Tml 040910 - April 9, 2010

WILL THE ISLAMIC SAUDI ACADEMY BEAT TEAM DAR-US-SALAAM IN MIST 2010 ?

Find out Sunday Night April 11 at the University of Maryland, College Park, Stamp Union

5

Rabi Al-Thaani 10 - Rabi Al-Thanni 23 1431 A.H. | www.MuslimLinkPaper.com

MD, VA, and DC. Metropolitan Area Bi-Weekly Newspaper | FREE

April 09, 2010 - April 22, 2010

Through the Eyes of the Elders: Baltimore Four Decades Ago

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

MD Muslim Council Split Confuses Community, Legislators | pg 4

Photo by Mark Peters

Bmore Hub for Building Sisterly Relationships | pg 5

By Arjumand Yousuf

Muslim Link Staff Writer Brother Hakim Mustafa Muhammed was harshly told to take off his kuffi while working in the Baltimore city jail in the 1980’s. “Make sure you tell my Jewish brothers to take

Masajid Celebrate Completion of Tafseer | pg 6 off their yarmulkes too” was his response.

Brother H a k i m ’s Hakim Mustafa story and struggles as well as the experiences of other older members of the Baltimore

community shed light on how the Muslim Community in the Baltimore area has transformed since the 1970’s.

Through their stories they explain the trials they faced, how the Muslim Community has grown and flourished, and the recent challenges they perceive for

future generations.

Brother Hakim an African American raised as a Catholic in Pennsylvania first heard about Islam in his twenties while sailing down >> BALTIMORE Pg 12

>> ICCL Pg 13

Photo by Don Watkins

The Islamic Community Center of Laurel (ICCL) held it’s long awaited groundbreaking on Sunday, March 28, 2010.

The program began after Dhuhr Salat with a short talk by the Imam, Javid Bhaiyat. He stressed the importance of and need to

expand the Masjid parking lot and the reward for all of those involved and present in order to start this new construction, for the sake of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) chooses whom he wills to be involved in building places of worship. “It was not by coincidence that you are present here

TML Annual Dinner Attracts Over 600 Supporters | pg 10 Numbers to Die for | pg 14

ICCL Breaks Ground for First Expansion

By Muslim Link Contributing Writers

Dar Al-Hijrah : We Can Overcome Challenges | pg 8

Allah’s Decree, Free Will, and Our Sins | pg 15

The Muslim Link

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April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News MD Muslim Council Split Confuses Community, Legislators

By Muslim Link Staff Muslim civic and community activists in Maryland were left confused at the end of March after emails circulated advertising a second Muslim legislative night in Annapolis on March 31, about one week after a March 18, 2010 event with the same name and by the same organization – the Maryland Muslim Council.

The Muslim Link covered the March 18, 2010 “Muslim Legislative Night”, which attracted over 450 guests, including Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, along with dozens of other legislators and state officials.

Organizers of the March 18, 2010 event told the Muslim Link the March 31 event was an attempt to “divide the community”. Each group claims it is the legitimate “Maryland Muslim Council”.

The council is an umbrella group for county Muslim councils – 8 in total – and has a board of directors composed of two representatives from each county council.

The division stems from a disputed election in late February for Maryland

Muslim Council board positions. News of the split marred the announcement of the appointment of the first Muslim to the Maryland Board of Education, Sayed Naveed of Montgomery County. The Governor announced the appointment at the March 18 “Muslim Legislative Night”.

Advertisements for the March 31 event listed the Governor and Lieutenant Governor as “invited guests” but they did not join the gathering.

The March 31 event saw a packed hall of about 500 guests and dozens of state senators and delegates.

Candidate for States Prosecutor for Charles County Hammad Matin attended the event but was unaware of the split.

“This is so sad and unfortunately typical of our community,” he said when told about the split. Matin, who is also the representative for Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) in Charles County, said he was confused by emails advertising both events.

The 2-hour March 31 event began with recitation of Qur’anic verses dealing with backbiting, followed by a welcome by Dr. Hasan Jalisi, identified as the President

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Governor Martin O’Malley chats with his new appointee to the Maryland Board of Education, Sayed M. Naveed of Montgomery County (far left). The announcement of the appointment was made at the March 18, 2010 “Muslim Legislative Night” but was marred by the break-up of the MD Muslim Council into two factions. (Photo by Jay Baker) of the Maryland Muslim Council at the event and also on the website www. mdmuslimcouncil.org. Organizers of the March 18 event recognize Howard County’s Anwar Hassan as president of the Maryland Muslim Council.

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TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS | 5

Baltimore Annual Hub for Building, Keeping Sisterly Relationships

By Aishah Muhammad

Muslim Link Contributing Writer The Turf Valley Golf Resort truly comes to life once a year on the Easter weekend.

This is when the turf blossoms with every color of the rainbow as seen in the variety of modest garments worn by Muslim women from around the country.

The hotel lobby rings with the constant stream of salaams and frequent screams of delight upon the sight of that long lost friend who also took the time to travel the distance to the annual Women’s Conference in Baltimore.

The conference is organized by the Women’s Committee of Masjid AsSaffat and is in its 27th year.

The ladies were greeted with a light refreshment and warm salaams on Friday

evening, April 2, 2010 as they continued to arrive at the turf. The registration desk is not only for checking in and picking up conference materials, it’s also for that hug from a familiar sister who may have lived in their city at one time, or whom they remembered from conferences in the past.

The frequent response when asked how the sisters were enjoying the conference was that they were thrilled to see and be in the same place with so many of their sisters in faith. As I greeted a sister from Albany, New York and her daughter the mother said, “It makes me think of renewal and coming to life. It is a wonderful experience to come and meet my sisters in faith and to see the work they are doing.” She felt empowered when she saw so many of her peers. One benefit from this kind of conference is the chance to see your family from other cities. There are actually families who

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One of the villas for conference guests at the Turf Valley Resort (photo courtesy of Turf Valley Resort). plan to meet at the conference for their reunion.

The Women’s Committee of Masjid asSaffat consists of a group of hardworking Muslim women of varying ages ranging from the early 20’s to the early 60’s. The group spans generations, occupations and geographic locations.

They are housewives, teachers, entrepreneurs, students and social workers. Their bond of sisterhood

allowed them to hold it together through the planning and implementation of such a momentous task as the preparation for, and management of over 750 attending women.

The attendees enjoyed the two keynotes speeches, the first entitled “Dhaat Allah (the essence of Allah) “ which reminded

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April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

ICCL Marks Completion of Tafseer at “Jalalayn” Event

By Muslim Link Contributing Writers “Indeed with every hardship comes ease.” (Surah Inshirah, Verse 6).This ayah of the Quran often crosses one’s mind when faced with a difficulty or when trying to accomplish a major task.

The students of Shaykh Javid Bhaiyat, Imam of the Islamic Community Center of Laurel (ICCL) realize and exemplify exactly this. Students come from as far as Virginia to study the classical commentary of the Quran, consistently and with much devotion. The Tafseer being taught is a great, classical work of Tafseer studied by students around the world -- Tafseer Al-Jalalayn. This comprehensive, well-known work is one of the first commentaries of the Quran studied in higher education.

On Saturday, March 27, 2010, ICCL honored the students for completing the study of the Tafseer, hosting a dinner at the masjid and showcasing the curriculum they completed.

Testifying to the importance of the achievement, ICCL invited various scholars from across the US as well as regional Masajid. Keynote speaker Shaykh Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, President of the Institute of Islamic Education in Chicago,IL, enlightened the crowd with his words of wisdom.

Shaykh Saleem said striving and hard work is a pre-requisite to accomplishing anything in life. Some people spend so much of their life engrossed in studies that

others perceive them as insane or crazy; it’s those people who Allah blesses with insight in that particular field, Shaykh Saleem said. The pious predecessors achieved such a state through their sacrifices of luxuries and their sleep so that they can make advances in the study of deen.

Subsequently, Allah blessed them with Baseerah (insight). This is what Muslims must do to gain the knowledge and light of the Holy Quranbecome crazy about it and go deep in its study, he explained.

Shaykh Imran Ahmed of ISB talked about the importance and blessings of studying the Quran. Whether it is reading a few ayaat or memorizing a few words, one must do so consistently.

