The Muslim Link - August 26, 2011

Muharram|Safar|Rabi Al-Awaal |Rabi Al-Thani|Jumada Al-Awwal|Jumada Al-Akhir|Rajab|Shaban|26 RAMADAN , 1432|Shawwal|Thul-Qedah|Thul-Hijjah

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August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

For Many In Region’s Somalia Diaspora, Nothing to Go Back To

By Fatimah Waseem

Muslim Link Staff Writer In the 1990s. Abdirahman Abd came to the United States on a government scholarship to Albany State University, thinking that he would complete his studies and swiftly return to his home country.

But little did he know that the overthrow of a military dictator and a haunting civil war where powerhungry factions ripped Somalia apart would prevent him from returning ever again.

“My friends told me to apply for

political asylum, but I told them there was no need. I was going to go back - if not the first year, then the second year,” he said. As the years rolled by, Abd remained in the US for another 16 years.

He is one of thousands of examples of Somali immigrants who travelled from their ravaged country to the

The following is a translation of a Khutbah from 1999 given after the massive earthquake in Turkey. The message is even more relevant today.

– TML Have fear and consciousness of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala and ponder over events that happen around you. Learn lessons from them and remember, for the intelligent one is he who remembers and takes admonition.

The topic of this khutbah is the destructive earthquake that hit part of Turkey. The earthquake which caused thousands of people to die, caused loss of wealth and properties, and forced people to seek refuge outside of their dwellings, now being without their home and their wealth, and without food and drink. The earthquake which turned security into fear, richness into poverty, caused joined families to depart, and turned life into death.

Without doubt, in it is a lesson for those who take lessons and a reminder for those who remember, so that they may

Fed’s “S-COMM” Leading to Insecure Residents | pg 4

United States since the 1990s, weaving themselves into the rich tapestry of the MVA area. According to the US Department of Refugee Resettlement, the nation’s capital houses these throbbing communities, many of which are located in Prince George’s County, Baltimore County, Silver Spring, Hyattsville, Riverdale, and Fairfax.

MAS Inspiring Changes in Local Youth | pg 5

They came for one of two reasons: for education or as refugees. Prior to the 1991 military coup, Somalis - many on government scholarships like Abd

More Food, Less Thought at BCMC Political Iftar | pg 6

>> SOMALIA Pg 21

Puerto Rico’s Muslims Bound

by Diversity | pg 8

Earthquakes: Are We Hearing the Message?

By Shaykh Saalih al-Hamraani

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

return to their Lord and their Creator.

The Truthful, the Chosen one (asSaadiq al-Mustafa), sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, has informed us that a multitude of earthquakes is a sign of the proximity of the Hour. He informed us that they would be many at the end of the time.

Ahmad relates in a hadeeth narrated

by Abu Hurairah, radhiallahu `anhu, >> MESSAGE Pg 18

Pandith Discusses Challenges at State Department | pg 5

WORLD PRESS: Cost of US Wars Anyone’s Guess | pg 14 ISLAM: What is After Ramadan | pg 16 The Muslim Link

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INDEX

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Is Your Child a Ramadhan Super Hero?

If your child is nine years old or younger and fasted all or part of the month of Ramadhan, the Muslim Link would like to recognize them. Our annual picture spread recognizing fasting children in Maryland, Virginia, and DC will be printed in the September 23, 2011 issue, insha’Allah.

To recognize your Ramadhan Super Star, fill in the online form at www.muslimlinkpaper.com/fastingkids. For questions call 301-982-1020.

The DEADLINE for submissions is MONDAY, September 12, 2011.

It is reported that Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The young child’s good deeds will be recorded but his bad deeds will not be recorded.”

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August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News Fed’s “Secure Communities” Leading to Insecure Residents

By Fatimah Waseem

Muslim Link Staff Writer On April 20, 2010, police officers arrested a Latino woman in Maryland for selling a $2.00 phone card at the request of an undercover police officer. Though the criminal charges were dropped, the woman, a mother of two U.S. citizen children, was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and was placed into deportation hearings hundreds of miles away from her family.

This woman’s disturbing story is one example of a long-line of disturbing tales of racial profiling, unjustified arrests, lack of transparency, and deportations emerging throughout the nation as a result of the federal government highly controversial deportation program, Secure-Communities (S-Comm) - a program Tuesday, August 16, 2011’s national report by National Community Advisory Commission (NCAC), a coalition of over 21 organizations, hopes to terminate.

Lawyers, advocates, federal and local

officials provided detailed statements on the heavily scrutinized deportation program, urging for the immediate termination of a program they say is doing the exact opposite of what the program’s name suggest.

S-Comm, launched in 2008 by the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), puts federal enforcement powers in the hands of local law enforcement agencies. Upon arresting someone, local police can submit fingerprints to the FBI, which are automatically checked against immigration databases. If ICE determines the individual is deportable, local enforcement officers can detain the person indefinitely to any detention facility in the US and, in many cases, deport them.

“This is not just about the Latino community,” Nadia Tanova, director of the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) told The Muslim Link, “Its an immigration program that affects every immigrant community - be it Arab, Muslim, Italian or Irish.”

ICE initially presented S-Comm as a

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voluntary program. But when states and localities began to push back, citing concerns about S-Comm’s deleterious effects on community policing, risks of racial profiling, burden on cash-strapped communities, and failure to stick to its stated target of deporting dangerous criminals, ICE declared the program would be mandatory.

Now - given the lack of stretching space for direct refusal - NCAC is watching the situation closer than ever before.

“S-Comm turn[s] every police encounter into a potential referral to federal immigration authorities and the risk of deportation,” the 60-age report said, “As a result, immigrant communities are increasingly afraid to report crimes or serve as witnesses for prosecutions.”

This, former LA chief of police William J. Bratton said, hampers the government’s ability to uphold public safety. “We can’t solve crimes that aren’t reported because the victims are afraid to come forward to the police,” he said.

In addition to diminishing trust between

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“[S-Comm] creates an incentive for law enforcement to conduct pretextual stops, book individuals in jail rather than issue tickets simply in order to check their immigration status,” the Rights Working Group, a DC-based group working to restore protect civil liberties and human rights for all people in the U.S., said.

The concerns beyond the moments of arrest are even more daunting, civil rights groups say. “By increasingly utilizing the criminal justice system to identity people for deportation, ICE exacerbates the problems of a system that criminalizes and excessively punishes marginal populations,” the report said.

Research indicates racial profiling against immigrant detainees is prominent in jail cells.

For Linda Sarsour, NNAAC ‘s Advocacy >> SECURE Pg 9

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August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

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|5

Pandith Discusses Challenges at State Department

By Fatimah Waseem

Muslim Link Staff Writer T h e S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t ’s S p e c i a l Representative to Muslim Communities, Farah Pandith, held the first in a series of interactive web interviews on the United States’ relationships with Muslim communities around the world, Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

In the 40-minute interview, Pandith emphasized the importance of Muslim community engagement and offered a brief window into the challenges of the State Department’s global approach in engaging the global Muslim community.

“Government-to-government action is not enough,” Pandith, the nation’s first ever special representative to Muslim communities, said while explaining her work in the beginning of the interview, “We need people-to-people engagement.”

The Kashmiri-born official – appointed June 2009 in the shadow of President Obama’s famous Cairo speech on building partnerships with Muslims – visited over 45 countries in the past two years where she works with embassies to build new initiatives, open dialogue, encourage citizen diplomacy, and connect community development ideas from around the world. Pandith reports directly to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Muslim youth under the age of 30 are at the epicenter of the State Department’s mission. Pandith office is working hard to harness the power of what she calls a “youthquake” of ideas and passion to develop communities around the world.

Pandith has been shocked by the local, but strong tremors of this ‘youthquake’, particularly in a small village in Nawakchot, Mauritania where she met

a young man who began an after-school tennis program on a shoe-string budget after realizing that children had nothing to do afterschool.

Its these kinds of grassroots community development ideas, we’re advocating, Pandith said.

But harnessing the power of these ideas has raised many difficult questions.

Muslims irked by the media’s spotlight focus on the Middle East ask “Why are we being discussed as one big monolith?

Every Libya is not a Jordan!” Non-middle eastern Muslims - who compose more than the Middle East population - ask, “Why are we being ignored?” Youth doubtful of America’s foreign policies ask “How can you explain America’s foreign policies in Iraq, in Palestine?”

Citing examples of these questionable

foreign policies, TML asked Pandith how she addresses such well-justified concerns. Pandith declined a response to the twice-asked question.When asked why the State Department was shying away from countries where US interests don’t lie, Pandith left it at “Issues of foreign policy are very complex. We’re not shying away.” She cited many examples of how the State Department has delivered words on places like Kashmir, but did not provide any examples of specific actions.

However, where Pandith was vague and only scratched the surface on some questions, Pandith was very open on giving her perspective on ‘Islamophobia’ inside and outside the US. “Education is at the heart of building >> PANDITH Pg 10

MAS Celebrated for Inspiring Changes in Local Youth Hiba Akhtar

Muslim Link Staff Writer

develop myself, both academically and Islamically.”

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the relationships and feeling of community that I developed through this organization,” said Ismail Nicolas to a roomful of attendees of the Muslim American Society’s annual fundraising dinner, held Friday August 12, 2011 at the Germantown Community Center in Germantown, Md. “MAS helped me truly

It is this young, pioneering spirit which captures the essence of the Muslim American Society. The organization, described on its website as one that “uplifts the individual, family, and society,” dedicates many of its programs to the development of Muslim youth.

Some of the event’s younger attendees are members of the Girl and Boy Scouts

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troops headed by MAS volunteers, and many of the college students and young professionals at the event also took part in this year’s annual MAS Youth Retreat.

Nicolas, a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, takes part in the MAS Youth Usrah, in which young people form groups led by a trained mentor to help explore and develop their faith, learning how to implement Islam into their daily lives.

