere it invades and conquers, its sole purpose is to convert by force or by

numbers. No other religion/culture is equal or tolerated as such. They come to a country and isolate their community ... because the Quran demands they do not mix with infidels."

"The bigoted generalizations in this article are inappropriate for use by a mainstream media outlet and should be rejected for the hatred and intolerance they promote," said CAIR-MD President Zainab Chaudry. "We welcome the station's prompt and appropriate response to community concerns."

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

14 |COMMUNITY NEWS

ADAMS Medical Clinic Offers Compassion at No Cost compassion

>> continued from pg 1

driven by the very large and growing number of those in Northern Virginia who are low income and uninsured.

“Allah’s Shifa is like the rain and the doctors are the clouds,” says Pulmonologist Dr. Yahya Alvi, a board member and the heart behind the operation, “and insurance is a barrier, we are stopping the rain. We have to go around the barrier. Come here, pay us no money and let it rain.”

“The idea started a couple of years back, that we should have a place where we can treat people who can not have insurance,” says Dr. Alvi. Several years ago Dr. Alvi was ADAMS Director of Health Education and Training. “We zoomed on this project,” he says. He consulted with several existing clinics: the MCC Clinic in Silver Springs, MD, Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic in Herndon, VA. Dr. Alvi attended a free clinic conference in Chicago. The majority of free and charitable clinics serve adults who are uninsured, low income, and who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.

“Unfortunately, Virginia has declined to implement portions of the healthcare reform bill--Obamacare. Thousands of Virginia residents will still have no affordable access to healthcare. This fact makes our clinic's mission that much more important,’ says Dr. Alvi.

Dr Alvi adds,“making a free clinic was not a simple process, between insurance and licensing.” The site was bought by ADAMS Center: half is occupied by ADAMS Center-Sully and the other half is rented for a dollar by the clinic. It took three months to collect equipment and make the clinic functionable.

In May 2013, a fundraiser hosted by Dr. Maqsood Chowdhury, D.D.S. Vice President of the ACHN Board, set the wheels in motion. Six months later the clinic saw its first patients, on November 23, 2013.

The board consists of Drs. Yahya Alvi, Mahsin Habib, Sameer Ahmad, Tariq Aziz, and Anab Ali, RN. ADAMS

....

Planning to commit to only volunteer high quality doctors, Dr. Yahya Alvi (above) says that ACHN is open to hiring other technicians. “We want to stay the free clinic mentality, so will not be hiring doctors.” The board says that they have many volunteers from the Muslim community who have offered their time and services. "Our ultimate plan is a full fledged hospital with all specialities. It will be free service with minimal operational costs. It may take 20 years, who knows,” says Alvi.

President and Vice President, Farooq Syed and Syed Moktadir, also sit on the ACHN board. However, ADAMS Board does not govern the clinic board.

x-rays, and medications are at an additional cost. Chronic prescription drugs are available through the NOVA Scripts program.

ACHN is working with local doctors, hospitals, and medical testing facilities in the community. These specialists provide specialty care at low to no cost to their patients. The ACHN coordinates appointments, orders lab tests, and xrays for its patients. Appointments are made on a first-come first-serve basis, walk-ins are not accepted.

The clinic tries to accommodate reasonable requests such as gender specific appointments. They also will not ask people their immigration status. However, some issues that patients face are that the clinic does not offer urgent care or emergency services. For acute problems, such as colds, there are a limited number of slots offered at the end of the clinic session where a patient can be seen. The clinic is also not public transport accessible.

Family care doctors sit at the clinic every Sunday. They provide routine care, preventative screenings, school and sports physicals, well-woman exams, lab work, health counseling, prescribing and dispensing medicine and vaccinations. A voluntary pediatrician and dentist also offer services.

An administrative fee of $15 per patient visit is charged and all lab work,

“We have slots for two doctors per patient per session,” says Dr. Bazigha Hasan, a family care doctor. She works on one of the Army bases in Arlington, VA. “We are hoping to expand to 4-5 doctors.” Sunday hours and increase in the number of patients are short term goals. Eventually the clinic hopes to

stay open for a few week days.

She has been volunteering at Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic for years and ACHN is Dr. Hasan’s pet project. Using her contacts she was able to secure equipment and laboratory and pharmacy contracts at a very low cost. Another physician who was quitting her clinic gave the ACHN her supplies.

“When we started there were two challenges: the startup cost and personnel,” says Dr. Hasan. Sponsors and donors and the initial fundraiser covered the start-up costs.

“We plan on more fundraisers and being more visible in the community.

Personnel was the other challenge. We had an overwhelming response- almost 200 volunteers,” stresses Dr. Hasan.

She now has a core group of volunteers >> compassion Pg 19

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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Black Hist ory Mont h at the Muslim Community Center 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 301-384-3454

The African American Contribution to Raising and Supporting Muslim Communities - 1960 to Present Sunday, February 23, 2014 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM MCC’s Community Education Series welcomes Imam Al Amin Abdul Latif Reception with light food, refreshments and featured speakes Photo Exhibit: The Dar ul Islam Collection and American Masajid Imam Al-Amin Abdul Latif Project AllahuAkbar Masjid & Community Long Island, NY

Sr. Asma Hanif

Khalil Abdul Khabir

Amir Muhammad

Executive Director Muslimat Al-Nisaa Baltimore, MD

Photographer, The Dar ul Islam Collection Syracuse, NY

Curator, America’s Islamic Heritage Museum Washington, D.C.

....

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

16 |COMMUNITY NEWS OPENING

>> continued from pg 5

called the Foundation Program, which currently serves 30 students from around the region. The classes covered Aqeedah Tahwiyah, Fiqh of Zakat and Fiqh of Taharah this past year. The current course is on the Uloom al Quran.

Saturday morning classes are also live streamed.

When Imam Mikaeel joined ISA in 2012, he promised some initiatives in interfaith and intra-community efforts.

Since his arrival, with the support of the

community, ISA has actively participated in Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network (GAIN) and the Chesapeake Interfaith Environmental Group (CIEG).

A monthly Sunday morning revival- Fajr with breakfast and readings of Quranfor the whole family is in the works.

A TV screen will daily announcements and advertisement is scheduled to go up.

The retractable barrier between the men and the women masallah will be replace by one way glass. ATM kiosk will replay the sadaqa boxes, so the community can donate using their debit and credit cards.

There will be option to specify zakat and sadaqah and make donations gear to

a certain projects.

The profit and loss statement was presented. The bathroom renovation exceeded the budgeted amount. The extra $20,000 paid for the augmented plan to include the expansion of the kitchen for the center.

The floor was opened for questions.

Members of the community enquired about plans for building a high school.

Board members explained that county requirements such as a cafeteria and gymnasium make this a big project.

“Everything is in line,” said Babar.

The youth are a vibrant part of the community. The Badris, the ISA sister’s youth group teach Quran at Muslimaat al Nisa every Thursday. The brothers’ youth group has been involved in volunteer work as well. Youth inquired about getting a seat on the council and were told that the next election will address this issue.

ISA plans to host these community meetings every three months to continue transparency and engagement with its members.

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

18 | CONTINUED epc

>> continued from pg 8

Schoolers Sayeemah Ahmed won for her multimedia presentation and Danyah Imam took first place for her poster in their age category .

Amina Bandarkar, Noorah Latifa Ahmed, Ilsa Mir and Danya Chowdhry took the top spots in the essay and speech competition in Levels 1, 2, 4,and 6 respectively. Saad Jameel of AlRahmah School placed first in the Level 3 speech and essay competition.

Sisters Afaaf and Amirah Ahmad competed against each other. They placed first and second in Level 5 essay and speech competition, bringing smiles to the Alvi and Ahmad families.

The top five essays in each level will be published in the seventh volume of Young Muslim Voices (YMV) in early 2015. Last year’s book of essays is going through the proof-reading phase

and will be available on Amazon.com and other electronic media by Febuary 2014.

From professors to media consultants to college students, [the] judges are the cornerstone to the success of this platform, says Chowdhry. Well-qualified, for example, Judge Kerima Salaam holds a PhD in Comparative Literature.

Kashif Munir is the Chair of the Judges Panel and High School Category Lead.

An Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he reviews books for Fons Vitae publishing.

Ayman Nassar is founder and chair of Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) and a member of the EPC steering committee.

The time needed for judging varies, depending on which part of the EPC they are volunteering. EPC is a three phase process: writing, speaking, and publishing. Essays are scored and graded on-line in the first phase. The time commitment for judging essays is four to ten hours depending on the number

of essays being graded. Speeches are heard and scored in the annual event, which is a commitment of two to three hours of intense listening.

EPC plans to take the competition national by next year. “We are working with the Michigan community to take the platform to Detroit, MI,” says Chowdhury. Amina Iqbal, a former Virginian, now a remote judge from Detroit is working with EPC to implement this stage of EPC’s growth. Talks are in the works with organizers in Houston, Texas as well. “As we look toward future expansion, we will need more qualified judges, sponsors, and more hands to accomplish this task. We need partnerships to complement [the] youth enrichment platform across the nation,” Chowdhury reminds the community.

Dr. Zahra Ahmed is the Middle School Category Lead. She became a member of the EPC Committee in 2005 after her eldest daughter participated in the essay competition for the first time. She appreciates the forum for the youth to be able to express themselves through

writing and speech on various topics addressing who they are as Muslims living in America. “Our future as Muslims in the West is becoming more and more uncertain. Therefore, I would like to see a panel such as this get to a national level where the voices of our youth can be heard all across the nation,” she writes.

The efforts to organize and host EPC each year requires time, manpower and resources. The competitions are sponsored by generous contributors and run by volunteers.

Chowdhury wants volunteers to think about the opportunity to enable and engage the next generation to write, speak, and reflect on ‘a heavy topic, such as Akhira, and help them discover their identity and build confidence.’

The team at EPC invites the DMV community to become a part of this effort, whether it is through ideas, energy or financial contributions. Please contact Mostafiz Chowdhury at essays@mafiq. org for questions or comments or visit http://EPC.Mafiq.Org for more information.

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

compassion

>> continued from pg 14

and will train a bank of volunteers, who will come in when needed.

Mali Math works for the federal government as an analyst. She grew up in Herndon and came to ACHN volunteer orientation in July. At the clinic, she is the manager for exit coordinators and handles the checkout process and health education. “There is a lot of the enthusiasm; we are working on the process. The commitment by the doctors and volunteers is great.” She discusses the ins and outs of patient care coordination. She says she has seen a crosssection of the community, especially older adults come through the clinic for chronic care.

Sarah grew up three miles down the road. Planning to apply to medical school this June, she volunteers as a scribe. “I wanted to do free clinic work, wanted to make sure that [medicine] was a calling for me,” says the recent College of William and Mary graduate.

The experience has been ‘really amaz-

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ing and difficult’ for her. “It is really hard when patients come in; they are sick and poor. You can only help them so much.” As a scribe she is able to chat with the patients and they open up to her about their issues. “I wish we could do more,” she comments. The patients usually come in with uncontrolled diabetes, high cholesterol, and chronic pain due to prior injury. Arthritis and asthma are also common reasons for visits.

ACHN’s office manager, Fatima Zahra Ali, is responsible for the smooth running of the clinic. That Sunday seven patients were seen. “We're up to 90 patients enrolled; enough to book the clinic for a full month,” she expresses.

If someone does not have have insurance and their household makes less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, they can be eligible as a patient at ACHN. ACHN envisions itself as a part of larger network of institutions addressing the health and well-being of underserved and indigent individuals.

