The Muslim Link, November 27, 2015 by The Muslim Link

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Debate Continues Over Syrian Refugees

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Baltimore Syrian Refugees Appreciative of Help, Worry About Safety American Muslim Pioneer Dr. insult in Arabic — not quite Ahmad H. Sakr Passes | pg 5 By Hena Zuberi Muslim Link Staff Reporter

Politicians are using the refugees’ issue to fundraise, score political points and spread fear. Presidential

Knowledge Plus Action Is Message at Twins of Faith Conference By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

A volunteer run Islamic conference came to Washington DC on November 21, 2015, bringing unity and knowledge to rise as the Best of Nations. That was

the theme of this conference hosted annually by Mercy Mission. Speakers came from across the United States, Canada,

>> CONFERENCE Pg 16

candidate Ben Carson referred to them as rabid dogs. Calling someone a dog is considered a severe

The vetting process for refugees is tedious- it requires multiple biometrics, criminal records, medical examination. Abu Salah knows this; his family left their home in Ghouta Al Sharqiyah, an eastern suburb

>> DEBATE Pg 14

Molotov Cocktail Thrown at Dar Al-Hijrah

ISNA Forum: What Makes a Successful Masjid ? | pg 6 Muslims Get Eid Off in MoCo Schools Next Year | pg 8 Balt Co Muslim Council Health Fair Benefits Hundreds | pg 10 Al-Huda School Awarded Reaccreditation | pg 18

By Muslim Link Staff Reporters

Attacks on American Muslims Growing Uglier | pg 20

One Molotov cocktail and two smoke bombs thrown into the Dar Al Hijrah complex in Falls Church, on the night of November 19,

Running for the Hills: The Barakat of Solar Power | pg 21

>> MOLOTOV Pg 16

Chester H. Gore is the alleged vandal.

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In reaction to the terrorist attacks in Lebanon, Nigeria, Iraq and France, 27 US governors are saying no to Syrian refugees — even those as young as 5. Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland is among them. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would restrict the resettlement of Syrians and Iraqis.

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News ISNA Offers Condolences on the Passing of American Muslim Pioneer and Leader Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr (Plainfield, IN 11/24/15) - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) today offered heartfelt condolences on the passing of American Muslim community leader and pioneer Dr. Ahmad Sakr. In a statement ISNA President Azhar Azeez said: "We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. Today is indeed a very sad day for all American Muslims. Dr. Ahmad Sakr was among the early pioneers of Islamic work in North America. He established many organizations and institutions including MSA and ISNA. He was the author of more than 50 books. He was the most popular and sought after speaker of his time. On behalf of ISNA, I extend my deepest condolences to Dr.

Ahmad Sakr's entire family and pray to Allah Subhana wa ta'Ala to grant him the highest place in paradise." Dr. Ahmad Sakr was by profession an educator, and has taught in several

universities. In 1973, he was selected as an Outstanding Educator of America. He also served as the acting president of the American Islamic College in Chicago and 1976/1977 he was selected as a Community Leader and a Noteworthy American.

Society of North America (ISNA), an umbrella organization in North America in 1981. Dr. Sakr was also a founding member of the World Council of Mosques whose headquarters is in Makkah, and was the first director and representative of the Muslim World League to the U.N.

Dr. Sakr received his academic education at the American University in Beirut, and the University of Illinois where he got his Ph.D. He received his Islamic education through tutoring from the late Grand Mufti of Lebanon as well as from a large number of Muslim scholars from neighboring countries.

Before his passing, Dr. Sakr was the president of the Foundation for Islamic Knowledge, director of the Islamic Education Center in Walnut, California, a member of Operation Safe Community, a member of the Walnut Interfaith Council in California and a board member of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). [Source: ISNA Press Release – 11/24/2015]

He was a founding member (in 1963) and president of the Muslim Students' Association of the U.S.A and Canada (MSA), which helped to form the Islamic

MCMF Dinner Helps Muslims Help Needy By Hena Zuberi Muslim Link Staff Reporter “Charity is a pillar of Islam,” says Potomac resident Saba Rashid. She is an attorney by day and the chair of the food pantry and clothing drive sections at the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation (MCMF). Rashid has volunteered with MCMF for 5 years. With 15 years experience in running a non-profit in Pakistan, she came to MCMF after meeting the chairman, Tufail Ahmed — inspired by the work MCMF does clothing and feeding those who are most in need in Montgomery County. “We cater to a diverse audience; many of our clients have [disablities] and low income,” she says. A majority are non-Muslim. MCMF get referrals from

the Interfaith Clothing Center and from the Muslim Community Center. “Interfaith Clothing Center has referred many families to the MCMF Food Pantry, which has been of tremendous help. We have had very positive feedback from the families that have gone to the food pantry. MCMF also partners with Interfaith by providing meals to Wilkins Avenue Women’s Assessment Center- a 65-bed emergency shelter serving over 250 women per year,” said Priscilla Da Rocha, Outreach Coordinator at the Interfaith Clothing Center. A partnership with the Capital Food Pantry enabled MCMF to serve 150 clients on the last Saturday of every month. Volunteers many of whom are young Muslim kids gather at 10 a.m. at

MCMF’s Gaithersburg location. They make packages of vegetables, halal or kosher chicken, fruits, beans, rice, oil, dried milk, dried potatoes, tomato sauce, cereal and juices, and spaghetti, amongst other basic staples. “We aim to provide a nutritionally balanced basket,” says Rashid. "The meat from MCMF is such a blessing for the low-income residents of Takoma Park that we serve. Their food budgets are too low to afford much meat, and the other food supplement programs seldom include meat,” said Terry Seamens of Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington. The distribution starts at 12 p.m. and by 3 p.m. volunteers are ready to wrap up for the day.

The foundation also conducts Eid meat distribution, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, a Ramadan clothing drive and a winter blanket drive. Recipients of these drives include the MCC community and the International Rescue Committee. A recent annual fundraiser highlighting a post-9/11 hate crime survivor, Rais Bhuiyan, who is now a peace activist and the founder of World Without Hate. Academy Award winning director Kathyrn Bigelow is making his story into a movie. On Nov 14th, 2015, President Sara Noor welcomed 200 people to collect donations from the community members and recognize volunteers and partners. The board of MCMF and Montgomery County >> CHARITY Pg 12

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COMMUNITY NEWS

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Caribbean Brunch Benefits ISNA Forum Explores What Makes a Successful Masjid ISWA Parking Project By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter The crisp autumn Sunday was perfect for hosting a family brunch that brought the community together over food and prayer. The second annual Islamic Society Washington Area Caribbean Brunch was organized by the Sister's Committee president Zaimoon Hassan and Reanna Gurwah on November 8, 2015. Imam Faizul Khan gave the opening dua, and Riyad Alie served as the Master of Ceremonies. Four young students from the Saturday madrassah recited surahs followed by the English translation. Tabitha Ishmael, former secretary of the Sisters Commitee, was the keynote speaker. She recounted the origins of the organization with the first Guyanese and Trinidadian immigrants. They had the unique ability

....

to teach Islam without rebuking or being negative. “Positive reinforcement is the best way to encourage and fill out masjid with the youth,” she said. Imraan Mohamed, General Secretary of ISWA, updated the community on the parking lot extension status. A preconstruction permit has been issued by the Montgomery County Parks and Planning commission. The masjid hopes to have a new parking lot before next Ramadan. Hasan then presented certificates of appreciation to Feroze and Fazia Deen for their over 40 years of dedication and service in the Islamic spirit to the ISWA community. There smiling face would greet the congregation from the parking lot to the food tables. The family >> CARIBBEAN Pg 14

By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter The most beloved structure of the any city are its masajid— the fortress of iman and offering protection of virtue. The Islamic Society of North America held its 3rd Annual Masjid Forum on November 7, 2015 at the Diyanet Center of America (DCA) in Lanham, MD. The newly

constructed state of the art auditorium in DCA welcomed a hall full of masjid board members, academics, leaders and community workers from around the country. Sessions included dealing with diversity

>> FORUM Pg 17

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Muslim Community Wins Day Off Of School On Major Holiday Next Year By Donna St. George

The Washington Post, November 10, 2015

Montgomery County schools won’t have classes on one of the Islamic faith’s major holidays next year, a significant victory for the local Muslim community after years of lobbying for the same treatment as Christians and Jews.

There are no exact numbers showing how many students and staff celebrate Muslim holy days in Montgomery, but Muslim leaders say their community is growing. They have requested that schools close on at least one of the religion’s two major Muslim holy days. School leaders have said they cannot, by law, close schools to observe religious holidays.

Montgomery’s Board of Education voted 6 to 2 to support a measure that would move a professional work day for teachers and administrators to Sept. 12, 2016, when the holy day of Eid al-Adha could fall next year. The holiday, which varies year to year and is based on a lunar calendar, is expected on Sept. 11, a Sunday, or on Sept. 12.

The district closes schools on major Christian and Jewish holidays such as Christmas and Yom Kippur, but officials cite state requirements or operational effects such as expectations of large absenteeism on those days.

The decision marked a long-sought change in the 156,000-student suburban Washington school system, Maryland’s largest.

Montgomery leaders made national news last year when they struck the names of religious holidays off of the county’s school calendar document in an attempt to show neutrality, a move that drew criticism, including from the Muslim

Saqib Ali, a co-chair of the Equality for Eid Coalition, has pushed for a school closing in Montgomery County, Md., on Eid al-Adha, one of his faith’s two main holidays. (Dan Gross/Dan Gross/The Gazette) community. The school system has created an additional online calendar on which users can view religious holidays

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Al-Rahmah Raises $150K In Support of Higher Learning By Muslim Link Staff On Saturday evening, November 7, 2015, the Al-Rahmah Qur'an Academy hosted a “Night of Divine Inspiration” to raise funds for its Qur'an memorization program and Islamic Seminary. About 100 students are memorizing the Qur'an in academy, one of the educational programs of the Islamic Society of Baltimore. Over 100 students have already memorized the entire Qur'an through the Al-Rahmah Qur'an Academy which opened in 1999 with one student and one teacher in Qari Muhammad Zahid. Several graduates are currently enrolled in the advanced recitation program – “ashara qiraa” or 10 ways of recitation – under the supervision of Qari Muhammad Abid. Among the graduates who have memorized the entire Qur'an are over 30 girls. Several students, including a 9-year old girl – treated attendees to beautiful recitation. One student from the advanced recitation program recited in two different styles – warsh and soosi – which are rarely heard in most masajid in America. Amjad Mian, the chair of the Qur'an Academy board, reminded attendees how far the Islamic Society of Baltimore has come since it was incorporated in 1969. “Some of [our over 100 graduates]

are internationally known like Fatih [Seferagic] … some of the female graduates got married, moved [to other parts of the country], started families, and then opened Qur'an schools where they live. Today we need more rooms to accommodate our students, we need a library, and we are adding faculty,” said Mian. Shaykh Yaseen Shaikh, the ISB resident scholar and head of the Al-Rahmah Seminary, spoke of the goals and vision of the higher institute of Islamic learning. Besides the ultimate goal of developing an Islamic university which produces Islamic scholars, the Al-Rahmah Seminary also runs all the religious activities at ISB, including lectures and family counseling. “Embarking on understanding the meanings of the Qur'an is the natural

progression after memorizing the Qur'an [in the Al-Rahmah Hifz program], and this is the six-year Al-Rahmah Seminary program,” explained Shaykh Yaseen, who was educated at institutions of higher Islamic learning in the United Kingdom. The Al-Rahmah Seminary has about 20 students ranging in age from teenage graduates of the Qur'an memorization program to working adults. During the first two years of the seminary students earn a diploma in Islamic studies and the Arabic language. An additional four years of study are required for the bachelors degree. Four students were presented with their two-year diplomas at the Night of Divine Inspiration fundraising dinner. “We are combining the classical way of Islamic learning with a contemporary outlook …. until we produce our own home grown scholars, it will be difficult

to provide solutions to our 21st century challenges,” said Shaykh Yaseen. Recently he took two of the Al-Rahmah Seminary students to represent Islam at an interfaith conference in Texas. He said the attendees were very impressed with the knowledge and demeanor of the students. “These [conferences] are the arenas where we need our graduates to operate,” said Shaykh Yaseen. “What drove us out of our homes tonight is our love for the Book of Allah … and our commitment to its learning and propagation. As the ummah with the final revelation, we have an enormous task .... the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallalm raised experts in the Qur'an among the companions. When we as an ummah return to the Qura'an – its meanings and implementation – we will see success. Our mission here is to reconnect people to the Qur'an,” he said. Texas Imam and lecturer Monzer Taleb conducted the fundraising, and attendees responded with over $150,000 in cash and pledges in support of the AlRahmah Qur'an Academy and Seminary. Qur'an reciter Shaykh Ismet Akcin also took part in the program, closing the evening with beautiful recitation from the Book of Allah. To learn more about the Al-Rahmah Qur'an Academy and Al-Rahmah Seminary, visit www. alrahmahquranacademy.org .

