The Muslim Link - Decemeber 12, 2010 by The Muslim Link

Muslims Without Borders

A Student Run Relief Organization PG 9

Muharram 4, - Muharram 17, 1432 A.H. | www.MuslimLinkPaper.com December 10th, 2010 - December 23rd, 2010

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

SUFFERING IN THE SILENCE

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

DC Loses Pioneer In Local Political Engagement | pg 4 Students Learn What Makes Peaceful Families | pg 5

PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION Area Leaders See Social Disease Causing Frustration, Depression, Broken Marriages

Pak Seeks Life Imprisonment for Five Americans | pg 5

Over the last decade, the Muslim Link has reported on social diseases which have taken root in the Muslim community. Widespread in the United States, the presence of ills like domestic violence and homelessness among Muslims is now acknowledged by community leaders, and – albeit at a slow pace – some

DC Club Re-Opens After Youth Beating, Death | pg 6

>> SILENCE Pg 1

We Need to Understand Al-Qur’an, Too By Muslim Link Staff If you can’t hear men, you can still hear God. That is true for deaf Christians throughout the United States. There are churches catering to the deaf in every state, with sign language interpreters to convey the sermon to the deaf, and the Bible is available in American Sign Language (ASL).

>> UNDERSTAND Pg 9

Muslims Weigh In On Dream Act Legislation | pg 8 Congressman Ron Paul On Wikileaks | pg 12

Now, a group of deaf Muslim Americans say deaf Muslims need to know what Allah is telling them also. They are embarking on the first ever ASL translation of the Qur’an. Far from a book, the “translation” is actually a set of videos where a qualiﬁed Muslim sign language

Don’t Miss Fasting In Muharram PG 17

Western Civilization Has Shed Its Values | pg 13 Global Deaf Muslims President Nashiru Abdulai, center, converses with fellow deaf Muslims at a deaf awareness event in Herndon, Virginia. Photo courtesy of GDM.

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

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INDEX |

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 04 >>

Community News

National News

World Press

16 18 22

Islam Salaah Times Marketplace

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News DC Loses Muslim Activist, Pioneer In Local Political Engagement By Muslim Link Staff On Sunday, November 28, at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) masjid, several hundred area Muslims including dozens of community leaders from Virginia, Maryland, and the District, stood for the funeral prayer of Mukit Hossain – husband, father, brother, son, and Muslim community activist – before laying his body to rest in the same region he worked hard to empower. Hossain, 54, was a successful professional working in the telecommunications industry before he became increasingly involved in advocating for social issues like workers and immigrant rights. His work, especially his formation of the region’s first Muslim political action committee in Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee – VMPAC – was news for the Muslim Link, and he is quoted in no less than 19 Muslim Link articles. In an interview with the Muslim Link following the June 2009 loss of Esam Omeish for VA delegate for Fairfax County, Hossain, who played an important role in the Omeish campaign, had some important advice for the Muslim community. We offer that advice again, and hope that Mukit Hossain’s advocacy for the local Muslim community will be

taken up by someone who shares the good ideals he stood for. A few years ago Brother Mukit surprised many by settling on a Northern Virginia farm and setting out on a new venture to raise goats in a natural, healthy environment for the local halal market. We ask Allah to reward him for his good work, give patience to his family, and leave the community in a better state through the legacy of activism he left behind. --- TML -----------------------------------------------TML: What are some of the lessons you’ll take from this campaign?

Mukit Hossain, standing, at a campaign meeting for Dr. Esam Omeish’s 2009 run Mukit Hossain: One is we need to have for Virginia delegate for Fairfax County. Hossain helped develop the strategy for an open and meaningful dialog with the campaign. File photo. communities who don’t mind attacking our candidates. As a VMPAC organizer, I how many volunteers we had. Our simple masjid but built an institution that am certainly going to put some emphasis community has the education, the financial will protect and empower the community. on this issue going forward. On the resources, and the motivation to take its We need strong institutions to protect mobilization of supporters, it was really rightful place in the Commonwealth of the community. Also, from the pact of quite extraordinary. It was a very positive Virginia. All the ingredients are there, its Hudaybiyah, we learn the importance of sign [how many people got involved in just a matter of time. We’re going to have strategic thinking, about our long terms the campaign]. We need to have more to deal with certain issues, certain groups gains and the purpose of our engagement. visible civic roles. As part of our religion and communities, but I think time is on We need to look at things for the long we believe good deeds should be done our side and history is on our side, we’ll term gains of our community. privately and secretly, but perhaps for have Muslim elected officials in Virginia. the sake of encouraging our community Another important lesson is from the For more coverage and statements further [in civic engagement], we need to life of the Prophet (peace be upon him). from other area leaders, visit www. be a bit more public. It was remarkable When he first came to Medina, he made a muslimlinkpaper.com.

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS |

UMCP Students Learn What Makes Peaceful Families By Arif Faridi

Muslim Link Staff Writer In their ongoing campaign to expose and combat domestic abuse in America’s Muslim communities, the Virginia based advocacy group Peaceful Families Project co-sponsored a forum Thursday, December 2, 2010 with students at the University of Maryland, College Park. Organizers aimed at informing the predominantly young audience that abuse within families whether physical, verbal or psychological is a serious problem within the community and requires immediate attention from everyone. Provocatively titled “Unmasking the Truth: Domestic Violence in the Muslim Community”, the event depicted family abuse as well as abuse related behavior as widespread and, in a sense, ubiquitous. “We have to open our eyes,” said PFP co-director Salma Abugideiri, “abuse

happens around us all the time. We just don’t see it.” She went on to give examples of parents who are seen beating their kids in public, male friends joking about wives “wearing the pants” in the family, children hitting weaker children and men who try to manipulate even their ﬁances’ activities, as subtle evidence of oppression in society. “And know that Allah subhaana wa ta ‘aala does not accept any kind of oppression--period” Abugideiri declared emphatically. She mentioned that one in three women were victims of domestic violence and that everyone in the room would know someone subjected to it. The term domestic violence refers to sexual, mental as well as physical abuse. Discussion focused primarily on husbands beating their wives. Although the level of physical violence in Muslim marriages in the United States is not known for certain, a 1998 study found it to be at about 10%. “Alhamdulillah, most Muslim men don’t

Imam Muhammad Magid speaks at the University of MD College Park on domestic violence. Photo by Muslim Link staff. beat their wives, but some do” said Asma Hanif, as she spoke about Muslimat alNisaa, a shelter she runs to house Muslim women and children in Baltimore. Hanif lamented that the community’s denial of the problem made it difficult to get sufficient financial support for shelters. my life, you cannot second guess her... safety is number one” said ISNA president

Imam Mohamed Maged. Abugideiri stressed the importance of counseling at all stages of marriage conflict, expressing her wish as a counselor that she would see more newly >> UMCP Pg 10

Punjab Govt Seeks Life Imprisonment for Five Americans Source: AFP November 29, 2010

a two-judge panel on behalf of the Punjab government.

LAHORE: A Pakistani court on Monday accepted a government request to seek life sentences for ﬁve Americans already jailed for 10 years on terror convictions.

“The court will now hear our petition simultaneously with the appeal ﬁled by the ﬁve boys against their conviction,” Bakhtiar said.

The ﬁve young men were found guilty in the eastern city of Sargodha last June of waging war against the state and funding a terrorist group.

Prosecutors believe the men planned to travel to neighbouring Afghanistan and join Taliban-led militants ﬁghting US and Nato troops.

They have appealed, but no date has been set for a new hearing. Prosecutors are now demanding that the court toughen their sentences to life imprisonment.

Investigators claim the Sargodha five planned to travel to South Waziristan, a training ground for militants in Pakistan’s tribal belt that was targeted by a major military operation last year.

