The Muslim Link ~ Jumaada Al-awwal 1430

FAMILY, COMMUNITY CONTINUE SEEKING JUSTICE FOR AHMED ABU-ALI

By Muslim Link Staff

The first ever fundraiser specifically for Ahmed Abu-Ali’s on-going struggle for justice was sold out before the fi rst guest arrived.

The Northern Virginia youth was a stand-out in the Muslim community, active and involved in helping the community and his neighbors. This fact drove area Muslims to overflow the courtroom when Ahmed Abu-Ali was tried in 2005 for allegedly conspiring to assassinate then President

George W. Bush, and it was the reason 200 tickets sold out before the “Let Justice Be Done” event started.

Although out of sight, Ahmed Abu-Ali is certainly not out of mind.

In June 2003, at the age of 23, Abu-Ali was arrested by Saudi authorities while taking exams at the Islamic University of Medina. Although he is a US citizen, the Saudis detained him

PG 27Putting Delicious on a Skewer at Kabobelicious

By Rola GhannamMuslim Link Contributng Writer

The White House, on April 6, 2009, announced the addition of 10 newly elected members who would serve on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. These members

compose a diverse group of individuals of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith, as well as secular backgrounds, and will advise the president on how faith-based communities can help with issues such as fatherhood and poverty. Originally established by former President George W.

Bush in January of 2001, and titled White House Offi ce of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the title later came to be changed under President Obama. Also under the Obama administrat ion, came the addition of the president’s advisory council.

Among those chosen to serve 1-year terms on the new president’s council is Northern Virginia resident Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, and coauthor of the book Who Speaks for Islam?: What a

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

MarketplaceYour Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle PG 29

• WhyIslam Launches Bus Ad Campaign in DC | PG 4

• MoCo Muslims Launch Successful Food Drive | PG 4

Fusion Centers Major Barrier Between Fed, Muslims| PG 8

• Muslim Americans Exemplify Diversity, Potential | PG 10

• Lessons from the ISA Planning Commission Hearing | PG 24

• Pretty Purses Make Petty Priorities | PG 15

>> ABU-ALI Pg 7

>> MUSLIMAH Pg 5

May 1, 2009 – May 28, 2009 MD, VA, and DC. Metropolitan Area Monthly Newspaper | FREE

Jumaada Al -awwal 1430 A .H. I s sue | www.Mus l imLinkPaper.com

Th eMusl mL nkPG 5

Campus Students Keep Educating on Gaza Massacre

VA Muslimah to Serve on President’s New Council

Norman Finkelstein speaks at UMCP

Saturday, May 30th, 2009, 12:00pm

A full day of fun and rides for the whole family. See pg 20

The Abu Ali family fought to bring their US citizen son out of a Saudi jail cell. Their struggle for justice continues as they continue legal action action Ahmed Abu Ali’s conviction on foreign evidence. The families legal bills are in excess of $100,000. Photo from LIFE.

ADVERTISEMENT TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 20092

INDEX

INSIDE THIS ISSUEJUMAADA AL-AWWAL 1430 | May 1, 2009 – May 28, 2009 2009

04Community News

v

15Islam

13Health & Family

703 556 6626Fax: 703 556 [email protected]

29Marketplace

24Readers Write

10National News

3TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 2009

COMMUNITY NEWS

��Creating links through mutual understanding and cooperation

Muslim Women’s Shelter and Medical Center Activist Injured in Car Accident, Assistance NeededAsma Hanif, the Founder and Director of Muslimat Al-Nisaa Shelter and Clinic for Muslim women, was recently injured in a car accident. The Baltimore MD activist, who is also chairperson of the greater Washington Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations, received moderate injuries

and is alhamdulilah currently recuperating nicely. Although Sister Asma’s injuries were not life threatening, her organizational vehicle, a passenger van in which she was driving, has been totaled and is not repairable or operational. The need for a transportation van for Sister Asma’s Shelter

and Clinic is crucial and greatly needed. Given the essential services that Muslimat Al- Nisaa provides for Muslim women and children, we are appealing to anyone in the community that could donate a passenger van or station wagon to do so. Any donated vehicle should be in good mechanical

condition and recently inspected. Persons or organizations interested in making such a donation should contact Sister Asma Hanif at [email protected] . Jazaka Allahu khairan [Source: DC-CCMO email, April 23, 2009]

Montgomery County Muslims Launch Successful Food DriveI am pleased to announce that the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation (MCMF)Annual Food Drive 2009 was extremely successful. By the Grace of Allah we were able to collect and donate 10,468 lbs of non-perishable and canned food to MANNA Food Bank.

This was accomplished by donations collected in front of the area Giants all over Montgomery County for the whole month of April by a very well coordinated scheduling effort of the Food Drive Committee, namely: Tufail Ahmad, Sohail Malik, Mustafa Haque and Shafiq Khan.

Some 56+ volunteers including adults, children, friends and neighbors stood in front

of the stores in bitter windy and rainy days of April for all day shifts of 2-4 hours each. I cannot accurately express my gratitude and pride in our community for their devotion and enthusiasm to serve. SubhanAllah. Kudos to the Food Drive Committee May Allah bless you for your good deeds. Ameen.

Food drive picnic was attended by some 250+ people and our esteemed elected officials - County Executive Ike Leggett, County Council members - Phil Andrews (President), George Leventhal, Mike Knapp, Nancy Floreen, and Representative from Senator Barbara Mikulski who presented MCMF with an acknowledgement from the Senator.

County Council President brought 5 cases of food donations which County Council had collected to help us in this food drive. We are also grateful to the organizations who supported and helped us in collections namely; Islamic Center of MD (ICM), Islamic Society of Washington (ISWA), Islamic Weekend School (IWS), Pakistan Association, MCMC and Somali Muslims. I am thankful to Giant Foods for giving us permission to use their premises and Manna Food Bank for distributing the collected food to needy. Gazette will run a story in this week; and Potomac Almanac covered it two weeks ago.

We would like to thank all the families, MCMF members, MCMC members, sponsors and especially volunteers who stood outside the stores. I would like to extend special thanks to Tufail Ahmad, Sohail Malik, Mustafa Haque, Shafiq Khan, for running this month long effort and Alia Malik, and Saba Dadi for their time and effort for picnic arrangements. May Allah reward every one who took part in this endeavor. Jazakum Allahu Khairan,

Irma HafeezPresident MCMFwww.mcmfusa.org

TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 20094

WhyIslam to Launch Bus Advertisement Campaign in DCBy Contributing Writers

On Saturday April 18, 2009, the WhyIslam-DC chapter held its 2009 annual fundraiser.

Invited speakers were Sohaib Sultan, the Muslim chaplain at Princeton University and author of “Quran for Dummies”, and Imam Jawad Ahmed, head of Islamic Studies at Al-Ghazali School in Teaneck, NJ. The event was held in St Joseph’s Parish in Herndon, VA and was well-attended primarily by the Northern Virgina Muslim community. The purpose of the fundraiser was to support the upcoming WhyIslam DC dawah campaigns including the much-anticipated bus Dawah ad campaign

which will enjoy high-exposure in the DC-Metro area. Additionally, new billboards will be purchased in the region. A contract has been signed with CBS outdoors to have “WhyIslam” dawah posters on 50 buses for 4 weeks in the DC, Maryland and Virginia. These posters will include the basic message of Islam and an invitation to viewers to call the dawah hotline at 1-877-WHYISLAM. The community generously supported the effort and a total of $35,000 in cash and pledges was raised. If you are interested in this project then please send your donations to: WhyIslam, 2913 Woodlawn Tr. Alexandria, VA 22306. WhyIslam volunteers Salman Sheikh and Yusuf Khan submitted this report.

Jawad Ahmed, above, speaks at the WhyIslam fundraiser in Virginia. Funds are needed for placing Metro bus ads, among other projects. Photo courtesy of WhyIslam-Virginia.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Campus Students Keep Educating on Gaza MassacreBy Muslim Link Staff

Although US media attention has long since shifted away from the late December 2008 – January 2009 massacre in Gaza and the on-going humanitarian disaster left behind by Israel, college campus students groups are still energized and educating anyone willing to listen.

On April 8, 2009, the Muslim Students Association at the University of Maryland at College Park held a seminar in Jiminez Building on the Gaza massacres, which killed close to 1,500 people – overwhelmingly civilians -- including 431 children. Professor Norman Finkelstein, a fierce critic of the Israeli occupation and the author of several books on the Israeli-Palestine issue, including “Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History”.

After being introduced by Minaret of Freedom Institute’s Dr. Imad-Ad-Deen

Ahmed, Dr. Finkelstein asked the audience – almost all 100 or so attendees were campus students – how the recent attacks should be referenced.

“What term is most appropriate as a shorthand to describe those events? War? War on Gaza? I don’t think that is accurate,” he said. Israel flew 3000 combat missions and all planes returned without damages since “there was no anti-aircraft defense to speak of” explained Finkelstein. There were no major clashes between forces on the ground, and the killing ratio was 100 Palestinian dead for each Israeli killed, he said.

“Plainly, this was not a war if by war we mean twp sides firing at each other. It was one side firing, the other side being fired upon. That is not a war, it’s a massacre. Out of respect for the English language, we

“Plainly, this was not a war if by war we mean twp sides firing at each other. It was one side firing, the other side being fired upon. That is not a war, it’s a massacre. Out of respect for the English language, we should not call it a war, but a massacre. It’s a more accurate description,”


>> Gaza Pg 14

Billion Muslims Really Think. Mogahed, having traveled the world and conducted surveys on the views of more than 1 billion Muslims, has been asked to serve on the inter-religious dialogue task force. Having majored in chemical engineering in college, Mogahed then went on to pursue a career at Procter and Gamble (P&G) where she worked as a product researcher before coming to Gallup. She later went on to obtain an MBA in market research and business strategy.

Her job at P&G involved conducting market research studies and using her understanding of people’s needs and opinions to design products that would appeal to them. It was this experience that Mogahed says “started to interest her in the idea of doing qualitative research to understand people.” The focus on empirical research is what she says brought her to Gallup.

Mogahed is excited about the opportunity to serve on President Obama’s faith-based council, which will focus on the following four pillars: recovering from the economic crisis, reducing the number of abortions, fatherhood and poverty, and interfaith dialogues. She feels that she has a lot to contribute to the council, including a “treasure trove of information on Muslim attitudes and perceptions.” “What

I can offer is a data-driven understanding of Muslim societies that is apolitical and empirically-based,” she said.

She believes that President Obama “wants to tap into the wisdom of the religious tradition to solve common problems. I think that he’s someone that sees religion as an asset to society, and one that has helped him personally in his growth, and that can be tapped into to solve common societal problems.” Mogahed is passionate about conveying the views of the silenced majority of Muslims around the world to the council and to leadership.These views include those of Muslim Americans who, according to a survey released by Gallup this year, are the most racially diverse religious group in the US. Their views encompass those of whites, African Americans, Hispanic, Asians, as well as those of other races. Looking to faith-communities to solve the problems of society is a “refreshing shift,” says Mogahed. “Rather than seeing religion as the source of problems, the Obama administration is seeing religious communities as the source of the solution”

Mogahed hopes that the empirical research that she has done will generate interfaith dialogue and foster better understanding between people of different faiths. “Muslims want to be seen as equal partners and not suspects or subjects by the US. His (referring to President Obama) approach on engaging Muslims on more than just US national security is going to be seen as a refreshing departure from the Bush administration,” she said.

The findings of a recent poll released by the Washington Post and ABC News reveals interfaith dialogue between Muslims and people of other faiths is much needed. The poll stated that 55 percent of Americans polled are “without a basic understanding of the teachings and beliefs of Islam, and most said they do not know anyone who is Muslim…About half, 48 percent, said that they have an unfavorable view of Islam, the highest in polls since late 2001. Nearly three in 10, or 29 percent, said they see mainstream Islam as advocating violence against non-Muslims; although more, 58 percent, said it is a peaceful religion.” These are startlingly high numbers, considering that Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and the fastest growing. By contributing the findings of her survey research at Gallup, Mogahed is able to function as a bridge between the ordinary people in the Muslim world and the US. She speaks on behalf of billions of people whose opinions are often overlooked and voices unheard.

Much of the fear and misunderstandings that non-Muslims have of Muslims can be attributed to the attacks on September 11th. While those who carried out the attacks were Muslim, their ideologies represent that of a

small minority of the Muslim population. In fact, as Mogahed argues, one needs look no further for the truth than the empirical evidence, which affirms that the majority of Muslims believe that attacks on civilians are wrong.

“While Muslims around the world recognize that extremism is a problem that is at the heart of the conflict between the US and the Muslim world, they don’t believe that it’s the one defining commonality, said Mogahed. “There’s many things that their countries and the United States can work on together to improve the world as a whole.”