He spoke of all the virtues that Allah and his Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam) have mentioned in attaining Ilm (knowledge).

Shaykh Irfan Kabiruddin of Darul Uloom Maryland spoke about Tafseer >> COMPLETION Pg 11

Verse by Verse, ADAMS Fajr Tafseer Finishes After 4 Years

By Muslim Link Staff For many, many mornings, attendees at fajr prayers at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Herndon, Virginia read the Qur’an together after prayers.

Reading about one verse at a time, reading the translation, and reflecting on it, they kept reading morning after morning, for 6,236 verses.

It took them about four years.

On Sunday, March 14, 2010, they finally made their “khatam dua”, or their supplication on completing the recitation of the Qur’an, and then celebrated.

Imam Muhammad Magid addressed the congregation, and brothers who often led the morning tafseer sessions –there were six brothers who led the tafseer – shared their thoughts and feelings on the accomplishment, achieved only

by Allah’s mercy and consistency.

Some young students recited from the

Qur’an, and then there was a celebratory breakfast.

“The whole Qur’an was recited with efforts to understand the meaning … the tafseer was prepared using the major available Tafaseer,” explained Dr. Daoud Nassimi in an email announcing the celebration. “Al-Hamdulillah, this is the third time the whole Qur’an was completed in this mode within the last 10 years at ADAMS Center.”

The email announcing the completion of the tafseer detailed the purpose of the short, daily sessions.

“The objectives of this Fajr program are: To develop the knowledge of the Quran in a consistent, systematic and gradual way; to start our day with some words of Allah so that those words/their meaning will stay with us for the rest of the day; to focus on the meaning and teachings of the Quran for our daily life; and to develop a Quranic vision To promote participation at Fajr prayers in the Masjid.”

“Try not to deprive yourself from the numerous benefits of this wonderful opportunity and blessed time,” wrote Dr. Nassimi.

At the next fajr prayer, the group took up the Qur’an and opened up to page 1, verse 1. “In the name of Allah ….”

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS | 7

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April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Dar Al-Hijrah Community Speaks: Together We Can Overcome Challenges”

By Mariam Abu-Ali

Muslim Link Contributing Writer Over 400 Muslims gathered on Saturday, April 3, 2010 for Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center’s annual fundraising dinner at the Fairview Park Marriot. The dinner’s speakers included Dar Al-Hijrah leaders and government officials highlighting the dinner’s theme “Together We Can Overcome Challenges”.

The Grand Mufti of the greater Washington area, Sheikh Al-Hanooti told the audience that “everyone here is a participant to build this country and to defend the peace and security of this country. Anyone who supports the projects of Dar Al-Hijrah and MAS (Muslim American Society) is contributing to this country.”

Samir Abu Issa said that Dar Al-Hijrah is “proud to have forged enduring bonds with community officials,” thereafter introducing Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, who represents the 31st District in the Virginia State Senate. Senator Whipple was “very impressed with the work that the Islamic center does to help people in need with their programs.”

Imam of Dar Al-Hijrah, Sheikh Shaker Elsayed, asked supporters to open up both their “hearts and wallets to support the community.” He then urged everyone to “look into the future with two eyes, not one.”

“It is time to look forward, to build the

future, to bypass all the grievances, all the complaints, and all the faults, but in order to do so we must have connections so that trust is built. We can’t build a community on wishful thinking; we have to pull together and work together through thick and thin. You are a great community. I have traveled long enough and far enough and can say the community is blessed to have Dar Al Hijrah and Dar Al-Hijrah is blessed to have you.”

He ended by stressing that “we are moving forward and not looking back.”

Hailing all the way from Chicago, the band Isra entertained the guests with nasheed while a full course dinner was served. Afterwards, supporters watched a video highlighting Dar Al-Hijrah’s achievements. In 1992, the masjid served 15 families; by the grace of Allah and the support of the community, that number has multiplied and the masjid now serves over 170 families. Furthermore, the masjid today receives more than 5000 worshippers.

Marking yet another milestone in Muslim American achievements, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, the Outreach Director at Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center was invited

by Delegates Corey and Ebbins to offer the opening prayers at the Virginia House of Delegates in March of 2010.

Despite news predictions of hundreds of protestors, only four appeared to protest the prayer.

Dar Al-Hijrah hosts a number of social service programs. It provides medical care through its Women Infant and Child clinic. Last year it supplied more than 25,000 individuals with food through its weekly food bank. It also provided 400 families with financial support in 2009. During the record breaking snow storms earlier this year, Dar Al-Hijrah participated in the Emergency Overnight Hypothermia sheltering program by feeding and housing over a thousand homeless individuals. The masjid is in constant need of donations to continue those services. The masjid helps families with funeral expenses, which cost a significant amount. An estimated $15,000 is needed to cover funeral expenses for the year of 2010 alone. The masjid also needs $20,0000 for youth programs.

It also plans on expanding its parking

lot which will require an additional $50,000.

Also, financial support is needed for Dar Al-Hijrah’s investment in the MAS building on Edsall Road, which was acquired in order to serve as an Islamic school, masjid and youth center.

Guest speaker Sheikh Hassan Abunar told stories and cracked jokes whilst fundraising, helping Dar Al-Hijrah surpass its target of $280,000 by raising $330,000 including ticket sales, by the end of the night.

A handful of Islamophobic protesters stood outside the hotel, but they were not able to disrupt a well-organized and well-attended fundraising dinner.

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TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

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April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

10 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Muslim Link Annual Dinner Attracts Over 600 Supporters

By Muslim Link Staff The only media outlet dedicated to the Washington DC – Baltimore region’s Muslim community held its annual fundraising event on March 27, 2010, with over 600 supporters attending.

Titled “Operation Blackout: Truth Needs a Voice”, the Muslim Link newspaper continued a five-year tradition of inviting unique, outspoken activists in Iraq war veteran turned anti-war activist Michael Prysner.

Speakers from previous years included journalist Yvonne Ridley, British MP George Galloway, and prize winning author Dahr Jamail.

money but they continue to run because the power of influence is priceless,” said editor Minhaj Hasan.

The evening program at Silver Spring, Maryland’s Montgomery Blair High School included an address by Dr. Daoud Nassimi on the importance of community bonds, a video presentation, and a year-in-review by the editor.

Attendees donated $55,000 in cash and pledges by the program’s end; an additional $6,000 came in after the program. The fundraising goal was set at $100,000.

The non-profit newspaper runs on advertising revenue combined with donations. Over 50% of its operating income comes from donations.

Hasan said the $100,000 is needed in addition to advertising income just to meet the “bare bones operations of the paper”. Having cut half of its full-time staff in 2008, the paper has no full-time reporters and relies on volunteers and freelance reporters to cover events.

“Media is not profitable anymore, and the largest news media outlets are losing

“We get calls from area organizations, Muslim and non-Muslim, to cover

Dr. Daoud Nassimi, CCMO Vice Chairman, addressed the audience on the “Spiritual Aspects of Brotherhood”Photo by Zakariya Salhan of DUS YOUTH. their events or attend special briefings, but we can only do so much with freelance reporters since they have other priorities. We love our freelancers, but our community really needs full-time coverage,” explained Hasan. “I cover as

much as I can, but on any given weekend there are three or four events going on at the same time.” >> TML Pg 11

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS |11

TML >> continued from pg 10

the donations and ask Allah to increase all of these good deeds for everyone who came out and everyone who gave or wanted to give,” said the editor.

The newspaper will continue pushing for donations throughout the year to meet its $100,000 goal, and is thinking of new ways to attract advertisers. Hasan said the online advertising revenue is picking up.

“We don’t intend to stop the press, and we have confidence in Allah first, and then in our readers.”

“We are grateful to Allah for the support of our readers. Most of our donations come from middle income readers and are smaller amounts. We appreciate all

COMPLETION >> continued from pg 6 Al-Jalalayn. He said the work, produced

by Jalal ad-Din al-Mahilli and his student Jalal ad-Din al-Suyuti, is used in Alim programs around the globe. AlMahalli passed away after completing commentary of half of the Quran. His student, Al-Suyuti, undertook the task of completing the remaining portion, and did so when he was only twenty years old, proving to possess deep insight at such an early age. He finished the work in such a way that no one could distinguish the difference between any of the two authors. This work is studied worldwide

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In closing the program, Shaykh Abdul Mateen Noumani gave a brief Tafseer of Surah Falaq and Surah Naas, completing the entire Tafseer of the Quran with the students.

