The Muslim Link ~ August 21, 2009 ~ Ramadan Issue

CHAPMAN LETTERS REVEAL EXTENT OF PRISON ABUSE

INSIDE: RAMADAN CALENDAR

>> PG 7

TheMusl mL nk Ramadan 1430 A.H. Issue

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w w w. M u s l i m L i n k P a p e r. c o m

MD, VA, and DC. Metropolitan Area Monthly Newspaper | FREE

August 21, 2009 - September 17, 2009

Covering the Conflict

Vet to

Soldiers:

“Throw Your Bodies Into the Gears of the War Machine”

By Noor Tagouri Muslim Link Staff Writer On August 7, 2009, a socialist organization in Washington D.C hosted an extraordinary meeting, featuring an eyewitness report by an American activist who recently returned from Gaza.

For Iraq veteran and peace activist Michael Prysner, crossing into Gaza with

the Viva Palestina aid convoy was an indelible experience.

founded to encourage the movement for revolutionary change, managed the event.

Speaking at the head quarters of the ANSWER coalition (Act Now Stop War End Racism), Prysner described opposition the convoy faced after raising hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical and humanitarian aid to deliver to the Gaza strip. The Party for Socialism and Liberation,

“What the Israelis believe to be a war is truly nothing less than a massacre,” Prysner began, addressing a packed room of about 40 audience members.

Former Masjid Al-Haq Imam Passes Away Written by Muslim Link Staff

Brother Darryl Wainwright, the former Imam of Baltimore City’s Masjid Al-Haq, returned to Allah on August 5, 2009.

Heavily involved in InterFaith work in Maryland, the 59 year-old was well known in the Greater Washington and Baltimore region as a kind and gentle man with a friendly demeanor and a wide smile. He served as

Imam of Masjid Al-Haq from 1993 to 2003.

Because of the relative success of a previous convoy >> GAZA Pg 13

Despite Death Threats, Break-Ins, Wash. Report on MidEast Affairs Keeps Recording History

Preparation of the Winners in Ramadan | pg 18

By Noor Tagouri Muslim Link Staff Writer

Some Common Mistakes in Ramadan | pg 18

Nearly 30 years ago, Richard H. Curtiss and Andrew I. Kilgore set out to change the way Americans viewed the Middle East. The journey of these two retired U.S. Foreign Service officers culminated in the creation of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, WRMEA, a politically and socially progressive monthly magazine.

Kilgore, co-founder and publisher of the magazine, views the publication as one of the few in the United States that has been successful in bringing to the table a fresh and honest look at the events >> CONFLICT Pg 12

Running Away from Home After 11 Years, Uyghur Professor Finds Freedom Outside Her Own Land

Make Dua from Your Heart...

In Any Language ! | pg 19 Fasting and Happiness | pg 19 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

ISWA Races to Meet Ramadan Deadline | pg 4 Al-Rahmah Announces First Highschool Class | pg 4 American Muslims to Gather in DC Against Malaria | pg 5 NBA Star to Youth: Put Islam into Practice| pg 10

He was the Executive Director of the Islamic Affairs Council of Maryland, and also involved in the Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (CECF), an organization founded and headed by former Masjid Al-Rahmah Imam Muhammad Bashar Arafat. >> IMAM Pg 17

RAMADAN ARTICLES

Marketplace

Your Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle PG 25

The Muslim Link Coupons >> RUNNING Pg 8

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2 | ADVERTISEMENT

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

"If you discover a cure for smallpox you can close down the smallpox ward of the hospital, if you find a cure for malaria, you can close down the entire hospital". - Kenyan doctor

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

INDEX | 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE RAMADAN 1430 | August 21 - September 17 , 2009

04

Community News

18

Islam

23

Salaah Times

22

Obits/Events

24

Editor’s Desk

25

Marketplace

Overseas transportation will be according to rules and regulations

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Community News Creating links through mutual understanding and cooperation

ISWA Races to Meet Ramadan Deadline

By Rashad Mulla Muslim Link Staff Writer For the past year, The Islamic Society of the Washington Area rented nearby facilities for big gatherings and events.

Now, with the first part of its massive construction project nearing completion, ISWA will begin hosting Taraweeh prayer in its new masjid.

Construction of the new building began last August, with this Ramadan serving as a self-imposed deadline, according to ISWA president Fazil Alie. This week, inspectors checked the building, Alie said, and ISWA has all the required documentation to begin hosting mass

gatherings.

“That has been our goal,” Alie said. “The first phase of the project [consisted] of the prayer hall and the lobby. Next on the list is the parking lot, which will hopefully be completed by mid-Ramadan.”

Contractors working at ISWA during the week said the flooring wouldn’t be complete by the beginning of Ramadan, but the prayer area – sections for men and women have been expanded – would be operational. A large lobby encompasses the center of the first floor, while the prayer areas remain on the sides – men on the right, women on the left. >> ISWA Pg 17

ISWA’s new masjid is almost complete. Photo by Rashad Mulla.

Al-Rahmah Announces First High School Class

By Noor Tagouri Muslim Link Staff Writer

only be open to girls. The class will be small, consisting of about ten students.

According to educational experts, small class sizes allow for more studentteacher interaction and a better learning environment. The high school is stateapproved and will adopt the curriculum used in Howard County, one of the nation’s most competitive school systems. Classes will consist of the basic English 9, Algebra Data Analysis, Earth and Space Science, Fine Arts, U.S history and Arabic, Islamic Studies and Quran.

Ar-Rahmah intends to add a new grade each year and to offer AP (advanced placement) courses.

“My motivation as a principal is to see this project through. This program will be comparable and hopefully superior to what is offered in public school,” said Dr. Laura Abdul-Rahman, the principal of the new high school. Dr. Laura was the school’s principal for several years

through the 1990s.

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For many years, establishing an Islamic high school in Baltimore County has remained just an idea—until now.

Last month, Al-Rahmah School in Baltimore, Maryland announced its ninth grade class for the coming academic year. Last year education board members worked with Al-Huda School in College Park, MD to send Al-Rahmah 8th graders to Al-Huda’s high school. After 22 years of operation, the Al-Rahmah administration determined it was finally a feasible time to add a high school. AlRahmah school graduated eleven 8th grade classes.

Because the middle school is majority girls and the building cannot accommodate a large student body, the high school will

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This curriculum will be engaging, innovative and rigorous, at the same time Islamically meaningful said Dr. Laura.

Although they will not partake in the national High School Assessment testing, Al-Rahmah’s high school will be using the TerraNova tests. These exams are principally a series of standardized achievement tests to evaluate K12 students’progress in reading, language arts, vocabulary, spelling, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Al-Rahmah high school operates on tuition and donations as well as state funds and grants. Grants allow teachers to attend professional educator workshops. The Parent Teacher Association at the school is also very active in fundraising, along with the Islamic Society of Baltimore, which

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holds an annual fundraising dinner for the school each spring.

Dr. Laura Abdur-Rahman said the school is pursuing accreditation, a process that can take up to three years.

An accredited school is required to meet many standards including, having a solid vision of what the school will be like an efficient and receptive management, a rigorous curriculum, supplying sufficient resources and support for its educational programs, and having a plan to constantly improve.

“This is a sincere attempt to recruit 9th graders to join Al-Rahmah. If the response is satisfactory, it can continue on to the higher grades in the future, insha’Allah”, President of the Islamic Society of Baltimore, Dr. Maqbool Patel said.

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

COMMUNITY NEWS | 5

American Muslims to Gather in DC Against Malaria

By Amad Shakur Muslim Link Contributing Writer Before Europeans initially settled inAfrica and ingeniously negotiated the Atlantic and Mediterranean slave enterprises, there were political interventions between warring African tribes. Through economic exploitation, France, Spain, England, Germany and Portugal ravaged resources from the largest land mass and most naturally endowed continent in the world. This was the political landscape and the groundwork for empire. With the traversing of a young and innocent Africa came conditions, which are pervasive in post-modernity.

Nonetheless even with the prowess of European military interventions, the campaign for the superiority of Western culture, and with the progress of Western technology, among other failures the eradication of the malaria disease persists to be an unconquerable dilemma for the will of the West and the resources of the African.

Because of the malaria mosquito, inadequate precautions and the lack of preventative practices someone dies a horrible death every thirty seconds.

Annually this amounts to over one million innocent people losing their lives

from a curable and manageable disease.

When the malaria mosquito attacks westerners, they have a personal sense of how people’s lives are dramatically altered. Americans are typically removed from malaria, and seldom give it a second thought. Within the past decade Pennsylvania experienced an outbreak and Americans learned how quickly malaria could change the social conditions and also the mind set of perhaps Africa’s most infamous disease.

When stricken with malaria one is sobered by the cocoon of pain, agony and submission through the course of the disease. Despite its history in Africa and the comfortable proximity to masses of people and unsanitary water conditions, malaria is a dreaded enemy that has not managed to garner the economic resources of many an African government. In many cases unable to continue to re-supply worn and damaged bed netting, and re-shelve sufficient dosages of medicine for malaria, on a daily basis hospitals loose severely sick people.

In discussing the wholesale spread of the malaria disease in Africa, and the affect malaria has on the focus of frustrated and inadequately staffed state hospitals, a doctor from Kenyan once remarked that,

The idea that someone dies ever y thirty seconds suggests not only the unavailability of medical and material resources but also a lack of determination to find a resolution.

“If you find a cure for smallpox, you can close down the smallpox ward of the hospital, if you find a cure for malaria you can close down the entire hospital”.

The idea that someone dies every thirty seconds suggests not only the unavailability of medical and material resources but also a lack of determination to find a resolution. Islam is a way of life that brings spiritual change as well as physical relief to the sick, engages the lower classes and uplifts the downtrodden. African Muslims have not made the elimination of malaria a priority. With weakened economic markets taking its place among the urgent priorities, malaria has been as ignored as Africa is neglected on the world stage.

The American Muslim community has an obligation to explore the social affects

of this disease and the devastating affects on mankind. With America’s enormous resources and healthcare infrastructure it is not a matter of Africans willing to live with the disease; the lay community with its powerlessness has found it impossible to persuade greedy, corrupt and arrogant African government officials of this predicament. Simultaneously the healthcare culture of Third World countries must radically change to replicate those in the West.