Through empirical evidence, Mogahed hopes that she can rectify inaccurate statements people have made about Muslims, and, in doing so, building interfaith alliances based on respect, understanding, and shared beliefs.

Dalia Mogahed was one of the researchers from Gallup who contributed to the first data driven report on the Muslim American community, “Muslim Americans: A National Portrait”. Read the full report at www.muslimwestfacts.com/mwf/File/116074/AmericanMuslimReport.pdf.

SEE ALSO: Muslim Americans Exemplify Diversity, Potential in this issue.

VA Muslimah to Serve on President’s New CouncilMUSLIMAH>> continued from pg 1 “What I can offer is a data-driven understanding of Muslim

societies that is apolitical and empirically-based,” she said.


COMMUNITY NEWS

Howard Muslims Promote Living WellThe Howard County Muslim Foundation “Living Well” Health Fair was held on Saturday April 18, 2009 from 10 AM – 1 PM at the Bane Center, 5470 Ruth Keaton Way, Columbia, MD 21044.

Sponsor’s for this event included FIRN, Horizon Foundation, Columbia Foundation, Howard County General Hospital, Howard County Health Department, Lion’s Club, Maryland Middle Eastern Chamber of Commerce, Team 13 (Delegate Guzzone, Pendergrass, Turner and Senator Robey), Shaukat Ashai, Shahid Jamil, Wajahat Ashai, Zubair Naizi, Irfan & Erum Malik, Akbar Masood and Rashid & Samina Chotani. Over 200 hundred people attended the event. Free blood testing was provided for diabetes, cholesterol, anemia, thyroid and prostate screening for over 130 clients; carotid Doppler study for stroke screening was provided for over 50 clients. In addition, screening was performed for blood pressure,

cancer, dental hygiene, obesity, depression, asthma and COPD and glaucoma. Eye and hearing examinations were provided to numerous clients. Over 30 healthcare providers and an equal number of volunteers served around 200 clients. The event was attended by Mr. Jahantab Siddiqui (Representing, Senator Mikulski Office), Ms. Iman Awad and Mr. David Lee (Representing, Governor Martin O’Malley’s Office) and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. Dr. Chotani, President of the HCMF and the County Executive Ulman presented HCMF 2009 Volunteering Awards to Dr. Saba Shaikh and Dr. Akbar Masood for there exceptional dedication in organizing this event. The event was also attended by Dr. Janet Siddiqui and Ellen Flynn Giles members of the Howard County Board of Education and other Howard County officials. [Source: News Report from Howard County Muslim Foundation, April 20, 2009]

Dr. Rashid Chotani, President, HCMF, Dr. Akbar Masood, co-Chair, Health Fair Committee, receiving the 2009 HCMF Volunteer Award & County Executive Ken Ulman

for 20 months, torturing him and interrogating him, finally obtaining a forced video taped confession of his “plot” to assassinate the US President. The US State Department did not intervene. Abu-Ali’s family sued the US government in court, and Ahmed was finally brought back to Virginia to face trial based wholly on information obtained by Saudi authorities.

The case continues to send shockwaves throughout the law community.

Scores of legal professionals and organizations watched the tr ial closely. Amnesty International concluded Abu-Ali’s trial was unfair. In a report they wrote: “Amnesty International is seriously concerned that the trial of Ahmed Abu Ali may set a precedent in US courts of according unqualified support to the declarations of a foreign government regarding its human rights record as a means of rendering evidence admissible, including statements obtained by torture and ill-treatment. In this case, the statements of officials from Saudi Arabia, a state with a clear record of widespread torture and ill-treatment, flatly denying that such practices existed appear to have been taken at face value with no serious attempts allowed

to cha l l enge t h e c l a i m s presented.”

Despite the clear lack of credible e v i d e n c e , a jury convicted Abu-Ali guilty on all counts a n d h e w a s sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Prosecutors sought life. Currently at the supermax prison in Colorado, Abu-Ali’s family continues unflinchingly in their struggle for justice.

The April 25, 2009 event, organized by the Universal Justice Foundation, took place at Northern VA Community College in Annandale.

“We will being the program with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an, and who better to recite the Qur’an then Ahmed Abu-Ali himself,” said master or ceremonies, Dar Al-Hijrah Imam Shakir Elsayed to everyone’s surprise. A video opened, with old footage of Ahmed Abu-Ali opening a program at Dar Al-Hijrah, reciting the final ayaat of Surah Al-Furqan. “For those of you who know Ahmed, I know it is difficult to hold back your tears,” said Elsayed, who knew the young Abu-Ali since he was a small child. “Ahmed is in a bind. We have one final shot at the case, his last chance

at justice ... we went through the appealeate court, to the Supreme Court, and now we have come to your court,” said Elsayed, explaining the purpose of the event.

The Abu-Ali family owes over $100,000 in legal fees. Even more is needed to continue pursuing the case.

Mariam Abu-Ali, Ahmed’s younger sister, represented her family and thanked everyone for coming. “I’m sure Ahmed would be happy to see you all,” she said. She describe Ahmed’s personality as a sister could, and read some excerpts from Ahmed’s letters home, highlighting his upbeat attitude despite being in virtual isolation 23 hours per day.

Attorney Ashraf Nubani, Abu-Ali’s first counsel and a legal advisor to the family throughout the case, said this case is particularly significant.

“Of all the cases I’ve done, none has been closer to my heart than this one. There was a real travesty of justice here. We live in a bureaucracy, and once the system takes over, you have to wait it out. Its up to us to do the work on the outside, Ahmed is doing the work on the inside,” he said, appealing to the audience to not flag in their support and persistence. “It was a shock to the legal team to [be operating] in an environment where [attorney] rights were not respected. [The prosecutors] used the testimony of [Saudi] gaurds and wardens and everything else was

based on that ...it made it very difficult for the legal team to operate,” explained Nubani. “If we don’t push these cases, no one will do it for us.”

Long time neighbor and friend, Dr. Altaf Hussain, also addressed the gathering, saying this is a time for sincerity and faith. “Surely not one family should have to suffer this alone,” he said. He extolled Abu-Ali has a studious, active youth with enormous potential to be “one of the prominent, indigenous American scholars on Islam”.

After a dinner donated by Jerusalem Restaurant and Ravi Kabob and maghrib prayer, a video played outlining the history of the case. It included actual footage of Ahmed’s forced confession in the Saudi interrogation room.

MAS Freedom Foundation’s Mahdi Bray conducted the fundraising portion of the event, raising about $30,000. “We stand on the principles of Allah, Who alone establishes the scales of justice,” he said.

To donate for Ahmed Abu-Ali’s quest for justice, send a check payable to: Universal Justice Foundation and send it to Universal Justice Foundation, P.O Box 1464, Falls Church VA 22041. Make sure to put “Ahmed Abu-Ali case” in the memo.

ABU-ALI>> continued from pg 1

Family, Community Continue Seeking Justice for Ahmed Abu-Ali


CIVIL RIGHTS

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Civil RightsWhat you don’t know can hurt you

Fusion Centers Major Barrier Between Fed, American Muslims

JUSTICE FOR ALL?Lawyers are generally taught that deliberately using race, religion or ethnicity in prosecuting a defendant violates Equal Protection rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. In light of his repeated anti-Arab and anti-Muslim statements, it seems that Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg needs to be reminded of this fundamental principle.

Gordon Kromberg, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, has made repugnant statements about Muslim women, has suggested to a jury that Muslims believe it’s religiously acceptable to lie, and

has promoted the notion that Muslims are killers due to their nature. MPAC today filed a complaint with the Office of Professional Responsibility calling on the Department of Justice to review Mr. Kromberg’s statements and to investigate the discriminatory remarks made by him about Arabs and Muslims.

Representing the U.S. government, Kromberg argued before a district judge last fall that Dr. Sami Al-Arian should not be released in to his daughter’s custody because, “in this particular culture,” a woman could not prevent her father from fleeing.

SEE: “Relentless Terrorism Prosecutor Faces Accusations of His Own” (Washington Post)


By Muslim Link Staff

A coalition of major national Muslim organizations and civil rights groups held a press conference on April 6, 2009 in Washington DC, where they appreciated statements President Obama made in Turkey

praising Islam and Muslims, while at the same time denouncing the existence of controversial intelligence gathering hubs known as “fusion centers”.

The press event was called by the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Election (AMT), an umbrella group of organizations like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Association of North

Amer ican (MANA) among several others.

C A I R E x e c u t i v e Direction Nihad Awad o p e n e d t h e p r e s s conference – held at the National Press Club – by welcoming President Obama’s remark that “the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam”. The President’s statement is a step towards trying to “restore relations with

the Muslim world that have been damaged over the last 8 years,” said Awad. A litmus test “for treatment of the Muslim world is the treatment of American Muslims ... [but] abuses of civil rights have left Muslims to

feel marginalized,” he added.

AMT Chairperson Dr. Agha Saeed set the tone for the rest of the press conference and focused on the government’s intelligence gathering activities in Muslim communities.

Refe renc ing the FBI ’s in famous

Muslim leaders with familiar civil rights partners address the press at the AMT press conference on April 6, 2009. From right, Mahdi Bray at the podium, Nihad Awad, Dr. Agha Saeed, and Reverend Graylan Hagler.

Dr. Saeed asked the new administration to stop infiltrating masajid, stop using entrapment and agent provocateurs (agents sent to incite others to commit crimes), stop targeting legitimate organizations, stop using guilt by association logic, and stop operating fusion centers.

>> BARRIER Pg 14

>> JUSTICE Pg 14

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NATIONAL NEWS

��News from Muslim Communities from accross North America

Muslim Americans Exemplify Diversity, PotentialBy Mohamed YounisMarch 2, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the first-ever nationally representative study of a randomly selected sample of Muslim Americans, Gallup reveals that Muslim Americans are the most racially diverse religious group surveyed in the United States, with African Americans making up the largest contingent within the population, at 35%. ( see Figure B)

This finding is one of many in Gallup’s report, Muslim Americans: A National Portrait, which compares the opinions of Muslim Americans with those of the general U.S. population, revealing important differences in terms of gender equality, civic engagement, life evaluation, religiosity, and more.

Gender Equality (Figure A)The report also reveals that Muslim American women are one of the most highly educated female religious groups in the United States, second only to Jewish American women. In addition, as a group, Muslim Americans have the highest degree of economic gender parity at the high and low ends of the income spectrum.

Muslim American women are equally as likely as men to say they attend mosque at least once a week, which stands in sharp contrast to the trend seen in some predominantly Muslim

countries where men are more likely than women to report attending a religious service in the last week.

Civic Engagement Among Young Muslim AmericansThe report also examines the views of Muslim American youths (aged 18 to 29) and how their levels of civic engagement compare with those of young Americans of other religious backgrounds. For example, the report finds that only 51% of young Muslim Americans are registered to vote, which is one of the lowest percentages among young Americans surveyed. (Figure E)

When asked about their political views, 39% of young Muslim Americans describe their views as moderate, 28% say they are either liberal or very liberal, while 20% consider themselves politically conservative or very conservative.

Life EvaluationGallup asked Americans across religious groups to evaluate their lives as well as their expectations of where they think they will be in five years using a ladder scale with steps numbered from 0 to 10, where “0” indicates the worst possible life and “10” indicates the best possible life. Americans classified as “thriving” say that they presently stand on step 7 or higher of the ladder and expect to stand on step 8 or higher about five years

from now. The 41% of Muslim Americans considered to be “thriving” is the lowest percentage among religious groups studied. (see Figure D)

However, when comparing percentage of “thriving” Muslim Americans with Muslims in other Western societies as well as those in predominantly Muslim countries, Muslim Americans are among the groups with the largest percentage of respondents who say they are thriving. (Of the predominantly Muslim countries surveyed, only Saudi Arabia’s population has a similarly high proportion of thriving individuals.)

Religiosity (Figure C)Concerning faith and religiosity, about 41% of Muslim Americans and Protestant Americans say they attend their place of worship at least once a week, while 37% of Catholic Americans say the same. When asked whether religion is an important part of their daily lives, 80% of Muslim Americans nswer in the affirmative. Of the religious groups studied, only Mormons (85%) are more likely than Muslims to say religion plays an important role in their lives.

More About the ReportMuslim Americans: A National Portrait reports key findings and in-depth analysis geared at informing the discourse about Muslim Americans. The Gallup Center for

Muslim Studies conducted the study as part of its Muslim West Facts project to explore Muslim Americans’ attitudes on issues ranging from emotional well-being, political vviews, the economy, and the importance of faith in the lives of Muslims living in America. This groundbreaking report sheds light on the Muslim thread of the American tapestry: a community that is frequently discussed, but often misunderstood. It captures the nuances of a Muslim American population that, although facing its equal share of challenges, remains a largely untapped resource of American talent.