Dr. Habib also says that the network will include social services such as FAITH, local businesses, community

service projects such as food banks, so the people most in need can be reached.

A current partner is ML Resources Social Vision division, which currently funds and supports the Salvation Army’s Grate Patrol, a program that feeds homeless men, women and children 365 days a year in Washington, D.C. This way the clinic is not limited to one location. Doctors who wish to be a part of the network can be located anywhere in the state. “Primarily for Northern Virginia, but [the project] could go beyond the state,” says Dr. Mahsin Habib as he shares ACHN's long term plans with the Muslim Link.

“From fruition, we are a part of ADAMS, but we are an independent 5013c. The network is portable and easily replicated. We can be anywhere in the country- almost franchisable,” states Dr. Habib. Fundraising is separate and currently the clinic is run by committed donors.

“Our ultimate plan is a full fledged hospital with all specialities. It will be free service with minimal operational costs.

It may take 20 years, who knows,” says

Alvi.

Planning to commit to only volunteer high quality doctors, Alvi says that ACHN is open to hiring other technicians. “We want to stay the free clinic mentality, so will not be hiring doctors.” The board says that they have many volunteers from the Muslim community who have offered their time and services.

“We need specialists almost in every speciality. As long as they have a license to practice in Virginia, they can see patients here or they can see the patients in their own office,” says Dr. Hasan. Providers can also be people of other faiths.

But they didn’t want the clinic to look like a free clinic, as though patients were being given a handout. “It should look like one of our private, professional offices,” he says- and that it does, clean and welcoming.

Contact the clinic at (703) 542-3366 for more information.

....

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

20 | CONTINUED convention

>> continued from pg 6

that the ICNA convention is a family convention and you will find attractions for all members of the family. There are children programs for fun and learning, a vibrant youth conference, several parallel sessions on the topics of family, dawah, education, civil rights, social services, and thought provoking main sessions -- all part of the convention program. A bazaar of more than 300 booths will also be a great attraction for

thrift

>> continued from pg 7

“My vision is to hire battered and divorced women as part timers, to get trained and build their resume so they can [look for work],” plans Tahani. Her team at the social services has a very high case load and “noticed [most] wom[en] are single, widowed, or separated and struggling for a job.” Some are refugees from places like Syria and Afghanistan, who struggle from the day they land here.

Two blocks from the masjid is Patrick Henry Family Shelter, an apartmentstyle shelter for large families. Often, a majority of the nine families staying there at a time are Muslim. Seven Corners, where Dar al Hijrah is located is a diverse community with the highest rate of poverty in Fairfax County. Seven Corners has a ‘Falls Church’ mailing address, but is not within the independent

every participant. The convention will inshaAllah provide an opportunity to spend a family weekend in an Islamic environment. There will be interfaith programs and a special 'Window to Islam' event organized by the ICNA WhyIslam project that will especially address the brothers and sisters of other faiths. The convention will be a showcase of all ICNA activities. Br. Naeem Baig appealed the local Muslim leaders that we are seeking their cooperation on the Quranic principle of cooperating with each other in good work.

Mr. Baig mentioned that the theme of this year’s convention will be "Islam: Faith, Submission, Service." We would like to present our faith with full commitment to Allah swt and complete dedication to serve our neighbors. He also told the audience that the ICNA convention committee will work with Masjid leadership to facilitate more participation from within their communities.

City of Falls Church. Almost 35 percent of residents live below the poverty line.

According to city-data.com, 48 percent of those families are women without a husband present.

program at DAH. “Our women are going through a difficult time; they come to pray, they read Quran here at the masjid, why not have them come and learn [skills],” says Jabrin.

The shelter has rules that everyone older than 16 in the family must apply for employment to so families move quickly from the shelter into stable housing.

Jabrin is often at the shelter counseling the families to get back on their feet.

DAH is collaborating with the shelter.

Families want their high schoolers to concentrate on their studies, the women often don’t have the skills to work outside the home. In order to receive housing grants these families must find a job or enter training to learn a skill. “They do not realize that part-time jobs are a part of the process to self-sufficiency,” Jabrin points out.

Starting the first week in February 2014, ‘Sew Til You Know’ --100 hour sewing classes-- taught by ‘a well qualified instructor’ will enroll 12 students at a time. The sewing classes will serve as training required by the county and help generate income. Sewing machines, fabric and patterns will be provided.

She is realizing her dream of empowering women through a self-sufficiency

jenkins

>> continued from pg 5

Currently on leave from his job as the Program Manager at the Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Transportation , he also served a Senior Policy Advisor of ExOffender Affairs, at the Office of the Mayor, and is an Ombudsman of the DC Department of Corrections.

....

The mayor of DC, knowing his background and experience in political and community outreach, made him responsible for Ward 7 and 9; building relationships with those that vote in the district.

Born and raised in Washington D.C. he went to college in Alabama. Married with 5 children, 4 of whom reside in

Imam Safi Khan, a renowned scholar, also welcomes the ICNA leadership on holding their 39th annual convention in metro DC area and explained that the

A table set outside the masjid with the garments sown by the students will provide immediate income. While training, forty percent will go to the social services department and sixty percent of the income to the person.

Community members are often looking for affordable tailoring services. Sisters can work at home, avoiding childcare

Washington DC. Bro. Rahim, a Muslim for 35 years attends Masjid Muhammad. Describing his evolution from a life of violence and crime, he says that Islam helped him see that he was a part of the problem. In the 1980s, Jenkins said he was involved in the drug scene.

“I grew up with gun violence, Islam attracted me and played heavy on my heart.”

convention theme is wonderful in presenting the true meanings and actions of Islam in the present situation of our country.

ICNA Secretary General, Tariq Rahman, CEO of the Helping Hands for Relief and Development, Farrukh Raza, and Convention Co-Chairman, Dr. Arif Mannan were also present in the program. The leadership dinner came to an end with a beautiful dua'a by Mufti Hamid of Fatima Masjid located in Catonsville, MD. [Source: ICNA]

costs, while providing income for their families.

Jabin is looking for donations of sewing equipment, sewing machines and fabric. Successful graduates of the 10 week program can expect the sewing machines as gifts, along with help in how to start businesses.

With these two new services Dar al Hijrah added to its armoury of recognized services: the Food Bank, Emergency Rental Help, Medication Assistance, and Employee-Employer Connections.

Vouchers for the thrift shop are available at DAH Social Services. The shop is open every weekend from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those interested in purchasing gift vouchers for families can contact darulhijrahss@yahoo.com

His participation in the Muslim Advocacy Commission with Imam Johari Malik, amongst other endeavours makes him an influential leader in the Muslim community.

Mayor Gray’s 2010 campaign is tainted with unanswered questions, hopefully the inclusion of Bro. Rahim Jenkins will bring a righteous element to the team.

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

22 | CONTINUED Schools II

>> continued from pg 10

Home education is governed by COMAR 13A.10.01 in Maryland, a procedure used by the superintendent of each local school system to determine if a child participating in a home instruction program is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in subjects usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age. Each school district has different requirements.

Under COMAR, students must be taught by parents or guardians but they can also hire tutors for subjects. Parents do not need to be certified. Learning the law is very important, parents are not required to teach the same information that the public schools teach.

Some school districts have cooked up forms and policies that are not legally required, warns Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). The correct form—the one developed by the state Department of Education—is available on the HSLDA webpage for Maryland. HSLDA urges families to use this form rather than the one the county offers. Families are not required to file any forms with the local public school just a notification of intent is enough to let the school superintendent know of the intentions.

Local school district personnel are not always familiar with the details of the laws, and a spirited discussion ensues as the Al-Ansar moms reveal their review experiences where they were asked questions that were clearly illegal. Dannette Zaghari-Mask, an attorney, says that sometimes the county asks to see everyone.“They are not allowed to interview the kids,” she says.

Saeed nods her head in agreement, she is a member of the panel which runs the co-op. Mervad Sewilan shares that some reviewers ‘look at us as an enemy.’ Gullivan shares how she used her review as an opportunity for dawah.

Saeed says Al-Ansar is not an umbrella group so it can not do the reviews for its parents, but the interest is there. Dar Al Taqwa has the required paperwork.

If a parent or guardian decides to homeschool they have 15 days before the beginning of a home instruction program

....

to sign a written statement on a form prescribed by the State Department of Education. In Maryland, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health, and Physical Education are mandatory subjects. Quranic recitation classes can be substituted for Music classes.

4-year, 18 unit high school diploma program with American School online costs $2100. Diana of Germantown, MD spends at least a couple of thousand dollars, ‘plus pay[s] taxes’. Heidi has a budget of $2000-2500 for her children, which she finds cheaper than private school.

Diana, a mother of seven, sits outside a church, on a cold January day, with several other mothers clad in hijabs.

Her daughter is inside attending an advanced science class that they found through a Christian message board in the church’s basement. “I wish masajid [Islamic Centers] would open up their

With two kids now in highschool McGuire feels the pinch, spending $500 a year per child per class. “I find the older I get and the older my kids get, the less involved I am; they are experiencing life,” says McGuire. ‘Subcontracting’ as she calls it, means having other people involved with her kids, “that is what

Homeschooling can be expensive as well. Classes with private tutors, correspondence classes and curriculum such as Calvert can add up fast.

A full 4-year, 18 unit high school diploma program with American School online costs $2100. doors for homeschoolers to host classes.” Her experience requesting rooms at the Islamic Center near her home met ‘a lot of resistance and barriers’. She also drives a long distance to attend Al-Ansar. Homeschooling families can easily band together and hire tutors for private lessons cutting down the cost for a single family and provide income for retired teachers and professionals in the community.

McGuire, a thrifty mother of 6, says it is not her journey, it is her children’s journey. Her son Zakaria asked her to homeschool in first grade, he is now 16 and taking two classes at Howard County Community College; $250 each a semester. She also unschools three younger children - reusing books and equipment. Homeschooling can be cheap if used textbooks are bought through eBay and homeschooling swap meets. Community college credits for advanced coursework can later be applied toward a degree, saving money in the long run.

Homeschooling can be expensive as well. Classes with private tutors, correspondence classes and curriculum such as Calvert can add up fast. A full

is different about high schoolers.”

A tax credit bill SB 271 has been submitted to the Maryland Senate. It will help all families who choose non-public education—both homeschool families and private school families. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) If enacted, homeschooling families can obtain a $1,000 tax credit for books, tuition, correspondence courses etc. Some homeschoolers see the bill as intrusive and oppose it. They fear stricter oversight.

Another concern for parents who want to homeschool through high school is college preparedness. They are unsure if they have what it takes to teach high school level concepts. Diana tortured herself over this issue. Her eldest has now graduated from UMBC. “She loved the place,” says Diana.

In 2002, the College Board, which administers the SAT, says that homeschoolers averaged 72 points, or 7 percent, higher than the national average. At a portfolio review in Greenbelt Library, the school district reviewer shared samples of transcripts kept by homeschooling mothers of high school-

ers. “Some universities are more friendly than others,” she says and college board results, extracurricular activities, recommendations from community college professors as well as showing what the student has done with their life helps homeschoolers get into prestigious colleges. According to the New York Magazine, based on a study that compared students at a midwestern university from 2004 to 2009, students coming from a home school graduated college within four years at a higher rate than their peers—66.7 percent compared with 57.5 percent—and earned higher grade-point averages.