Born in Cairo, Egypt. Currently, resides in the United States of America.

Married and has four children.

The instructor of the program, Shaykh Javid Bhaiyat earned a degree in Islamic Studies in England. He has been serving as the Imam of Islamic Community Center of Laurel since 2001. His knowledge and commitment to his students helped them reach this tremendous milestone, Alhamdulillah.

ISLAMIC DEGREES: • PhD in Comparative Fiqh from al-Jinan University, Tripoli, Lebanon, Grade: summa cum laude (excellent).

• Master’s Degree in Islamic law (Sharee’a) from the American Open University, Grade: summa cum laude (excellent).

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April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

12 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Through the Eyes of the Elders: Baltimore Four Decades Ago BALTIMORE >> continued from pg 1 the Mediterranean with the United States Marine Corps. There he met an old man who gave him a Quran translated by Yusuf Ali which he put aside. Seventeen years later at the age of 37 he felt that something was missing from his life.

“According to American lifestyle I should have been successful I had money …I had a job…I had a house, but I was empty …still searching for the truth” he thought he had tried everything but remembered the copy of the Quran collecting dust on his shelf. He picked it up, and starting reading. He had the urge to keep reading until he got to chapter 23 Al-Muminun The Believers and tears filled his eyes. He came to the realization that he was not a believer, but wanted to become one. He went to Masjid-Ul-Haq located in the city of Baltimore to take Shahada. After converting to Islam he surrounded himself with Muslims and got involved in the Masjid.

When he converted in 1978 Brother Hakim was working for the Baltimore City prison system. He would go for Zuhr prayer to Masjid-Ul-Haq with a kuffi on and then go to work from there. One day he forgot to take his kuffi off. “One of the captains told me “take that thing off your head”…and I didn’t know what he was talking about” says Brother Hakim.

When he realized it was his kuffi, Brother Hakim refused to take if off stating that it was part of his religion. The captain said he would check with the law department.

“Make sure you tell my Jewish brothers to take off their yarmulkes too” was his response. Needless to say by the time the captain checked with the law department he didn’t have a leg to stand on states Brother Hakim.

When it was time for salat Brother Hakim would find a place in a corner to pray and if someone said anything he would say “Would you give me 10 minutes to go to the bathroom? We’ll I’m going to pray” states Brother Hakim. In fact they wouldn’t even let the inmates pray in the 1980’s but he would go and pray with them in the gym. “You call the adhan and

I will see to it that you pray” he told them.

The city claimed they had no money to hire an Islamic Coordinator even though they had a Jewish Rabbi and a Christian Chaplain so he voluntarily served as Islamic coordinator from 1982 to 1986 and held Jummah every Friday until the city hired an Islamic coordinator.

On June 1, 1991 the state took over the city prison. At the time brother Hakim worked as a Lieutenant. He was told by several Wardens in subtle ways he that would never rise in rank because he was a Muslim. Then an Assistant Commissioner came from Prince Georges County and asked him to be his aid. He served as Aid to the Assistant Commissioner and three months later was promoted to Captain because he was most qualified for the job. From that point he kept getting promoted in rank until he became Security Chief. He was the only Muslim Security Chief in all of Maryland. He worked for 33 and is retired from everything except Islam he says with a chuckle.

Brother Hakim’s struggle at work and gradual acceptance over the years vividly depicts the slow evolution of the awareness and understanding of Muslims living in the Baltimore area.

Brother Jameel Muhammed an ex-naval officer who came to the Baltimore area from Pakistan in 1970 describes how the Muslim Community has changed since his arrival nearly 40 years ago.

There were only a handful of professionals describes Brother Jameel.

A total of roughly 30 families spread over the area. There was no main Islamic center so everyone used to pray at Shaffer Hall on 33rd street, now part of John Hopkins University and area families used to congregate in D.C. for Eid prayers. As professionals “we faced subtle discrimination, or call it reluctant acceptance” says Brother Jameel. He came to the United States to teach computer programming, which in the 1970’s involved teaching people how to punch cards. In 1975 when he wanted to teach in the private sector “I was told if told if I changed my name from Muhammed to something else I would have better chances for advancement” he says.

By the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the large influx of Muslims across all demographics and ethnic lines created a visible presence of the Muslim community in the Baltimore area .

Even finding halal meat was a challenge and some Muslims use to purchase Kosher meat from the local Jewish butchers. Other individuals like him used to travel over an hour to a farm in Redding, Pennsylvania to slaughter their own meat. The Muslims were just beginning to learn about pork byproducts such as lard and gelatin making daily staples such as bread and toiletries haram. It was also a challenge to keep his children away from fast food restaurants as they “felt disenfranchised and not part of society” he says.

Public school was another place his 3 children all born and raised in Baltimore faced discrimination. They were the only Muslim students on the Eastern Shore of Baltimore County and were called names like “half-breed” The curriculum they taught about Muslims was offensive. Then in 1984 Brother Jameel became president of the PTA at Sussex Elementary school where one of his children attended. This is how he became aware of the Baltimore County Board of Education meetings and started attending regularly, giving the Muslim community a voice. The other educators had not even heard of the Eid, let alone being able to pronounce the day off he says.

In 1982 the ground was broken to build to build Masjid Al-Rahmah and AlRahmah school was established in 1987.

At this time Muslims were still dispersed throughout the Baltimore area. By the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the large influx of Muslims across all demographics and ethnic lines created a visible presence of the Muslim community in the Baltimore area. This is when a sister arrived from Pakistan with her husband and 2 young children.

The family choose Baltimore as a place to settle because she had siblings in the area who had told her Baltimore had a growing Muslim presence. They lived near Masjid-Al-Rahmah. “We were very fortunate to come when we did” she says.

“My family didn’t face the hardships of those that came before us. Twenty years ago there was a masjid there were halal meat stores and there was Al-Rahmah School.”

Her daughter who was 5 when they came started her education at AlRahmah School. It was an elementary with grades kindergarten through 5th.

At that time two grades were taught in one classroom. The challenge arose when her daughter completed 5th grade. There was no 6th grade in the area so they drove her daughter an hour everyday to attend 6th grade at Al Huda School. She was homeschooled for 7th grade and then attended public school to finish her education.

Twenty years ago finding halal meat was not a problem. There was a halal meat store on route 40 about 20 minutes away.

However, there were no halal restaurants in the local area. The only place her family use to go eat was Pizza Hut “ even then we would have to tell them not to cut the pizza and stand there to make sure they didn’t touch pork” she says.

Nonetheless, she never saw sending her daughter to pubic high school or not being able to eat at restaurants, as big hardships.

In her opinion even though the Muslim community has come a long way the true trials that her and her family faced

>> Baltimore II Pg 13

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010 ICCL >> continued from pg 1 today, it is because Allah (swt) planned for it to be this way,” he said.

The President of ICCL, Dr. Mujtaba Yahya, encouraged everyone to attain closeness to Allah, by working towards building the Masajid, being its caretakers and supporting this project. He urged people to make a commitment by giving even a small donation or make a monthly pledge for continued support to the Masjid.

The liason for the construction committee, Hayder Qaadri, went over the financial status of the parking lot construction project. There were many obstacles that

SPLIT >> continued from pg 4

Montgomery County’s Tufail Ahmad as Treasurer.

The “Maryland Muslim Council” which organized the March 18 event lists Anwer Hasan as President, Omar Davis as Secretary, and Ahmed Awad as Treasurer.

BALTIMORE II >> continued from pg 12 20 years ago still exist today. “We have Islamic schools and hifz schools, but we have no connections with the youth and we are not working for these connections” she says. The other elders share similar views. Brother Hakim also believes that we need to target our children with Islamic information “if we don’t target them the enemy will” he

COMMUNITY NEWS |13 the Masjid had to overcome in order to start the construction. Alhamdulillah, through continued support and help of many community members and their commitment, Allah (swt) made this possible. Through much effort, ICCL has obtained the necessary permits to get the construction underway. The phase I of the project includes the site development and laying down the parking lot. The estimated cost of this aspect of construction is $616,027. “We need your support to raise $206,381 in the next few months.”