Survey MethodsResults are based on daily cell phone and landline phone interviews with more than 300,000 adults, aged 18 and older, in the United States in 2008. Of the total sample, 946 respondents self-identified themselves as Muslims. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±0.2 percentage points. For results based on the sample of 946 Muslim Americans, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 adjusted for design effect. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Copyright © 2009 Gallup, Inc. All rights

Key findings from a new report by the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies

Figure A

Figure B


NATIONAL NEWS

Diversity >> continued from pg 11

Some Influential Muslim Groups Question FBI’s ActionsRevelations that the agency has been surveilling popular leaders and infiltrating mosques and schools has many organizations turning away from their post-9/11 cooperation.

By Paloma EsquivelFrom the Los Angeles Times

April 20, 2009

As they sipped tea and nibbled on dates, more than 100 men and women listened to a litany of speakers sounding the same message: The FBI is not your friend.

“We’re here today to say our mosques are off limits,” Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for Greater Los Angeles, told the crowd last month at an Anaheim mosque.

“Our Koran is off limits,” Ayloush said. “Our youth, who they try to radicalize, are off limits. Now is the time to tell them, ‘We’re not going to let this happen anymore.’ “

Such strong words from a man who once was a vocal advocate of ties with federal law enforcement was yet one more signal that the fragile relationship between Muslim American groups and the FBI is being tested.

In the months and years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, FBI officials met privately with Muslim leaders, assuring them that a spate of hate crimes would be vigorously investigated and at the same time asking for help in the campaign against terrorism. Local leaders promised to encourage cooperation.

But even as relations warmed, a series of revelations -- including allegations that the FBI sent an informant into a mosque in Orange County, surveilled community leaders and sent an agent to UC Irvine -- caused some to begin questioning the FBI’s real intentions.

Now, the leaders of several Muslim organizations say they feel betrayed. Because Orange County has been at the center of many of the revelations, local leaders have taken a lead in challenging the FBI, but the issues are resonating nationwide.

On Sunday, a coalition of the nation’s largest Muslim organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Society of North America, issued a statement demanding that the Obama administration address FBI actions, including what they describe as the “infiltration of mosques,” the use of “agent provocateurs to trap unsuspecting Muslim youth” and the “deliberate vilification” of the council.

“It reached a level where we felt we had to do something,” said Agha Saeed, chairman of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections. “The FBI is doing things which are not healthy. They are creating divisions and conflict, creating a totally negative, Islamophobic image of Muslims in America.”

Over the years, there’s been a gradual erosion

of trust between the groups and the FBI. Months ago, the agency told local leaders it was suspending relations with the council, one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in the country.

Since then, things have unraveled rapidly. Like other Muslim communities in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, many in Orange County -- home to more than 100,000 Muslim Americans, dozens of mosques and several prominent Muslim community organizations -- worried about FBI investigations.

The FBI, in turn, believed terrorists were either trying to get to Southern California to carry out attacks or were already here. To gain intelligence and demystify the agency’s operations, the FBI met with local leaders and formed a committee that met monthly.

“In the post-9/11 world, the Arab American and Muslim community became one of those places where we said, ‘It’s worth making the extra effort,’ “ said FBI spokesman John Miller, who is also in charge of the agency’s national community outreach program.

Early on, Ayloush said the FBI was acting in good faith and working with the community as “partners rather than suspects.”

But the delicate relationship soon began to fray.

In 2004, the FBI and immigration officials arrested the popular head of an Anaheim

mosque; he was held on immigration-related charges for two years until a judge ordered his release pending deportation. In 2006, an FBI agent was quoted as telling a business group in Newport Beach that the agency was monitoring Muslims at local universities. A year later, UC Irvine students said an FBI agent conducting an investigation at the school assaulted a Muslim student with his car near the site of a demonstration.

On a national level, there was the disclosure that FBI agents had been secretly monitoring radiation levels at mosques in search of radioactive bombs. More troubling were news reports that Muslims had been asked to become informants or face deportation.

The breaking point came in February with the revelation that the FBI had sent an informant to an Irvine mosque to collect evidence of jihadist rhetoric and other allegedly extremist acts by a Tustin man who attended prayers there.

To some, the incidents added up to this conclusion: The government was targeting all Muslims. Miller strongly disputes that contention, saying that the agency does not go on “fishing expeditions.”

“What we investigate is people,” he said. “If we develop information on a person, that investigation may take us different places

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E


>> FBI Pg 17

ADVERTISEMENTS TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200912

Health & FamilyHEALTH & FAMILY

www.IslamicBookstore.comwww.IslamicBookstore.comwww.IslamicBookstore.com2048 Lord Baltimore Dr, Baltimore, MD 21244-2501 USA | Tel: 410-265-0020 ext.15 | Fax: 410-265-1233

By Anum ShamiMuslim Link Contributing Writer

Sleepless nights and constant worrying plague the life of every parent working hard to raise their children on the path of Allah . It recently dawned upon me that you can never really understand what it means to be a parent until you begin to take that journey yourself. This journey is definitely a blessing from Allah but it does come with its tests and hardships.

Childhood: Tender Love and CareMaybe it’s how Allah created us…but as a child we tend to take a lot more than we can ever give back. Starting from when we are in our mother’s womb, children rely on the mother’s intake of nutrients for their own development and growth. Even after birth we depend on our parents to provide us with nourishment and comfort. A child needs human love and contact in his/her early stages of life for a balanced emotional, mental, and physical life. Studies show that infants who have minimal human contact in orphanages and hospitals tend to lose weight and health more quickly than those who have this great blessing. Growing up we continue to rely on our parents for shelter, food, money,

education to name a few of the blessings. All these are favors of Allah upon us. Many times we don’t realize the important role our parents play in our lives.

Parenthood: Sacrifices, sacrifices, sacrifices!Providing for their young is an instinct Allah put into the hearts of birds, bears and humans alike. Allah instills an unconditional love in a parent. He/she is willing to risk everything to protect the child and give him/her the tools necessary to achieve the best in both worlds. The intensity of this love cannot even be fathomed until a child begins to transition into parenthood themselves. Then, it is as if life is now worth living only for your offspring. Their happiness is your happiness and their grief becomes your grief. But what parents should worry most about is the Akhirah of their children. Allah has put us on this Earth with the purpose of worshiping Him alone and attaining His Pleasure. Parents have the responsibility of guiding their flock (family) to the pastures of truth and piety.

Childhood: Respecting Your Parents = Reward “Respect your parents” is repeated constantly in our Jummah Khutbahs but do we take it to

heart? We all know that when we disrespect our parents, we are committing a major sin, but do we realize what this does for our Hereafter? A reminder to every child, specifically to the teenagers:

“And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and that you shall show goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) “Ugh” nor chide them, and speak to them a generous word.” (17:23)

A small hint of disrespect may tip our scales, leading us to Hellfire. But regardless of the consequences, we owe our parents for the immense sacrifices they have done for us with open and unselfish hearts. The least we can do in return is value them, display affection and unconditional kindness.

“Take them under your wing, out of mercy, with due humility.” (17:24)

Parenthood: Raising a Pious Child = Reward Your child’s first words, trophy for memorization of Juz 30, and college degree are the little rewards of good parenting that you receive in the Dunya, making all the

struggles seem worth the effort. But the immense reward of raising a child on the religion of Allah goes beyond this world. The rewards of parenthood can begin from the acceptance of your duas as related by Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said, “Three supplications are answered without a doubt: the supplication of someone who is oppressed, the supplication of someone on a journey, and the supplication of parents for their children” all the way to attaining the Gardens of Paradise and the pleasure of Allah.

Pondering on the cycle of life, I can only be ever more grateful to Allah . May Allah grant all of our parents the highest levels of Jannah for the effort and dedication they have put into nurturing and raising us. May Allah bless our hearts with love and mercy for our parents and protect us from the dangers involved with disrespecting them. May He give us the strength and faith to raise pious and obedient children. May Allah provide nourishment and love for the children who have lost their parents and bless this Ummah with leaders that will take Islam to the heights of Deen and Truth.

Childhood to Parenthood: Transitional Reflections

Reflections on our lives and society


COINTELPRO program from the 1960’s – a slew of counter intelligence strategies that involved such illegal acts as committing crimes and pinning the blame on groups deemed hostile to the government – Dr. Saeed said the essence of current COINTELPRO-like government tactics are: 1) to create alternative leadership in the target community by promoting certain people over others, 2) to undermine legitimate community organizations by attacking their credibility, 3) controlling the agenda, 4) implementing divide and conquer, 5) denying mass communication, and 6) bleeding the community of financial resources through on-going litigation and legal expenses.

Dr. Saeed asked the new administration to stop infiltrating masajid, stop using entrapment and agent provocateurs (agents sent to incite others to commit crimes), stop targeting legitimate organizations, stop using guilt by association logic, and stop operating fusion centers.

MAS Freedom Foundation Executive

Director Mahdi Bray stressed the need for President Obama to actualize his statements on engagement with the Muslim community. The President has yet to visit a masjid in America. Bray also said on-going intelligence gathering techniques are “deeply disturbing” and that Muslims are “deeply concerned” about the FBI’s treatment of CAIR.

The FBI suspended relations with CAIR earlier this year for reasons that are yet unclear, but many watching the situation think the break is due to CAIR being an “un-indicted co-conspirator” listed in the Holy Land Foundation case files. Most national Islamic organizations were also listed as “un-indicted co-conspirators” including the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

An April 27, 2009 story from the Detroit News reads: “The FBI has had to limit its formal contact with CAIR field offices until certain issues are addressed by CAIR’s national headquarters,” said Assistant FBI Director John Miller, concerning action that was taken, but not announced, last autumn. “CAIR’s leadership is aware of this. Beyond that, we have no further comment.”

In response to the FBI’s suspending relations, the AMT issued a statement

threatening to suspend relations with the FBI. As of this report, AMT has not called on an actual suspension of communication or cooperation.

Attorney Mara Verheyden-Hilliard spoke at length on the topic of fusion centers – federal institutions operating under the Department of Homeland Security that aggregate public and private data on individuals and organizations.

The 58 centers spread across the country were set-up for the purpose of improving the sharing of anti-terrorism intelligence. One is in Virginia.

Verheyden-Hilliard, the co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice – said fusion centers co-opt local law enforcement and everyday citizens to gather data and tips on anything they deem suspicious. Groups like student and church organizations, Girl Scouts, voter registration activists, protest marchers and individuals like tourists and bus riders have had their activity entered into fusion center databases.

Americans are not incensed at the privacy and civil rights violations fusion centers bring, said Verheyden-Hilliard, in large part

because mainstream America is intimidated by law enforcement.

“People need to not accept the mystique about law enforcement ... this hands off attitude is not appropriate [because] people’s lives are being destroyed. When [these rights violations] get exposed, [only] some statements are made about remedies and changes. We are expected to write a big blank check due to the fear of unspecified threats,” said Verheyden-Hilliard.

Civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) say there is essentially no oversight over fusion center operations. “Fusion centers are looking for pre-texts to justify their existence, and they are going to find it even if there are none,” said Verheyden-Hilliard. “We are telling people to stand up and demand answers and provide oversight.”

Reverend Graylan Hagler, North Carolina State Senator and CAIR Chairman of the Board Larry Shaw, and Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) representative Tariq Rahman also addressed the press.

BARRIER >> continued from pg 8

CONTINUED

should not call it a war, but a massacre. It’s a more accurate description,” said Finkelstein, whose academic career is full of debating and examining the credibility of Israeli and Zionist claims.

After going through some late history of occupied Palestine, Finkelstein explained his views on Israeli motivations for the Gaza

massacre.

He said Israeli military strategy is pinned on “deterrence”, the ability to make enemies believe your strength and ability to over run them militarily is without doubt. In the summer of 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon and was pushed back by Hezbollah after over 1-month of air raids and shelling Lebanon’s cities. The Arab world viewed the eventual Israeli pullback as a clean victory for Hezbollah, and so Israel’s “deterrence factor” was greatly diminished. The Gaza massacre was Israel’s way of re-establishing that

deterrence factor, displaying its ability to kill and destroy at will, explained Finkelstein.

Another reason for the Gaza massacres according to Finkelstein was Hamas’ willingness to negotiate.

“Israel dreads Paletinian reasonableness, and it wants Palestinian inflexibility” so it can continue to have an excuse to keep the militarized state of affairs in place, taking land and exerting its force at will.

As Finkelstein quoted source after source

from Israeli military leaders to Israeli newspapers, many in the audience shook their heads in anger, sadness, or disbelief.

The Israeli-Palestine issue is the “least complicated, least intricate conflict in the world today. The two state settlement is meaningless ... Palestinians can get a phone booth and hoist a flag over it and [they] will call it a two state solution,” said the Professor, who took several questions at the end of the two-hour program.