What about the kids? What do they think? Dalya. an eighth grader from Germantown decided to homeschool herself. The language at school, the aggression and bullying were too much for her. “ I want to homeschool my own kids; schools are a bad influence,” she says with a grin. She is headed back to the local high school because that is what all her siblings did.

Safiyyah is a quiet eight year old, whose favorite subject is math. Homeschooled since she was in kindergarten, she shyly says “I like being home,” her brown eyes looking down at the floor.” I like spending time with my mommy.” Her mommy, Kimberly Baqqi, the cheerful administrator of the Al-Ansar Co-op email list coos with delight. Validation feels good.

Nadya, Sakinah and Aisha are 9th graders having lunch in between sessions at the co-op. After being homeschooled by their mothers since they were in elementary school, they presently take chemistry classes together with a college professor in Adelphi, MD and writing classes in Greenbelt, MD. They find themselves aptly prepared for the classes.

Since socialization skills are a big concern for homeschool critics, this is a question that is often thrown their way.

They don’t agree with the stereotype that homeschoolers are introverts. “It allows you to grow in a way that is not possible when people are closed in with [only] their peers,” says Nadya.

Confident that they can take on the world, they know that it is their own journey.

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

24 | HEALTH & FAMILY

Running for the Hills Dispatches from Muslim Homesteaders

By Jann McClary

Muslim Link Contributing Writer This is the first in a series from Sister Jann McClary, a longtime Washington DC area resident who – along with her husband -- moved to an undeveloped parcel of land in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. The couple is building a new life with their bare hands. Sister Jann agreed to give the city dwelling Muslim community an insight into her new life. – TML No TV. No microwave popcorn. No malls. Hmmm.

Well, no utility bills. No rent. No traffic jams.

Jannah? Not quite, but it'll suffice for this dunya. You see, I'm building a tree house. Let me rephrase that. My husband and I are building a house out of trees. Well yes, you say, my suburban 2,100 sq. ft. house with 2-car garage and walk-out basement is made of trees.

No, no, no. 2x4 framed houses are tree by-products. I'm talking about 18 foot long, 11 inch diameter, un-milled, raw Ponderosa pine logs. Think Lincoln Log playsets from childhood. The whole tree is there except the roots and branches.

We even left the bark on in a few places just for the “looks cool” factor.

So why are we, two AARP-eligible Muslims with more aches and pains and negligible building experience, attempting this feat? Three reasons. My mom told me years ago to never be daunted in the kitchen – if you can read you can cook. Turns out that's true with construction, too, for the most part. Second reason? No mortgage, no riba. But the main reason is this hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari: Narrated Sa'id al-Khudri: “Rasulullah

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(saw) said 'There will come a time when the best property of a Muslim will be the sheep which he will take to the tops of mountains and the places of rainfall so as to flee with his religion from the afflictions.'

Seems to me that if you watch the evening news, or better yet, the alternative new media, there's a growing trend of government and corporate hijinks and shenanigans going on all over the place these days. Not to mention the genetic hank-panky ensuing in the nation's agricultural sector. By actually heading to the hills we're attempting to lessen our exposure to said afflictions by establishing ourselves in a more natural, self-reliant atmosphere, with the help of Allah. Are we alarmists? No, dude. We're tying the camel. The sheep, goats and chickens will come later, insha Allah.

We saw that the cities are the worst places to be when the aforementioned corruption, abuses and manipulations become less covert and more in-yourface. So we figured we'd mosey out the country, the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to be exact, and try our hand at homesteading. -30- Turns out that homesteading is a lot more than it's cracked up to be. Forget about those idyllic pictures of happy farm wives cradling hand-woven baskets of shiny, blemish-free vegetables, standing in front of a cozy cottage with smoke curling lazily from the chimney. Have you any idea of the amount of labor, trial and error and abysmal crop failure that farm wife endured to get to the point of having a basketful of food?! No one tells you about the back-breaking amount of soil that needs to be re-arranged and fortified with compost to make those pretty beds for seeds, only a third of

>> hills Pg 34

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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You’re invited to the Annual AH SGA

Ice Skating Event Brothers and Sisters Will Skate Separately!

Where:

Gardens Ice House Old 13800 Gunpowder Road Laurel MD

When: February 21, 2014 Time: 2:50 to 4:50 PM Cost:

$15 Pay at door or online: www.alhuda.org

Sponsored by: Al-Huda School SGA

....

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

26 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Arts & Entertainment Local Muslimah Author Filling Gap in Children's Books

By Hena Zuberi

cided to write it out. “Amira’s Totally Chocolate World” was a story written for a niece in 2001 about a young girl who wishes that the whole world was made out of chocolate; Mair tweaked the story for Muslims.“ Amira is Mair’s other daughter’s middle name. The yummy story is perfect for for 4-8 year olds to appreciate Allah’s creations. “I really like it, it was so funny,” says Yousuf Siddiqui, 6.

Muslim Link Staff Reporter “I read about the Prophet Muhammad and whatever made him, him, that is what I wanted to follow,” mused children’s book author Julie Samia Mair, who writes fun books with a message; books that her own children will want to read.

She is an explorer, just like her character Sarah in the “The Perfect Gift”.

Raised in Pittsburgh, a graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts, she spent the early part of her adult life in Philadelphia, working as a prosecutor.

This is where she wrote her first novel, which was never published.

Trying to fill the need for quality fiction for our children, especially chapter books for the 7-12 year olds, Mair is working on more titles. Kids who read the books can identify with the characters and normalize their experiences ‘hey that happens in my family,’ mentions Mair, who has blogged as the Baltimore Muslim Examiner for Examiner.com.

Now, she is a resident of Howard County where she found Islam in 2001God's perfect gift to the world. A poet by nature, when she first read the Surah Fatihah, Mair had been searching for guidance. “This was the poem, the prayer for guidance that I had been trying to write for eight years,” says Mair.

At that time she was married to her husband, an atheist. She found the only imam in America who said that it was okay to stay married to him, she says with a giggle. Her husband embraced Islam on his own a few years later. “I didn’t know any better. By the time I realized my mistake, he was ready to convert,” she adds.

She received her Masters in Public Health and taught at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

After publishing several technical academic papers, she wanted to publish writing of a different kind.

Her family, blessed by the addition of two daughters who Mair and her husband adopted from China, needed her full attention. She is a homeschooling mother of the eleven year olds, who ferociously reads all the books her daughters do. On her bedside table is an eclectic mix of books, “The Stars in the

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In her books the main characters are Muslim, but they aren't preachy. These are stories of children’s lives that just happen to be Muslim. Islamic references and culture are woven into the stories. “We talk like that; we refer to hadith in regular life; I wanted to show that,” says Mair.

Hoping to host a book signing at a big bookstore for her new book, “Zak and his Good Intentions.” A story of a boy who is trying to please Allah.

Prophet’s Orbit,” “Mornings in Jenin,” “The Great Gatsby,” ”Reflection on the Quran,” and “Lies My Teacher Told Me.” Mair’s focus these days are her Islamic Studies classes, she feels that she has a lot of catching up to do “I don’t have time to read fiction,” confesses Mair.

The only book of fiction she is currently reading is a historical novel that she is

teaching her daughters. She wants her daughters to be wise consumers of history and news.

Mair has published two books with The Islamic Foundation, Amira's Totally Chocolate World and The Perfect Gift.

“The Perfect Gift” was a story knitted for her daughters to keep them quiet during a bath. A family favorite, she de-

The descriptions of peach growing is so accurate in her book, “The Great Race to Sycamore Street”, that you would think that she is a orchard owner. Really ‘into’ the research that goes into her stories, she spent hours learning about archery and read 10 books on peach growing for this juicy story about a pair of siblings, Hude and Amani, summering at their Grandma’s country house.

For her readers Mair wants to give a glimpse of what it is like to be Mus-

>> author Pg 37

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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28 | CIVIL RIGHTS

Civil Rights

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Abu Ali Case Highlighted at No Separate Justice Event in NYC

By Sarah Khasawinah

Muslim Link Staff Reporter On January 7, 2014, the coldest night of the year in New York City, I found warmth in the grand hall of Judson Memorial Church. I joined over two hundred men and women of many faiths to launch No Separate Justice, the first-ever domestic human rights campaign to call for an end to civil and human rights abuses in cases of the “War on Terror” that occur right here in the United States of America.

The timing coincided closely with the 12th anniversary of the opening of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Every person of conscience condemns the prison in Guantanamo, and many believe that “if only those detained at Guantanamo could be transferred to American soil, to be held and tried as civilians, the abuses would end and justice would be done.” (http://no-separate-justice.org/) However, the launch proved that history shows otherwise. Since 9/11, hundreds of men, almost all Muslim, have been tried as civilians in the USA and subsequently subjected to abuses akin to those at Guantanamo. These abuses include “inhumane conditions of confinement both pre- and post-trial; secret evidence; intrusive surveillance; vague material support charges; FBI-created plots brought into communities through paid informants; and the criminalization of Islamic speech” (http://no-separate-justice.org/).

The No Separate Justice campaign launch highlighted the stories of four young men who have faced such abuses and languish in prison today: Tarek Mehanna, Ehsanul “Shifa” Sadequee, Ahmed Abu-Ali, and Fahad Hashmi.

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Educators for Civil Liberties, CUNY School of Law’s Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Respon-

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sibility (CLEAR) Project, and Amnesty International USA hosted the event.

Liliana Segura, a specialist on the prison industrial complex and a founding partner of the public service journalism venture, First Look moderated the evening together with Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College.

Tamer Mehanna shared the story of his brother, Tarek Mehanna, who is currently imprisoned at the Federal Communications Management Unit in Terre Haute, Indiana. Tarek was convicted under broad allegations of “material support to terrorists” for First amendment protected activities. Tamer shared a human side of the story. He asked audience members to “Think about somebody you love. Think about the last time you hugged or kissed somebody that you loved… Imagine that from this moment on, you will never be able to hug them or kiss them again. From this instant on, you will never see them, except behind a screen, locked in a concrete box.”

Sonali Sadequee shared the story of her brother, Shifa Sadequee, who is also incarcerated at the Federal Communications Management Unit in Terre Haute, IN. Shifa was charged for “material support” and held for three years in solitary confinement, prior to his trial.

Sonali explained, “What is material’s support? In my brother’s case, it was that he took Arabic texts, ancient texts … he translated them in English and he shared them with his peers. … the content of some of those articles are now being taught on college campuses.”

Faisal Hashmi talked about his brother, Fahad Hashmi, who is currently being held in solitary confinement at the Federal “Supermax” Prison, ADXFlorence, Colorado. Fahad was accused of providing material support to Al-Qaeda. The materials found were socks and ponchos. Faisal shared a letter from Juan Mendez, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Mendez wrote, “In several cases, I have found the United States has violated its solemn obligation under the convention

against torture. One of those cases is the long-term imprisonment of Syed Fahad Hashmi.”

Pardiss Kebriaei, a Senior Staff Attorney at the Center Constitutional Rights representing Hashmi offered encouraging words from her experiences: “I came into this work after so many years of representing men detained at Guantanamo. I want to make connections between the arbitrary punishment and torture and secrecy that I saw at Guantanamo, and the way we were able to build a movement around Guantanamo, and the way we need to build a movement here.”

I told the story of Ahmed Abu-Ali, who is also being held in solitary confinement in ADX Supermax for terrorism related charges. Ahmed’s conviction is based on a coerced confession video that was filmed in Saudi Arabia and secret evidence that is concealed from him, his family, and his attorneys.