Baltimore County Muslim Council Health Fair Benefits Hundreds The Baltimore County Muslim Council (BCMC), a social service organization, in association with American Diversity Group(ADG) conducted a health fair on Saturday, November 21, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Islamic Society of Baltimore, Catonsville MD. Open to all, over 500 attended the event, which including the surrounding community, Syrian and Sudanese refugees,as well as indigent and uninsured from the area. Admission and services provided were free thanks to all the vendors, who volunteered without charge. There were over 20 medical doctors on hand ranging from primary care, neurology, cardiology, women’s health, chiropractic, ophthalmology, psychiatry,

....

dentistry, gastroenterology, asthma, respiratory specialist, and pediatrics. Free flu shots were administered to over a hundred attendees by Walgreens pharmacy. Optometric and ophthalmology services were a huge draw and saw long lines. Tesst College provided blood work, blood pressure monitoring, height weight measurement and BMI calculation with further referral to primary care and specialty care to scores of people. HIV testing and Hepatitis B & C testing and counseling, Colon cancer screenings, breast cancer screening, and mammography referral were provided. Maryland Health Administration, Baltimore County of Health Department, and Howard County Department of Health provided resource referral as

well as consultation. Chase Brexton Clinic provided help with how to choose and apply for health insurance. Priority Partners, Amerigroup, Johns Hopkins Medicare Advantage Plan and United Health Care disseminated information about insurance options and advice on insurance and health care apart from distributing free samples and coupons. Hospitals were represented by St Agnes Hospital and Northwest Hospital. Iraqi Association, Rainbow Adult Day Health, and FIRN provided services. Stella Maris, Alzheimer’s Association, and Palliative Care Association offered counseling to families and individuals. Complementary face painting, moon bounce, and other games were at hand to keep the little ones busy, apart from raffle drawing for

two iPads. The fair was graced by Maryland delegate Dr Jay Jalisi who presented citations to BCMC Board members Mr. John SalahEvons (General Secretary) and Mr. Amir Aslam. Mr. Steve McAdams of the cultural secretary office of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan graced the occasion and presented citation of appreciation to event Co-Chairs Dr. Mohammed Younus and Dr. Kamal Khalid , as well as to BCMC President Mr. Saleem Ahmad and ADP President Mr. Mayur Modi. [Source: BCMC Press Release]

November 27th - December 24th 2015

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12 | COMMUNITY NEWS

November 27th - December 24th 2015 Rashid.

CHARITY

>> continued from pg 5

Council Member George Leventhal, Bruce Adams joined her. Director of the Office of Community Partnership, Interfaith Community Liaison Rev. Mansfield Kasey Kaseman, MD State Delegates Aruna Miller, Kumar Barve, Senator Susan Lee and other community leaders also attended the annual dinner. Several partner and recipient organizations sent their representatives, prominent among them- Shane Rock CEO Interfaith Works, Idris Mokhtarzada from Manna Food Center, Terry and Joyce Seamans from Adventist Community Services, added

The goal was $50,000 which will help fund current activities as well as two new initiatives: Senior Program headed by Mona Negm and Youth Empowerment head by Dr Ishrat Hussain. “Need is not confined to any race, ethnicity, nationality, gender or faith. Poverty is indiscriminate which makes the work of Montgomery County Muslim Foundation even more critical for the community safety net. MCMF serves the entire community, helping the most vulnerable in Montgomery County, regardless of their faith, to regain stability and hope. MCMF is a vital partner in Interfaith Works service to those

EID

>> continued from pg 8

and days of cultural celebration. Muslim community leaders say that the issue is fairness and that, without a school closing, Muslim students must choose between their faith and their education when Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr fall on a school day. “I am very happy. I am in tears. I am thrilled,” said Samira Hussein, a co-chair of the Equality for Eid Coalition who said she began pushing for a Muslim school holiday two decades ago. “I cannot wait to see the children, the students in the classrooms, being happy and thankful for this day.” During the board’s discussion, several members said it was time to act on the Muslim holiday request, even as the district continues to work on related issues of implementation.

“I’m really concerned that we are putting ourselves in a place that we give lip service to the diversity we have in this incredible community that we live in and serve, but in fact the most important things are the actions that we take,” said school board member Christopher S. Barclay, who offered the proposal. Board member Jill Ortman-Fouse and others spoke of how long the matter has been under discussion. “It’s an issue of fairness,” she said. “I get off for all of my holidays. . . . Obviously it’s an issue of respect for members of our community who are very dedicated to our county and a very important part of our school system.” Many of the more than two dozen members of the Muslim community who attended the board meeting Tuesday praised the outcome. “It’s huge,” said Saqib Ali, a former state lawmaker who has been a leader of the effort. Without the change, he said, “my

experiencing homelessness or poverty in Montgomery County,” stated Shane Rock, CEO Interfaith Works in his speech at the fundraiser. 4th and 5th graders Naba Yazdani and Hanya Shahzadgraders spoke about their community service experience at the pantry at the event. A young volunteer, Amna Rashid sold and donated the proceeds of the specially handcrafted cards to the food pantry. Rev. Kaseman commended the work of these volunteers and added that, “listening to the volunteers and witnessing young people growing into their own humanity was just what the world needed today.”

of the report but Rashid hopes that is enough to continue doing the great work that MCMF has been doing since 2008. “We are very proud to be Muslims,” she says about the current climate in the country. She says that it is a shame that negative stories are being high lighted and the good work Muslims do every day, as a practice of their faith is not. That is the greatest challenge. MCMF aims to increase service to 200300 people in 2016. To learn more about MCMF volunteer opportunities (earn SSL credits) log on to mcmfmd.org or contact Saba Rashid at 301-793-2775.

The total raised was not tallied at the time

daughters are not equal to all of their little playmates in the neighborhood, their Christian friends, their Jewish friends. Who could be against equality?” Ali said he thinks the decision would touch off change in other school systems; New York City began giving students Muslim holidays off this year. “I think the fact that New York granted this helped the effort here, and I don’t think it’s going to stop here,” he said. A board majority approved the measure even though it was not possible to be certain when Eid al-Adha will fall in 2016. Two board members — Patricia O’Neill and Philip Kauffman — voted against the measure. Both cited concerns from principals and said the state’s calendar identifies Sept. 11, a Sunday, as Eid al-Adha in 2016. They said it was unclear how the time would be made up, with O’Neill raising the possibility that the school year might then end on a Monday. Kauffman said he would prefer that a clear plan be made for next school year.

District staff members are expected to come back to the board with a proposal for which professional workday would be switched to Sept. 12 to accommodate the holiday. Montgomery has five teacher workdays before the school year begins and four other professional days during the year. Shahnaz Baten, a Potomac mother of two grown children, said she is proud to live in a place with elected leaders who value diversity, so that “you can see it in what they do, not only for Muslims but for a lot of people.” Another Muslim parent, Ali Nawaz M e m o n o f G a i t h e r s b u rg , n o w a grandparent, said he was “delighted” that students next year will not have to choose between staying home to celebrate the holiday and attending school on Eid al-Adha to keep up with their studies. “I am very happy,” he said. “This struggle has been going on for many years.”

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DEBATE

>> continued from pg 1

of Damascus, after the death of his only son during an attack. Like other refugees, he is registered with UN agencies. It took him an entire year to complete the required paperwork and another year to get to Maryland. His wife and 5 daughters grabbed what they could and left for Lebanon, he says recalling the exact day. “I needed to get my girls to safety,” he said. “A hundred tanks would surround our home — my toddler could tell us the different weapons and tanks just like she could name her toys and Barbie dolls,” he says. When asked to describe what it was like, Abu Salah says it was war, how do you describe war. “Dead bodies in the streets, burning buildings, you never know where the next bomb would blast so you brace yourself.” The family spent two years in Lebanon, where they saw rents rise and food become increasingly expensive after the refugees kept coming from Syria. Abu Salah worked whenever he could find work, making $15 a day. In August 2013, his neighborhood was the site of an alleged chemical weapon attack. Abu Salah misses his home, his neighbors, everything. He shushes the children as they run around the masjid’s red prayer area. They have come to the Al Huda School to take placement tests. “The public schools here [are] no good,” he says.

CARIBBEAN

>> continued from pg 6

is relocating to Florida to be with their grandchildren and will be dearly missed by old and new ISWA members and guests. The central feature were Caribbean treats such as Shark and Bake, a popular Trinidadian pocket sandwich served with condiments, found at beach shacks and street stalls throughout the island; Pepper

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His children are called ISIS terrorists everyday. Faizah, his 17-year-old daughter, says that they have not had an easy time after their move to the United States. “We didn’t come here to cause problems. We are not from ISIS!” “They ask me why are you here?” A neighbor punched her in the face after a verbal altercation. “After that my mother stopped us from playing outside; we stay inside our apartment.” She says she doesn’t have any friends and people hate her. Recently she was given a family project for school. “I don’t want to talk about my family at school; they don’t know anything,” says the feisty teenager. “We had a life in Syria. It is not like we didn’t have Internet, or a school we loved or friends and cafes.” “Someone asked me if I take a shower with my scarf! They are so ignorant,” she says rolling her eyes. She is facing anti-Muslim bigotry after all the trauma she has gone through since the war started in Syria. Abu Salah was carpenter in Damascus making bedroom furniture. He now drives a truck for Under Armor, a freight shipping and trucking company from Baltimore, Maryland. The family is grateful for the safety that they have in the US. “People here have rights,” Umm Salah chimes in. They also appreciated the people who came to visit and help them settle into their new life. One of Faizah’s happiest moments was visiting an Arab supermarket in Northern Virginia because it smelt like home.

Pot stew, a Guyanese national dish that is made with meat, strongly flavoured with cinnamon and the juice of a cassava called cassareep; Pine tarts, a pastry made with pineapple filling; and saltfish, fresh fish that has been salt-cured and dried until all the moisture has been extracted. The decorations and all goods were donated by the sisters, shares Alie. All proceeds benefit ISWA Parking Lot Extension.

Their neighbor, Umm Adnan’s family, is from the city of Homs. Government forces have hit both areas hard and both families do not know how their relatives are doing. She is pregnant with her 6th baby. A volunteer drives her to her prenatal appointment and she quietly thanks Allah for a life of peace. Her son accompanies me into a 7-11. Proudly, he takes out a plastic wallet and insists on paying for his own drink. An organic local Muslim effort has come together in anticipation of the Syrian that are expected to arrive in Maryland. From tutoring to doctor appointments and need assessments, volunteers have gathered funds and meet regularly to help the refugee families with employment and other financial, emotional and medical support. Khaled Balajem, one of the men who spearheaded the committee, says that they are trying to move all the Syrian refugee families together into one area near a large Islamic center, like Masjid Al Rahmah, so they feel more at home. On the current families’ recommendation, the Baltimore Syrian Refugee Committee, planned to receive the new family that arrived on November 20 to Baltimore. They intend to help the International Rescue Committee settle the refugee by filling in the gaps —such as interpreters and ethnic groceries— that make this transition into a new home easier, Unfounded fears that terrorists may infiltrate the refugee resettlement program have many Americans calling for a halt to

their arrival or cuts to funding for refugee assistance. “The United States denying refugees is exactly what Daesh wants. Their core recruitment message is that the West does not care about Muslims and that the West and Islam are incompatible. That is wrong, and we should not let Daesh dictate the narrative,” said Congressman Keith Ellison. Under the shade of Thurgood Marshall statue, almost a hundred supporters gathered at the Lawyer ’s Mall in Annapolis on November 20, 2015 to show their support for Syrian refugees. Blue and red refugees welcome signs were held up and chants were echoed so the staff at the Governor’s House could hear them. There were retired teachers, college students, and local business owners. “Let them in,” was their call to Governor Hogan. “When refugees come to this country they help stimulate the economy, they are contributing members of society,” said a supporter, as one by one a protester lead the rally, speaking from their hearts, evoking the constitution, the American spirit, the poem on the Statute of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless; tempesttossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

16 | CONTINUED CONFERENCE

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and the United Kingdom for the event which attracted about 500 attendees. Hamza Tzortzis, Alaa Elsayed, Daood Butt, Mohammad Elshinawy, Imam Zia Sheikh, Imam Karim AbuZaid, and Imam Okasha Kameny all came from outside the area, while Haroon Baqai from Dar-us-Salaam & Al-Huda School in College Park, Maryland was the only local speaker. Twinning of knowledge and action is the focus of this religious conference. Each one of the speakers spoke about a particular prophet and connected their lives to the issues relevant to Muslims today. Adam Sbita, a youth leader from the DC Metro was the master of ceremony. In these tough times, the audience which comprised primarily of youth and young professionals, need a dose of heavy duty spirituality. Imam Karim AbuZaid shared wisdom with audience, many of who grew up listening to him at PGMA where he was an imam, before moving to Denver. "You may think you have status in this world, if you want to know your true status wait until the Day of Judgment," he said. Don't disobey creator while obeying the creation. And if you have to refuse the creation to obey Allah, be gentle. Do it with kindness.

closest to us--that's where the 'Best of Nations' quality should come out,” stated Haroon Baqai, the principal of Al Huda School.

about the speeches, sincerity from the volunteers and speakers that just screams success... a means for us here in duniyah and in sha Allah in akhirah.”