Deputy public prosecutor Rana Bahktiar told AFP that he lodged the request with

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The defendants — Umar Farooq, Waqar

Hussain, Rami Zamzam, Ahmad Abdullah Mini and Amman Hassan Yammer — pleaded not guilty, saying they came to

attend a wedding and wanted to go on to Afghanistan to do humanitarian work.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Persuasive Writing Workshop Held At MCC By Farah Ahmad

Muslim Link Contributing Writer On November 21, 2010, about 40 children between the ages of 8 and 15 were in attendance at the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring, MD for a workshop on the fundamentals of persuasive writing, held by the Mafiq Foundation. This workshop was the first in a series of three to prepare students for the upcoming 9th annual EPC (Essay Panel Contest) on January 23, 2011 at the Islamic Society of Washington Area (ISWA), Silver Spring, Maryland. The theme of this year’s contest is “Towards a Healthy and Harmonious Family”. Instructor, Gena Chung, Principal, MCC Sunday school and the co-founder of the Realm of Knowledge organization, helped students understand the basics of persuasive writing through various exercises and breakout sessions. Diane Ali, a homeschooling mother, enrolled three of her children in the workshop and was very pleased with the program. She remarked, “We Muslims in America are in a difficult time and programs like this teach our children to communicate better, resulting in more confidence in themselves whether it is discussing academics, life experiences, teaching, defending or propagating our deen.” After the one and a half hour workshop, the students became audience to a minidebate between the youth of Dar us Salaam and Al Fatih Academy. The topic of the debate was, “Only a mother can transform a house into a home”. Faiza Alvi, Director, Instruction and Guidance, Muslim Youth Debate Tournament in the Metro DC area, provided pointers to both teams at the conclusion of the debate. The next EPC writing workshop in conjunction with another mini-debate between area youth scheduled for Dec. 11 at Dar al Taqwa masjid in Columbia, MD. Visit http://epc.mafiq.org for more information.

>> WORKSHOP Pg 8

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

Businesses As Usual for Club DC9 After Muslim Youth Beating, Death By Muslim Link Staff

according to eye-witnesses.

The Washington Post reported on December 2, 2010 that popular nightclub DC9 will open its doors again after a DC licensing board rescinded a police closure of the nightclub after some of its employees chased 27 year old Ali Ahmed Mohammed and beat him in the street,

Mohammed, of Silver Spring and part of the First Hijrah Community in Washington DC, allegedly threw a brick through the window after being refused entry into the club. He died in the street, but strangely >> BEATING Pg 18

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS |

Suffering in the Silence: Pornography Addiction SILENCE >> continued from pg 1 masajid and Islamic organizations are devoting resources to address these ills. Still, there are other social ills community leaders privately admit are likely affecting thousands of local Muslims – mostly males – that no one is addressing. One of them is pornography addiction, and a Muslim Link survey of local Imams and counselors suggests the problem is far more than weak faith, and is affecting married, Islamically involved males just as much as unmarried college student. “Porn addiction is very prevalent in the Muslim community. We must face the fact that whatever ills that impact the society in which we live, also impacts our community,” said Imam Hassan Amin, Executive Director of the Muslim Social Services Agency in Baltimore, Maryland.

out of ﬁve couples have his viewing of porn online as a major problem in their relationship. Sometimes [it’s] the only problem in their relationship. He spends more time looking at porn on the Internet than he spends with her and the family,” said Imam Hassan Amin. Some area Imams are seeing pornography

One such program for Muslims, “Purify Your Gaze”, formally launched on December 6, 2010. Founder Zeyad Ramadan, a 24-year old certified life coach, said pornography addiction is Muslim community’s “elephant in the room” – a huge problem that few are willing to discuss.

Lately as an Imam and social worker, I have seen an increase of couples coming to me for counseling and four out of ﬁve couples have his viewing of porn online as a major problem in their relationship. Sometimes [it’s] the only problem in their relationship. -- Imam Hassan Amin addiction result in divorce. “One of my counseling sessions held about a year ago involved a husband addicted to pornography … it was something he witnessed as a youth at home. He had a [toddler] and the wife was very scared of his behavior. After two

Based out of California, Zeyad’s online, anonymous 5-week program involves lectures aimed at helping Muslim men understand their addiction and then how to break out of the cycle step by step. He offers unlimited, live phone counseling for program participants. “It’s not a magic

Although estimates are highly speculative, some sociologists and anti-pornography activists say up to 25% of men in America are consumers of pornography, mostly via the Internet. As a business, the gross revenue of the pornography industry is close to $25 billion annually – more than sports like football and baseball; this ﬁgure is also disputed by industry watchers. Regardless, Dr. Jennifer Johnson, a social scientist at the University of Virginia, said the industry is “geared to promote addiction”. A November 2004 US Senate Committee hearing was held to discuss whether this social disease should be considered an addiction like alcohol or drugs, and experts disagreed.

Ramadan also said many people don’t get help with their addiction because Islam teaches people not to publicize their sins. “If concealing sins means the sin continues …. then it is not part of sharia,” advised Ramadan.

Most Imams who responded to a Muslim Link questionnaire about pornography addiction in the local Muslim community said a husband’s pornography addiction is increasingly a topic in their marriage counseling sessions.

sessions with this couple, and after about a year later the wife requested a divorce,” related Imam Faizul Khan of the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“[In the past] couples having problems in their relationship would simply be him not talking with her enough or her talking too much. But, lately as an Imam and social worker, I have seen an increase of couples coming to me for counseling and four

While support groups and formal recovery programs exist for pornography addiction in the US – many church based – programs catering to Muslims are mostly unknown.

pill,” he said, “its to start the recovery process and to set the foundation.” Ramadan said he ﬁrst realized pornography addiction was a major problem in the Muslim community when a married client of his opened up to him and described his struggle. Ramadan said its easier to get help for alcohol or drug addiction than pornography addiction. Muslims too often approach the problem with a dismissive, simplistic approach that isn’t

appropriate. “[People tell addicts] fear Allah and you won’t have this problem anymore … that is the wrong attitude,” he said, adding that his program does use the Qur’an and Sunnah teachings to tackle the addiction, but coupled with step-by-step emotional and psychological counseling as well. Ramadan also said many people don’t get help with their addiction because Islam teaches people not to publicize their sins. “If concealing sins means the sin continues …. then it is not part of sharia,” advised Ramadan. Individual coaching is limited to 25-30 people, said Ramadan, who is working full-time on the program and charges fees for one-on-one counseling. However, four videos are available for free, including an 80-minute, in-depth testimony of someone who turned away from a 24-year addiction through the Purify Your Gaze program. Ramadan said most of the men he is helping are Islamically inclined and frequent the masjid, even leading halaqas and prayers. Since he launched www. purifyyourgaze.com last month, over 35,000 people view the site. An article from 2007 posted on the popular website Muslimmatters.org, “The Secret Life of Husbands” dealing with pornography among Muslims elicited hundreds of responses from both addicted men as well as wives impacted by their husbands’ problem. Addicts describe their lives being ﬁlled with frustration, self-hate, hopelessness, and loneliness. “I simply did not believe I was capable of redemption …. I was doing the same thing over and over and over …. proof of my failures [brought me ever lower] ….its a really lonely place,” said ‘Brother X’ whose extensive interview is posted on Zeyad Ramadan’s website. “At my lowest point, even the remorse wasn’t there, it was just emptiness,” he says. Now, after his wife found out about Zeyad Ramadan’s program from another sister and he joined, he said he has gotten closer to Allah and feels he is ﬁnally “an integrated, whole” personality.

>> SILENCE II Pg 10

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS

We Have Hopes in Dream Act, Too, Say Muslims By Arif Faridi

Muslim Link Staff Writer Could it soon be possible for the children of illegal aliens to become legal residents in a relatively easy way without returning to their home countries? A bipartisan effort took place in Congress this week to make it possible for many undocumented students to do just that. The Dream Act is a piece of federal legislation that, if passed, would give many of the estimated 65,000 children of undocumented immigrants who graduate from high school each year a chance to pursue their “dream” of becoming legal, permanent residents or even citizens, eventually. The Muslim Public Affairs Council seized the opportunity to call the Muslim community to political participation with this piece of the immigration reform pie. “Like other faith based advocates, MPAC has called for a comprehensive solution to our nation’s broken immigration system” said Alejandro Beutel in an MPAC media teleconference he moderated on November 30. Several leaders from the interfaith community spoke at the gathering along with an undocumented college graduate to build support for the Dream Act on moral grounds.

broken immigration system but it will bring thousands of students, smart kids, out of the shadows.” Rabbi Jack Moline of Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria, VA said that the Jews had once been taken in by the Egyptians and are therefore instructed to take the stranger in as well. “We are to welcome those who would join us

and make them members of our home” remarked Rabbi Moline. “I would offer as the Jewish contribution...in considering the Dream Act, the notion that we have a special responsibility to these young people who wish no longer to be resident strangers but to take their place among us, with shared values and practices.”

old son of illegal immigrants, who is facing deportation, was told by Rev. Troy Jackson, Senior Pastor at the University Christian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pastor came to the U.S. when he was 3 years old as his family ﬂed Guatemala to escape persecution. He grew up to be an

The story of Bernard Pastor, an 18 year

>> MPAC Pg 10

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Ahlam Jbara, Associate Director at Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago called on members of Congress to support the Dream Act, saying “immigration is a core issue in our community.” Said Rev. John Richardson, Regional Minister for the Christian Church -Disciples of Christ in North Carolina, “the Dream Act alone will not ﬁx our

WORKSHOP

>> continued from pg 6 EPC provides workshops to teach basic skills of writing and speaking, and annually conducts the essay, speech, poster, and multimedia competitions on a thematic topic. The best EPC essays are published in a series entitled: “Young Muslim Voices”. For learn more about EPC, please contact Essays@Mafiq. org.