GAZA >> continued from pg 5

When Al-Arian’s Tampa attorney, Jack Fernandez, asked Kromberg to delay the defendant’s transfer 30 days until after the Islamic religious holidays of Ramadan, Kromberg responded: “If they can kill each other during Ramadan, they can appear before the grand jury. All they can’t do is eat before sunset. I believe Mr. Al-Arian’s request is part of the attempted Islamization of the American Justice System. I am not going to put off Dr. Al-Arian’s grand jury appearance just to assist in what is becoming

the Islamization of America.”

SEE: “Al-Arian Attorney Charges Bias” (St. Petersburg Times)

The motion released by Dr. Al-Arian’s attorneys calling in to question the bias of Prosecutor Kromberg states that Kromberg joked about the torture of a Virginia man name of Ahmed Abu Ali, who was then being held in Saudi Arabia. The suspect’s lawyer, Salim Ali, said that when Mr. Kromberg was asked about Abu Ali’s prospects for returning to America, Kromberg smirked and stated “He’s no good for us here. He has no fingernails left.” Kromberg later stated in a declaration that he had no recollection of making the statement.

In the trial of Virginia cancer researcher and Muslim religious leader Ali al-Timimi, who was accused of exhorting others to wage war against America by joining the Taliban, Kromberg said, “If you are a kaffir, Timimi believes in time of war, he’s supposed to lie to you.”

Discriminatory statements have no place in our courts and Mr. Kromberg has become a stain on the great standing and reputation of the Department of Justice and the American judicial system. As the Supreme Court in Yick Wo v. Hopkins (118 U.S. 356, 1886) stated over a century ago, when “laws are applied and administered by public authority with an evil eye and an unequal hand, so as practically

to make unjust and illegal discriminations between persons in similar circumstances, material to their rights, the denial of equal justice is still within the prohibition of the Constitution.”

We are confident that Attorney General Holder will make clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate its attorneys making generalizations about members of a particular race, religion or ethnic group in our courts. [Source: Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) – April 24 2009]

[CONTACT: Government Relations Director Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, 202-547-7701, [email protected]]

JUSTICE >> continued from pg 8


ISLAM

��The way of life given to us by our Creator and practiced by our Messenger Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam

Using Scripture for Our Own Petty EndsBy Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

A woman was chairing a conference. One of the male participants found her infuriating, especially the way she was involved in the details of the proceedings, regulated the time of the speakers, the seating arrangements, summarily concluded difficult points of the discussion, and was pretentious in her attempts at Arabic fluency.

When it came time for him to speak, he blurted out: “A people will not succeed who put a woman in charge of their affairs!”

Now, our purpose right now is not to discuss the meaning of this hadîth or the rulings that are derived from it. What concerns us is the way this man used a hadîth to vent his personal frustrations. Is it right to take cheap shots at others using the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him)?

On another occasion, a man had a disagreement with his friend – who was also his cousin and neighbor – over a money issue. They had been involved in some business venture that failed. A lot of money was lost and a lot of big hopes when up in smoke. Sadly, the two men had a falling out over it.

Some time later, a family function brought

them together again. The time for prayer arrived, and the one cousin stepped forward to lead the prayer. This was nothing out of the ordinary, since he held a university degree in Islamic studies.

What did he recite in prayer? In the first unit, he recited: “Do not think that Allah is heedless about what the wrongdoers are doing. He but gives them respite against a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror!” [Sûrah Ibrâhîm: 42]

In the second unit, he recited: “Did you not see how Allah dealt with the companions of the elephants!” [Sûrah al-Fîl: 1]

What he was hinting at was blatantly obvious to everyone. At the time, there was a civil case pending in court between the two cousins regarding their business dispute. Now religion was being brought into it, as one of the former friends hurled verses of the Qur’ân at the other, verses that had nothing to do with their dispute.

Allah does not permit us to use His verses in this way. They were revealed for a purpose, and for their intended meanings, not for us to use them out of context in our personal squabbles. They were certainly not revealed to give us a broader palate of insults to

enrage others with. Indeed, the Qur’ân is supposed to be a comfort and a healing for the believers.

After prayer, this cousin was still not finished. While they were all still sitting down in their prayer positions, he took the opportunity to exhort them on how some of those who pray, their prayers do not increase them except in estrangement from Allah. –(incidentally, that statement is not authentically attributed to the Prophet) – especially those who seize the wealth of others unjustly, and do so under false pretenses, and..., and ...

This is a violation of the trust that we assume when we acquire religious knowledge. It is a betrayal of that trust to take the verses of the Qur’ân and the hadîth that Allah blesses us to know and use them to wage personal arguments. This becomes all the worse when it causes those of lesser Islamic knowledge to retaliate by rejecting the verses themselves or by condemning them.

Allah tells us, speaking about the polytheists: “And do not revile those they pray to besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance.” [Sûrah al-An`âm: 108]

To keep our hearts pure, we must never forget the importance of conveying Allah’s message, and the great trust that this entails. It is essential that we endear people’s hearts to Islam, to Allah, and to the Prophet (peace be upon him). This means we must never co-opt the meaning of the scriptures to our own petty ends, to score points in our arguments. Religious truths should not be brought down to such a level.

Allah says: “Be not in haste (O Muhammad) with the Qur’an before its revelation to you is completed, but say, ‘O my Lord! advance me in knowledge’. “ [Sûrah TâHâ: 114]

Source: islamtoday.com

It is a betrayal of that trust to take the verses of the Qur’ân and the hadîth that Allah blesses us to know and use them to wage personal arguments.

Stuck in Traffic? -- Remember Allah… and ThinkBy Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

All too often, we find ourselves waiting for ages at the doctor’s office, or in traffic jams, or for that business meeting to start. We spend most of that time stewing in our frustration, complaining about our dwindling reserves of patience, and accusing everyone else of being inconsiderate, incompetent, or both.

We fail to see how valuable that time is in our busy lives. We always hear the advice that we should remember Allah more often, especially in our idle time, but what good advice it is. Remembering Allah is what en-livens our hearts and souls, brings us peace of mind, and elevates our status with Allah. It cleanses us of our sins -- and it makes our

Lord pleased with us.

Allah praises those who remember Him. He tells us to remember Him as much as we can, morning and night. He promises us that if we remember Him, He will remember us in turn. He tells us that the reason He commands us to observe the five daily obligatory prayers is for His remembrance.

Certainly, the remembrance of Allah is the best way we can exploit idle time, but that time has other uses for us as well. We can take that time to think. Exercising the gray matter in our heads is no less important than remembering Allah.

vIndeed, reason is the full partner of Allah’s remembrance. Uttering Allah’s remembranc-

es on our tongues is merely a physical activity if our minds are detached from what we are saying. When our minds and our tongues are focused together on Allah’s remembrance, that is light upon light.

“And Allah guides to His light whomever He wishes.” [Sûrah al-Nûr: 35]

The Qur’ân speaks often in praise of thought and contemplation. For instance, Allah says: “ Truly, in this, is a Message of remembrance to people of understanding. “ [Sûrah al-Zu-mar: 21]

He says: “Herein verily is a lesson for those who discern.” [Sûrah Âl Ìmrân: 13]

He also says: “Most surely there are signs in

this for those endowed with understanding.” [Sûrah TâHâ: 54 & 128]

Likewise, the Qur’ân censures those who neglect their minds. Allah says: “And how many Signs in the heavens and the Earth do they pass by? Yet they turn away from them! “ [Sûrah Yûsuf: 105]

He says: “They have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are worse in errors; these are the heedless ones.” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 179]


>> TRAFFIC Pg 17

FATAAWA

Questions about Islamic life and practice

��Istikhara for Marriage

Question: I am considering a proposal to marry a man of good religion and character. I have prayed the istikhârah prayer and I faced no difficulties, problems or barriers. However, I am not sure I am happy and satisfied with the idea of sharing my life with him, since I do not feel attracted to him. He is not my type. I am confused. Is this a sign from the istikhârah? What am I expected to do in this case?

Answered by the Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh ̀ Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî

Whom you marry is your decision to make. You are free to marry whomever you want among the men who are lawful for you to marry. You are not obliged to marry anyone you are unhappy about, even if they are of good character.

Please know that the istikhârah prayer does not obligate you to any course of action.

If we look carefully at the supplication we are offering to Allah, we are asking Him to make what we are asking happen for us if it is good for us and to prevent it from happening if it is bad for us.

Therefore, you are not obligated to go ahead with the decision you prayed about or to refrain from it, as long as the decision itself is about a permissible course of action.

(Note: It should go without saying that if the action is obligatory, then there is no need to offer the istikhârah prayer about it, since we must fulfill our religious obligations. Likewise, if the course of action is sinful, we do not offer the istikhârah prayer about it, since we must always refrain from sinful behavior.)

It is, therefore, not necessary for a person to get any indication after the istikhârah prayer. It does not necessitate that we will have a dream, feeling, or other inward indication. However, if we develop a strong feeling for or against something after praying istikhârah, we may choose to act upon that feeling. We are not obligated to act upon it.

We simply go ahead with what we think is best, after having asked Allah to make what is best for us take place. And Allah knows best.----------------------------------------------------

Does Istikhara Necessitate a Sign?

Question: I have a big decision to make, and I have been offering the istikhârah prayer before going to bed every night now for a week, but

my istikhârah prayer is not being answered. My question is: After a person prays istikhârah how, are we supposed to know if the thing is good for us or not? Aren’t we supposed to see a dream or get a feeling about the situation?

Answered by the Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh ̀ Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî

It is Sunnah to offer the istikhârah prayer whenever we have a major decision in life.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If one of you thinks to embark upon something, he should pray two units of prayer aside from the obligatory prayer...” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]

It is not necessary for the person who offers the istikhârah prayer to get any indication afterwards. Istikhârah is about asking Allah to intervene directly in our affair. This is clear from what we say in the supplication for istikhârah:

...O Allah! If you know this affair to be best for me in my religion, my livelihood, and in the final outcome (or: in my immediate life and my future one), then decree it for me and facilitate it for me and then bless me in it. And if You know this affair to be worse for me in my religion, my livelihood, and in the final outcome (or: in my immediate life and my future one), then turn it away from me and turn me away from it and decree for me what is good, wherever it may be, and then cause me to be contented with it.If we look carefully at the supplication we are offering to Allah, we are asking Him to make what we are asking happen for us if it is good for us and to prevent it from happening if it is bad for us. This does not necessitate that we will have a dream, feeling, or other inward indication. However, if we develop a strong feeling for or against something after praying istikhârah, we may choose to act upon that feeling.

Also, contrary to popular belief, sleeping after the istikhârah prayer is neither required nor recommended. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the prayer. And Allah knows best.----------------------------------------------------

Divulging Husband-Wife Secrets

Question: What does Islam say about speaking to others about the details of one’s sexual relationship with one’s husband or wife?

Answered by Sheikh Fahd b. Àbd Allah al-Sulamî

Marriage is a partnership built upon

cooperation and trust, as well as love. Each spouse is like a garment to the other.

Allah says: “They are your garments and ye are their garments.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 187]

This is why it is impermissible in Islam for either spouse to divulge the secrets of their private relationship to others. Indeed, they should even keep their marital problems confined to their home as much as possible, only taking such matters to others when they truly need the help of a third party to resolve their difficulties.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the world is a provision. He informed the men folk that the best provision in the world for them is a virtuous wife. His description of such a wife included that she safeguards her husband’s person and his wealth.

The secrets of intimate life are among the most critical. Neither spouse should divulge to others what takes place in the intimacy of the marriage bed. To do so would be a deception and a betrayal.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “On the Day of Judgment, some of the worst of people in their status with Allah will be a man who has intimacy with his wife and then spreads her secrets.” [Sahîh Muslim (2597 & 2598)]

We also have where Asmâ’ bint Yazîd relates: I was once in the company of a group of men and women seated in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). He said to them: “Perhaps a man will mention what he did with his wife, and perhaps a woman will mention what she did with her husband.”

The people sat in embarrassed silence until I spoke up and said: “Indeed, O Messenger of Allah, they do so quite often.”

He said: “That is just like a male devil meeting a female devil and having intercourse while people look on.” [This is related in Musnad Ahmad (6/456). Al-Albanî says in Âdâb al-Zafâf (1/71): “This hadîth, with the help of its supporting narrations, is authentic (sahîh) or at least good (hasan)] And Allah knows best.----------------------------------------------------

Complete the Prayer or Answer Parents?

Question: If a worshipper is observing a

formal prayer and is summoned by his mother or father, what should he do?

Answered by Sheikh Fahd b. Àbd Allah al-Sulamî

If the formal prayer being observed is one of the five obligatory prayers, then the worshipper should not break off praying. Since the prayer is obligatory, it must be completed.

The worshipper may say “subhân Allah” out loud so that the parent will be aware that he or she is praying. The worshipper should also offer the rest of the prayer quickly and not prolong it. Once the prayer is completed, the worshipper should hasten to answer the request of his or her mother or father.