We need to use our understanding, refer to revelation and establish its source. We must go straight to the Quran, it is from Allah; then establish hope and peace, urged Ustadh Hamza Tzortzis, who is famed for his dawah techniques and Islamic apologetics.

Attendee Tayyibah Khan said that she loved the way the conference was set up and the thought, effort and material that was put into it. “This experience was amazing and I learned so much from everybody there. Shout out to the heads and organizers who not only do work themselves but actually take the time to teach the volunteers and help others improve and get better. So thankful to have been a part of it!” she said.

Haris Qudsi handled logistics, Ibrahim Khan, Anam Tariq, and Saleh Hady managed the hospitality, Maysa ElSheikh led Programming, Ismaeel Faridi was in charge of the Bazaar, Muhammad Ishaq managed sales, Zakiya Sadeq did a great job running social media for the event. This entire team was lead by Arif Kabir and Zaynab Faizan. Organizer Fatimah Hoque, who was in charge of the Audio Visuals, said, “The awesome energy and barakah from TOF stays with me." There's something

com,” he noted. In a reflection shared on Facebook, Wakar Khan, ADAMS Youth Group leader as well as speaker buddy noted, "After a week of nonstop mainstream media and social media negativity, it was an amazing feeling to get away for a day to learn and serve at the Twins of Faith conference today. [We have] so much to be proud of and [will continue] working towards progress and helping others. Sometimes it's important to disconnect virtually and connect to real efforts. May Allah bless the organizers, volunteers, and scholars and continue their efforts for His sake."

There were some concerns by women right activists and other sisters about the all male panel and lack of representation of women scholars. Kabir responded that they were not able to secure women speakers for 2015. ”We hear your message loud and clear. If you're able to help us book speakers in 2016 with an academic background in Islamic studies, please email us at washington.dc@twinsoffaith.

Attendee Bilal Tariq shared "Twins of Faith DC conference is in session and the organizers have done a terrific job, [alhamdulillah]."

to come in and break bread with us. The community is hosting an Open Community Dinner for neighbors,” says Imam Johari Abdul- Malik, the outreach director of DAH.

Islamophobia stoked by Donald “Chump”, says Imam Johari, that is giving the green light to these kind of extremists. “It is in not okay to be homophobic, but it is okay to be Islamophobic,” says Imam Johari. Last Saturday, a young man came in with a Bible and yelled at the worshipers.

The conference was sponsored by ICNA Relief, Mishkah University, and WhyIslam, Pizza Roma Restaurant, and 315 NISA - Muslim Women's Helpline.

"Challenges come sometimes from those MOLOTOV

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2015, did not cause major damage to the masjid. The lit petrol bomb bounced off an iron gate at the Islamic Center and caused $200 worth of damage. Community leaders are grateful that it did not cause the the Social Services Office and Thrift Store on the property to catch on fire. Molotov cocktails can cause fire damage and are used to cause arson. Most media reports are calling it a fake bomb or a hoax device. 27-year-old Chester H. Gore tried to climb over the fence at 2 a.m. at night and threw the cocktail towards the building.

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DAH youth who live in the neighborhood confronted him and he ran away from the scene. They did some investigative work on their own through social media to identify him. He was charged with using a hoax explosive device, possession and use of illegal fireworks, entering the property of another for the purpose of causing damage based on religious conviction, and destruction of property, according to NBC News, on Thursday, November 19, 2015. In a similar case in Alexandria, VA in 2012, Leon Alphans Traille, Jr., 29, was charged with arson. Gore is being held without bond at the Fairfax County jail. “Rather than shutting down we are opening up, inviting our neighbors

“In Ramadan, in the richest county in America, we feed 1000 hungry people in our community every night.” The DAH Food Bank serves 250 people weekly and this week the masjid will be serving “something extra” in their baskets. Imam Johari describes Gore as an emotionally unstable man known to the youth of the community. He acted out after being fed the message of intolerance, says Johari. It is the climate of intolerance and

On December 5, Dar al Hijrah will send two truck loads of coats and blankets for Syrian Refugees in refugee camps overseas. Many neighboring churches and other interfaith partners are joining in solidarity and to say that they are willing to welcome Syrian refugees suffering from the largest refugee humanitarian crisis in modern history, says Imam Johari.

November 27th - December 24th 2015 FORUM

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models for masjid websites and using social media, nonprofit management and servant leadership, improving masjid organizational structure,as well as being a welcoming and caring masjid. Nana Firman is the American Muslim community’s voice of conscious to practice an eco-friendly lifestyle. She is a member of the Green Mosque Initiative for ISNA with Dr Ihsan Bagby. This Ramadan, the initiative successfully carried out a Green Ramadan campaign. She emphasized the 4 R's of reduce,reuse, recycle but most importantly to rethink before using anything that can increase your impact on the Earth. Firman was disappointed with the low attendance at her Greening the Masajid session, noting that this issue is not a priority amongst American Muslims. Programs being developed by the Task Force include a Green masjid certification Program, the Green Imam program, and a Green masjid guidelines app. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, imam of the Memphis Islamic Center, presented his vision of creating a Prophetic Masjid. Urging masjid leaders to be pragmatic in handling issues that divide a community, he stressed. Building of the masjid has been the primary concern of Islamic leadership since the time of the Prophet

Muhammad. They were places of knowledge, shurah, a hostel for students, a free hotel for travellers, a place to build bonds with people. “It is better to focus on a couple of things and do them well,” said Dr. Rafik Beekun is Professor of Management and Strategy, former chair of the Managerial Sciences Department at the University of Nevada in his session on masjid organization . The board has to champion the strategic plan and organizations that have a systematic plan in place will outperform the ones that don’t. He shared how masjid takeovers take place because of loopholes in the constitution of the Islamic Centers. Attendee Sheema Hai asked him about changes to constitution and he answered that changes in the constitution should be only allowed with a large majority and bylaws should be easier to change for issues that become obsolete that need to be changed. Other issues in masjid management that Dr Beekun brought up occurred when the Board of Directors assume governance and management responsibilities, which often leads to burnout, board members receiving little to no management training, cultural diversity challenges to board cohesion. A welcoming masjid increases the sense of belonging, attendance and volunteers. Dr Bagby suggested a masjid Tasleem squad that meets newcomers to the

The Turkish American Cultural Center, also known as the Dinayet Center of America, in Lanham, Maryland hosted the 3rd annual ISNA Masjid Forum. Designed and funded by the Turkish governmetn, the campus opened last year and includes an ornate masjid, a cultural center, social hall, sports facilities, and auditorium among other buildings. Internet Photo.

COMMUNITY NEWS | 17 masjid, gives them a tour and take their names and numbers and skillset to forward to the volunteer coordinator to form a welcoming masjid. Flowers in the hallway to engaging masjid signage, he shared many ideas to make Islamic centers more welcoming. Architect Chris McCoy’s session on Steps in Building a Masjid was widely attended by masjid leaders. McCoy Architects in Lexington, Ky,., has completed five mosques in the U.S. since 1998, with more currently in design or under construction including the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. He gave tips on avoiding pitfalls during the construction process, including downplaying construction costs to donor and not having volunteers on the project committee that have the actual tie to invest into the project. He urged masjid leaders to resist rural properties that are not convenient, recognize the value of multipurpose buildings and carefully consider renovation of facilities over new construction. Dr. Zainab Alwani is currently the Program Director and an Adjunct Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Northern Virginia Community College. She, along with Sarah Sayeed, who is currently a board member of Women In Islam, Inc and Aisha al-Adawiya addressed the Women Friendly Masjid and ISNA’s statement on inclusive masajid. The statement refers to the Quran and hadith :The general guideline was set by Prophet Muhammad when he ordered that women be allowed to freely attend the masjid: "If the wife of anyone of you asks permission to attend the masjid, he should not prevent her" ... Thus we call on all our masjids to be welcoming to women -- such that their experience at the masjid be uplifting and not demeaning. To realize the ideal of being welcoming to women, masjids should (a) ensure that women’s accommodations are comfortable, clean and well-lit; (b) support and facilitate women’s activities and groups; and (c) proclaim clearly on the minbar [or pulpit] and by other means that women are an integral part of the masjid. The statement was signed by several scholars. The session raised the heated topic of the divider in the musalla to separate men and women. “We call upon masjids to ensure that women have access to the main musalla to perform salah, listen

to the Jummah khutbah or attend and participate in lectures or discussions. This should be in addition to any separate area that currently exists for women. Recognizing that the architecture of some masjids may make it difficult to find a barrier-free space for women in the main musalla, especially for Jummah, masjids still have the duty to find a solution to realize the sunnah of including women in the main musalla.” The focus of the forum of leaders, imams, board members, and community members was on developing concrete recommendations for strengthening and growing mosques in North America by means of shared experiences, expert advice and discussion. Local imams, Imam Faizul Khan and Talib Shareef also spoke at the event, as well as Jimmy Jones, Mohammad Qatanani, Hazem Bata, Rasheed Rabbi, Saffet Catovic, and Atiya Aftab. Most attendees found the masjid forum beneficial. Some wanted to attend panels that were conflicting with each other. Some left disturbed. H. Syed, who is active in her masjid leadership, said, “I think ISNA is in a dangerous ‘fine line’ zone by making blanket statements for the Muslims in America. I don't envy the necessary tasks that [ISNA] has undertaken.” She says that ISNA needs to make it a point not to belittle or make Muslims that want a barrier when they pray or want to follow moonsighting feel backward or alienated. At the banquet that followed the forum, which was keynoted by Dalia Mogahed, the ISNA masjid development committee recognized the Islamic Society of Central New Jersey as the Green masjid of year for incorporating LEEDS green building practices and installing solar panels and The Islamic Center of Long Island won the Women Friendly Masjid of the Year. “This is part of our effort to develop standards for our masajid,” stated Dr Bagby. This year the masjid were vetted and voted by the committee members of the women friendly masjid taskforce and the Green Masjid taskforce. In the future there are plans to develop criteria and ask for nominations, says Firman.

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

18 | CONTINUED

Al-Rahmah Sunday School Puts a Dent in Hunger

On Sunday, November 1, 2015, AlRahmah Sunday School students and teachers, joined by ISB youth, community membersm and the Baltimore County Muslim Council, gathered by the hundreds in the ISB gymnasium to attempted to

package over 10,000 meals. The effort was the third annual "Stop Hunger Now" meal packing effort to help bring ready to eat meals to starving children and needy people. The event

started at 10 AM and ended around 12 noon making the per minute packing rate around 80 meals per minute. "This is the power of community in action," said one ISB community member. [Photos courtesy of Nasrin Rahman]

Al-Huda School Awarded Reaccreditation On April 23rd, 2015 Al-Huda School in College Park, Maryland received the oral report from Mr George Vosburgh, head of the Middle States Association visiting team, recommending reaccreditation of the K-12 school, the largest project of the Dar-us-Salaam Community. The report was delivered after a 4-day visit by a Middle States Association accreditation team who reviewed the school's curriculum, standards, and policies in addition to interviewing students, staff, board members, and parents. On Nov 12, 2015, Al-Huda School received the official Middle States Association decision to grant reaccreditation to the Al-Huda School, a decision that is valid for 7 years. The Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges reviews educational institutions to determine if they are meeting their own measures of growth and succcess. Prominent area institutions that have been accredited by the Middle States Association include the University of Maryland at College Park, Georgetown University, Howard University, and Georgetown Preparatory School.

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Americans Are Increasingly Skeptical Of Muslims. But Most Americans Don’t Talk To Muslims. By Amber Phillips The Washington Post, November But Robert Jones, the founder 24 , 2015 and CEO of PRRI, pointed out in an interview that aired Sunday Americans are more skeptical than with public radio news magazine ever of how Islam squares with Interfaith Voices that Americans their values and way of life — and are basing those opinions largely yet very few Americans actually on people they don't interact with. seem to interact with Muslims at all. "Muslims make up only about 1

That's changed, of course. At first Americans gave Muslims what Jones called a kind of "grace period," largely thanks to President George W. Bush emphatically declaring America is not at war with Islam (a point Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton likes to make but Republican candidates have disagreed with).