>> justice Pg 37

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

CIVIL RIGHTS

| 29

UPDATE: Equality for Eid Campaign In Montgomery County We wish to give you a brief update on our efforts to ensure equal treatment for Muslim staff and students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

Attendance on Eid al-Adha 2013: Last Eid-ul-Adha, October 15, 2013, MCPS staff and students were urged by our coalition to stay home from school to celebrate Eid. Records indicate over 5% of students and 4% of teachers were absent that day. In order to thoroughly analyze this data, we must compare the absences to attendance on a typical school day. This data has been requested of MCPS, and we are awaiting a response.

MCPS Board of Education's Vote Last November: As described in this Washington Post article, during the MCPS' Board of Education meeting on November 16, 2103, the board voted to establish the calendar for the 2014-15 academic year. CAIR-MD submitted written and oral testimony at this meeting. This vote was purely symbolic since during the 201415 school year, both Eid ul-Fitr and Eid alAdha are projected to fall on non-school

days. Still, two of eight members, Mike Durso and Justin Kim, voted against the calendar to signal their support for the Muslim community. We are pleased by their support, as well as the supportive words offered by member Chris Barclay; and we request that you email them a note of thanks. Their respective emails are: Michael_A_Durso@ mcpsmd.org, Justin_Kim@mcpsmd.org, and Christopher_Barclay@mcpsmd.org Yom Kippur and Eid-ul-Adha Coincide in 2015: The MCPS' Board of Education will re-convene in November '14 to vote on the calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. During that academic year, Eid-ul-Adha (September 23rd, 2015) is expected to land on the same day as the Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur – for which MCPS is already closed (Eid ul-Fitr is projected to fall in July during the summer break, so is not an issue).

Our coalition plans to urge MCPS in 2014 to recognize the official designation for school closing on this day to acknowledge school closing for Eid-ul-Adha in addition to observance of Yom Kippur.

MCPS's Poll Reveals Long-Denied Politici-

zation of Religious Holidays: We have repeatedly been informed by the MCPS administration and the Board of Education that school closings are not a political issue and rather are strictly granted based on attendance data (even though they have failed to articulate absence criteria). This claim strains credulity when the schools are explicitly closed for Good Friday, Christmas, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

However, newly-revealed documents from MCPS seem to disprove this claim. We have discovered a memo written by the MCPS superintendent in 1974. In it he says: “The Board of Education's 1974-1975 school calendar was developed following a countywide random survey of more than 3,000 parents and employees.... The survey showed, among other things, that: … About half (49%) the parents surveyed thought schools should continue to close on Columbus Day, but it was the least favored of current school holidays. (89% of parents wanted to retain Labor Day as a holiday, 62% to retain Washington's Birthday, 65% Yom Kippur.” MCPS's long-held claim that school closings are strictly granted based only on attendance records is simply no lon-

ger tenable. Conducting a public poll to determine one's course of action is a very clear and explicitly political act.

Upcoming Changes to the Board of Education Offer Welcome Opportunities for Equality: The 8-member Board of Education will be undergoing significant changes in 2014.

This potentially improves our chances of securing equality for the Eid holiday. Ms. Shirley Brandman has announced her retirement and Mr. Justin Kim's 1-year-term as Student-Member of the Board will be ending soon. Mr. Barclay is also reportedly considering leaving the board to run for higher office. All replacements would be chosen in elections later this year. We will closely monitor the candidates’ positions on equality for Muslims in MCPS. We are grateful to our friends and allies who continue to stand by us as we strive for equality for Muslim students and educators in MCPS. Thank you for your unwavering support!

CAIR-MD & The Equality for Eid Coalition | www.Equality4Eid.com

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30 | WORLD PRESS

World Press

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Guantanamo: Tell the World the Truth

By Hena Zuberi Muslim Link Staff Reporter While most Muslims were homes warm and toasty, away from the winter rains, people of other faiths, human rights advocates gathered on Saturday January 11, 2014 in a powerful protest in the pouring rain in front of the National Museum of American History, vowing to “Make Guantanamo History.”

One of the most passionate activists and founder of the Close Guantanamo Campaign, Andy Worthington said that the ‘living tableaux of hooded protesters to contrast with fixed exhibits designed to illuminate other, more generally accepted aspects of American history.

This was a very powerful event, and I

namo without charge or trial. He called prison a blemish. “We are responsible for safeguarding the constitutional values that are meant to protect all Americans, persons who reside in the U.S., and those in our custody from the abuses of indefinite detention and lack of due process. We must shut down the

Guantanamo is the prison on Cuban soil where 155 Muslim prisoners are kept and tortured, including Shaker Aamer.

His voice was heard in a CBS documentary in September, 2013. Aamer shouted out, “Tell the world the truth.

Please, we are tired. Either you leave us to die in peace — or either tell the world the truth. Open up the place. Let the world come and visit. Let the world hear what’s happening. Please colonel, act with us like a human being, not like slaves.”

He added, “You cannot walk even half a meter without being chained. Is that a human being? That’s the treatment of an animal. It is very sad what is happening in this place.”

84 of the remaining 155 prisoners have been cleared for release by the President’s own task force. More than half of the men are Yemeni, and despite the fact that President Obama lifted his self-imposed ban on transfers to Yemen last spring, not one has been sent home since 2010. In his State of the Union Address President Obama spoke -again- about closing Guantanamo, without action.

Protesters in orange jumpsuits walked blocks from the White House to the museum. Poems were read. They all hope that this will be the last year that they are here. Then something extraordinary happened, the activists from Witness Against Torture held a living exhibition inside the museum.

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to follow through on his past promises by dramatically reducing the prisoner population in Guantánamo, a symbol of U.S. torture,” stated Rev. Ron Stief, Executive Director, National Religious Campaign Against Torture. 325 religious organizations that belong to the National Religious Campaign Against Torture demand the need to close Guantánamo and put an end to this sad and immoral chapter of U.S. history.

Aquib Yacoob, a student activist from Amnesty trying to get youth . Amnesty held the first demonstration 12 years ago called “Shut it Down.” working to demand ending indefinite prison progression. We want Guantanamo to be history and we can't forget the injustices that have occurred.” Amnesty is lobbying inside Washington D.C. and Yacoob noted progress with the latest National Defence Authorization Act, which makes it easier to transfer detainees from Guantanamo to other countries.

thank the Witness Against Torture activists for undertaking it, and the museum authorities for not reacting in a heavy-handed manner, and allowing the educational intervention to last for several hours.”

A coalition of groups involved in campaigns calling for the closure of Guantánamo — including Amnesty International, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Witness Against Torture, World Can’t Wait, and “Close Guantánamo,” attended. Shahid Buttar of Bill of Rights Committee, and CAIR staff Zainab Chaudry, Nihad Awad and Robert McCaw were the only recognizable faces from Muslim leadership that were seen.

Nihad Awad, National Executive Director, Council of American-Islamic Relations stated that twelve years is too long for the U.S. to imprison men at Guantá-

prison at Guantánamo.”

David Barrows, a retired office manager, poet and artist has been protesting “for years.” “Consistency is part of the secret you have to be consistent. You have be consistent,” he said.

Barrows was wearing a big sign with the words of the American Medical Association: Force Feeding is Torture. “We aren’t in the most vibrant democracy, I say it’s a dying democracy. I would like to see doctors out here protesting here,” he said.

“As people of faith, we believe that torture is a moral abomination that runs contrary to the teachings of all religions.

Not only is torture illegal, it affects all involved—the victims, perpetrators, and policy-makers—and dishonors God and the traditions of all our faiths.

Congress has recently given President Obama new tools that will allow him

World Can’t Wait protester, Lorna had come from New Jersey for the protest.

She is a Quaker who works with asylum seekers and other detainees. Sarah Al Marvi is interning with CodePink and a student with American University. She said,”we want Guantanamo [to] never to be forgotten.”

Anwar Omeish, an eleventh grader at Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, heard through the loop that there was a protest. She has been to several protests this year. “It’s very compelling that we are here in front of the museum,” she said. “They are our Muslims brother, they are innocent.” She wondered why she doesn’t see more Muslim organizations, such as ISNA or MAS here. “I think they are scared,” said Omeish, who was at the protest with her friend Reem.

To get involved please visit the aforementioned organizations’ websites to keep abreast of developments.

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

ISLAM | 31

Islam

The “Sunnah” of Divorce T h e Q u r ' a n s p e c i f i c a l l y m e n t i o n s

By Dr Aamir Sheikh Nearly everyone knows that roughly 1400 years ago, the rise of Islamic faith forever changed the landscape of the Arabian Peninsula. Developments in creed, worship, and family matters were only some of the major issues that were addressed in Arabian society. Within the matters related to the family, revolutionary changes in marriage and divorce were also instituted due to the fact that the Islamic tradition acknowledged the importance of marriage and recognized it as a necessary building block in the process of developing a healthy and vibrant community.

Islam went to great lengths to encourage the Muslim to marry and instituted numerous measures to curve and minimize the appearance of divorce in the Muslim household.

The hadith master, Abu Dawood transmits a tradition whereby it is noted, “The most hated of all permissible matters in the sight of Allah Taala is divorce.” Attributing this tradition to the Prophet PBUH is questionable, but regardless, its meaning is clear, well-accepted; that to divorce a woman unjustly is terrible crime. Despite such persuasive and compelling narrations, we find that Muslim society today often takes divorce for granted.

It is oftentimes, the normal outcome of an unhappy marriage. Statistics have captured this trend, as noted in a recent study conducted by Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus, a sociology professor at State University of New York, who found an alarming increase in the divorce rate among Muslims in North America reaching approximately 31%. In other words, roughly 1 out of every three Muslim marriages in North America will end in divorce.

The fact that the divorce rate in Muslim communities is approaching that of nonMuslim communities gives credence to the notion that we have failed to apply what the Quran so vividly speaks

of when Allah Taala says: “And among His signs, is that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy…” – Qur’an 30:21. In another verse, Allah says: “… And live with them honorably…” – Qur’an 4:19.

Living with our spouse honorably and being affectionate with them are just two of the necessary ingredients in a lasting, happy marriage. The Quran lays out a detailed formula for how to keep the ties of marriage strong and avoid the turmoil of divorce. For example, Allah Taala reminds us to always be patient with our spouses and not focus on their shortcomings, but rather focus on their good qualities, “So if you dislike them, it could be that you dislike a thing that Allah Taala puts in it tremendous good.” Quran 4:19.

Despite this, if problems arise between couples, we are reminded to not seek out divorce immediately, but to try to rectify the problems by various measures within the household. Allah Taala says, ““And those you are fearful of discord with them, admonish them, separate beds with them, and subdue them. So if they obey you, do not transgress against them.”

Quran 4:34. \ Furthermore, if the problems between couples cannot be resolved between the couples themselves, they are instructed to seek help from family members. Allah Taala says, “If you fear a split between them (the spouses), send one arbitrator from his family and one from her family. If they desire to set things right, Allah shall bring about harmony between them. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, AllAware.” Quran 4:35 The Qur'an specifically mentions arbitration from family members rather than individuals from outside the family because they are generally more aware of the intricacies of the situation between husband and wife, and as family members they have more at stake than someone from outside the family. If all of the above fail to lead to a resolution of the conflict

arbitration from family members rather than individuals from outside the family because they are generally more aware of the intricacies of the situation between husband and wife

between husband and wife, divorce now becomes a viable avenue to consider.