If the worshipper is offering a voluntary prayer – even one of the Sunnah prayers associated with the five obligatory prayers – then the situations differs. If the worshipper can make his or her parents aware that he or she is praying by saying “subhân Allah” and if the prayer can be completed in a very short time, then the worshipper can complete the prayer quickly and rush to oblige his or her parent.

Otherwise, the worshipper should break off the prayer and heed the parent’s call. In this case, there are two obligations to consider:

1. The obligation of completing a prayer that one has entered into.2.The obligation of honoring the request of one’s father or mother.

In this case, the second obligation takes precedence. When two religious obligations are in conflict with each other, the most certain of those obligations takes precedence. There is unanimous agreement that one must obey one’s parents. Scholars disagree regarding the obligation of finishing a voluntary prayer that one has already started. Therefore, the obligation that is certain takes precedence, and that obligation is obedience to one’s mother and father.

In Sahîh al-Bukhârî, we have the well-known story of Jurayj. He busied himself with voluntary worship and did not heed his mother’s call. His mother made a supplication against him for this and Allah accepted that mother’s supplication. And Allah knows best.


SALAH TIMES

-- to their home, their place of business . . . and yes, if . . . they go to a mosque, the investigation may take us to the mosque. That is part of what we do.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations was named in 2007, along with hundreds of other organizations and individuals, as an unindicted co-conspirator in a case against the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation,

which the government accused of funneling money to terrorists.

As a result, the FBI suspended relations with the council this year.

“That is not to suggest that anyone or everyone associated with CAIR has any kind of taint,” Miller said, adding that “there are some issues we would like to know more about from the leaders at CAIR’s headquarters.”

But at the recent meeting at the Anaheim mosque, the tone was one of frustration and

anger.

Speakers suggested that ordinary Muslim Americans need to protect themselves from overzealous FBI agents.

“You don’t get brownie points for speaking to them,” said Ameena Qazi, a lawyer for the council. “They don’t go back to the offi ce and check off your civic engagement or your patriotism. . . . We are a very open and hospitable community, but we shouldn’t be naive.”

Attendees applauded Qazi’s statement, but it was a mea culpa that most moved them.

“We goofed up, guys,” said Shakeel Syed, head of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. “We brought them here. We brought them to our mosques, to our meetings. . . . We have to hold ourselves responsible. That’s why it’s so important to dig our heels into the ground and say we’re not going to take this lying down, we’re going to fi ght.”

He got the loudest applause of the night.

It is authenticated that al-Hasan said: “Con-templation [on Allah] for an hour is better than observing the late night prayer.” [Mu-sanaf Ibn Abî Shaybah]

Likewise, Allah says: “ Those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defi ance of right - them will I turn away from My signs: Even if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them; and if they see the way of right con-duct, they will not adopt it as the way; but if they see the way of error, that is the way they

will adopt. For they have rejected our signs, and have failed to take warning from them.” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 146]

Al-Hasan commented on this verse saying: “Allah will keep them (thereafter) from re-fl ecting on His signs.”

A man asked Umm al-Dardâ’ after the death of her husband Abû al-Dardâ’ how he used to worship Allah. She said: “His day was spent in the wilderness of contemplation.”

The caliph Ùmar b. Àbd al-Àzîz said: “Thinking about Allah’s blessings is one of the best forms of worship.”

When we are faced with idle time where we have no choice but to wait, we should use that time to think. Thought is the means by which we arrive at understanding, by which we discern the right course of action, obtain insights, and critically assess other people’s arguments and claims.

Thought is a voluntary, deliberate act. We direct our thoughts where we will. We apply them to what concerns us. Thought is the source of our creativity, our invention, and our enterprise.

How many mistakes would we avoid and how many of our problems we would solve

if we just took the time to think. Therefore, when that time is given to us, we should not put it to waste.

In Islam, we fi nd that religious and legal ac-countability requires full sanity and reason. The Qur’ân was revealed to those who would think, ponder it, and understand it.

Allah says: “Surely We have revealed it an Arabic Quran that you may comprehend it.” [Sûrah Yûsuf: 2] Source: islamtoday.com

TRAFFIC >> continued from pg 15

FBI >> continued from pg 11


Salaah times for 6 Jumada Al-Awwal - 28 Jumada Al-Akhir 1430 A.H., 1430

Day May Hijri Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha

Fri 1 6/5 4:47 6:09 1:05 4:55 8:01 9:24

Sat 2 7/5 4:45 6:08 1:05 4:55 8:02 9:25

Sun 3 8/5 4:44 6:07 1:05 4:55 8:03 9:26

Mon 4 9/5 4:42 6:05 1:05 4:55 8:04 9:28

Tue 5 10/5 4:41 6:04 1:05 4:56 8:05 9:29

Wed 6 11/5 4:39 6:03 1:05 4:56 8:06 9:30

Thu 7 12/5 4:38 6:02 1:05 4:56 8:07 9:32

Fri 8 13/5 4:37 6:01 1:05 4:56 8:08 9:33

Sat 9 14/5 4:35 6:00 1:05 4:56 8:09 9:34

Sun 10 15/5 4:34 5:59 1:05 4:57 8:10 9:35

Mon 11 16/5 4:32 5:58 1:05 4:57 8:11 9:37

Tue 12 17/5 4:31 5:57 1:05 4:57 8:12 9:38

Wed 13 18/5 4:30 5:56 1:05 4:57 8:13 9:39

Thu 14 19/5 4:29 5:55 1:05 4:58 8:13 9:40

Fri 15 20/5 4:27 5:54 1:05 4:58 8:14 9:42

Sat 16 21/5 4:26 5:53 1:05 4:58 8:15 9:43

Sun 17 22/5 4:25 5:53 1:05 4:58 8:16 9:44

Mon 18 23/5 4:24 5:52 1:05 4:58 8:17 9:45

Tue 19 24/5 4:23 5:51 1:05 4:59 8:18 9:47

Wed 20 25/5 4:22 5:50 1:05 4:59 8:19 9:48

Thu 21 26/5 4:21 5:49 1:05 4:59 8:20 9:49

Fri 22 27/5 4:20 5:49 1:05 4:59 8:20 9:50

Sat 23 28/5 4:19 5:48 1:05 5:00 8:21 9:51

Sun 24 29/5 4:18 5:47 1:05 5:00 8:22 9:52

Mon 25 1/6 4:17 5:47 1:05 5:00 8:23 9:54

Tue 26 2/6 4:16 5:46 1:05 5:00 8:24 9:55

Wed 27 3/6 4:15 5:46 1:05 5:01 8:25 9:56

Thu 28 4/6 4:14 5:45 1:06 5:01 8:25 9:57

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


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6/26/09

EDITORS DESK

TML Supports

Muslim Dictators?

As salaamu alaikum,

I feel compelled to write this letter in response to an article by Hodari Abdul-Ali in the April 3, 2009 issue titled “Hands Off Sudan”.

It was quite disheartening to read an article in my favorite Islamic newspaper supporting an illegitimate military dictator who is responsible for the deaths, torture and rape of thousands of Muslims in the region of Darfur.

Whether or not a non-Muslim court such the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for the dictator Omar Al-Bashir is of no consequence to me. We all know he will never be dragged out his mega palace (paid for with the people of Sudan’s oil wealth), short of a coup or invasion. What is of consequence to me, as should be to all Muslims, is that his government has conducted itself with tyranny and oppression and out-right ethnic cleansing of Black Muslims in Darfur, which is genocide.

To simply blame this all on Israel and racist courts in Europe is not the Muslim way. The fact is we need to clean up our own house before pointing fingers at others. Mr. Abdul-Ali downplays the death toll figures of 200-400 thousand dead in Darfur to 10-70 thousand dead. What a twisted argument on behalf of Omar Al-Bashir. Is not one Muslim death, torture, or rape on his orders enough to bring him to Islamic justice, let alone 10-70 thousand Mr. Abdul-Ali seems to believe in? The Jews kill couple thousand Muslims in Gaza and we are outraged, but a so-called Muslim government can kill, torture, and rape 10-70 thousand Muslims with full support of the world ummah? Do we really wonder why we as Muslims today are so weak? For Allah t’Ala says He will not change our situation until we change our hearts. So as long as we are okay with Muslims slaughtering other Muslims based on race, pride and greed, then we deserve every fitnah cast upon our miserable heads until the Day of Judgment. Otherwise, we should stop complaining about the non-Muslims while being complacent to the crimes committed in our own house.

It is a sad day when the non-Muslims stand up for the Muslims while the Muslims turn their

backs on each other. If we don’t like the ICC, then we should stop demanding they arrest Bush and Olmert. We should set up our own international Islamic court and arrest every dictator and perpetrator of war crimes, both Muslim and non-Muslim, thus showing the world the superior justice of Islam.

Abdullah DeenMaryland

---------Wa’alykum as salaam Brother Abdullah and thanks for the letter. It is refreshing to see you are concerned about the Muslim ummah and that you are keen on looking at things with justice and equity., We can assure you that neither TML nor our contributor Brother Hodari Abdul-Ali is a friend to dictators and kings in the Muslim world. Our view is that the “Hands Off Sudan” rally was more about protecting the national integrity of Sudan than shielding its leader from prosecution. We print the news, and the ummah can judge people based on their actions. In the end, all leaders will be accountable in front of Allah for the immense crimes they are committing either directly or through tacit approval. -- TML

Lessons from the ISA Planning Commission HearingLast month we reported on the March 18, 2009 public hearing for the Islamic Saudi Academy’s permit to build a new campus in Fairfax County.

The hearing – in front of the county’s Planning Commission – came amidst an on-going misinformation campaign against the school by extreme right-wing Islamophobes. These individuals and groups seek to portray the ISA, by far the largest full-time Islamic school in the region, as a terrorism breeding ground. If these Islamophobes could scare the neighbors and members of the Planning Commission, maybe they could prevent ISA from establishing their new campus.

They mobilized, and ISA’s supporters mobilized. On March 18, about a dozen xenophobic neo-conservatives were literally surrounded by an overflow crowd of 600-plus ISA supporters. The presence of ISA’s parents, staff, alumni, and friends was overwhelming, and the school’s detractors went away to rant on their blogs about how Northern Virginia is on the road to sharia law.

The marathon hearing ended at 2:45 AM. It was a 6-hour crash course on how our ever growing masajid and community organizations need to engage with neighbors

who might be suffering anxiety as they pass by our over crowded parking lots.

Every masjid and most all Islamic schools are growing rapidly. Juma prayer services are spilling into the foyers and often into the streets. Late coming worshipers block neighboring driveways. Attendees exit the masjid in long congested convoys. Our masajid need more space. Regardless if we push our walls out, or if we pack up and look for a new location, we will always be bound by the public will – our local governments and our neighboring fellow citizens.

There are many lessons our masjid leaders should take from this hearing. Here are some of them.

Numbers have an impact, especially when it comes to local politics. With elections often won by a few hundred votes, state and county officials will certainly pay attention to a community that can bring several hundred people to a weeknight public hearing. The huge ISA turnout told politicians as well as ISA’s opponents that the school community was passionate, engaged, amazingly diverse, and large.

When it comes to growth, neighbor issues are

mostly the same all around the region. At the top of the list is traffic. Metro area residents are sick of congestion, and they certainly don’t want it at their curbside. Life safety is also an often used term when neighbors take the microphone. Masajid – like churches and any other community institution – bring more people to the area. More people means more water waste, more trash, and – in the case of a high school --- more teenagers. Residents of rural areas like the Pope’s Head road area of Fairfax also fear losing the rustic, historic character of their locale. These themes were repeated by most of the neighbors opposing the ISA building permit application.

A Muslim community is an overwhelmingly positive addition to any area. With extremely low incidents of crime among American Muslims, a high emphasis on family, moral values, and education, and with a strong incentive to be ‘accepted’ by the public, Muslims are often surprised by opposition to their attempts to move in. Too often we are quick to assume all opposition stems from a hatred for Islam. This is the case only with a fringe segment of America. Otherwise, the neighbors have real concerns and those


EDITORS DESK

Editor-in-Chief:Minhaj Hasan

Office Manager :Jann McClary

News Desk:Umm ‘Abdullah (Events)

Distribution:Elwaleed Elshowya

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Sharia Advisors:Sheikh Salah as-SawiSafi Khan

The Muslim Link (TML) is published every other Friday on a Bi-Weekly Schedule 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 information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML.

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Readers Write

>> Lessons Pg 25

OPINIONS

concerns need to be addressed.

At the ISA hearing, traffic concerns were met with data. A series of traffic studies is always part of any land use application. Understanding that data – what it proves and disproves – is critical for masjid leaders. Understanding waste water requirements and surveys showing the ecological footprint the masjid will make is also key. Often neighbor fears and anxieties disappear when experts show they are unfounded. On the other hand, test and survey data can also be manipulated.

