The Muslim Link, October 2, 2015

IN MEMORIAMDR.JAMAL AL BARZINJI(1939-2015)

TRIALS OF THE

GRAVE >>PG 32 >>PG 10

19 THUL-HIJJAH 1436 A.H. - 16 MUHARRAM 1437 A.H. | WWW.MUSLIMLINKPAPER.COM LIKE & FOLLOW USTHE MUSLIM LINK

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Fashion Show Supports Victims of Domestic Violence | pg 8

Labor Movement is Intrinsically Islamic, Say Activists | pg 4

Countering Islamophobia Central Topic at ISNA | pg 26

Baltimore's Day of Dignity: Dawah in Action | pg 4

Running for the Hiils: Looking for An Ummah | pg 24

Bikers Go the Extra Mile for Helping Needy on Eid | pg 5

Refugee Crisis in Syria Raises Fears in South Carolina | pg 28

Baltimore Area Muslims Con-vene For Unified Eid | pg 6

Reflections on a Trip to the Land of the Last Khilafah | pg 32

October 2 - October 29, 2015 MD, VA, and DC Metropolitan Area Monthly Newspaper | FREE

Synthetic Drug Bust Shocks Muslim CommunityMuslim Leaders to Business Owners: Don't Make Your Earnings Haram

By Hena ZuberiMuslim Link Staff Reporter

Much cheaper than marijuana, which is now legal in the District, synthetic marijuana — sold on street corners and gas stations — is a variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to cannabis. The District

outlawed the drug in 2012. Sold under many names, including K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, Bizarro and others, labeled potpourri or "not for human consumption", these products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemicals, usually from China, that are responsible for their mind-altering

effects.

In August 2015, a Muslim man from the neighborhood a r o u n d F i r s t H i j r a h Foundation was arrested in the largest synthetic drug bust in North West DC. After the arrest, local Muslim leaders are taking this menace head on. The community is shaken up by the arrest and charges.

“It is a very dangerous and addictive drug,” says Mahdi Leroy Thorpe, a Muslim community activist who has won several congressional awards for his work in shutting down local crack houses. Thorpe has a strong relationship with the police

Syrian Refugee Families Trickle Into Baltimore, Community Extends Its HandBy Hena ZuberiMuslim Link Staff Reporter

The United States is seen as a beacon for those seeking safe haven, but Syrian refugees have not been welcomed

with open arms. Of the 4 million Syrians who have fled their country only 1426 have settled in the United States. A few are in the DC Metro and Baltimore area. They face many struggles and

need the help of the Muslim community.

The International Rescue C o m m i t t e e ( I R C ) i n Baltimore helped settle 26 Syrians in 2015. The non-

profit hopes that they can resettle many more. IRC was dismayed at the recent announcement by President

Muharram| Safar | Rabi Al-Awaal|Rabi Al-Thani | Jumada Al-Awwal| Jumada Al-Akhir|Rajab|Shaban| Ramadan | Shawwal | Thul-Qedah | 19 THUL-HIJJAH 1436

>> DRUGS Pg 18

>> REFUGEE Pg 14

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| 3October 2nd - October 29th , 2015 INDEX

INSIDE THIS ISSUE05 Community News

30 Islam

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26 National NewsNational News

24 Health & Family

| 5October 2nd - October 29th , 2015 COMMUNITY NEWS

>> LABOR Pg 20

Baltimore's Day of Dignity: Dawah in ActionBy Zakia AminMuslim Link Contributing Writer

As Baltimore continues to recover from the unrest and the substandard living conditions that many of its residents have to endure, the Muslim community has remained at the forefront of ensuring that the community receives basic needs. On September 12, 2015, Islamic Relief USA, in conjunction with Muslim Social Services Agency hosted Day of Dignity in Baltimore at Masjid Ul-Haqq, the largest masjid in Inner-City Baltimore. Day of Dignity is a national event that that Islamic Relief sponsors in 18 locations across the U.S. to help those in need.

Despite the intermittent rain, IRUSA and MSSA distributed toiletries, hygiene kits, socks and t-shirts to over 400 Baltimore residents. The supplies were packed and distributed by more than 70 committed volunteers that included students from the Islamic Community School, Johns Hopkins University Graduate MSA, Job

Corps participants, and other community members.

Over 10,000 pounds of fresh vegetables were distributed in a matter of a few hours. “Many sections of Baltimore are food deserts, and the citizens do not have access to quality fresh food, or the food is too expensive or of poor quality. It makes me feel good to be able to distribute healthy food”, a volunteer noted. Hot, fresh spaghetti meals were also distributed from under a tent, and people could eat the meals on the spot or take them home. After eating her meal, one woman exclaimed, “Tell the cook that I said that was the best spaghetti I’ve ever tasted in my life!”

Over 200 brand new book bags and school supplies were provided by the Zakat Foundation and ICNA Relief. James, a father of six, commented “I did not have money to buy school supplies for my six children. It’s a blessing that you all are looking out for us and giving us what

we need.” Along with receiving school supplies, children were also engaged in arts and crafts activities throughout the day.

Health agencies and practitioners provided blood pressure screening, and information about health insurance plans, children’s health, and healthy homes free of pollutants. The Center for Urban Families presented their successful job training, responsible fatherhood, and healthy family programs to the community. Financial counseling sessions were conducted by Be Bilal.

Imam Hassan Amin, Executive Director of MSSA, summed up the day. “Day of Dignity is a time for the Muslims to show the Baltimore and the community what Islaam is all about, caring for our neighbors and the less fortunate. We have to give them resources for a better tomorrow on a regular basis. That is our duty to mankind that we must fulfill.”

Volunteers unload bags of vegetables for distribution to needy residents at Baltimore's Day of Dignity event. Photo courtesy of Zakia Amin.

Labor Movement is Intrinsically Islamic, Say ActivistsBy Sarah KhasawinahMuslim Link Staff Reporter

"You should pay the laborer his wages before his sweat dries," Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him instructed. Fair labor laws are central in Islam. In another hadith, the Prophet peace be upon him said:

"Allah said, 'I will be an opponent to three types of people on the Day of Resurrection:

1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but proves treacherous;

2. One who sells a free man as a slave and devours his price; and

3. One who employs a laborer and takes full work from him but does not pay him for his labor.' "

Then, why is it that some of us view the labor movement as not my problem? At the 52nd Annual ISNA Convention in Chicago, IL on September 6, 2015,

leaders from public service and social justice came together for a special session, “Exploring the Parallels of Islam and America’s Labor Movement.”

The panel featured Congressman Keith Ellison representing the 5th congressional district in Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives; Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York; and Maimuna Syed, Field Director of the California Labor Federation in Northern California.Syed defined a labor union as “people who work, coming together to make a change at their work place.” So this

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6 | October 2nd - October 29th , 2015COMMUNITY NEWS

>> BIKE Pg 22

Bikers Go the Extra Mile for Helping Needy on EidBy Hena ZuberiMuslim Link Staff Reporter

One in eight District households is struggling against hunger. Across the country, more than 46 million people live in poverty, and for some Eid al-Adha is the only time that they may receive meat all year long.

Islamic charities are always coming up with creative ways to fundraise money to raise awareness and support about efforts to stop hunger in the DMV. This year, the first Islamic Relief 40 for 40 Qurbani Challenge was held in the nation’s capital on a balmy September morning. Fifteen riders took off from the picturesque Lincoln Memorial at nine in the morning; the ride ended at noon.

“It is the beginning of something new that we are starting for Islamic Relief,” says Naeem Muhammad, the community outreach manager for Islamic Relief USA. “New community service projects that are fun and challenging.”

Velocipede Cycling Club, a DMV Muslim cycling club, co sponsored the event. They led the group of 20 riders across 40 miles across the D.C. metropolitan area on September 20, 2015.

In 2011, overweight and out of shape, Dr Faisal Kamdar started training for a triathlon with fellow Virginian, Tarik Issawi. “We completed the triathlon and [decided] that we wanted to keep up the biking,” he says. They started the

Velocipede Cycling Club (VCC).

VCC currently has 20 active members.

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>> UNIFIED Pg 16

Baltimore Area Muslims Convene For Unified EidBy C. Islaah Abd’al-RahimMuslim Link Contributing Writer

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope (which Allah stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you became brothers; and you were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does He make His Signs clear to you: That you may be guided.” (Qur’aan 3:103)

On September 24, 2015, several Baltimore area masaajid convened in Carroll Park to offer a historic, unified, Eid ul Adha prayer. This was the first time that more than two masaajid have come together to offer the Eid prayer since the late 1990s. It is also the first time that some of the participating communities have ever worked together.

An estimated two thousand congregants—

men, women, and children from Masjid ul Haqq, Masjid al Ihsan, Masjid ‘Umar, Masjid Baitullah, Masjid Khalifah, Masjid al Inshirah (Peace Center) and the Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore--all formed ranks in the balmy autumn air to pray together in a tangible demonstration of mutual cooperation and unity.

“The goal,” as articulated by the Amir of Masjid ul Haqq, Hakim Lucky, “was to reunite the various Muslims throughout the city. We wanted to show that differences in opinion don’t necessarily mean that we can’t work together on some commonalities.”

Allah’s Apostle (salallahu alayhe wa sallam) said, “Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla, and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim, and is under Allah’s and His Apostle’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.” Bukhari

Imam Mursi of Masjid Baitullah encouraged the gatherers to fill the park with the sound of the takbir, tasbeeh, and tahmeed. Then, Khateeb Saafir Rabb reminded the worshipers about the significance of the day and challenged them to continue to work together. After the prayer, families ate. Many received dhabeehah meat that had been donated by the Turkish masjid. Clad in varying attire that represents the true diversity of Islam, families and friends shared hugs and posed together for pictures. Children and adults ventured over to a miniature Ka’aba that served as a visual aid as they listened to a brief presentation on the rites of Hajj. Appeals were made from the microphone for the Muslims to collectively support the work of area Muslim organizations.

On Saturday, a follow-up activity--Muslim Family Fun Day—was held at Hanlon Park. From basketball games and face-painting to congregational prayer and piñatas, Muslims representing many of the area masaajid came out for a day of fun, relaxation, and worship.

The initial planning for the unified activities started before Ramadhan. At that point, Masaajid ul Haqq, Ihsan, and ‘Umar made a decision to collaborate on the upcoming holiday prayer. Collectively known as “Bmore Unified”, organizers put together a joint Eid ul Fitr prayer and barbecue in Gwynn Oak Park. Other masaajid were invited to participate, but some declined for various reasons, including the fact that some have already established their own holiday traditions.Decades ago, in the late 70s, the first Baltimore joint Eid was held in Herring Run Park. That effort was spear-headed by masaajid as-Saffat and Mu’mineen, with many members of the burgeoning immigrant community in attendance.

For several years thereafter, the Eid prayers would alternate between Druid Hill Park in West Baltimore and Herring Run Park in East Baltimore. For Eid ul Adha, Muslims from around the City

Fashion with CompassionWomen's Only Show Supports Victims of Domestic ViolenceBy Saman QuraeshiMuslim Link Contributing Writer

More than 200 women came together on September 27, 2015 at the Hylton Performing Art Center in Manassas, VA to show their support for the victims and survivors of domestic violence. The Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help, (FAITH) hosted the annual Fashion with Compassion for the second time.

According to the Fashion with Compassion Fashion Show coordinator, Somayyah Ghariani, the event is a platform for women to come together to showcase their talents, businesses and passions all while giving back to domestic abuse victims and survivors.

“This event is so much more than a fashion show and a pop-up boutique – this event represents what we can accomplish when we work together for a cause,” said Ghariani. She added that the community really came

together and the in-kind donations for Fashion with Compassion were over three thousand dollars.

Ambreen Ahmed, executive director of FAITH, said that the fashion show provided a happy, comforting and nurturing environment to bring awareness about a serious issue that is often not discussed enough in our community.

“It was amazing to see women come and interact with the various domestic violence related displays set-up around the event. One activity for the guests was to tie ribbons around a rope to symbolize their solidarity with the causes of standing up against domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse,” Ahmed said. She added, “ Fashion with Compassion was able to provide a safe place for some women to talk about their pain, others wanted to learn more about domestic violence and also wanted to be trained in the field.”

Among the guests was Jennifer Boysko who was representing Kathleen Murphy from the Virginia House of Delegates. Boysko, took the opportunity and shared her personal story of being a child survivor of domestic violence and commended the work of FAITH in the field of domestic violence.

The evening consisted of a spoken word performance by Sadiyah Bashir, a runway show featuring national and international designers; Roddiva Couture, Gulshaan, Zeena, Madeena by Mizz Nina and B.Zarina as well as the blogger stylist Dana Ramey. A live performance by Abir Harooni was also part of the program.For one domestic violence survivor FWC was more than just a fundraising fashion show, she said it felt like a homecoming.“ Fashion with Compassion 2015 represents my transitioning from a victim of domestic violence to a survivor. It represents hope, and most importantly it represents women coming together to help people like me,” she said.