Amir Ahmed, founder/ CEO of ADC Construction Company was awarded the site work and development contract for this project, valued at $419,000. ` May Allah (swt) accept the efforts of the community, and make it successful.

The beginning of the March 31, 2010 event resembled a roll call of legislators who responded to the invitation from organizers. Representatives from each of the Muslim County Councils recognized legislators from their districts, the audience expressing approval through frequent applause.

Organizers asked selected legislators to speak briefly on issues of concern to the Muslim community including religious says referring to the negative media. He also feels that we are not working hard enough to deliver the message and there should be more dawaah effort targeting the non- Muslims. In Brother Jameel’s opinion Muslims have become more active in the communities over the years, but have to be proactive.

Muslims have a greater presence now than ever before. In the last 10 years halal restaurants have sprung up all over the greater Baltimore area serving

SISTERS >> continued from pg 5 us of Allah’s sovereignty and His power over life and death. The second entitled “Seeking Allah’s Face”, through supplication, by means of His attributes, and by doing righteous deeds.

The attractive component of our conferences is that it make the average Muslims feel supported and empowered.

“We feel like we can [practice] Islam when we see our peers speaking in terms we can relate to,” said one attendee.

There were many beneficial workshops and the participants requested many more be scheduled next year.

People continue to be fascinated with freedom in the workplace, an excise tax on sales of alcohol, and medical marijuana.

Senate President Mike Miller, the highest ranking legislator at the event, said he was happy to be at the “first ever Muslim Legislative Night.”

“A coming together is a beginning.

Staying together is progress. Working together is success. We are very happy to be at this beginning …. and we will up American food such as pizza, fried chicken, and burgers and ethnic cuisines including Indian, Italian and Chinese. Now the Baltimore County school curriculum consists of two pages taught on Islam, and the State Board of Education has told educators not to conduct tests or exams on Eid days. The goal for the future is to have Eid accepted as a holiday and to have schools close on those days says Brother Jameel. AlRahmah school now has 289 students with grades pre-kindergarten through

seeing so many Muslimahs in one place, and the sea of khimars at the meal times is remarkable.

The open mike entertainment was very inspiring as participants took turns at the mike to express themselves in a wholesome manner.

The souk’s vast array of merchandise encouraged shoppers, and conference attendees juggled their handbags, program packets, and shopping bags as they ferried through the hallways.

At the close of the annual event, one thought remained on everyone’s mind – “see you next year, Insha’Allah”.

------------The writer, Aisha Muhammad, is part of the Masjid As-Saffat Women’s Committee.-- TML continue building up this [event] year after year,” said Miller, adding that the state of Maryland is grateful for the contributions of all its immigrants.

Islamic Society of Baltimore’s Imam Imran closed the evening before a buffet dinner with dua, asking Allah to “bless this state, county, and country”, for Allah to have mercy on everyone there, and ofr Muslims to have the “ability to fulfill the rights of the neighbors.”

9th and a full time hifz program.

The Muslim Community in the Baltimore area has grown and flourished over the past 4 decades. However with this growth comes responsibility. All three members of the community agree that we need to focus on our youth and one of the biggest tasks the present Muslim community has is to create a positive Muslim presence in our local communities. Only time will tell if the Muslim Community can live up this challenge.

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

14 | WORLD PRESS

v

World Press

April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

U.S. War-Fighting Numbers to Knock Your Socks Off

By Tom Engelhardt www.tomdispatch.com In my 1950s childhood, Ripley’s Believe It or Not was part of everyday life, a syndicated comics page feature where you could stumble upon such mindboggling facts as: “If all the Chinese in the world were to march four abreast past a given point, they would never finish passing though they marched forever and forever.” Or if you were young and iconoclastic, you could chuckle over Mad magazine’s parody, “Ripup’s Believe It or Don’t!”

With our Afghan and Iraq wars on my mind, I’ve been wondering whether Ripley’s moment hasn’t returned.

Here, for instance, are some figures offered in a Washington Post piece by Lieutenant General James H. Pillsbury, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, who is deeply involved in the “drawdown of the logistics operation in Iraq”: “There are... more than 341 facilities; 263,000 soldiers, Defense Department civilians and contractor employees; 83,000 containers; 42,000 vehicles; 3 million equipment items; and roughly $54 billion in assets that will ultimately be removed from Iraq.”

Admittedly, that list lacks the “believe it or not” tagline, but otherwise Ripley’s couldn’t have put it more staggeringly.

And here’s Pillsbury’s Ripley-esque kicker: the American drawdown will be the “equivalent, in personnel terms alone, of relocating the entire population of Buffalo, New York.”

When it comes to that slo-mo drawdown, all the numbers turn out to be staggering.

They are also a reminder of just how the Pentagon has been fighting its wars in these last years -- like a compulsive shopper without a 12-step recovery program in sight. Whether it’s 3.1 million items of equipment, or 3 million,

2.8 million, or 1.5 million, whether 341 “facilities” (not including perhaps ten mega-bases which will still be operating in 2011 with tens of thousands of American soldiers, civilians, and private contractors working and living on them), or more than 350 forward operating

parlors, food courts, and miniature golf courses. At Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan, there was until recently a “boardwalk” that typically included a “Burger King, a Subway sandwich shop, three cafes, several general stores, a Cold Mountain Creamery, [and an] Oakley

U.S. commanders in our war zones have more than one billion congressionally mandated dollars a year at their disposal to spend on making “friends with local citizens ...” facilities, or 290 bases are to be shut down, the numbers from Iraq are simply out of this world.

Those sorts of figures define the U.S.

sunglasses outlet.” Atypically enough, however, a TGI Friday’s, which had just joined the line-up, was recently ordered shut down along with some of the other stores by Afghan war commander

The US paid private contractor Triple Canopy $438 million since mid-2005 to guard the 104-acre U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. That’s more than half the price tag to build the embassy. military in the Bush era -- and now Obama’s -- as the most materielprofligate war-making machine ever.

Where armies once had baggage trains and camp followers, our camp followers now help plant our military in foreign soil, build its housing and defenses, and then supply it with vast quantities of food, water, fuel, and god knows what else. In this way, our troops carry not just packs on their backs, but a total, transplantable society right down to the PXs, massage

General Stanley McChrystal as inimical to the war effort.

In Ripley’s terms, if you were to put all the vehicles, equipment, and other materiel we managed to transport to Iraq and Afghanistan “four abreast,” they, too, might stretch a fair way around the planet. And wouldn’t that be an illustration worthy of the old Ripley’s cartoon -- all those coffee makers and port-a-potties and Internet cafes, even

that imported sand which, if more widely known about, might change the phrase “taking coals to Newcastle” to “bringing sand to Iraq”?

For all the sand Iraq did have, from the point of view of the U.S. military it didn’t have the perfect type for making the miles of protective “blast walls” that became a common feature of the postinvasion landscape. So, according to Stephen Farrell of the New York Times, U.S. taxpayer dollars floated in boatloads of foreign sand from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to create those 15ton blast walls at $3,500 a pop. U.S. planners are now evidently wondering whether to ship some of the leftover walls thousands of miles by staggeringly roundabout routes to Afghanistan at a transportation cost of $15,000 each.

When it comes to the U.S. drawdown in Iraq and the build-up in Afghanistan, in fact, the numbers, any numbers, are little short of unbelievable. * Believe it or not, for instance, U.S. commanders in our war zones have more than one billion congressionally mandated dollars a year at their disposal to spend on making “friends with local citizens and help[ing] struggling economies.”

It’s all socked away in the Commander’s Emergency Response Program. Think of it as a local community-bribery account which, best of all, seems not to require the slightest accountability to Congress for where or how the money is spent. * Believe it or not (small change department), the Pentagon is planning to spend an initial $50 million from a “$350 million Pentagon program designed to improve the counterterrorism operations of U.S. allies” on Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia,

>> NUMBERS Pg 18

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

ISLAM |15

Islam

Allah’s Decree, Free Will, and Our Sins

By Sheikh Salman Al-Awdah Islamtoday.net Everything in existence is subject to Allah’s will and power. For Muslims, this goes without saying. It is an essential tenet of every Muslim’s faith. Allah says: “Indeed, Allah has power over all things.”