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

COMMUNITY NEWS |

College Students’ Activism Leads to New Relief Organization By Arif Faridi

Muslim Link Staff Writer A man on a mission. How else could one describe Shaﬁ Khan? It all started when Khan was working 9-5 at an international risk consulting ﬁrm. He received email about a widow who was outside in the cold with her four children. So Khan got a few friends together and set out to help. After successfully raising funds for the woman with George Mason University’s Muslim Student Association, Khan felt he had found his calling and quit his job. Weeks later, Khan visited an AIDS orphanage in Panama. “It was a life changing experience” he recalls. Then a friend told him about a man who had had a similar experience when visiting Africa. So shaken by the poverty he saw, Dr. Ahmad El Bendary founded Islamic Relief, USA. Khan got a job as an assistant to El Bendary, who had since retired from Islamic Relief. El Bendary became a mentor and taught him a great deal about relief work.

UNDERSTAND

>> continued from pg 1 interpreter will use his hand and ﬁnger motions to sign the English translation of the Qur’an as it is read; the English will be audible for the hearing, and also appear as subtitles. The group, Global Deaf Muslim (GDM), is not new to the area and has been holding deaf awareness campaigns in the Washington DC region for the past several years. Deaf Muslims from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a college of Rochester institute of Technology (RIT), founded GDM in 2005. GDM President Nashiru Abdulai, a 32 year-old specialist in human resources development who graduated with a masters degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, said the ASL translation project is being launched in the local area on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 6pm at the Herndon Community Center in Herndon, Virginia. When asked during a Muslim Link

“Then Haiti happened and that’s what changed everything” recalls Shaﬁ Khan. Not long after, he was pulling into Port Au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, which had just been hit by a disastrous earthquake. There he saw death. Decaying bodies of people all around him. There he smelled death. “People [were] running up to us begging for masks because of the awful smell.” There he remembered death. “It reminds you that our time here is short.” Khan and other soon-to-be founding members of the first college student run relief organization delivered aid to unreached parts of Port Au-Prince with emergency relief organizations. He had seen a remarkable energy in Muslim students when working with them to help the homeless woman. “We realized there are literally thousands of students who want to give back” says Khan. He knew he could count on their support when the time came. Muslims Without Borders was founded interview conducted over Internet chat why deaf Muslims can’t use an English translation, Abdulai explained that only a small fraction of deaf Muslims can read at a high level. Public schools generally aren’t equipped to provide an adequate education for the deaf, so most deaf adults don’t have strong reading skills and thus struggle with reading English, relying on ASL for most all of their communication. “In America, [ASL] is the third largest language after English and [Spanish],” wrote Abdulai. Because of their weakness in reading English, Abdulai noted, he has seen “the deaf argue over a particular verse in the Qur’an, without anyone to help explain it to them.” GDM says deaf children in Muslim families are too often ignored and not taught about Islam like hearing children, resulting in many deaf Muslims not knowing how to pray or that Friday congregational prayer is an obligation for men. Only Dar Al-Hijrah in Falls Church, VA has a sign language interpreter available to translate the khutbah. Abdulai said hiring ASL interpreters is costly, and so

Aid workers and volunteers for Muslims Without Borders carry supplies for delivery to ﬂood ravaged areas of Pakistan. Photo courtesy of MWB. by Khan and associates in 2010 at George Mason University. The project grew rapidly. Soon new chapters of the organization opened. The devastating cholera outbreak which followed the earthquake gave Khan the chance to test the student dedication he had come to believe in. “Within a few days we organized a huge distribution of hygiene kits at schools and camps around a major focus for GDM is to develop a reliable, competent group of Muslim ASL interpreters who can translate halaqas, especially foundational classes on Islam. Preparing Muslim ASL interpreters is critical to the success of the ASL Qur’an translation project, wrote Abdulai, because without a foundation in Islamic beliefs and practices, even Muslim ASL interpreters might mis-translate the English translation of the Qur’an. The ASL translation will be an ASL translation of the English translation, read aloud by a qualiﬁed Muslim scholar. Currently GDM uses a small group of about six Muslim ASL interpreters, all females, to provide translation for masjid events and Islamic conferences. About twenty more Muslims are being prepared for training, and many more have expressed interest in getting trained. GDM hopes to develop a larger core group of interpreters over the next year, and then begin video taping ASL interpretations of the English meaning of the Qur’an which would be distributed on DVDs. GDM estimates the entire project

Port Au-Prince, the kits were made by almost 100 student volunteers in Northern Virginia who understood the urgency of what we were doing.” MWB is the only Muslim aid organization distributing hygiene kits in Haiti right now according to Khan. >> BORDERS Pg 12

will cost around $147,000, most of which will go towards training interpreters and producing deaf awareness booklets and other material. Deaf Muslims in Britain are working on a similar translation project, but using BSL – British Sign Language – instead of ASL. Like most spoken languages, sign language has variants, but ASL is one of the most widely used forms of sign. Nashiru Abdulai wants the hearing Muslim community to hear the call of their deaf brothers and sisters. “[The hearing community] can donate, join classes to learn ASL with us, and help us ﬁnd [Islamic] centers for the education of deaf Muslims,” he wrote. Both the hearing and the deaf understand one thing – actions speak louder than words. With the ASL translation project, GDM has started the conversation. To hear more from GDM, visit them at http:// www.globaldeafmuslim.org.

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

10 | COMMUNITY NEWS UMCP

>> continued from pg 5 married couples come in for assistance. Counseling was described as important for healing regardless of whether a marriage continued or collapsed. Peaceful Families Project has worked with Muslim communities and leaders in the Washington-Baltimore area as well as throughout the country for several years now in an effort to increase awareness and action about domestic violence, particularly in regards to women. The organization also provides sensitivity workshops about Muslim culture for non-Muslim service providers and other

SILENCE II >> continued from pg 7 While some community leaders like Imam Hassan Amin said masajid across the greater Washington and Baltimore region should use the khutbah to have a “One Friday, One Subject” day focusing sermons on the harms of pornography, other activists say the problem needs to solved on an individual level. “I agree that it’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed by our masajid, but beyond speaking about it openly and publicly, I wouldn’t imagine the masjid to be the place that will inﬂuence people

MPAC >> continued from pg 8 outstanding student, school athlete and youth leader in his church congregation. But a minor traffic accident led the authorities to commence deportation procedures for him. Pastor’s fellow high school students have rallied to keep him in the U.S. Rev. Jackson said “thankfully, fellow students...have stood up...and their calling for our senators and our nation to have the moral clarity to free Bernard Pasteur from deportation procedures”. He compared the stand to the 1950’s civil rights uprising with Rosa Parks in

professionals. PFP works closely with interfaith organizations and exhibits a feminist/human rights perspective on women’s issues. The attentive audience seemed fascinated by the discussion, sending Q&A into overtime. Yet the mostly Islamic oriented students often seemed to be searching in their questions for more profound solutions to the dilemmas of domestic abuse than what the modern social sciences have to offer. Sami El-Zaharna asked how turning to counseling could be reconciled with a verse in the Quran calling for both parties in the marriage to involve their families as arbitrators. “More proofs and the traditional scholars’ interpretations... would have done the answers more justice” thought El-Zaharna. One young

away from this. It would require a stronger effort on the personal level really - young adults talking with adults, and long-time married couples with newly-weds,” said Adam Kareem, head of the Muslim InterScholastic Tournament’s DC region and a youth activist.

woman asked how she could integrate Islamic knowledge with her secular studies. Not yet married Tara Mohammed, though grateful for her newly expanded view of domestic violence, was concerned that female on male violence, especially in the form of emotional abuse, might be an emerging issue in the Muslim community: “In our society today it’s all about female empowerment, feminism, women wanting to feel strong and the ‘I can be the head of the family too’ kind of thing...so maybe our generation might be picking that up—or it might not—but that’s not something they really talked about.” Zaynab, a young and newly married attendee said “when it came to shariah and sunnah, they didn’t give a lot of detail.”