Ammara Chaudhry a guest from Sterling, VA said that she can’t wait to attend FWC next year.

“I love how this amazing night was able to blend fashion with charity to help raise money to empower victims of domestic violence,” said Chaudhry she added, “this cause is close to my heart personally knowing friends who have been victims of domestic violence – the night was filled with talent; an entertaining MC, strong poetry, the powerful voice of a young female performer and models representing diverse beauty had me mesmerized,” said Chaudhry.

After the show guests shopped at the pop-up boutique which featured looks from the runway, accessories, and other beauty vendors. All guests left with a swag bag valued at over $20.

“[The event] showed that strength is contagious, every attendee who came to Fashion with Compassion shared their support to those who need it the most and that is what this made this event so special,” said Fashion with Compassion Pop Up Boutique Coordinator, Iman Khatib.

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In MemoriamDr. Jamal Al Barzinji (1939-2015)By Dr. Sami A. Al-Arian

Among the believers are men who were true to their covenant with God; some of them have fulfilled their vow by death, and some are still awaiting, and they have not changed in the least. [Qur'an 33:23]There is an old Arabic maxim that describes a particular remarkable person as “a nation in a man.” Such men and women are rare in history. But this description is truly the best portrayal of Dr. Jamal Barzinji, who passed away on September 26, the second day of the Muslim feast of sacrifice, at the age of 76. I’ve had the honor and privilege of knowing Dr. Barzinji since 1976. He left his native country, Iraq, in the late 1950s as his life was threatened by the regime because of his student activism. He subsequently received his Masters degree from England in 1962 and his PhD from the U.S. in 1974. Dr. Jamal was one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever encountered. He was an intellectual, an educator, a community builder, a brilliant strategist, a humanitarian, a loving family man, and for countless others a problem solver. His personal attributes of intellect, spirituality, compassion, patience, kindness, generosity, and decency endeared him to everyone who knew him. As an intellectual Dr. Jamal co-founded in 1981, the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), an institute dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, high quality research, and serious dialogue between Muslim and Western scholars. During this period he oversaw the publications of over 600 titles including some of the best books and manuscripts ever produced in the last three decades in the fields of Islamic disciplines, social sciences, and the humanities. As an educator, he served for many years as an academic dean at the International Islamic University in Malaysia. As a senior officer in IIIT, he raised millions of dollars establishing endowed chair positions and centers in some of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. and around the world including Georgetown University, Harvard University, Hartford Seminary, George Mason University, Cambridge University, California State University, and many others. He also oversaw the sponsorship of thousands of educational scholarships for

deserving and committed students regardless of race, gender, or faith. In 1983, I witnessed first hand when Dr. Barzinji and IIIT offered full university scholarships by sponsoring over one hundred and fifty Palestinian students who had scholarships from the UAE that were cut off after one year of study in the U.S. when a new minister of education in the UAE was appointed and abruptly withdrew the support without warning. These students who became successful professionals and have been serving the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank and the diaspora for over 30 years, would not have been able to complete their graduate degrees had it not been for the compassion, commitment, and foresight of Dr. Barzinji and his colleagues at IIIT. As a community builder, Dr. Barzinji was involved in the establishment of every major Islamic organization in the United States in the past four decades, where he either headed the organization, served on its board, or helped in building its programs and outreach, including the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA), the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), the Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers (AMSE), the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS), The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), The American Muslim Council (AMC), the American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences (GSISS), The Fairfax Institute, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID), as well as many other organizations and institutions from all over the world, big and small, Muslim and non-Muslim, who sought his counsel and support because he was a resourceful intellectual, a brilliant strategist, and an effective leader, who cared deeply about education, justice, humanity , women’s rights, and empowerment of the weak. He counted among his many friends and colleagues hundreds of scholars and clergy

including Christian, Jewish, and people of other faiths who loved his company and respected him deeply. Upon hearing the devastating news, my wife Nahla sadly but reflexively said, “Today, the American Muslim community has been orphaned.” This comment truly summarizes the void that is left by, and the impact of, the departure of Dr. Barzinji, who spent over fifty years in the West to empower his fellow Muslims and integrate them in the society at large with full recognition and respect. But the state of the American Muslim community before and after the tragic attacks of 9/11 could best be illustrated through two powerful but contrasting events, with one of them involving Dr. Barzinji. In June 2001, leaders of the major American Muslim organizations were invited to the White House to discuss former President George Bush’s faith-based initiative. The Muslim community at the time felt empowered, as it stood united and firm against the use of secret evidence employed against Arab and Muslim immigrants by President Clinton’s justice department. Even though by the end of 2000, all victims of secret evidence were freed through the collective and sustained efforts of many individuals and organizations, the American Muslim community supported Bush during the 2000 presidential elections based on his promise to oppose and ban this unconstitutional practice. When Bush won Florida and with it the presidency, due credit was given to the American Muslim

community, which demanded that the political establishment fulfill its promises as this meeting at the White House was taking place in recognition of the community just few months before 9/11. However, the meeting was disrupted when a high level Zionist in the National Security Council at the White House asked the Secret Service to eject my son (because of his last name) who was 21 year-old at the time and who was also interning with Congressman David Bonior (the Minority Whip in the House at the time.) Within seconds the leaders of the American Muslim community immediately ended the meeting in protest and were united in their stand against this exclusionary politics utilized by some government officials in their attempts to divide American Muslims. They held an impromptu news conference in front of the White House and demanded an official apology. Within hours, the White House press secretary apologized in public, the Secret Service apologized to my son and offered him a guided tour of the West Wing, and President Bush personally sent a written apology to the family. Contrast this event with another one in the fall of 2010 under supposedly a friendlier White House, where a delegation of American Muslim leaders was invited. This time another individual was also excluded from the meeting and not allowed to enter the White House, though sadly the other members of the delegation shamefully proceeded as if nothing had happened. The person who was excluded this time was none other than Dr. Barzinji, who could be fittingly called the father of the American Muslim community. So when the American Muslim leaders stood with a 21 year-old intern, the community was respected and admired, but when they abandoned a 71 year-old intellectual and leader, the community is disregarded or worse insulted with impunity. After 9/11 Dr. Jamal and IIIT were targeted by anti-Muslim and racist government prosecutors for many years in order to silence them, marginalize their accomplishments, and break up their institute. But they kept fighting, building institutions and alliances, and expanding their efforts until the government finally abandoned its futile pursuit, even though at a great cost to their families, friends, finances, and work. Leaders like Dr. Barzinji and Dr. Agha Saeed (who led the efforts to unite and empower the community for many years) represent the best examples of Muslim leaders in the West who built institutions across cultures,

>> MEMORIAM Pg 16

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REFUGEE >> continued from pg 1

Obama that the US government would increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the country in 2016 by just 2000, from 8,000 to 10,000. IRC and other organizations are asking the Obama administration to allow 100,000 Syrian migrants into the country by the end of next year.

“They are desperate to seek safety,” said Ruben Chandrasekar, executive director of the IRC's Baltimore branch, to the local CBS station. “They are desperate to be given a new chance at a new life.”

IRC makes sure newly arrived refugees receive a furnished home, help with rent; health care; nutritious and affordable food; English language classes; help build job, computer and financial literacy skills; social services and community support and legal services toward residency and citizenship.

"Though they have lost a lot their homes, sometimes family and friends, they come here with a burning desire to start a new life, and Baltimore has been a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees where they can do that," said Chandrasekar.

"We greet them at the airport, we make sure we have a modest furnished apartment for them where they can start their life, we enroll their kids in school, and ultimately, we help the adults find work so they can pay their bills and move on with their life," Chandrasekar said.

The 10,000 refugees being allowed admission will arrive in small batches. They will not all arrive at the same time. It takes up two years for the background checks that refugees go through before being granted asylum.

IRC runs a volunteer-staffed donation shop where new refugees can shop for free donated items. Drop-off hours for the shop at 3516 Eastern Avenue are Monday through Wednesday from 10am-2pm.

Baltimore lost 300,000 residents over the years. The Mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, wants to repopulate the city. She recently conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly purchased home of refugee

family in the Northeast Baltimore. Homes can be purchased by refugee families through the Individual Development Account Program run by the IRC, with help from committed partners, like Islamic Relief USA, and other funders, to help the mayor achieve her goal to attract 10,000 new families to Baltimore by 2022.

The Muslim community can assist the refugees at the junction, after they have been resettled by organizations such as IRC.

Local Muslim listservs received emails about 5 families in the Baltimore area that needed immediate help. They have been provided semi-furnished apartments, but need help with rent and other expenses. Two of the head of household are looking for extra ways to earn a living. Currently, both are part-time employees.

“Three families have multiple areas of need including: financial, job search, health, immigration/legal, house/

furniture, transportation/car, social, psychological, spiritual…,” conveyed Dr Yassine Daoud who has been assisting the recent refugees from Syria. Currently, two families need cars. The community has gathered some funds but still needs support.

The father of the 9-member Saleh* family is blind and cannot work. They were excited to have visitors, says members of the Muslim community who have visited them.

Efforts are on the way to consolidate donations and support so duplications do not occur. “We are in the process of forming a committee to help delegate the donations and match them with the needs. If you want to volunteer, please let us know. We will have a strategic short and long-term plan available in the next two weeks to be presented to the community insha’Allah,” wrote Dr Daoud in an email. There are multiple health issues and concerned community members are trying to resolve this in

collaboration with some local physicians.

Daoud says the families needs social support especially the children. “We are in the process of reaching out to the university students to help this kids. One idea is to have an Ansar family who would befriend the Muhajiroon family and give them emotional and social support.

If you would like to get involved in the local efforts please contact [email protected]

The IRC in Baltimore assists refugees who are fleeing from war and persecution in their home countries. To learn more about what its programs in Baltimore provide refugees, visit: http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-baltimore-md/programs

*name changed for privacy

One of the Syrian refugee families now living in Baltimore. The father is blind and cannot work. He has seven children. Maryland area Muslims have been called on to help the families and many are responding.

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October 2nd - October 29th, 201516 | CONTINUED

UNIFIED >> continued from pg 8

would often gather at the Greenspring Valley home of Dr. Javed Shafi to witness the slaughter and enjoy the feast after the prayer.

As the weather conditions changed and communities grew, area leaders sought alternate locations. Joint prayers were held at the Pikesville Armory and the Palladium Ballroom in Baltimore. The construction of Masjid Rahmah in Baltimore County provided the first large, Muslim-controlled venue for the prayers. Some City worshipers prayed there, while others continued to pray at alternate locations around the City.

Then, City-wide, multi-community observances ceased.

About twenty years have passed since unified Eids were the city-wide norm in Baltimore. Ideological and cultural differences, the growing number of area Muslims, and inclement weather hindered efforts to plan activities together. Still, many Muslims, particularly the Muslims who could remember when many groups prayed Eid together, felt nostalgic about those times. This sentiment was particularly evident on social media where area Muslims would lament separation and division. The Facebook group, BAM! Baltimore Area Muslims, organized two post-Eid, citywide picnics. Another group followed suit. The desire to revisit this old City tradition of trying to get all of the Muslims together again took root.

The Bmore Unified effort is an on-going project. The goal, in shaa’allah, is to continue to dialogue and come together to discuss matters of concern to area Muslims.

“We hope to form a working body of leaders to address the various economic, social and educational demands in Baltimore,” Ameer Hakim shared. “We hope that we can come together and support one another in building a larger Muslim community. The only condition is that we all must be willing to participate and be considerate of one another's ideological stances.”

The group plans to investigate options for holding city-wide events during the winter season, in shaa’allah.

races, and ethnicities, that were based on shared principles and common interests without compromising core values or sacred causes such as Palestine. The American Muslim community, but especially, its youth, who have since 9/11 been suffering enormously from societal alienation, government overreach, Xenophobic attacks, and Islamophobia, must follow in the

footsteps of Dr. Barzinji, and learn about his life and sacrifices. They must look up to his example for inspiration and hope. When they do that they would learn that they need to seek knowledge to free their minds; that they must fight ignorance and Islamophobia with education and outreach; that they must stand up for their rights and speak out against injustice to be respected and empowered; that they must unite and stand for high principles and moral values against false promises and easy access to power. To honor the legacy and life of Dr.

Barzinji is to live by his values and example. We offer our deep condolences and sympathies to Dr. Jamal’s family, his kind wife Souzan, and his children Suhaib, Fadwa, Iman, Firas, Zaid, and his many grandchildren, his brother Fakhri and the rest of the Barzinji family, his IIIT colleagues, and countless friends across the globe. May God’s mercy, grace, and blessings be on his soul. He was truly loved and will be terribly missed.

MEMORIAM >> continued from pg 10

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DRUGS >> continued from pg 1

department, helping fight drugs and crime. He is a former DC Advisory Neighborhood Commission member and licensed social worker.

DC police credits Thorpe's faith-based citizens patrol – founded in 1988 – with ‘rousting the drug dealers and restoring a measure of public safety to the neighborhood.’