However, this is no excuse for human beings to evade responsibility for their own decisions. No one can argue that it was their fate to sin. We know this from firsthand experience. We know instinctively that we make our own decisions. We choose to do some things and refrain from doing other things. We carry out intentional actions. We intend, for instance, to travel or stay at home, to eat or to sleep. When we carry out these and other intentional actions, we recognize that we are doing so of our own volition.

It is on the basis of these intentions of ours that Allah judges us. We are not judged for the involuntary actions of our bodies, nor for what we are forced to do under compulsion or duress.

This is why we see that Allah says: “Whoever disbelieves in Allah after having believed – save one who is coerced (to make an utterance of unbelief) but whose heart is still fully resolved upon faith – but whoever finds ease in unbelief: on them is Allah’s wrath, and they will have an awful punishment.”

[Sūrah al-Nahl: 106] Whoever is coerced into something to the point that he or she has no choice but to comply, then he or she is legally exempt for that action in this world and sinless for it in the Hereafter. We are taken to account for what we do of our own free choice.

Many people put forth questions about free will and predestination with the sole aim of justifying their sinful tendencies.

Whenever someone admonishes them for their sins, they say: “What I did was fated for me. It was Allah’s will. I had no choice.”

When we consider what the Qur’an says about our actions, we see that Allah connects our free will to His permitting

He has permitted us to make our own choices and formulate our own intentions. This means we cannot avoid taking responsibility for the decisions we make. us to carry out actions by our own choice.

Allah says: “But you do not exercise you will, except that Allah wills it; for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.”

[Sûrah al-Insân: 30] We are furthermore told in the Qur’an that no one could believe or disbelieve except with Allah’s permission. Allah has permitted us to make the choice. If Allah had willed to subdue our wills, He could have compelled us to do one thing or another. Instead, He has permitted us to make our own choices and formulate our own intentions. This means we cannot avoid taking responsibility for the decisions we make.

Allah, in His wisdom, has given us an indisputable proof of our free will.

This proof is our own unavoidable recognition that we make our own decisions. We can tell the difference between the involuntary movements of our body, like our heartbeats, and the free choices that we make. Therefore, those who wantonly goes about sinning, exercising their free choice all the way, cannot then turn around and say that Allah compelled them to sin. [Source: http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-2403542.htm ]

Subjecting All Aspects of Life to Fatwa

By Sheikh Salman Al-Awda Islamtoday.net There is more to Islamic Law – the Sharī`ah – than the issuing of religious verdicts (fatwā). Islamic law embraces the Qur’an in all of its subtleties, the life-example found in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the many aspects of the faith that are readily understood by everyone. Moreover, the sphere of what is permissible in Islam is too vast to quantify. The default assumption in Islamic Law is that something is permissible unless there is clear and authentic evidence indicating that it is not permissible.

The issuing of fatwā should not be misconstrued as the governing or regulating factor of all human behavior.

I know of no evidence in Islamic Law to give fatwā such a pervasive and overarching role.

Not everything in life needs to have a fatwā issued about it. Islam is much more than fatwā. We have a tendency in this day and age to give fatwā a much larger role than it actually has. It is as if we want to make fatwā to preside over every aspect of our lives. The general public is not expected to seek a religious verdict every time they wish to make a move.

There are many things in life which are simple and straightforward.

Fatwā provides specific answers to specific questions that people may be confronted with individually in their religious lives or that society as a whole needs to have addressed. At the same time, life is full of all sorts of concerns.

There are political matters that are best resolved through political means. There are questions of trade that are grounded in sound economic thinking. There are questions related to technology, human creativity, and social concerns. In all of these matters, there are many issues which have right or wrong answers that

do not depend on religious verdicts and need solutions which religious verdicts are not suitable to address.

Therefore, it is a mistake to assume that every question of life can be addressed by fatwā. Some matters are simple and easy and do not need to be asked about. People can act in their own capacity according to their general religious knowledge.

There are other matters that have been clear in Islam from its inception up to the present day wherein there is no dispute.

>> Fatwa Pg 17

April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

16 | OPINION

Opinion

Anti-war Activist Michael Pr ysner Makes Us Proud and Puts Us to Shame

By Abu Salman Eberle If anyone has ever seen the sensational YouTube speech by ex soldier US Army veteran Michael Prysner, he cannot ever forget it. He will be proud that such a man stood up courageously for truth and justice. Serving in the US army for the occupation of Iraq changed his life forever. “…the real terrorist was me and the real terrorism was this occupation (i.e Iraq) … racism is a vital weapon employed by this government … the ruling class, the billionaires who profit from human suffering, care only about expanding their wealth and controlling the world economy, …we need to wake up and realize that our real enemies are not in some distant land, they’re not people whose names we don’t know and cultures we don’t understand, the enemy is people we know very well and who we can identify, the enemy is a system that wages war when it is profitable, the enemy is a CEO who lays us off from our job when it is profitable, it is the insurance companies who deny us health care when it is profitable, it’s the banks who take away our homes when its profitable, our enemy is not 5000 miles away but they’re right here at home. If we organize and fight with our brothers and sisters we can stop this war, we can stop this government, and create a better world.”

Just see the entire clip and be amazed, be proud.

The same themes were apparent in his keynote speech for the Muslim Link Fundraiser Dinner on March 27, 2010.

He is unabashed about the fact that the War on Terror is a war against Islam and the Muslims, that the US Military Industrial Complex seeks out foreign wars for profit to create immense wealth for the superrich elite at the expense of

the poor and duped working class that are used as foot soldiers and cannon fodder (not to mention the millions of foreign nationals at the brunt of the spear), that the occupation of Iraq was never about weapons of mass destruction (he personally observed that all the officers knew that from the beginning) but is only about profits for the big corporations and about imperial control of strategic resources like oil, that words like freedom and democracy and rights for women are just screens to dupe the masses and hide the real purposes for war; that the mainstream media was an active participant in the lies leading up to war and remains active in the cover-up of the crimes being committed in the name of good and freedom, that armed resistance is an entirely just and natural human response to the criminal US occupation, that the perpetrators of this immoral war should be indicted and prosecuted for war crimes, that US foreign policy in the region is a mere tool for the above mentioned elite and for Israeli interests, and so on in a litany of anti war tirades against US foreign policy and the US war machine in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He is a war veteran that believed strongly that the US armed forces were for good and noble causes in the world and sighed up for patriotic service at the age of 17, only to become utterly demoralized by the crimes that he was forced to commit. This experience has changed him radically into an activist against war, injustice and racism. Among the visions and experiences that haunt him are breaking down doors to evict the families of the rightful owners so that the occupation can steal their homes; hearing the screams of women and children and seeing the terror in their eyes; harsh interrogations he conducted personally on people, 99% of whom were entirely innocent (all techniques were of course claimed to be legal and by the books); being called to interrogate a man shot in the neck for

Dr. Daoud Nassimi, CCMO Vice Chairman, addressed the audience on the “Spiritual Aspects of Brotherhood”Photo by Zakariya Salhan of DUS YOUTH. trying to get home past a checkpoint; emptying entire villages of men to be imprisoned and who knows how many of them will return to their families; and other emotional firsthand confessions of harrowing detail delivered by a man with a truth and justice mission and anti-war message.

In private conversation he mentioned that he worked with translators to seek out local newspaper articles critical of the US occupation so that they can march in and shut them down - so much for the free press as a necessary civil element for democracy in the Middle East. He mentioned that the average soldier comes to the military just for a job and benefits and does not like his participation in war crimes (and this is why there more suicides than killed in action in the war and moreover startlingly high levels of traumatic stress disorders), whereas the mercenary “independent contractors” (aka Blackwater, XE, etc) who outnumber the official soldiers (to hide war realities and bury the true extent of expenses) are often of the type that actually love the excitement of smashing doors, shooting from the hip, killing indiscriminately,

participating in torture sessions, etc. He said that the US anti-war movement of which he is a part, the ANSWER coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), has been harassed by spending tens of thousands of dollars defending against bogus imprisonments and indictments for entirely lawful acts, like putting up posters for legal anti war rallies.