Nonetheless, one sensed resounding approval from all present. Many felt they had been enlightened with novel ways to approach family life. Newly married Hasan Jackson said speakers gave “good advice” when they recommended removing oneself from a situation when angry. Sami El-Zaharna was fascinated by how inconspicuously verbal abuse can creep into a relationship when, for example, someone is reminded again and again of favors done for them. Zaynab said she was surprised to learn that violence can be more than just physical, adding “I’ve had issues similar to this and, alhamdulillah, it worked out, but now I know what I’m going to do.”

Amin. “Anytime a man spends eight to nine hours looking at porn and less than ﬁfteen minutes with his family, I would say that it is a very serious problem in our community,” added the Imam.

on how to treat such addictions, [while on the other hand] professionals lack the spiritual guidance to complete their counseling holistically,” said Acevedo. “Most people who are addicted to this or who partake in it lead otherwise ‘normal’ lives,” said Adam Kareem. “But the ﬁrst thing they need to understand is that they’re not alone.”

Acknowledgment from community leaders is only a ﬁrst step; the dangers of addiction harm far more than just the user.

Jose Acevedo, a Youth counselor and co-founder of NOMAD Camps, said unfortunately there is a lack of complete addiction treatment that addresses both the faith issues as well as the psychological and social issues of the addict.

“I have noticed when Muslim males are addicted to porn they are also seeing other women, outside of their marriage and engaging in sexual activities with these women or talking to them in a sexual manner,” said Imam Hassan

“We really need more professional, practicing Muslims in the fields of counseling and psychology, so the link between Islam, science, and sociology can be made to beneﬁt the people. Too often our Imams have a limited knowledge base

Montgomery, Alabama.

case, there is no line; there is no path for me to take” Alaa told the audience.

much more than we take. We’ve paid our taxes. We’ve paid our dues.”

Supporters of the bill do not equate it with amnesty due in part to its various stipulations, including either completion of 2 years of college in a Bachelor’s degree program or 2 years military service, within a 6 year period.

The Muslim Link asked the panelists what assurance would a young Muslim male who decided to take up the offer to go to college in exchange for legal residency have of not being wrongfully detained or deported.

“I refuse the argument that we drain the welfare system” argued Alaa, “my parents, like millions of other immigrants, are the underlying ﬁre of our country’s economy. They worked jobs that broke their backs for wages no citizen would accept.” She continued, “we have given

“The details of the bill are not out there but we definitely hope there will be no difference between whether your a Muslim or non-Muslim or what ethnicity you are in terms of going through the Dream Act process” answered Jbara.

Despite having graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelors degree in Architecture, Alaa Mukahhal, said she could only work for minimum wage jobs in the food service sector because her parents were undocumented immigrants. Alaa arrived in the U.S. with her Palestinian parents at the age of 2 from Jordan and, like other children of illegal aliens, would have to leave the U.S. and apply for legal stay from abroad as a foreigner. The process provides no guarantee of acceptance and can take several years. “I tried to get in line to get my papers but the truth is, in my

Focusing in on their addiction and making it the central challenge of their life is the suggestion from some who have conquered this illness. Whether the Muslim community will focus in on this ill is yet to be seen.

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

NATIONAL NEWS | 11

National News Muhammad Institute for Space Science Begins Fundraising for Canadian Space Launce Site Islamtoday.net 12/06/2010

The Muhammad Institute for Space Science -- a Canadian organization dedicated to putting the Islamic world back at the forefront of scientific discovery -- wants to build a spacelaunch facility in Canada. The head of the organization, Vancouver astrophysicist Redouane Al Fakir, argues that if countries like India, China and Japan can launch satellites into space, why not Canada? “ I t ’s b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e untenable, in my opinion, that Canada has no launching capabilities,” Dr. Al Fakir said in an interview. Al Fakir wants all Canadians to be involved in his project. His proposed commercial space port would be the first of its kind in this country — and Dr. Al Fakir says it’s about time. So the 50-year-old father of two, an astronomer at the University of British Columbia, decided to do something about it. Last month, Dr. Al Fakir used a public forum to kick off his plan for Space Launch Canada — a landmark facility he dreams of building off the coast of British Columbia. Its goal would be to launch missions into Earth’s orbit and to other solarsystem destinations like the moon, Mars and beyond. Dr. Al Fakir is looking at two coastal sites for the facility: Tofino and Prince Rupert, which are fairly secluded

locations but are accessible by road — ideal conditions for a space port. And he is also out raising money, especially in the Middle East, but he faces a big challenge: Al Fakir estimates that it would take $100 million to build a facility, and $500 million to send up a rocket. He says he’s secured $250,000 in startup money from overseas and has begun an international fundraising drive to raise the estimated $100million it would take to build the facility. Dr. Al Fakir recently travelled to Doha, Qatar, to talk with officials close to the government about his plans. He says he’s excited about the support he’s received. “I was happily surprised to discover that they were very enthusiastic about doing that kind of thing,” he said. Aside from Qatar, he hopes to work with other Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “Of course, these countries are really one big entity culturally — and we kind of wanted to group our collaboration under the Islamic world with the Gulf states and other countries like Malaysia and Indonesia,” he said. Dr. Al Fakir also hopes to use the Muhammad institute’s connections to get non-government investors for the project. His non-profit institute, founded in 2008, is located on the campus of the

University of British Columbia. It cites on its website two chief goals: 1) “Giving the Islamic world community a top-level scientific space institution it can call its own” and 2) “Contributing to the promotion of British Columbia as a world hub for space science and technology.” “The Muhammad Institute for Space Science is a framework for collaboration between Canada and the Islamic World at large, which includes not only the Muslim World community but also the many religious and ethnic minorities that are culturally part of the great Islamic civilization,” says the group’s website. The fiscal mountain ahead is a considerable one. Dr. Al Fakir says consultants have told him $100-million would cover the cost of a basic launch pad and the necessary infrastructure. “That’s without developing your own (launch) vehicle,” he said. Dr. Al Fakir says it would cost $500million to complete the space port while also developing a Canadian rocket launcher. Scientists, academics and players in the Canadian space industry have often lamented the absence of rocketlaunching facilities in this country. The issue came up repeatedly at the recent annual conference of the Canadian Space Society in Ottawa. Al Scott, a scientist for an aerospace

company, says he welcomes the proposed Space Launch Canada. “I’d say it’s doable and reasonable,” he said in an interview. “The feasibility, in my opinion, comes from the mix of the people that you have and how strong your financial support is. . . “It’s a challenge, but people have been doing this for several years now and if you get the right people, it can be done.” Dr. Al Fakir told The Canadian Press his target is to complete the space-port project by 2015. But Dr. Scott says that’s a tall order. “Five years is awfully tight, in my opinion,” the scientist said. “You could get your first prototype in that time scale, but I wouldn’t fly it on the first mission.” ----------------------------------------------Sources: Peter Rakobowchuk, “Head of Muhammad Institute wants B.C. space-launch site” The Globe and Mail December 5, 2010 and “Man raising money in Middle East for Canadian space launch site” Toronto Star December 5, 2010. Reprinted with permission from http://en.islamtoday. net/artshow-236-3878.htm.

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

12 | NATIONAL NEWS

Ron Paul: Wikileaks Reveals U.S. Government’s Delusional Foreign Policy Statement by Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), December 10, 2010 We may never know the whole story behind the recent publication of sensitive U.S. government documents by the Wikileaks organization, but we certainly can draw some important conclusions from the reaction of so many in government and media. At its core, the Wikileaks controversy serves as a diversion from the real issue of what our foreign policy should be. But the mainstream media, along with neoconservatives from both political parties, insist on asking the wrong question. When presented with embarrassing disclosures about U.S. spying and meddling, the policy that requires so much spying and meddling is not questioned. Instead, the media focus on how so much sensitive information could have been leaked, or how authorities might prosecute the publishers of such information. No one questions the status quo or suggests a wholesale rethinking of our foreign policy. No one suggests that the White House or the State Department should be embarrassed that the U.S. engages in spying and meddling. The only embarrassment is that it was made public. This allows ordinary people to actually know and talk