In the Qur'an, marriage is described as a sacred and strong bond, meethan ghalithan, but while stressing the sanctity of matrimonial bonds, it allows them to be broken by a following a proper method.

Firstly, evidence for the permissibility of divorce can be found in the verse where Allah Taala addresses his Prophet and says, “O Prophet! When you do divorce women, divorce them at their prescribed periods, and accurately count their prescribed periods…” Quran 65:1.

Secondly, the method prescribed by the Qur'an for divorce is that a husband can give divorce only twice, on two different occasions, and then either he has to keep the woman with kindness or leave her with benevolence. This is based on the verse, “Divorce is only permissible twice…” Quran 2:229. In pre-Islamic Arab society, without any justification, a man could divorce his wife an unlimited number of times. In other words, he would divorce her, then take her back during her waiting period, then divorce her again, then take her back during her waiting period, and so on, without this cycle ever breaking. In the Jami of Imam Attirmidhi, Aisha makes it clear what used to happen during the period of ignorance. She states, “The husband would divorce his wife whenever he wished, and he could take her back, even if he had divorced her over one hundred times.” In this manner, certain men would use this infinite divorce ability to mistreat their wives, mocking the institution of marriage with the constant threat of divorce. Islam put an end to this chaotic form of marriage when Allah Taala revealed in the Quran, “Divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties

should either hold together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness.” Quran 2:229 When going through the process of divorce, it should be done in a matter that is consistent with the universal principles of Islam that includes respecting the rights and dignity of the two spouses, as Allah Taala says, “… And whoever transgresses the boundaries of Allah, he has indeed wronged himself…” Quran 65:1…”

Throughout the divorce process, like the reconciliation process that proceeded it, the Islamic tradition encourages patience for the purpose of contemplation, discourse, and possible salvation of the sacred marriage bond. This “sunnah” method, or method advocated by Allah Taala and His messenger, mandates that a man only say divorce once while his wife is in state of purity, void of conjugal relations, and he let her pass through her waiting period. During this waiting period, the wife is encouraged to honor her husband and accentuate her positive traits in the hope that the husband will realize the value of his wife and what life would be like without her. This highlights the remarkable principle that the Islamic divorce system allows for reconciliation between the spouses even after the process of divorce has been initiated.

The entire process of marriage, maintenance of strong bonds between husband and wife, conflict resolution between couples, arbitration involving family members, and even divorce, if necessary, accentuates a system that is deliberate, gradual, reversible, and with just aims.

Dr. Aamir Sheikh is the Resident Scholar at Darul Taqwa, Maryland.

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32 |

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

ISLAM

Largest Meeting of Mathematicians Held In Baltimore, Features Muslim Contributions

By Sarah Khasawinah

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

One thousand years ago, Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq, housed the world’s premier center of mathematics. During this period, scholars from many religions including Christians, Zoroastrians, and Jews joined Muslim scholars in the preservation and pursuit of knowledge. The scholars gathered and translated the works of many ancient civilizations ranging from, Greek and Roman to Indian and Persian, and created a comprehensive library in Arabic. The scholars also made major original contributions: the sum formula for the fourth power in calculus; tessellating tiles in geometry; the Law of Sines in trigonometry; and in mathematics, and life in general, the invention of algebra.

Mathematicians today celebrated the history of mathematics and its present and its future at the largest meeting of mathematics in the world with over 6,500 attendees: The Joint Math Meetings (JMM) in Baltimore, Maryland from January 15-18, 2014. Representing the 97th annual meeting of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the 120th annual meeting of the American Mathematical Society (AMS), this annual joint meeting represents a reunion of mathematics, of ideas, of people, and of a shared calling to use numbers and letters and shapes to contribute to humanity.

Mathematics from the Islamic Golden Era was prominently featured at ses-

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sions devoted to the history of mathematics. Dr. Salar Alsardary from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia gave a talk called “Contribution of Muslim scientists to science and mathematics.” Dr. Alsardary highlighted the fact that “Islam encourages its followers to seek all kinds of knowledge” and especially emphasizes “specific knowledge that can help them with daily life as well as their beliefs,” such as astronomy to calculate lunar months or arithmetic to calculate inheritance. Dr. Alsardary introduced Abu Ja’far AlKhwarizmi, the 8th century Muslim scholar who wrote “Kitab Al-Jabr,” the first ever book on the subject from which we take the name “Algebra” today. This new construct allowed scholars to solve problems that other civilizations could not conceive. Dr. Alsardary explained, because Greek mathematicians lacked algebra, “they could not reach the more free attitude toward mathematical concepts necessary to invent Calculus.” Greek mathematicians were restricted to “things they readily saw with their eyes.”

The new concept of Algebra enabled mathematical modeling at a level beyond simply what the eyes could see.

In his book, Al-Khwarizmi provides applications and worked examples of using algebra to find volumes of solids, such as the sphere, cone, and pyramid. He also employed his techniques to calculate inheritance using Islamic Shari’a Law. These algebraic rules represent the same foundations that we rely on today.

While mathematics has contributed tremendously to society, the universe of what more mathematics can accomplish remains full of unknown potential. At the Joint Math Meetings, researchers shared their latest works and unanswered questions in the field. Professor Benson Farb, of the University of Chicago, delivered a joint invited address in which he introduced basic concepts in topology.

He defined a configuration space in layman terms as a configuration of a space of points, such as satellites in outer space or robots on a factory floor. Before delving into the theories of topology, he prefaced, “I’m not working on satellites or robots, but if I can understand configuration spaces, then I can solve all these problems at the same time.” On this tantalizing note, he proceeded and left the audience with the basic building blocks to perform a standard calculation in topology and understand what types of questions this field can address. Consider, the space of polynomials, the points on a plane. Now, imagine that the dots are moving in a loop, such that at any given point, the dots return to their starting points. Follow the red dot in the diagram below, as if it were a motion picture:

How would you attach a number to the movement of the red dot? One method is to count how many times the red dot revolves around the other dots. In the case above, the red dot revolves around dot 6 one time, and then returns to its starting place. So you could describe the motion picture above with the number 1. Now imagine dots looping around one another more than once, and not just flat on a two-dimensional page, but on a sphere. This notion takes us one step closer to solving problems involving planets or satellites in outer space.

Consider another cutting edge math

problem. Professor Jill Pipher, of Brown University, presented an MAA invited address on Cryptography in which she tackled a question about Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), which was first posed as a faraway theory in 1978: “How can you compute on encrypted data withovut decrypting it?” Today, the Internet serves as an environment for data storage and computing, so we could all benefit from FHE. However this is an open problem. Dr. Pipher explained “There are no practical methods for FHE in public domains. This kind of capacity is just not there, but this is a fast moving field.”

Indeed, the branches within mathematics are moving rapidly and intersecting in new ways. Math is not just numbers or letters or shapes. Math is much more; it is like a machine that can answer questions in fields ranging from biology and astronomy to art history and psychiatry. The opportunities are endless, and we ought to study mathematics to determine what it can offer. Anisah Nu’man, a doctoral student specializing in geometric group theory at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, put in a plug, “You should be advocating for advancements in math.”

Indeed, as Muslims, seeking knowledge is our duty. The first word of revelation, “Read!” commands us to do so. Like Algebra was to the Greeks, something not conceived, limiting the scope of their problems to what could be seen with two eyes, there are many problems today beyond our scope of imagination. Allah invites and challenges us in the Holy Qur’an: “O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah ].” (55:33).

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

ISLAM | 33

....

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

34 | ISLAM

Salaah times for February 7th - March 6th , 2014

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

---Hadith in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim

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

hills

>> continued from pg 24

which will actually sprout, and of those, more than half will be munched by insanely-cute deer certain that you've grown these precious seedlings for their spring dining pleasure.

Can you even image how that cottage came to be situated among a grove of trees at the end of a lovely winding road? Think the country road fairy snapped her fingers for that road and then called her friends at HGTV to whip up a house in a half-hour episode?

Not. Homesteading is not for the faintof-heart nor weak-of-back. But it is for those Muslims who wish for a life closer to the earth, stronger on the sunnah, deeper in tawakkul and further away

....

Day Fri Sat

Date 7 8

Hijri 7/4 8/4

Fajr 5:53 5:52

Sunrise 7:08 7:07

Dhuhr 12:23 12:23

Asr 3:14 3:15

Maghrib 5:37 5:38

Isha 6:52 6:53

Sun Mon

9 10

9/4 10/4

5:51 5:51

7:06 7:06

12:23 12:23

3:16 3:16

5:39 5:39

6:54 6:54

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6

11/4 12/4 13/4 14/4 15/4 16/4 17/4 18/4 19/4 20/4 21/4 22/4 23/4 24/4 25/4 26/4 27/4 28/4 29/4 1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 5/5

5:50 5:48 5:47 5:46 5:45 5:44 5:43 5:41 5:40 5:39 5:38 5:37 5:35 5:34 5:34 5:33 5:30 5:28 5:27 5:26 5:24 5:23 5:21 5:20

7:05 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:58 6:56 6:55 6:54 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:48 6:47 6:47 6:46 6:43 6:41 6:40 6:39 6:37 6:36 6:34 6:33

12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:23 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:22 12:21 12:21 12:21 12:21 12:20 12:20 12:20 12:20

3:17 3:19 3:19 3:20 3:21 3:22 3:23 3:24 3:24 3:25 3:26 3:27 3:28 3:28 3:28 3:29 3:30 3:31 3:32 3:32 3:33 3:34 3:34 3:35

5:40 5:43 5:44 5:45 5:46 5:47 5:48 5:49 5:51 5:52 5:53 5:54 5:55 5:56 5:56 5:57 5:59 6:00 6:01 6:02 6:03 6:04 6:05 6:07

6:55 6:57 6:58 6:59 7:00 7:01 7:02 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:07 7:08 7:09 7:10 7:10 7:11 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:20

from dunya.

Don't get me wrong, a little halal dunya here and there isn't necessarily a bad thing. Case in point. A few weeks ago the small town about 15 miles from where we live had a power outage. We were headed into town to the Walmart to pick up some dry goods. (Yes, even homesteaders occasionally patronize that merchandise behemoth.) The parking lot was looking really empty, but the doors were wide open. Sensing a disconnect in the purchase-space continuum we approached a Walmart employee stationed at the doors congenially turning people away. Their power was out, registers wouldn't operate, so everybody had to leave the store before some would-be shopper got wise and tried for the non-Muslim version of the fisibilillah discount. Because we're off-

grid we didn't succumb to the outage, but my little trip for some pantry items and little bit of dunya cleverly disguised as a box of Raisinets was thwarted by the downing of the town's energy trap, er, grid.

by the grace of Allah, with a homemade cast iron wood-burning stove that rocks the heat like you -30-

So, will we grow our own grapes for raisins and try to get in a crop of cocoa beans this spring? I doubt it. Before we get to that degree of do-it-yourself we still have to finish our infrastructure.

The county road stops a mile and a half before our property so we built our own roads on our homestead with the help of neighbors. We bring our water in from town for now, and we intend to install a cistern and gravity-fed plumbing in the spring, insha Allah. Solar lights make a cozy glow for us a night, but solar panels and batteries are on our du'ah list.

Our last two winters have been heated,

We know we can't escape dunya entirely. That would be called Jannah. But we've left behind the city filled with anonymous neighbors, escalating utility bills, ransom notes masquerading as mortgage payments and GMO-laced foods that make it mighty hard to 'eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth'. This won't be an easy endeavor, but boy will it be worth it: Power from the sun, organic food from our garden and animals, and heat from our wood, insha Allah. So...which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?

wouldn't believe. We laugh in the face of the grid!