The Muslim community needs to get more experts and engineers on planning boards and committees were the real roadblocks are set-up or removed. With Muslims working in local government, we can thoroughly

grasp ordinances and how best to satisfy them while also satisfying our neighbors. One of the ISA parents who testified at the hearing was a traffic engineer who works for Fairfax County. Although he recused himself from the ISA traffic study, his testimony was powerful. Because of his knowledge of school traffic around the county, he was able to identify and mention at the hearing a case very similar to ISA. Identifying similar applications in county records that were approved will help us prevent discrimination and special treatment.

Letter writing helps, but only when the people or organizations writing the letters are meaningful. It does not help to get every attendee at juma’ prayer to write a letter to the planning board to accept the masjid or school application just because “we need more space”. Every letter has to speak to issues raised by planning board officials or neighbors. Letters should give solid arguments with proof.

Emotions die when engineers and planners sit around the blue prints. One excellent argument by Imam Shakir Elsayed at the ISA hearing was the amount of money ISA saves the county. Since Fairfax spends about $7,000 per year per child in the public school system, ISA saved the county about $80 million over the last 25 years. To politicians and the public, money is forever a strong argument. We need to detail and exhaustively enumerate all the benefits the public and the neighborhood will get when Muslims move in.

Another critical lesson to take from the ISA hearing is how damaging bad press really is. A misquote or misrepresentation printed about your masjid or your Imam 10 years ago will come up again and again whenever neighbors or Islamophobes oppose the community. At the ISA hearing, opponents sited Washington Post articles about ISA several times. So, Muslim leaders should exercise wisdom when dealing with the

press, and should try and look ahead to see how stories and coverage might affect the community’s future plans.

But more than that, the only way we can get the right story out to the neighbors, the true picture of what our community is really about, is by engagement. As one neighbor said at the hearing, “community outreach [by ISA] at this point is self-serving”. People are not naïve. If our masajid only get involved in neighborhood clean-up days and crime watch vigils in the months or weeks prior to a public hearing we would be sending the wrong message. We need to care about our neighbors almost like our relatives as a Prophetic hadith indicates. Our Imams need to inculcate this Islamic message in the communities they are leading, and our leadership needs to put it into action. For the Muslim community, that’s what smart growth should really be about.

Pretty Purses Make Petty PrioritiesBy Shabana Shereif

I am morally opposed to Coach handbags or purses. For those of you not in tune with the world of high fashion accessories, a Coach handbag comes in a variety of styles, shapes, colors, and sizes, but many are emblazoned with the letter “C” on the outside of the purse. Hence anyone seen carrying such a bag can be labeled as the proud owner of a designer-label accessory.

Now you must be thinking, that doesn’t sound like a morally reprehensible act. Well to put it frankly, the prices for these purses are what make these seemingly innocuous embellishments a crime against humanity. Allow me to elaborate.

A Coach “wristlet”, a wallet that can be hung around the wrist, averages for about $150-$200 dollars. Yes, you read correctly, I have not accidentally added extra zeros to those numbers. Following this line of exorbitant pricing, a medium sized handbag sells for about $300-400! I shudder to think about the price of those huge, big carry-all purses that are in vogue at the moment. Now keep in mind that all these purses can boast is that they are “designer” handbags, from the company called Coach.. They are not studded with precious stones, they are not able to deflect bullets, and they cannot save you from a burning building. So why are so they so expensive? Because like all brand name manufacturers, Coach has managed to successfully scam the average female consumer, who has money to burn, into thinking that if they buy a product with a designer label, they are somehow bigger and better than the average “Joe the Plumber”. (Okay, I don’t think Joe the Plumber carries

a purse, maybe Coach makes tool belts but I think you understand my point!). Personally I cringe every time I see someone carrying around a Coach bag. And I feel even worse when this accessory is dangling from the arm of a Muslim fashionista. My dear sisters, why aren’t you thinking this through?

First, the cost of your Coach handbag cannot be justified, no matter what your income. Whether you are a millionaire or you are not blessed to earn a 6-figure income, as Muslims we are accountable for how we spend our money. There are plenty of stylish and attractive purses out there for less than $100 that are attractive and trendy. I am no hypocrite. I know that carrying around a pretty purse makes you feel good. I am not quite sure why that is, but I understand that the female psyche needs some strange things to maintain an equilibrium of happiness and contentment. A fancy purse, an attractive pair of sandals, a well matched outfit, even a designer jilbab, can foster a great sense of well being for the average woman. We like our pretty things.

But no one said the pretty things have to cost as much as a kidney!

Sisters! Remember that your wealth is a

precious Amanah from Allah and that we will be held to account with our Creator as to how we utilized this Amanah. How can we justify paying hundreds of dollars for something we use to carry around keys, cell phone, wallet and some tissues?

Second, the cost of the Coach bags is artificially inflated to say the least. Please consider that the average cost of a Coach handbag could sponsor an orphan child through Islamic Relief. Coach wants women to believe that the “C” on their purse is somehow alien technology that can automatically imbue you with status and prestige. Women all over the world (yes, I saw Coach bags even in India!) are being victimized by the designer-fascists of this world. (Oh, look, I coined a new term with the word “fascist” in it.) A woman carries a Coach handbag because she wants people to know she spent oodles of money on herself, because she deserved it and she is worth it. And because now she has this designer bag, her friends also want to own this status symbol, and the cycle perpetuates itself throughout a community and society at large. Yet no one is stopping to think about the enormity of plopping down hundreds of dollars for a mere handbag. A purse. An

accessory. I just don’t understand how that’s possible, especially for those of us who are blessed with the moral compass of our beautiful deen, Islam.

Now some of you out there may blame me for being judgmental or high minded. I am sure, many owners of a Coach handbag have no wish to flaunt their apparent economic success, or use their purse as a status symbol. The way I see it, as Muslims, we should be striving to set ourselves apart from the materialistic pitfalls of mainstream society. I am not saying we need to live or look like hobos, but I am definitely saying that to own an expensive “accessory” goes against the very nature of simplicity and restraint espoused by our dear Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Wait for the sale, shop at discount stores, and you can still walk around with a trendy handbag at the fraction of the cost. And feel good about it. And donate any extra money

Women all over the world (yes, I saw Coach bags even in India!) are being victimized by the designer-fascists of this world. A woman carries a Coach handbag because she wants people to know she spent oodles of money on herself, because she deserved it and she is worth it.


Lessons>> continued from pg 24

>> Priorities Pg 26

NOTICES TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200926

Upcoming Events In Your AreaRequest For Dua’sRequest For Dua’s{ To A l lah We Be long , and to Him i s 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)”

4-2-09 Our beloved Sis. Khadija Bilal, wife of Br. Melvin Bilal, returned to her Lord. She was deeply involved with educational and civic activities with her community in Gwynn Oaks in Baltimore, and worked side-by-side with the Dar us Salaam community in College Park as the Vice Principal for the high school at Al Huda. May Allah accept all her ibadaah and good deeds and enter her into Jannat-ul Firdaus, and grant her family patience. Her janazah was held at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, and she was subsequently buried at King Memorial Park in Baltimore. (Source: The Muslim Link)

4-5-09 It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Sis. Mary Marro, mother of ADAMS Government Relations Chair Br. Bob Marro, she returned to Allah (SWT) this past weekend. She had been blessed with a long, happy and fruitful life, and further blessed to depart this life with ease and minimal discomfort. Please make dua for her soul, and ask the comfort and blessings of Allah (SWT) on all the family at this diffi cult time. (Source: Farooq Syed)

4-10-09 Br. Morris Sackor made his inevitable journey back to Allah. He had been in hospice and needed help in saying shahaadah. Alhumdulilah, the brother did make shahaadah! We are now asking that you make duaa’ for him and for the comfort of the family. Br. Sackor’s janazah was held at PGMA. (Source: PGMA)

4-11-09 It is with deep sorrow to inform the Muslim community of DC metro area of the departure of Dr. Ahmed El Kadi. Br. Ahmed was one of the pioneers of the Islamic community in the United States, a founder of most of the great Islamic institutions in the United States, and a man who spent all of his life in the way of Allah (swt). He returned to his Lord after a massive stroke. His presence in this dunia will be much missed. May Allah accept all of his good deeds and make them a witness for him on the day of Judgment (ameen). Please keep him and his family in your prayers. (Source: MAS Youth of DC)

4-15-09 Br. Imam Ali Khan, of the Masjid Muhammad community, has returned to his Lord. His janazah was held at Masjid Muhammad and he was buried at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, MD. (Source: Masjid Muhammad)

4-21-09 Inna lillaahi wa innaa ilaihi rajioon. Br. Nabil Fakhouri, a native of Lebanon living in Silver Spring Maryland, has passed away. May Allah forgive his sins and enter him in Jannat ul Firdous, Aameen. Salaat ul-janaaza was at the Islamic Center of Maryland. He was buried in Al Firdaus Memorial Gardens. (Source: ICM)

2nd Metro Washington Quran Recitation Competition Saturday, April 04 2009 Promoting the recitation and memorization of the Qur’an, and to honor outstanding reciters of the Holy Quran at the local Metro Washington (MD,DC and VA)levels. To register, go to http://www.creativeandcoolcompetitions.net/qr.htm. Location: To Be Announced. Contact: Br Alameddine @ 703-856-7005

Tafseer of Juz’Amma with Nouman Ali Khan Wednesday, April 22 2009 - Tuesday, June 23 2009The Islamic Center of Maryland would like to graciously invite you to attend a series of lectures with Nouman Ali Khan. Each Wednesday evening from Maghrib (~8pm) till 10pm, Nouman will take us through an in depth analysis of Juz’Amma (the 30th section of the Quran), enlightening us with a deeper understanding of the various surahs that we commonly read in our prayers. You will learn about the background of how these verses were revealed as well as a deeper grammatical analysis of the specifi c Arabic words Allah uses to convey meanings. Broadcast live at http://www.hipurductions.com/live/

Muslims for a Safe America Debate Friday, May 01 2009, 8:00pm - 9:30pm The Islamic Center of Maryland would like to invite you to take part in a debate workshop presented by Kamran Memon, founder of Muslims for a Safe America. Muslims For A Safe America encourages honest and informed discussion about how to make Muslims and America safer. We will go through a series of ‘mock-debates’ on issues such as Religion/Identity, Civil Liberties/Domestic Security, and Foreign Policy. After going through our entertaining and educational “mock debate”, you will gain the basic information and the confi dence needed to go out into society and to get involved in discussions with your neighbors, co-workers, media, and government offi cials. Location: Islamic Center of Maryland Contact: 3018409440 muslimsforasafeamerica.org/?page_id=50

Masjid ul Muminun Fundraising DinnerSaturday, May 02 2009 Comes support your brothers and sisters in Baltimore City!Location: masjid al muminun 2642 harford road baltimore md 21218 Contact: Qamar Muneer( Bilal) 410-467-8798

IQRA Academy’s Fundraising Dinner and AuctionSaturday, May 02 2009, 5:00pm - 9:00pm Since the beginning of Islam, education has been held in high esteem. We believe that striking a balance between secular and religious education is the key to training children to be the ambassadors of Islam in our multi-ethnic, ever-changing world. We would like to cordially invite the community to support this good cause. Please join us in supporting America’s future leaders. What we invest in them now will bring forth fruit for tomorrow inshallah.Tickets: $75 per couple and $45 for individual and they can be purchased from the school offi ce and from board members and our Fundraising Chair Sr. Shaheen Mustafa.Location: Holiday Inn Select, 1021 Koger Center Blvd, Richmond, VA 23235Contact: Sr. Shaheen Mustafa at 804-745-3737, or [email protected]

Paving the Way to Jannah: ICCL Spring Fundraiser Sunday, May 03 2009, 5:00pm - 10:00pm The Islamic Community Center of Laurel cordially invites you to their Spring Fundraiser on Sunday, May 3 at 5:00 pm. “Paving the Way to Jannah” Featuring keynote speaker Imam Tahir Anwar, South Bay Islamic Association - San Jose, CA and Imam Muhammad Abdul Malik Charlotte, North Carolina. At the Westin - Baltimore Washington Airport 1110 Old Elkridge Landing Road Linthicum, MD 21090 Tickets: $35/person - $40 at the door Babysitting available for $10/child (ages 3 to 10 only) For more information or to buy tickets contact ICCL 301-317-4584 or www.icclmd.org [email protected]

First Hijrah Foundation Fundraising Dinner Saturday, May 09 2009, 6:00pm - 10:00pm “Whoever builds amasjid for the sake of Allah, Allah will build for him ahouse in Jannah.” The First Hijrah Foundation invites you to come and join our First Annual Fundraising Dinner. $50 donation. Limited babysitting is available at $10 per child. Metered parking is available in the vicinity of the convention center. Garaged parking is also available just 1 block south of the convention center for a fl at rate of $10 AFTER 5:00pm Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C, 801 Mt. Vernon Place., N.W., Washington, DC 20001

Tactics and Strategies for Effective Job Hunting Monday, May 11 2009, 5:30pm - 7:30pm Are your job hunting efforts causing you more stress than job offers? Intercontinental Networks, LLC can help you gain tangible results for extraordinary competition. You will: * Gain tactics and strategies for effective job hunting * Envision innovative perspectives * Learn unique processes Don’t treat your job hunting as anything less than a complex project. Let us help you turn frustration into peace of mind. Space is limited. For Directions and to RVSP contact us at http://anassar-jobpm.eventbrite.com Location: Claret Hall, River Hill/Clarkesville, Contact: http://anassar-jobpm.eventbrite.com

you may have to charity. We are on this Earth for such a little time...do we really want to be spending hundreds of dollars on fashion accessories? We should be shining examples for average citizens on codes of dress, conduct and fiscal responsibility, especially in the economic climate that we are all struggling through. The evil of excess is like a boomerang. You can have a whole lot of fun throwing it out into the world, but it will defi nitely swing back to hit you in the

head! If you own a Coach bag and you are reading this, I hope and pray I am forgiven for offending you. May Allah guide us all to make the right choices that will lead to His Pleasure alone and His company in Paradise!