Event speaker Ali Darwish, who leads the MAS Taraweeh prayers at the Hampton Inn in Germantown, Md., emphasized with urgency the importance of dedicating time and energy to the development of young Muslim Americans. “We are shooting ourselves in the foot if not working with the youth,” said Darwish, before explaining the results of a recent >> MAS 12

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

First Ever Youth Summer Khutbah Series Begins On High Note

By Fatimah Waseem

Muslim Link Staff Writer It’s Jumuah. The Khatib stands in the front of the masjid, faces a room packed with community members, and begins, “Innanahmaduhu wanastaa’eenuhu…”

Its a scene commonly witnessed at masjids all across the area. But a masjid in Sterling, Virginia is taking its Friday Khutbas to a whole new level.

The masjid, ADAMS center, launched a summer khutbah series geared especially towards Muslim youth. Though attended by the people of all ages, the series, which runs from mid-July to early September, features simple, relatable topics catered directly to high schoolers. Each khutba offers practical advice - even something as simple as “take 30 minutes this weekend away from your computer and think about this.” Instead of using using age-old historical examples of Ulema, companions, and Prophets, Khatibs focusing on contemporary examples.

Topics range from tips on gender relations

to lessons from active American Muslims to taking advantage of this blessed month.

“Summertime is when inordinant amounts of youth come to the masjid. Its a prime opportunity to connect with them, to cultivate a strong Muslim identity,” Shad Imam said, “So why not take advantage of the prime-time stage Jumuah offers?”

Imam serves on ADAMs board of trustees and is the chairperson of ADAMS Qurtuba Institute for Islamic Education.

Organizers, who asked to remain anonymous, mulled over the project for several months. When scheduling restrictions allowed, they brought it to the board’s attention, thinking the administration would be the biggest challenge. However, the administration has been an all-green go.

The program, which began as a one Jummah event, has since gone the extra mile by expanding into an 8-week program. Within the first few sessions, a satellite Jummuah location in Ashburn,

Virginia said, “We want this series here.”

More locations followed suit. However, due limited resources, Ashburn and ADAMs are the only locations that give the much-needed series a microphone.

Nonetheless, the community has given the series an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“The youth are really appreciative that we’re tackling issues that are not always addressed,” Imam said. ADAMS uses feedback cards and evaluation forms submitted by the community to assess the khutbahs.

What has really hit home is the translation of Arabic verses, duaas, and hadith into English. Khatibs follow every Arabic phrase of the sermon’s introductory duaas with an English translation, leaving left youth like Aqsa Mirza with a newfound understanding of duaas speedily said and rarely understood.

“It allows many people, including myself, to really see what they are asking God for, deepen[ing] the meaning of what is being said,” the ADAMS Young Adults

program’s member said.

But hitting all the right notes in these khutbahs is difficult.

The biggest challenge is striking a chord with both the youth and the adult audience. “70% of the community is still adult. They’re working professionals, immigrants, mothers and fathers, so we cannot be so youth-centered that we lose them,” Imam said.

Organizers work hard to urge khatibs to maintain this fine balance, a process that they say is like “an art.” Facebook examples are carefully counterbalanced with family-life examples. A sports reference is counterbalanced with a workenvironment reference. The topics also serve as wide umbrellas, covering broad topics relatable to all ages.

Community members are also concerned that khatibs need to be more ‘seasoned,’ citing worries that khatibs sometimes >> KHUTBAH Pg 10

More Food, Less Thought at BCMC Political Iftar

By Fatimah Waseem

Muslim Link Staff Writer The scene at the Islamic Society of Baltimore’s iftar on Sunday, August 21, 2011 was like any other community iftaar.

Brothers and sisters sat on long white strips of cloth laid out at the far ends of the gymnasium’s floor, while the loud buzz of conversation floated in the air as children playfully zoomed across the hall.

However, it was not an ordinary evening.

And the guests certainly were not.

A motley of an estimated thirty county council members, delegates, professors, Jewish activists, and active community advocates, they sat to attend the Baltimore County Muslim’s Council’s (BCMC) ‘Ramadan Open House’ - one of the areas many community iftaars where political representatives and non

Muslim community members are invited to experience the Ramadan masjid community.

And, for some, the BCMC iftar was nothing more than just that: one of many similar community ‘political meet-andgreet iftar events.’

BCMC is a non-profit organization that began in 2002 and has since promoted Muslim involvement in Baltimore County, while advancing Muslim interests. It one of eight autonomous county councils that are a part of the Maryland Muslim Council (MDMC).

The event - reportedly one of BCMC’s firsts - set to begin at 6.30 pm, began one hour late. The program was light, beginning with a recitation of the verses of the Quran, followed by a short welcome speech by BCMC’s secretary. Then Dr.

Patel, prominent community member, came to the stage to explain the spirit, the significance, and the benefits of this blessed month.

However, recognizing the waning level of interest, Patel’s speech took an unexpected turn. He began to describe an incident where a Muslim husband sent his wife an apology email; however, the email accidentally went to a Muslim widow who had just returned from her husband’s funeral. “She read the email which began ‘I know you didn’t expect to hear from me...’,” Patel said as the audience erupted into laughter.

of guests to the stage one-by-one and briefly summarize the organization they represented. As each non-Muslim took the microphone, they thanked BCMC for inviting them, saying it was ‘an honor to be here.’ They did not deliver remarks on inter-faith dialogue, the importance of Muslim political involvement in the county, and walked off the stage.

This lighthearted laughter and the presence of notable officials kept an event that was otherwise ordinary going.

For one attendee, who asked to remain anonymous, these brief comments were a missed opportunity in a room full of people who could have been asked to provide comments on opening up dialogue with the community. “BCMC is an organization that encourages Muslim political involvement and the advancement of our interests,” the attendee said, “This was a missed opportunity.”

The program split over to after Maghrib.

BCMC organizers called on a handful

>> IFTAR Pg 9

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS

|7

Zoyasani Event Attracts 2,000 for Pre-Eid Shopping

By Hiba Akhtar

as close as possible to the beginning of the last ten nights,” said Assadullah, who said the venue was available on the traditional night before Eid, “because I wanted people to find what they needed for Eid now, and be able to spend the last ten nights focusing on worshipping Allah and making the most of the end of Ramadan.”

Muslim Link Staff Writer Ayesha Assadullah’s goals for her event company Zoyasani amount to so much more than just holding bazaar-style events, such as the Zoyasani Eid Shopping/ Iftar event held this past Sunday at the Ernst Community Cultural Center at the Annandale campus of NOVA Community College.

She strives to mold Zoyasani into an Islam-friendly brand, in which Muslim women can not only feel comfortable enough to socialize and shop in a men-free environment, but can remain in touch with their Islam while at it.

This is a unique goal, because it is no secret that the excitement of the bazaar setting can often bring out the worst in shoppers. That is why it seems almost counterproductive to her aims that

ome of the traditional outfits for sale at the August 21 Zoyasani event. Photo

by Nadiya El-Khatib Assadullah chose to hold the all-day event not only during Ramadan, but just before the holy month’s last ten nights. But she remained close to her aims, ensuring that the event culminated in a group iftar and even arranging for Ayesha Malik,

a graduate of an alima program and teacher at the prestigious Darul Uloom al Madania in Buffalo, NY, to give a khatira just after Maghrib.

“I honestly wanted to have the event

And this goal seemed to have resonated for patrons of the event. About 2,000 women made it out to Zoyasani’s Eid Shopping and Iftar event on Sunday, and many said that the unique timing was actually helpful, and perhaps even preferable, to the traditional ‘chand raat’ bazaars held the night before Eid. “I liked coming today instead of on ‘chand raat’ because it’s nice not to wait until the end of the month when we want to >> ZOYASANI Pg 10

ICNA Chapters Provide School Supplies to Needy Children

By Salman Sheikh

and Masjid Muhammad in DC.

Muslim Link Contributing Writer

This year three giveaways were scheduled in Virginia and two schedule in Maryland.

It is a fact that many kids come to the first week of school unprepared without any school supplies. And due to recent economically challenging times, buying school supplies and school bags for children can be a financial burden for many families.

Volunteers from ICNA Relief decided to help alleviate some of that burden by implementing a program called the Back-2-School Giveaway. The Back-2School Giveaway is a community event where free school bags filled with school supplies are given out to families in the community.

ICNA delivered thousands of such book bags to needy school children across the US. Photo courtesy of ICNA.

Being a good neighbor and serving those in need is an essential part of our faith.

These events also help promote a better understanding of the teachings of our faith. They also promote volunteerism, community service and interfaith work, something essential in times where Islam and Muslims are being many times portrayed negatively in the media.

regardless of race, religion or gender. We normally give one school bag per child present, and if no child is present, we give the parent one bag. This year we are giving out drawstring bags. They are cost effective, children love them, and they are in style. Each school bag contains supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, erasers, highlighters, and rulers. We do not include anything else (i.e., no brochures or fliers about ICNA Relief or about religious belief).

The program is for anyone and everyone,

The school giveaways are usually done

in financially challenged neighborhoods.

Our giveaway events are usually done at Mosques and Islamic Schools but we also have events at community centers, public schools, and businesses.

Last year was the pilot program for our school supply giveaway in Baltimore and Washington, DC through the ICNA-VA chapter of ICNA Relief, which includes the MD, DC and VA area. Since last Ramadan was our first time doing such an event in this area, we coordinated one event with Masjid-Al-Haqq in Baltimore

The Virginia giveaways took place on August 13 at ICCNOV in Woodbridge and the ICNA Center in Alexandria and on August 20th at the Badr Community Center of Dumfries. The Maryland giveaways are scheduled for August 27th at the Islamic Center of Salisbury and August 28th at Masjid Al-Muminoon in Baltimore, Insha’Allah. The website back2schoolgiveaway.com lists details of timings of giveaways in these and other cities around the country and also has video and photo content. You can also see ICNA’s photostreams at flickr. com/ICNA. With everybody busy with the usual activities of Ramadan, we had a challenging time recruiting the regular older volunteers to help with assembling supplies and distribution. Alhumdulillah, we found a source of great energy, numbers and enthusiasm in the >> ICNA Pg 12

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

In Puerto Rico, Diversity, Unity Bind Island’s Muslims

By Vanessa Rivera-Abusaker

Muslim Link Contributing Writer I am a Puerto Rican living in New York.

I relocated to New York on July 2, 2006 from San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. My town is in the mountains, North West of Puerto Rico. I learned about Islam for the first time when I was in the ninth grade, and I thought it was a very beautiful social movement. Later, I heard Muslims were guilty for the 9/11 terrorist attacks in my new home. That experience made me feel very prejudiced against this religion.