Those are findings from separate surveys from the Public Religion Seven in 10 Americans said they have seldom Research Institute that suggest or even never had a conversation with anyone that how Americans perceive Muslims is tied more to headlines who is Muslim in the past year. than personal experiences. The nonprofit just released its annual American Values Survey, which found that Americans' perceptions percent of the U.S. population," of Islam have turned "sharply he told host Maureen Fiedler, "and But as the years in the war on negative over the past few years." they're also heavily concentrated terror dragged on, Americans' in just a few cities around the perceptions have soured about A majority of Americans (56 country." a culture and religion they still percent) say the values of Islam remain largely separate from. are at odds with American values The geography of where American and way of life — an uptick in Muslims live could help explain The act of simply knowing recent years. why, when asked in an August someone from a minority group 2011 PRRI survey, seven in 10 can be a powerful perception (PRRI has asked this question Americans said they have seldom game-changer. Look no further four times since 2010, according or even never had a conversation than the recent speedy cultural to polling archives. Their most with anyone who is Muslim in the shift toward accepting gay and recent survey was conducted in past year. lesbian Americans — and allowing September and early October, them to marry — that coincided before the Paris attacks and before Before 9/11 in fact, Jones said, with more and more celebrities GOP presidential candidates most Americans hadn't really and athletes and neighbors and amped up their rhetoric when it thought much about Islam. co-workers being open about their comes to Islam and terrorism.) sexuality.

In fact, by the time the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June, nine in 10 Americans said they knew someone who was gay. It would seem Americans don't have that kind of connection with Muslims. Filling that knowledge gap is, of course, the media. And the brutality of the Islamic State — taped beheadings, brash threats, the Paris attacks — is dominating most American news coverage about Islam these days. When looked at through that perspective, it makes sense why a Washington Post/ABC News poll found 54 percent of Americans oppose bringing 10,000 new Syrian refugees into the country even after screening them. "We know that most Americans could not put Syria on a map," Jones told Interfaith Voices. "So what they hear is 'Syria equals Middle East equals Muslim.'" And in the absence of people they know — and perhaps like — who are Muslim, Americans' perceptions of what it means to be one could remain negative for as long as the headlines are.

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20 | CIVIL RIGHTS

Civil Rights

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Attacks on American Muslims are growing uglier by the day. It must stop. By Petula Dvorak

The Washington Post, November 23, 2015

Looks like fear is the main course being served in our country this week. Political opportunists running for president have been cooking up a heaping platter of anti-Muslim sentiment since the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks on Paris. Theyt Christians. If you don a little brick building that looks like a bank branch office and has been around for 27 years s expansion plans as a threat to the very fabric of America. a man said in a video of the Tuesday meeting posted online by the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. t happen, because you are terrorists.t the only one spewing hatred. A man wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with a flying eagle with American flag wings and the words kept getting up and shouting down the engineers and their

Muslim Student Says She was Attacked Because of Her Religion By Tammy Mutasa WLWT5, November 23, 2015

CINCINNATI —A Muslim woman is speaking out after she says she was called a terrorist and almost run over by an angry man in Clifton Monday night. Haneen Jasim, 22, said after a night of studying at the Starbucks on University Square, as she crossed the street, a man started honking, cursing and calling her a terrorist. The University of Cincinnati pre-med

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blueprints. he boomed, as murmurs and some low cheers fluttered around him. This was said in a public meeting. In front of a large group of Muslims who have lived, worked and worshiped in this community for years. About a center that has been sponsoring a food pantry, prayers and subversive events such as for nearly three decades. The Islamic Center basically, the size of a DennyAmerica counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country,Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect. The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam,Thatt represent peace. They represent evil and war.s founding values? Because it egged on by the grandstanding and lies of Donald Trump s a miracle drug.

In communities across America, we are turning on each other, on the very neighbors who have been part of the fabric of our country for decades. Fredericksburg was also plastered with fliers that warned residents that they are about to be inundated with Syrian refugees. “This means that hundreds of UNVERIFIED and UN-SECURED Muslim MEN will be wandering your streets . . .” read the flier, which was reported in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star.

student was wearing her hijab. “Very upsetting, very scary. I'm very, very nervous for me, my friends, my family,” said Jasim. “I'm terrified to cross the street now." But worse, Jasim said the man drove toward her and didn’t stop. She said three people walking in front of her grabbed her onto the sidewalk before the car could hurt her.

Jasim reported the incident to the Council on American Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR, which called Monday for a hate crime investigation by the FBI and Cincinnati police. The organization said at least three Muslims in Cincinnati have been harassed or attacked in the past week alone.

“Within an instant he tried to run over me. If it wasn't for the three people in front of me, grabbing me onto the sidewalk, I would have been dead right there,” said Jasim.

CAIR said one Muslim woman was assaulted in a Hyde Park Kroger parking lot and another Muslim woman was insulted and spat on by someone who was in a passing car.

The man drove off, and Jasim said she didn't catch a license plate, While shaken and terrified, she wasn't sure what police could do.

"It's very disappointing, as well that people in our community would stoop so low," said Karen Dabdoub, executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations.

Baloney. Not only are there no plans for any resettlement in Fredericksburg, the screening process for refugees to get into the United States takes 18 to 24 months. And the plan by the Obama administration to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into our vast country translates to about 200 per state. I somehow doubt all of them will take to the quaint streets of Fredericksburg. To be fair, it borders to refugees. (Itt need help This happened in Howard County Choose Civility.s time for all of us to put a stop to it. "Obviously the people here had nothing to do with the Paris attack or any terrorist attacks or terrorist ideology for that matter." CAIR said since the Paris terror attacks violence against Muslims has spiked in the country. "If you get to know any Muslim women, (they are) very nice people. We're very giving, we're very helpful so it kills me to think there's people who think we're bad, that we're terrorists, and this is not us, ISIS is not us," said Jasim. "We're not ISIS, Islam is not Isis and people need to understand that." Jasim said she is thankful to the three people who pulled her out of the street and saved her life.

November 27th - December 24th 2015

HEALTH & FAMILY | 21

Running for the Hills

“Sunshine Barakaat” By Jann McClary In May of 2011, Sister Jann McClary and her husband Tariq moved from the Washington DC metropolitan area to establish a new home in the mountains of Colorado, building it from the ground up as part of their plan to become free of the spiritual and physical stress of modern urban life. Sister Jann is documenting her experiences for the Muslim Link. See her earlier installments at www. muslimlinkpaper.com by searching for “Running for the Hills”. Make sure you select “Exact Phrase” in the search options. – TML Allah subhana wa ta'ala in His Magnificence has positioned this little blue orb we call Earth just so perfectly distanced from the brilliant orb we dance around every day, that we don't get hot enough to fry to a crisp, but instead get benefit in myriad ways. The sun is one of those amazing favors which you can't deny. We get heat from it. We get light from it. Some of us tan our little pale selves brown with it. A plant processes energy from it and then passes it on to us when we eat it. Energy from the sun is silent, efficient, and without moving parts. Solar energy is a fantastic ni'mah from Allah. That's why we decided early on that we wanted to go with solar energy to light our home and power our stuff. When you don't have stuff that needs to produce heat, solar energy is one of the most efficient ways to get power. If you have stuff like, irons, microwaves and toasters, anything that has a heating element, it's probably one of the worst because it takes too much power from your solar panels and becomes cost-inefficient. But if you can manage with doing all your ironing just once a week to save energy, popcorn made on the stove top and bread toasted

in a pan, then solar is right for just about everything else. What can you power with solar? Lights, computers, cell phones, stereos (remember those?), blenders, mixers, washing machines, power tools, refrigerators, water heaters, boats, and the list goes on. But wait a minute, you say, how can you power a hot water heater with solar? Isn't there a heating element in there somewhere? Ahh, dear reader, there are such contraptions as solar hot water heaters. They range from the tech-heavy DIY projects utilizing copper coils filled with some type of antifreeze liquid as a heat exchanger and solar heat collector panels, over to the plebeian heavy duty black plastic bags oriented toward the sun, on down to metal reflectors bouncing sunlight onto your water storage container. What you use depends on your time, money and technical ability. We plan to keep our solar panels to generate electricity for lights and household appliances for now. And since we're not so tech-savvy yet, for the time being we'll be using the caveman technique of heating water with our wood stove. Another thing you can do with solar energy is cook. Yes, you can bake, stew, boil and steam with a solar oven. It's the coolest thing! It's basically a wooden box lined with a reflecting material like foil, and painted black on the bottom to retain heat. Add a glass plate on top of the box, and four moveable reflecting flaps around the top edges of the box. Orient it to face the sun, put an oven thermometer in there and you can make rice, veggies, pies, cookies, bread and more – as long as the sun shines, of course. And that is where it gets a little tricky. As you know, the sun is not always beaming down happily on us. So the heart of a solar system is not the panels, but the batteries. These are what stores all that energy the panels collect. A good system

should have the capacity to store enough energy to last through three to five days of no sunshine. OK, so that's all well and good except, what do you do if there are more than five days of cloudy weather? Then you make sure you have a generator for backup. Sure, it's a little noisy, but at least you won't be sitting in the dark and the fridge will run for a while longer. And what happens when the generator runs out of gas, Miss Homesteader? Well, then you break out old school with the back up to the back up; lanterns and candles. Don't laugh, every homesteader's got a mega supply of both. Basically what it all comes down to is making sure your situation is covered. Anas ibn Malik reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I untie her and

trust in Allah?” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). You can have a lot of cool machines, gadgets and systems in place to help you handle that “camel”, and help you as a homesteader be self-sufficient. However, as Muslims, and now as homesteaders, we see that none of us is ever truly self-sufficient no matter what amount of backup we have. In Surat-ul Al Alaq Allah says “Nay! Verily man does transgress. Because he considers himself self-sufficient.” All that we have and are able to do is only because of the Mercy of Allah 'Azza wa Jal. So the fact that we can get electricity from the sun has nothing to do with us and our solar panels, even if we like to think we're providing our own power. We're just harvesting more of Allah's provision. One watt at a time.

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

22 | NATIONAL NEWS

National News

Islamophobia in an Election Year Discussion Held at Georgetown By Hena Zuberi

Muslim Link Staff Reporter

scary time and we need to have rational conversation injected with facts not fear.“

Anti-Muslim bigotry is at a shrill peak with the Republican Party’s presidential candidate Ben Carson’s demands that American Muslims take loyalty oaths, to Donald Trump’s pressing for Special IDs for Muslims and threatening to shut down masajid, to the planned anti-Muslim rallies in over twenty cities.

According to the Bridge Initiative Report: Americans’ views of Islam shifted during moments of politicization. “Americans are learning what Europeans have known for years: Islam-bashing wins votes,” wrote journalist Michael Scott Moore in 2010. Muslim voters are located in swing states such as Florida, Virginia and Ohio.

The facts are sobering. Amongst the regular reports of vandalizing of masajid, there have been three arrests made of individuals threatening to shoot up Islamic Centers. At least three reports of racial profiling and removal of Muslims from airlines were aired on television; a pregnant woman was assaulted in California as was mother picking up her school children in Toronto, shots were fired on a Muslim home in Florida. A masjid was also burnt down in Canada, and armed protestors are back in Irving.

Only 27 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Islam. And recent MSNBC polls say that 56 percent of Americans view that Islamic values are at odds with the American way of life.

Islamophobia in the Election Year was a panel discussion held at the Georgetown University on November 19, 2015 in collaboration with the Bridge Initiative. With a sold out hall at the International Cultural Center and a thousand people tuning in online, the new 11-minute documentary, American Muslims: Fact vs. Fiction, produced by the Unity Production Foundation, informed and engaged. The film provides poll-based answers to the most frequent questions Americans ask about their Muslim neighbors. The film highlighted the letter written by scholars to the leader of ISIS. Alex Kronemer, Executive Producer of UPF, which has made Prince of Slaves, and My Fellow American, made opening remarks. "If you really want to compete with each other compete with good deeds,” he said. The Bridge Initiative, a Georgetown University research project on Islamophobia, released Twenty Years of Americans’ Views on Islam and

....

Only 27 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Islam. And recent MSNBC polls say that 56 percent of Americans view that Islamic values are at odds with the American way of life.

Muslims. This report traces 20 years of polling data on Americans’ views on Islam and Muslims. The key finding was ‘that the Iraq War — not 9/11 — was a turning point for Americans’ views of Islam.’ Polling data found that during the middle of the Iraq War, positive views of Muslims’ religion declined, with negative views outweighing positive ones, the report states. There was no change in public opinion of Muslims after 9/11 or the Boston Bombings. The data changes after ISIS appears, according to the Institute of Policy and Understanding (ISPU). ISIS is as much as media organization as a military organization, said Dalia Mogahed, Head of Research at ISPU.