Synthetic marijuana was legal to sell before being outlawed three years ago. According to charging documents, one of the men arrested in the August bust admitted that he distributed the drug to dealers on various street corners within Washington, DC. The drug can be rolled up into a cigarette and some of the businesses sell this paper. It sells for $5 a packet and $2 for a single rolled cigarette. It can also be smoked in a pipe and those pipes are also sold by businesses in the Washington area.

According to police officials, this shipment was headed to the gas stations and convenience stores in the District. The drug is linked to the heightened violence over the summer in the district, police stated in a press conference.

This includes the gruesome Fourth of July fatal stabbing by an allegedly high man on the Metro, “As I have said, we must intercept illegal drugs at the source. The seizure of such a large amount of synthetic drugs is a relief to both the MPD and the community,” said Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier in a press release. “The hard investigative work that our members pride themselves on has potentially saved countless lives and helped to stem the violence that goes hand in hand with the selling and consumption of illegal drugs.”

“It's the stuff that's sprayed on them [that] is so dangerous and so lethal. We know most of it, 95 percent of

it, comes from China.” shares Dr Rosenberg of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In June 2015, at least 11 people overdosed in one day on Bizarro, near the Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) at 425 2nd St. NW, officials said. The 1,350-Bed Federal City Shelter run by the CCNV is the largest shelter in the US. Here a Muslim guard, Abdul Mateen, was attacked several times by users of the drug. The executive director of the shelter has witnessed at least 10 violent incidents that he says were linked to synthetic drugs since the start of 2015. One recent evening a user from across the street attacked Abdul Mateen with a knife when the guard tried to expel him from the lobby. “[K-2] sends a lot of people to the hospital and they are involved in a lot of violent crime,” says Thorpe. Doctors and police say the drugs often make people so psychotic, they have to be held down by four or more people.

Abdul Mateen has had stitches over his eye, he was also hit on the back with a bat.

Some of the packaging has cartoons on it, is called Scooby Snax, which make it look harmless and entices young teens. Another selling point is that the chemicals used in K-2 are not easily detected in standard drug tests.

“We want educate our community about the dangers of the drug,”says Thorpe. Some people may be greedy and may not know the damage this drug causes. It is destroying our own community and affecting our children, he says passionately. The risk is too great is Thorpe’s message to the community: store owners will be prosecuted if caught and that could destroy your family and business. “Muslims should not be involved in the sale of this drug,” he says.

DC officials are pressing hard on corner stores selling K-2 or drug paraphernalia. Many of these stores are owned by immigrants of various ethnicities, many who happen to be from Ethiopia. A gas station on Georgia Avenue is tipped as one of the stores selling the drug. The Muslim Link attempted to speak to the owner, but was not granted an interview.

“Part of what people don't understand

is that they are not only destroying other people’s families they are also destroying their own,” says Thorpe about the business men who sell the shiny packets in their stores.

The First Hijrah Foundation masjid located on 4324 Georgia Avenue hosted a contingent of police at the behest of Thorpe. The imam of the masjid, Sheikh Khaled Omar, has promised activists that he will address this topic in halaqahs, circles of learning, as the money earned from these exchanges are haram. This is the first time that anyone from the First Hijrah community has reached out to the police department, overcoming fears. “This meeting is where we are bonding together and using law enforcement to protect our community,” says Thorpe.

The DC police narcotics units responsible for the drug bust, sent by Commander Robin Hoey, educated the small group of leaders on the effects of the drugs. Attending was the First Hijrah President Haji Najib Mohammed. With Muslims leading the way in educating the community, doors will open for Christians Ethiopians to also open this dialogue within their congregation, says Thorpe.

Activist and imam at the DC Jail, who was also present at the meeting, Abdul Majeed Haynes is worried about the haram money coming into the community and the blessings that are removed because of this. “This is not exclusively an Ethiopian issue, this is an Ummah issue about haram businesses. The Pakistanis, Indians, and Bangladeshis are the Ethiopians of Baltimore; they run the gas stations and cornerstones there. So the key is to start with the leadership following the Prophetic Tradition,” he says.

DC Attorney General Karl Racine has recently stated he will shut down any stores illegally selling synthetic drugs.

A bags of synthetic drugs picked up in Howard County, Maryland enroute to Washington DC. The drugs were estimated to be worth $2.3 million. Photo from Metropolitan Police Department.

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group potentially includes every adult. Sarsour drove the point home, “remember who the labor worker is: airport workers, teachers, cab drivers. These people are part of our community. They are our fathers, our brothers, our sisters. The labor movement is a part of our movement.”

For those of us who are economically privileged, labor is still our movement by faith. Congressman Ellison explained, “My mission today is to help the Muslims understand that yes we got to be concerned about surveillance and spying. All this is essential. But if we stand by and let these unfair economic situations go by, and say that’s not our problem, that’s someone else’s problem, that ain’t right.”

Congressman Ellison gave attendees a crash course on the unfair economic situations we face: “America is richer today than it has ever been in the history of America itself. And yet, here in our country, we have over a million people living on less than a dollar a day. We have 46 million people surviving off food stamps even though they work full time. At the other end of the scale, we have the top one tenth of a percent of owners, makes well over the bottom 90%. We have extreme wealth inequality in America today.”

Congressman Ellison then connected this unfair economic portrait with our religion: “My value system as a Muslim does not permit me to sit by and say it’s fine. So many things that people argue in defense of this economic situation are antithetical to the Islamic belief. Like they don’t wanna pay no taxes. Yet, as a Muslim, who amongst us can say we don’t think we should pay zakat or sadaqa for the poor?”

Caring for the poor is a pillar of Islam and treating workers well is a part of

faith. Labor unions provide organized outlets to advance these causes, and to make workplaces fair and comfortable for everyone. Congressman Ellison gave an example, “You’re on the job. You need to make salah. It’s real nice to be able to go to your union rep, and talk about salah. Or Ramadan, or wearing hijab. All of these are worker issues, which you can raise through that process.” Congressman Ellison explained more generally, “Labor union is supposed to speak up against racial injustice and sexism.”

So Muslim workers have a place in labor unions, just like workers of all faiths and backgrounds. Ellison stressed the point, “What we should not do anymore is be tip-toing through the labor movement. This is an area we can be as Muslim as we are. We don’t have to go from Mohammed to Mo or Samir to Sam just to be a part of it. You can be you. You can do you, and the labor union is supposed to help you do it.”

Syed further explained, “When you think about labor you think about

White men. That is not what labor is anymore. We represent workers at the workplace. Whoever that worker is. The labor movement is the largest civil rights organization in the country.”

As a civil rights organization, labor unions fight for civil rights for all peoples. So when standing up for causes that affect Muslim workers, it’s important to stand up for all workers. Warning, “I don’t have a filter. I say what I think,” Sarsour drove this

point home: “What is troubling to me amongst the Muslim community is there is a double standard. We step up sometimes when it’s about us. We go crazy about salah accommodations. … But then you’re not there, when workers are asking for $15/hour to feed their families, that’s hypocritical, sisters and brothers.”

Congressman Ellison gave a word of advice, “If you want a friend, be one.” Muslims should adopt the cause of the worker not only to make friends, but also because the cause of the worker

is the cause of the Muslim. It will not hurt to make friends along the way, and in fact, by partnering with labor unions, Muslims have already made an impact in causes that matter. Sarsour gave the example of the recent Eid victory in New York City Public Schools. “With 1.2 million students, NYC has the largest public school system in the entire country,” she explained. Sarsour continued, “When holidays were designated years ago, it wasn’t because of the student population. It was based on an economic decision based on Jewish and Christian teachers. In New York City one out of every eight students is Muslim. In 2006, the state had statewide exams on Eid. That was the beginning for the coalition.” After a several years of working with labor unions and people of faith, the coalition just won Eid day off, which will be implemented this coming Eid Al-Adha, as Sarsour stated, “In two weeks, the public schools will be closed on Eid for the first time, this year. It was because of the labor movement, that we were able to do it.”

Sarsour gave another example of the 253 mile March to Justice from New York City to Washington D.C. that took place on April 13, 2015. In this march, Sarsour and other activists spoke out for causes beyond those that are considered specific to Muslims, including ending to racial profiling, stopping the militarization of law enforcement, and creating alternatives to incarceration for young people. She explained the importance of the labor union: “When we were thinking about doing this march, people thought you must be out of your mind to walk 253 miles. Labor puts resources into their organizing work. 1199 union workers marched with us, and they gave us two RVs. 1199 is a health care union. They made sure that we were fed, that we had everything that we needed, that we were protected, that we were taken care of, and that the union endorsed us. They are health care workers. For us in NYC, they are predominantly

LABOR >> continued from pg 5

“My value system as a Muslim does not permit me to sit by and say it’s fine. So many things that people argue

in defense of this economic situation are antithetical to the Islamic belief. Like they don’t wanna pay no taxes. Yet, as a Muslim, who amongst us can say we don’t think we should pay zakat or sadaqa for the poor?”

“When you think about labor you think about White men. That is not what labor is anymore. We represent

workers at the workplace. Whoever that worker is. The labor movement is the largest civil rights organization in the country.”

>> LABOR I Pg 25

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Most are from Northern Virginia but 4-5 reside in Maryland. “We are primary a road cycling group. We do activities, organize rides for the club and participate in events, such as charity rides, as well as the annual cycling camps.” In Maryland, Fuad Kamal and Saleem Farooqui are regulars in the all men’s club.

The group is segregated; if enough women cyclists organize themselves, Kamdar says that VCC would be happy to facilitate the process to form a sister's section. “There is room for everyone in the club. We try not to be exclusive in anyway,” he says. Muhammad says events like 40 for 40 helped women cyclists meet each other and form bonds.

Some of the cyclists are into competitive racing. “Qual i ty road bikes and paraphernalia can cost about $2000 but once you get started it is well worth the investment,” says Dr Kamdar.

VCC core members planned the course for the 40 for 40 ride. “You need to make sure that the road is safe, the terrain is not too challenging. Rock Creek Park is all of that; it is closed to cars on weekend, is scenic and is not too hilly,” says Kamdar. The VCC rides that route often.

“Whenever we do a ride like this, we have one trained cyclist in the front, one in the back and one in the middle. 40 miles is not a small distance and we have to provide adequate support for cyclists of all skill level,” says Dr Kamdar. A minivan followed the group in case of injury or repair, or if someone just could not finish the ride.

“It was inspiring to see people from the Muslim community that take pride in their hobby and take it so seriously,” says Muhammad. “Their professionalism and how they looked after us during the race was great. We are [finding] people who have all these talents and now we are giving them a bigger purpose to their passion by helping those in need,” adds Muhammad.

“We are trying to bring a culture of community challenges. These charity challenges sprout camaraderie as people overcome some big obstacle as a team and compete to raise awareness for a specific charitable goal. “The 40 for 40 Bike ride was the most grueling one that we have done so far,” says Muhammad. The next challenge planned is the Summit for Syria- where teams will try to summit the tougher trails in Western Virginia.

“[This was a] cool way to celebrate Eid,” said a participant at the event. Several passersby saw the relief group in matching T-shirts and cheered the riders en route.

They came up to the halfway point 20 miles into MD, at at Veirs Mill Park in Wheaton,MD where volunteers were out with food and water. Then the riders returned back to DC.

For every mile, the cycle riders raised money for Udhiyah for locals, hoping to provide a hearty Eid al-Adha to neighbors in need.

“This meat will go to underprivileged families that really need this food,” says Naeem Muhammad, Islamic Relief community outreach manager, “we are doing this in the US, so people know that we must support our neighbors here as well.”

Rolling past Georgetown, the Potomac River and the Kennedy Center, the team were hoping that they would raise the money for all 40 Qurbanis and they made it 20. “It was an awesome and hope this is a reoccurring event,” said a participant.

Islamic Relief local udhiyah distributors are Dar al Hijrah in Falls Church and the Muslim Social Services Agency in Baltimore. Muhammad says that last year was the first time that USA placed in the top 5 for local udhiyah in all the countries that Islamic Relief operates in.

To get in touch with Velocipede email [email protected] find out more about opportunities to get involved with Islamic Relief email Naeem Muhammad at [email protected]

BIKE >> continued from pg 6

Creating a Welcoming Masjid

• Greening the Masajid• Improving Our Masajid• Masjid Constitution• Creating a Prophetic Masjid

Registration Coordinator(317) 838 [email protected]

Program Assistant(317) 839 [email protected]

Speakers:

Registration at:www.isna.net

Consultation with Experts on:

3rd Annual Masjid ForumNovember 7, 2015

Turkish American Community Center9704 Good Luck Rd, Lanham, MD

Registration Fees:Sessions and Dinner: $60

Sessions Only: $35

• Organizational Structure• Building a Masjid• Being a Welcoming Masjid

• Ihsan Bagby• Muhammad al-Qatanani• Hazem Bata• Sarah Sayeed• Aisha al-Adawiya

• Yasir Qadhi• Rafik Beekun• Dalia Mogahed• Chris McCoy• Nana Firman

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October 2nd - October 29th, 201524 | HEALTH & FAMILY

Running for the Hills

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Got Ummah?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

“There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.” (Surat ul An'aam: Ayat 38). Every creature Allah subhana wa ta'ala has made is part of an ummah, some closer knit than others. Even those who appear solitary, like bears or mountain lions are part of the community of others like themselves who travel about an area. There are still hierarchies, adaab and rules of engagement to be observed. Allah's four- and multi-legged creations have it down pretty well. It's the two-leggeds who need reminding.