Then I met my husband to be in December of 2006. I expressed to him my bias. He didn’t condemn it, criticize or express any anger, on the other hand he remained calm, and went on to explain what was Islam. His character impressed me and started to make me curious about this misunderstood religion, therefore I started my own search about the truth on Islam.

We were married prior to my reversion to Islam for six months. During those six months I observed a very different kind of man. I was blessed to observe a man of honor and character who made the world stop when the time came for salah (Muslim prayer). He and his friends are men that would stop at nothing to please their Lord. I wanted to praise my Lord, also. I thought to myself if we die right now he goes to heaven and I go to hell.

We had declared shahada (Muslim declaration of faith) in the privacy of my home in the summer of 2007. After studying Islam for three years I decided

that I needed to say my shahada publicly and make a public commitment to being a permanent member of the Islamic congregation. So, last year, my 11-year old daughter and I declared our shahada at the mosque on 96 St in New York, New York. I researched a lot online about Islam and nowadays I attend classes regularly at the North Hudson Islamic Center in Union City, New Jersey.

This summer I decided to take my investigation to the field and learn about what brings Puerto Ricans that live on the island to Islam. Statistics show in 2007 there were about 5,000 Muslims living in Puerto Rico. Most of these Muslims were Palestinians who started arriving to Puerto Rico between 1958-1962, when many fled the country in response to Israeli takeovers of their land.

As a representative of Hablamos Islam Niños – a publishing firm focused on Islamic books for Spanish speaking and bilingual children – and armed with great expectations, curiosity, and the desire to learn more about my faith on my island, I embarked on a great adventure of learning about Islam in Puerto Rico.

My mission was not only to learn, but also to find children that could be recipient of the books donated by brothers and sisters through Hablamos Islam Niños.

The tough part was to find children in the mosques because apparently people travel some distance to go to the mosque in the West of Puerto Rico, so they leave the children at home during jumu’ah.

Top, the masjid in Hatillo. On left, Lebanese immigrant Najah Ismail who adopted Puerto Rico as his second home nine years ago sits with Inocencio Rivera, who reverted to Islam one year ago. Photos by the author.

A brother named Maruan, a Palestinian business man residing in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico and father of two, volunteered

>> DIVERSITY Pg 13

Imam Johari Appointed To D.C. Mayor’s Council August 22, 2011 PRESS RELEASE As salaamu alaikum.

On behalf of the Council of Muslim Organizations (CMO) of the greater Washington area I would like to congratulate Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray on his appointment of Imam Johari Abdul-Malik to the Mayor’s Interfaith Council of Washington DC. It has been estimated that there are almost 55,000 Muslims residing in the District

of Columbia and many more that work, pray, and visit the Nation’s Capitol.

The Council applauds Mayor Gray’s outreach to the Muslim community and we look forward to a productive working relationship with his administration.

Imam Johari is the current Treasurer and past President for The Council (CMO).

His leadership in the Muslim community has been a great blessing to us all.

We look forward to his service on the Mayor’s Council and hope to see a greater

involvement from the Muslim community in local government.

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik serves as the Outreach Director for the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Muslim Chaplain at Howard University Hospital, Associate Imam at the First Hijrah Islamic Center in northwest Washington, DC and is a board member of the Interfaith Conference (IFC) of Metropolitan Washington DC. He is also a founding board member of the Muslim Advocacy Commission

of Washington, DC. The Imam has previously served on the Interfaith Councils of Mayor Anthony Williams and Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Wassalamu Alaikum, Asma Hanif, Chairperson of CMO, Council Muslim Organizations (410) 466-8686 Director Muslimat Al-Nisaa Health & Shelter Organization www.mnisaa.org

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011 SECURE

>> continued from pg 4

and Civic Engagement Coordinator, the thirst of local law enforcement officers to trap individuals is especially ‘dangerous’ and is a breeding ground for unparalleled racial profiling. Especially for Muslims.

Given the political situation - what she calls a ‘hostile civic environment” Sarsour strongly believes S-Comm may be used as another way to vilify Muslims under the guise of national security.

Khalilah Gabran of the Muslim American Society Immigrant Justice Center, a group that profits legal services to low-income immigrants, confirmed her concern.

“Does a police officer reasonably assume

IFTAR

>> continued from pg 6

, APakistani citizen from Ashton, Maryland - who spoke on the condition of anonymity - also felt the event needed more pruning, citing lateness, the hampering noise the rest of the community brought because one hall was housing two separate events, and a lack of a professional program as some concerns. She attended the Musim Community Center’s similar iftaar which she felt was far more effective in opening inter-faith dialogue.

However, she appreciated BCMC’s effort and spirit in organizing event.

Dr. Hasan Jalisi, President of BCMC, welcomed the feedback his organization received with open arms. “As we continue

COMMUNITY NEWS

that a scarf on a woman’s head means she’s an illegal immigrant? Is a certain shade of skin color going to give you any idea about a potential felon?” she asked.

An example of this racial profiling occurred a few months back when a young Muslim woman in North Carolina was driving down I-95. A highway patrol signaled her to pull over. The officer alleged she was going over the speed limit - allegations the woman blatantly denied. He then asked her where she was born – a question clearly provoked by her religious attire. When she responded “Guam,” the officer asked for her papers.

The woman said she had none and swore she was a legal resident. However, the officer told her to get out of her car and detained the woman. When Department

these events, we will aim for a better turnout, a better quality of guests, and speakers,” he said.

The lack of political and inter-faith dialogue, however, was not just a concern for this iftaar. Lack of meaningful political involvement is a concern year-round, Jalisi said.

“If Muslims want to be considered as important players in American politics, we need to vote, we need to get people into paid government position” Jalisi said, citing concerns that voter registration patterns are at disappointing lows.

Comparing Muslim involvement in politics to an unpaid internship, Jalisi urged the community to promote itself to a paid job position. “At some point, we have to move beyond unpaid government positions to the more important, paid

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of Homeland Security officials arrived to investigate what appeared to be an immigration deportation case, the officer was embarrassed. Guam was in the United States. DHS had no jurisdiction here.

And, according to David Hernandez, S-Comm ought to have no jurisdiction anywhere.

“This dangerous program is reflective of the latest episode of detention expansion programs that began in the mid 1990s, were exacerbated by 9/11 where it is persistently argued, that national security is threatened by the very presence of immigrants,” he said.

The commission agrees. It is partnering with litigation officers to end this long

ones,” Jalisi said, “We are satisfied too easily. I’ve seen this for six years.”

Guests at Sunday’s dinner agreed.

“Muslims need to take events like these and continue to show the true face of Islam,” Abby Beytin, President of the Teacher’s Association of Baltimore County, said. “Bigotry is out there. Its the Muslims responsibility to come out, get involved, and show what they’re really about.”

County councilwoman Vicki Almond also encouraged Muslims to get involved.

“Though some elections are in a few years, Muslims can get involved by writing to their elected representatives, by coming to hearings,” she said.

But whatever concerns the BCMC iftaar sprouted - whether political or organizational - were wiped away during the prayer when a non-Muslim professor wearing a knee-length skirt, a half-sleeved blouse, and bare crown of hair stood side-by-side with the Muslim women to

history of ineffective immigration programs that conflict with the founding ideals of a melting pot nation.

“That such a program should be the showcase policy of an Administration that presents itself as a champion of immigration reform is betrayal,” the report said, “Multiplying the force of misguided policy and unjust laws is not reform – it’s a step backwards.”

The Commission hopes that S-Comm’s termination will lead to the preservation of secure communities.

To view the full report, visit http:// altopolimigra.com/s-comm-shadowreport.

pray. Struck by the gesture, the women approached her. She looked at me and said, “You know, whatever happens in the day, with whoever it may be, I’m here to put my heart to God,” the College of Notredam professor said.

She pointed to the names of Allah that lined the masjid’s walls, as if to say that simply seeing these names is valuable, and said, “These are the experiences that I am grateful for.”

BCMC will hold elections in the upcoming year and plans to take on the issue of school holidays, build partnerships with candidates running for governor to advance, and encourage voter registration among Muslims - many goals of which were on the non-profit volunteer organization’s to-do-list last year.

“There’s a lot of talk,” a BCMC organizer said, “But little action.”

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10 |COMMUNITY NEWS PANDITH

>> continued from pg 5

understanding of Islam and Muslims,” she said, “But it is not a one way street. Its not just about non-Muslims learning about Muslims. Its about Muslims too.”

In all her travels, Pandith observed that many Muslims have not taken the time to learn about a faith other than Islam - a fact she says there is no excuse for given KHUTBAH

>> continued from pg 6

mispronounce Arabic words and fail to use universal references. Khatibs are selected through a review of past performances in ADAM’s youth programs.

Most are strikingly similar to the audience they speak to serve: Muslims youth born in the US. Despite these challenges, ADAMs will continue the Khutbah series on days when

ZOYASANI

>> continued from pg 7

spend time focusing on Allah. Also, just before Eid, there are so many things to prepare, like cooking food and cleaning the house,” said Suhaila Monis, who came to the event to find her daughter Hamna a new Eid outfit.

Monis, who was successful in her search, said she no longer has to worry about Eid clothes, and is relieved to not have to disrupt the final days of the holy month in sifting through the racks at the more chaotic bazaars.

This Zoyasani bazaar was the first after the company’s inaugural event, held in March at the Islamic Center of Northern Virginia in Fairfax. The overwhelming turnout for that event helped Assadullah realize that she needed more space in the future. This year’s bazaar setting allowed for more space.

Shopper Nadya Kuraishi attended both events and said she prefers the Zoyasani events to other ones. “I think the most attractive thing about these events is that

the profound abilities of 2011 handheld devices.

She hopes to Muslim community will help create a planet where building networks [of understanding] will make a difference about how we think about each other.

“We can’t do this without ¼ of humanity,” she said, concluding an interview that left many questions unanswered and many answered questions vaguely explored. most students are on breaks from school.

Summer may be winding down, but this series is here to stay.

Imam hopes that the youth will stay too.

“We don’t want this to be a one-day-aweek thing,” he said, “We want the youth to come back to the masjid and participate in our masjids.”