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Request For Dua’s

{ To Allah We B e l o n g , an d t o Hi m is Ou r R e tu r n } “Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 1-08-2014 Our sincere condolence to the family of Brother Joseph McKinney. The janazah prayer was on January 9, 2014 in Washington, D.C. (Source: Masjid Muhammad) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1132014 Brother Akram Alattar has passed away. Brother Akram Alattar was instrumental during the construction of Dar Alnoor and was a very important member of the our community. May Allah (swt) accept everything that Br. Alattar did for His cause. The Janazah was on January 14, 2014 in Manassas, Virginia. May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannah, accept him in His Mercy & Love and grant Sabr to his family and friends. (Source: Dar Alnoor) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1162014 With deep regret we announce that Humayun Ashraf, son of Mohammad Ashraf, has passed away. His Janaza prayer was on January 18, 2014 in Silver Spring, Maryland. May Allah (SWT) forgive him and grant him a place in Jannah. (Source: MCC) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1172014 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Br. Peter Allen. The Salat ul Janaza was on January 17, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower them with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, grant them the highest ranks in paradise and give their family support and patience during this difficult time. (Source: ISB) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1172014 It is great sadness that we announce the passing of Br Sheriff Azab. The Salat ul Janaza was on January 17, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower them with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, grant them the highest ranks in paradise and give their family support and patience during this difficult time. (Source: ISB) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1172014 It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing away of Sister Amna Khatoon (Mother Inlaw to Br. Syed Sharfuddin, & mother to his wife Sis. Sabra Begum). We ask Allah (SWT) to forgive her, have mercy on her and give her Jannatul Firdous. We also ask Allah (SWT) to give sabr and sakinat to Br. Syed Sharfuddin's family during these difficult times. (Source: ICCL) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-17-2014 The PGMA community extends sincere condolences to the Baqqai family on the passing of Brother Iqbal Baqqai. Brother Iqbal was the uncle of Brother Haroon Baqqai, principal of Al-Huda School and also of Brother Amir Ahmad, Shura member of PGMA. May Allah (SWT) grant brother Iqbal Baqqai Jannatul Firdous and may He grant the family ease and Sabr. (Source: PGMA) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-18-2014 PGMA extends sincere condolences to the family of Sister Sima Rafiq, beloved mother and wife, who has passed away. The Janazah Salat for Sister Sima Rafiq was on January 18, 2014 in Lanham, Maryland.

May Allah SWT admit her to Jannatul Firdaus and may He grant the family Sabr and ease. (Source: PGMA) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-18-2014 Br. Syed Hassan Masood, elder brother of Br. Syed Kamal, has passed away. Janazah prayer was on January 19, 2014 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah(swt) shower his mercy on Br. Hassan and Grant him highest level in Jannat ul Firdous Ameen. May Allah(swt) Grant sabr to the Family to bear this loss Ameen. (Source: F. Syed) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1182014 Ghulam Mohyuddin, brother of Ahmad Hussain, and uncle of Tahir and Nabeel Hussain has passed away. Salaat ul Janazah was on January 19, 2014 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. May Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-20-2014 Br. Nurul Absar, father-in-law of Br. Ziaudding Ahmed, has passed away. O Allaah, forgive and have mercy upon him, excuse him and pardon him, and make honorable his reception. Expand his entry, and cleanse him with water, snow, and ice, and purify him of sin as a white robe is purified of filth. Exchange his home for a better home. Admit him into the Paradise, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire, Ameen. (Source. S. Moktadir) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1212014 It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing away of Sister to our member and beloved Brother Muhammad Sajjad. We ask Allah (SWT) to forgive her, have mercy on her and give her Jannatul Firdous. We also ask Allah (SWT) to give sabr and sakinat to Br. Muhammad Sajjad's family during these difficult times. (Source: ICCL) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1232014 Abdul Ghaffar, brotherinLaw of Abdul Raheem, has passed away. May Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-24-2014 Br. Vernon Mustafa Bilal Williams has passed away. The Janazah was on January 25, 2014 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah(swt) shower his mercy on Br. Mustafa Bilal and Grant him highest level in Jannat ul Firdous Ameen. May Allah(swt) Grant sabr to the Family to bear this loss Ameen. (Source: F. Syed) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-24-2014 The Dar Al-Hijrah Board of Directors, Imam, Executive Director, the staff of Dar Al-Hijrah and the Muslim community in Northern Virginia extend its deepest condolences to Sh. Dawood Abdulrahman. His sister Su'ad has passed away. May Allah (SWT) have mercy on her. (Source: Dar Al-Hijrah) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-29-2014 The Prince George's Muslim Association (PGMA) Imam, Boards, Management, and entire community in Lanham, MD extend their deepest condolences to Br. Maher Kharma for the passing of his mother.

She is in the care of (Al Rahman) the Merciful one. May Almighty Allah give her Jannat-Ul-Firdaws. Ameen.

(Source: PGMA) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-29-2014 PGMA extends sincere condolences to the family of Brother Mohammed Abdallah who passed away.

Brother Mohammed is the father of Ahmed, Abdulraheem, and Nael. The Janazah Salat for Brother Mohammed Abdallah was on January 30, 2014 in Lanham, Maryland. May Allah SWT admit him to Jannatul Firdaus and may He grant the family Sabr and ease. (Source: PGMA) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-30-2014 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Br. Mohammad Arsalan Adeel. The Salat ul Janaza was on January 30, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower him with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, grant him the highest ranks in paradise and give his family support and patience during this difficult time. (Source: ISB)

OBITS & EVENTS | 35

Upcoming Events In Your Area Islamic Funeral Sevices of Virginia Fundraising Event Friday, February 07 2014, 6:30pm - 9:30am Guest Speaker: Dr Mohamed Hassan, Phd, President/Imam of Prince William Islamic Center. Dinner will be served. Location: Islamic Center of Virginia (ICVA) 1241 Buford Rd, Richmond, VA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Interfaith Trialogue Event at Dar Al-Taqwa Sunday, February 09 2014, 6:00pm - 7:45pm Join us for an exciting trialogue among the three Abrahamic faiths. Imam Aamir Sheikh, Rabbi Susan Grossman, and Reverend Robert Turner will each give brief comments about God’s Example of Love, Compassion, and Mercy. Then, we will all enjoy an interfaith conversation among congregants of the three communities over a catered fish dinner. Location: Dar Al-Taqwa Islamic Center 10740 Route 108 Ellicott City, MD 21042 Contact: RSVP to: Rizwan Siddiqi - President Howard County Muslim Council - Phone: 443-739-9234, Email: rasiddiqi@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al-Hijrah Annual Donor Appreciation Dinner Sunday, February 09 2014, 6:00pm - 9:00pm On behalf of the Dar Al-Hijrah Board of Directors and Executive Committee, you are invited to our Annual Donor Appreciation Dinner. The purpose of this event is to update you about the Mosque with our Annual Report, to appreciate your continued help, and to consult you on how to better serve the community. There will be no fundraising on that day. We look forward to seeing you at the dinner, Insha'Allah. Location: Dunya Banquet/Restaurant, 5951 Stevenson Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304 Contact: Please RSVP by January 26, 2013 to Br Abdesalam at communications@daralhijrah.net or call Br Yusuf at 703-536-1030 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A Night With Shaykh Shatri at McLean Islamic Center Tuesday, February 11 2014 Insha'Allah MIC will be host to the world-renowned Shaykh Abu Bakr Al-Shatri. We will also be joined by Dr. Altaf Husain who will be conducting a mini-fundraiser for the community. Our program for the night will be Isha prayers, followed by 4 rak'ahs of qiyam prayer, followed by a brief fundraiser, and ending with Shaykh al-Shatri delivering a talk on the topic of how to protect ones self through the Quran and Sunnah. The talk will be translated insha'Allah. We are expecting a full house, so please arrive early if possible. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! Location: McLean Islamic Center (MIC) 1340 Old Chain Bridge Road (Basement) Mclean Virginia 22101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------KARAMAH Lecture Series: Celebrating Black Women in Islam Wednesday, February 12 2014 KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights presents a Black History Month Lecture Series- Celebrating Black Women in Islam. Starts at 7PM. Location: El Hibri Charitable Foundation, 1420 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 Contact: For more information, call 202-234-7302 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Loving Beyond Love with Yasmin Mogahed Friday, February 14 2014 "Loving Beyond Love" is an in-depth look into a love for the Creator, and also His love for us.

To purchase tickets, go to: https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=9bb655569fc b5ceca929217aae0b91ac Starts at 7PM. Location: George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium, Washington DC Contact: msa@gwu.edu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------USA Islamic Fashion Week -DMV- Runway Shows Saturday, February 15 2014 Women only Runway shows. Featuring designs by: AK Designs, Akilah Fashions, Dols Designs, IDeen Collection, Hadiyah Weeks, La Merveille by KD Noor Couture, Snazzy Fashions, Qadira's Qreations, Popup Boutique Marketplace & Entertainment. Tickets: $45, $65, $85. USA Islamic Fashion Week is produced by the Modesty Defined Islamic Fashion Council of America, LLC (MDIFC) Location: Nationals Park, 1500 S Capital St, SE, Washington, DC Contact: For more information and to purchase tickets call: 240-230-7110 or visit: www.usaislamicfashionweek.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MDIFC's Fashion Forward - Islamic Industry Conference Sunday, February 16 2014, 10:00am - 4:00pm Advancing the business of the Islamic Fashion Community. Exclusively for individuals from every fashion discipline who want to understand the business of fashion! Early registration fee reopened - $85. All registration ends at midnight on Thursday, February 6, 2014. To register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashion-forward-islamic-industry-conference-tickets-9971152987 Location: District Architect Center, 421 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Contact: For more information, call 240-230-7110

Post your event for free at www.muslimlinkpaper.com.

....

MASJID LISTING

36 |

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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

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

Tel: 703-660-1255 ---------------------------------------------------------------Idara Dawat-o-irshad: 4803 VAlley St, Alexandria, VA 22312 Tel: 703-256-8622 ww.irshad.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Mustafa Center: 6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003 Tel: 703-658-7134 www.mustafacenter.org E-mail: Mustafacenter@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Baitul Mukarram: 2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550 ---------------------------------------------------------------Zakaria Islamic Academy: Galesbury Lane, Chantilly, VA 20151 Tel: 571-969-2123 www.ziacademy.org E-mail: Contact@ziacademy.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Badr Community Center Of Dumfries: 17794 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026 Tel: 703-554-7983 www.bccd.org E-mail: Info@bccd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Ul-ghuraba (Masjid Ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al Hijrah: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030 www.hijrah.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Moroccan American community Organization Center 5613 Lessaburg Pike,#1 Falls Church,Va 22041 Info@macous.org Www.macous.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Northern VA Trust (Icnvt): 4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 Tel: 703-591-0999 www.icnvt.org E-mail: Info@icnvt.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al-noor (Muslim Assoc. Of VA): 5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808 Fax: 703-221-8513 www.daralnoor.org ----------------------------------------------------------------Manassas Mosque: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537 ----------------------------------------------------------------

....