BORDERS >> continued from pg 9

Cholera has claimed thousands of lives in Haiti recently and threatens to take thousands more. The epidemic is largely due to signiﬁcant breaches in the water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure of the country. Yasir Abunamous, MWB’s Haiti Country desk manager and head of the MWB Tampa Bay chapter said of the tragedy, “for a nation whose people have suffered blow after devastating blow, the outlook appears grim--unless we recognize our collective responsibility and open our ears and hearts to the appeals of our brothers and sisters.” Yasir, who is a recent Psychology grad

about what the government does. But state secrecy is anathema to a free society. Why exactly should Americans be prevented from knowing what their government is doing in their name? In a free society, we are supposed to know the truth. In a society where truth becomes treason, however, we are in big trouble. The truth is that our foreign spying, meddling, and outright military intervention in the post-World War II era has made us less secure, not more. And we have lost countless lives and spent trillions of dollars for our trouble. Too often “official” government lies have provided justification for endless, illegal wars and hundreds of thousands of resulting deaths and casualties. Take the recent hostilities in Korea as only one example. More than fifty years after the end of the Korean War, American taxpayers continue to spend billions for the U.S. military to defend a modern and wealthy South Korea. The continued presence of the U.S. military places American lives between the two factions. The U.S. presence only serves to prolong the conflict, further drain our empty treasury, and place our military at risk. The neoconservative ethos, steeped in the teaching of Leo Strauss, cannot abide an America where individuals simply pursue from the University of South Florida isn’t standing on the sidelines, but instead will help MWB lead an effort to fight the cholera epidemic. On Sunday, December 19th, Muslims Without Borders Tampa Bay Chapter plans to team up with the Muslim Student Association at University of South Florida, Sisters United Muslim Association, Project Downtown, and other student volunteers in Tampa, FL for a local “Action Day”. Volunteers will meet at the University of South Florida Marshall Student Center to assemble thousands of hygiene kits that will be distributed at schools and survivor camps in Haiti over the winter holidays, in an effort to help stop the spread of cholera. They hope that wide-scale distribution and education initiatives will produce a shift in hygiene standards and general awareness among the local Haitian population.

their own happy, peaceful, prosperous lives. It cannot abide an America where society centers around family, religion, or civic and social institutions rather than an all powerful central state. There is always an enemy to slay, whether communist or terrorist. In the neoconservative vision, a constant state of alarm must be fostered among the people to keep them focused on something greater than themselves — namely their great protector, the state. This is why the neoconservative reaction to the Wikileaks revelations is so predictable: “See, we told you the world was a dangerous place,” goes the story. They claim we must prosecute — or even assassinate — those responsible for publishing the leaks. And we must redouble our efforts to police the world MWB is now doing relief work in other parts of the world as well. They even work locally, in the Baltimore-Washington area. Asma Hanif, director of the Baltimore Muslim women’s shelter, Muslimat AlNisaa, praises MWB and Shafi Khan for the provisions and financial assistance they provide her charity. She once asked Khan to speak to the women at her shelter about his experiences in Haiti. The talk made the women feel grateful for what they had, despite their own difficult circumstances. “They wanted to see what types of things they could do to help...so it gave them a sense of purpose as well as elevated their spirits” Hanif recalls about the women. Such momentum in expansion has, however, made Khan a bit cautious, “ right now the thing that scares me is this idea is getting too big, too fast, and we really

by spying and meddling better, with no more leaks. We should view the Wikileaks controversy in the larger context of American foreign policy. Rather than worry about the disclosure of embarrassing secrets, we should focus on our delusional foreign policy. We are kidding ourselves when we believe spying, intrigue, and outright military intervention can maintain our international status as a superpower while our domestic economy crumbles in an orgy of debt and monetary debasement. Congressman Ron Paul serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and two ﬁnance committees. Learn more about him at http://www.RonPaul.com.

are trying to slow it down so we can stay focused.” Omnia Joehar, the organization’s volunteer abroad coordinator, thinks MWB is going strong in part because they have brought together very dedicated, hard-working college students. Joehar, who grew up in the Washington metro area where she attended Al-Huda School in College Park, MD is a second year student at the University of Maryland. Not only does MWB work primarily with college students but the organization is also run by students. As for long term sustainability, “honestly I have a lot of hope and faith in Muslims Without Borders...they really do have a ﬂourishing future” says Joehar.

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

WORLD PRESS | 13

World Press

Western Civilization Has Shed Its Values The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State.” -- Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Propaganda Minister

By Paul Craig Roberts December 06, 2010 “Information Clearing House” -- Western Civilization no longer upholds the values it proclaims, so what is the basis for its claim to virtue? For example, the US print and TV media and the US government have made it completely clear that they have no regard for the First Amendment. Consider CNN’s Wolf Blitzer’s reaction to the leaked diplomatic cables that reveal how the US government uses deceptions, bribes, and threats to control other governments and to deceive the American and other publics. Blitzer is outraged that information revealing the US government’s improprieties reached the people, or some of them. As Alexander Cockburn wrote, Blitzer demanded that the US government take the necessary steps to make certain that journalists and the American people never again ﬁnd out what their government is up to. http://www.counterpunch.org/ cockburn12032010.html The disregard for the First Amendment is well established in the US media, which functions as a propaganda ministry for the government. Remember the NSA leak given to the New York Times that the George W. Bush regime was violating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and spying on Americans without obtaining warrants from the FISA court? The New York Times spiked the story for one year and did not release it until after Bush’s reelection. By then, the Bush regime had fabricated a legal doctrine that “authorized” Bush to violate US law. Glenn Greenwald writing in Salon has exposed the absence of moral standards among WikiLeaks’ critics. A number of American politicians have called for the US government to murder Julian

Assange, as have journalists such as neoconservative propagandist Jonah Goldberg, who wrote: “Why wasn’t Assange garroted in his hotel room years ago?”

The leaked documents show that the last thing the US government wants anywhere is a government that is accountable to its own citizens instead of to the US government.

WikiLeaks’ critics could not make it clearer that they do not believe in accountable government. And to make certain that the government is not held accountable, WikiLeaks’ critics are calling for every possible police state measure, including extra-judicial murder, to stamp out anyone who makes information available that enables the citizenry to hold government accountable.

The US government’s frontal assault on freedom of information goes well beyond WikiLeaks and shutting down its host servers. In a December 2 editorial, “Wave goodbye to Internet freedom,” the Washington Times reports that Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski has “outlined a plan to expand the federal government’s power over the Internet.”

The US government definitely does not believe in accountable government. Among the ﬁrst things the Obama regime did was to make certain that there would be no investigation into the Bush regime’s use of lies, fabricated “intelligence,” and deception of the American public and the United Nations in order to further its agenda of conquering the independent Muslim states in the Middle East and turning them into US puppets. The Obama regime also made certain that no member of the Bush regime would be held accountable for violating US and international laws, for torturing detainees, for war crimes, for privacy violations or for any of the other criminal acts of the Bush regime.

The obvious, but unasked, question is: Why does the US government fear the American people and believe that only news that is managed and spun by the government is ﬁt to print? Is there an agenda afoot to turn citizens into subjects?

As the cables leaked by a patriotic American to WikiLeaks reveal, the US government was even able to prevent accountable government in the UK by having British prime minister Brown “ﬁx” the ofﬁcial Chilcot Inquiry into the deceptions used by former prime minister Tony Blair to lead the British into serving as mercenaries in America’s wars. The US was able to do this, because the British prime minister does not believe in accountable government either.

Perhaps the most discouraging development is the accusation that is being spread via the Internet that Julian Assange is a dupe or even a covert agent used by the CIA and Mossad to spread disinformation that furthers US and Israeli agendas. This accusation might come from intelligence services striving to protect governments by discrediting the leaked information. However, it has gained traction because some of the cables contain false information. Some have concluded, incorrectly, that the false information was put into the documents for the purpose of being leaked. There is another explanation for the false information. Diplomats concerned with advancing their careers learn to tell their bosses what they want to hear, whether true or false. Diplomats understand that the US government has agendas that it cannot declare and that they are expected to support these agendas by sending

in reports that validate the undeclared agendas. For example, the US government cannot openly say that it is endeavoring to create a climate of opinion that gives the US a green light for eliminating the independent Iranian government and reestablishing an American puppet state. US “diplomats,” a.k.a., spies, understand this and fabricate the information that supports the agenda. In my opinion, the most important of all the cables leaked is the secret directive sent by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to 33 US embassies and consulates ordering US diplomats to provide credit card numbers, email addresses, phone, fax and pager numbers, frequent-ﬂyer account numbers and biographic and biometric information including DNA information on UN officials from the Secretary General down, including “heads of peace operations and political field missions.” http://www.guardian. co.uk/world/2010/nov/28/us-embassycables-spying-un The directive has been characterized as the spy directive, but this is an unusual kind of spying. Usually, spying focuses on what other governments think, how they are likely to vote on US initiatives, who can be bribed, and on sexual affairs that could be used to blackmail acquiescence to US agendas. In contrast, the information requested in the secret directive is the kind of information that would be used to steal a person’s identity. Why does the US government want information that would enable it to steal the identities of UN ofﬁcials and impersonate them?