He urges other masajid and khutbah training programs to follow in ADAMs footsteps.

there is more of a variety of things to shop for than the traditional south Asian-geared bazaars before Eid. It’s also nice to shop without having any men around. It’s less of a hassle and my husband is not here to keep telling me ‘lets go,’” she added with a laugh.

Assadullah is excited and grateful at the reaction that she has received from patrons and vendors at her Zoyasani events. The dream of owning an event company like this one is very personal to Assadullah. She even named Zoyasani after the childhood name she and her sisters would use when playing ‘House’ and ‘School.’ “We would say ‘okay, you are Ms. Zoyasani,’ she said, chuckling.

Feedback from patrons of Zoyasani have helped Assadullah realize that she can use her brand to answer to many other needs of women in the American Muslim community. “Insha Allah, I hope to somehow add a matrimonial service to the Zoyasani brand and maybe even be able to work with Muslim vendors overseas,” she said. Assadullah is also branching out with her brand in the United States, and said she plans to hold the next event in New York.

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12 |COMMUNITY NEWS MAS

>> continued from pg 5

ISNA study on young Muslims in America, that only about 1% of second generation Muslims identify themselves as Muslims.

Darwish attributed this shocking statistic to the lack of a strong, established Muslim home base in the United States, citing the lack of regular, full-time Imams and Muslim university chaplains as evidence of this idea.

For MAS-MD president Marwan Oweis, dedicating time to the sound development of Muslim youth is a goal with deeply personal roots. “I became involved with MAS because, when I was young, a couple MAS brothers asked me to play basketball with them. They saw that I was in need of a little help, and they asked me to play ball.”

That was all it took for Oweis, whose involvement with the organization began with that invitation. “We’re not here tonight because of a diagram, or formula

[for success.] We’re here because of the impact on our lives from MAS. MAS gives us something that is rare and influential in our lives,” he said.

Another attendee, “Sister Marwa” who is a leader for a local Girl Scout Troop consisting of Muslim girls in elementary school, said that MAS, through its commitment to upholding Islamic values such as community service, dawah, and helping the public, truly affects the lives of her Girl Scouts, one of which is her young daughter Mariam.

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“Girl Scouts has a code of conduct which is similar to the Muslim code of conduct.

The values taught through Girl Scouts are similar to the ones practiced and taught by the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam). We try to incorporate Islam into our activities, such as by opening meetings with Surah Fatiha, and closing them with Sura Asr. I can really see the impact of it on the girls. I see it in my daughter,” said Marwa.

And it is clear that the efforts of MAS are working. Abdul Saboor Khan, a University of Maryland graduate and medical school student, said that the most wonderful thing about the organization is that it is one which uniquely places emphasis on spiritual development and enhancing one’s character and Iman. “MAS really helped me strengthen my desire to seek out more knowledge about Islam, to self-reflect and look into which aspects of my life need improvement.”

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>> continued from pg 7

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This year Insha’Allah, ICNA relief will be serving 15,000 children in 45 cities in the following states: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

The number of attendees varies depending on the community, sometimes we get a few hundred and sometimes we get a few thousand attendees.

The total cost for this year’s program at $20 per school supply package will come to $300,000. Currently ICNA relief receives no grant money, so all the funds are generated through donations from American Muslim donors. We also raise funds through local sponsors such as other nonprofit organizations and businesses.

ICNA Relief is the social services branch of the Islamic Circle of North America, a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of Islamic values. ICNA Relief’s projects include women’s housing, hunger prevention, family counseling, medical aid, emergency financial support and funeral and burial assistance. For more information on ICNA Relief please visit ICNArelief.org

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

COMMUNITY NEWS | 13

Montgomer y County Muslims Highlight Giving Back

By Hiba Akhtar

Muslim Link Staff Writer The Montgomery County Muslim Council and Montgomery County Muslim Foundation held their fourth annual joint Iftar celebration on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at the County Executive Building Cafeteria in Rockville, Md. This year’s event was unlike any other, according to MCMC officials. Not only did the attendance of about 400 guests vastly exceed expectations for the weeknight event, but, for the first time, the iftar was also attended by representatives from the county, state and federal levels of government.

One such representative was Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD), who represents Maryland’s 4th District, made up of parts of both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. In her address

DIVERSITY

>> continued from pg 8

to distribute the books, as he has friends who are raising their children of Palestinian descent in Puerto Rico and who also know Puerto Rican convert families.

My visit to the mosque in Hatillo, Puerto Rico was very pleasant because I met some of the warmest members of the Islamic community in Puerto Rico. This center is located at the intersection of Hwy 22 and Hwy 2 in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. I was able to interact with the community there and listen to some of the most wonderful stories of reversion to Islam. I met Brother Inocencio Rivera who reverted to Islam one year ago. “As a teacher in Berkeley, Boston I became interested in the history of the Arabic culture, and our heritage as Moor’s descendants that inhabited Spain for more than 700 years,” he said.

The most outstanding trait of Islam is the variety of cultures that come together as one ummah, sitting next to Brother Inocencio was Brother Najah Ismaili from Lebanon who has been living on the island for nine years. Afterwards,

to the crowd, Edwards recalled one of her most memorable experiences with Islam: waking up in Turkey and Saudi Arabia and feeling awash with peace when hearing the morning call to prayer.

She also explained that the openness of the community has helped her understand the range of issues that face Muslims during her time in office, and praised the Muslims in Maryland for their unity and commitment to serving the needs of their communities.

in Pakistan and Hurricane Katrina by designing and creating her own greeting cards. So far, Ali’s initiative has been successful in raising over $26,000 for victims of these natural disasters. Upon receiving her award, Ali shared the verse from the Qur’an which served as her motivation: “And whatever good you spend or whatever vow you make, be sure Allah knows it all. And for the wrongdoers, there are no helpers.” (2:270)

Evidence of this claim was demonstrated during the portion of the evening dedicated to recognizing those who have made contributions to Montgomery County through community service. This year, two of the acknowledged guests were young students.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County sophomore Omar Bukhari was also recognized at the iftar for having biked over 4,000 across the United States to raise money for cancer with the group 4K For Cancer. Bukhari’s group collectively raised over $500,000 towards their cause, with Bukhari himself raising over $4,500.

Saaniya Ali, 15, was recognized for raising money for victims of the floods

It is the achievements and dedication to such causes demonstrated by younger

I had the opportunity to meet Sheikh Ismail, the Imam. I was very impressed with his command of Spanish. “I lived in Venezuela for many years before relocating to Puerto Rico,” said Sheikh Ismail, who delivers the khutbah in Arabic and Spanish. I asked him what was his impression of Islam in Puerto Rico. The sheikh explained: “The muslim community in Puerto Rico is dispersed, I travel from Aguada to Hatillo, to come serve at this mosque, this is the closest to my town. The community of Muslims in Puerto Rico is mostly composed of Palestinians but there are more Puerto Rican reverts in the mosques in Montehiedra and Vega Alta. There are between twelve to fifteen active members that come to jumu’ah every Friday, to this mosque. With the help of our ummah we recently finished this mosque as you can see it is newly built. The members of this mosque are mostly from Palestine and Lebanon, but there are also some Puerto Rican reverts that attend this mosque.”

My husband Ammar Rios reverted to Islam five years ago. My husband learned about Islam through friends and clients from his job as a chauffeur. He came into Islam and two years later, I decided to accept Islam as my faith. Soon afterwards my sons and daughter ages 27, 26, 22 and 20 decided to adopt Islam as their way of life. It has been a little bit difficult for my parents to accept my reversion but I am glad that my sisters accept me and support me in my decision.” I questioned Sister Laila about her experience as a hijab wearing sister in the North West of Puerto Rico; in this part of the island people can be very traditional and attached to their Latino identity. Sister Laila said with a smile: “People are very respectful around here with us. I always wear my hijab, I go shopping, I go everywhere and nobody ever disrespects me. They know me already.” Being such a small population in Hatillo I wanted to find out more about what Islamic classes were being offered at the Islamic Center in Hatillo. Sister Laila kindly answered: “Our mosque has a partnership with the mosque of Montehiedra, their Sheikh, is very knowledgeable, Masha’Allah, and he comes every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. to offer Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Quran

In the women’s room I met a wonderful sister, who was so helpful as to candidly share her story of reversion with me: Sister Laila Castro said: “I reverted to Islam three years ago. I am from Lares.

members of Montgomery County’s Muslim community which serves as inspiration for the MCMC and MCMF, said MCMC board member Irma Hafeez.

“Much of the older generation were unable to really give back to their communities,” said Hafeez. “Many of us are firstgeneration Americans. We moved here and had to adjust to a new setting and way of life. Now, our kids, who were born and raised here, are demonstrating Islam in their everyday lives. They’re trying to make a difference in the world. They truly are our hope for the future,” she said.

And it seems as though the efforts of such Muslims are making their mark in Montgomery County. In his address,

>> GIVING Pg 21

classes.”

Islam in Puerto Rico is growing just like in any other part of the world, even though there is still a long way to go, there is need for more instruction about what is Islam, and there is still a big part of the population that thinks that we believe in another god -- the god of the moon.

Thanks to Allah there are people like Inocencio Rivera and Laila Castro and her family who come to Islam regardless of common misconceptions. They study and open their minds and hearts to another way of thinking, and to the clean lifestyle which is Islam.

Prior to the year 2000 most of the Muslims would only worship in the mosque in Rio Piedras, closest to the capital San Juan.

Currently, however, there are masajid in Vega Alta (the biggest one has room for 1200 brothers and 120 sisters), Ponce, Montehiedra, Rio Piedras, Jayuya, Hatillo, Fajardo and Aguadilla. Many Puerto Ricans are attracted to Islam due to curiosity about our Arabic heritage, or due to meeting a Muslim with great character, marking the importance of setting a good example for all of those around us.

14 | WORLD PRESS

World Press

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

The East Africa Crisis Nada Shawish

Islamic Relief USA In the last three months, drought has escalated to famine in East Africa.

Crops and livestock are dying, and very little food is left to buy. Whatever food is available is too expensive for most families. More than 13 million people are suffering in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia from malnutrition and dehydration. The Islamic Relief family is collectively responding to the situation through the Islamic Relief offices in East Africa.