What comes to mind when you think of community? All the 2.5 billion Muslims on the planet? The Muslims in your town? At your masjid? The people in your development? Correct answer: All of the above. An ummah can be as large as an entire population, or as small as just a few folks. The main point is people working together toward common goals to benefit the welfare of all. Sound good? Sound

like a commune? It's not. It's community. But it's not folks happily skipping into the sunset. It's not everybody selflessly sharing everything all the time. And it is often not everybody being on the same page at the same time. But it is a big part of Islam, and the benefits of working toward establishing community far surpass the frustrations of trying to get there. You think the ansaar and muhaajireen were always huggy-huggy? Don't you think that third foot called nafs sometimes tripped them up too? They were human, but they also had the best example of how to build community leading them and living among them: Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).Because we don't have him among us, we have to utilize the many examples he left behind. But still, trying to get folks out here, Muslim or not, into a community-state-of-mind is proving challenging.

Two things we've observed since coming to Colorado that pretty much take the wind out of the sails of community are 40 acres and a leave-me-be attitude. The leave-me-be folks aren't necessarily rude or unsociable, mind you. They'll be right gracious in inviting you in to sit a spell. But when your glass of sweet tea is finished it's just about understood that the visit should be ending shortly thereafter. We've come to understand that folks purchase 40 acres for a reason. Privacy and space. That much acreage just about ensures that neighbors won't be peering into your yard or hearing conversations you'd prefer to keep private. But it also ensures that you're disconnected from your neighbor. You don't see them, they don't see you, out of sight out of mind. Then again, cozying up in a townhouse or apartment building doesn't guarantee

a tight-knit community either. Many city dwellers have lived on the same street for years and only known their neighbors on a wave-at-them-as-you-back-out-of-your-driveway basis.

What is this phenomenon about? It's about being removed, emotionally and physically, from a time when people lived together in extended families, members of a whole clan living in close proximity to each other, and that engendered a sense of community, sense of jamaat. Somehow, that didn't translate well when people started coming to America. With a few exceptions, for the most part folks looked to getting their own hunk of land to homestead for themselves, or their own slice of metropolitan pie. Parents nowadays routinely boot their grown kids out of the house to start their own lives, apart from family. And you know the shaytaan loves this because it's one of many subtle ways to break up families. Together, a family is strong. Separated, shaytaan can pick them off like so many unwary sheep.

So, while we have our own modest acreage, we're hoping to establish a small Muslim community here. So far, so challenging. The intention was to invite two or three Muslim families to come live on the property, build their own place and

homestead with us. It would be a way to free a Muslim from the economic binds of living in the city. Well, we've approached some Muslims we know and trust, and it seems too many Muslims are so used to city life that they can't imagine another kind of living where “Ya Allah, I've got to set up and maintain my own amenities?! My water, my heat, my lights? You mean I've got to-ack!-grow my own food?!” Well, yeah, that's the plan.

When you do these things for yourself you appreciate Allah subhana wa ta'ala's provision and bounty. You develop new skills and confidence. And you get rid of that spare tire around your middle. And when you can do these things in conjunction with other like-minded people you begin to foster community. Why do you think Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) bought the muhajireen to the ansaar? To have them begin to work with each other, share, cooperate, learn from and strengthen each other and thereby, Islam. Look at your own communities. See how you've all come together to organize, establish and share in the barakaat of the Eid prayer? That takes community. May Allah help us establish a good one here, too.

| 25October 2nd - October 29th, 2015 CONTINUED

LABOR II >> continued from pg 20

Black. We could not have marched on the March to DC without the 1199 union support.”

While social justice may not sound like the cause of the labor movement, this cause is in fact at the heart of this movement as it grows to represent the diverse workforce. Sarsour clarified, “Labor is part and parcel of our community and every social justice movement. Any issue that you care about, the labor movement is central to every issue that you work on.” Congressman Ellison continued, “Immigration reform. Human rights issues. A lot of things that Muslims think are important, Labor is working on.” Other examples that labor unions are working on include undocumented immigrants, women’s rights, racial discrimination, and incarceration.

Sarsour pointed out, “We use the word solidarity a lot. In these movements, you are not an ally. I am in the movement because I believe it is our movement.” On immigration Sarsour, stated, “For the folks in the room who are immigrants or children of immigrants, nobody puts their children in a boat if the water wasn’t safer than the land,” and reminded us that protecting immigrants is “a legacy of your parents and your grandparents.” On women’s issues, Sarsour reminded us that “Islam is one of the most progressive religions.” On Black Lives Matter, Sarsour reminded us that “One third of our community is black.” Issue after issue, Sarsour stated, “You name the issues that are happening in this country, and Muslims and Islam could be considered the progressive movement in the United States of America. We are some of the most progressive people in this country.”

It is our duty to work with Labor on issues that affect all workers, and Muslims can turn to Labor for Muslim-specific issues

in return. An audience member asked about the discrimination sometimes faced in building a new mosque, and that, too, the panel suggested is a cause that Labor would welcome. Syed explained, “When it comes to building a mosque, you will have the support of every union related to building because you are putting their workers to work.” Congressman Ellison suggested, “This is another source of power to move an agenda forward. Contacting the labor union may be another friend that you can pull into conversation to win that fight.” Sarsour stressed the importance of working together, “Think about intersectionality, how we are going to work within the labor movement.”

For far too long, Muslims have viewed the worker cause as not ours. In fact, it is our cause, and will be central to advancing any cause we care about. The cause of social justice came up over and over again at the ISNA Convention. Hazem Bata, Secretary General of ISNA, told a packed audience, “All of

us have an obligation. We are fortunate to be born in the wealthiest nation in the world. So much of what attracted people to Islam had to do with social activism. Before you can establish concern for religion, you have to establish justice. It is a prerequisite to faith. It is our duty as citizens, also our duty as Muslims do address justice.”

Sarsour challenged the audience to think about the Sunnah of the Prophet, “If our prophet were alive today, he would be at the forefront of every social justice movement that we are talking about today.” She asked, “If our prophet would be at the forefront then why are you not at the forefront?” We ought to be at the forefront, alongside our brothers and sister in Labor. After all, as Sarsour eloquently spoke from experience, “We will not win civil rights for Muslims in America without Labor and without working with other communities.”

The Best of You are Those Who Learn the Qur’an and

Teach It.Dar-us-Salaam is looking for Qur'an teachers for its Rockville and College Park, Maryland branches. Please send resume to: [email protected] . Please indicate which branch you are applying for. Applicants must have legal working status in the USA.

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October 2nd - October 29th, 201526 | NATIONAL NEWS

National News

>> ISLAMOPHOBIA Pg 27

>> DISPUTE Pg 38

Countering Islamophobia Topic at ISNABy Sarah KhasawinahMuslim Link Staff Reporter

“How many of you believe that one person can make a difference?” Shafath Syed asked a packed audience at the ISNA 52nd annual convention, gathered for “Countering Stereotypes through Authentic Narratives.” Syed scanned the room, and commented, “That’s great; but I noticed that not everyone raised their hands.”

The panel on countering Islamophobia featured Syed, a Bay Area inventor, together with Ameena Jandali, founder of the Islamic Network Group (ING), and Daniel Tutt, Director of Programs at Unity Production Foundation (UPF). This panel reflected a larger theme that permeated throughout the ISNA convention.

Islamophobia is at an all-time high today, and it will take every hand to reverse the

tides. In the July 2014 national surveys from Zogby Analytics, only 27% of respondents viewed Muslim Americans as favorable. Furthermore, two out three Americans have never met a Muslim. “That means that the predominant way

that Americans understand Islam and Muslims is through the media,” Daniel Tutt explained.

The predominant representation of Islam in the media is not positive. Ameena

Jandali presented a series of images and screenshots from the news, and pointed out, “Most of these images are overwhelmingly negative. They tend to be very oppositional in their nature. They are anti-women, anti-democracy, overly religious. They are neither relatable nor likable.” Tutt continued, “The media is saturated with that very particular frame on Islam.”

The misrepresentation of Islam in the media is not new. Twenty-two years ago, Jandali founded ING, as she explained, “We began this organization in 1993, when there was a lot of anti-Muslim sentiment that was obvious in the media. With the fall of Communism, we realized the new enemy was going to be Islam and Muslims.”

Sterling Heights Masjid Dispute: Michigan is not IraqBy Dawud WalidThe Muslim Observer, September 17, 2015

The evening of September 10th in Sterling Heights, Michigan reflects the complex convergence of trauma and bigotry that affects Chaldean and Muslim communities in Southeast Michigan.

The American Islamic Community Center (AICC), which currently resides in Madison Heights, purchased property in neighboring Sterling Heights to relocate its small center to build a larger community center to meet the needs of the Muslim community. Once AICC’s request for a special land use permit was made known to Sterling Heights’ residents, a sea of opposition came out against it in five separate city council and planning commission meetings. There was also a separate protest against the proposed

community center to boot including the mayor voicing opposition.

On the eve of the anniversary of 9/11, the planning commission unanimously voted against the proposed Islamic center. After

the hearing, Muslim community members including myself were faced with jeers, profanity and physical intimidation. One Muslim woman was even spat upon in her face by a resident who celebrated the decision.

Oppositions to Islamic centers and schools are nothing new to American Muslims in post-9/11 America. People with bigoted agendas have protested special land use permits and zoning accommodations for Muslims from Pittsfield Township, Michigan to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. What makes Sterling Heights different from others was the vast majority of protesters coming from the Chaldean community, Christians who originate from Iraq.

The protests in Sterling Heights were not really about the proposed height of the Islamic center and traffic concerns as some claim. There are churches off of primary roads in the city that are

....

“We began this organization in 1993, when there was a lot

of anti-Muslim sentiment that was obvious in the media. With the fall of Communism, we realized the new enemy was going to be Islam and Muslims.”


ING fights Islamophobia through education and community engagement with schools, colleges and universities, law enforcement agencies, corporations, healthcare facilities, and community organizations. Jandali explained that the programs serve “as a way to counter the narrative that had already began to be common place, that Muslims are violent.”

Also dedicated to ending Islamophobia, the mission of UPF is “to create peace through the media.” UPF has produced eleven documentary films that broadcast on big screen the true stories of Muslims, historical and contemporary. Rather than focusing on terrorism, Tutt advised, “Re-direct the question to show that Islam is defined by the way in which American Muslims live out their Islam. The way in which they participate as citizens, the way in which they treat their neighbors.” Tutt shared with audience members the news of new films along these lines. Set for release in October 2015, “American Muslims: Facts vs. Fiction” (AmericanMuslimFacts.com) will show the latest statistics on American Muslims, including their careers, activism, volunteerism, and other factors that show that American Muslims are an integral part of the American fabric. Set for release in a year, “The Sultan and the Saint,” will tell the story of St. Frances, who, Tutt explained, “went to Egypt during the height of a crusade and he engaged in one week in a dialogue with Muslims, which became transformative in his spirituality.”

In our world of images, it is crucial to replace inaccurate images of Islam and Muslims with accurate ones. Jandali explained, “The solution is to present a more diverse picture of what it means to be a Muslim. To identify commonalities. To highlight contributions, whether we are talking about the past history of Muslims, or the present day contributions.” ING develops curricula about Islam and Muslims, and supplies them to instructors for use in classrooms from the middle school to university level, and in facilities from law enforcement to health care organizations. Two new ING curricula tell stories that may be news even to Muslims: do you know Emir Abd el-Kader, the Algerian leader from the mid-

19th century who rescued thousands of Christians from massacre in Damascus? Do you know Badsha Khan, the affiliate of Ghandi who helped to promote a non-violent resistance to English rule in what is now India? To counter Islamophobia, Jandali recommended one thing first: “American Muslims need to become more literate themselves. Our FAQs are good for Muslims as well as people

outside of the faith.”

Syed also provided concrete examples of how each of us can do something to end Islamophobia. He described the challenges, and the way that we respond as tests to our character. Syed provided a conceptual model, displayed below, which defines how negative stereotypes on Islam and Muslims come to life, and how Muslims tend to respond.

The Challenges

1. ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups and world events that we don’t control lead to ignorance. 2. 2/3rd of Americans have never met a Muslim.3. Some politicians take advantage of these world events and general ignorance.4. The Islamophobia industry pumps millions of dollars into demonizing Muslims.5. The media amplifies the stereotypes.