Recently Imam Zaid Shakir of the Zaytuna Institute traveled to Mali, West Africa and witnessed the devastation of unchecked malaria. Imam Shakir was so moved that he decided to initiate some social intervention to offer hope and demonstrate compassion for people >> See MALARIA on Pg 17

More Orgs See Social Networking Benefits

By Amina Haleem Muslim Link Staff Writer With their intended audiences becoming increasingly younger, Muslim organizations are using technology as a tool to advertise and provide information over the Internet. Various masjids, youth groups, organizations and even Imams are heading online to spread their

messages.

The youth group of the Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Silver Spring, Md., uses a Facebook page monitored by committee administrators.

Facebook, a social networking site which has over 250 million active users, was initially created to target a more mature and professional audience.

Shabnom Khan, one of the MCC youth group committee members, said the center has no problems with their use of Facebook for advertising.

“Our Muslim youth organization is recognized by our masjid’s board members and our imam, Muhammad Abdullahi,” Khan said. “They do encourage our activities and events, but

leave advertising up to us as a committee.”

Other organizations in the D.C. area have taken advantage of the easy access to this innovative technology. Since many area Islamic organizations gain >> See NETWORKING on Pg 17

Expansion of Islamic Saudi Academy Approved

Heritage Center Pushes for Major Expansion

By Muslim Link Staff

By Muslim Link Staff

On August 3, 2009, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 6-4 in favor of granting a zoning exemption to the Islamic Saudi Academy (ISA) to build an expansion branch on its 34-acre property located on Popes Head Road in Fairfax.

environment concerns. The County made busing mandatory for most students, and use of the facility including sports fields is highly restricted after school hours.

Currently ISA has a single campus in Alexandria, Virginia where close to 1,000 students in Kindergarten through grade 12 study. The expansion will allow for 500 additional students on the separate Fairfax campus.

A jam packed hearing on March 18, 2009 in front of the planning board drew several hundred ISA supporters and a few dozen opponents. Despite being a zoning issue where traffic and road safety were the main issues, Islamophobes and extreme right-wing groups raised concerns over the school’s curriculum and allegations ISA was teaching “jihad”. As reported in the Muslim Link,

ISA made many concessions to get the approval, addressing traffic and

>> See APPROVED on Pg 17

Northern Virginia’s Islamic Heritage Center (IHC) held a fundraiser on August 8, 2009 in an effort to complete the purchase of a building in Fairfax much larger than their current site in Vienna.

The IHC is led by Dr. Nabil Zahr – also known as Sheikh Abu-AbdurRahman – an Islamic scholar and medical doctor – and is best known for its regular Islamic classes and lectures.

The new facility is 26,000 square feet and sits on 3.15 acres of commercially

zoned property. The site is pre-approved for a 70,000 square foot facility. The IHC formed in 2001 and is a much smaller community than other Northern Virginia Islamic center communities.

IHC needs to raise a total of $1.25 million by the end of September 2009 to complete the purchase of the Fairfax facility. To date, they’ve raise a little over $300,000, including $37,000 at their fundraiser which attracted less than 100 supporters.

Kamal El-Mekki served as the keynote speaker. To learn more about the IHC or to donate, visit www.ihcproject.com.

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

COMMUNITY NEWS | 7

Chapman Letters Reveal Extent of Prison Abuse

By Muslim Link Staff Northern Virginia youth Seifullah Chapman believes the Federal Bureau of Prisons is trying to kill him. And so does his attorney.

In a detailed, six-page letter to the Muslim Link, dated July 15, 2009, and in a subsequent letter from Chapman’s cell mate, prison officials are described as deliberately tampering or withholding insulin from Chapman, a type-1 diabetic.

Chapman, 36, is serving a 60 year sentence for allegedly conspiring to violate the neutrality act and wage war in Kashmir against India – an ally of the United States. The absurdly long sentence was driven by the way prosecutors constructed the charges in the indictment, and was called “draconian” even by Leonie Brinkema – the federal judge who sentenced Chapman.

In a letter to his attorney Johnathan Zwerling date May 7, 2009, Chapman wrote “[Prison officials] are doing everything in their power to make me as sick as possible.” Chapman also states he is maintaining a “detailed log” of everything related to his medical condition and how the prison is treating him.

On June 10, 2009, warden of the federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania where Chapman is incarcerated, B. A. Bledsoe, responded to Zwerling, writing “be assured neither your client’s incarceration nor your letter of concern have any bearing on the manner in which our medical staff meet their ethical responsibilities to provide appropriate and necessary medical care.”

Attorney Zwerling filed a motion on July 15, 2009 on Chapman’s behalf, asking Judge Leonie Brinkema to bring him to court to testify in a matter related to his case, but unrelated to his medical condition. Zwerling told the Muslim Link federal judges have no jurisdiction over matters related to the Bureau of Prisons; the only way a judge can force a prisoner to be moved is to bring the prisoner to court. However, after such a court hearing, the prisoner would again be under the custody of the BOP. As of this report, Seifullah Chapman remains in the Lewisburg, PA United States Penitentiary.

Chapman’s letter in its entirety is reproduced below.

As-salaamu alaikum. How are you?

I pray that you are well and that this reaches you while you are in the best of emaan. Allah Kareem.

This was the most terrible pain that I can ever remember experiencing. I was not on able to move, so I laid on the cell floor in my own vomit and blood. No one came until 9:00am, five hours after I requested help.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) – part of the Department of Justice -- has not been cooperative with Chapman’s attorney, who believes Chapman’s “life is at risk”. In a letter dated May 8, 2009 to Bryan Pownell of the BOP Health Services, Zwerling wrote that repeated calls to the prison counselor are not returned.

We are about to beginLevel II in the SMU, and I wanted togive you an update on what’s going on here. To get straight to the point, they are physically torturing people in American Prisons.

“‘Try again later’ is the best response that we have gotten,” wrote Zwerling after enumerating incidents, dates and times showing how the prison’s treatment schedule is only serving to deteriorate Chapman’s condition.

When I first came to prison, I went to USP Big Sandy. Going from health care on the streets to health care in prison was, well, sort of s a shock. I thought that Big Sandy had the worst medical services.

Three years later I was transferred to the Communications Management Unit (CMU) in Terre Haute, and medical got worse.

Type-1 diabetics like Chapman depend on insulin to regulate their blood’s sugar level. A relatively short period of time without insulin, even a day or two for a type-1 diabetic, can lead the body to go into shock, organ failure, and eventually death.

The medical services at S.M.U. (Special Management Unit) are the worst that I have seen in the Bureau of Prisons.

We were locked in a self-contained unit and never left, so we didn’t have access to medical. The only time that we saw medical was if and when they decided to stop by the unit. After two years in

the CMU I was transferred to the Special Management Unit (SMU) at USP Lewisburg.

I have been an insulin dependent diabetic since 1994. For those 16 plus years I have always had to take insulin in order to eat and function. The entire time that I have

I continued to refuse to sign the form.

Then, on Wednesday June 24, 2009, PA (NAME WITHELD) followed through on his threat.

On Wednesday, PA (NAME WITHELD) came to my cell and told me that he had stopped my insulin. I told him that I had

I told him that I had been on insulin dependent diabetic for over 16 years, and that I had never not used insulin over those years . He told me, “Oh well.” So, on Wednesday June 24, 2009, my insulin was stopped for the first time in over sixteen years. been incarcerated, I have always been on insulin. I receive an injection of insulin in the morning for breakfast and lunch, and an injection of insulin in the evening for dinner and a night snack. This has been the case for over 16 years.

been on insulin dependent diabetic for over 16 years, and that I had never not used insulin over those years . He told me, “Oh well.” So, on Wednesday June 24, 2009, my insulin was stopped for the first time in over sixteen years.

The two injections that I take need to be spaced out as close to 12 hours apart as possible in order fort he insulin to work effectively. My entire time in these SMU so far I have been receiving my morning dose of insulin between 6-10am (usually 8-10am) and my evening dose anywhere between 2:30-10pm (usually 3-4pm).

Normally I am receiving insulin late in the morning, 9 or 10am and then early in the evening 3 or 4 pm. That’s only 5 or 6 hours between the two injections. Then, because I receive insulin so early in the evening , 3 or 4 pm, I have to wait 18 hours until my next dose in the morning.

This has caused me major problems in the SMU. The only way to try and fix these kinds of problems in prison is to file Administrative Remedies. So, this is what I did. I filed several Administrative Remedies explaining my medical issues and how medical is not working to correct those issues.

At 6:30am on Thursday June 25, my blood sugar was checked and it was 442.

It is supposed to be between 80-100.

Still, I was not given any insulin. With no insulin, I cannot eat, so Wednesday’s dinner was my last meal. A few hours after my blood sugar was checked I became sick. I started throwing up some green material (I later found out that this was bile from the stomach). I threw up every ten to fifteen minutes for hours.

My cell-mate banged on the door trying to get me medical attention.

On Friday June 19, 2009 , PA (NAME WITHELD), the Primary Care Provider for 1 Block, came to my cell with one of those Administrative Remedies and asked me to sign saying that everything was fine. I told him that the issue had not been resolved so I would not sign the form. PA Fascinana threatened me that if I refused to sign the informal resolution he would “start you from scratch, stop your insulin altogether and then you will have high blood sugar levels all of the time and you won’t need glucose squeeze tubes.”

The high blood sugar levels that he was talking about destroy the liver and kidneys, cause blindness and stop the circulation of blood which causes diabetics to have limbs amputated. I didn’t take the threat seriously believing that no one would do such a thing, so

At 12:30pm officers had to put me on a stretcher in order to take me to medical. Once there I basically received no medical aid. The Assistant Health Administrator told me “You will not be getting insulin.” I was given four green pills that were supposed to be for my stomach, and then I was taken back to the unit in a wheelchair. As the officers were walking me up the stairs to my cell, I threw the pills up. That night, things got even worse. I was not able to get myself off the floor, and I continued the vomiting. My left big toe and my left hand and arm went numb. They are still numb and I have no idea why. My muscles and joints seized up and felt like they were burning. I could only barely move on my own. I had a smashing headache. Everything hurt. At 11:30pm that evening I was taken to the prison infirmary. I was given two I.V. bags and 10 units of insulin. An hour and a half later my blood sugar level had still not receded. I was then returned to my cell.

I ate nothing on Thursday.

On Friday morning my blood sugar level was still high. I was given those four green pills again, but no insulin. I >> See ABUSE on Pg 14

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Running Away from Home After 11 Years, Uyghur Professor Finds Freedom Outside Her Own Land

By Muslim Link Staff News this past July about clashes in western China between police and student protesters put the East Turkestan region and its people -- Uyghur Muslims -- in the international spotlight.