Islamic Relief offices have been giving emergency assistance to the victims of the drought all summer, distributing food, improving access to water, and facilitating health and nutrition services to people.

So many Somali children have died in the past three months – nearly 30,000. Islamic Relief’s emergency efforts have focused on helping children in the region because they are the most vulnerable group.

“Mogadishu is also officially declared to have catastrophic famine conditions,” IRUSA’s VP of programs, Adnan Ansari, writes from Somalia. “With the majority

of the children being malnourished, the ribs on every child’s chest can be counted. Smiles are rare; sighs and wails are commonly heard. People looked at us without any expectation. It seems as though people know that they will have to survive on their own or welcome death early as the only way out.”

Droughts are a recurring problem in East Africa, but the drought of 2011 has been the driest year in 60 years. Hundreds of thousands of people have left their homes to find help. Reports say that people have walked over one-hundred miles to reach refugee camps where humanitarian aid is often located. Many have not survived these trips. Because of the long distance that people must walk to reach aid, people have traded their household items, farming equipment and remaining livestock for transportation.

IRW relief worker, Hassan Liban, told IRUSA that people are arriving to the already overpopulated camps without any clothes.

“Women and children are arriving into towns and camps naked – they have sold off their clothes and shoes – embarrassed

A picture taken by Islamic Relief USA at one of the refugee camps in East Africa. and vulnerable. Children are naked and barefooted…children are dying on their way to the camps” he said. As conditions continue to worsen, the international community is preparing itself for a much higher death toll in the coming months.

giving food, water, medicine, protein supplements for children, emergency seed packs, and nutrition and healthcare for livestock. Islamic Relief’s response to the East Africa crisis will eventually help over 449,000 people.

Islamic Relief USA is now supporting some of the distributions in East Africa, and soon, IRUSA plans to expand their efforts to include more areas in need,

By early August, Islamic Relief’s East >> EAST AFRICA Pg 22

True Cost of Afghan, Iraq Wars is Anyone’s Guess

By NANCY A. YOUSSEF McClatchy Newspapers

August 16, 2011 “Miami Herald” -- When congressional cost-cutters meet later this year to decide on trimming the federal budget, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq could represent juicy targets. But how much do the wars actually cost the U.S. taxpayer?

Nobody really knows.

Yes, Congress has allotted $1.3 trillion for war spending through fiscal year 2011 just to the Defense Department. There are long Pentagon spreadsheets that outline

how much of that was spent on personnel, transportation, fuel and other costs. In a recent speech, President Barack Obama assigned the wars a $1 trillion price tag.

But all those numbers are incomplete.

Besides what Congress appropriated, the Pentagon spent an additional unknown amount from its $5.2 trillion base budget over that same period. According to a recent Brown University study, the wars and their ripple effects have cost the United States $3.7 trillion, or more than $12,000 per American.

Lawmakers remain sharply divided over the wisdom of slashing the military

budget, even with the United States winding down two long conflicts, but there’s also a more fundamental problem: It’s almost impossible to pin down just what the U.S. military spends on war.

To be sure, the costs are staggering.

According to Defense Department figures, by the end of April the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - including everything from personnel and equipment to training Iraqi and Afghan security forces and deploying intelligence-gathering drones - had cost an average of $9.7 billion a month, with about two-thirds going to Afghanistan.

That total is roughly the entire annual

budget for the Environmental Protection Agency.

To compare, it would take the State Department - with its annual budget of $27.4 billion - more than four months to spend that amount. NASA could have launched its final shuttle mission in July, which cost $1.5 billion, six times for what the Pentagon is allotted to spend each month in those two wars.

What about Medicare Part D, President George W. Bush’s 2003 expansion of >> GUESS Pg 22

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16 | ISLAM

Islam

Renewing Your Faith

By Sheikh Salih Al-Mughamisi

been for Allāh guiding us.

Faith is the most precious of possessions.

It is the greatest gift. Allāh has made it the distinction of those who are destined for Paradise.

We should take care of this most valuable gift. We must safeguard it. We must not let it deteriorate or fall into peril. How do we do this?

Allāh says: “Are those who believe like those who are iniquitous? They are not the same.” [Sūrah as-Sajdah: 18]

It is well-known that faith increases and decreases. Faith increases most effectively through the performance of good deeds.

We must value the gift of faith. Allāh withheld the gift of faith from some of the closest relatives of His Messengers, like Abraham’s father and one of Noah’s sons. They were so close to those noble Prophets, but they were not blessed to have faith. Be thankful that Allāh has bestowed this blessing on you. We must praise Him for giving us this gift. We would not have been guided had it not

Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu anhu) relates the following: Once when the Prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam was sitting with his Companions, he asked: “Who among you started his day fasting?”

Abū Bakr (radiyallāhu anhu) said: “I am fasting.” Then the Prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam asked: “Who among you has visited the sick?” Abū Bakr

(radiyallāhu anhu) said: “I have.” Then the Prophet asked: “Who among you gave food to the poor?” Abū Bakr (radiyallāhu anhu) who answered: “I have.” The Prophet then asked: “Who attended a funeral procession today?” Abū Bakr (radiyallāhu anhu) again replied in the affirmative. At this point, the Prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said: “These deeds do not come together in a single person except that the person is admitted into Paradise.” [Sahīh Muslim] Consider how Abū Bakr (radiyallāhu anhu) engaged in all of these good deeds in a single day. We should not be surprised to know that, on another occasion, the Prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said about Abū Bakr (radiyallāhu anhu): “Abū Bakr’s (radiyallāhu anhu) faith weighs as much as the faith of the rest of my

followers put together.”

In order to renew your faith and increase it, read the Qur’ān. Put your mind into it, and think carefully about what you are reading. There is no better way to remember Allāh or beseech His favor than by using His own words.

Also, read the stories of the Prophets to learn about the exemplary lives of those who possessed the greatest faith of all.

We can see how Ibrāhīm (`alayhis-salām) was willing to sacrifice his own son for the love of Allāh, how he was willing to let Nimrod cast him into a bonfire, and how he gave hospitality to his guests.

His heart was sincere in everything that >> FAITH Pg 18

What’s After Ramadan ?

By Dr. Main Khalid Al-Qudah Association of Muslim Jurists of America

Yesterday, Muslims were waiting for Ramadan, however, today they are saying goodbye to it, as if this month were moments long. And as this month passed quickly, life does, and so people die and move to the hereafter.

The end of Ramadan reminds us with the closeness of death. The end of Ramadan reminds us with the saying of the prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam, “Live in this world like a stranger or a bye-passer”. Ibn Omar used to say, “If you wake up, don’t wait for the evening, and if you reach the evening, don’t wait for the morning. Take advantage of your good health and your life”. The end of Ramadan reminds us with the saying of Nooh Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam, who lived more than thousand

years. When death came to him, he was asked about life, he said, “My example with life is just like a person enters a house that has two doors, he enters from one, and gets out from the other”. The prophet Muhammad Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam also said, “My example in this life is just like a traveler who takes shelter under a tree and then leaves it and goes”.

While saying goodbye to Ramadan, each one of us should ask himself these questions: What have I gained from this month? Have I passed the test? Do I deserve to get the diploma of taqwa?

Whoever finds goodness then let him praise Allah Subhanahu watta’la and whoever finds something else let him work hard to reform himself and seek the help from Allah.

What is there after Ramadan? Do the

lessons of Ramadan end with it, or continue after it? To answer this question, we shall briefly go over these lessons: 1. Fasting: we’ve learned from fasting how to soften our souls and break their desires and performing the concept of Uboodiyah to Allah alone. The prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam encouraged us to continue fasting six days during the month of Shawwal when he said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and he follows it with six days of Shawwal as if he fast the whole year”. It was the tradition of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam to fast Mondays, Thursdays, three days of each lunar moth, the day of Arafah, Ashourah and most of Sha’ban and Muharram.

2. Praying Taraweeh: Praying at night was the habit of the Prophet Salallahu

‘alyhi wa sallam all his life, and he used to encourage his followers to do so. He Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said, “Do qiyam-ul-lail, the night prayer; it used to be the good deeds of the pious people before you. It draws you closer to your Lord, it causes your sins to be forgiven, and it causes you to avoid doing bad deeds”. Allah Subhanahu watta’la describes his pious servants that “they used to sleep a little at night” in Surat Al-Sajdah.

3. The recitation of the Quran: You must not stop reading the Quran after Ramadan, otherwise you’ll be among those whom the prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam described as Allah says, “And the messenger said, ‘O my Lord! >> RAMADAN Pg 18

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18 | ISLAM FAITH

>> continued from pg 16

he did and he always turned penitently to his Lord. Because of this, he earned the epithet “Friend of Allāh.”

RAMADAN

>> continued from pg 16

Verily my people have deserted this Quran. And remember the advice of the ProphetSalallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam when he said, “Read the Quran repeatedly, for the reason that it is easier to be released from the chests of men than the camel from its leash”. So open your heart to the orders and advices of Allah, and make sure that your wife and children learn how to read correctly the book of Allah.

4. Charity: Allah Subhanahu watta’la

“And Allāh took Abraham as a friend.”

[Sūrah al-Nisā’: 125] When we read about the lives of the Prophets and contemplate on the lessons that their lives teach us, it increases our faith and bolsters our conviction.

Consider when Allāh says: “They are the ones whom Allāh guided, so follow their says, “those who spend their wealth day and night, secretly and publicly, their reward is with their lord…’. The prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam was very generous, like wind loaded with rain. Remember that Allah Subhanahu watta’la will compensate you for what you spend, and that spending is a sign of having Eyman. Remember that the reward of spending for the sake of Allah in non-Muslim countries is anticipated to be doubled since the need for it is urgent for building and maintaining Masajid, schools and other institutes. Spending from your wealth will benefit you in your life and in the hereafter. The messenger

guidance.” [Sūrah al-An`ām: 90] To further increase your faith, visit the graveyard. See how everyone’ s state in the physical world is made equal by death.

Then consider how the status of their souls differs. How many believing souls are saying in expectation: “My Lord!

Bring on the Day of Resurrection!” How of Allah Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said, “When the son of Adam dies, his deeds will be terminated except in case of one of these three: a continual charity, or a beneficial knowledge, or a pious son who prays for his father.