Islamic Center Of Virginia: 1241 Buford Rd., Richmond, VA 23235 Tel: 804-320-7333 www.icVA1.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Greater Richmond (Isgr): 6324 Rigsby Road, Richamond, VA 23226 Tel: 804-673-4177 www.isgr.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al Rahman: 1305 Hull St., Richmond, VA 23224 Tel: 804-232-7640 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjidullah Of Richmond: 211 North Ave., Richmond, VA 23222 Tel: 804-321-8864/804-647-4297 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar-ul Huda: 6666 Commerce St., Springfield, VA 22150, Tel: 703-922-0111 www.darulhuda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Foundation of America: 6606 Electronic Drive, Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Noor: 8608 Pohick Rd, Springfield, VA 22153 Tel: 703-451-7615 ----------------------------------------------------------------Adams Center: 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling,VA 20164, Tel: 703-433-1325 www.adamscenter.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Heritage Center (Ihc): 262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056 ---------------------------------------------------------------WASHINGTON D.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------First Hijra Muslim Comm. Center: 4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20011 www.firsthijrah.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Ivy City Masjid: 2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 Tel: 202-904-9668 E-mail: masjidivycity@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-islam: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, D.C. 20019 E-mail: Imammusa@hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Muhammad: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832 | www. masjidmuhammad.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Society Of Washington, D.c.

(MswDC): Howard Center, Room 805 (Above Hu Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236 ---------------------------------------------------------------The Islamic Center: 2551 Massachusetts Avenue

NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343 www.theislamiccenter.com ---------------------------------------------------------------MARYLAND ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Annapolis (Isa): 2635 Riva Rd. Suite 110, Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.isamd.org Email: Info@islamannapolis.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Bait-Allah Masjid of Baltimore Inc 200 S. Calhoun Street Baltimore, MD 21223 Imam’s cell: 571-721-9938 email: baitallahmasjid@yahoo.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Bilal Dawah Center, Inc: 1910 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 410-945-1515 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar ul Uloom: 6334 Dogwoood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207, Tel: 410-493-0785 Email: Darululoommd@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ul-haq: 514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-728-1363 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-mumineen: 2642 Harford Rd., Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel: 410-467-8798 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Jamaat Al-Muslimeen: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel: 443-438-7986 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-rahmah/isb: 6631 Johnnycake Rd., Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869 | www.isb.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid As Saffat: 1335 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-669-0655 ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Fatima Address: 1928 Powers Lane Catonsville MD, 21228 Phone: 410 800 4880 Email: info@masjidfatima.com Website: http://www.masjidfatima. com ---------------------------------------------------------------Irhsca (Islamic Research And Hum. Services Center Of America): 1 Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040 www.irhsca.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Southern Pg County (Isspgc): P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240 603 4618 ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar-us-Salaam: 5301 Edgewood Rd., College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848 www.duscommunity.org

---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Easton 126 Port Street Unit # 1 Easton, MD 21601 Tel: 410-829 7924 islamicsocietyofeastonmd.yolasite.com---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Zamzam 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Tel: 410-284-2840 www.masjidzamzam.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Dar al-Taqwa: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711 www.taqwa.net ---------------------------------------------------------------Maryum Islamic Center (MIC) 3280 Pine Orchard Lane Suite A Ellicott City, MD 21042 Tel: 443-574-5188 www.maryumcenter.com ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Hikmah: 11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington, MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Frederick (Isf): 1250 Key Parkway, Frederick,md 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090 www.isfmd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Maryland (Icm): 19411 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg,md 20879 Tel:301-840-9440 www.icomd.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Makkah Learning Center (Mlc): 814 Brandy Farms Ln., Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.isamd.org Email: Info@mlcmd.org----------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Germantown (Isg): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (240)-277-7758 www.isgtown.org ---------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ibn Taymiyyah: 8000 Mlk Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-322-8105 ---------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society of Western Maryland: 2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922 ---------------------------------------------------------------Southern Maryland Islamic Center (Smic): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639 Tel: 410-535-0000 ---------------------------------------------------------------Avondale Islamic Center: 4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782 Tel: 301-779-9292 ---------------------------------------------------------------Prince Georges Muslim Assoc.(Pgma): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd., Lanham, MD, 20706,

Tel: 301-459-4942 www.pgmamd.org Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441 E-mail: Imam@pgmamd.org.

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

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

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

CONTINUED | 37 justice

Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager: Stephanie Benmoha Layout: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Urooj Fatima Yaman Shalabi Fatimah Waseem Hena Zuberi Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published once a month on Fridays and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam.

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link PO Box 596 College Park, MD 20741 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: (240) 209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at office@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link.

All Rights Reserved 2014

>> continued from pg 28

Ahmed is held under Special Administrative Measures (SAMs), a heightened level of isolation on top of solitary confinement. SAMs prevent Ahmed from communicating with anyone outside of immediate family and approved attorneys, and place a gag order on those who are cleared to correspond with him not to share any of those details with anyone. I ended with a poem written

by Ahmed’s sister Tasneem, that begins “Don’t wait until after your death to tell your story/ Where will it be told—on your tombstone?”

Tarek Ismail, a fellow at Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute tied all of the narratives together, and outlined

the common approach of these counterterrorism cases: to assume guilty and make it almost impossible to prove otherwise.

The most common question that audience members asked is “How can we help?” Fahad reminded everyone that “We’re past tense; our cases happened.

But there is a whole slew of cases that exist right now.” He encouraged people to “protest these cases by going to these vigils, by attending the courtroom, by giving attention to them in your mosques, in your churches, in your synagogues, in your students associations.”

There is after all hope. In the introduction of the event, Dr. Theoharis reminded us of the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela. She reflected on her days as a

author

>> continued from pg 26

lim- not all Muslims but a Muslim. Her characters are based on people in her family, friends. “Amani is my daughter’s middle name and she loves to wear orange,”she says. Her daughters like seeing their friends names pop up in her books.

The universal lessons make good classroom discussions. In the age the Junie B. Jones series, Mair’s book speak about the environment and bullying.

The new neighbor in her book is planning to pull down her prized peach tree and a gang, led by the archer Bobby, is marshaling the local lake.

Islamic school teachers can use the books as jumping points for discussions. Mair adds a glossary, questions, and quotes that reference the Quran to the end of the book which are great teaching tools. “The glossary at the back is a welcome addition for those Islamic and Archery phrases I was not aware of, this helped in the understanding, especially when it taught me something about the sport!” writes Helen, in her review on Goodreads.

Like many writers, becoming a published author wasn’t all peaches. She spent years emailing queries, despite lots of rejection, she never got an agent.

She joined the Islamic Writers Alliance

student, calling for an end to the apartheid in South Africa, and the day when the world saw Mandela walk free.

While we wait for freedom for all who are wrongly incarcerated, we ought to stay hopeful. In the story of Prophet Yusuf, from the Holy Qur’an, Allah tells us: “O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people." [12:87] As a part of the No Separate Justice campaign, supporters will gather for a vigil outside of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, at 6:00 P.M. on the first Monday of every month.

and the Muslimah Writers Alliance Advising new writers, she says, “I would keep writing to publishers, don’t get discouraged, write for free and build a portfolio.”

Mair's new publishers are also in the United Kingdom. Her illustrators are chosen by the publishers. “I love the illustrations in my new book,” she gushes.

The loss of innocence, cattiness and backbiting that is rampant in today’s youth literature really bothers Mair, a concern shared by many parents across the world. Anyone wanting to stress books with values to children would want to read Mair’s books.

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$

8.49 8.49 8.49 8.49 8.49 9.24 9.24

11.24 11.24 8.99

Served with fresh bread and mini salad with choice of dressing

Served with fresh bread, mini salad and choice of dressing

8.99

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

Lettuce, tomato, onions, mayonnaise and American cheese

6.24

(We used trans fat-free cooking oil)

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

HALAL MENUS

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 49

Order Online

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

$15.99 + Tax

CONVENIENT TO UMBC CAMPUS Last order taken 15 minutes before closing

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

Come try our HALAL diner!

Special Discount for Catering Order

MINIMUM $11.00 ....

50 | MP - Advertisements

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Serving the Community for the last 10 years

Lahori LLIIV VEE BBBBQ Q

Chaska Kabob & Karahi

O OG D D NG W WEEEERRIIN ATT C CA

Pakistani, Indian, Bangledeshi, and Mediterranean Foods

WEEKEND BREAKFAST SPECIAL: Nihari

Paya Halwa Puri

NOW OPEN 7 DAYS HOURS: Monday - Thursday 11am-10pm Friday - Sunday 10am-11pm

5808 Johnnycake Rd, Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 | 410-788-6078 ....

HALAL MENUS

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

LIVE BBQ

Lahori Chaska Kabob & Karahi

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 51

O WE D ING R CATE

APPETIZERS

ENTREES

Garden Fresh Salad

$2.99

Chicken Tikkah Salad

$4.99

Vegitable Samosa (2pcs)

$1.99

Samosa Chat

$4.99

Chat Papri

$4.99

Dehi Bara

$4.99

LIVE BBQ

Chicken Korma

$6.99 Chicken Tikkah

$6.99

Chicken Jalfrezi

$1.99

Butter Chicken

$6.99 Chicken Seekh Kabob $7.99 Chapli Kabob

Genger Chicken

$7.99

Chicken Palak

$6.99

Chicken Tikkah Masala

$6.99

Kofta Curry

$6.99

Goat Korma

$9.99

Naan Special

99c Achari Goat

$9.99

Roti

99c Goat Karahi

$15.99

Aloo Paratha

$1.99 Chicke Karahi $3.99 Chicken Biryani

$13.99 Paya

$6.99

$7.99 Nihari

$6.99

Goat Biryani

$9.99 Halwa Puri

$4.99

Chicken Pilao

$7.99 Haleem

$6.99

Plain Rice

$3.99

FRESHLY BAKED BREAD

Keema Naan Roghni Naan

$1.49

Onion Naan

$1.49

Garlic Naan

$1.49

Paratha

$1.49

BEVERAGES WATER 99C, SODA 99C, LASI (SWEET/SALTY) $1.99 MANGO LASI $2.99 MILK TEA $1.49

Chargah (Whole Chicken) $11.99 Steamed Roast (lamb)

$11.99

Steamed Roast (lamb)

$11.99

Lahori Chana

$3.99

$2.49

Beef Kabob

$2.99

Haryali Chicken Tikkah

$6.99

Malai Chicken Tikkah

$7.99

Tandoori Chicken

$3.99

Lamb Chops (3pcs)

$12.99

Bihari Kabob

$7.99

WEEKEND SPECIAL

DESERT Kheer $3.99 Resmalai (2pcs) $3.99 Gujar Halawa $6.999/lb Zarda $3.99 Kulfi (Mango/Malai) $2.99

5808 Johnnycake Rd, Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 | 410-788-6078 ....

52 | MP - Advertisements

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HALAL MENUS

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

HALAL MENUS

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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

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

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

SOUPS, SALADS AND SIDES Salads Add 1.99 for extra chicken

Chef Salad

$7 99

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

Greek Salad

$7.99

$6.99

Romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese, and carrots.

Garden Salad

$6.99

Iceberg Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and carrots.