For the past several decades, the Communist Chinese government has engaged in a massive, sustained campaign to change the demographics of the resource-rich region -- known to the Chinese as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and to its centuries old inhabitants as their homeland, East Turkestan. Using iron-fisted techniques like religious repression, removal of the native Uyghur language from the public school system, and importing tens of millions of Han Chinese people from the mainland to become preferred settlers in the region, the tension in the Uyghur population increases day by day.

The Muslim Link was fortunate enough to be guided to Uyghurs living among us in the Greater Washington metropolitan area. These men and women grew up under the Communist occupation. They are taking personal and family risks to let the public know about the reality of

the occupation of their land.

This is the second part of our two-part series on local Uyghurs. Although the international community recognizes East Turkestan as part of China, we will refer to the region as “East Turkestan” rather than “Western China”. - TML ---

details which might identify her or her family members. Area Uyghurs grew up in towns and villages where their own fellow Uyghurs could be spies; anyone suspected of “sectarianism” could lose a job, be harassed by local officials, or even disappear.

I first made contact with Sister Tasneem

“There are always spies among the students. We called super visors who were spies ‘double salar y people’,” she recalled. It became clear to Sister Tasneem that, in her own homeland, she would never be able to speak freely.

I met “Sister Tasneem” at the headquarters of an area Islamic organization. It was a long drive, and we were in the midst of a deadline, but what she intended to tell me couldn’t be said over the phone.

Like another local Uyghur we interviewed, Sister Tasneem asked me to change her name in this article and remove any

through a friend of hers in the days following the July 5, 2009 massacre in Urumchi. Uyghurs protesting the abuse and murder of Uyghur workers

by Chinese security forces were gunned down and, at least for the first few days, the media spotlight turned to East Turkestan and its Muslims suffering under Chinese occupation.

Born in a city close to the Russian border, Sister Tasneem’s parents made sure their children knew they were Muslim, and she learned surah fatiha and a few other short suras. Her parents were mostly busy providing for all the children, and Islamic education was certainly not a normal part of Uyghur society during the 1980s. She recalls her parents always making dua that Allah “safeguard their faith”. Much later in life she would understand why.

Sister Tasneem left home for higher studies at a university in a neighboring city in East Turkestan. Despite being raised at a time when China’s ruling Communist party appeared to be softening its suspicious view of religion – and in particular Islam – Sister Tasneem was acutely aware of the second-class citizenship given to the land’s native Uyghur Muslims over the mostly atheist Hann Chinese, flooding by the millions into East Turkestan from mainland China.

But, she acknowledged, nothing prepared her for what she was to experience as a >> See RUNNING on Pg 9

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of herbs and honey in his native Egypt before coming to the USA where he completed a masters in Pharmacology and a doctorate in Medical Microbiology from the University of Georgia.

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Driven by his deep knowledge and experience with healing agents, and his faith in Allah’s

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Allahu Akbar!”

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Br Hasan, a Honeyderm customer from Maryland

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009 RUNNING >> continued from pg 8 university engineering professor. Here is some of her story.

Speechless On Campus “One of my students stopped coming to class. Every time I asked about him, no one spoke. I knew nothing for one week until I spoke to a student close to me. He told me that student was praying five times a day, talking about Islam, and

– Sister Tasneem saw the Uyghur identity threatened. Virtually alone in her dissent, she began to pray in her dorm. Typically, teachers were placed in dormitories, sometimes 4 or 5 to a room. In such close proximity to others, secrets don’t last long.

and Europe – teach in almost every college or university around the world.

Regardless of their core topic, they often end up teaching English because the demand for native English speaking instructors is great. Just as often, these westerners are Christian missionaries.

“A [Communist] party member came to me one day and asked if I was praying.

I told him yes, and he told me I was the topic of discussion at the last party meeting. He told me if I wasn’t careful I would lose my job,” recalled Sister Tasneem. “Next time tell them if it’s a

Sister Tasneem and a friend decided to sit-in on an English class taught by a western teacher to Han Chinese teachers.

Hosting other Uyghur teachers in your class was a professional courtesy, and not much was ever made of it. In Sister Tasneem’s case, university officials announced the class list would be strictly adhered to. Ignoring this directive, Sister Tasneem and her friend went to class the next day, only to find all extra desk and chairs had been removed. The two women found some chairs and brought them in.

He told me if I wasn’t careful I would lose my job,” recalled Sister Tasneem. “Next time tell them if it’s a choice between my job and my prayer, I’ll choose my prayer,” she recalled telling her colleague.

giving da’wa to other Uyghur students.

Two Chinese government security officials called him for a meeting, and he was never seen again. Even his parents had no idea what happened,” recalled Sister Tasneem.

Although Uyghur youth know they are Muslim, most have no connection to the religion and no means of Islamic education. The majority of jobs are in government, and people known to pray and practice Islam have little chance of getting hired.

At the university, Sister Tasneem started to experience first hand how the Chinese were taking systematic steps to erase the identity of the occupied Uyghur people.

Like occupiers throughout history, it starts with eradicating the local language.

“Since I started teaching at the college, it was always in Uyghur [language].

Later, they required all classes be taught in Chinese. It was a sudden switch, but I knew Chinese so I could do it. Other professors didn’t know Chinese and they had a hard time. They had to pass a language exam or get laid off,” she said.

“It was a lot of pressure for the older professors, many of them emotionally broke down.”

Sister Tasneem, outspoken by her own admission, protested this language change during one of her classes. A student left the room and came back with a supervisor.

“There are always spies among the students. We called supervisors who were spies ‘double salary people’,” she recalled. It became clear to Sister Tasneem that, in her own homeland, she would never be able to speak freely.

The Party and Prayer With the change to Chinese language based classes – something which would soon take place at the elementary and secondary schools across East Turkestan

COMMUNITY NEWS | 9

choice between my job and my prayer, I’ll choose my prayer,” she recalled telling her colleague.

The Communist Party was the official government party, and it’s presence on campus was at all levels. Students who joined the party – and most did if not only for fear of reprisal – had to meet once a week. Teachers, as government employees, were required to attend a political meeting in the large hall on campus every Wednesday. The meeting agenda typically consisted of government policies, the value of the Communist Party, and the ills of separatism.

“The [Party] Secretary started the meeting and said ‘there are some teachers who are praying five times a day’. Everyone turned to look at me, and I did not know how they all came to find out. He said ‘when will [those teachers] correct papers and prepare their class?

Is your Allah going to give you your salary?’ I tried not to listen, and I told Allah that He was a witness to what they were doing to me,” remembered Sister Tasneem.

After the meeting, colleagues asked her if she will continue with her prayers, she said yes. “If they don’t want me, they can lay me off,” she told the other teachers.

But her students loved her, and the university officials knew it. Despite her excellent performance, her supervisors gave her poor evaluations. With all the pressure on her, she desperately wanted to travel abroad for additional teacher training and research, and to be relieved of the trials she faced for trying to practice Islam. However, only teachers with the best evaluations were give the opportunity to travel.

“But I found another way,” said Sister Tasneem. Learning English would be her ticket out of her occupied homeland.

The Language Mission Western teachers – from the Americas

“It was a kind of demonstration,” she laughed.

She sought every opportunity to improve her English, and began attending students’ courses also. Some of the students were Uyghur also. But what she began hearing in class, the lessons taught to the students, worried her. “The kids were not sure if they were learning language or deen,” she said. “I found out the main stream of teachers coming from outside were missionaries, and the government allowed them in because they [split] the Muslims,” explained Sister Tasneem.

Driven by her protective feelings towards the impressionable Uyghur students, and with only rudimentary knowledge of English, she decided to start her own English class.

Beginning with 81 students, Sister Tasneem taught them language, and also

telling her she was surprised Tasneem was “not wild”. Asked what she meant, Marilyn told her how the Chinese tell incoming foreigners Uyghurs are like “native Americans in the US”, inclined to criminality, uncultured and brutish.

Sister Tasneem told her about the Uyghur people, their customs and history, and took her to visit Uyghur families. Marilyn was amazed. “You are different people,” Sister Tasneem recalled her saying.

A religious turning point in Sister Tasneem’s life came the night she accepted Marilyn’s invitation to a New Year’s party. Amidst the eating and socializing, Marilyn called Sister Tasneem to a small gathering on one side of the party hall. A young Uyghur man was standing in the middle in a long white dress. He was getting baptized.

“His English teacher was standing next to him. He was put in some water and the people around said ‘hallelujah’. The Uyghur youth – born a Muslim – said he had many questions about Islam which his parents could not answer, but his teachers were able to answer, so he said he accepted Christianity and he would never go back. Then his younger sister was baptized, and she did not even speak English,” said Sister Tasneem.

“I was standing there, but I was alone.

I cried in my heart. No one was with me except Allah. People were drinking alcohol all around me. I asked myself what keeps us safe from [assimilating with the] Chinese, and the answer I came to was ‘our deen’. It was a short moment, but it led to many deep thoughts,” she reflected.

When she went home that night, Sister Tasneem could not sleep. She kept crying and making dua until the morning.

Marilyn called Sister Tasneem to a small gathering on one side of the party hall. A young Uyghur man was standing in the middle in a long white dress. He was getting baptized. confidence in their identity.

“I told them to make sure they don’t forget who they are, which path they were going on … I was hinting at these things in the very first lesson,” she recalled.

With excitement building to learn English among some Uyghur students, the university invited a female Uyghur Vice-Supervisor on campus to give a talk to the student body. “She told the students to work hard and lift themselves up, and then cautioned them against being in a rush to learn English, saying their first task was to learn Chinese,” explained Sister Tasneem.

One of Sister Tasneem’s own English teachers was an American woman named Marilyn. The two became quite close, and Sister Tasneem recalls Marilyn once

Having memorized only surah Fatiha and a few short surahs, she recited them over and over again. The next day Sister Tasneem’s sister came to visit. Both wept over the plight of their people.

An Opening Three years had passed since Sister Tasneem started an after-hours English class for Uyghur students. The class was now down to about 20 students, and the small group was very close and trusted.

They had open discussions about Islam, and most were praying regularly. Asked if they prayed in jama’, Sister Tasneem replied “no way”. The small group represented Uyghurs from all over East >> See RUNNING II on Pg 10

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

10 | COMMUNITY NEWS

NBA Star to Youth: Put Islam into Practice

By Farkhunda Ali Muslim Link Staff Writer Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, a former National Basketball Association’s (NBA) star player told wide-eyed youth at Masjid Al-Islam in the District to establish Islam wherever they are.