5. Abandoning the Evil: Abandoning the evil and committing sins is a must in Ramadan and outside Ramadan. It is the deed of the people of true faith. There is no goodness in a Muslim who doesn’t do evil in Ramadan but as soon as Ramadan ends, he goes back to his evil deeds.

6. Knowing that Eid is an excellent chance

MESSAGE

>> continued from pg 1

that the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “The Hour will not happen until knowledge is taken out, time passes quickly, earthquakes increase in number, tribulations (fitan) appear, and al-Harj increases in number.” It was said, “What is al-Harj, O Rasoolullah?” He said, “Al Qatl, al Qatl (Killing)”.

A lot of what is mentioned in this hadeeth has already materialized.

Happenings of earthquakes and the like from other destructive and disastrous events are the greatest evidence of the astonishing power of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala. Earthquakes are from among the soldiers of Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala, subjected to His order. He, subhanahu wa ta`ala, causes fear in the hearts of those whom He wills, teaches lessons whom He wills and punishes whom He wills.

“And none can know the Forces of your Lord, except He.” (74:31) “For to Allah belong the Forces of the heavens and the earth.” (48:7)

“The Hour will not happen until knowledge is taken out, time passes quickly, earthquakes increase in number, tribulations (fitan) appear, and al-Harj increases in number.” It was said, “What is al-Harj, O Rasoolullah?” He said, “Al Qatl, al Qatl (Killing)”.

If the Ummah leaves Allah’s Sharee`ah, ignores the Deen of Allah ta`ala and follows its enemies, Allah will subjugate it to His armies, which no one knows except He. From among these armies are the earthquakes.

“Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful and severe.” (11:102) “When We decide to destroy a town, We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them who are given the good things of this life.

Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against (them). Then we destroy it with complete destruction.” (17:16)

Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala, with this earthquake makes clear to His servants a plain reality, that the kingdom of the heavens and the earth is in His Hands, subhanahu wa ta`ala, and that He is the Irresistible and Dominant over His servants.

Some people may be astonished by what the West has from the materialistic power, from various weapons, aircraft carriers, bombs, satellites etc., and they forget that Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala, allowed that piece of land to move and shake, being able to shake the force of the West and the East. Everything is in His Hands, He has power over all things, and no one in the Heavens and the Earth can weaken Him, subhanahu wa ta`ala.

Appearance of the earthquakes therefore

many other souls are pleading in fear and dread: “My Lord! Do not bring on the Day of Judgment.” May Allāh increase us in faith and make us all God-fearing.

------------------Source: http://en.islamtoday.net

to wash the hearts from hatred and bad feeling, the prophet Salallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam says, “It’s not allowed for a Muslim to avoid his brother over three nights. They both meet, but this turns away and that turns away, and the best of them is the one who initiates Salam”. So be better than your brother and initiate the Salam.

I ask Allah Subhanahu watta’la to bless you all, to accept our Ibadah, and to free us all from the hellfire.

------------------Source: amjaonline.com

points us to a different reality that may be absent in the minds of some people, those who are busy with this world and who are servants of materialism.

This earthquake also reminds us of the Day of Judgment. The Day when all of the Earth will shake, and not only one part of it. Allahu subhanahu wa ta`ala says, “O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour is a terrible thing. The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one shall drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state. Yet they will not be drunken, but the Torment of Allah will be severe.” (22:1-2) Look what is left after the earthquake from destroyed buildings and houses, deaths of thousands, and families seeking refuge outside of their homes. What state is that in which everyone is running away, caring about nothing? So what do you think of the Day of Judgment?

“That Day shall a man flee from his own brother, and from his mother and >> MESSAGE II Pg 20

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

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August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

20 | SALAAH TIMES

Salaah times for August 12th - August 25th, 2011 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.

MESSAGE II

>> continued from pg 18

his father, and from his wife and his children.” (80:34-36) “One the day (when the first blowing of the Trumpet is blown), the earth and the mountains will shake violently.” (79:6) Allah ta`ala warns His servants with this earthquake to learn a lesson and be admonished, and to be ready and prepare themselves for the Day of sorting out, the day of the great earthquake, that will shake all of the earth.

Allah ta`ala has placed in this universe Sunan, fixed and manifest laws, neither do they change nor are they replaceable.

He does not have any kinship with anyone, He is the sole Creator and Ruler, and He will question and hold accountable everyone, including prophets and messengers. “Then surely, We shall question those to whom it (the Book) was sent and We shall question the Messengers.” (7:6) From among the established Sunan of Allah is that He does not send punishment except due to sin and He does not remove it except after repentance. Allah ta`ala says, “Whatever misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned.” (42:30) Allah the Mighty and Majestic says:

Day

Date

Hijri

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

26

26/9

5:15

6:31

1:10

4:53

7:48

9:06

Sat

27

27/9

5:16

6:32

1:10

4:52

7:47

9:04

Sun

28

28/9

5:17

6:33

1:10

4:52

7:45

9:03

Mon

29

29/9

5:18

6:34

1:10

4:51

7:44

9:01

Tue

30

1/10

5:19

6:34

1:09

4:50

7:42

8:59

Wed

31

2/10

5:20

6:35

1:09

4:49

7:41

8:57

Thu

1

3/10

5:22

6:36

1:09

4:48

7:39

8:56

Fri

2

4/10

5:23

6:37

1:08

4:48

7:38

8:54

Sat

3

5/10

5:24

6:38

1:08

4:47

7:36

8:52

Sun

4

6/10

5:25

6:39

1:08

4:46

7:35

8:50

Mon

5

7/10

5:26

6:40

1:07

4:45

7:33

8:49

Tue

6

8/10

5:27

6:41

1:07

4:44

7:32

8:47

Wed

7

9/10

5:28

6:42

1:07

4:43

7:30

8:45

“Evil and mischief have appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return (by repenting to Allah).” [30:41] Every disaster and every calamity that befalls the servants is due to their sins and wrongdoing. So know, servants of Allah, what wrongdoing does to its doers.

What has taken Adam and Eve from the Jannah except wrongdoing, and what Has drowned all of the people on the earth at the time of Nooh, to the point that water reached the peak of mountains, except wrongdoing?

Who is it who sent the furious violent wind upon the people of `Aad, so that they were seen lying overthrown and destroyed, as if they were hollow trunks of palm-trees? Who is it who sent the awful cry upon the people of Thamud until it cut their hearts inside their bodies, and they all fell dead without exception?

Who lifted the villages of the people of Loot till the angels heard barking of their dogs, then turned them upside down, and then rained upon them a rain of stones?

That is the immediate punishment for wrongdoing: drowning, fire, earthquakes, destruction, famine, raging wind... “And the torment of the hereafter is far more severe and more lasting.” (20:127)

Do we not take admonition and lesson?

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala says, “Did We not destroy the ancients? So shall We make the later generations to follow them.

Thus do We deal with the Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers, sinners.). Woe that Day to the deniers (of the Day of Resurrection)!” [77:16-19] The earthquake of Turkey is just a warning from Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala - not only to the people of that country alone, but rather to the Muslims in general, in all lands - that they may return to their Lord and their Deen. Otherwise a punishment will come upon them. Allah ta`ala says, “So We seized each of them for his sins.” (29:40) Many of the Muslims today have gathered many sins. We see those who delay and neglect prayers, eat haram, deal with riba, do not fulfill their trusts, order the evil and forbid the good. Those who indulge in mixing, display of awra, listening to music and songs, and those who have abandoned the Qur’an. All these exist in our society. Let us fear Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala and preserve what we have from the blessings, for wrongdoing removes blessings, rather it changes it to a curse. And let us be warned of an evil end, for Allah gives us a chance but is not neglectful. What has happened to the previous nations and some of the current ones will happen to us if we obey the Shaytan and go far from the path of the Most Merciful. These are the sunan of Allah that will never change.

“Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the Heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)? Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a violent whirlwind?

Then you shall know how (terrible) was My Warning.” (67:16-17) Let us pause and ask ourselves what has been the tangible impact on us since we have heard and seen this earthquake, and what it has left from the mighty and scary destruction that makes the hearts bleed.

The happy one is one who learns from the calamity of others, and the sad one is by whom these calamities pass while he takes no lesson from them.

Just recently the sun eclipsed, then followed the floods, then the strong wind, and then this earthquake happened. The people are still as they were before, you see no change. You do not see people going back to the path of Allah and you do not see any crowds in mosques. It is unfortunate that the explanation offered for these events is that they are normal natural disasters, and that they do not link it to what happens to people due to their wrongdoing. Theirs is clearly an incorrect interpretation.

“And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction).” (17:59) [Source: islaam.com]

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011 SOMALIA

>> continued from pg 1

- came to the US in search of higher education. The second group came with nothing. They were simply refugees fleeing the harrowing bloodshed of the 1991 coup.

At the heart of their stories - whether those who came for to educate their minds or to save their bodies - is the disturbing history of a country longravaged by violence.

Shortly after the assassination of Somalia’s president in 1969, a coup led by General Mohammed Barre overthrew the civilian government.

Barre then ruled Somalia for the next 22 years. Initially, Barre’s rule was popular, but nepotism and lack of accountability lead to widespread inequality. Under Barre’s oppressive, autocratic rule, clan-based opposition militias formed and were manipulated

by Barre’s regime.

In 1990, a full-scale civil war broke out and led to Barre’s overthrow and exile in 1991, and to the disintegration of the central government. The civil war and ongoing clan violence continue to handicap the country’s infrastructure and economy.

According to Abd, tension had been brewing way before the military coup.

When asked to elaborate on these brewing tensions, the interview took a turn into memories past forgotten. Abd’s younger brother joined a rebel group fighting against the government in his home area and was publicly executed by the government. “I remember my parents pleading with him not to go. I eventold him ‘don’t do it,” Abd said.

“But he did. was missing for two weeks.

Rumors were coming to our family. It was tragic.”