>> WIKILEAKS Pg 21

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V December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

16 | ISLAM

Islam The Histor y and Motivation Behind The Islamic Calendar By Waleed A. Muhanna Al-Jumu’ah Vol.11 Issue1

The Islamic Calendar, which is based purely on lunar cycles, was first introduced in 638 CE by the companions of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and the second Khalifah, Umar ibnul Khattab (592-644 CE). He did it in an attempt to rationalize the various, at times conflicting, dating systems used during his time. Umar consulted with his advisors from the companions on the starting date of the new Muslim calendar. It was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah the incident of the immigration of the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah. It is a central historical event of early Islam that led to the foundation of the first Muslim city-state, a turning point in Islamic and world history. The actual starting date for the calendar was chosen (on the basis of purely lunar years,

counting backwards) to be the ﬁrst day of the ﬁrst month (1 Muharram) of the year of the Hijrah. The Islamic (Hijri) calendar (with dates that fall within the Muslim Era) came to be abbreviated by some as AH in Western languages from the latinized Anno Hegirae, “in the year of the Hegira”. Muharram 1, 1 AH therefore corresponds to July 16, 622 CE. The Islamic year consists of twelve (purely lunar) months. They are: Muharram; Safar; Rabi’ul Awwal; Rabi’uth Thani; Jumada al-Awwal; Jumada ath-Thani; Rajab; Sha’ban; Ramadhan; Shawwal; Thul Qi’dah; and THUL HIJJAH. Some of the most important dates in the Islamic year are: 1 Muharram (Islamic new year); 1 Ramadhan (first day of fasting); 1 Shawwal (Eidul Fitr); 8-10 Thul Hijjah (the Hajj to Makkah); and 10 Thul Hijjah (Eidul Adh-ha). To Muslims, the Hijri calendar is more than a sentimental system of time reckoning, and dating important

religious events. Many of the marital and spousal relationship rulings of the women are directly connected to the lunar (Islamic) months. The Hijri calendar, therefore, has a much deeper religious and historical significance in the Muslim life. Muhammad Ilyas in his book, “A Modem Guide to Astronomical Calculations of Islamic Calendar, Times & Qiblah,” quoted Abul Hassan an-Nadwi who wrote, “It (the advent of the 15th Islamic century) is indeed, a unique occasion to ponder that the Islamic Era did not start with the victories of Islamic wars, nor with the birth or death of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, nor with the Revelation itself. It starts with Hijra, or the sacrifice for the cause of Truth and for the preservation of the Revelation. It was a divinely inspired selection. Allah wanted to teach Man that the struggle between Truth and Evil is eternal. The Islamic year reminds Muslims not of the pomp and glory of Islam but of its sacrifice, and prepares them to do the same.” From a historical angle, Ilyas

quoted Samiullah who wrote, “All the events of Islamic history, especially those that took place during the life of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and afterwards are quoted in the Hijra calendar era. But our calculations in the Gregorian calendar keep us away from those events and happenings, which are pregnant of admonitory lessons and guiding instructions. ...And this chronological study is possible only by adopting the Hijri calendar to indicate the year and the lunar month in line with our cherished traditions.” WHY USE THE ISLAMIC CALENDAR? Muslims are obliged to use the Islamic calendar because all of the rulings needing time tracking are related to it. They should use a calendar with 12 lunar months without intercalation as evident from the >> CALENDAR Pg 17

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ (The 10th of Muharram) Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Moosa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Moosa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1865). “This is a righteous day” – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] “This is a great day, on which Allaah saved Moosa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people.” “Moosa fasted on this day” – a report narrated by Muslim adds: “… in

thanksgiving to Allaah, so we fast on this day.” According to a report narrated by alBukhaari: “… so we fast on this day to venerate it.” A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.” “and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day” – according to another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari: “He said to his Companions: ‘You have more right to Moosa than they do, so fast on that day.” The practice of fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was known even in the days of Jaahiliyyah, before the Prophet’s mission. It was

reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The people of Jaahiliyyah used to fast on that day…” Al-Qurtubi said: “Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibraaheem, upon whom be peace.” It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ in Makkah, before he migrated to Madeenah. When he migrated to Madeenah, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadeeth quoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadeeth of Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: “The Jews used to take the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a

festival [according to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘So you [Muslims] should fast on that day.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari). Apparently the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. (Summarized from the words of al-Haaﬁz

>> ASHOORAA Pg 18

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

ISLAM | 17

Fasting in the Month of Muharram Question: Is it Sunnah to observe a lot of naafil [supererogatory] fasts in the month of Muharram? Is there anything special about this month compared with other months?

four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Praise be to Allaah. The month of Muharram is the first month of the Arabic year, and it is one of the four sacred months of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

al-Bukhaari (3167) and Muslim (1679) narrated from Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The division of time has turned to its original form which was current the day Allaah created the heavens and earth. The year consists of twelve months of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them

CALENDAR

>> continued from pg 16

following verses of the Qur’an, “They ask you about the New Moons, say they are but signs to mark ﬁxed periods of time in (the affairs of) men and for Hajj.” [11:189] “The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth. Of them four are sacred; that is the straight usage so wrong not yourselves therein, and ﬁght the pagans.” [9:36] “Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is an addition to unbelief: the nonbelievers are led to wrong thereby: for they

make it lawful one year, and forbidden another year, of months forbidden by Allah and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to them. But Allah guides not those who reject Faith.” [9:37] Since the Islamic calendar is purely lunar, the Muslim year is shorter than the Gregorian year by about 11 days. Also, the months of the Islamic year are not related to seasons which are fundamentally determined by the solar cycle. This means that important Muslim festivals, which always fall in the same lunar month, will occur in different seasons. For example, the Hajj and Ramadhan’s fasting can take place in the summer as well as the winter. It is only over a 33 year cycle that lunar months take a complete turn and fall during the same season.

Muharram, and Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha’baan.” It was proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that the best fasting after Ramadaan is fasting in the month of Muharram. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best fasting after Ramadaan is the month of Allaah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” Narrated by Muslim, 1163.

For religious reasons, the beginning of a lunar month is marked not by the birth of a new moon, but by a physical (i.e. an actual human) sighting of the crescent moon at a given locale. From the Fiqh standpoint, one may begin the fast in Ramadhan, for example, based on a “local” sighting. This also known as Ikhtilaful Matali’ (separate horizons) or the recognition that different part of the world may have different (unrelated) sightings of the moon as in the case when the two places do not share days or nights. Or based on a “global” sighting anywhere in the world. This is the case known as Ittihadul Matali’ (single horizon) where one sighting of the new moon is considered to be valid for beginning the month for all parts of the world. Although different, both of these positions are valid Fiqh positions.

With regard to the phrase “the month of Allaah”, mentioning the month in conjunction with Allaah is a sign of its great status. Al-Qaari said: it seems that what is meant is all of the month of Muharram. But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast any month in full apart from Ramadaan, so this hadeeth is to be understood as meaning that it is it is encouraged to fast a lot in the month of Muharram, not to fast the whole month. And Allaah knows best. Source: Islamqa. com.

Astronomically, some data are definitive and conclusive (i.e., the birth of the new moon). However, determining the visibility of the crescent is not as definitive or as conclusive; rather it is dependent upon several factors, mostly optical in nature. Therefore, all Islamic calendars are to be updated every month to insure the exact beginning of each month. This should not present difficulties in using the calendar as a planning tool. Muslims have devised some methods to calculate the approximate beginning of the months (i.e., predicting the sightability of the new moon at the different parts of the world) and in turn used them to produce calendars.

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

18 | SALAAH TIMES

Salaah times for December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

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

ASHOORAA

>> continued from pg 16

Ibn Hajar – may Allaah have mercy on him – in Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Saheeh al-Bukhaari). Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was a gradual step in the process of introducing fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam.

BEATING

>> continued from pg 6

the court ruled that it was unclear if he died from the beating – which witnesses said involved four employees and one coowner stopping him and kicking him – or if he coincidentally died of natural causes at the same time the beating occurred.