The kids who normally roam the Masjid’s two floors sat in the front row among older supporters of the masjid at a fundraising dinner of its Islamic school on August 15, 2009. Abdul-Rauf is now an Imam of a masjid he built in Gulfport, Mississippi.

“Knowledge could make a slave into a King,” said Abdul-Rauf. “We look at education as preparation for job for financial security, but we are missing the primary purpose of educationintelligence-it could serve as a means for the survival of the people.”

An estimated 100 DC Metro community Muslims attended the 5th Annual fundraising dinner for the Masjid Al-

RUNNING II >> continued from pg 9

Turkestan, and they shared stories about their towns and villages, the hardships, and the plight of the Uyghur Muslims.

“Your from this land, and you don’t even know what’s happening in this land,” Sister Tasneem told herself. “I used to cry.”

The group had their own small graduation ceremony. Some delivered poems, some wrote stories, and others could not speak through their tears. “It was very emotional,” recalled Sister Tasneem. “I told them now we were a network, and each of us should start another group of twenty.”

It was around this time that Sister Tasneem received news which would change her life.

Seeking a way out of China, Sister Tasneem applied to universities in Europe and elsewhere. With a high score on her English proficiency exam, her chances were better than most.

“Before I applied, I called my parents and told them if I stay here [in China] it would only be for them. I told them I was unhappy, that even my prayers are threatened, and I asked them to make dua for me. My mother told me later that my father cried a lot, and said I was more than a son. I made a lot of dua, saying Allah find me a clean spot where I can worship you,” recalled Sister Tasneem.

Islam Group Home School (GHS). After collecting donations and pledges, Imam Abdul Alim Musa auctioned artwork completed from the previous school year

by GHS students. The fundraiser reeled in $4,000 in cash and checks.

Imam Musa said, “Your money will not go to waste here at our school,” as he held up a unique carved painting of one student expressing his vision of the moon and the planets on a recycled wooden plate.

The young Muslims of the community are echoing the message of the National Saibuqun Movement led by Imam Musa.

Most of the children live in the vicinity of the Masjid in Southeast, and some in other parts of DC and Maryland.

Imam Tufail and Mahmoud Abul-Rauf address school supporters at Masjid Al-Islam. Photo by Farkhunda Ali.

Comparing western education where

church is separated from the state, AbdulRauf commented Muslims can’t put away their religion in their “closets.”

Referencing studies done by Harvard and Yale professors, Abdul-Rauf explained African children have an inherent talent to learn quickly. He added history shows that Africans and Muslims were the inventors of many modern day disciplines such as Algebra, and many sciences.

“My name was in the newspaper soon after, in a list of students accepted for post-graduate studies in Europe.”

getting out of China, members of the worldwide diaspora generally don’t have relatives living close by.

The university didn’t make it easy for Sister Tasneem. They claimed they didn’t get a telegram she needed to travel.

Sister Tasneem went to the main post office and argued with a Chinese office worker. He said the post office never received a telegram for her, and that she could look on her own if she wanted. She did. In a pile of newspapers on a desk, she found the telegram, stuffed between two pages of one of the newspapers.

In Europe, Sister Tasneem was alone.

Muslims she met from other nations became her family. On the eve of taking an important exam to open up further research opportunities for her, Sister Tasneem called home repeatedly to ask her father to make dua for her. No one picked up. Much later, her mother answered and told her why. The family had buried Sister Tasneem’s father that day.

Just before she left for Europe, a Uyghur colleague gave her some parting advice.

In her efforts to leave China, Sister Tasneem applied to universities in Europe as well as in America. While in Europe, an opportunity to study in America opened up, and because her English was good, she took it.

The students proudly said they fear none but Allah. They said they are pleased to have an Islamic school in the inner city where they can do little things to show people Islam.

“If you want to come back [to China], then tell [the Europeans] you are Chinese.

Or else, tell the world you are Uyghur.”

She told Europe she was Uyghur.

At International Student meetings, to her research associates, to people she met, Sister Tasneem spoke passionately about her homeland. She told them about the repression and the lack of free speech. The response she received was unexpected. Her European colleagues and fellow staff reminded her when it was time for prayers, and arranged vegetarian food for her. For the first time in her life, after 11 years of trying to escape her own homeland, Sister Tasneem found freedom.

Alone, Finding Family in the Ummah Because of the difficulty Uyghurs face

While in China, the Uyghur wife of a high-ranking Communist Party official once gave her some advice. “If you want to be safe – even outside the country – don’t talk about our situation.” Sister Tasneem did not heed that advice.

“In the university, we were taught the 21st century is the Chinese century.

Islam is a threat to the Chinese. [The Shahadah] teaches that Allah is the power, the Chinese teach us that they are the power … but they are only big numbers,” she reflected. She spoke with the confidence of someone who stood up – alone -- against those very same big numbers.

Although the massacre of Uyghur Muslims in Urumchi prompted our

GHS staff said children are yearning for a loving and nurturing learning environment. “This is why our children love education,” said assistant Imam Tufail.

Reflecting back to the days of controversy in his last years in the NBA, Abdul-Rauf said he was implementing his religion in his life when he refused to stand up >> See NBA on Pg 21 interview, Sister Tasneem’s view of her people is expansive.

“Now, my main purpose is [the well being] of all Muslims, not just for the Uyghurs. We stand up for the Palestinians, the Chechens, the Iraqis … as a Muslim I stand for everyone,” she explained.

But surely she must miss her own family, her siblings and mother, still in East Turkestan. I inquired. She said she was trying to bring her family to America, but it’s very difficult. As for visiting, because of her vocal stance against Chinese repression, she will remain an emigrant.

“I always have bad dreams when I intend to travel, so I don’t go. The Chinese have their agents everywhere.”

As for raising her voice against on-going Chinese abuses, changes in her life have made such activism much more difficult.

She places her hand on one of her young daughters.

“No,” she says quietly. “Because of my kids.”

--He who emigrates (from his home) in the Cause of Allah, will find on earth many dwelling places and plenty to live by. And whosoever leaves his home as an emigrant unto Allah and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, his reward is then surely incumbent upon Allah. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Nisaa: 100)

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

ADVERTISEMENT | 11

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

12 | COMMUNITY NEWS CONFLICT >> continued from pg PB

Army officer, to Kilgore in relation to starting a publication about the Middle East in the U.S.

hand, they receive many comments encouraging them to continue, “spreading the truth”.

taking place in the Middle East. The need and success of the magazine can be gauged through its growth over the last 27 years; once an 8-page newsletter, the now 100-page magazine is circulated to thousands of subscribers.

Kilgore replied, “I’ll only do it if there’s enough money and Curtiss is the editor because he has such capabilities for it.”

Because of the magazine’s consistent achievements, in 1996, the State Department granted Kilgore an outstanding retiree award and presented to him the “Foreign Service Cup“. When he noticed my shock on learning the award was given by the State Department, he informed me the members of the State Department are mainly pro-Arab; the policies, on the other hand, are not.

The magazine is published eight times per year by the American Educational Trust, a non-profit organization established in 1982 by Edward Henderson, a British Army officer during World War II. Cofounders Curtiss, a former chief inspector for the U.S. Information Agency, and Kilgore, a former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, continue through their writings to bring to the public accurate information on matters related to culture, oil politics and the ongoing wars the U.S. is engaged in.

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs does not support the positions the American government is taking on certain issues, such as the PalestinianIsraeli dispute. Overall, the Washington Report endorses Middle East solutions, which they judge to be “consistent with the charter of the United Nations and traditional American support for human rights, self-determination, and fair play”.

The retired government officials perceived the “truth” first hand and sympathized for Palestine 60 years ago when Israel was created; at 90 years old, Kilgore remembers it well. He and Curtiss felt the “news” being absorbed by the typical American was biased and false. Kilgore said it was crucial for the American public to know and comprehend what was truly happening overseas. I discerned a book on his desk titled “The Palestinians’ Holocaust”. In his opinion, what is occurring in Palestine is a reenactment of what happened a few decades ago during the brutal Holocaust.

However, the victims of the Holocaust are now the new oppressor.

The publication was initiated by a phone call from Henderson, former British

Curtiss studied journalism making him suitable for the position, but Kilgore proofreads and writes an article in every issue. Having years of experience and first hand knowledge of the events, he checks for accuracy in every article.

The first thing that caught my eye in the WRMEA building was the loads of

Covered by three boxes of antagonistic

The retired government officials perceived the “truth” first hand and sympathized for Palestine 60 years ago when Israel was created; at 90 years old, Kilgore remembers it well. books covering the walls of the offices.

Above a writer’s desk was a white board with some writing – words taken straight out of a spy novel: “AIPAC”, “CIA”, “spy”, and “plan”, connected with some lines.

Because the magazine delves into controversial and highly politicized foreign-policy issues, it is often at the receiving end of hostile letters, phone calls and at times death threats. The magazine also counters the effect of the powerful pro-Israel lobby groups, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. Kilgore chuckled while he told me Curtiss received a death threat saying he was going to die by 9 p.m that night, but Curtiss replied saying it was already passed 9 p.m in Washington D.C. The hostility they face does not thwart WRMEA from its mission; it merely strikes them as opinions and even gives them an occasional laugh. On the other

letters from AIPAC, Kilgore showed me an enormous hole drilled into the top of a 1952 safe in his office. Three years ago one night, a couple of people working for AIPAC broke into the office in search of “some dirt” on the Washington Report.

They drilled into the safe, but for some reason couldn’t finish the job. They left taking nothing from the safe; the hole was not big enough to take out the journals enclosed. Kilgore knew AIPAC would relentlessly be after the magazine.

WRMEA is labeled as “anti-Semitic” by many people and organizations, which Kilgore explained is literally not true.

Both Arabs and Jews are “semitic”, meaning they are of or relating to the Semitic languages including both Arabic and Hebrew.

Kilgore believes the “American’s ignorance” came when immigrants came from Europe to America. They “divorced” Europe, avoiding them and not paying attention to the news outside

of the country. In addition, he believes the nations’ lack of languages makes them less knowledgeable on what is happening overseas.

Although the magazine is Pro-Palestinian, Rachelle Marshall, the writer for the monthly lead article from San Francisco, California, is Jewish. . Additionally, Lucy Jones, a free-lance journalist based in London, writes an article each issue concerning the European press.

There are also correspondents in, New York, Iowa, Gaza, London and other places.

The American public is consistently informed that Israel is the single democratic country in the Middle East with the freedom of press, nonetheless, Mohammed Omer’s story tells otherwise. The award winning Palestinian journalist in his early 20’s wrote for the Washington Report from the Gaza Strip risking his own life.