How Muslims Respond

1. Get mad and angry. Why is this happening?2. Get depressed. Go into a place where you can ignore the situation and cry about it.3. Get motivated. Do something about it.

* These points have been edited from Syed’s conceptual model for clarity.

Syed also developed a number of projects to set the record straight on Islam. To counter all of the negative stories on Islam in the media, he said, “I decided to create a website called MuslimGoodNews.com.” This website serves as a platform for the multitude of news stories on Muslims every day. Syed searches the cloud, and curates content, and like many of the most successful movements today,

this project is fueled by people—Syed encourages readers to submit stories, and share them, too.

On the other end of the spectrum, Syed also directly addresses the bad news. He explained, “People are always saying, why don’t Muslims denounce this or condemn that? There are many organizations that have condemned all sorts of things.” To publicly condemn and highlight the condemnations, Syed said, “I created another website called NotInIslam.com; it’s a curation of videos, statements, anything that I could find that shows that things that are happening that Muslims are doing are wrong.”

Syed’s latest project is still in the works. This project will provide “a way for any American to meet Muslims.” Syed explained, “This is a way to go online and say, I want to meet Muslims in my area. They can meet online or Google Hang Outs, or in person. I firmly believe that if every American can meet an American Muslim, then it doesn’t matter what the media says about Muslims, because they will know the reality.” This groundbreaking idea can fix the statistic that one out of three Americans today has met a Muslim—Syed aims for three out of three, 100%.

We all have an opportunity and a responsibility to replace the tides of ignorance with knowledge. One gem on how to end Islamophobia came from

an audience member, Debbie DePalma, who passionately urged, “Join a group! The less it has to do with religion, the better, say a bike safety commission. It is important for Americans to see Muslims involved with all aspects of community life, not just religion.”

Involvement and authentic self-representation permeated every session at ISNA, not just the one that bore this name. At a standing room only session for young professionals, this same message reverberated: Islamophobia is a problem, and at this critical juncture, we can serve as a part of the solution. Mehdi Hasan, a prominent presenter on Al Jazeera, shared a story that highlights the problem, “In Britain an experiment was done sending out the same resume with a Muslim name and a non-Muslim name. The non-Muslim name got 25 times more calls.” However, Hasan stressed the positive, “We have an opportunity to change things for the better for the Muslim community.” Suroor Raheemullah, Head of Global Mobility at Dover Corp, emphasized how we can change things for the better simply by being ourselves. She told the packed audience, “What I can do in my everyday work is be proud of being Muslim.” This advice is easier said than done at a time when studies suggest that it can be easier for Muslims to go by “Sam” instead of “Sameer;” “Mo” instead of “Mohammed;” and “David” instead of “Dawood.” Raheemullah emphasized the importance of representing ourselves authentically not only by name, but more importantly, by actions. She shared her own experiences in applying for jobs, “I was vehemently told, don’t put that [MSA] on your resume. But if we don’t put it out there, how will people know about all the good things Muslims are doing.”

At the end of the day, Syed reminded the audience, “Actions speak louder than words. The only way we are going to change attitudes about Muslims is through good actions. Do something good in your community and people will recognize that good.” The misconceptions about Islam and Muslims can be corrected one person at a time. He asked the same question from the start of his talk about whether we believe one person can make a difference, and with a renewed urgency, he added, “I want to see every hand go up.”

ISLAMOPHOBIA >> continued from pg 26

....

To counter Islamophobia, Jandali recommended one

thing first: “American Muslims need to become more literate themselves.

October 2nd - October 29th, 201528 | WORLD PRESS

>> REFUGE Pg 31

Refugee Crisis in Syria Raises Fears in South CarolinaBy Richard FaussetNew York Times, September 25, 2015

DUNCAN, S.C. — The worried citizens gathered in the high school cafeteria, about 200 strong. Patriotic songs played on the stereo, a man in a blue blazer from the John Birch Society hovered by a well-stocked literature table, and Lauren L. Martel, a lawyer from Hilton Head, told the crowd that 25 Syrian refugees were already living among them.

“The U.N. calls it ‘refugee resettlement’ — the Muslims call it hijra, migration,” said another speaker, Jim McMillan, a local businessman. “They don’t plan to assimilate, they don’t plan to take on our culture. They plan to change the way of American life.”

The United States government has pledged to increase the number of worldwide refugees allowed in the country each year from 70,000 to 100,000 by the year 2017; earlier this month, the Obama administration said it would take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year. But the anger and anxiety here show just how hard this might be in some parts of the country.

None of Syria’s four million refugees have been resettled in this part of South Carolina in the last year, according to the State Department. Since May, a Christian nonprofit group, World Relief, has placed 32 refugees in the region, but most of them were Christians fleeing troubled countries like Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Even so, in South Carolina’s Upstate region, as its conservative northwest corner is known, the crisis has divided those who want to welcome new waves of huddled masses from those who question the federal government’s ability to weed out Muslim extremists. Some critics, echoing concerns in towns across the country, fear the newcomers will burden local government agencies or alter the

character of their communities.

The criticism here has encompassed both sober-minded questions about local school funding and warnings about global conspiracies. It began this spring when the Baltimore-based World Relief, one of nine nonprofit agencies that work with the federal government to resettle refugees, prepared to open its new office in Spartanburg, a city of 37,000 close to a major BMW auto plant.

Lynn Isler, a stay-at-home mother, was among those who pushed back. She created a short-lived Facebook page that warned of the “perfect storm that the Syrian refugees will bring.” She has also warned that Communists had infiltrated some elements of the Christian Evangelical movement that supports refugee resettlement.

Elected officials have weighed in as well. Representative Trey Gowdy, a Republican whose district is part of the Upstate region and who leads the House select committee investigating the attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, has complained that the federal government did not sufficiently coordinate with local officials before allowing the current crop of refugees

to arrive.

State Senator Lee Bright, who represents Greenville and Spartanburg Counties, has called for “open hearings” on the resettlement effort, echoing the concerns of some fellow Republicans who say it is difficult to perform background checks on Syrian refugees, given the chaos that has engulfed their country. Many critics point to the congressional testimony of Michael Steinbach, assistant director of counterterrorism for the F.B.I., who told a House committee in February that Syria lacked systems that could provide information to evaluate refugees.

At the meeting in the cafeteria Sunday evening at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, a small city near Spartanburg, State Representative Mike Burns, a Republican from Greenville County, spoke more broadly of immigration policies that were threatening traditional American culture.

“This immigration fiasco that we’re in the middle of is going to take away the very things that we’re dear about,” Mr. Burns said.

Evan Mulch, the field coordinator for the John Birch Society, the right-wing

group, told the crowd the resettlements were “part of the New World Order game plan.” Another speaker worried that the refugees would stress the state’s already stretched Social Services Department.

The United States, Ms. Martel said, is “a Judeo-Christian nation.”

“We are not a Muslim nation, and those two things cannot coexist,” she added.

During a question-and-answer session, a woman asked if the refugees could be sent home on “troop ships.” A man asked if they could be sent on a plane to Saudi Arabia. When he was told that they could not, his frustration mounted.

“Do we shoot them?” he asked, to laughter and applause. “Come on! I mean, this is crazy.”

Jason Lee, 41, a Southern Baptist preacher who is the director of World Relief’s Spartanburg office, said he had been surprised by the vehement resistance. In the mid-2000s, when he helped Somali refugees adjust to new lives in Kentucky, there were very few local complaints.

“The fear-mongering seems really different,” Mr. Lee said.

The situation here has been troubling enough that Anne C. Richard, the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, traveled to the Spartanburg area in late August to meet with skeptics and to try to correct what she called “misinformation” about the local program.

In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Ms. Richard said that the concern about bringing in “bad actors” from the Middle East had some merit. She alluded to the case of two Iraqi refugees who settled in Bowling Green, Ky., and were charged

....

World Press


Salaah times for October 2nd - October 29th, 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

Day Date Hijri Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib IshaFri Oct 2 18/12 5:53 7:04 12:58 4:16 6:50 8:03

Sat 3 19/12 5:54 7:05 12:58 4:15 6:49 8:01 Sun 4 20/12 5:55 7:06 12:57 4:14 6:47 8:00 Mon 5 21/12 5:56 7:07 12:57 4:13 6:45 7:58 Tue 6 22/12 5:57 7:08 12:57 4:12 6:44 7:57 Wed 7 23/12 5:58 7:09 12:56 4:11 6:42 7:55 Thu 8 24/12 5:59 7:10 12:56 4:10 6:41 7:54 Fri 9 25/12 6:00 7:11 12:56 4:08 6:39 7:52 Sat 10 26/12 6:01 7:12 12:56 4:07 6:38 7:51 Sun 11 27/12 6:02 7:13 12:55 4:06 6:36 7:49 Mon 12 28/12 6:03 7:14 12:55 4:05 6:35 7:48 Tue 13 29/12 6:03 7:15 12:55 4:04 6:33 7:46 Wed 14 1/1 6:04 7:16 12:55 4:03 6:32 7:45 Thu 15 2/1 6:05 7:17 12:54 4:02 6:30 7:43 Fri 16 3/1 6:06 7:18 12:54 4:01 6:29 7:42 Sat 17 4/1 6:07 7:19 12:54 4:00 6:28 7:41 Sun 18 5/1 6:08 7:20 12:54 3:59 6:26 7:39 Mon 19 6/1 6:09 7:21 12:54 3:57 6:25 7:38 Tue 20 7/1 6:10 7:22 12:53 3:56 6:23 7:37 Wed 21 8/1 6:11 7:23 12:53 3:55 6:22 7:35 Thu 22 9/1 6:12 7:24 12:53 3:54 6:21 7:34 Fri 23 10/1 6:13 7:25 12:53 3:53 6:19 7:33 Sat 24 11/1 6:14 7:26 12:53 3:52 6:18 7:32 Sun 25 12/1 6:15 7:27 12:53 3:51 6:17 7:30 Mon 26 13/1 6:16 7:28 12:53 3:50 6:16 7:29 Tue 27 14/1 6:17 7:29 12:52 3:49 6:14 7:28 Wed 28 15/1 6:18 7:30 12:52 3:48 6:13 7:27 Thu 29 16/1 6:19 7:31 12:52 3:47 6:12 7:26

Prayer times generated from www.islamicfinder.com for the

WASHINGTON, DC area.

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GRAVE >> continued from pg 30

of eternal torment, as Allah is angry with him and does not give permission for the gates of heaven or the gates of mercy to be opened to him, and his book is recorded in Sijjeen (the lowest Hell); then his soul will be wretched and he will never feel happy again.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: All the saheeh, mutwawaatir hadiths indicate that the soul will return to the body; the idea that the questioning will involve the body without the soul was suggested by some scholars, but the majority disagreed with that. Similarly, the idea that the questioning will involve the soul without the body was suggested by Ibn Maysarah and Ibn Hazm, but if that were the case, the grave would have nothing to do with

the soul. – from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (5/446). See also: Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb by Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) (4/310-311)

Secondly: These matters are matters of the unseen which the Muslim must accept, and not question how they are, for no one knows how the life of al-barzakh [the period between death and the Resurrection] is except Allah.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:

The death of a person signals the departure of the soul from the body; when he is buried in his grave, is the soul returned to his body, or where does it go? If the soul is returned to the body in the grave, how does that happen?

He replied: It is proven from the

Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that when a person dies, his soul is returned to him in his grave, and he is questioned about his Lord, his religion and his Prophet. Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter (cf. Ibraaheem 14:27), so the believer will say: My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). As for the disbeliever or the hypocrite, when he is questioned he will say: Oh, oh, I do not know; I heard the people saying something, so I said it too.

This return of the soul to the body in the grave will not be like when a person’s soul is in his body in this world, because that is the life of al-barzakh and we do not know how it is, because we have not been told about the nature of that life. With regard to all matters of the hereafter of which we

have not been told, what we are required to do with regard to such matters is to accept them and not enquire any further, because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge (e.g. ones saying: ‘I have seen,’ while in fact he has not seen, or ‘I have heard,’ while he has not heard). Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah)” [al-Isra’ 17:36]. – Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb by al-‘Uthaymeen (4/2)

And Allah knows best. [Source: islamqa.com]

October 2nd - October 29th, 201530 | ISLAM

>> GRAVE Pg 29

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Does the Body Experience the Trial of the Grave, or Only the Soul?Question: Where is the soul, and what happens to it, after a person has died and before he is buried?

When a person dies and is buried on the following day, does his soul remain suspended before the burial? What happens to it?