One piece of advice he gave privately to some of the attendees, showing his stance on principles: just don’t work for the defense industry! In this and so many other respects, by his personal transformation and sacrifices, by his courageous speech for truth and bold actions for justice (like participation with George Galloway in breaking -somewhat- the Gaza blockade

by Egypt and Israel), by his outspoken efforts to expose lies, greed, injustice and racism, for tireless activism in the anti war movement, he puts many of us Muslims to shame in comparison. Until when will we remain in our spectator lethargy?

---------------------------Abu Salman Eberle writes out of College Park, Maryland.

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

SALAAH TIMES |17

Salaah times for April 9th - April 22nd, 2010

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

FATWA >> continued from pg 15 Then there are those problematic issues which have religious dimensions that really do need to be addressed by fatwā.

These are matters which have religious implications for which a clarification is needed from a religious standpoint.

We need to be cognizant of the fact that those who ask for religious verdicts are accountable before their Lord just like the

Day

Date

Hijri

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

9

24/4

5:23

6:40

1:10

4:49

7:40

8:56

Sat

10

25/4

5:21

6:38

1:09

4:50

7:41

8:58

Sun

11

26/4

5:20

6:37

1:09

4:50

7:42

8:59

Mon

12

27/4

5:18

6:35

1:09

4:50

7:43

9:00

Tue

13

28/4

5:16

6:34

1:09

4:50

7:43

9:01

Wed

14

29/4

5:15

6:32

1:08

4:51

7:44

9:02

Thu

15

1/5

5:13

6:31

1:08

4:51

7:45

9:03

Fri

16

2/5

5:11

6:29

1:08

4:51

7:46

9:05

Sat

17

3/5

5:10

6:28

1:08

4:51

7:47

9:06

Sun

18

4/5

5:08

6:26

1:08

4:52

7:48

9:07

Mon

19

5/5

5:06

6:25

1:07

4:52

7:49

9:08

Tue

20

6/5

5:05

6:24

1:07

4:52

7:50

9:10

Wed

21

7/5

5:03

6:22

1:07

4:52

7:51

9:11

Thu

22

8/5

5:01

6:21

1:07

4:53

7:52

9:12

Prayer times generated from www.islamicfinder.com

scholars are. Each of us is individually accountable for our decisions and our actions. Some people ask questions about everything, dragging fatwā into all sorts of matters, hoping by doing so to absolve themselves of personal responsibility.

They feel that getting an answer from a scholar makes them exempt from any liability when they act upon the scholar’s ruling.

This misuse of fatwā to shift personal responsibility onto the scholars can

often lead to abuse on the part of the questioner. Many people to try and shape the scholar’s response to suit their own ends. They may pressure the scholar by loading their question with all sorts of contingencies and extraneous factors in hopes that the scholar will be compelled to declare the matter in question to be unlawful. Alternatively, they may phrase the question so that the desired answer is implicit in its wording. This is a clear abuse of the role of fatwā. Then there are those who ask for religious verdicts as a

force of habit, without giving any thought to whether doing so in an instance is really necessary or appropriate.

Fatwā has an important and vital role in Islam to clarify matters wherein there are religious implications that need to be clarified. This role needs to be understood, honored and respected. It should not be abused.

[Source: http://en.islamtoday.net/ artshow-418-3537.htm ]

April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

18 | CONTINUED NUMBERS >> continued from pg 14 all of whom, in the latest version of the Coalition of the Billing, just happen to have small numbers of troops deployed in Afghanistan. The backdrop for this is Canada’s decision to withdraw its combat forces from Afghanistan in 2011 and a fear in Washington that the larger European allies may threaten to bail as well. Think of that $50 million as a down payment on a state bribery program -and the Pentagon is reportedly hoping to pry more money loose from Congress to pay off the smaller “allies” in a bigger way in the future. * Believe it or not, the Defense Logistics Agency shipped 1.1 million hamburger patties to Afghanistan in the month of March 2010 (nearly doubling the March 2009 figure). Almost any number you might care to consider related to the Afghan War is similarly on the rise. By the fall, the number of American troops there will have nearly tripled since President Obama took office; American deaths in Afghanistan have doubled in the first months of 2010, while the number of wounded has tripled; insurgent roadside bomb (IED) attacks more than doubled in 2009 and are still rising; U.S. drone strikes almost doubled in 2009 and are on track to triple this year; and fuel deliveries to Afghanistan have nearly doubled, rising from 15 million gallons a month in March 2009 to 27 million this March. (Keep in mind that, by the time a gallon of gas has made it to U.S. troops in the field, its cost is estimated at up to $100.) * Believe it or not, according to a recent report by the Pentagon inspector general, private contractor KBR, holding a $38 billion contract to provide the U.S. military with “a range of logistic services,” has cost Washington $21 million in “waste” on truck maintenance alone by billing for 12 hours of work when, on average, its employees were actually putting in 1.3 hours. * Believe it or not, the State Department has paid another private contractor, Triple Canopy, $438 million since mid2005 simply to guard the massive, 104acre U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, the largest on the planet. That’s more than half the price tag to build the embassy,

the running of which is expected to cost an estimated $1.8 billion dollars in 2010.

Triple Canopy now has 1,800 employees dedicated to embassy protection in the Iraqi capital, mainly Ugandan and Peruvian security guards.

At $736 million to build, the embassy itself is a numbers wonder (and has only recently had its sizeable playing field astroturfed – “the first artificial turf sports field in Iraq” -- also assumedly at taxpayer expense). Fans of Ripleyesque diplomatic gigantism should have no fears about the future either: the U.S. is now planning to build another “mother ship” of similar size and cost in Islamabad, Pakistan. * Believe it or not, according to Nick Turse of TomDispatch.com, nearly 400 bases for U.S. troops, CIA operatives, special operations forces, NATO allies, and civilian contractors have already been constructed in Afghanistan, topping the base-building figures for Iraq by about 100 in a situation in which almost every bit of material has to be transported into the country. The base-building spree has yet to end. * Believe it or not, according to the Washington Post, the Defense Department has awarded a contract worth up to $360 million to the son of an Afghan cabinet minister to transport U.S. military supplies through some of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan -- and his company has no trucks. (He hires subcontractors who evidently pay off the Taliban as part of a large-scale protection racket that allows the supplies through unharmed.) This contract is, in turn, part of a $2.1 billion Host Nation Trucking contract whose recipients may be deeply involved in extortion and smuggling rackets, and over which the Pentagon reportedly exercises little oversight.

Believe it or not, the staggering logistics effort underway to transport part of the American way of war from Iraq to Afghanistan is now being compared by those involved to Hannibal (not Lecter) crossing the Alps with his cohort of battle elephants, or to that ancient conqueror of conquerors, Alexander the Great (“the largest building boom in Afghanistan since Alexander built Kandahar”). It has become commonplace as well to say, as President Obama did at Bagram Air Base on his recent six-hour Afghan

drop-in, that the U.S. military is “the finest military in the history of the world,” or as his predecessor put it even more emphatically, “the greatest force for human liberation the world has ever known.”

The Ripley-esque numbers, however, tell a somewhat different story. If war were really a Believe It or Not matter, or victory lay in the number of hamburgers transported or the price of fuel consumed, the U.S. military would have been the winner long ago. After all, it may be the most product-profligate military with the heaviest “footprint” in history. Though it’s seldom thought strange (and rarely commented upon in the U.S.), the Pentagon practices war as a form of mass consumption and so, not surprisingly, bears a striking resemblance to the society it comes from. Like the Taliban, it carries its way of life to war on its back.

It’s striking, of course, that all this is happening at a moment when, domestically, small businesses can’t get loans and close to 10% of the population is officially out of work, while state governments are desperately scrabbling for every available dollar (and some that aren’t), even as they cut what would once have been considered basic services. In contrast, the Pentagon is fighting its distant wars as if American pockets had no bottoms, the national treasury had no limits, and there was quite literally no tomorrow.