After receiving the prestigious Martha Gellhorn Award for Journalism, Omer was detained, questioned by Israeli security agents, strip searched at gunpoint and assaulted. Omer now writes from his current location in France.

Like many magazines who try to “spread the truth”, Kilgore said their major setback is the financing. The magazine receives funds from donations, subscribers and news stands. Three days before our interview, someone bequeathed $180,000 in their will for the magazine.

Sitting down and discussing the magazine with Kilgore opened my eyes to the long history behind the magazine.

He explained how he and Curtiss began because they were retired and served 35 years for the government making it an appropriate to launch this publication.

By using their retirement pension, they purchased property in 1987 and have been publishing ever since.

Kilgore passionately remarked, “My goal is to get the truth out and continue for as long as I live.”

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009 GAZA >> continued from pg 1

to Gaza led by British Parliamentarian George Galloway and the urgent situation on ground, Galloway decided to call for a convoy to leave from the U.S, initiating Viva Palestina USA. Viva Palestina is the British based charitable organization for running a humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza. Their task was to raise as much money as possible in eight weeks to depart on the fourth of July, arrive in Cairo, purchase vehicles and medical aid, drive seven hours to the Rafa borders and demand to be let into Gaza, the most difficult place in the world to enter.

The convoy consisted of 200 people, from different age groups, cultures and religions. They were also accompanied with, George Galloway, council

The Iraq veteran mentioned he was only 19 when he was the “occupier” in Iraq and saw what life was like “wearing the boot of imperialism”. He joined this convoy as a “personal redemption” and as a representative of the veterans who share his beliefs. His main goal was to “inspire as many members of the military as possible to lay down their rifles, to throw their bodies into the gears of the war machines and refuse to serve a government that is responsible for war crimes in Palestine and the most heinous crimes all over the world, and instead fight to create a better world here and abroad.”

Convoy leaders asked their contacts in Gaza what items the Palestinians needed.

Vehicles and medical were the most important; however, the Palestinians essentially needed to see their display of human solidarity.

COMMUNITY NEWS | 13

“[The make up of the convoy] was a true reflection of this movement; it’s diverse, determined, strong and most importantly it is growing ever yday,” said Pr ysner, being the only Army veteran on the trip. by guards. Walking down the street, they were followed by “vehicles going walking speed with AK-47’s waiting in the back of the car”. Spies infiltrated their meetings, some even posing as hotel workers or activists part of the group.

There was “paperwork” that was not filled out and certain “precautions” the group failed to take. The most significant challenge was the $500,000 needed to purchase, essential for the Palestinians to run a “civil society” and to transport the $200,000 worth of medical aid. It took the course of a week for the paperwork to get through and for the purchase of the 50 new cars to be permitted.

While waiting for the vehicles, some members of the group visited the hospital that treated Palestinians who actually made it to a safe haven. After the siege in January, only 78 people with the most crucial cases were let into this hospital out of thousands.

George Galloway with VIVA Palestina USA convoy members wait to enter Gaza. Photo courtesy of VIVA Palestina.

Many in the audience were stunned to hear the U.S State Department demanded all Americans traveling with the convoy sign an affidavit forfeiting their rights as American citizens as soon as they entered Gaza. member Charles Barron from Brooklyn, congressional representative Cynthia McKinney and others. McKinney had just returned from an Israeli jail. She flew back to New York, took a nap and got right back on a plane to Egypt as they made their way to Gaza, Prysner mentioned. “[The make up of the convoy] was a true reflection of this movement; it’s diverse, determined, strong and most importantly it is growing everyday,” said Prysner, being the only Army veteran on the trip.

Prysner said he felt honored to represent theANSWER coalition because they stand up for Palestine and never compromise their principles. Nevertheless, his personal reasons for going were deeper.

Viva Palestina informed the Israeli government, U.S embassy in Israel and the State Department of their “demonstration”.

They also did everything within the restrictions and went through all the “hoops” prior to the trip, said Prysner. However, they confronted numerous obstacles to their mission.

Prysner discussed the major obstacles the convoy faced including the State Departments warning not to enter Gaza, the Egyptian government’s continuous security barricades preventing the convoy from crossing the Suez Canal and reaching the Rafa crossing.

The group was constantly under surveillance in Cairo and swarmed

One of the doctors told the convoy he had never in his two decades of practice seen this many amputations. These injuries were due to new weapons manufactured in the U.S, remarked Prysner, who added these weapons are tested on the people and children of Gaza.

Prysner spoke about two of the patients he spoke at the hospital. The first being a man who lost his eye and was severely injured when he was trying to rescue his wounded friend from a missile that hit a market. The other patient weighed about 90 pounds. Not only is he living off I.Vs, but he has numerous internal and external injuries. He and his family were walking to a safer location when struck by a missile; several members of his family were killed.

Prysner asked the patient, “What do you want America to know?” He replied, “They have to understand it’s the children that are suffering the most, that the adults can handle it but to the children it’s something horrific.”

On their way to the Suez Canal, they were stopped at a checkpoint and ordered to return to Cairo. They began chanting and making a human chain. The bus driver was threatened with arrest if he didn‘t take the convoy back to Cairo.

To prevent being turned back, members of the group stole the bus keys. At one point, the Egyptians agreed to let them in, however, the bus began driving in the direction of Cairo. Everyone jumped out

of the moving bus and yet again formed a human chain, Prysner recalled.

Many in the audience were stunned to hear the U.S State Department demanded all Americans traveling with the convoy sign an affidavit forfeiting their rights as American citizens as soon as they entered Gaza.

The convoy planned to stay for three days; however, they were told they could only remain in Gaza for 24 hours. If they stayed longer, they would not be allowed into Egypt until the subsequent border opening. A more serious setback was the Egyptians not giving them the 50 newly, purchased vehicles. The only thing permitted into Gaza was the $200,000 worth of medical supplies, not including the wheel chairs, notebook paper, crayons, and toys. Finally, after extensive negotiation the convoy received a call at 3 a.m. informing the group they could pass through Gaza if they left at that moment. Once everyone was ready to leave, the buses “mysteriously” did not show up. The group had to call five different bus companies to pick them up, Prysner said.

To avoid media coverage, the Egyptian government forced the group to wait until the middle of the night to enter Gaza.

Finally, after two weeks of struggle, loopholes, and obstacles they broke the siege and brought in the medical aid.

Until now, the 50 new cars, wheelchairs, crayons, notebook paper and toys are sitting just outside the border, Prysner noted.

Prysner described the entry as profound, emotional and triumphant against all odds and obstacles.

“I felt like I wasn’t stepping into Gaza as an individual, but with everyone in my heart from the ANSWER coalition and as soon as I stepped off the bus I grabbed the first person I saw and hugged them as hard as I could.” Prysner recalled.

A passionate discussion on the weapons used in Gaza and the Iraq war followed Prysner’s report.

Prysner informed the audience he is looking forward to attending the next Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza, this December, reminiscing the one-year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, which claimed the lives of over 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

14 | COMMUNITY NEWS ABUSE >> continued from pg 7 threw up the green pills in front of the PCP, PA (NAME WITHELD). At 9:30 am the medical clinical director, Dr. Pigos, came to my cell. PA (NAME WITHELD) had been telling everyone that my problem was that I was eating lots of Snickers bars. Where he got this from I don’t know. By this time I had been the SMU for nearly three months and only 2 Snickers bars were missing from my property. Only two. Yet, since he was saying this, and because all that I wanted was to get my insulin back and stop the pain, I told Dr. Pigos to have the officers remove all of the food from my cell. This way, P.A. (NAME WITHELD) could stop telling this lie. The officers did this in front of the doctor. Now I was pleading with medical to restore my insulin. I continued explaining that I had never not had insulin. For over 16 years, I had continually been on insulin.

I needed insulin. On Friday, I ate no food.

Saturday was more of the same, only more intense. I received no insulin when the nurse came to work. Now, here I was, in a “medical observation” cell, after suffering from days of the exact same problems, yet I was given no medical aid. Instead, I was told to wait for two hours. I told the officers that I couldn’t wait. They watched as I

vomited blood. Then they told me that the lieutenant had left word for medical to see me first, as soon as he arrived at 6:00am. This was the most terrible pain that I can ever remember experiencing. I was not on able to move, so I lay on the cell floor in my own vomit and blood. No one came until 9:00am, five hours after I requested help. Instead of responding to my medical emergency, the nurse came at 9:00am for pill line. He told me that when he came at 6:00am he first went to the camp to pass out medications. Then, he came back to the penitentiary to pass out medications. He came to me last.

When the nurse came, he came with a group of people. There was a lieutenant, one of the unit officers and a psychologist.

I was cursed and told that I would not receive any medical aid because “you don’t need insulin.” The lieutenant ordered that I be handcuffed and shackled on the bed, even though I was not in a disciplinary case. The nurse checked my blood sugar and it was 600 again. I was given three i.v. bags, 10 units of insulin (which didn’t reduce my level) and another injection for the vomiting. All I could do was ask for insulin. I explained over and over again to everyone that I been on insulin for 16 years, how could they stop my insulin-my life line. I wasn’t eating snickers bars, they knew this because I had given them all of my food on the previous Thursday, and I had been in the observation cell since then.

I had not eaten since Wednesday so I

had common-fare trays stacked up in the corner of the cell. Officers removed all of the food trays; they were still full.

The nurse explained to me that my situation was like that of a car when the radiator runs out of water. The high blood sugar levels had me severely dehydrated, and like a car my body was seizing and breaking down. My insulin was still not resumed.

Sunday was definitely my worst day; I really thought I might die. The pain was that terrible. I have never experienced pain like that in my life. Allah says, “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (al-Baqarah v. 155). Alhumdulillah, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”

On Monday evening I was finally given some insulin. I was only given 8 units, which is 1/3 of my normal evening dose.

I was kept in the “observation” cell until Saturday, July 11, 2009, and I was only released because the cell was needed for its designated purpose -- disciplinary reasons. I was returned to my regular cell after more than two weeks in a sleep deprivation cell. My first meal was a piece of bread and a cup of milk on Monday June 29. I lost a lot of weight, so I requested to be weighed to know just how much I lost. That request has

been denied.

The first week was the worst. Other than the problems that I mentioned above, I also had blurred vision for over a week, and it took me more than a week before I could walk straight. I prayed laying down, then sitting and then finally after a week I could pray standing again.

The numbness in my toe arm and hand remain.

I would never have believed that this kind of treatment could happen without witnessing it firsthand. After dealing with medical here for three months I am convinced that this treatment was no accident; this was done purposefully.