Answer: Praise be to Allah. Firstly:

Imam Ahmad (17803) narrated that al-Bara’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“Verily, when the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him angels from heaven with white faces, as if their faces are the sun. They bring with them one of the shrouds of Paradise and some of the perfume of Paradise. They sit with him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death (peace be upon him) comes to him and sits by his head and says, ‘O pure soul, come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of Allah.’ Then his soul comes flowing out like a drop of water flowing from a cup. Then he takes the soul, and no sooner does he seize it but they take it and place it in that shroud and perfume. Then out of it comes the most excellent fragrance of musk to be found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it and they do not pass by any group of angels but the angels ask, ‘Who is this pure soul?’ and they reply, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – using the best names by which he was known on earth. Then they bring it to the lowest heaven, and ask for it to be opened, and it is opened for him. Those who are of high rank in each heaven accompany it until they approach the next heaven, and so it goes until it reaches the seventh heaven. Then Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon (the highest heaven) and take him back to the earth, for I created them from it, and I shall return them to it, then I shall take them out from it again.’ Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and make him sit up”

Then the hadith mentions the questioning in the grave, then it mentions how the soul of the disbeliever is taken, then it says:

“Then they ascend with it and they do not pass by any group of angels but the angels ask, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they reply, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – using the worst names by which he was known on earth. Then they bring it to the lowest heaven, and ask for it to be opened, and it is not opened for him.” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning): “… For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle” [al-A’raaf 7:40]. Then he said, “Then Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen (the lowest Hell) in the lowest earth. Then his soul is cast down.” Then he recited (interpretation of the meaning): “… and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.” [al-Hajj 22:31]. He said, “Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and make him sit up” Then it mentions the questioning in the grave. --- Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ (1676)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

This hadith indicates that the soul will remain after it departs the body, contrary to the misguided teachings of the mutakallimeen (Muslim philosophers); and that it will ascend and descend, contrary to the misguided teachings of the philosophers; and that it will be returned to the body; and that the deceased will be questioned, then he will be subjected to bliss or punishment. [End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (4/292) ]

Ibn Maajah (4262) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“Angels come to the dying person and if the man was righteous, they say: ‘Come out, O good soul that was in a good body, come out praiseworthy and receive the glad tidings of mercy and fragrance and a Lord Who is not angry.’ And this is repeated until it comes out, then it is taken up to heaven, and it is opened for it, and it is asked, ‘Who is this?’ They say: ‘[It is] So and so.’ It is said: ‘Welcome to the good soul that was in a good body. Enter praiseworthy and receive the glad tidings of mercy and fragrance and a Lord Who is not angry.’ And this is repeated until it is brought to the heaven above which is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. But if the man was evil, they say: ‘Come out O evil soul that was in an evil body. Come out blameworthy and receive the tidings of boiling water and dirty wound discharges, and other torments of similar kind, all together [cf. Saad 38:58]. And

this is repeated until it comes out, then it is taken up to heaven and it is not opened for it. And it is said: ‘No welcome to the evil soul that was in an evil body. Go back blameworthy, for the gates of heaven will not be opened to you.’ So it is sent back down from heaven, then it goes to the grave.” – Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.

These two hadiths describe what happens to the soul after death and before burial: if the person was a believer, then the angels give him glad tidings, before taking his soul, of the forgiveness and good pleasure of Allah, then they perfume it, then they take it up, in a blessed state, to its Lord, may He be glorified. Then Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: “‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon (the highest heaven) and take him back to the earth.” So the soul is returned to the body in which it was, then the individual is questioned in the grave; Allah makes him steadfast at the time of questioning, and makes his grave spacious for him, as far as his eyes can see.

But if it is the soul of a disbeliever, then the angels give him the tidings of hell and divine wrath, then they take his soul up, cursed, humiliated and afraid, and the gates of heaven are not opened for it, then it is thrown back down to earth, then it is returned to its body, then the individual is tormented in his grave and it is compressed on him, and there comes to him the heat and smoke of Hell.

With regard to the period between the departure of the soul and burial and questioning in the grave, for the believer it is the first stage of eternal happiness, as he is given the glad tidings of Paradise and eternal bliss, and his book is recorded in ‘Illiyoon (the highest heaven); then his soul will rejoice and be happy, and will never feel misery again.

But for the disbeliever, it is the first stage


in 2011 with trying to send weapons and money to a Qaeda affiliate in Iraq.

But she said that screening procedures had improved since then. She also said that the vast majority of the three million refugees brought to the United States since 1975 — including 19,000 Iraqis who were resettled in the 2014 fiscal year — have integrated peacefully. (The United States has taken in about 1,500 refugees from Syria since the start of the conflict there more than four years ago.)

Ms. Richard said many Americans had long supported refugee resettlement programs. “It’s an American tradition, and a lot of Americans get that,” she said. In many parts of the country, including South Carolina, the Syrian crisis has elicited calls for compassion and offers of help: On Sept. 13, hundreds of people gathered in University City, a suburb of St. Louis, to ask the federal government to accept “as many Syrian refugees as possible” in the area, according to the St. Louis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

This week, the mayors of 18 American cities, including Bill de Blasio of New York and Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, sent a letter to President Obama urging him “to increase still further the number of Syrian refugees the United States will accept for resettlement.” The mayors asserted that the United States had a “robust screening and background check” system in place for refugees, who, they said, “have helped build our economies, enliven our arts and culture, and enrich our neighborhoods.”

But even before the Syrian crisis dominated headlines worldwide, resettlement agencies had noted a rise in anti-refugee sentiment in parts of the United States, said Melanie Nezer, vice president of policy and advocacy at HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit that works with refugees. In the last two decades, they have increasingly placed people in smaller communities to try to avoid the high cost of living in traditional immigrant magnets like New York and Los Angeles. At the same time, unemployment and tight budgets have

prompted some local governments to fight the placement of refugees.

In South Carolina, a number of influential Upstate religious leaders have embraced the refugee program. The Rev. D.J. Horton, senior pastor of Anderson Mill Road Baptist Church, said dozens from his flock of 2,300 had already completed refugee support training. “It’s very hard to read your Bible, especially your New Testament, and refuse refuge to people who are vulnerable,” he said.

Mr. Lee said World Relief has proposed to the State Department resettling as many as 116 refugees in the Upstate region in the next year. He did not rule out the possibility that Syrians might be resettled in the area in the future. For now, he said, his group had resettled just one Muslim family of four, from Iraq, and a former Iraqi translator for United States security companies who has renounced his religion.

The former translator met with a

reporter on Monday and asked that his name not be used, for fear of attracting attention from anti-refugee activists. He said his reception in the United States had been warm, but he had been careful not to mention he is an Iraqi: Among Americans, he said, “Suicider, killer — this is the stereotype of Iraq.”

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REFUGE >> continued from pg 28


By Minhaj HasanMuslim Link Staff Reporter

Day 1

On the drive from our hotel to the Uthmani Khilafa's imperial headquarters known as Topkapi Palace, our first tour stop, Brother Safi Khan taught us the dua for travel and extracted some beautiful lessons from it. Our group -- about 20 American Muslims mostly from Maryland and Virginia -- asked Allah for “birr” and “taqwa” – righteousness and piety – from this journey of ours. We had traveled over 5,000 miles, and from whatever we would see, learn, and experience, we hoped to get closer to Allah. We renewed this intention every morning on the bus, each day of the trip.

Brother Safi Khan, the Imam of Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, served as our religious guide on the tour. This was his second tour of Istanbul's historic sites. He had studied the history of the Uthmani khilafa from Arabic sources and was able to help us reflect Islamically on what we saw and learned during the trip; his knowledge of Arabic was also very useful in deciphering the beautiful but complex calligraphy at many of the sites we visited.

Our local Turkish guide was critical to the success of our trip. He had a college degree in Turkish tourism and had a deep knowledge of all the sites we visited. He would "wow" our group by pointing out amazing facts and features of the structures we were in; learning was continuous and essential on this journey. Being a part of a tour group also allowed us to by-pass long entrance lines.

We disembarked on a steep, cobblestone path leading to the palace and came across an ornate white marble fountain decorated with gold calligraphy. One of the Uthmani sultans had this fountain built so he could gain the reward of providing water to passersby. It was a gift to society, to please Allah, so it had to be exquisite.

Topkapi Palace was power center of the Uthmani Khilafa for 400 years. From here they ruled Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, much of Central Asia and North Africa, and most of the Middle East including

Makkah and Madinah. The Sultanate moved to a new palace for the final two hundred years of Uthamni rule, which ended after World War I, in 1922. The 172 acre complex is located on one of Istanbul's highest points overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, the waterway which divides the European continent from Asia. The Palace was built by Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih after he used massive, specially built cannons to defeat the legendary, impregnable walls which protected Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. On May 29, 1453, the walls were breeched, and the "City of Constantine" was renamed “Islambul”, or the “City of Islam”, which later came to be known as “Istanbul.” The cannons were placed at the entrance of the palace to remind Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih and the Muslim community of the great victory granted to them, and so the palace came to be known as “Topkapi” or “Cannon Ball Gate.”

Everywhere inside the palace we saw similar reminders, from the main gates where the sultan and foreign dignitaries passed under the kalima, to the Qur'anic ayaat posted throughout the palace, to the masajid used by the 4,000 family members, officials, soldiers, and workers for the daily salah, to the enchanting gardens, courtyards, and fountains reminiscent of the Qur'an's descriptions of Jannah. It seemed odd that such an opulent, imperial complex would be filled with reminders about Allah and Islam. But then again, the 21-year old Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih who built it was a hafiz of the Qur'an, and – in his spare time – translated the tafseer of Ibn Katheer from Arabic into Turkish.

The Palace is structured around 4 lush courtyards with views of the sea, tall trees, flowers, and fountains breaking up the walking paths. All of the rooms and buildings enclosed the gardens, and the innermost garden was the exclusive domain of the Sultan and his family.

Today, Topkapi Palace holds not only a history of Uthmani governance and the lavish imperial lifestyle, but it also holds Islamic relics like the dress of Fatima the daughter of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam (Allah be pleased with

Reflections: Dar-us-Salaam's Trip to the Land of the Last Khilafah

From top: A view of Topkapi Palace from the Bosphorous Strait. Parts of the Byzantine defensive wall are visible at the bottom of the photo; a sample of the gardens in the palace; the waterway which divides Istanbul between Europe and Asia is visible from the palace gardens; an example of Islamic sayings posted around the palace: "The height of wisdom is the fear of Allah."

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her), swords belonging to the first four khulafaa to lead the ummah after the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam, and some of the hair of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam. The Uthamni Sultans honored these relics -- passed down from preceeding ruling dynasties -- and in particular they revered the hair of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam, and they would ask that dust from the special room where it was kept under guard be

added to their graves. From the time of the Uthmani khulafaa till today, a hafiz recites Qur'an in that special room 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We passed by the reciter, sitting behind a plexiglass, and he paid no attention to the stream of onlookers from all over the world, Muslims and non-Muslims, looking and listening as he recited the same words revealed to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam fourteen centuries ago, letter for letter.

After visiting Topkapi Palace, we made the short trip to beautiful Sultan Ahment Imperial Masjid, famously known as the "Blue Mosque" due to the 20,000 dazzling blue iznik tiles in 50 different tulip designs which decorate its interior . The masjid was built by Sultan Suleiman -- known in the West as "Suleiman the Magnificnet" -- in the 16th century. The Uthmani khilafa had some military setbacks, and the sultan thought he needed to gain the help of Allah, so he had the masjid built. It is unique in that it has six minarets instead of the traditional two

Counter clockwise from top right: The Sultan Ahmet masjid is iconic and its six slender minarets are visible from the Bosphorous Strait. Sultan Suleiman built it in the 16th Century to rival the Haiga Sophia, the Byzantine church next to Topkapi Palace built in the sixth century which for centuries was the largest and most magnificent religious strucutre on Earth; The coarse dress of Fatimah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam (may Allah be pleased with her) on display in the Islamic relics museum located at Topkapi Palace; the swords of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (Allah be pleased with them) seemed to match their personalities. The sword of Uthman was the smallest while Ali's was the largest; Parts of the Byzantine walls which kept invaders out of Constantinopol (now Istanbul) for centuries still remains. The triple layer wall had a moat and many towers and is still considered a marvel of military and defense structures; a sample of the incredibly intricate tile work inside the "Blue Masjid." The master artist who created the tiles went blind from the intense, detailed work he put into each tile; gold tiled mosaics inside the Haiga Sophia.

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or four. Controversy also erupted over the minarets because the Haram in Makkah had fewer minarets.

Directly opposite the Blue Masjid is the enormous "Haiga Sophia", Greek for "Holy Wisdom". Haiga Sophia was an East Roman church built in the sixth century and at the time was the largest religious structure in the world. When Sultan Muhammad Fatih conquered Constantinopol, Haiga Sophia was converted into a masjid, and its gold and silver mosaics of 'Isa, Maryam, and the angels (Allah be pleased with all of them) were painted over. The Muslims hung huge calligraphic plates and canvases from the massive domed celing. Sultan Fatih left other churches in Constantinopol intact, and allowed Christians the freedom worship and limited self-governance. Today, Haiga Sophia is a museum, and both the Islamic and the ancient Byzantine artwork inside its walls exist side by side.