And there’s one more small contrast to be made when it comes to the finest military in the history of the world: for all the private security guards, mountains of burgers, lakes of gasoline, miles of blast walls, and satchels of cash to pass out to the locals, it’s been remarkably unsuccessful in its pacification campaigns against some of the motliest forces of our time. The U.S. military has been fought to something like a draw by relatively modest-sized, relatively lightly armed minority insurgencies that don’t even pass muster when it comes to shooting straight.

Vast piles of money and vast quantities of materiel have been squandered; equipment by the boatload has been used up; lives have been wasted in profusion; and yet the winners of our wars might turn out to be Iran and China. The

American way of war, unfortunately, has the numbers to die for, just not to live by.

[Note on Sources: Let me offer a small series of bows to six websites I find invaluable for keeping up on America’s wars. Each is a regular morning stop on my tour of the Internet: Antiwar.com, a site full of surprises, which collects the most interesting reporting of the day on America’s wars and incursions; Juan Cole’s Informed Comment which, for years now, has provided an analytic framework for, and a brilliant running commentary on, American war policy in the Middle East; the War in Context whose canny editor, Paul Woodward, recently aptly termed the American war in Afghanistan “a war of indifference”; Asia Times, a high-quality online publication that provides regular overviews on the Middle East and Asia; Noah Shachtman’s Danger Room at Wired, a must-visit for the latest in U.S. military developments; and Katherine Tiedemann’s “Daily Brief” at the AfPak Channel which provides a daily summary of key mainstream reporting on the Afghan war.

In addition, special thanks go to Christopher Holmes, my eagle-eyed volunteer copyeditor in Tokyo who keeps TomDispatch remarkably errorfree, week in, week out. His is a major labor of love and, even though I don’t say so often enough, couldn’t be more appreciated day in, day out!]

Tom Engelhardt, co-founder of the American Empire Project, runs the Nation Institute’s TomDispatch.com.

He is the author of The End of Victory Culture, a history of the Cold War and beyond, as well as of a novel, The Last Days of Publishing. His latest book, The American Way of War (Haymarket Books), will be published in May. To catch a special TomCast audio interview in which Jonathan Schell and Engelhardt discuss war and nuclear weapons from the 1960s to late last night, simply click here or, if you prefer to download it to your iPod, here.

--------------------------[Source: http://www.tomdispatch.com/ blog/175228/]

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

Request For Dua’s

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

“Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 3-19-10 The mother of Rukhsana Rahman and mother in law of Aquilur Rahman passed away in Pakistan. Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi raaje’oon To Allah we belong and to Him is our return. May Allah accept her good deeds, forgive her sins and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM) 3-29-10 We regret to inform you of the passing of Brother Mohammed Amin. Salat-ul-Janaazah was at ICCL on March 30th. Burial was at the Maryland National Memorial Park in Laurel, MD. (Source: ICCL) 4-5-10 Inna Lillahe Wa Inna ilay he Rajeoon”, Truly to Allah (SWT) we belong, and truly to Him shall we return. We regret to inform you of the passing of Brother Syed Farooq Muhammad son of Mohammad Owais. Salat-ul-Janaazah was held at ICCL. May Allah(SWT) have mercy on him, forgive him and enter him into Jannat-ul-Firdous.

May Allah (SWT) give his family patience during this difficult time.

Allhumma Aameen. (Source ICCL)

To Advertise in the Muslim Link Call

301-982-1020

OBITS & EVENTS |19

Upcoming Events In Your Area 3rd Annual MW Quran Recitation-Competition Saturday, April 10 2010 Creative Education and Publishing is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual MW Quran Recitiation-Competition. This event is organized to service the Holy Book, give both males and females the opportunity to promote the general standard of Quranic performance, to create a sense of friendly competition in the recitation, and encourage young Muslims to perfect their recitation.

Competition is open to all Muslim ages 6 and up, grouped by grade.s. Registration is by grade in their respective schools. Participants should register for the proper grade they are in, however, if they feel they can compete with other upper grade levels that must be made clear in the application.

The winners of 1st competitions can’t compete in the same grade levels as last year. Silver Spring, MD 20901 Application must be submitted by Feb. 28, 2010.

Location: Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus Contact: Br Alameddine @ 703-856-7005 or email at info@creativeandcoolcompetitions.net

_____________________________________________________________________________

Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) From Saturday, April 03 2010 - To Saturday, May 01 2010 / 11am - 1pm MCC will be holding a 5 week program on the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Insha’Allah.

SPEAKERS: Imam Mohamed Abdullahi and other local scholars.

WHEN: Every Saturday, April 03 2010 To Saturday, May 01 2010 11:00am - 1:00pm Location: MCC Mail Hall

_____________________________________________________________________________

Islamic Games 2009 From Thursday, April 22 2010 - 8:00am To Saturday, April 24 2010 - 8:00pm Location: Rider University, Lawrencevill, New Jersey Contact: 718-554-7620 or info@islamic-games.com _____________________________________________________________________________

2nd Annual Dar Ul Uloom Fund Raiser Saturday, April 24 2010, 6:00pm - 9:00pm Please join us in our Second Annual fund raising event to benefit the Dar ul Uloom community.

Guest Speaker: Imam Hamad Shibley from New Jersey.

Tickets: $20 per person; $35 per family Location: Dar al-Taqwa, 10740 Route 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Contact: Sis. Umm Umar 410-493-0785

April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

20| EDITOR’S DESK Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager : Stephanie Benmoha News Desk: Rashad Mulla Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Farkhunda Ali Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Yaman Shalabi Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published on the first Friday of every Islamic month (Hijri calendar) and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam.

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: 240-209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2010

Editor’s Desk Prioritizing Politics Over Unity Hurt the Community The Maryland Muslim Council formed several years ago, bringing local county Muslim councils together under one umbrella so Maryland’s Muslims could politically engage the state government more effectively and with a united front.

Unfortunately, last month differences between board members boiled over, and the Maryland Muslim Council split into two parties, each claiming leadership, and each declaring the other party illegitimate.

Community and masjid activists know this fracture is not something new or unheard of. Political upheavals hit many area masajid over the last few years resulting in board dissolutions, smear campaigns, and even law suits.

The Muslim Link’s editorial policy, made in consultation with our Islamic advisers in light of the Qur’anic injunction to not spread rumors or any news harmful to the unity of the Muslim community, has always been to avoid reporting on organizational or community in-fighting. We’ve been aware of all the political wrangling and fighting for leadership, and in many cases we’ve received documents and “evidence” or wrong doing from one party or another – unsolicited of course – but we’ve

always kept the unity of the Muslim community in mind. Printing news about in-fighting would serve no purpose except to expand the circle of combatants from a few dozen to a few thousand.

We feel the Maryland Muslim Council fracture is a bit different, and so we decided to run a story on the confusion resulting from the split, as well as to offer some perspective.

The Maryland Muslim Council interacts with local politicians and lawmakers, including Governor O’Malley and even federal officials.

Last month, each faction organized a high profile “Muslim Legislative Night” at the Senate Building in Annapolis, one on March 18, 2010 and the other on March 31, 2010.

Both factions called themselves the “Maryland Muslim Council”, and both factions invited the Governor and scores of other state senators and delegates.

Legislators were confused. The Governor’s office accepted one invitation and declined the other.

The split occurred in the open – literally on a stage – in full view of legislators who scratched their heads, not knowing who was who.

The message was loud and clear:

Maryland’s Muslim community is petty, fractured, and not ready for serious political engagement; fighting one another had a higher priority than fighting for the Muslim community. Each faction contacted the Muslim Link with their version of events, but the fact remains that both parties are responsible for this humiliating debacle.

If working for the interest of the Muslim community was uppermost on the priority list, the parties involved could have avoided making their disunity a harm to the hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Maryland they chose to represent.

Those in power could have stepped down as a last resort if that would prevent a public fracture. Those who disapproved of the existing leadership could have quietly ceased their involvement and support of the Council, and later could have continued their work using other platforms. Instead, both parties wanted to claim the organization and its name, forgetting that the biggest loser in such a fight is the community itself.

No organization is more valuable than our unity. Both parties would do well to prioritize and cherish that unity.

Subscribe to the Muslim Link!

To get the Muslim Link print edition in the mail, send $5 for shipping and handling per issue ($60 for the year) using check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Road, College Park MD 20740. To make payments over the phone using a credit card, call the Muslim Link office at 301-982-1020.