It was only by Allah’s Mercy that I was able to get through this. Alhumduillah for Allah’s Mercy because these people have none.

So, this is happening here in prisons in America. I can hardly believe it. So I am sure that it will be difficult for you to believe it too. I used to hear on the news about physical tortures occurring in places like Abu Gharaib prison and Guantanamo Bay, but not here.

Be assured, Muslims are also being physically tortured in America. Thank you for listening brother. Allah ma’ak, Wa salaam, Your brother, Seifullah Chapman July 15, 2009

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009 IMAM >> continued from pg 1 Wainwright represented American Muslims in US government outreach programs to Muslim nations in Africa NETWORKING >> continued from pg 5 funding and membership almost solely from advertising, they lack the funds to advertise in traditional publications, such as newspapers and newsletters.

Mohsin Majid, a committee member of the Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB) youth group, said the group relies heavily on social networks and forums to “promote and advertise events, gather members online and in general have a place for discussion and gather suggestions.” These social networks have facilitated a more active membership.

“ISB even started a Twitter [account] for Al-Rahmah School,” Majid said, referring to the social networking site in which users can post short updates of 140 characters or less. The feedback from the community has been positive, he said.

COMMUNITUY NEWS | 17

and elsewhere.

Like many African-American Muslim leaders, Brother Darryl transitioned from the Nation of Islam to true Islam in 1988.

According to a biography posted at the Since many people do not frequent the Masjid as much as they frequent their Facebook profiles, using the site as a place to advertise events and community projects is becoming more efficient, according to those who use them. Lower costs (in some cases, no costs at all), wider audiences and quicker means of spreading their messages are tantalizing options for area organizations. In many cases, the religious organizations provide a link back to their main website for more information about the group itself.

Islamic Center of Maryland spokesperson Ali Khan said the Gaithersburg, Md. masjid recently formed a group of their own to cater to the young people of the community and has sparked success with the online website tools. The means used to reach out to people in their area have “received nothing but praise, encouragement, and most importantly constructive criticism,” Khan said.

Sehrish Ameen, a member of the Dar AlTaqwa (Ellicott City, Md.) community

MALARIA >> continued from pg 5

established in 2009 to tackle a bevy of issues like malaria within the national and international Muslim community.

distressed by this predicament. With the motivation to display not only a sense of mercy, but also a sense of urgency to increase the consciousness of Muslims in America about the fatalities incurred by malaria, United For Change was

United For Change has taken the first step in initiating a relationship between the poor and infirmed. The organization’s mission is to become the steering committee for eight other national organizations committed to unifying around the malaria problem.

ISWA >> continued from pg 4 Alie said he expects more than 200 people to come for Taraweeh on a nightly basis. The parking lot, which can currently hold between 50 and 60 cars, will be expanded to meet these demands.

Alie set the mid-Ramadan deadline in hopes of getting the new facility ready for Eid ul-Fitr, during which ISWA can

APPROVED >> continued from pg 5 Planning board members emphasized they would make their decision based on traffic and environmental issues only. Some Planning Board members harshly chastised attendees who raised the “jihad” issue.

expect to draw huge crowds.

But these issues represent a welcome change for Alie, who spent the last year conducting Friday prayers and Taraweeh at an auditorium at a nearby church.

“It feels very comfortable to be back in our own building,” Alie said. “It’s an accomplishment. It was well worth all the time and effort.”

CECF website, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Mediterranean until 1969. From 1993 to 1995, he was a Muslim Chaplain at the Maryland State Penitentiary and the Maryland State Super Maximum Facility. Imam Darryl studied at An Nur Institute for Islamic Studies & Arabic Language in

Baltimore, and also traveled to Syria, Egypt, and Qatar in pursuit of Islamic knowledge.

and the DC Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament (MIST) board, recognizes the benefits of social networks that help boost membership numbers to a high level in a short period of time.

method of information and admits, “as long as its halal, the word gets out, and it brings the community together, that’s all we need.”

“No matter how small your group is it will definitely get bigger,” Ameen said.

MIST advertises to both teens it serves and their parents. It is becoming ever more popular for parents to register for these social networks their children so proficiently use. Ameen is no stranger to keeping members in the loop.

“Parents, speakers, and kids are all members of this [social network],” she says. “I am not favoring [it], but people are just more prone to use it over blogs and email.”

Internet communication and social networking sites have been a blessing for Islamic community leaders and techsavvy youth. Ameen, as a part of both these groups, has embraced the popular

It is not often that such large national Muslim entities have partnered and demonstrated synergy around any issue. In the spirit of reaching out to a specific but marginalized community of suffering malaria victims United For Change and its partners are having its inaugural convention September 5th at the Gaylord Resort and Hotel, National Harbor, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. Many prominent

The expansion and renovation isn’t complete yet. While the parking lot is expected to be completed by midRamadan, the second phase of the ISWA construction project will take a little longer. During Ramadan, workers will continue to fix the first floor and begin installing dry wall and insulation upstairs.

The second floor, once complete, will hold classrooms, a kitchen and a media center, which Alie says ISWA will take full advantage of.

His janaza was held at Masjid Al-Haq in Baltimore city.

Of yet another opinion is Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of Dar Al-Hijrah in Falls Church, Va. By referring to social networking sites as a “moderated free for all”, Abdul-Malik claims that they are not completely taboo.

He created his own Facebook profile and is an administrator on the Dar AlHijrah youth group page. Witnessing the Islamic community becoming more interactive and aware of the population’s activities has vindicated Johari’s acceptance and encouragement of Internet communication.

Albeit slowly, Islamic organizations are finding social networking can build their communities just as much as traditional potluck dinners – without the arduous post-dinner clean-up.

speakers have committed to the occasion and the United For Change mission.

The website for United For Change and registration for the convention and Iftar Dinner to follow is: muslimsunitedforchange.com Amad Shakur is the V.P. & Director of Marketing for United For Change. He can be reached at Amadou1@bellsouth.net

“We plan to hold classes and interfaith conferences there,” he said.

ISWA has spent one million dollars on the project so far. They need $100,000 to complete the first phase of the project, according to Alie.

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE! Do you want to get invovled in bringing up change in the Muslim community ? Make a difference and become a reporter for the Muslim Link. Email a resume and writing sample to the editor at editor “AT”

muslimlinkpaper.com.

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

18 | ISLAM

Islam

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

Preparation of the Winners in Ramadan The following is a reminder of some matters that help one to be among the winners in Ramadan by using its days and nights properly. “Remind, for indeed reminding benefits the believers.”

(51:55) 1. Mujaahadah: struggling against the nafs “As for those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths.” (29:69)

determination Ibnul Jawzi said, “The sign of completion of the mind is high aspiration, for he who is satisfied with low aspiration is disgraceful, and I didn’t see a severer shortcoming than that of people who are capable of completion yet don’t aspire for it.”

3. Knowing the virtues of the month and its distinguishing characteristics

Do you want guidance? Do you want steadfastness? Struggle against your soul, for if we bring ourselves closer to Allah, Allah will come closer to us.

He who knows something develops interest in it and preserves it. Even if there was nothing in Ramadan but Laylat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power), which is better than one thousand months, that would suffice.

2. Having high aspiration and

4. Recognizing Ramadan’s few days and

its speed of departure “A fixed number of days…” (2:184) [From the verse, “(Observing fast is) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days”].

Yesterday we were congratulating each other for the beginning of Ramadan and today we give each other condolences for its departure. This is how both days and life are, passing quickly. So hurry up to benefit in Ramadan.

5. Competition of the righteous people in doing good deeds The righteous people compete for good deeds, while the others are captives of their lusts and slaves to their desires.

“Then We gave the Book (the Qur’an) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah’s Leave, foremost in good deeds. That is indeed a great grace.“ (35:32) 6. Remembering death and bewaring its suddenness You might not reach another Ramadan, so watch for yourself! _________________________ Source: Adapted by islaam.com from the lecture “The Winners in Ramadan” by Sh. Ibrahim ad-Duwaysh

Some Common Mistakes in Ramadan

By Asma bint Shameem TAKING RAMADAAN AS A RITUAL For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil....we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allaah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that’s about all. Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘He is doomed who sees the month of Ramadaan come and go, “Jibreel said to me, ‘May he be destroyed, who sees the month of Ramadaan come and go and he has not been forgiven’, and I said, ‘Ameen’. (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others.

Saheeh by al-Albaani) EMPHASIS ON FOOD AND DRINK For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan revolves around food.

They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Qur’aan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of ‘fasting’ into the month of ‘feasting’. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also waste & extravagance. “.....and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah) likes not Al-Musrifoon

(those who waste by extravagance)” [alA’raaf :31] SPENDING ALL DAY COOKING Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Qur’aan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness.

So turn off that stove and turn on your Imaan!

EATING TOO MUCH Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to ‘make up for the food missed.’

However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and onethird for air.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. saheeh by al-Albaani).

Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless. It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so. >> See MISTAKES on Pg 20

Reading Qur’an ... Quality, not Quantity ‘Ataa’, may Allaah have mercy upon him, reported that Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sulami, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “We learnt the Quran from people (i.e. the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them) who told us that they would never go beyond memorizing ten verses until they comprehended their meanings and applied them. We learnt the meanings of these verses of the Quran and their practical implications. However, a time will come when some people will recite the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they would not comprehend what they read).”

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

ISLAM | 19

Make Dua from Your Heart ... In Any Language !

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was asked about a man who made du’aa’ in [incorrect arabic] So one man stood up and said to him that Allaah would not accept a du’aa’ spoken in anything other than correct arabic.

Ibn Taymiyah replied: “Whoever voiced this opinion is a sinner who has gone against the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the view of the salaf. For whoever calls upon Allaah, devoting his worship sincerely and purely to Him, calling upon him with a du’aa’ that is permissible, Allaah will listen to him and respond to his du’aa’, whether it is in proper Arabic or in another language. The opinion mentioned has no basis, rather the one who makes du’aa’, if he is not used to speaking in grammatical Arabic, he should not force himself to do so. One of the salaf said, if a person forces himself to speak grammatical Arabic, he will not be focused in his heart. Similarly

it is makrooh to force oneself to make the words of the du’aa’ rhyme; if that happens spontaneously, then it is fine, for the du’aa’ should come from the heart, and the tongue should simply follow the heart. Whoever focuses in his du’aa’ on making the words grammatically correct will have less focus in his heart!