“It is feeding pornographic violence on a nightly basis.” ISIS is the Islamophobe’s favorite tool because they are so horrific and public with their violence so there is an uptick in Islamophobia, she said to the diverse crowd. We are selling fear instead of votes, with ISIS and election year happening at the same time, says Mogahed. Hate crimes released by the FBI show that anti-Muslim incidents are on the rise—135 in 2013 to 154 in 2014— yet incidents involving other minorities declined in 2014. Muslim leaders consider these figures conservative because many more incidents go unreported. “It is a very

Saafir Rabb, the CEO of Interculture gave the audience the perspective of a third of the American Muslim population. “The African American Muslim experience is very different,” he said. In African American dominated areas, Muslims are looked at as the people who save the neighborhood kids from drugs and feed the hungry, protect the women, he said. “Islamophobia is a symptom of a wider problem of racism and oppression. The solution is coalition building,” said Mogahed. Being angry about injustice is perfectly acceptable, said Linda Sarsour an emerging American Muslim leader from New York when the subject of radicalization was brought up. She urged the audience to channel that energy into standing up for social justice issues with other minorities and be concerned about issues such as immigration and racism. There was discussion about the need for the Muslim community to condemn versus the rising reluctance in the community that is tired of condemning events that have nothing to do with it. “I don’t condemn violence because I am a Muslim; I condemn violence because I am

>> ISLAMOPHOBIA Pg 26

November 27th - December 24th 2015

World Press

WORLD PRESS | 23

Life As A Drone Operator: 'Ever Step On Ants And Never Give It Another Thought?' In a secluded room at an airbase in Nevada, young men hold the power of life and death over people thousands of miles away. Former servicemen tell their story his computer in Creech that terminated the lives of insurgents in Afghanistan almost 8,000 miles away. He was a sensor operator, controlling the cameras, lasers and other information-gathering equipment on Predator and Reaper drones as well as being responsible for guiding Hellfire missiles to their targets once the pilot sitting next to him had pulled the trigger.

By Ed Pilkington

The Guardian, November 18, 2015 When Michael Haas, a former senior airman with the US air force, looks back on the missions he flew over Afghanistan and other conflict zones in a six-year career operating military drones, one of the things he remembers most vividly is the colorful language airmen would use to describe their targets. A team of three would be sitting, he recalls, in a ground control station in Creech air force base outside Las Vegas, staring at computer screens on to which images would be beamed back from high-powered sensors on Predator drones thousands of miles away.

Haas, a 29-year-old, in a Notre Dame baseball cap and Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey jersey, looks too youthful to be burdened by such enormous issues. Yet the existential sensation of killing someone by manipulating a computer joystick has left a deep and lasting impression on him. “Ever step on ants and never give it another thought? That’s what you are made to think of the targets – as just black blobs on a screen. You start to do these psychological gymnastics to make it easier to do what you have to do – they deserved it, they chose their side. You had to kill part of your conscience to keep doing your job every day – and ignore those voices telling you this wasn’t right.”

The aim of the missions was to track, and when the conditions were deemed right, kill suspected insurgents. That’s not how they put it, though. They would talk about “cutting the grass before it grows out of control”, or “pulling the weeds before they overrun the lawn”. And then there were the children. The airmen would be flying the Predators over a village in the tribal areas of Pakistan, say, when a series of smaller black shadows would appear across their screens – telling them that kids were at the scene. They called them “fun-sized terrorists”. Haas is one of four former air force drone operators and technicians who as a group have come forward to the Guardian to register their opposition to the ongoing reliance on the technology as the US military’s modern weaponry of choice. Between them, the four men clocked up more than 20 years of direct experience

at the coalface of lethal drone programs A s a s e n i o r a i r m a n i n t h e 1 5 t h TOP: An air force pilot conducts a training flight at Creech air force base, Nevada. Photograph: The Washington Post. BOTTOM: People gather at the site of a drone strike in southern Yemen on 11 August 2013. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters and were credited with having assisted in the targeted killings of hundreds of people in conflict zones – many of them almost certainly civilians.

reconnaissance squadron and 3rd special operations squadron from 2005 to 2011 – a period straddling the presidencies of George W Bush and Barack Obama – Haas participated in targeted killing runs from

Haas was relatively lucky, in that his team directly launched only two missile strikes during his 5,000 hours of drone flying. The first of those incidents, in January 2011, involved a group of insurgents in Helmand province, Afghanistan, who were exchanging gunfire with US troops on the ground and were duly eviscerated. “No-doubters”, the targets were called in the cold vocabulary of the military drone business, indicating certainty about their enemy status. Such certainty rarely existed, Haas said.

>> DRONE Pg 27

....

24 |

November 27th - December 24th 2015

ISLAM

Footsteps in the Stillness of the Night By Sheikh Àbd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî Sometimes, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam goes out at Tahajjud time to the home of his daughter Fātimah and his son-in-law Àlī. He calls out to them: “Will you not wake up and pray?” Àlī recalls to us one occasion when this happened: I called out to him: “O Messenger of Allah, I swear by Allah, we only pray what Allah has prescribed for us. Our souls are in Allah’s hands, and if He wishes to revive us, He does so.” Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam turned and walked away when I said this to him. He said nothing in reply. Then I heard him from far off slap his thigh and say to himself: “We only pray what Allah has prescribed for us!” Then he recited from the Qur’an: “The human being has ever been, more than anything, argumentative.”

Ever since that night, it has remained the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam’s habit to go to the graveyard. He leaves home near the end of the night.

As soon as he left, I got dressed and followed after him. He kept walking until he arrived at the graveyard. Then he stood for a long time. After a while, he raised his hands to the heavens. He did this three times, then he turned back. He hurried back and so did I. He walked almost at a jog, and I had to do so as well in order to get home before he did. I barely managed to lie down before he entered. He asked me: “What is with you, `Ā’ishah, that you are so out of breath? “Nothing,” I said.

Near the end of his life, the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam gets into the habit of visiting the graveyard of Madinah, al-Baqī`. He offers supplications on behalf of the people buried there. `Ā’ishah recalls to us the first time he does so: It was my night. He prepared to sleep, removing his day clothes and arranging his sandals at the foot of the bed. He laid

the edge of his waistcloth on the mattress and laid down. However, he remained like that for only long enough to think that I had fallen asleep. Then he slowly gathered up his clothing and slowly put on his sandals. He opened the door, went outside, and slowly closed the door behind him.

He said: “Either you will tell me, of the one who is All Aware will tell me.” I relented, saying: “Messenger of Allah, by my father and mother...” Then I told

>> FOOTSTEPS Pg 31

"Rely on Allah, and do not give up..." By Sheikh Salman al-Oadah Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said: “Strive for what benefits you and rely on Allah, and do not give up. If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If I had only done such and such.’ Instead say: ‘It is as Allah decreed and He does what He pleases’.” [Sahīh Muslim] When Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said: “Strive for what benefits you…” he was encouraging us to hasten in seizing the positive opportunities that come our way. When he added: “… and rely on Allah…”, he was showing us that we should draw upon our faith in order to strengthen ourselves in our efforts. This is why the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam did not stop there. He continued by saying: “… and do not give up.”

....

`Umar used to say: “I do not worry about my prayers being answered, but about what I am going to pray for, because if I pray for something, its answer comes with it.”

How can anyone give up on the fuel of one’s spirit and the embers of one’s faith? Finally, he concluded by saying: “If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If I had only done such and such.’ Instead say: ‘It is as Allah decreed and He does what

He pleases’.” [Sahīh Muslim] Faith is not blind, nor is it a form of resignation and a denial of our great human potential. It does not mean we should spend our time lamenting in the ruins of the past and reject change.

Instead, faith is our certainty that good is wherever Allah places it, and that every day you bring forth a new dream, a new hope, and a new success. A young man once asked me about a book entitled The Secret by Australian author Rhonda Byrne. His question compelled me to buy it and read it. I took it with me and read it on some of my travels. It presents the idea that we must encourage ourselves to be optimistic, proactive, and believe that what we want can happen; indeed that it will be reality as soon as we utter it, believe it in our hearts, and rid ourselves of our pessimistic thoughts. People have to focus their minds and thinking on what they want and what must be, instead of on what they fear and detest. This idea reminded me of something that >> RELY Pg 26

November 27th - December 24th 2015

CONTINUED | 25

....

November 27th - December 24th 2015

26 | CONTINUED ISLAMOPHOBIA

>> continued from pg 22

a human being,” said Sarsour. “I will not stand and condemn violence by ISIS as a Muslim because reinforces that Muslims have something in common with ISIS.” She iterated that we do not expect any other group of people to do that. Tarik El-Messidi of Celebrate Mercy brought up the role of youth engagement at masajid with investment of the community into youth directors in full positions and in the movie highlighted the Feed Their Legacy campaign by

RELY

the Muslim community that fed 75,000 people after the three Muslims students were slayed in North Carolina. 75 percent American Muslims report donating to local charity and this statistic was featured in the film. Some facts shared in the film: American Muslims are job creators - 24 percent have started their own companies. The US government estimates that the American Muslim population is close to 7 million. More American Muslims believe that killing a civilian is never acceptable than any other faith community in the United States. “Post the attacks in Paris we had invited

ill of Me, it is to his detriment.”

>> continued from pg 24

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “If a servant relies on Allah as He out to be relied upon regarding moving a mountain off its base, then if that person is required to move a mountain, he will do so.” I found that the basic idea of The Secret is one that we need to instil in ourselves, without dissipating its spirit by debating its finer details. This is because the book’s basic idea is in reality one of the prime motivators for productive work and fortitude. She says hundreds of things in her book trying to explain the detailed implications and patterns of her ideas, but they really introduce only two or three new concepts. One of these concepts is reflected in something Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam’s quotes his Lord as saying: “I am as my servant thinks of Me, so think of Me how you wish.” In some narrations, it continues: “If he thinks well of Me, it is for his benefit, and if he thinks

The expectations being referred to here pertain to this world as well the Hereafter. Good thoughts lead to good actions and good expectations lead to productive work. When we want to take hold of a new idea, we do not want to undermine it by over-thinking it, dissecting it, and qualifying it with exceptions. If we do that, it will sputter away and die. Once the idea is firmly in mind, it becomes easier to modify it and improve upon it. The second new idea she introduces is expressed in the hadīth where the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said: “When you beseech Allah, you should be certain that He will answer.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī] What this means is that when we call upon Allah in prayer, we should know in our hearts that He will answer us. We should not supplicate with an attitude of experimentation or with feelings of doubt and scepticism. `Umar used to say: “I do not worry about my prayers being answered, but about what I am going to pray for, because if

some non Muslim guests to the conference on November 1. They asked us if we were still having the conference and we said of course, these people have nothing to do with. They do not reflect us or who we are,” says Bilquees Abdallah from the Islamberg community in New York. Representatives were here to attend the screening and the discussion

”[Muslims] are not the problem, they are the solution.”

“A lot of anti-Muslim sentiment is not organic, it is manufactured for political reasons,” stated Dalia Mogahed, director of research at the ISPU.

Muslims around the country are bracing themselves for a tough 2016.

Muslims run over 100 free medical clinics around the country and there are 20, 000 Muslim physicians in the United State.

“Can't thank [the organizers and speakers] enough for such a powerful, informative and eye-opening session,” noted Najam Us Saqib. The event launched a nationwide set of screening events with the film at different universities and communities.

To learn more or to book a screening visit: http://www.upf.tv/films/americanmuslim-facts/

I pray for something, its answer comes with it.”

those who prevent them from attaining the only “relief” they can see in their lives.

These are among `Umar’s many inspired words. He is not only referring to deciding what to say in his supplications, which is in itself a good and blessed concern; he is speaking about something more profound: the need for our hearts and minds to have full trust in Allah and His promise.

The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam was once asked: “Who are the best people?” He replied: “Those who live long and do the best deeds.” [Sunan alTirmidhī]

Allah says: “Call upon me; I will answer you.” [Sūrah Ghāfir: 60] And He says: “Who is it that answers the one in need when he calls out?” [Sūrah al-Naml: 62] And He says: “When my servant asks you about me, I am near. I answer the supplications of those who beseech me.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 186] Dark thoughts are enough to hurl us into dark places, as dank and stifling as we can imagine. It is as is we are hastening on death with our pessimistic thoughts. It is no surprise that pessimistic people in their psychological isolation, often appeal for death to hasten itself, and they lash out

He also said: “None of you should ever wish for death. Never pray for it before it comes to you of its own accord. When you die, your deeds come to an end, and a believer’s life is never prolonged except for good.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim] Life is a blessing which Allah bestows upon the living. It was the Prophet’s Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam habit that when he woke up, he would thank Allah and say: “Praise be to Allah who revived us after causing us to die and to Him is the final gathering.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim] The Prophet’s Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam guidance is not just a provision for the next life, but for this one as well.