“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds (fi ve compulsory prayers, deeds of Allah’s obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allah with glorifi cation, praises and thanks, etc.), that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.” Surah Al-Kahf, Ayah 46.

Priorities>> continued from pg 25

Putting Delicious on a Skewer at Kabobelicious

By Jann McClaryMuslim Link Staff Writer

Has anyone notice a pattern? Is it just me? Or does the Metro DC region, Maryland suburbs in particular, have some great little no-frills eateries? Downtown DC has its share of off-the-beaten-track places with some wonderful food, no doubt, but they aren’t halal. It seems that if on a whim you pull your car into some little mall you’re going to find an unlikely halal spot tucked next to some dry cleaner or electronics store. And chances are there will be some unexpected, thoroughly enjoyable cooking going on. Case in point, Kabobelicious on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring.

Now, a name like Kabobelicious already gets your hopes up. You walk in and the walls are a cool, deep Mediterranean blue punched up with booths and tables surrounded with saffron-yellow walls. Order at the counter and get your first whiff of yummy. The kabobs are sizzling on the grill, a hand-stretched naan just came out of the oven, and lazy curls of steam rise from a pot of Moroccan harira soup.

The soup is a Moroccan tradition, most often served during Ramadhan at iftar. It’s usually made with meat of some sort, but Kabobelicious has a vegetarian version with potatoes, chick peas, lentils, a little carrot, and a curious type of pasta shaped like little balls reminiscent of tapioca pearls or barley, all in a light broth with a hint of tomato. It works well as an appetizer to get your taste buds prepped for the flavors to come.

A filling lunch to try is the Merguez kabob sandwich. It’s actually a gyro which should really just be renamed “gyrolicious”. It has the nerve to be stuffed with four or five individual little grilled lamb sausages, which look all mild and gentle. Don’t be deceived, it has enough hot spiciness to catch your tongue off guard, but the right balance of shredded romaine, chopped tomato, hummus and garlic sauce to keep your mouth from getting all in an uproar. A more traditional sandwich is

the classic falafel. You might have to wait a bit for it because each falafel ball is freshly handmade, fried to a nice crunchiness on the outside, and snuggled into a bed of chopped romaine, cucumber, and tomato inside more of that homemade naan before being drizzled with tahini sauce.

Kabobelicious has more to offer than lunch fare and will surprise you with a fish kabob platter that looks like it came from a different restaurant. Order a fish kabob at most places and you’ll probably get salmon. Chef Larbi Bouiachia shows off his skills with a swordfish kabob, off the skewer and paired with a fragrant and filling ratatouille thick with eggplant, carrot, yellow squash and red onions, and a little mesa of fluffy saffron rice. It’s a beautiful plate of food arranged to highlight the succulent, well-seasoned fish. Subhanallah. Don’t pass it up.

Br. Errazi Belmihoub and his partner Abdella Battau started the place 5 months ago to bring a bit of Algeria to the region’s many cultural pots, their menu a selection of offerings from North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. They bring those addictive little lemony grape leaves wrapped around flavorful arborio rice, and creamy hummus offset by dark, salty calabata olives. Couscous done as a salad with olive oil and lemon is a wonderfully light and refreshing meal disguised as an appetizer all chock-full of chopped cucumbers, red onions, chick peas, diced tomato, and finished with crumbled feta cheese strewn across the top.

This is the kind of food that makes these little restaurants like Kabobelicious havens for foodies. The portions aren’t super-sized, or sitting around all day under hot lights. Just simple ingredients prepared well, not processed, but kept “close to the hand”, and true to their roots.

Kabobelicious 13436 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 301-384-3784 Open daily 11 am-9pm

DINING OUT 27TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 2009

MARKETPLACE TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200928

29TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 2009 MARKETPLACE

MarketplaceYour Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle

RJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFE12111 Indian Creek Court, Beltsville, MD 20705

240-264-1990 or 240-264-1991RJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFEThe only halal restaurant in the

Metro area specializing in BBQ beef short ribs!

Home-made BBQ sauceSPECIAL : Southern-style

Fried Chicken Steak w/mashed potatoes,

mushroom gravy, grilled veggies

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$12.99+tax

NOw ServING•t-bone Rib, Eye or New York Strip Steak w/

baked potato and broccoli or vegetables

•Surf and Turf - (grilled shrimp and steak) w/

baked potato and broccoli or vegetables

12111 Indian Creek Court, Beltsville, MD 20705RJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFERJ CAFE We now have WI-FI available!

Visit us at www.rjcafeonline.com

or email us at [email protected]

TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200930 MARKETPLACE: GROCERY

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31TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 2009 MARKETPLACE: TRAVEL & SERVICES

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703.635.7727 or email us [email protected]

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TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200932 MARKETPLACE: COLOR ADS

Loemans Plaza5214 Randolph Road, Rockville, MD 20852

HairSystems

301-881-0338 (ask for Sr. Fatima)

Systemsin Rockville

Ask ForSpecial Price:

Sundays and Wednesdays

Private Room availablefor sisters wearing Hijab.


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12107 Heritage Park Circle

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Silver Spring MD301.949.7000

MARKETPLACE: HEALTHCARE

7001 Johnnycake Road, Suite101 Baltiimore, MD 21244(Intersection of Rolling and JohnnycakeRoads near Masjid Al-Rahmah)

Phone: 410-719-00637658 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236(Exit 32A off 695 Towards Overlea inthe Beltway Shopping Plaza nearMasjid An-Nur)

Phone: 410-882-6841

Najla Abdur-Rahman, M.D.Board Certified

Johns Hopkins Trained Pediatrician

Rahma’s ShopA taste of Dubai in the USA for all occasions

��Islamic clothing, Scarves, Pashmina Shawls, Lace Materials, Rugs, Bakhoor/Incense?Churai, Smokeless charcoal & Incense, Burners,

Perfumes & Jells, Aqua sprays, 21 karat Gold jewelry, Abayas, Hijabs, Jallabiyas, African Gowns & Dresses and MORE...

TEL:240.305.6354/301.989.9231, FAX 301.384.2975EMAIL [email protected]

TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200934 MARKETPLACE: REAL ESTATE

Seeking Business PartnersFor Halal RestaurantEstablished 20 Years.Excellent LocationRockville, MarylandCall 1-800-959-3921 - Mr Sharif

202-298-8750www.LilesParker.com

Representing a wide variety of clients including Physicians, Hospitals, Billing Centers, Business Owners, Professionals, Overseas Residents, Investors, Criminal Defendants, Families and More…

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS FOR CHALLENGING LEGAL PROBLEMS. BUSINESS LAWYERING AND MORE… Auto Accidents, Agreements, Business Law, Contracts, Commercial Complexes, Corporate Compliance, Criminal Defense, Debt & Equity Finance; Family Law; Health Law; Health Fraud Defense, Immigration, Investment Compliance, Land Deals, Mortgages, Mergers and Acquisitions; Peer Review Disputes, Real Estate Closings, Regulatory Compliance, Whistle Blower Litigation, White Collar Representation, Zoning Issues.. and more

Our Success is YOUR success!

WE WILL ONLY TAKE ON YOUR CASE IF WE BELIEVE WE CAN HELP YOU !

Representing a wide variety of clients including Physicians, Hospitals, Billing Centers, Business Owners, Professionals, Overseas Residents, Investors,

Auto Accidents, Agreements, Business Law, Contracts, Commercial Complexes, Corporate Compliance, Criminal Defense, Debt & Equity Finance; Family Law; Health Law; Health Fraud Defense, Immigration, Investment Compliance, Land Deals, Mortgages,

Mr. Laher is an Atty since 1991. He is a graduate of Harvard and Georgetown Univ and has helped many many clients over the years. Mr. Laher uses specialist attorneys to assist him to best represent clients on a case by case basis. Mr. Laher is associated with Liles Parker LLP, whose offi ces are near Georgetown in DC.

35TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 2009 MARKETPLACE: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

��Mohammad Al-SuqiCell: 703-861-1625Offi ce: 703-752-3929Fax: 703-914-0869Email: [email protected]: 916 W. Broad St., Suite 203, Falls Church, VA 22046

Quality Service - LOW COST!Serving the Community since 1991

�Eastern Tax Service

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EMPLOYMENTHOME HEALTH AIDE NEEDED Seeking compassionate home health aide with respect for the elderly starting on Sundays for lovely, modern Muslim women in Arlington. Send information about certifications (eg. CNA), experience,and languages spoken to [email protected] or call 202-215-5160. $11+/hour to start. Experience in nursing homes preferred, but will train the right person with proper commitment.02-27-09

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CHILDCARE EXCHANGE

BABYSITTING IN MY HOMEChange ad text to read BABYSITTING IN MY HOMEI am a licensed childcare provider available to babysit at my Silver Spring home. Children age 1 and up. Snacks provided. Call now for the summer! For information call 301-593-4769.05-01-09

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DOMESTIC HELP WANTEDExperienced female house keeper, child care, cooking, live-in person for McLean, VA home. Tuesday-Saturday with flexibility. Energetic, trustworthy, and gentle person with recent references. English-speaking preferred. Driving a plus. Starting salary from $350 a week with extra consideration for experience and ability. Call 703-851-7979

05.01.09

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HOME AWAY FROM HOME Loving, caring feel-like-home licensed daycare in Baltimore. Near Al Rahmah, near 695, exit 17. Meals, multi-child discount. Voucher accepted. 2years and up. License #151808. Contact Samina 410-281-7155 or 410-292-9274.05.01.09

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BABYSITTING IN MY HOMEI am available to babysit at my Silver Spring home. Children age 1 and up. Call for information. 301-593-4769.2-27-09---------------------------------------------------------------------------

ISLAMIC DAYCARELicensed Islamic Daycare at my Home in Bowie/Mitchellville Near PGMA. First Aid/CPR certified. Have opening for infants to age 12. Willing to teach Quran. For more information, please call 310-249-974402-27-09---------------------------------------------------------------------------

LIVE-IN NANNY WANTEDNeed live-in nanny for 6-month old in Baltimore. Light housekeeping. Begin in June. References requested. Please call 443-708-5183.02-27-09---------------------------------------------------------------------------

RENTAL

FOR SALE3 BUSINESSES IN ONE FOR SALE OR SUBLEASEThey are: Nationals Pizza, 7-10 Express Market and Capital Hill Trucks Rental (a Budget Trucks Rental). They all have plenty parking. If you are a family, or good friends that could work as partners, you can not go wrong with this. Location is excellent in Washington DC and the asking price is not too much for the business and the potential. If you are a serious buyer or buyers, please contact me at 202-841-0600 or bekrinuru1@gmail.com05.01.09---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAR FOR SALE2004 Mercury Sable. Gray interior/exterior. PS/PB, sunroof, PW, auto., 115K miles. Good condition. $6000 obo. Contact Shezad A. Khan 301-535-618802-27-09---------------------------------------------------------------------------

AD SPACE Have something to sell? A TV? A Car? Books? HOUSE? try advertising in the Muslim Link classfied section!Call 301-982-1020, or email us at [email protected] 1 $ per 3 words!