Therefore the one who is in urgent need should pray from the heart with whatever words Allaah inspires him to say, without preparing it beforehand. This is something which every believer finds in his heart. It is permissible to make du’aa’ in Arabic or in languages other than Arabic. Allaah knows the desire of the one who is making du’aa’, even if he cannot speak Arabic correctly, for He understands all languages and understands the needs of those who speak different languages.”

(AlFatwaa Al-Kubraa)

Fasting and Happiness We constantly seek happiness. What pleasure we seek is our choice. We seek what we think will bring us happiness.

But in reality, even the worshipers of the life of this world get lost in things that are unimportant, even by their own standards. Their dilemma too is the same: Most non-believers spend their life doing what they themselves do not really value. It is a pity, of course, that their very goals are vain and worthless— for, those who know not their God, know not themselves. Allaah Says what means: “The example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is [that] their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day; they are unable [to

fixture: Faith increases and decreases, and even disappears completely.

This is why most of us humans, believers or not, are lost in seeking pleasures of the physical body, happiness by this-worldly calculations. We are deluded to think that gratifying our senses will make us happy. Our twin enemies, Satan and our unrestrained desire—whose evil perhaps dazzles even Satan at times—both work incessantly to make us believe in a con.

Allaah Almighty Says what means: “Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.” [Quran 4:120] Yet, the human condition is a testimony,

Even when we mention Allaah, our voices get buried in the demands and cares made by our limbs and senses. Fasting is Allaah’s way to turn down that deafening volume and make us hear the true sound of happiness that we are after.

keep] from what they earned a [single] thing. That is what is extreme error.”

[Quran 14:18] But how incomparably more foolish it is for the believer to lose sight of his aim, for he knows how magnificent is the Lord Who Watches over him, how great the reward, and how terrible the punishment. Yet believers forget—even the best of them because belief is not a

if looked at with the eye of reflection, to the fact that most men and women are unhappy. The reason is that they do not realize that the happiness they seek day and night is not the happiness of their physical body, but of their soul, their heart, the opening of both.

Allaah Says what means: “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life,

Photo by Mohammad Rehan, Flickr.com

the human condition is a testimony, if looked at with the eye of reflection, to the fact that most men and women are unhappy. and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” [Quran 20:124] But here is the difference between Muslims—those who submit to Allaah and those who do not: We know where to turn to, and how. We acknowledge our weakness and ask Allaah for help. And Allaah gives us knowledge, faith, and grace, by which He Almighty allows us to overcome our lower selves.

When the angels wondered at the hour of our creation as Allaah Says what means: “And [mention, O Muhammad] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.’ They said, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?’ Allaah Said, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know.’” [Quran 2:30] Allaah, the Most Exalted and Wise, responded by teaching Aadam, may Allaah exalt his mention, the names of all things, and showing the angels that the knowledge and reason Aadam and his progeny possess justify their placement on the earth as His deputies. The Quranic story of creation ends with the moral: “…And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve..” [Quran 2:38] The Law

Allaah has sent us is that guidance—and it promises its believing followers: You shall have no fear nor any grief.

Fasting the month of Ramadhaan is Allaah’s Guidance to us. In fact, it is a special Divine gift to us – the gift of true happiness. It makes our physical desires weak so we might focus on what makes our hearts blissful. It is a practice crafted

by Allaah, the Perfect in Wisdom and Knowledge, in order to help us realize and attain what truly makes us happy. Yet we are unwilling, and ungrateful. Allaah Says what means: “…And few of My servants are grateful.” [Quran 34:13] Nevertheless, this most precious gift from Allaah is wrapped and concealed in a wrapper, just like our gifts to each other.

Out of His mercy, Allaah has inscribed, right on the wrapper, the promises of the incalculable treasures contained inside the wrapper. It entices us to open the wrapper and to use the gift, but it does not force it upon us. What a tragedy it is that most of us never unwrap this gift. We receive it, even read the accompanying promises and exhortations, but we do not unwrap it or use it. If we did, we would find the greatest of all gifts: The true bliss of the heart, which obtains when we find respite from the gratification of our >> See HAPPINESS on Pg 21

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

20 | ISLAM MISTAKES >> continued from pg 18

SLEEPING ALL DAY Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) ‘sleeping away their fast’. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot ‘bear’ to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.

WASTING TIME The month of Ramadaan is a precious, precious time. Before we know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allaah so that we can make the most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music.

Subhaan Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah

by DISOBEYING Allaah!

FASTING BUT NOT GIVING UP EVIL Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink, rather the aim behind it is to fear Allaah. “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183] The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.”

(Bukhaari) SMOKING Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadaan or outside of it, as it is one of al-Khabaa’ith (evil things).

And this includes ALL kinds of ‘smoking material’ eg. cigars, cigarettes, pipes,’Sheesha’, hookah etc.

“He allows them as lawful At Tayyibaat (all good and lawful things), and prohibits them as unlawful Al Khabaa’ith (all evil and unlawful things) [al-A’raaf :157] It is harmful, not only to the one smoking, but also to the ones around him. It is also a means of wasting ones wealth. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “There should be no harming or reciprocating harm.” (Ibn Maajah, hasan) This is especially true during fasting and it invalidates the fast. (Fatwa -Ibn ‘Uthaymeen)

SKIPPING SUHOOR The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.”(Bukhaari, Muslim).

And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.”

(Muslim) STOPPING SUHOOR AT ‘IMSAAK’ Some people stop eating Suhoor 1015 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe ‘Imsaak’. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: This is a kind of bid’ah (innovation) which has no basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite. Allaah allows us to eat until dawn: “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)” [al-Baqarah 2:187] And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “….eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes.”

This ‘imsaak’ which some of the people do is an addition to what Allaah has prescribed, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.”

(Muslim) NOT FASTING IF THEY MISSED SUHOOR Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? Remember, obedience to Allaah overcomes everything.

Saying the intention to fast ‘out loud’ or saying a specific dua to start fasting The intention is an action of the heart.

We should resolve in our heart that we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by the Shari’ah for us to say out loud, “I intend to fast”, “I will fast tomorrow” or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah. Whatever ‘dua’ you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is not from the authentic sunnah.

DELAYING BREAKING FAST Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be ‘on the safe side’. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to break the fast, which means breaking fast whenever the adhaan starts, right after the sun has set. Aa’ishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to do. (Muslim) The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break

the fast.” (Bukhaari, Muslim) Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul on Allaah and break your fast exactly on time.

Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. That is obviously not right.

The Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, them he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if you wish.

MISSING THE GOLDEN CHANCE OF HAVING YOUR DUA ACCEPTED The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by alAlbaani).

Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forgo this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it....is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas?

FASTING BUT NOT PRAYING The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.” (Muslim) In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled. “Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.”

(Bukhaari) FASTING AND NOT WEARING HIJAAB Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if it does not invalidate it.

NOT FASTING BECAUSE OF EXAMS OR WORK Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shari’ah to fast.

You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allaah is much more important than ‘good grades’. Besides, if you will fulfill your obligation to fast, even if you have to study, Allaah will make it easy for you and help you in everything you do.

“Whosoever fears Allah, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, Allah is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust in Him.” (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3) MIXING FASTING AND DIETING DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone. Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.

FIGHTING OVER THE NUMBER OF RAKA’AH OF TARAWEEH There is no specific number of rak’ahs for Taraweeh prayer, rather it is permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “No one should be denounced for praying eleven or twenty-three (raka’ah), because the matter is broader in scope than that, praise be to Allaah.”

PRAYING ONLY ON THE NIGHT OF THE 27TH Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.” (Bukhaari, Muslim).

WASTING THE LAST PART OF RAMADAAN PREPARING FOR EID Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to strive the hardest during the last ten days of Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping.

Buy whatever you need for Eid before Ramadaan so that you can utilize the time in Ramadaan to the max.

Aa’ishah (RA) said: “When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)) would tighten his waist-wrapper (i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay awake at night and wake his family.” (Bukhaari and Muslim).

IFTAAR PARTIES Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged, some people go to extremes with lavish ‘Iftaar parties’ with all sorts of disobedience to Allaah, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women, to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness to Salaah, and Taraweeh to even music and dancing. ___________________________ Source: farhathashmi.com

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009 HAPPINESS >> continued from pg 19 animal selves. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, testifies to this tragedy: “How many there are that fast but attain nothing from it except hunger and thirst!” [An-Nasaa’i and Haakim] The gift of Allaah that is contained inside is the gift of Taqwa - of being aware of the real truths beyond the facades of thisworldly delights and temptations. Allaah Says what means: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (attain Taqwa),” that is, that you may become ever God-conscious.

Taqwa is the gift of Itmi’naan, tranquility and bliss. Allaah, the Most Compassionate, Says what means: “…

Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allaah hearts are assured.” [Quran 13:28] But the cacophony of our physical desires is too loud and deafening to hear the sound of Allaah’s Peace. Even when we mention Allaah, our voices get buried in the demands and cares made by our

limbs and senses. Fasting is Allaah’s way to turn down that deafening volume and make us hear the true sound of happiness that we are after.

It is the gift of Allaah’s unending reward.

“Fasting is for Me and I alone shall reward it,” as He Almighty has told us in a Sacred Hadeeth. Few realize it, but the true happiness of this life is intricately connected with that of the eternal life. As Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “There is a Paradise in this life. Those who do not enter it here, shall not enter it in the Hereafter.” He meant the Paradise of Allaah’s nearness and love.

It is the gift of Allaah’s nearness. Fasting enables us to tear away the veneers of our animal desires. By this act we turn to Allaah, and when we turn to Him, we can be certain of His response. Allaah Says what means: “And when My servants ask you [O Muhammad] concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me….” [Quran 2:186] _______________________

Source: “Preparing soul and body for Ramadhaan – I” from www.IslamWeb.net

STAFF WRITERS WANTED

The Muslim Link newspaper is looking for full and part-time candidates to fill upcoming staff writer positions.

The ideal candidates are committed Muslims who have a penchant for good writing, are involved in community work, have a strong work ethic, and believe in establishing Muslim media.

To join our team and start on a job which offers ground breaking opportunities and excitement, send your resume, cover letter, and a writing sample to the editor.

Start your involvement in Muslim media today!

Email editor@muslimlinkpaper.com.

ISLAM | 21 NBA >> continued from pg 10 for the national anthem. He used the controversy to educate others about his religion.

Abdul-Rauf found people who shared his values and principles. For Muslim children attending public schools, “you have to approach it from a position of leadership,” he said.

Initially people were surprised. But over time, they respected him and sometimes even followed his footsteps.

This key element of putting Islam into practice, character building and virtues are missing in the public school education, said Bahiya Ali, GHS Coordinator.