Subscribe to the online version of the newspaper so you get it in your email inbox FREE each issue. To subscribe for free, go to muslimlinkpaper.com.

ATTENTION INMATES:

As much as we would like to, we are unable to honor requests for free subscriptions at this time.

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TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

MP - Professional Services | 23

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TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

MP - Tax & Accounting Services | 25

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TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

MP - Healthcare | 27

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MP - Advertisement | 29

April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

30| MP - Classified Ads

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

CHILDCARE EXCHANGE BABYSITTING IN MY HOME I am a licensed childcare provider available to babysit at my Silver Spring home. Children age 1 and up.

Snacks provided. Overnights available.

Can teach Qur’an and Arabic. For information. 301-593-4769. ________________________________ LICENSED BABYSITTER For infant - 10 yrs. In my home in Annandale, VA. Flexible hours. 15 years experience. Call 703-256-1175, or 571308-4295. ________________________________ LIVE-IN NANNY Need a live-in nanny for 15 month girl. some light house work. Please contact 443 708 5183. ________________________________ NANNY WANTED: We live in Silver Spring MD, and are looking for a full-time nanny to take care of our 14 month old boy and also after-school care for our 6 year old daughter; Light household work will be required; live-in arrangement may also be considered. Please call 301-6492228 or 240-475-6108. ________________________________ LIVE-IN NANNY Seeking a loving and caring live-in nanny to care for a 4 year old and a two year old. Responsibilities include: child care, cleaning and cooking. Driver’s license desired and a clean driving record a

must. Our home is located in Rockville, Md and we are metro accessible. Please contact MSB at (301)926-4264 if interested.

EMPLOYMENT HOME HELP AVAILABLE Helping hand/companion seeking work.

Dependable, have own transportation.

Part-time days or weekends in your home. Contact 202-450-4144 ________________________________ PROGRAMER WANTED Looking for a C++/C#/.NET Developer with 2-4 years experience for fulltime remote work. Email navmed@gmail. com ________________________________

________________________________ WANT TO CORRESPOND Incarcerated Sunni Muslim, 49, looking for devoted Muslima for correspondence/ marriage. Please contact “Abdul Malik” Rudolph Barbot, #05A2129, Eastern NY Correctional facility, P O Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458-0338 ________________________________ SEEKING MUSLIMA Studious Muslim in North Carolina looking for a Muslima to seriously communicate with, insha Allah. Please mail inquiries to Kerry Morston, #0257064, PO Box 1808, SCI, Laurinburg, NC 28353

MISCELLANEOUS

OFFICE MANAGER Office Manager for local Construction Management Company in Greenbelt, MD. Must have excellent communication and organizational skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word and Excel.

Salary negotiable based on experience/ capabilities. Email CV/Resume to cmclp@mail.com Starting at $10-$12/Hr.

LOOKING TO CONNECT Correctional inmate, Afro-American, physically fit, 50, 5’10”, 200 lbs, who believes in Free Thinking, Harmony, Peace and Balance, with balance being a priority. Seeking anyone who can imagine how it feels to be loney. Age, race, unimportant. Lonliness is! LaVonn Macon, #108634, P O Box 900, Portage, WI 53901 ________________________________

MATRIMONIAL

COMMUNITY THRIFT STORE Store hours Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, 5115 Park Heights, Baltimore, MD 21215.

Donation accepted or pickup. Slighted worn items only. License #30385946.

Call 410-542-6925 or 443-531-9353 (cell) ________________________________

BROTHER SEEKING WIFE Gentleman, 57, from Iran, no children.

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SERVICES HANDYMAN AVAILABLE Assalamu’alaykum! My name is Varga Syahroni. I am an experienced technician in D.C. and Maryland. I offer service and repair for cooling, heating, plumbing, refrigerator, dish washers, dryer machines and much more. Call me for reliable service! Free estimates (301) 792-1004 or email varga_syahroni@yahoo.com ________________________________ HOME SERVICES Licensed contractor. Home Improvement work, interior/exterior painting, drywall install/repair, brick/concrete repair.

Estimates done. Contact Br. Allen Scott at 410-467-1259 or 443-531-9353 (cell) ________________________________ Advertise with the Muslim Link To advertise with the Muslim Link link, call 301-982-1020 or email us at office@muslimlinkpaper.com ________________________________

or Email us at office@muslimlinkpaper.com

TML, April 9th - April 22rd, 2010

MASJID LOCATOR ADAMS CENTER:

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

ALL MUSLIM BROTHERS ASSOCIATION

3900 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302 703-647-0515 Jumma Prayer ONLY - 1:00 p.m

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

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

DAR AL HIJRAH:

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

MP - Masjid Locator | 31 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.

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

ICNA VA CENTER:

2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306.

703-660-1255

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

INDONESIAN MUSLIM ASSOC. IN AMERICA (IMAAM):

1611 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20851 Tel: 240-453-0808, e-mail: fkadir@imaamnet.org.

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

DAR AL-SALAAM:

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

DAR AL-NOOR (MUSLIM ASSOC. OF VA):

IRHSCA (ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND HUM. SERVICES CENTER OF AMERICA):

15250 Dumfries Rd., Mannassas,VA 20112.

5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808, Fax: 703-2218513, www.daralnoor.org.

DAR AL-TAQWA:

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

DAR UL ULOOM,

6334 Dogwoood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207, 410-493-0785 Email:darululoommd@aol.com

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

DAR-UL HUDA:

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

DAR-US-SALAAM:

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

Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040, www.irhsca.org.

ISLAMIC CENTER OF GREATER SOUTH EAST (FORMERLY MASJID ASH-SHURA)

3109-B Martin Luther King Ave., S.E.Washington, DC 20032 202-506-7235

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

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

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

www.icclmd.org.

ISLAMIC FOUND. OF AMERICA (IFA):

6606 Electronic Dr., Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982, www.ifa.ws.

ISLAMIC HERITAGE CENTER (IHC):

MAKKAH LEARNING CENTER (MLC):

814 Brandy Farms Ln Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.mlcmd. org, Email: info@mlcmd.org

MANASSAS MOSQUE:

262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056.

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

ISLAMIC SOC. OF ANNAPOLIS (ISA):

MASJID AL-GHURABAA:

2635 Riva RdSuite 110 Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.islamannapolis.org, Email: info@islamannapolis.org

ISLAMIC SOC. OF FREDERICK (ISF):

8220 Washington St., South, Laurel, MD 20724.

Tel: 301-604-3295.

MASJID AL-HIKMAH:

11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington, MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009.

1250 Key Parkway , Frederick,MD 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090, www.isfmd.org.

MASJID UL-HAQ:

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN (ISG):

MASJID AL-ISLAM:

19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (301)-972-0504, www.isgtown.org.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF SOUTHERN PG COUNTY (ISSPGC):

P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240-253-4217

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

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

IVY CITY MASJID:

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

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

MASJID AL-INSHIRAH:

7832 Fairbrook Road , Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977, Fax: 410-2980266, www.al-inshirahweb.net.

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

MASJID JAMAAT ALMUSLIMEEN: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel. 443-869-5233.

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

MASJID AL-NOOR:

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

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

LA PLATA MASJID:

MASJID AL-RAHMAH/ISB:

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

6631 Johnny Cake Rd. Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869, www.isb.org

MASJID AS SAFFAT: 1335 W. North Ave. Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-669-0655.

MASJID BAIT-ALLAH:

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

MASJID IBN TAYMIYYAH: 8000 MLK Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-461-9325.

MASJID ZAMZAM 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Phone: 410-284-2840

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

MUSLIM COM. CENTER (MCC):

15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-384-3454, www.mccmd.org.

MUSLIM SOC. OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (MSWDC):

Howard Center, Room 805 (Above HU Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236, www.mswdc.org.

MUSTAFA CENTER:

6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003.

PRINCE GEORGES MUSLIM ASSOC. (PGMA): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd. Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942, www. pgmamd.org.

Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441, imam@pgmamd.org.

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

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

All Hand Cut Meat

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Crystal Plaza 12729 Laurel Bowie Rd. Laurel, MD 20708 call us We Do Cater, 301-498-5233 (KAFE), or fax us 301-498-5234