GIVING

>> continued from pg 13

county council member George Leventhal explained that he views Muslims in Maryland as a group which practices civility, tolerance, studiousness,

Families not separated by the barrier of death were often separated by the barrier of distance. When refugees fled the country, they flocked to overflowing refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia, where it took years for them to take shelter in the U.S. During refugee interviews required to determine a an individuals ability to come to the US, Abd’s 11 year old niece was separated from her family because of one simple word. When asked ‘how did you come to Kenya,’ she answered, ‘We rented a car” when in reality, her family had come on a truck. “She was too young, too traumatized. Its really too much too remember,” Abd said.

Stories like these - of families torn apart whether through violence or the realities of refugee camps - attest to the ‘resilience of the Somali community,’ he said.

And this resilience has been tested in this country as well. The Somali community - particularly the refugees who came with little or no contacts or resources - have faced numerous cultural, legal, and economic challenges while setting their trauma-ruffled feathers in America.

“Saying I was going into culture shock is an understatement,” Yusuf Adam, a student who came to study at the University of Pittsburg, said, “I can’t tell you how many times to go back I knew that there was nothing to go back to.”

Caught between the collapse of government, the lack of a public education system, and the poor conditions of refugee camps, adapting to the American public education system is a challenge, especially for older children, Ahmed Elmi, executive director of the Somali American

and moderation. “I know one of the fundamental traits of Islam is modesty,” said Leventhal. “I know Muslims don’t like to brag, but tonight, I want to brag about you.”

As for the future of the MCMC and

CONTINUED | 21 Community Association (SACA), said.

SACA works to help create a smooth transition for Somali immigrants in the US. Adam said, “Its like going into a coma.

You wake up and you don’t know how you got through it, but somehow, you did.”

Elmi is, among others, concerned that Montgomery County is not sufficiently supportive of students who come from a different and unfamiliar culture.

“Don’t get me wrong - we have our children in medicine and law schools, but education is still a great concern.

There’s an overwhelming tendency to put kids in special ed programs just because of cultural difference or language limitations,” he said, “It needs work. No one can tell me that a Hafiz should be in special ed.”

Additionally, there is a wide disconnect between what Somali immigrants and refugee agencies expect from each other. The Department of Health and Human Series provides newly arrived refugees with case and medical assistance. Single adults and couples are eligible for 8 months of cash while families are eligible for mainstream welfare for up to two years.

Recently, a refugee family with seven children settled into the Takoma Park area. The older children - in the early teenage years - do not know the ABCs, let alone their own language. Their 4year old daughter was tested with lead poisoning. The Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Health took months to take her to a doctor and resolve the situation.

However, given the present political climate, it seems that the federal government is involving itself far too much in the Somali immigrant community.

Congressman Peter King has placed a federal magnifying glass on the Somali community due to national security concerns posed by the “radicalization of Somali youth by terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.”

“Scrutinizing a community just because of some bad apples in Somalia does nothing but alienate the community,” Adam, also a litigationscase manager, said.

This magnifying glass, Elmi says, need to be placed on the positive things happen in the Somali community such the annual Somali Youth Diaspora Conference designed to promote dialogue.

But for many Somali Muslims - King’s magnifying glass is not a pressing concern. “When you have thousands of people dying in Somali because of the famine, I doubt that many are thinking about King,” Elmi said.

Nonetheless, SACA is working to inform Somalis on how to protect their rights given this increased media scrutiny. They are knocking on doors to circulate its “Know Your Rights Guide.”

On September 17, 2011, the Somali community will be able to present its grievances to law enforcement agencies at a town hall forum that will be attended by government immigrations and civil rights divisions - including the Department of Justice.

“Its not just about a simple follow-up,” Elmi said, “This is indicating a serious lack of involvement by the federal and local departments.”

“Only the Somali people can represent the Somali people,” Elmi said.

MCMF, Hafeez says both organizations have plans to branch out and create an even stronger presence in their community.

we want to branch out, by enhancing programs dedicated to social service, youth, and the senior Muslim community.

We also hope to become more politically active. We have a platform, now is the time to build on it.”

“We spent a few years introducing ourselves as Muslims to our communities and to Maryland,” said Hafeez. “Now

22 | CONTINUED GUESS

>> continued from pg 14

prescription drug benefits for seniors, which cost a Congressional Budget Office-estimated $385 billion over 10 years? The Pentagon spends that in Iraq and Afghanistan in about 40 months.

Because of the complex and often ambiguous Pentagon budgeting process, it’s nearly impossible to get an accurate breakdown of every operating cost. Some funding comes out of the base budget; other money comes from supplemental appropriations.

But the estimates can be eye-popping, especially considering the logistical challenges to getting even the most basic equipment and comforts to troops in extremely forbidding terrain.

In Afghanistan, for example, the U.S. military spent $1.5 billion to purchase 329.8 million gallons of fuel for vehicles, aircraft and generators from October 2010 to May 2011. That’s a not-unheard-of $4.55 per gallon, but it doesn’t include the cost of getting the fuel to combat zones and the human cost of transporting it through hostile areas, which can increase the cost to hundreds of dollars a gallon.

Just getting air-conditioning to troops in Afghanistan, including transport and maintenance, costs $20 billion per year, retired Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson told National Public Radio recently.

That’s half the amount that the federal government has spent on Amtrak over 40 years.

War spending falls behind tax cuts and prescription drug benefits for seniors as contributors to the $14.3 trillion federal debt. The Pentagon’s base budget has grown every year for the past 14 years,

EAST AFRICA

>> continued from pg 14

Africa offices had provided water to more than 200,000 people; food to 30,000 people; and health and nutrition

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011 marking the longest sustained growth period in U.S. history, but it seems clear that that era is ending.

Since the U.S. government issued war bonds to help finance World War II, Washington has asked taxpayers to shoulder less and less of a burden in times of conflict. In the early 1950s Congress raised taxes by 4 percent of the gross domestic product to pay for the Korean War; in 1968, during the Vietnam War, a tax was imposed to raise revenue by about 1 percent of GDP. No such mechanism was imposed for Iraq or Afghanistan, and in the early years of the wars Congress didn’t even demand a true accounting of war spending, giving the military whatever it needed. Now, at a time of fiscal woes and with the American public weary of the wars, the question has become how much the nation’s largest bureaucracy should cut.

“The debt crisis has been a game changer in terms of defense spending,” said Laura Peterson, a national security analyst at Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan budget watchdog.

“It used to be that asking how much the wars cost was unpatriotic. The attitude going into the war is you spend whatever you cost. Now maybe asking is more patriotic.”

Still, deep cuts to the Pentagon remain unpalatable to many lawmakers. The debt limit deal that Congress passed earlier this month calls for $350 billion in “defense and security” spending cuts through 2024, but that’s expected to be spread across several government agencies, sparing the Pentagon much of the blow.

However, if the 12-member bipartisan “super committee” of lawmakers can’t agree on further federal budget cuts

services to more than 30,000 people.

Islamic Relief has been working in East Africa for nearly 20 years. IR teams have provided aid through previous droughts in the region including digging wells and constructing farmland irrigation systems to help communities be better prepared for harsh weather.

later this year, the law mandates acrossthe-board cuts of $1.2 trillion over 10 years, with half of that coming from the Pentagon. The prospect of such deep defense cuts is thought to provide a strong incentive for deficit hawks to compromise and spread the pain more broadly.

national debt the biggest threat to U.S. national security. Before leaving office last month as defense secretary, Robert Gates ordered his department to find ways to cut $400 billion from the defense budget over 12 years, under Obama’s orders.

Politics aside, finding defense savings is complex, even with the Obama administration trying to wind down two wars. For one thing, reducing troop levels doesn’t necessarily yield commensurate cost reductions, given the huge amount of infrastructure the military still maintains in each country.

Among the challenges of determining the costs of war is defining what to include.

Rising health care costs for veterans? The damage done to Iraqi and Afghan families, cities and institutions? Holding tens of thousands of detainees at U.S. military prisons in those two countries and others around the world? The massive interest on war-related debt, which some experts say could reach $1 trillion by 2020?

In Afghanistan, the cost per service member climbed from $507,000 in fiscal year 2009 to $667,000 the following year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Fiscal year 2011 costs are expected to reach $694,000 per service member, even as the U.S. military begins drawing down 33,000 of the 99,000 troops there.

In Iraq, even with the overall costs of the war declining and the U.S. military scheduled to withdraw its remaining 46,000 troops by the end of this year, the cost per service member spiked from $510,000 in 2007 to $802,000 this year.

In fiscal year 2011, Congress authorized $113 billion for the war in Afghanistan and $46 billion for Iraq. The Pentagon’s 2012 budget request is lower: $107 billion for Afghanistan and $11 billion for Iraq.

In the more austere fiscal climate, the Pentagon has tried to be proactive, proposing cuts to some major military programs such as the controversial and hugely expensive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called the

Islamic Relief is currently collecting donations to help support emergency response efforts in East Africa. Food, water and medicine are the greatest needs and it is expected that the number of deaths will continue to rise dramatically if help is not given. It only costs $71 to

“The ripple effects on the U.S. economy have also been significant, including job loss and interest rate increases, and those effects have been underappreciated,” wrote a team of Brown University experts who authored a June report called “Costs of War.” Critics of the defense budget process note that the U.S. already has paid a heavy cost for the wars, spending billions to wind up with older equipment and troops receiving less training.

Winslow Wheeler, who worked on national security issues on Capitol Hill for 30 years, said the Navy and Air Force fleets were smaller after a decade of war.

The Army has been left with run-down, overworked vehicles and equipment.

“The danger of that is that as we blithely go on not paying attention, things happen that we don’t notice, like the older, less trained forces,” Wheeler said. Because the cost of replacing equipment has risen dramatically over the past decade, “what we are paying is a higher cost for a smaller force.” He likened it to replacing a Lamborghini with a Volkswagen.

feed a family of eight for one month and only $210 to truck in water for 42 people for a month. Islamic Relief teams report that need for food and water is so great, your generous support could literally save lives today.

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

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)” 7-30-11 It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Sis. Mamuma Mark.