SERVICESBEAUTY SERVICES Threading available for women. Call Farhana for appointment. 703-941-094404.03.09

----------------------------------------------------------EVERGREEN ORGANIC LANDSCAPESPesticide/chemical-free landscaping. We offer these services: Plant trees, shrubs and flowers; leaf removal; prune small trees and shrubs; remove fallen trees; weed and grass removal; edging and mulching; privacy screens. We also do landscape design plans for a $50 fee. I am a professional with over 15 years gardening experience and a degree in Plant Studies. We serve Northern VA, N.W. DC, and Montgomery County, MD. Remember, now is the best time to plant bulbs for spring flowers, and now is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Call 571-277-624102-27-09

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FAMILY HOME HEATH CAREFamily Home Health Agency provides professional personal care and companionship services for senior citizens. We also provide complete customized care and help with daily living tasks for disabled and injured individuals of any age. Our experienced caregivers provide up to 24 hour service in the comfort of your own home. We accept Medicaid and private pay. Call Family Home Care Services Inc. at 703-933-2223.02-27-09

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LOVING HOME CARE ELDER CARE/ NANNY SERVICELoving Home Care we provide care you can trust and afford all from the comfort of your home! Our services are for seniors and loved ones needing assistance with activities of daily living. We also provide Mother’s Helpers for that mother in need. Companionship, Hygiene Care, Meal Preparation, Errands, Grocery, Light Housekeeping, Grooming, Dressing, Medication Reminders, Doctors Appointments. *Low Rates* *No Deposit* *Bonded & Insured* www.lovinghomecare.org FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION CALL: 301-490-114602-27-09

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MATRIMONIALSEEKING DEVOUT MUSLIMAHIncarcerated Sunni Muslim Man, 29, black male, seeking a devout Muslimah for correspondence and marriage preparation. Write to: Robert Burns, 06A3316, Box 338, Napanoch, NY 1245805.01.09

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BROTHER SEEKING WIFEGentleman, 57, from Iran, no children. Non-smoker, taxi driver. Seeking Muslim lady for marriage. For more information call Ali from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week. 202-669-5699.04.03.09

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NEED MARRIAGE-MINDED WOMANSunni Muslim, looking for a marriage-minded woman. My name is Jean M. Toussaint. I am 29 year old, 5’6”, brown skin, 180 lbs. I believe that I am handsome. I am currently incarcerated in Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Please feel free to write me so we could get acquainted with each other. Write:

Jean M. Toussaint, 00A3909, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 354 Hunter St., Ossining , NY 10562.04.03.09

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SEEKING MUSLIM WIFE21 year old African American male, currently incarcerated, embraced Islam 2 years ago. Looking for a patient, supportive and understanding woman, age 21-40. Healthy knowledge of the deed is a plus. If interested, please contact me at Joeless Pierre, 07A3030, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 354 Hunter St., Ossining, NY 1056204.03.09

----------------------------------------------------------SEEKING SOUL MATE I am a Muslim male, 49 yrs of age, 5”9’, 190 lbs, from Virginia, sincere to Allah (swt) and His ta’ ala Din, very caring, loving and understanding seeking same, praying to Allah (swt) for my soul mate, insha Allah. If you feel this is you, feel free to forward your letter to: Samuel Moyler, #238032, 1821 Estaline Valley Rd, Craigsville, VA 24430.04.03.09

----------------------------------------------------------AS SALAAMU ALAYKUM MUSLIMA I’m seeking a marriage-minded Muslima who’s loving, friendly, supportive and has a great personality. Race, nationality, age unimportant, and children is not an issue. I’m 39, 6’ 1”, 210lbs, with brown eyes, ambitious and affectionate. I’m drug/disease free, a non-smoker. I dislike lies, drama, games, broken promises. If interested, please contact me and ask any questions you may have, insha Allah. Kurt Miller, 98A6702, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 354 Hunter St., Ossining, NY 1056204.03.09

----------------------------------------------------------SEEKING PRACTICING MUSLIMAU.S.-born man, 39 years old, Arab parents, previously married, speaks English, Arabic, French, Associates degree. Seeks attractive, practicing Muslima with good character, any nationality ok. Send photo with letter describing yourself and contact information to M.L. Advertisement, PO Box 1922, Annandale, VA 22003-9556.02-27-09

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MISCELLANEOUSPEN PALS WANTEDI am a 28 yr old converted Muslim brother in search of brothers and sisters in Islam with whom to become friends. I’m a prisoner at a super maximum security prison in Illinois often compared to Guantanamo Bay. In the cell all day by myself without any physical contact whatsoever..no television, nor radio. I rely on fellow inmates to inform me of the situation in the Middle East. I praise Allah, for He and my Qur’an are my source of peace. I have a passion for poetry, mastered the art of drawing realistic things with ink pen. I have very little communication with the outside world. Allahu akbar, I am fighting in court to prove my innocence. If you would like to share the experiences of a passionate Muslim, write and let the journey begin. Age, race, nationality unimportant. Arturo “Hafiz” Orozco, #R25704, 8500 Supermax Rd., Tamms, IL 6298805.01.09

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PEN PAL NEEDEDI have a friend who is Muslim. He gave me a few pamphlets telling the basics about the Muslim religion. The first thing that caught my eye was the phrase “Islam simply means to achieve peace.” Right now, I’m not a religious person, I just haven’t found my way yet. I would love to learn more about Islam. I am in prison and and looking to put my faith into something. Anyone willing to teach me about the Islamic religion, please write to me at Michael Bushman, #33897, W-A East 122, PO Box 250, Draper, UT 84020. Male or female, please help me achieve peace.02-27-09

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PLACE YOUR PERSONAL AD Interested in placing a classified ad ?? Stop waiting and call the Muslim Link now !! You can reach us at 301-982-1020 or email us at [email protected]

Only 1 $ per 3 words!

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WWW.WORKHALAL.COMA job site for Muslims.02-27-09---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Looking for a place for your ad?

Stop looking! try our classified section

Call the muslim link now !301.982.1020

Call Now . . . !

CLASSIFIEDS

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

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

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

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

DAR AL-SALAAM: 15250 Dumfries Rd., Mannassas,VA 20112.

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

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

DAR AL-NOOR (MUSLIM ASSOC. OF VA): 5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, VA 20112, Tel: 703-580-0808, Fax: 703-221-8513, www.daralnoor.org.

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

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

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

ICNA VA CENTER: 2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306.

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

INDONESIAN MUSLIM ASSOC. IN AMERICA (IMAAM): 1611 Veirs Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20851 Tel: 240-453-0808, e-mail: [email protected]. INST.OF ISLAMIC AND ARABIC SCIENCES IN AMERICA (IIASA):

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

IRHSCA (ISLAMIC RESEARCH AND HUM. SERVICES OF AMERICA): Chambers Ave, Capitol Heights, MD Tel: 301-324-5040, www.irhsca.org.

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

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

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

ISLAMIC FOUND. OF AMERICA (IFA): 6606 Electronic Dr., Springfield, VA 22151 Tel: 703-914-4982, www.ifa.ws.

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

ISLAMIC SOC. OF ANNAPOLIS (ISA): 2635 Riva RdSuite 110Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.islamannapolis.org, Email: [email protected]

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

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GERMANTOWN (ISG): 19900 Brandermill Rd., Germantown, MD 20876 Tel: (301)-972-0504, www.isgtown.org.

ISLAMIC SOC. OF SOUTHERN PG COUNTY (ISSPGC): PO Box 251 Upper Marlboro, MD 20773; 7400 Temple Hill Rd., Camp Springs, MD Tel: 301-627-5710.

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

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

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

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

MAKKAH LEARNING CENTER (MLC): 814 Brandy Farms Ln Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.mlcmd.org, Email: [email protected] MANASSAS MOSQUE: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537.

M A S J I D A L - G H U R A B A A : 8 2 2 0 W a s h i n g t o n S t . , South, Laurel, MD 20724. Tel: 301-604-3295.

MASJID AL-HIKMAH: 11064 Livingston Road Unit L (101) Ft. Washington,

MD 20744, Tel: 301 292-9009.

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

MASJID AL-ISLAM: 4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, DC 20019 Tel: 202-581-1616, e-mail: [email protected]

MASJID AL-INSHIRAH: 7832 Fairbrook Road , Windsor Mill, MD 21244 Tel: 410-298-2977, Fax: 410-298-0266, www.al-inshirahweb.net.

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

MASJID JAMAAT AL-MUSLIMEEN: 4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212 Tel. 410-435-5000.

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

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

MASJID AL-RAHMAH/ISB: 6631 Johnny Cake Rd. Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869, www.isb.org

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

MASJID BAIT-ALLAH: 1910 Frederick Avenue (2 Floor) Baltimore, MD 21223 Tel: 443-224-4423, E-mail:[email protected]. www.masjidbaitallah.org

MASJID TAQWA ANNOOR: 8000 MLK Highway, Glenarden MD Tel: 301-772-5969.

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

MUSLIM COM. CENTER (MCC): 15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-384-3454, www.mccmd.org.

MUSLIM SOC. OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (MSWDC): Howard Center, Room 805 (Above HU Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236, www.mswdc.org.

MUSTAFA CENTER: 6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003.

PRINCE GEORGES MUSLIM ASSOC. (PGMA): 9150 Lanham Severn Rd. Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942, www.pgmamd.org. Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441, [email protected].

SOUTHERN MARYLAND ISLAMIC CENTER(SMIC): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639. Tel: 410- 535-0000

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

Do 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.

M A S J I D L O C A T O R

The Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam said: “”There are seven (types of persons) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade:…(one of them is) a person whose heart is attached to the masjid…” (Bukhari, Muslim)

MASJID LOCATOR

Amina ThaiHalal Restaurant

Amina Thai

5065 Nicolson Lane, Rockville

301.770.9509www.AminaThai.com

STORE HOURS

Monday-Tue: LUNCH 11:00am - 2:30pmDINNER 5:00pm - 9:30 pm

Wednesday- Friday: LUNCH 11:00am - 2:30pmDINNER 5:00pm - 10pm

Saturday: All Day 12:00 noon - 10:00pm

Sunday: All Day 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm

• Authentic Thai Dishes • Excellent & Courteous Service• Tranquil Ambiance• Relaxing Decor• Sparkling Clean !

“First Halal Thai Restaurant in the Metropolitan Area”

“Where Halal Meets Delicious Cuisine”

Voted Best Restaurant Bargain by Washingtonian Magazine 2006, 2007, 2008

Restaurant Listed in www.Zabihah.com

Catering, Dine-In, Take-Out. Catering for Private PartiesPlease Call for Details.

$5.00 ��

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Free Delivery(Lunch & Dinner)

Limited Delivery Area. 3 Miles

Radius. Min $20

Call for Details

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TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 200938 MARKETPLACE

39TML, Jumada Al-Awwal 1430 | May 1 - May 28, 2009 ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Every Muslim has read that the Prophet Sallallahu ‘alyhi wa sallam told his ummah about the wonderful nature of honey. In the Qur’an in Surah An-Nahl, Allah described honey as a “drink of varying color wherein is healing for men”.

Its no wonder that scientists are spending more and more resources examining, testing, and developing honey-based medical treatments. As early as December 26, 2007, the Associated Press ran a story titled “Honey makes medical comeback”.

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

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

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

Brother Hasan, in his late 30’s is from Maryland and suffers from the common skin disease eczema. “I’ve had eczema since high school, and it got worse as the years went on. I went to a dermatologist and he recommended a cortisone-type prescription cream. It did stop the itch, but my skin was still dry and tight. I’ve tried lotions and shampoos from Aveeno, Lubiderm, Vaseline, and others. Alhumdulillah, I found Honeyderm’s Dermatonic-P, and

it is really, really a blessing for people with Eczema or other skin illnesses. I no longer wake up sweating at night! Allahu-Akbar!.”

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

We also called Brother Mustafa Al-Omary in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He decided to do something about his thinning hair at age 40 and tried the Hairback treatment. Asked how long it took for him to see results, he told us “Oh gosh, less than a month. My thin spots fi lled in within 3 months,.” He said he would “absolutely” recommend the product to anyone. “It’s not a fl y-by-night product, its awesome,” said Mustafa.

We also called Najeebudheen Appat, a 30-year old living in Los Angeles, CA. He’s had a severe dandruff problem for a long-time, and had been searching for a solution. “I tried so many different products like tonics and shampoos, I can’t even remember them all, until I found this product around 2002. My problem was solved completely, the entire thing is taken care of. I even called [Honeyderm] with the great feedback,” recalled Najeebudheen. He told us that Allah creates shifa in many things, and Honeyderm’s products are a part of that.

“For dandruff problems, this is the total solution,” he told us from

his mobile phone.

On Honeyderm’s website, there

are many more testimonials from

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

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

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE ��

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Honey-Based Healing for:Hair Products for Hair loss, Dandruff, Itching,

Scalp Psoriasis Skin Products for Acne, Wrinkles, Psoriasis and Allergy related problems

Order Risk Free Today by calling (800) 424 - 7710 or buy online

at www.honeyderm.com

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

before after

before after

These are actual photos of Honeyderm customers. Many more pictures available at www.honeyderm.com

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Documents

The Muslim Link ~ Jumaada Al-awwal 1430