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

Date 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Hijri 4/1 5/1 6/1 7/1 8/1 9/1 10/1 11/1 12/1 13/1 14/1 15/1 16/1 17/1

Fajr 5:56 5:58 5:59 5:59 6:00 6:00 6:00 6:01 6:02 6:03 6:03 6:04 6:04 6:05

Sunrise 7:14 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:18 7:19 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:22 7:22 7:23 7:23 7:24

Dhuhr 12:01 12:02 12:02 12:03 12:03 12:04 12:04 12:04 12:05 12:06 12:06 12:07 12:07 12:08

Asr 2:28 2:29 2:29 2:29 2:29 2:30 2:30 2:30 2:31 2:31 2:32 2:32 2:33 2:33

Maghrib 4:46 4:47 4:47 4:47 4:47 4:47 4:47 4:48 4:49 4:49 4:49 4:50 4:50 4:51

Isha 6:06 6:06 6:06 6:06 6:07 6:07 6:07 6:07 6:08 6:09 6:09 6:10 6:10 6:11

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

Fasting appeared in three forms. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days of every month and on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, then Allaah made fasting obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “… observing the fasting is prescribed for you…” [al-Baqarah 2:183] (Ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Jassas, part 1).

The obligation was transferred from the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ to the fast of Ramadaan, and this one of the proofs in the ﬁeld of Usool al-Fiqh that it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty.

DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier called the incident a “savage” case of “vigilante justice” soon after it happened on October 22, 2010. The medical examiner’s report is key to the now dismissed case, but thus far the examiner’s report has been inconclusive.

The Ethiopian Muslim community and scores of other supporters protests outside the ofﬁces of the DC Council in the days following the incident. Many Muslims in the area are angered and see this as a grave injustice. “If this was a white kid from Potomac who was beaten down in the street by ﬁve men and died, no one would think to question how he died. It would be case closed. Money is talking here, and no one is afraid of doing injustice to meek Ethiopian immigrants,”

A condition for reopening the club was that the men involved in the beating no longer work at the nightspot.

Before the obligation of fasting ‘Aashooraa’ was abrogated, fasting on this day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe this fast. Then it was further conﬁrmed later

on, then reafﬁrmed by making it a general command addressed to everybody, and once again by instructing mothers not to breastfeed their infants during this fast. It was reported from Ibn Mas’ood that when fasting Ramadaan was made obligatory, the obligation to fast ‘Aashooraa’ was lifted, i.e., it was no longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable (mustahabb). Source: Islamqa.com.

said one community member familiar with the case. The family of Ali Mohammed refused to make a comment when contacted by the Muslim Link. First Hijrah also refused to comment, citing a request from the family. Billy Martin, an attorney for Mohammed’s family, said a court case will yet go forward.

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

MASJID LOCATOR ADAMS CENTER: 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling,VA 20164, Tel: 703-433-1325, www.adamscenter.org. ALL MUSLIM BROTHERS ASSOCIATION 3900 King Street Alexandria, VA 22302 703-647-0515 Jumma Prayer ONLY - 1:15 p.m AVONDALE ISLAMIC CENTER: 4637 Eastern Ave., Hyattsville, MD, 20782, Tel: 301-779-9292. BADR COMMUNITY CENTER OF DUMFRIES (BCCD) 17794 Main Street Dumfries, VA 22026 Tel: 703-585-1689, 703-5547983 www.bccd.org E-mail: info@bccd.org BAITUL MUKARRAM: 2116 S Nelson St., Arlington, VA, 22204, Tel: 703-778-1550. DAR AL HIJRAH: 3159 Rowe St., Falls Church, VA 22044, Tel: 703-536-1030, www.hijrah.org. DAR AL-NOOR (MUSLIM ASSOC. OF VA): 5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808, Fax: 703221-8513, www.daralnoor.org. DAR AL-TAQWA: 10740 Rte. 108, Ellicott City, MD 21042, Tel: 410-997-5711, www.taqwa.net. DAR UL ULOOM, 6334 Dogwoood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207, 410-493-0785 Email:darululoommd@aol.com

MASJID LOCATOR | 19 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.

Tel: 703-922-0111, www.darulhuda.org DAR-US-SALAAM: 5301 Edgewood Rd. College Park, MD 20740, Tel: 301-982-9848, www.darussalaam.org. FIRST HIJRA MUSLIM COMM. CENTER: 4324 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, DC 20011 www.ﬁrsthijrah.org. ICNA VA CENTER: 2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306. 703-660-1255 IDARA DAWAT-O-IRSHAD: 4803 Valley St, Alexandria, VA 22312 703-256-8622, www.irshad.org. IRHSCA (ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND HUM. SERVICES CENTER OF AMERICA): Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040, www.irhsca.org. ISLAMIC CENTER OF MARYLAND (ICM): 19411 Woodﬁeld Rd. Gaithersburg,MD 20879 Tel:301-840-9440, www.icomd.org. ISLAMIC CENTER OF NORTHERN VA TRUST (ICNVT): 4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 Tel: 703-941-6558, info@icnvt.org | www.icnvt.org ISLAMIC COM. CENTER OF LAUREL (ICCL): 7306 Contee Rd., Laurel, MD 20707 Tel: 301-317-4584, www.icclmd.org

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

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

DAR-UL HUDA: 6666 Commerce St., Springﬁeld, VA 22150,

ISLAMIC SOC. OF ANNAPOLIS (ISA): 2635 Riva RdSuite 110

Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.isamd.org, Email: info@islamannapolis.org

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

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

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

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN (ISG): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (240)-277-7758, www.isgtown.org. ISLAMIC SOC. OF SOUTHERN PG COUNTY (ISSPGC): P O Box 99, Clinton, MD 20735 5410 Indian Head Hwy, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 Tel: 240 603 4618 ISLAMIC SOC. OF THE WASHINGTON AREA (ISWA): 2701 Briggs Chaney Rd. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-879-0930, www.iswamd.org. ISLAMIC SOC. OF WESTERN MARYLAND: 2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922. IVY CITY MASJID: 2001 Galludet St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 Tel: 202-529-3100. LA PLATA MASJID: 111 Howard Street, La Plata, MD 20646 Tel: 301-609-8769. MAKKAH LEARNING CENTER (MLC): 814 Brandy Farms Ln Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.isamd. org, Email: info@mlcmd.org MANASSAS MOSQUE: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537.

MASJID UL-HAQ: 514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-728-1363. MASJID AL-ISLAM: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, DC 20019 e-mail: imammusa@hotmail.com MASJID AL-INSHIRAH: 7832 Fairbrook Road , Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977, Fax: 410298-0266, www.al-inshirahweb. net. MASJID AL-MUMINEEN: 2642 Harford Rd. Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel: 410-467-8798. MASJID JAMAAT ALMUSLIMEEN: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel. 410-891-8451 MASJID MUHAMMAD: 1519 4th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001 Tel: 202-483-8832. MASJID AN-NUR: 5418 Ebenezer Road, White Marsh, MD 21162 Tel: 410-663-9637, Fax: 410-663-9817. MASJID AL-RAHMAH/ISB: 6631 Johnny Cake Rd. Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869, www.isb.org MASJID AS SAFFAT: 1335 W. North Ave. Baltimore, MD 21217 Tel: 410-669-0655. MASJID BAIT-ALLAH: 1935 Frederick Avenue Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 443-224-4423, E-mail: info@masjidbaitallah.org.

MASJID IBN TAYMIYYAH: 8000 MLK Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-461-9325. MASJID ZAMZAM 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Phone: 410-284-2840 MEDINA CENTER: 11600 Falls Road, Potomac MD 20854 www.medinacenter.net MUSLIM COM. CENTER (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20905 Tel: 301-384-3454, www.mccmd.org. MUSLIM SOC. OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (MSWDC): Howard Center, Room 805 (Above HU Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236, www.mswdc.org. MUSTAFA CENTER: 6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003. PRINCE GEORGES MUSLIM ASSOC. (PGMA): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd. Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942, www. pgmamd.org. Imam’s Ofﬁce: 301-459-1441, imam@pgmamd.org. RANDALLSTOWN ISLAMIC CENTER 9019 Marcella Ave. Randallstown, MD 21133 Tel: 410 971 4018 www.ricbaltimore.org SOUTHERN MARYLAND ISLAMIC CENTER(SMIC): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639. Tel: 410- 535-0000 THE ISLAMIC CENTER: 2551 Mass. Ave. NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