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>> continued from pg 23

there were high-fives all round. He was celebrated for having “-----” – he had broken his drone virginity with a killing.

He has also been spared the burden of knowing the overall number of killings in which he played a part as a cog in the wider machinery of drone warfare. When he left the air force, Haas was given a report card that revealed the tally, but he chose to ignore it.

In the fourth of the Hellfire strikes in which Bryant directly participated, his team was called in to take out a group of five tribal individuals and their camel who were travelling through a pass from Pakistan to Afghanistan. They were said to be carrying explosives for use in attacks on US troops.

DRONE

“They handed me a closed envelope with the number in it, but I never opened it. I didn’t want anything to do with it,” he said. Brandon Bryant, a staff sergeant who worked with US air force Predator drones between 2005 and 2011 as a sensor operator and imagery analyst, did not get away so lightly. He knows for a fact – he saw it on his screen – that he was directly involved in the deaths of 13 people in five separate Hellfire strikes, one in Iraq and the rest in Afghanistan. Bryant, 30, his head shaved and tattoos covering the backs of his hands, carries himself like a leader and seems to be driven by a determination to own a personal responsibility for the drone campaign he was involved in for five years and five days. His first “shot”, as the former drone operators call the strikes, was in Afghanistan, where Bryant helped guide in F-16 fighter aircraft to kill three individuals who he was told were reinforcements coming to join antiUS Taliban forces. But when he “got eyes” on the targets, it was obvious to him from their body movements – they were hunkering down, gesturing, looking around – that they were terrified, suggesting to him that they were unlikely to be trained fighters. After the strike was completed, when Bryant was back with his squadron,

Bryant, together with a pilot and mission coordinator who formed the other two members of his team, tracked the group for several hours from their computers outside Las Vegas. They flew the Predator drone out of sight and beyond earshot of the targets at about 20,000 feet and a distance of about four nautical miles from the group on the ground. He was puzzled during that time, because there was no sign of any weapons on the men or in the baggage carried by the camel. The drone team patiently waited for the men to descend the valley and bed in for the night, before they let rip with the Hellfire. Even then, there were no secondary explosions, which made Bryant think that his hunch had probably been right – five men and a camel had been reduced to dust for no apparent reason.

myriad other stresses of sitting in a tin box in Nevada tracking individuals for potential assassination on the other side of the globe, has taken a heavy toll on Bryant and other drone operators. Studies have found similar levels of depression and PTSD among drone pilots working behind a bank of computers as among military personnel deployed to the battlefield. The psychological effect can hit personnel in unexpected ways. Cian Westmoreland was a senior airman based at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan, working as a technician to set up the communications infrastructure that acts as the backbone of the drone system. Though he never pulled the trigger or used a joystick to guide in missiles, the lethal nature of his work was driven home to him when his superior came to his unit one day and said: “We are killing bad guys now, boys.”

“We waited for those men to settle down in their beds and then we killed them in their sleep. That was cowardly murder,” he said.

Westmoreland was troubled by the disclosure, and from 2009 to this day has been disturbed by recurring nightmares. “I’m in the radio unit flipping switches, with my boss yelling at me to get it up and running. Then all of a sudden it does start working and I realize with a jolt what I’ve done. I run out of the control station and now I’m in a village in Afghanistan and the whole place is burnt out and there’s a woman on the ground covered in soot and a child crying over her. I go up to help the child, but half of her face is blown off and there’s nothing I can do.”

These direct incidents were harrowing enough for Bryant. But then, when he was honorably discharged from the air force in 2011, he made the mistake of doing what Haas had refused to do: he opened the envelope with the report card in it that itemized the number of killings in which he had played some assisting role.

The four former drone operators who talked to the Guardian described the various ways in which they and their peers would try to cope during shifts of up to 12 hours. Airmen would show up to the control station drunk; others would sleep on the job, read comic books or play video games on their secure computers.

The number was 1,626.

Despite the load they were carrying, they were disparaged within the wider air force. “We were looked down upon,

The impact of such knowledge, and the

because we were wearing flight suits but not sitting in the cockpit of an actual aircraft. Drones were like a joke in the military,” Bryant said. Toward the end of his service, Haas switched to training new recruits in the technology of drone warfare. That shocked him anew, as he discovered that many of the younger intake were gung-ho about the power they wielded at their fingertips. “They just wanted to kill,” he said. He remembers one training session with a student in which they were flying live over Afghanistan. The student said that a group of people on the ground looked suspicious. Why? Haas asked. Because they look like they are up to no good, the student replied. Would you act on that? the instructor asked. Sure, the student said. Haas immediately pulled him from his seat, took over the mission himself, and promptly failed the student. “I tried to get the students to understand that preservation of innocent life had to take priority.” Because he failed the student, Haas was later rebuked by senior officers. They told him that they were short of bodies to keep the drones flying, and they ordered him to pass students in future so that there would be a sufficient number trained and ready to go. Drone premieres theatrically in North America on Friday in New York. Directed by Tonje Hessen Schei and produced by Flimmer Film, it features former drone operators as well as people in conflict zones living under threat of drone attack. This article was amended on 19 November 2015, to correctly identify where Cian Westmoreland was based.

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Salaah times for November 27th - December 24th, 2015

If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth 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.

Day

Date

Hijri

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

Nov 27

15/2

5:46

7:03

11:56

Sat

16/2

5:47

7:04

11:56

2:29

4:48

6:06

2:29

4:48

6:06

Sun

17/2

5:48

7:05

11:57

2:28

4:47

6:06

Mon

18/2

5:49

7:06

11:57

2:28

4:47

6:05

Tue

Dec 1

19/2

5:50

7:07

11:58

2:28

4:47

6:05

Wed

20/2

5:51

7:08

11:58

2:28

4:47

6:05

Thu

21/2

5:51

7:09

11:58

2:28

4:47

6:05

Fri

22/2

5:51

7:09

11:58

2:28

4:47

6:05

Sat

23/2

5:52

7:10

11:59

2:28

4:46

6:05

Sun

24/2

5:54

7:12

12:00

2:28

4:46

6:05

Mon

25/2

5:55

7:13

12:00

2:28

4:46

6:05

Tue

26/2

5:55

7:13

12:00

2:28

4:46

6:05

Wed

27/2

5:56

7:14

12:01

2:28

4:46

6:06

Thu

28/2

5:57

7:15

12:01

2:28

4:46

6:06

Fri

29/2

5:58

7:16

12:02

2:29

4:47

6:06

Sat

1/3

5:58

7:17

12:02

2:29

4:47

6:06

Sun

2/3

5:59

7:17

12:03

2:29

4:47

6:06

Mon

3/3

6:00

7:18

12:03

2:29

4:47

6:07

Tue

4/3

6:00

7:19

12:04

2:30

4:47

6:07

Wed

5/3

6:01

7:20

12:04

2:30

4:48

6:07

Thu

6/3

6:02

7:20

12:05

2:30

4:48

6:08

Fri

7/3

6:02

7:21

12:05

2:31

4:48

6:08

Sat

8/3

6:02

7:21

12:05

2:31

4:48

6:08

Sun

9/3

6:03

7:21

12:06

2:31

4:49

6:09

Mon

10/3

6:04

7:23

12:07

2:32

4:50

6:10

Tue

11/3

6:04

7:23

12:07

2:33

4:50

6:10

Wed

12/3

6:05

7:23

12:08

2:33

4:51

6:11

Thu

13/3

6:05

7:24

12:08

2:34

4:51

6:11

Source: Islamicfinder.org

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

Request For Duaa To Allah We Belong, and to Him is Our Return “Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 10-30-2015 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of community member Sister Brenda Chaudhry. Janazah was on October 30, 2015 in Ellicott City, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower her with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant her the highest ranks in paradise, and give her family support and patience during these difficult times. (Source: Dar Al Taqwa) 10-30-2015 It's with great sadness we announce that Br. Mian Mehboob Elahi Johri has returned to Allah (SWT). Janazah prayer was on October 31, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah (swt) forgive all his sins, widen his grave, shower HIS mercy upon him, open the doors of Jannah and grant him the highest place in Jennah al Firdous Aameen. May Allah give them sabr in this difficult time, protect us all and only call us back when He is most pleased with us. Aameen. (Source: E. Baig) 11-1-2015 Sr. Ahmedi Begum, Mother of Dr. Abdullah, mother in law of Dr. Sofia Abdullah and a member of Br. Javed Malik's extended family passed away. May Allah accept their good deeds, forgive their shortcomings and enter them into Jannat ul Firdaus. May Allah grant strength and patience to the families to bear this loss, Aameen. (Source: ICM) 11-1-2015 Sr. Safura Chowdhury, mother of Br. Mostafiz Chowdhury and mother in law of Sr. Farida Chowdhury has passed away. May Allah accept their good deeds, forgive their shortcomings and enter them into Jannat ul Firdaus. May Allah grant strength and patience to the families to bear this loss, Aameen. (Source: ICM) 11-04-2015 It's with great sadness we announce that Sr Bahra Vukovich, Mother of Br Hasib Vukovich, has returned to Allah (SWT). Janazah prayer was on November 4, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah (swt) forgive all his sins, widen his grave, shower HIS mercy upon him, open the doors of Jannah and grant him the highest place in Jennah al Firdous - Aameen. May Allah give

them sabr in this difficult time, protect us all and only call us back when He is most pleased with us. Aameen. (Source: E. Baig) 11-7-2015 Fakhar Haq Nawaz, mother of Arshad Nawaz, has passed away. May Allah accept her good deeds, forgive her shortcomings and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM) 11-9-2015 Br. Tauqeer Jeelani, husband of Sr. Nuzhat, has passed away. His Salat-ul-Janazah was on Nov 10, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM) 11-13-2015 It is with the great regret we announce that Br. Jamal Salah, father of Br. Salah has returned to Allah (swt). Janazah prayer was on November 13, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah (swt) forgive all him sins, widen his grave, shower HIS mercy upon him and enter him into the highest level in Jennat al Firdous. May Allah give them sabr (patience) to bear the loss. Aameen. (Source: A. Ahmad)

CONTINUED | 29

Upcoming Events In Your Area Rekindling Your Iman Saturday, November 28, 2015 03:00pm - 06:00pm Featuring Shaikh Khalid Omer (First Hijrah Foundation Imam). Guest Speaker: Dr Daoud Nassimi. Youth Program, question and answer session, bake sale by FHF Youth Group, many more. Babysitting is available. Location : Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th St. NW, Washington DC 20012 ================================================================

IRHSCA Fundraising and Honors Award Banquet Saturday, November 28, 2015 07:00pm - 10:00pm The Islamic Research and Humanitarian Service Center of America (IRHSCA) presents: Changing Lives One Shahadah at a Time. Featuring Mahdi Bray, Shaykh Khalid Yasin, Said Durrah and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Yaki. Tickets: $35 in advance, $25 for seniors. Tickets on sale Now, online IRHSCA.ORG - Location : Prince Georges Ballroom, 2411 Pinebrook Avenue, Landover, MD 20785 - Contact : For more info, call 240-461-8662 ================================================================

Maryland Emergency Preparedness Summit for Faith Leaders Thursday, December 10, 2015 08:00am - 01:00pm This premier summit is designed to: Educate faith leaders on challenges and potential threats facing houses of worship, Empower faith leaders on how best to secure houses of worship, provide fundamental guidelines to train staff and protect congregations, connect faith leaders to relevant resources and information, provide an opportunity to ask questions, share strategies, network, and voice concerns. NOTE: This summit is open to all faith-based leaders, representatives and board/committee members affiliated with religious institutions in Maryland. Space is limited. Participants must register in advance and note their religious organization affiliation. 18 and above may attend, Free parking, Cost: $10.00 - Location : Center For Social Change, 6600 Amberton Drive, Elkridge, MD 21075 - Contact : CAIR Md. Outreach Mgr. Zainab Chaudry: Email: zchaudry@cair.com; Phone: (410) 971-6062 ================================================================

11-15-2015 It is with great sadness we announce that Sr. Fawzia Abbas Alwazir, wife of Br. Niazi Alaswadi and the mother of Manal, Mohammad, Mawada and Ali has returned to Allah (swt). Janazah prayer was on November 16, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah (swt) forgive all her sins, widen her grave, shower HIS mercy upon her, open the doors and grant her the highest place in Jannat al Firdous. May Allah give them sabr in this difficult time, protect us all and only call us back when He is most pleased with us. Aameen. (Source: E. Baig) 11-23-2015 It is with great sorrow we announce the passing away of Sister Almas Azeem’s father, Ghulam Mohiuddin Gilani. Salaat ul Janazah was on November 24, 2015 in Mississauga, ON. May Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Ameen. (Source: ICM)