Day 2

On the second day of our tour we took in the beauty of Istanbul from the water. The skyline viewed from the water is punctutaed with minarets and domes, and the remains of ancient Greek and Roman buildings and columns appear close to shore. We passed the point where the Byzantines installed massive underwater and overwater chains to block the Uthmani naval forces from entering the inlet and attacking Constantinopol, and the point where Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih's army dragged their ships over a stretch of land to circumvent the chains and then back into the water. Our ferry took us from the European side of Istanbul to the Asia side; the city has always been literally at the crossroads of civilizations. Close to where we boarded the ferry we visited the famed Spice Bazaar, built centuries ago by a Uthamani princess to provide operating revenue for

one of the imperial masajid built by her family. The air inside the covered bazaar was filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.

Day 3

After walking through the famed Istiqlal Avenue which houses modern day exclusive shops and restaurants, we visited the Galacta Tower, a medieval Byzantine stone tower which offers a panoramic vista of old Istanbul and its environs. The tower was used by the Uthmani government to watch for fires in Istanbul and for defense purposes.

We also connected our trip directly and dramtically to the time of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wassallam, who said in an authentic hadith:

"Verily you [Muslims] wil l conquer Constantinople. What a wonderful leader will her leader be, and what a wonderful army will that army be."

Because of this hadith, the famous companion Abu Ayyub Ansari joined an army attempting to conquer the city. He was 100 years old. The city did not fall, and Abu Ayyub asked the Muslims to bury him at the walls of Constantinople so he might be raised with the "wonderful army" mentioned by the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam. Despite many attempts to take the city, it was not until almsot 800 years later that Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih conquered its walls using a specially made cannon and brilliant military strategy. The Uthmani army found the grave of Abu Ayyub Ansari and made the first masjid Uthamni there in his honor. We visited the masjid, and unfortunately many people seek "blessings" from the grave of Abu Ayyub (Allah be pleased with him), and newlyweds came throughout the day in their

wedding cloths to seek the "blessings" on their marriage.

We prayed asr Salaah in the incredible Süleymaniye Masjid, a massive complex built by genius architect Sinan. The complex served the spiritual, social, and educational needs to the community and housed not only an architectural wonder of a masjid but also four Quran schools, a school for hadith, a medical college, a hospital, a free travelers Inn, and a kitchen and cafeteria which served free food to about 10,000 poor people every day. It was a motivating lesson for all of us in

what a Muslim community should be, and how our masajid should be the literal and figurative hub of the community.

Day 4

We took a relaxing two hour ferry to the city of Bursa, the first capital of the Uthmani Khilafa before Constantinople was conquered. The city is rich and fertile, and we could pick apricots, peaches, grapes, and blueberries on the side of the road. The grand masjid in Bursa is known for the massive, varied calligraphy which hangs on the walls, donated by Muslim

....

| 35October 2nd - October 29th, 2015 CONTINUEDmaster calligraphers from around the world over the last several centuries. The masjid is unique in that it features a skylit, white marble fountain in the center for making wudu. .

Day 5-6

On the fifth day of our tour we took a flight to Turkey's natural wonderland -- Cappadocia. The region is known for the surreal, martian like rock formations made over hundreds of thousands of years by repeated volcanic eruptions, lava flows, and erosion. The volcanic rock is soft enough to carve using handtools, so ancient peoples from before the time of 'Isa 'alyhissalam through the early 20th century lived in homes carved into the rock. We explored these homes, and our hotel was a remodeled cave complex! Seeing these cave dwellings -- some high on top of the mountains and others several stories deep below ground -- reminded us of the companions of the cave from Surah Al-Kahf. We even had the chance to pray in a cave masjid, established for the Muslims who lived in the surrounding caves. Today, very few families still live in caves, most having moved into the valley. Tourism is a major part of Cappadocia's economy, and we took an unforgettable hot air balloon ride to take in the amazing rock formations. We also toured the Goreme Open Air Museum -- a UNESCO Heritage site -- and crawled through dark and narrow cave complexes four levels deep.

Day 7

To close out our tour of this land of the last khilafa, we visited the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum. Some of the earliest manuscripts of the Qur'an and scholarly works are on display in this award winning museum. There were recreations of historic scenes from throughout Islamic history, weapons from bygone eras, and also riches and luxurious items taken straight from our imaginations of the imperial lifestyles of old.

We also spent a part of the day shopping at the Grand Bazaar, with 4,000 shops the largest covered bazaar in the world. It was built by Sultan Muhammad Al-Faith in the 15th century to provide revenue for the masajid and other social service projects he put in place.

Our trip to Turkey ended too soon, but all of us agreed that the short journey reconnected us to a glorious, spiritual history that every Muslim owns. If only we knew the legacy each of us carries. Maybe then we would not hesitiate to be optimistic about our collective future.

[A second Dar-us-Salaam trip to Turkey is planned for this November's Thanksgiving break. For information, visit http://www.travelighttours.com/rwt/view/536 ]

Counter clockwise from top right: The Suleymaniye Grand Masjid Complex. A massive, grassy pavillion in front of the masjid opens out to a view of the Bosphorous Strait; the masjid of the companion of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him). The entrance to his tomb is on the far left of the photo; Brother Safi Khan praying tahiyat-tulmasjid in the cave masjid we visited in Cappadocia; A view of the inside of the Suleymaniye masjid. Master imperial architect Sinan built amazing features into this masjid which are still being discovered. The chandelier shown in the photo used candles. Sinan studied the airflow of the masjid and how the black soot would rise from the candles. He built a capture device into an upper area below the dome where the soot would settle, mix with water, and then scholars would use that blackened water as ink when writing their books; the wudu fountain and calligraphy in the Grand Masjid in Bursa.

....


>> COEXIST Pg 38

Islam and Europe: Can They Coexist?

American University Professor Explores Islam, Immigration, and Empire in Documentry “Journey Into Europe”

By Sarah KhasawinahMuslim Link Staff Reporter

“Journey Into Europe,” a brand new documentary asks, “Is Islam and European identity incompatible?” The triumphant feat covers vast swaths of geography and time, divided into three segments, (1) 10th century Andalusia, (2) 13th century Ottoman expansion, and (3) 20th century post-colonialization of former British territories. Through conversations with mayors, ministers, academics, artists, activists, and people from all walks of life, the viewer is left to answer the provocative question at hand with facts from the past to today.

“Journey into Europe” launched at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) 52nd annual convention in Chicago, Illinois on September 6, 2015. This first ever public viewing of the documentary a t t rac ted a packed audience , including prominent figures, Imam Mohamed Magid, ISNA President and Executive Director of All Dulles Area Muslim Society of ADAMS; Rizwan Jaka, ISNA Board Member and Chair of the ISNA Interfaith and Government Committee; and Rabbi David Saperstein, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Producer, writer, and director, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed introduced the documentary and conducted a question and answer session, together with key members of the production team, after the showing.

Starting in Andalusia, the film brought to life la convivencia, the concept that people of all faiths can live together peacefully, as it was implemented

by Muslims in Spain from 711-

1492. From art and science to civics and religion, the documentary showed how Islam elevated women, brought justice between peoples, and compassion as a rule of the land. The Mayor of Cordoba, José Antonio Nieto Ballesteros, attested in the film to the ways in which the Islamic empire shaped Spanish culture and progress today, "The first message I would like to give to the Muslim World is 'thank you,' because we owe them our culture, we owe them our character, we owe them the effort they put into Cordoba. They left their living footprint here in Cordoba. You should know that Cordoba is a home for Muslims as well. We don't perceive you as a threat and are ready to receive you, and that you should feel comfortable in this city." The impact of Islam continues in modern day Spain in ways that the average Spaniard may not even know: upon witnessing an act of beauty in an artistic performance or a show of strength in a sports tournament, the crowd cheers, “Olé, olé!,” the remnants of what once was “Allah, Allah!”

Secondly, in the Ottoman Empire,

which spanned from modern day Turkey through the Balkans and into the Middle East and North Africa, the picturesque vision of Islam that brought technology and justice to the region is countered by recent pre and post 9/11 oppression and bloodshed. One of the scenes most heart-wrenching traces the lives and deaths of victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of Bosnians. A grandmother tells the story of losing all of the men in her family as the camera zooms into the names etched on their tombstones, one by one, and out to row upon row of bodies beneath the ground, in a cemetery too large to capture in a single shot. In a place where the memories of the dead haunt the living, the people are resilient, and there to stay. Former Prime Minister, Dr. Haris Silajdzic, of Bosnia- Herzegovina, proclaims, “Islam is a domestic religion here, like Christianity and Judaism.”

In the third part of the film, the viewer remembers the time when the sun never set on the British Empire, and the resulting unexpected twin of colonization: immigration.

After the colonial period, Britain,

France, Denmark, and Germany received sizeable populations of their former subjects, collectively groups of individuals that had mastered the best of their mother countries with the work ethic of immigrants. In a comic reprieve, the documentary shows a clip of Indians playing cricket, a game introduced by Brits, at a level that far exceeds the Brits themselves. Upon immigrating to Britain, Muslims from India and Pakistan worked in fields from textiles and manufacturing to education and medicine. At this critical juncture following the Second World War, Muslim immigrants worked to rebuild and propel the country forward.

Sir Nicholas Barrington, a prominent diplomat featured in the fi lm says, “Today Mohammed is the number one name in Britain.” Sir Barrington continues, “Two British cabin ministers have been Muslims.” While Muslims make important contributions to British society, some Brits view this prominence as a threat.

....

Arts & Entertainment


Upcoming Events In Your Area

CAIR 21st Anniversary BanquetSaturday, October 17 2015Champions for Justice, Featuring Omar Suleiman, Tawakkol Karman, and Dean Obeidallah. Ticket: $65, www.cair.com/banquet Deadline: October 15th. Babysitting available for children age 3-12, $20 per child. Advance registra-tion required.Location: Marriott Crystal Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202Contact: 202-742-6454, www.cair.com/banquet

Keep IRHSCA in the RaceSaturday, October 17 2015, 10:00am - 5:00pmCalling all Runners, Walkers, or Bikers - Come participate by either walking, running or biking around a route to raise funds. No registration is required, reg-istered runners will receive entry number tag and arm band, $5.00 fee. Health living and Free Islamic Literature available.Location: 1 Chambers Ave, Capitok Heights, MDContact: Register or donate at irhsca.org or by calling 301-324-5040

3rd Annual Masjid ForumSaturday, November 07 2015 Create a Welcoming masjid. Consultation with Experts on: Organizational Structure, Building a masjid, Being a welcoming masjid, Greening the ma-sajid, improving our masajid, Masjid construction, and creating a Prophetic Masjid. Speakers: Yasir Qadhi, Rafik Beekun, Dalia Mogahed, Chris McCoy, Nana Firman, Ihsan Bagby, Muhammad al-Qatanani, Hazem Bata, Sarah Say-eed, Aisha al-Adawiya. Registration fees: Sessions and Dinner: $60, Sessions only: $35.Location: Turkish American Community Center, 9704 Good Luck Road, Lan-ham, MDContact: Registration at isna.net

ISWA Community Brunch Sunday, November 08 2015Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) Sisters Committee Communi-ty Brunch. Taste of the Caribbean. $25 per person. Various Caribbean Dishes. All proceeds benefit ISWA. Begins at 10:30AM.Location: ISWA, 2701 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905

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)”

09-07-2015 Baby girl, daughter of Hafiz Amir Aqeel (one of our dedi-cated volunteers), has passed away. Janazah prayer was on September 7, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. May Allah (SWT) grant her jannah-tul-firdous and give sabr to her family and friends. (Source: Dar Alnoor)

09-07-2015 It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Sr. Hasina Khatun, mother in law of Br. Zubair Siddique. The Janazah was on September 8, 2015 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. May Allah forgive her sins, have mercy on her, and grant her Jannah. May He also grant the family patience during this time. Ameen. (Source: ICCL)

09-19-2015 PGMA sends condolences to the family of Sister Afusat Fo-lashade Lawal who has passed away. Salaat al-Janazah for Sister Afusat Folashade Lawal was on September 19, 2015 in Lanham, Maryland. May Allah (SWT) forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannat ul Firdaus, Ameen. (Source: PGMA)

09-19-2015 The daughter of Br. Rukhsar has passed away. Janazah prayer was on September 20, 2015 in Springfield, Virginia. May Allah (SWT) forgive all her sins and grant her highest place in Jannatul Fir-dous. Aameen. (Source: Manassas Muslim Association)

09-26-2015 With deep sadness we mourn the passing away of Dr Jamal Barzinji, a pioneer, mentor and pillar of ADAMS and our community. Janazah was on September 27, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. May Allah subhnahu wata’ala shower him with his mercy and compassion, reward him for his dedication and service, and may He grant him a high place in paradise. (Source: R. Jaka)

09-26-2015 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of community member Brother Zul K Hosein. Janazah was on September 27, 2015 in Ellicott City, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower him with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant him the highest ranks in paradise, and give his family support and pa-tience during these difficult times. (Source: DAT)

09-27-2015 Asgari Sudderuddin Ahmad has passed away. Salaat ul Janazah was on September 28, 2015 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. May Allah accept her good deeds, forgive her shortcomings and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (Source: ICM)

To Advertise in the Muslim Link Call

301-982-1020

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....