20 | UPCOMING EVENTS

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301-982-1020

Upcoming Events In Your Area Dar-us-Salaam/Al Huda School Family Time Management Seminar Saturday, December 11 2010, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Dar-us-Salaam / Al Huda School. Family Time Management Seminar. Do you want to enrich your family experience? Do you want to spend more time with your family? Happy and successful families don’t happen over night! Family time management can enhance the quality of your family time. In our Family time management workshop we will discuss the basics and the skills of time management. Bring some of your concerns written so that we can try to address it. Finally, do you know that if you take care of your family you are pleasing Allah. Taught by Dr Husein Afeefy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Global Deaf Muslim Dinner in Metro D.C. Saturday, December 11 2010, 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Ever wondered how Deaf Muslims access Islam and the teachings of The Holy Qur’an? Did you know that despite the advancements of the North American Muslim community, the Holy Qur’an has yet to be translated into ASL (American Sign Language)? Do you know how many converts to Islam are Deaf and cannot access The Holy Qur’an? To ﬁnd the answers to the questions above, please mark your calendar for the Global Deaf Muslim fundraising dinner at the Herndon Community Center in Herndon, VA. With your help, GDM will raise funds for projects like the key vital initiative: The Qur’an in ASL Video Project so Deaf and Hard of Hearing Muslims and Non-Muslims can have access to. To purchase tickets please go to: http://globaldeafmuslim.ticketleap.com/quranfordeaf-va/ The event details are as follows: Theme: Quran for the Deaf. Keynote Speakers: Dr. Muhammad Yahya Alvi, Dr. Daoud Nassimi, Brother Joshua Salaam, and ISNA President & ADAMS Imam Magid (Tentative). Please visit our website at www.globaldeafmuslim. org to learn more about GDM. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Hawa Abdi’s Humanatarian Eﬀort for Somalia Fundraiser Sunday, December 12 2010, 4:30pm - 7:30pm

GET INVOLVED WITH BECOME A REPORTER HELP US DISTRIBUTE GIVE US FEEDBACK VOLUNTEER OR INTERN DONATE GENEROUSLY w w w . m u s l i m l i n k p a p e r . c o m

Come join the Somali Community of the DC Metropolitian Area Fundraiser on behalf of Dr. Hawa Abdi’s humanatarian effort in Somalia. Guest Speakers: Dr. Hawa Abdi, Hawa Abdi Foundation; Abdia Sh Ahmed Mohamed, Adar Foundation; Ahmed Elmi, SACA; More Speakers to be announced. Tickets: $20/person. Refreshments will be served. Location: Best Western; 6633 Arlington Blvd; Falls Church, VA Contact: Asha Noor 703-474-0929 or Sadia Aden 703-717-8060; email: Adarfoundation@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

College Day at Dar Al Noor Islamic Center Saturday, December 18 2010, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

High school students and their parents are invited to attend College Day. Visit information booths from Virginia colleges manned by alumni and current students. A well-experienced Fairfax County Public School guidance counselor will give a presentation on “the student colleges seek.” Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Sisters Affairs committee. All public and private school students are welcomed. Location: Dar Al Noor Islamic Center; Social Hall, 2nd ﬂoor Contact: Contact taalibah@daralnoor.org for more information. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Annual ICNA Council for Social Justice Fundraiser Friday, December 24 2010, 5:00pm - 8:00pm

First Annual Banquet and Fundraiser ICNA Council for Social Justice. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tariq Ramadan Renowned Islamic Scholar and Professor Oxford University. Other Speakers: Imam Khalid Griggs, Chairman ICNA Council for Social Justice; Dr Zahid Bukhari, Central President ICNA; Naeem Baig, Executive Director ICNA Council for Social Justice; Dwayne Dail, North Carolina man vindicated after 17 yrs of imprisonment. Tickets only $30 per person. Location: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge; 1900 N Fort Myer Drive; Arlington, VA 22209 Contact: 202-6423064; executivedirector@icnacsj.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Salam Networking, Thursday, January 20 2011, 6:00pm - 9:30pm

We invite you to join us for dinner & networking with other Business Owners, Professionals & Community Leaders. Regular tickets: $35 each; Jan 18 or later $50 each. This is a catered event & advance purchase is required. For tickets and more information: Muhammad Farooq 703-591-0999; President - Mrs. Shaheen Hossini ,703-725-7335.Location: ICNVT ShirleyGate Community Hall;4420 Shirley Gate Rd; Fairfax VA 22030

December 10th - December 23rd, 2010 Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager : Stephanie Benmoha News Desk: Rashad Mulla Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Farkhunda Ali Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Yaman Shalabi Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published every other week on Fridays and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam. The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-usSalaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML. This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: 240-209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com

WIKILEAKS >> continued from pg 13 The US government loves to pretend that its acts of naked aggression are acts of liberation mandated by “the world community.” The world community has been less supportive of US aggression since it learned that the Bush regime lied about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Consequently, the UN has not given Washington the green light Washington wants for a military assault on Iran. Neither has the UN given Washington the extreme sanctions that it wants the world community to impose on Iran. As the UN refused Washington’s menu of sanctions, Washington unilaterally added its own sanction package to the UN sanctions, to the dismay of the Russians and other governments who believed

that they had arrived at a compromise with Washington over the Iran sanctions issue. Could it be that Washington wants to be able to impersonate UN officials and country delegates so that it can compromise them by involving them in fake terrorist plots, communications with terrorists real or contrived, money laundering, sex scandals and other such means of suborning their cooperation with Washington’s agendas? All the CIA has to do is to call a Taliban or Hamas chief on a UN official’s telephone number or send a compromising fax with a UN official’s fax number or have operatives pay for visits to prostitutes with a UN official’s credit card number. The report in the Guardian on December 2 that the CIA drew up the UN spy directive signed off by Hillary Clinton is

a good indication that the United States government intended to compromise the United Nations and turn the organization, as it has done with so many governments, into a compliant instrument of American policy. Perhaps there is another plausible explanation of why the US government desired information that would enable it to impersonate UN ofﬁcials, but as a person who had a 25-year career in Washington I cannot think of what it might be. The author served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration and is the co-founder of Reaganomics. He is also a former editor of the Wall Street Journal, the author of several books, and a frequent commentator on news shows around the world.

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December 10th - December 23rd, 2010

Restaurant Review

MP - ADVERTISEMENT |

Cuisines: Indo-Pak| Address: 6502 Baltimore National Pike, Catonsville, MD 21228 Phone: 410-747-5222 | Website: www.kababhutmenu.com Hours: 11:00 am to 9:30 pm 7 days a week.

By Fatimah Steffanoff

Muslim Link Restaurant Reviewer

TML’s VERDICT:

“Vegetable Pakoora is a long time favorite, and these lived up to my expectations, fried crispy but still holding the savor y ﬂavor of the vegetables and not oily tasting…. Great choice!”

‘Kabob Hut’ is good for: Price ($6-$13) Quality Portion

Selection Venue

Kabab Hut is easy to ﬁnd, brightly lit at a shopping center entrance, sitting directly on Route 40/Baltimore National Pike, located in Catonsville within a mile of both Ellicott City and Baltimore. Once inside Kabab Hut you will see the counter and colorful menu display board on the back wall, the pictures are great quality and very helpful when deciding what to order. We had a friendly greeter and he assisted us in ordering by even suggesting some items. We elected to go with: Tandoori Wings & Vegetable Pakoora appetizers, Lamb Curry and Chana Masala entrees, Rice Pudding for dessert and drank soda and a Mango Lassi with our meals. This complete dinner for two cost a total of $33.63 and we had to get a “to go” bag to carry some left overs home! Once your order is placed, you can choose to sit at any open table, if its not already clean, they will come wipe it down for you. Kabab Hut has seating for about 30 so if you are coming with a large party its best to call ahead and make sure they have space, or to order take out. The food was prepared in a timely manner, and brought right to our table as it was ready. First the appetizers came out nicely plated each with a small side of salad and green chutney for dipping. The Tandoori wings were a very nice blend of Tandoori spices and charbroiled ﬂavor, a nice change from Buffalo Wings – and they were tender and meaty too! Vegetable Pakoora is a long time favorite, and these lived

up to my expectations, fried crispy but still holding the savory flavor of the vegetables and not oily tasting…. Great choice! Once dinner arrived we were barely ﬁnished with our appetizers so it was not a long wait at all. We ordered the Chana Masala with the whole wheat naan and it included a side salad with a dollop of yogurt sauce and more green chutney. The Masala was mildly ﬂavored with a nice hint of the cumin, but nothing

overbearing, salted to perfection. Liking my food spicy, I added the chutney to make it just the right level for my taste. The Lamb Curry came with white rice and plain naan, a side salad with yogurt sauce and green chutney. The Curry was well seasoned, not too spicy, and yet very ﬂavorful, and the meat was very tender and lean. When it came time for dessert, it was good we chose to share one, because we were already full. The delicate creamy ﬂavor of the Rice Pudding was a great ending to our meal.

Kabab Hut is affordable for good sized portions; the menu selection has choices for people wanting savory delights, some American standards and several seafood options. Service at Kabab Hut is friendly and prompt, food quality is fresh and well prepared, and the venue is a simple setting for families or just to enjoy a casual great meal. TML suggests that you put Kabab Hut on your list of great spots to dine!

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