Ambition Through Submission Sunday, December 13, 2015 4:30pm Dar-us-Salaam cordially presents Ambition Through Submission - 2015 Fundraising Dinner and Family Night. Sh Abdulbary Yahya, Dr Altaf Husain, Imam Safi Khan. Tickets: $39 before Dec 6th, $49 before Dec 13th, $60 at the door on Dec 13th. Childcare: $25, Youth Workshop $30. To purchase tickets, visit www.duscommunity.org - Location: Bethesda North Marriott - Contact: 301-982-2061 ================================================================

3Di Second Annual Free-Throw-A-Thon Sunday, December 20, 2015 01:00pm - 07:00pm 3Di Athletics is excited to invite you to our second annual Free-Throw-a-Thon. Friends and families can come together for a day full of basketball, friendly competition and fun. Each participant will attempt 50 free throws, and by doing so, have the opportunity to raise money to help raise money for the Zehra and Hussein Scholarship Fund. The participant who raises the most money after collecting his or her pledges will win a iPad Mini, and the participant who makes the most free-throws out of 50 will win a $100 Nike gift card!. Participants canregister and find step-by-step instructions at: www.3diathletics.com/r Online registration: $10, Online registration & T-Shirt: $20 - Location : James Hubert Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905 - Contact : FB: www.facebook. com/3DiAthletics- Twitter: www.twitter.com/3DiAthletics - Instagram: @3DiAthletics

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30 |

MASJID LISTING

November 27th - December 24th 2015

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. Listing is organized by name of city. 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Baitul Mukarram: 2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Zakaria Masjid 26243 Gum Spring Road, Chantilly, VA 20152, USA

Tel: 571-969-2123|www.ziacademy.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Badr Community Center Of Dumfries: 17794 Main Street, Dumfries, VA 22026 Tel: 703-554-7983 www.bccd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Ul-ghuraba (Masjid Ur Rahmah): 155 Baker St., Emporia, VA 23487 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al Hijrah: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030 | www.hijrah.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Moroccan American community Organization Center 5697 Columbia Pike, #200 Falls Church,VA 22041 Info@macous.org | www.macous.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Northern VA Trust (Icnvt): 4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 Tel: 703-591-0999 www.icnvt.org | E-mail: Info@icnvt.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al-noor (Muslim Assoc. Of VA): 5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808 Fax: 703-221-8513 www.daralnoor.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Manassas Mosque: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Virginia: 1241 Buford Rd., Richmond, VA 23235 Tel: 804-320-7333 www.icva1.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Greater Richmond 6324 Rigsby Road, Richamond, VA 23226 Tel: 804-673-4177 | www.isgr.org

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------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 Ummah of Fredericksburg Masjid Ar Raja 10127 Piney Branch Road Spotsylvania VA 22553 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Heritage Center (IHC): 262 A-3 Cedar Ln., Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: 703-206-9056 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Falah 14918 Jefferson Davis Hwy Woodbridge, VA 22191 Tel: 703-490-2220|masjidal-falah.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON D.C.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Ivy City Masjid: 2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 Tel: 202-904-9668 E-mail: masjidivycity@yahoo.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Muhammad: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832 www.masjidmuhammad.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------The Islamic Center: 2551 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343 www.theislamiccenter.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------First Hijra Muslim Comm. Center: 4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20011 www.firsthijrah.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-islam: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, D.C. 20019 E-mail: Imammusa@hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------New Africa Islamic Community Center of Washington. DC. 1628 Good Hope Road, SE Washington, DC. 20020 202.678-1881 | www.naiccdc.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Darr ul Tawheed 3765 First St SE Washington DC 20032 202-520-9997 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Society Of Washington, D.C.: Howard Center, Room 805 (Above Hu Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MARYLAND

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

Dar-us-Salaam: 5301 Edgewood Rd., College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848 www.duscommunity.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Easton 126 Port Street Unit # 1 Easton, MD 21601 Tel: 410-829 7924 islamicsocietyofeastonmd.yolasite.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Zamzam 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Tel: 410-284-2840 www.masjidzamzam.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar al-Taqwa: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711 www.taqwa.net --------------------------------------------------------------------------Maryum Islamic Center (MIC) 3280 Pine Orchard Lane, Suite A Ellicott City, MD 21042 Tel: 443-574-5188 www.maryumcenter.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Hikmah: 11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington, MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Frederick (ISF): 1250 Key Parkway, Frederick, MD 21702 Tel: 301-682-6090 www.isfmd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Maryland (ICM): 19411 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Tel:301-840-9440 www.icomd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Makkah Learning Center (MLC): 814 Brandy Farms Ln., Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.isamd.org Email: Info@mlcmd.org--------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Germantown (ISG): 19825 Blunt Rd., Germantown, MD 20874 Tel: 240-277-7758 | www.isgtown.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ibn Taymiyyah: 8000 Mlk Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-322-8105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society of Western Maryland: 2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Southern Maryland Islamic Center (SMIC): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639 Tel: 410-535-0000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Avondale Islamic Center: 4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782 Tel: 301-779-9292 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prince Georges Muslim Assoc.(PGMA): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd., Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942 www.pgmamd.org Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441 E-mail: Imam@pgmamd.org. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Turkish American Community Center 9704 Good Luck Rd, Lanham, MD 20706 Tel: 301-459-9589 | www.taccenter.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------La Plata Masjid: 111 Howard Street, La Plata, MD 20646 Tel: 301-609-8769 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Com. Center Of Laurel (ICCL): 7306 Contee Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 Tel: 301-317-4584 | www.icclmd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Ghurabaa: 8220 Washington St., South Laurel, MD 20724. Tel: 301-604-3295 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Lexington Park 22583 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20619 Tel: 240-538-7839 or 561-414-0994 www.iclpmd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Community Center of Potomac 10601River Road, Potomac MD 20854 www.iccpmd.com | 301-983-0383 E-mail: info@iccpmd.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------Randallstown Islamic Center 3117 Rices Lane Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 443-845-3504 www.ricbaltimore.org E-mail: Info@ricbaltimore.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of The Washington Area (ISWA): 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-879-0930 | www.iswamd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Education Society of Maryland 11504 Veirs Mills Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20902 Tel: 301- 933-3838 --------------------------------------------------------------------------Muslim Community Center (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 Tel: 301-384-3454 | www.mccmd.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------IMAAM Center (Indonesian Muslim Association of America): 9100 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD 20910 Tel: 301-588-0693 | www.imaam.org Email: infoimaam@gmail.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------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

November 27th - December 24th 2015 FOOTSTEPS Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager: Stephanie Benmoha Layout: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Urooj Fatima Yaman Shalabi Fatimah Waseem Hena Zuberi Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published once a month on Fridays and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam.

>> continued from pg 24

him everything. He said: “So you were the dark from I saw in front of me?” “Yes.” He gently nudged me in the ribs and said: “Did you really think that Allah and His Messenger would do you wrong?” I said: “Whatever the people conceal, Allah will know it.” He then explained: “Gabriel came to me when you saw me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you, for he did not come to you, as you were not fully dressed. I thought you were asleep, and I did not want to wake you, because I thought you would get worried. “Gabriel told me: ‘Your Lord has

CONTINUED| 31 commanded you to go to the graveyard and seek forgiveness for those who are buried there’.” I asked: “How should I do so, Messenger of Allah?” He answered: “Say: Peace be upon you, believing Muslim denizens of the graves. May Allah show mercy on those who have gone ahead of us, and those who will come later on, and we shall, God willing, join you soon.” Ever since that night, it has remained the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam’s habit to go to the graveyard. He leaves home near the end of the night. When he is at the graveyard, he makes the following salutation: “Peace be upon you, believing denizens of the grave. You have received early what has been promised you. We shall, God willing, join you soon. O Allah, forgive the denizens of this graveyard.”

away before they had the chance to see Allah bless the Muslims with success. They never got to see the people entering into Islam in droves. They died when the Muslims were few, bearing great hardships in patience and perseverance. The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam, near the end of his life, is busy. He has to attend to the delegations coming to Madinah from all over Arabia to profess their allegiance. He has to deal with the growing affairs of state as the realm of Islam grows larger. Nevertheless, he sets aside time from his rest to visit their graves. He remembers the blessed time he spent with them and raises his hands in supplication to his Lord on their behalf. The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam knows that his time on Earth is short, and he wishes to say goodbye to both the living and the dead before he departs for the company of his Lord.

The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam gives up the night’s tranquility to visit the graves of his Companions who passed

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-us-Salaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link PO Box 596 College Park, MD 20741 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: (240) 209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at office@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2015

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marketplace TML ADVERTISERS INDEX

CONTINUED SALAAH TIMES | |

Your Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Restaurant Section

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 33

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Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

1 Za 00% Habih lal a

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Chinese Halal Cuisine

6366 Commerce Street Springfield, VA 22150 Phone: 703-912-3118, 703-912-5855

Hours

Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm (Last Dine In: 9:30pm) Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm (Last Dine In: 10:30pm)

Lunch Buffet (except holiday) 11am-3:30pm Monday-Friday 7.95 plus tax

Website: www.mandarinchinesehalal.com Email: mandarinhalal@hotmail.com

FOOD TRUCK COMING SOON!

CHEF’S SPECIALS Served with White Rice Hakka Crispy Chicken Hakka Crispy Beef Spicy Crispy Shrimp Sweet & Sour Combo (Chicken & Shrimp) Sesame Chicken General Tao’s Chicken General Tao’s Beef General Tao’s Combo (Chicken & Beef ) Orange Chicken Orange Beef Orange Combo (Chicken & Beef ) Sweet & Sour Fish Chili Fish Spicy Crispy Fish Manchurian Fish Hunan Fish Triple Delight (Chicken, Beef & Shrimp) Chicken in Chef’s Special Sauce

15.50 16.95 13.95 14.95 12.50 12.50 13.95 14.95 12.50 13.95 14.95 17.95 17.95 17.95 17.95 17.95 14.50 11.95 7.50 8.00 9.00 9.00 3.95 9.00 6.50 5.25

SIZZLING PLATTERS Shrimp on Sizzling Platter Steak on Sizzling Platter Scallops on Sizzling Platter Sizzling Chicken Sizzling Fish

5.50 6.25 6.25 4.00

DAILY SOUP Egg Drop Soup Wonton Soup Chicken Corn Soup Hot & Sour Soup Chicken Tom Yum Soup Shrimp Tom Yum Soup

6.00 6.50 7.50 7.50 7.50 8.50

FRIED RICE Reg.

Vegetable Fried Rice 9.00 Chicken Fried Rice 9.50 Beef Fried Rice 9.50 Shrimp Fried Rice 9.50 Combo Fried Rice 10.00 (Chicken , Beef & Shrimp) 10.00 Hakka Fried Rice (Chicken & Shrimp)

Spicy

Manchria

9.00 10.00 9.50 10.50 9.50 10.50 9.50 10.50 10.00 11.00 10.00 11.00

LO MEIN (NOODLE)

APPETIZERS Fried Chicken Wings (8) Spicy Chicken Wings (8) General Tao’s Wings (8) Buffalo Style Wings (8) Spring Rolls (2) Spicy Chicken Pakora Teriyaki Beef/Chicken Fried Wontons (8)

Spicy Fried Tofu (8) Shrimp Tempura (4) Crab Rangoon (6) French Fries

18.95 18.95 18.95 18.95 18.95

Plain Lo Mein 8.00 8.00 9.00 Vegetable Lo Mein 9.50 9.50 10.50 Chicken Lo Mein 10.50 10.50 11.50 Beef Lo Mein 10.50 10.50 11.50 Shrimp Lo Mein 10.50 10.50 11.50 Combo Lo Mein 11.25 11.25 12.25 (Chicken, Beef & Shrimp)

SINGAPORE RICE NOODLE With curry or brown sauce Vegetarian Singapore 11.25 11.25 12.25 Chicken Singapore 11.25 11.25 12.25 Chicken & Shrimp Singapore 11.25 11.25 12.25 Beef Singapore 11.25 11.25 12.25 Shrimp Singapore 11.25 11.25 12.25 Combo Singapore 11.25 11.25 12.25

CHICKEN Served with White Rice Chicken with Broccoli Chicken with Mixed Vegetables Hunan Chicken Chicken in Garlic Sauce Chicken in Cashew Nuts Mongolian Chicken Manchurian Chicken Chicken Chilli Kung Pao Chicken Szechuan Chicken Sweet & Sour Chicken

11.50 11.50 11.50 11.50 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.95 11.50 12.50

VEGETABLES Served with White Rice Sauteed Mix Vegetables Hunan Mixed Vegetables Eggplant in Garlic Sauce Szechuan String Beans Bean Curd w/ Mixed Vegetables

LUNCH SPECIAL

9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95 9.95

$6.95

Monday - Friday 12pm - 3:30pm All Lunch Specials Served with Vegetable of the Day White Rice or Egg Fried Rice or Plain Lo Mein

(Please No Substitutions) Beef with Mixed Vegetables Chicken with Broccoli Chicken Chilly General Tao’s Chicken Kung Tao’ Chicken Manchurian Chicken Pepper Steak with Onions Sauteed Mixed Vegetables Shrimp in Garlic Sauce Sweet & Sour Chicken

NEW ITEMS

Beef, Chicken or Shrimp Teriyaki or Combination Pad Thai with Chicken and Shrimp Bean Thread Rice Noodle with Chicken and Shrimp Fried Bananas with Ice Cream Gulab Jamun (2 pieces)

11.95 12.25 12.25 5.25 2.50

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36 | MP - ADVERTISEMENTS

Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

“Best Burger in NoVA” Northern Virginia Magazine June 2014

Virginia

Arlington Ashburn - One Loudoun Fair Oaks Mall Falls Church Turnpike/Fairfax Tyson’s Corner Center Vienna

Maryland

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Halal, Organic, Grass-fed Beef Halal, Organic Chicken Halal Veggie Options ....