Janazah salat was on July 31, 2011 in Lanham, Maryland. May Allah (SWT) grant her Jannatul Firdous and May HE grant the family ease. (Source: PGMA) 8-10-11 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of brother Thomas Smith. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower him with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant him the highest ranks in paradise, and give his family support and patience during these difficult times. The Janaza was on August 11, 2011 in Ellicott City, Maryland. (Source: DAT) 8-13-11 Sr. Alia Rababeh has passed away. She was the wife of Br. Kheder (the brother who owns Lebanese Butcher). The janazah was on August 13, 2011 in Falls Church, Virginia. We ask Allah, in this blessed month of Ramadan, to forgive her of her shortcomings, and to shower patience on her family, ameen. (Source: Z. Shaath) 8-18-11 Br. Mohammad Mazhar, father of Usman Mazhar, has passed away. May Allah forgive his sins, accept his good deeds and enter him in Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. Salaat ul Janaza was on August 19, 2011 in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

(Source: ICM) 8-20-11 Mrs. Najma Azam has passed away. She was the mother of Nuzaira Azam and the mother in Law of Zafar Iqbal. May Allah forgive her sins and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM)

OBITS & UPCOMING EVENTS

| 23

Upcoming Events In Your Area

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

MMA Annual Fundraising Dinner Sunday, August 28 2011, 7:30pm - 10:30pm Manassas Muslim Association invites you & your family to Khatm-ul-Quran and Annual Fundraising Dinner for Islamic School & Community Center. Location: 8503 Euclid Avenue (next to Maximum Deals), Manassas Park, VA 20111. Contact: For info, please contact: Asif Iqbal, 443-851-3131; Hamid Nawaz, 703-304-5586; Muneer Baig, 703-608-9510 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eid Festival 2011 Sunday, September 04 2011, 11:00am - 2:00pm Eid Festival 2011. Carnival Games & Rides. Ethnic food & Clothing stalls. Eid gifts for children. Hot Air Balloon Ride. Festivities. Chinese Lion Show & More. Free Admission. Free Parking. Location: Bull Run Park, Centreville, VA. Contact: For Stall Reservations & other Inquiries, call Mr. Hameedi at 202-431-3099 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Somali American Communities Town Hall Forum Saturday, September 17 2011 Town Hall Forum on the Somali American Communities’ Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Homeland Security effort. Starts at 3PM. Location: Courtyard Marriott Pentagon South, 4641 Kenmore Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muslim Family Day 2011 @ Six Flags Sunday, September 18 2011, 11:30am - 7:00pm Insha Allah, Muslim Family Day will be held for the greater Baltimore/Washington DC area at Six Flags America. This year we have reserved the entire park for this event so the Muslim families can enjoy the Eid festivities together. Location: Six Flags America, 13710 Central Avenue, Bowie/Mitchellville, MD 20721 Contact: For more information and how to buy tickets, please visit our website: www.MuslimFamilyDay. com or call 1-866-DIAL-MFD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

24 | CONTINUED

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

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala).

Please keep, recycle, or share it with others 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.

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August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

MASJID LOCATOR

| 25

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: 703-585-1689/703-554-7983 www.bccd.org E-mail: Info@bccd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Ul-ghuraba (Masjid Ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al Hijrah: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030 www.hijrah.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------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, Richmond, 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: 202-529-3100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 1935 Frederick Ave 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: 410-891-8451 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------IRHSCA (Islamic Research And Hum. Services Center Of America): 1 Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040 www.irhsca.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Southern Pg County (ISSPGC): P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240 603 4618 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar-us-Salaam: 5301 Edgewood Rd.,

College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848 www.duscommunity.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Zamzam 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Tel: 410-284-2840 www.masjidzamzam.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar al-Taqwa: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711 www.taqwa.net --------------------------------------------------------------------------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: 301-461-9325 --------------------------------------------------------------------------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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Community Center (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 Tel: 301-384-3454 www.mccmd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Imaam: (Jumuah Only) Jumuah: 12:50pm 3201 Randolph Rd, Wheaton, MD 20906 www.imaam.org Email: Fridayprayer@imaam.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid An-nur: 5418 Ebenezer Road, White Marsh, MD 21162 Tel: 410-663-9637 Fax: 410-663-9817 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-inshirah: 7832 Fairbrook Road, Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977

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THE PRESIDENT IS A MUSLIM?

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Synopsis Mark Holloway was born in Chicago to Bosnian parents.

Left in an orphanage when his parents were killed in an auto accident, Mark was adopted by an American CIA agent and his wife. While spending his high school years in Khartoum, Sudan, he meets Zayd Abdullah, the son of a Muslim African American professor. Zayd helps Mark reconnect with his Islamic roots. Their lives become interwoven for over three decades amidst growing geopolitical turmoil. Constantly struggling with his identity, Mark chooses a career in politics and ultimately runs for President of the United States. Zayd becomes the Chief Political Advisor to the Amir (Leader) of the newly formed United States of Islam. As sinister forces push the two nations toward all out war, can their friendship avert a conflict that seems inevitable? Moreover, is the United States ready for its first Muslim President?

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

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MATRIMONIAL SEEKING MUSLIMA

Muslim Brother, African-American, seeks an honest muslim sister for marriage. I weigh 165lbs, 5’7”, OK looks, very honest, athletic body built and most important I make my salats and performs the five pilliars of faith.

I’m preparing to make Hajj soon, InshaAllah. I’m seeking a Muslima that have some traits as mines. Mainly very honest, height and weight similiar to mines. Please give me a call at 410-9635807 and my name is Michael Shahid and that is my legal name, or send a email to twirladrain@hotmail.com.

RENTAL

PHD Salon Barber Shop Specializing in Natural Hair Care ���������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� 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

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2 ROOMS FOR RENT

Near Four Corners, Beltway, University of Maryland, Forest Glen & Wheaton Metro, and Holy Cross. Please call 301593-4769.

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 410-467-1259 or 443-538-7643(cell) ------------------------------------------------

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

LICENSED PLUMBER

Reduce Major Plumbing Bills. Give Twirl-A-Drain a call at 410-963-5807 for sewer and water pipe replacement underground. Free estimates given, Michael D. Shahid.

BUYERS/SELLERS

For our valuable Buyers we give credit 25% off our fee of service on Settlement as closing cost. Also we give for short sale listing 1% credit back towards sellers. New programs for more closing help for 1st time Buyers. please contact Nancy Afifi, Real estate architect, Evergreen Properties, 301-503-9262.

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PERSONAL CAREGIVER

We are muslims, male & female personal caregivers to care for the elderly with their daily needs. Available as PT/FT/ live-in/nite shift. Call ENA 703-9756095.

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Get Noticed

Place a Classified ad in the Muslim Link Newspaper Today. Classifieds in the print edition of the Muslim Link newspaper are only $1 for every 3 words. All classifieds run for 3 issues in the Marketplace section. Get started by emailing your exact text to office@muslimlinkpaper. com and then call in your credit card payment to 301-982-1020 or send a check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Rd, College Park MD 20740.

Patterson Park Pharmacy 2245 Eastern Ave Baltimore, MD 21231

Call Today for Special Discounts

(410) 675 6046 Saleem Shah (pharmacist)

pattersonparkpharmacy@gmail.com

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FREE DELIVERY

38 | MP - ADVERTISEMENT

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

����������������� ���������������������� Every Muslim has read

that the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam told his ummah about the wonderful nature of honey.

In the Qur’an in Surah An-Nahl, Allah described honey as a “drink of varying color wherein is healing for men”.

Its no wonder that scientists are spending more and more resources examining, testing, and developing honey-based medical treatments.

As early as December 26, 2007, the Associated Press ran a story titled “Honey makes medical comeback”.

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

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

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

Brother Hasan, in his late 30’s is from Maryland and suffers from the common skin disease eczema. “I’ve had eczema

since high school, and it got worse as the years went on. I went to a dermatologist and he recommended a cortisone-type prescription cream.

It did stop the itch, but my skin was still dry and tight. I’ve tried lotions and shampoos from Aveeno, Lubiderm, Vaseline, and others.

Alhumdulillah, I found Honeyderm’s Dermatonic-P, and it is really, really a blessing for people with Eczema or other skin illnesses. I no longer wake up sweating at night! AllahuAkbar!.”

We called Abdurihman Khalil from Chicago. He did not know we were going to call. Abdurihman started losing his hair when he was about 28. He discovered the Hairback product line at a convention and decided to test its claims. “The hair loss stopped completely,” said Abdurihman. “It’s excellent, and I’ve been using it now for 6 years.”

We also called Brother Mustafa Al-Omary in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He decided to do something about his thinning hair at age 40 and tried the Hairback treatment. Asked how long it took for him to see results, he told us “Oh gosh, less than a month. My thin spots filled in within 3 months,.”

He said he would “absolutely” recommend the product to anyone.

“It’s not a fly-by-night product, its awesome,” said Mustafa.

We

also called Najeebudheen Appat, a 30-year old living in Los Angeles, CA. He’s had a severe dandruff

“Alhumdulillah, I found Honeyderm’s

Dermatonic-P, and it is really, really a blessing for people with Eczema or other skin illnesses.

I no longer wake up sweating at night!

Allahu-Akbar!.” -- Br.Hasan, Maryland problem for a long-time, and had been searching for a solution. “I tried so many different products like tonics and shampoos, I can’t even remember them all, until I found this product around 2002. My problem was solved completely, the entire thing is taken care of. I even called [Honeyderm] with the great feedback,” recalled Najeebudheen.

He told us that Allah creates shifa in many things, and Honeyderm’s products are a part of that. “For dandruff problems, this is the total solution,” he told us from his mobile phone.

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

On Honeyderm’s website, there are many more testimonials from Muslims and non-Muslims from around the nation and the world.

There is also a gallery of “before and after” pictures of both hair loss treatments as well as skin treatments. And best of all, for those of us who’ve “tried it all”, there is a full money back guarantee.

Allah said honey heals. The Prophet Sallallahu’alyhi wa sallam said honey heals. The people we called said honey heals. With a money back guarantee, there is absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain – your hair and skin!

BEFORE

AFTER

Honey-Based Healing for:

Hair Loss, Hair growth, Itching, dandruff, and Scalp Psoriasis.

Acne, Wrinkles, Psoriasis, Eczema, Dermatitis, and Rosacea.

Plus Supplements for Diabetics, Immunity, and Liver Health.

Order Risk Free Today by calling (800) 424 - 7710 or buy online at www.honeyderm.com 2522 East Michigan Ave Lansing, Michigan 48912 MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������

August 26th 2011 - September 8th 2011

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 39