DISPUTE >> continued from pg 26

....

COEXIST >> continued from pg 36

equivalent heights, and a traffic study by AICC reflects that no adverse impact would take place if the center was built at the proposed location. The opposition clearly desired that the area which is majority Chaldean continues to remain so and that an Islamic center is not welcomed there.

The largest concentration of Chaldeans in the world resides in Metro Detroit. There are literally more Chaldeans in Sterling Heights than in Baghdad. Due to the chaos which engulfed Iraq as a result of the misguided American invasion of Iraq in 2003, Chaldeans were displaced like other Iraqis. The difference between them and Iraqi Muslims, however, is that as Muslims continue to live in Iraq, though circumstances are tough, Christians have almost disappeared.

Michigan Muslims most certainly sympathize with the plight of Chaldeans as well as Assyrians in Iraq and the reasons why large numbers of them were forced to resettle in Michigan. It is easy to understand that Christian Iraqis who were displaced from are traumatized.

Michigan, however, is not Iraq.

Michigan Muslims were not part of the Al-Qaeda and Daesh criminals that destroyed churches, killed clergy and displaced Christians from their land in Iraq. The countertransference of Christian suffering in Iraq onto Sterling Heights Muslims is misguided to say the least.

The recent drama in Sterling Heights is not the first time that Michigan Muslims have received misguided opposition from a section of the Chaldean community. Beginning in 2011, members of the Chaldean community were the primary

opposition to the American Muslim Diversity Association (AMDA) Islamic center project in Sterling Heights. In the same year, members of the Chaldean community joined a group from the ultra-conservative Jewish community in opposition to the Islamic Cultural Association (ICA) establishing a community center in Farmington Hills. During the same timeframe, the Walled Lake based Aramaic Broadcasting Network (ABN) hosted Islamophobes from Acts 17 who came to Dearborn to disrupt the now defunct Arab International Festival.

It is incumbent upon leaders within the Chaldean community to firmly denounce the Islamophobic elements which exist among them including from some who purport to represent Christianity. As we know that it takes time for a people to heal from collective trauma, the leadership of that community has to set the tone for healing and reconciliation. Being

quiet about or brushing aside the issue of anti-Muslim intolerance among some Michigan Chaldeans is no solution; it is in fact irresponsible.

Hopefully the recent events in Sterling Heights will spark awareness among Chaldean and Muslim leaders in Metro Detroit that the two communities must hold regular community conversations just not leaders meeting once or twice then going back to the status quo. The process of reconciling the pain and frustrations between Chaldeans and Muslims in Michigan will not be without pain but must happen. Otherwise, such ugly situations as what recently took place in Sterling Heights will repeat themselves and possibly escalate.

Editor’s note: Dawud Walid is the Executive Director for the Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. His views are his own.

Jim Dowson, the founder of Britain First, expresses his fear of Muslims taking over.

Addressing the fundamental question of whether Islamic and European identity live at odds with one another, the documentary does not shy away from images that fill the typical human being with fury: people being discriminated against because of their faith; places of worship being burned to flames; and especially difficult to watch, man killing man at random in the name of God. However, for every horrifying scene that makes the insides tangle, there is a scene more powerful that is fueled by love instead of hate: the story of the great German poet, Goethe, who wrote a poem about Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him; the human shield that people of all faiths formed around the site of a proposed mosque in Cologne, Germany to stand up in support of the project; and the rise of the principle of universal humanism, treating the other with justice, in Denmark.

In the perspective of human existence, the once upon a time when people of all faiths lived peacefully in Europe was not a long time ago. The continent faces significant challenges today; however, the narrator concludes, “If it can overcome these challenges, Europe will once again become a beacon of civilization.”

The documentary spans one hour and fifty minutes, and some scenes feel longer because of the weight of the content. One scene, the story of Ahmetu, brought tears to many. Dr. Amineh Hoti, a key member of the production team gave us a glimpse from behind the camera: “Ahmetu, the 17 year old, told us that to fill his stomach, he has to drink water, and pick up people’s dirty and left over food. Ahmetu symbolizes the plight of the migrants today in Europe.”

At the end, the documentary proves rewarding to watch. Following the event, members of the audience continued the conversations. Nejat Ibrahim, from Philadelphia, PA reflected, “It exposed Europe in a different light. I didn’t know a lot about Eastern Europe and about all the Muslims in Cordoba—the way

they were perceived back then, and how it is now. In Palermo, I wasn’t aware of how the Arab influence was in Christianity.” Fatimah from Rochester, NY also gave a glowing review, concluding, “I want to see it again.”

The film leaves the viewer educated not only on the facts of the past and the present of Islam in Europe, but also with critical analyses on the etiology of peace and conflict. In the discussion following the film, Ambassador Akbar shared the take home message, “How much compassion you can show for different communities and build bridges between them.” Dr. Hoti emphasized the point, “The key question is will we show compassion or will we turn away? That is the question for humanity.”

The film team also shared stories on the production process. When asked how long it took to make, Dr. Akbar answered, “two years,” and then he elaborated, “But really it’s been 50 years.” He talked about his life in between Europe and Pakistan throughout his distinguished career as a diplomat, and shared, “You saw me talking to Sir Nicholas Barrington;

he’s not going to talk to anyone, but I’ve known him for decades.” This special access results in unparalleled content. The result is a triumph that is a must-see for anyone who wants to understand the historical and modern marriage of Islam and Europe.

The documentary is also an opportunity for us to tell our story. It is fueled by passion and experience despite an unfortunate lack of funds. Dr. Hoti shared, “The most difficult part was the funding.” Ambassador Akbar elaborated, “Muslim communities are very good at building mosques and schools. When it comes to art and journalism, it is mashaAllah and alhamdulliilah. They do not understand that we live in a world of images. So and so is running Hollywood and they’re defaming us.” Although it is not all sunshine and roses, “Journey Into Europe” is an opportunity to set the record straight.

Ambassador Akbar urged, “Every Muslim needs to be an ambassador fo r t h i s f i lm .” Vi s i t h t t p : / /journeyintoeurope.com/ to find a viewing near you, or to organize one today.

| 39October 2nd - October 29th, 2015

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN VIRGINIA

---------------------------------------------------------------------------All Muslim Brothers Association

3900 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302

Tel: 703-647-0515Jumma 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 22312Tel: 703-256-8622 | ww.irshad.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mustafa Center:6844 Braddock Rd.,

Annandale, VA 22003Tel: 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

5613 Lessaburg Pike,#1Falls Church,Va 22041

[email protected] | www.macous.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Center Of NorthernVA Trust (Icnvt):

4420 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030Tel: 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: 703-580-0808Fax: 703-221-8513www.daralnoor.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Manassas Mosque:

12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA

Tel: 703-257-5537---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Center Of Virginia:1241 Buford Rd.,

Richmond, VA 23235Tel: 804-320-7333www.icva1.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of Greater Richmond

6324 Rigsby Road,

Richamond, VA 23226Tel: 804-673-4177 | www.isgr.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al Rahman:1305 Hull St.,

Richmond, VA 23224Tel: 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 22153Tel: 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 RoadSpotsylvania VA 22553

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Heritage Center (IHC):

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Falah

14918 Jefferson Davis HwyWoodbridge, VA 22191

Tel: 703-490-2220|masjidal-falah.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON D.C.---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ivy City Masjid:2001 Galludet St.

NE, Washington, D.C. 20002Tel: 202-904-9668

E-mail: masjidivycity@yahoo.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Muhammad:1519 4th St.

NW, Washington D.C. 20001Tel: 202-483-8832

www.masjidmuhammad.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Islamic Center:2551 Massachusetts Avenue

NW Washington D.C. 20008Tel: 202-332-8343

www.theislamiccenter.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Hijra Muslim Comm. Center:4324 Georgia Ave,

NW Washington, D.C. 20011www.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, SEWashington, DC. 20020

202.678-1881 | www.naiccdc.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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: 410-266-6660www.isamd.org

Email: Info@islamannapolis.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------Bait-Allah Masjid of Baltimore Inc

200 S. Calhoun StreetBaltimore, MD 21223

Imam’s cell: 571-721-9938email: 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: 410-493-0785Email: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Ul-haq:

514 Islamic Way (Wilson St. ), Baltimore, MD 21217

Tel: 410-728-1363---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al-mumineen:2642 Harford Rd.,

Baltimore, MD 21218Tel: 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 Fatima1928 Powers Lane

Catonsville MD, 21228Phone: 410 800 4880

Email: [email protected]: www.masjidfatima.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------IRHSCA (Islamic Research And Hum.

Services Center Of America):1 Chambers Ave,

Capitol Heights, MDTel: 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 20745Tel: 240 603 4618

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

Dar-us-Salaam:5301 Edgewood Rd.,

College Park, MD 20740,Tel: 301-982-9848

www.duscommunity.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Society Of Easton126 Port Street Unit # 1

Easton, MD 21601Tel: 410-829 7924

islamicsocietyofeastonmd.yolasite.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Zamzam1510 Lynch Road,

Dundalk, MD 21222Tel: 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 21042Tel: 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 21702Tel: 301-682-6090

www.isfmd.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Center Of Maryland (ICM):

19411 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Tel:301-840-9440www.icomd.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Makkah Learning Center (MLC):

814 Brandy Farms Ln., Gambrills, MD 21054

Tel: 410-721-5880www.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 MDTel: 301-322-8105

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society of

Western Maryland:2036 Day Rd.,

Hagerstown, MD 21740Tel: 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, 20782Tel: 301-779-9292

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

Prince Georges Muslim Assoc.(PGMA):9150 Lanham Severn Rd., Lanham,

MD, 20706,Tel: 301-459-4942www.pgmamd.org

Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441E-mail: [email protected].

---------------------------------------------------------------------------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 20646Tel: 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 | 301-983-0383E-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Randallstown Islamic Center

9019 Marcella Ave. Randallstown, MD 21133

Tel: 410-971-4018www.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 Maryland11504 Veirs Mills Rd,

Silver Spring, MD 20902Tel: 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 20910Tel: 301-588-0693 | www.imaam.org

Email: infoimaam@gmail.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid An-nur:5418 Ebenezer Road,

White Marsh, MD 21162Tel: 410-663-9637Fax: 410-663-9817

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-inshirah:

7832 Fairbrook Road, Windsor Mill, MD 21244

Tel: 410-298-2977

MASJID LISTINGDo you have additions, changes, or corrections to the event listings in the Muslim Link? Email us at [email protected], or call us at 301-982-1020. Listing is organized by name of city.

....


Editor-in-Chief:Minhaj Hasan

Office Manager:Stephanie Benmoha

Layout:Fadlullah Firman

Staff Writers:Urooj FatimaYaman ShalabiFatimah WaseemHena Zuberi

Sharia Advisors:Sheikh Salah as-SawiImam Safi Khan

The Muslim Link (TML) is published once a month on Fri-days 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-us-Salaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of informa-tion presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML.

This publication contains the names of ALLAH (Subha-nahu wa ta’ala). Please keep, recycle, or share it with others

The Muslim LinkPO Box 596College Park, MD 20741Phone : (301) 982-1020Fax: (240) [email protected]

Advertising:301-982-1020 or email us at [email protected]

The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2015

....

301-982-1020C a l l T o d a y T o A d v e r t i s e i n T h e M u s l i m L i n k

[email protected] Email us at

October 2nd - October 29th, 201542 | Restaurant Section

PLANET PIZZA819 Hungerford Dr. Rockville, MD

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The Muslim Link Coupons

Clothing & Accessories

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• When you place a print ad with us in Main or Marketplace you can request a FREE coupon in each issue your ad runs.

• For businesses not currently in the paper, coupons are just $10 each issue, paid in advance.

• All coupons are one size (approximately half the size of an 1/8 page ad)and are text-only, no images.

• You tell us the deal you are offering, and the expiration date • The section will be promoted on the front page of the newspaper,

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Now is the time to take advantage of this great advertising savings. Drop us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at 301-982-1020 to get in on it today!

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| 43October 2nd - October 29th, 2015 Restaurant Section

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The Muslim Learning Center2642 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21218

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| 61March13th - April 9th, 2015

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Before

Give 10 Minutes

a Day To StopGenocide

After

www.BurmaTaskForce.org

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!

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.

stop genocide of Muslims In Burmastop genocide of Muslims In Burma

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 • DawaNetMajlis Ash-Shura of Metropolitan New York • Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) • Burmese Rohingya Association of North America • Free Rohingya Campaign

Atlanta shura

Justice for All Muslim Peace Coalition USA

MUNAMuslim UmmahNorth America

Muslim Link btf advt Aug 27, 2015.indd 1 8/27/15 4:39 PM

The Muslim Link, October 2, 2015

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Transcript of The Muslim Link, October 2, 2015