Santa-fe grilled beef Salad

$10.99

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

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

Cup $4.99 $4.99 $5.99

Large $4.99 Large $3.49

Bowl $6.99 $6.99 $7.99

$2 99

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

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

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

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

8” $6.49 $6.49 $6.49 $6.49 $11.99

12” $11.99 $11.99 $11.99 $6.99 $11.99

$3.49

12” $11.99 $11.99

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

CHEF SPECIALS Country Chicken Fried Steak w/ Mushroom Gravy

$16.99

Served with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Vegetables

BBQ Beef Short Ribs

$16.99

Served with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Ve etables

Grilled Lamb Chops

$16.99

Served with Basmati Rice, Salad and Yogurt Sauce

Beef Wellington

$24 99

Served with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans

Rib Eye

$28.99

Served with Baked Potatoes or Steamed Broccoli

Cajun Rib Eye

$2899

Served with Mashed Potatoes or Steamed Broccoli

Hawaiian Rib Eye

$28.99

Served with Mashed Potatoes or Steamed Broccoli

Lamb Chop.Masala

$18.99

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

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

Chicken Cordon Bleu

$16.99

Served with Broccoli

Stuffed Lobster w/ Crabmeat

$28 99

Served with Broccoli and Baked Potatoes

- Cajun Chicken Filet on Jamaican Coco Bread

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

Caesar Salad

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

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 53

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

Grilled Cajun Rockfish, Flounder, or Salmon Fried or Szechuan

$26.99

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

PIZZAS Cheese Pizza Meat Eaters

14” $10.99 $17 49

16” $11.99 $20.99

Sausage, Beef Pepperoni, Turkey Ham, Turkey Bacon

Veggie Pizza

$1749

$20.55

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

Deluxe Pizza

$17.49

$21.99

Pepperoni, Green Peppers, Onion & Mushrooms

Supreme

$17.99

$2199

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

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

....

54 | MP - Advertisements

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HALAL MENUS

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

HALAL MENUS

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 55

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56 | MP - Advertisements

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

keep it simple, keep it natural

100% ZABIHAH HAND SLAUGHTERED UNDER SUPERVISION OF ISLAMIC SCHOLARS 100% NATURAL

F RE D EL E IV E RY

NON-GMO FEED NO ANTIBIOTICS GRASS-FED BEEF FREE-RANGE CHICKEN

BEEF, GOAT, LAMB & CHICKEN SUPERIOR QUALITY PREMIUM CUTS ONLINE ORDERING DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS! LIMITED DELIVERY RADIUS MINIMUM ORDER REQUIRED

....

202-656-MEAT (6328)

www.simplynaturalhalal.com

Fax: 888-898-6328

4233 Harpers Ferry Rd Sharpsburg, MD 21782

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 57

....

58 | MP - Advertisements

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Now Available At These Fine Stores

....

Columbia Halal meat 6520 Old Waterloo Rd #J, Elkridge MD 21075

a - one GroCery & Halal meat 2919 Arlington Dr, Alexandria VA 22306

international Halal market 2100 12th St, Lynchburg VA24501

al - makkaH Halal meat 1724 Woodlawn Dr, Baltimore MD 21207

aditi sPiCe dePot 409 Maple Ave E, Vienna VA 22180

sHri krisHna GroCery 7033 Brookefield Plaza, Springfield VA 22150

Punjab GroCeries & Halal meat 345 East 33rd St, Baltimore MD 21218

aFGHan mini market 6566 Backlick Rd, Springfield VA 22150

taj Halal GroCery 8715 West Broad St, Suite B, Richmond VA 23294

indus Foods 15513 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring MD 20905

asia Halal Food & GroCery 5143 Lee Highway, Arlington VA 22207

aditi sPiCes Vienna VA 703 938 3400 Herndon VA 703 434 1100

sanGam sPiCe 13822 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring MD 20904

best desi bazaar 14455 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Woodbridge VA 22191

bombay sPiCes Centerville VA 703 803 8445

FrederiCk bazaar 54 N Waverly Dr, Frederick MD 21702

asian bazaar 7864 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria VA 22306

ansaF Global Halal Mannassas VA 703 361 6500

dana bazaar 128-29 Wisteia Dr, Germantown MD 20874

delHi bazaar 295 South Van Dorn, Alexandria VA 22046

indian bazaar 383 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithesburg MD

GinGer & sPiCe market 6548A Little River Turnpike, Alexandria VA 22312

Fair PriCe Alexandria VA 703 751 0786 Herndon VA 703 435 2223 Woodbridge VA 703 680 1170

indus Foods 765 Rockville Pike, Rockville MD 20852

indian sPiCes GroCery 1067 B West Broad St, Falls Church VA 22046

bismillaH Halal meat 1401 University Blvd, Langley Park MD 20783

indo - Pak GroCery stores 8121 West Broad St, Richmond VA23294

lotte Plaza Chantilly VA, Ashburn VA & Catonsville MD Global Foods Ashburn VA, Mannassas Va & Woodbridge VA india bazaar Sterling VA 703 444 8851 Gaithersburg MD 301 963 7070

Germantown MD 301 515 5113 HalalCo Falls Church VA 703 532 3202 krisHna GroCery Springfield VA 703 569 6777 suPer Halal meat Springfield VA 703 866 2024 dana bazaar Germantown MD 301 916 8086 madina Halal meat Gaithersburg MD 301 977 5700 Patel brotHers Baltimore MD 410 719 2822 indus Foods Silver Spring MD 301 989 9448 Rockville MD 301 279 2121 Laurel MD 240 280 2340 Punjab GroCery Baltimore MD 410 662 7844 al madina Baltimore VA 410 265 8300 danisH Foods Catonsville MD 410 298 0960 GanesH GroCery Catonsville MD 410 206 2525 Food CravinGs Columbia MD 410 997 2121

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 59

....

60 | MP - Advertisements

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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

For Sisters: Private Area on 2nd Floor Available by Appt. Only Call Sylist Cealia at 240.501.3985

For Men and Boys 1st Floor Level Walk Ins Welcome Phone # 301.604.6980

216 Main Street (Off Route-1) , Laurel, MD 20707

choyol day S SunA em d a c FREEr’a n U Qu Ages 4 &urpsday h y-T pm Mond 11aam-2

Dynamic Family Dentistry 159 Hillwood Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Creating Beautiful Smiles with State of the Art Dental Care

Farida Khattak, d.d.s SPECIALIZING IN: • General Dentistry • Pediatric Dentistry • Endodontics • Orthodontics • Cosmetic Dentistry CONTACT US: Tel: 703 531 0010 Fax: 703 531 1330 www.dynamicfamilydentistry.com Dynamicdental1@hotmail.com Info@dynamicfamilydentistry.com ....

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 61

Your Child Deserves the Best Medical Care

NEW PEDIATRIC OFFICE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Same Day Appointments

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62 | MP - Advertisements

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 63

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64 | MP - Advertisements

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HALAL MENUS

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 65

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66 | MP - Advertisements

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

WE WON’T PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR RIGHTS. In these uncertain times you need aggressive representation to protect your interests. At Kemet & Hunt, we will move quickly to provide legal service with experience, compassion and commitment. When you need a firm with success and expertise in a variety of areas, choose Kemet & Hunt.

Family

Personal Injury

Civil Litigation

Bankruptcy

Criminal

Estates & Trusts

Business Law

Real Estate

Address: 4920 Niagara Rd, Ste 206, College Park, MD 20740

....

Call today for a free consultation Phone Number: 301-982-0888

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 67

CHOOSING A LAWYER IS A BIG DECISION : Attorney Ismail Laher A t t o r n e y s

&

C o u n s e l o r s

a t

L a w, P L L C

Our Lawyers Defend Doctors Nationwide We assist and Defend Health Care Providers with issues regarding: ZPICS, RACS, Stark, Compliance, MACS, OSHA & MEDICARE Audits, HHS, HIPPA, ERP’s, Mergers, Buyouts and more. Please Call For Free Case Analysis.

Our Lawyers Handle Serious Cases

Litigation, Contracts, Arbitrations; Mediations; Disputes; Compliance; Audits, Investigations; Case Assessments, Negotiations, Agreements and more.

We Practice In Many Areas

We file cases on a contingent fee basis. We conduct Initial Reviews of Major Accident, Serious Injuries, Religious & Workplace Discrimination and Criminal cases. We counsel on Immigration Court & Visa Issues, Fraud against Taxpayer Cases, Child Custody & Divorce cases; Corporate & Business Transactional matters; Health Care Law issues; Regulatory Agency Compliance Audits; Real Estate & Mortgage Issues.

We provide Independent Counsel Reviews, General Counsel Services and more.

Washington, DC Attorney

Ismail Laher • 202.596.7863 O: 202.298.8750 Ext. 163

Mr. Laher is with Liles Parker, PLLC. He is a Harvard and Georgetown University graduate and a former Jones Day lawyer.

Mr. Laher has handled many cases over the years and always acts in their best interests.

He always does what is best for his clients.

Mr. Laher will help you or try to find you an attorney who can.

Please visit www.Laher.com for our office locations, articles, emails, free newsletter signups and more.

WE OFFER COST EFFECTIVE, AGGRESSIVE & QUALITY REPRESENTATION www.LilesParker.com “Your Success is Our Success!” (Offices in DC, TX & LA)

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68 | MP - Advertisements

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Aqiqahs, Eid, Or Any Occasion !

GRASS FED, NO HORMONES OR ANTIBIOTICS

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WAGON WHEEL RANCH, 661 WEST WATERSVILLE ROAD, MOUNT AIRY, MARYLAND 21771 BRIAN 443 271-6850 PANCHO 443 257-5098

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 69

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

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February 7th - March 6th, 2014

February 7th - March 6th, 2014

Classifieds | 77

Place a personal classified ad. Call us at 301-982-1020. Office@muslimlinkpaper.com

We invite you to place a personal classified on the web FREE of charge at www.muslimlinkpaper.com. Classifieds in the print edition of the Muslim Link newspaper are only $1 for every 3 words. All classifieds run for a single monthly issue in the Marketplace section. Get started by emailing your exact text to office@muslimlinkpaper.com and then call in your credit card payment to 301-982-1020 or send a check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, PO Box 596, College Park MD 20741.

Childcare Exchange SUNSHINE CHILDCARE Family childcare has opening for infant and up to 2 years. Before/After care.

Monday-Friday 7AM to 6PM. Open when school is closed. Voucher accepted.

Implements respect, morals, and values.

Safe and loving environment. Near AlRahmah mosque. Contact: 410-281-7155 or 410-292-9274.

For Sale PERUVIAN CHICKEN GRILL FOR SALE Grill for sale, $3,000 or best offer. Need to sell as soon as possible. Please call 571-224-6795.

Matrimonial SEEKING WIFE Need a sunni Muslim wife, 50's, religious, educated, personable for similar man.

Email kanchwalla@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------SEEKING HUSBAND She is a pediatrician 29 years old very polite and beautiful. She was born and graduated from the U.S., she is Egyptian.

Looking for a Sunni Muslim from the U.S. and well educated, maximum age difference is 5 years. Please call 410-2824201 or email fatmakhalil12@yahoo.com

Services

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

License #30385946. Estimates done.

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

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

CAREER COUNSELING/RESUME SERVICES Career Counseling Services offered by an experienced, well educated professional with tons of Corporate and U.S. Government Agency experience. Will coach and support you during all phases of your job hunting campaign, including interviewing tips. Please review my website: http:// ccvcs.whytheywonthireyou.com -----------------------------------------------Place a personal classified ad We invite you to place a personal classified on the web FREE of charge at www.muslimlinkpaper.com. Classifieds in the print edition of the Muslim Link newspaper are only $1 for every 3 words. All classifieds run for a single monthly issue in the Marketplace section. Get started by emailing your exact text to office@ muslimlinkpaper.com.

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