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Restaurant Section

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 37

HALAL, ORGANIC, GRASS-FED BEEF AND HALAL, ORGANIC, CAGE-FREE CHICKEN NO ANTIBIOTICS - NO HORMONES - NO PESTICIDES 290 Cal

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38 | MP - ADVERTISEMENTS

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Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Appetizers 1. Samosa 2. Samosa chat 3. Shami kabob

$1.25 $2.49 $2.49

Kabob House All Kabobs are cooked on charcoal and served with rice,tandoori naan (bread), salad, chutney (yogurt sauce) andone side of your choice (chickpeas, vegetables or lentils). l. Chicken Kabob (Bone1css) $7.99 2. Lamb Kabob $9.99 3. Beef kabob* $8.49 4. Lamb Chops $12.99 5. Seekh Kabob $7.99 6. Chicken Kabob (Bone-In) $7.49 7. Reshmi Kabob $8.49

Weekend Special 1. Nihari 2. Haleem

$7.99 $7.99

Sweets 1. Rice Pudding 2. Sweets(2pieces) Sweets(Mix)

$2.99 $1.99 $5.99/Lbs

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 39

Salads Served with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and yogurt sauce on the side... 1. Chicken Salad $6.49 2. Beef Salad $7.49 3. Lamb Salad $8.49 4. Gyro/Falafel Salad $5.49 Drinks Buffet Menu MON-FRI (11AM-4PM) $7.99 MON-FRI (4PM-10PM) $8.99 Weekends $9.99

8. Chapli Kabob* 9. Combination Kabob 10. Bihari Kabob* ll. Fish Kabob Side Orders 1. Naan(Bread) 2. Rice 3. Salad 4. Chutney (Yogurt Sauce) 5. Vegetable Curry 6. Meat Curry 7. Grilled Tomatoes

$8.99 $14.99 $8.99 $9.99

$1.00 & $1.25 $1.99 $2.49 8oz. $1.491 12oz. $1.99 8oz. $2.49 / 12oz. $3.49 8oz. $2.99! 12oz. $3.99 $2.99

By Special Order 1. Biryani(Chicken or Vegetable) $5.99 2. Chicken Karahi (For Two) $17.99 3- Lamb/Beef Karahi (For Two)$19-99 Wraps Served on freshly baked bread with cucumber sauce, lettuce,tomatoes, onions and cheese and yogurt sauce on the side... 1. Gyro Wrap (Lamb and becf mix) $5.99 2. Falafel Wrap $5.49 3. Chicken Wrap $6.49 4. Ground Chicken Wrap $6.99 5. Beef Wrap $6.99 6. Ground Beef Wrap $7.49 7. Lamb Wrap $7.99

1. Can Soda 2. Bottle Soda 3. Chai 4. Yogurt Drinks and Mango Laasi $2.49 5. Bottle Water.... 6. Bottle Juice......

$ .99 $1.49 $l.50

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Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Restaurant Section

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 41

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42 | MP - ADVERTISEMENTS

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Restaurant Section

November 27th - December 24th 2015

Restaurant Section

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819 Hungerford dr. MUSLIM LINK SPECIAL

$5 off 301-762-9400 ROCKVILLE

Please visit our website: www.PlanetPizzaandSubs.com

WE DELIVER! 11AM- 11PM DAILY

any order $25.00 or more -- Pick up ONLY --

ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. LIMITED TIME OFFER The Muslim Link Planet Pizza & Subs • 301-762-9400

FAMILY SPECIAL

Large 14 Inch Pizza with 1 Topping, Your choice of either Chicken or Buffalo Wing Order, 2 Liter Soda +Tax

HALAL PIZZA & SUBS QUALITY, VARIETY, LOW PRICES!

GLUTEN FREE PIZZAS! ASK FOR DETAILS

ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. LIMITED TIME OFFER The Muslim Link Planet Pizza & Subs • 301-762-9400

LUNCh SPECIAL

Two 8” Subs, Two Cans of Soda and Two Bags of chips WE ACCEPT COMPETITOR COUPONS FOR PICKUP ORDERS!

+Tax

ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. LIMITED TIME OFFER The Muslim Link Planet Pizza & Subs • 301-762-9400

PICK-UP SPECIAL

3 Large Cheese Pizzas

+Tax

ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. LIMITED TIME OFFER The Muslim Link Planet Pizza & Subs • 301-762-9400

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

Professional Hair Designers Specializing in Natural Hair Care Braids, Twists, Locs, Press & Curl, Shampoo & Conditioner, Corn Rows, Weaves, Set-Roller Wrap, and much more... For Sisters: Private Area on 2nd Floor Available by Appt. Only Call Sylist Cealia at 240.501.3985

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

2 1 6 M a i n S t r e e t ( O f f R o u t e - 1 ) , L a u r e l , M D 2 0707

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

Prophetic Words of Wisdom for Life BE TRUTHFUL "You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allaah as a siddeeq (speaker of the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar." (Reported by Muslim) DONT MAKE ISLAM HARD ON YOURSELF OR OTHERS "Religion is very easy and whoever overburden himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good news that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights." (Bukhari) SAVE YOUR HEART FROM BLACKENING "When the servant performs a sin a black spot appears on his heart, and if he seeks forgiveness this black spot is removed, and if he returns to sin the black spot grows until his heart becomes black, and this is the 'Raan' about which Allah said, 'On their hearts is the covering of sins (raan) which they used to earn.'" (Qur'an, 83:14) (Hadith An-Nasa'i and Al-Tirmidhi) LOOK AT THE ONE WHO HAS LESS THAN YOU AND BE THANKFUL "When one of you looks at one who is better than you in regard to wealth and appearance, you should also see one who is less than you in regard to these things (and be thankful to Allah). [Sahih Muslim] KEEP GOOD RELATIONS WITH RELATIVES "Whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day let him keep the ties of relations." [Bukhari] BE IN COMPANY OF GOOD PEOPLE "It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone." [Bukhari] DO NOT BECOME ANGRY A man said to the Prophet (saws), “Advise me.” He said, “Do not become angry.” The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (saws) told him, “Do not become angry.” (Reported by al-Bukhari) WHAT TO DO WHEN ANGRY "If a man gets angry and says, ‘I seek refuge with Allah,’ his anger will go away.” (Saheeh al-Jaami‘ al-Sagheer) "If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad) COVER OTHERS’ FAULTS "If a person covers the weakness of another in this world, Allah will cover their weakness in the hereafter." (Muslim) STOP OTHERS FROM BACKBITING “Whoever protects the respect of his brother (in islam), Allah will protect his face from the Fire of the Day of Resurrection." [Tirmidhi]

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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Your Child Deserves the Best Medical Care

NEW PEDIATRIC OFFICE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Same Day Appointments

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June 6th - July 10th 2014

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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

Creating Beautiful Smiles with State of the Art Dental Care

info@kidstemmontessori.com www.kidstemmontessori.com

Farida Khattak, d.d.s

NOW ENROLLING for the 2015-2016 School Year!! Pre-School & Child Day Learning Center

SPECIALIZING IN:

The Muslim Learning Center

• General Dentistry • Pediatric Dentistry • Endodontics • Orthodontics • Cosmetic Dentistry

443-779-9142

CONTACT US: Tel: 703 531 0010 Fax: 703 531 1330 www.dynamicfamilydentistry.com Dynamicdental1@hotmail.com Info@dynamicfamilydentistry.com

2642 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21218 Home School Umbrella Group - Registered Now Enrolling K-12th Graders in Maryland

Email: admissions.tmlc-md@outlook.com for enrollment packet.

“Like” us on Facebook

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

C o u n s e l o r s

a t

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

Our Lawyers Handle Serious Cases

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

Washington, DC Attorney

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Mr. Laher is with Liles Parker, PLLC. He is a Harvard and Georgetown University graduate and a former Jones Day lawyer. Mr. Laher has handled many cases over the years and always acts in their best interests. He always does what is best for his clients. Mr. Laher will help you or try to find you an attorney who can. Please visit www.Laher.com for our office locations, articles, emails, free newsletter signups and more.

FAZ CREATIVE EDUCATION Child Care & Private School

FAZ Sunday School Arabic – Islamic Fun Activities

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

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

2 1 6 M a i n S t r e e t ( O f f R o u t e - 1 ) , L a u r e l , M D 2 0707

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Birth – 2.5

2.5 – 7

6 – 12 Years old

www.fazeducation.com

www.fazsundayschool.com

Hours 7:30-6:30 (Monday-Friday)

Hours 10:00 - 12:30 (Sunday only) 1776 Old Meadow Rd. McLean, VA 22102 (703) 848-8822

1776 Old Meadow Rd. McLean, VA 22102 (703) 848-8822

November 27th - December 24th 2015

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 51

Affordable Phone service for your business!

Business phone service

$29.99

Per Line

Call forwarding Virtual Receptions Voicemail to Email Personal & General Voice Mailbox

Call Today! 703-775-9033 Voice Array Communications 5524 Hempstead Way Suite 300 Springfield, VA 22151 1-877-222-3163

Switching made easy keep the same phone number

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

Green Housing and Development Group Inc. The Islamic learning multipurpose center/ Jumah lost its location. We have found two buildings on a 1 acre lot that will allow us to continue to serving the Islamic Community. We need $400,000.00 to purchase the buildings and make improvements at 2340 Belair Road 21213 to continue our Islamic/ Community services. Insha Allah

MP - ADVERTISEMENT | 55

HVAC Innovation

HEATING - VENTILATION - AIR CONDITIONING

Licensed, Bonded & Insured Islamiclearningcenter@outlook.com accepting donation www.ghadg.com /M&T Bank account number (501000033) Yusef Shahid 443 769 0319 /Touria El fakir-Scott 410 467 1259 Office 1629 Carswell Street 1st floor Baltimore, Md. 21218

Certified Technicians 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Heating & Cooling Seasonal Check-up Only

Call Today ! 301-946-0700 $59.50 Residential & Commercial • License HVAC # 5757 • MHIC # 89072 • VA # 2710061540

www.hvacinnovation.net • ben@hvacinnovation.net

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

Mughal

Law Firm

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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November 27th - December 24th 2015

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stop genocide of Muslims In Burma Before

After

Out of the 5 million Muslims in Burma only 3 million are left. They cannot hold a job, enter the masjid, go to school, marry, or have children although Rohingyas are indigenous people living in their ancestral lands in Burma. This is the reason 7 Nobel Laureates have declared it a genocide!

Give 10 Minutes a Day To Stop Genocide

The satellite images above by Human Rights Watch show the destruction of homes and property in the Rohingya Muslim area of Kyauk Pyu. There are many towns like that. The Impact of our United Efforts and Phone Calls 1) The US Congress passed H.Res. 418 supporting Rohingyas. 2) At least 3 attacks on Muslims in Burma have been stopped. 3) The US has re-imposed some of the restrictions on aid to Burma this January. 4) Media is no longer dismissing it as a conflict between the two communities. A whole lot of work must be done to stop this genocide. Burmese Muslims have asked us to put pressure on their government to protect them. We are counting on your generosity to do this work professionally.

Justice for All

Muslim MUNA

Muslim Ummah

Peace Coalition USA North America

Atlanta shura

ISNA • CAIR • IONA • MANA • MUNA • Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) • Justice For All • Muslim Peace Coalition USA • Majlis Shura of Atlanta • ICNA Canada • DawaNet Majlis Ash-Shura of Metropolitan New York • Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) • Burmese Rohingya Association of North America • Free Rohingya Campaign

www.BurmaTaskForce.org

Muslim Link btf advt Aug 27, 2015.indd 1

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