Every month, students at GHS role play on how to deal with issues of the society. This acting of scenarios helps them visualize and understand how to forbid evil and enjoin good where they are surrounded by many ills of society outlawed in Islam.

“We have to learn our history to understand our present and envision our future,” added Abdul-Rauf.

Masjid Al-Islam’s GHS has been in

existence since 1998. However, the full operation of the school with teachers and classrooms began in 2000. The GHS utilizes DC’s state accredited Community Academy Public Charter School’s (CAPCS) Virtual K-12 Home Schooling Curriculum.

Students learn math and science and put that learning into practice. When the school needs funds for a field trip or pizza on Fridays, students work in their halal grocery store to generate revenue.

“We are trying to teach our children independence and life skills,” said Ali. “Our children are learning useful education. They learn not only arithmetic, but how to manage their money and how to conduct business teaches them how to put their skills into practical life,” said Imam Musa.

The upcoming 2009-2010 school year consists of fifteen students enrolled in Kindergarten through 6th grade.

Abdul-Rauf played for the Denver Nuggetts from 1990 to 1995 and was a key player on the team, winning the most-improved player award in 1993.

Abdul-Rauf later went on to play for the Sacramento Kings and later the Vancouver Grizzlies. He led the league in free-throw percentage in 1994 and 1996. Since retiring from basketball, he has built a mosque in his home town of Gulfport, Mississippi, and has become an Imam.

22 | NOTICES

Request For Dua’s

{ To Allah We B e l o n g , a n d t o H i m i s O u r R e t u r n } “Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.” (Surah Al-Anbiya:35)” 7-17-09 The step-son of our brother Abu Jafer passed away yesterday in Gambia. We Ask Allah(swt) to forgive his sins and give sabr to his family and enter him into Janaat al-Firdaus, ameen. (Source: Islamic Society of Germantown) 7-25-09 Our brother Syed Saghir Ahmad, passed away. He was the father of Shaheen Qidwai and Syed Mohsin Ahmad. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon.

May the Almighty Allah (SWT) grant him Janaat al-Firdaus and grant the family sabr. His janaazah prayer was held at ADAMS. The burial was held at All Muslim Association of America in Alexandria, VA. (Source: Eeshat Ansari) 7-25-09 Issa Younis, 60 years old, cousin of Sr. Samira Hussein, passed away in Amman, Jordan. (Source: ICM) 7-28-09 The mother of Br. Muhammad Zuhurudeen, a member of PGMA’s board of trustees, has returned to her Lord. May Allah (swt) grant her the highest place in Jannah. Please remember her in your sincere DUA during your prayers. (Source: PGMA) 7-30-09 Abdel Rahman Uthman Borghul, 70 years old, another uncle of Sr. Samira Hussein, passed away on July 30th in Amman, Jordan. May Allah have mercy on both of them, forgive their sins and enter them into Jannat ul-Firdaus, aameen. (Source: ICM) 8-4-09 Sis. Shahbanu Islam (Aunt of Br. Mohammad & Sr. Shahnaz Baten) returned to Allah swt in Bangladesh today. May Allah swt have mercy on her, forgive her sins and enter her into Jannat ul Firdaus, ameen.

8-5-09 Br. Darryl Wainwright, former imam of Baltimore City’s Masjid al-Haqq, hadsreturned to Allah. Heavily involved in inter-faith work in Maryland, the 59 year-old was well known in the Greater Washington and Baltimore region as a kind and gentle man with a friendly demeanor and a wide smile. He served as Imam of Masjid Al-Haq from 1993 to 2003. His janaazah was held at Masjid alHaqq in Baltimore.

8-8-09 Br. Masum Ahmed passed away due to cancer. May the Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his sins, make him of the people of Jannah and grant his family sabr, aameen. Janazah prayers was held at Dar Al Noor Islamic Community Center in Manassas, VA (Source: Mirza Baig) 8-15-09 We are grieved to anounce the paassing of Sis Galila Abou-Sabe, wife of Ibrahim Youssef, mother of Mimi, Sami, Nadia, Mohamed, and Nagwa Youssef, mother-in-law of Osama Abutaleb and Magdi Hassanein.The janaazah prayers were offered at MCC in Silver Spring, MD. Her burial was at the Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, MD. (Source: Islamic Center of Maryland)

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

Upcoming Events In Your Area 8-21-09 Upcoming Events Ramadan with Imam Warith D. Mohammad

Saturday, August 22 2009, 1:00pm - 4:00pm In the first of a series of Muslim gatherings, please join us for a discussion and a DVD viewing of a 2006 lecture on Ramadhan with Imam Mohammad. Intermission at 2:30pm.Admission is free.

Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St., N.W., Washington, DC 20001 Contact: Ahmad Ansari at 202-320-8115

ICCL Fundraising Dinner Saturday, August 22 2009, 8:00pm - 10:30pm

The Islamic Community Center of Laurel would like to welcome all to our Annual Fundraising Dinner. Please join us as we update the community in regards to the status of the expansion project. Tickets: $20/person or $60/family. Babysitting will also be available.

Location: Eleanor Roosevelt High School - 7601 Hanover Pkwy, Greenbelt, MD 20770 Contact: 301.317.4584 and/or ps@icclmd.org

Sister’s Halaqah at ICM Each Thursday, August 13 to December 31, 2009

Topics: Sciences of the Qura’an Please come, join us and learn your deen in a friendly, family-like setting. Led by Sis. Umm Raef. Location: ICM, 19401Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Contact: ummraef@gmail.com

PGMA Is Building for Tomorrow!

Saturday, August 29 2009

Come out and lend your support to PGMA’s endeavor to improve and expand it’s facility. You are cordially invited to the fund raising dinner “Building for Tomorrow”.

Confirmed speakers are Imam Safi Khan, Imam Karim Abu Zaid. Invited speakers include Imam Muhammad Abdul Malik of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Imam Moataz Al-Hallak. (Confirmations will be announced). Tickets: $25/family - $10/ person. For more information or to buy tickets visit the Sooq at PGMA or contact PGMA. Location: Eleanor Roosevelt High School, 7601 Hanover Parkway, Greenbelt, MD Contact: Contact PGMA at 301--459-4942, or visit www.pgmamd.org

ICM Ramadan Fundraising Dinner Saturday, August 29 2009, 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Islamic Center of Maryland cordially invites you to its Ramadan Fundraising Dinner.

Please mark your calendars for this extremely important event during the blessed month of Ramadan and plan your activities so that you don’t miss the fundraising dinner insha Allah. Location: ISlamic Center of Maryland, 19401 Woodfield Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Contact: ICM Administration 301-840-9440

United Against Malaria Saturday, September 05 2009, 10:00am - 6:00pm

United For Change Presents: “United Against Malaria, One Goal, One Body” at the Gaylord Hotel, just outside of Washington, D.C. Nationally reknowned Muslim speakers and leaders have committed themselves to raise awareness, develop resolutions and create action-oriented partnerships with the public to combat the devastation and debilitation malaria causes to millions in Africa every year. A separate iftar dinner and tarawih will be held at the Clarion Hotel, 6400 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 from 7pm to 11pm.

Tickets for main conference: $30 general admission; $25 students, $5 childcare (ages 2-12). Tickets for Iftar dinner: $30 general; $15 children, ages 2-12. Location: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Ctr., 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745.

Contacts: Naeem Muhammad (Islamic Relief) 703-370-7202; Moutasem Atiya (United for Change) 410-9905-6623; Amadou Shakur (United for Change) 704-922-6537; Tariq Subhani (United for Change) 570-406-5043, or www.muslimsunitedforchange.com .

Muslimaat Al-Nisaa Shelter Fundraiser Iftar Sunday, September 06 2009, 4:00pm - 8:00pm

WOULD YOU LIKE TO POST YOUR EVENT ?

CALL 301-982-1020

Alhamdulilah to everyone who is able to be vital in the financial support of our Sister’s basic human need for food and shelter. Please join us in an iftar fundraising dinner to benefit Muslimat Al-Nisaa shelter. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Altaf Husain. Please visit www. mnisaa.org to purchase your tickets! Location: Univ. of Maryland, Stamp Student Union, Grand Ballroom Contact: 410-466-8686, or visit www.mnisaa.org

Interfaith Ramadan Dinner Thursday, September 10 2009, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

SPEAKERS: * Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, Islamic Affairs Council of Maryland, Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation * Rabbi Gerald Sterotta, Clergy Beyond Boarders * Pastor Mark A. Hricko, Lutheran Church of St. Andrews. Location: 15300 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD Contact: fastathon@amindc.org

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

SALAAH TIMES | 23

Salaah times for 30 Sha’ban - 27 Ramadan 1430 A.H. Day

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

Fajr

Sunrise

Dhuhr

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Fri

AUG 21

Date

30/8

Hijri

5:09

6:26

1:11

4:56

7:55

9:14

Sat

22

1/9

5:10

6:27

1:11

4:56

7:53

9:12

Sun

23

2/9

5:11

6:28

1:11

4:55

7:52

9:10

Mon

24

3/9

5:13

6:29

1:10

4:54

7:50

9:08

Tue

25

4/9

5:14

6:30

1:10

4:53

7:49

9:07

Wed

26

5/9

5:15

6:31

1:10

4:53

7:47

9:05

Thu

27

6/9

5:16

6:32

1:10

4:52

7:46

9:03

Fri

28

7/9

5:17

6:33

1:09

4:51

7:44

9:02

Sat

29

8/9

5:18

6:34

1:09

4:50

7:43

9:00

Sun

30

9/9

5:19

6:34

1:09

4:49

7:41

8:58

Mon

31

10/9

5:20

6:35

1:08

4:49

7:40

8:56

Tue

SEPT 1

11/9

5:22

6:36

1:08

4:48

7:38

8:55

Wed

2

12/9

5:23

6:37

1:08

4:47

7:37

8:53

Thu

3

13/9

5:24

6:38

1:07

4:46

7:35

8:51

Fri

4

14/9

5:25

6:39

1:07

4:45

7:34

8:49

Sat

5

15/9

5:26

6:40

1:07

4:44

7:32

8:48

Sun

6

16/9

5:27

6:41

1:06

4:43

7:31

8:46

Mon

7

17/9

5:28

6:42

1:06

4:42

7:29

8:44

Tue

8

18/9

5:29

6:42

1:06

4:41

7:27

8:42

Wed

9

19/9

5:30

6:43

1:05

4:40

7:26

8:41

Thu

10

20/9

5:31

6:44

1:05

4:39

7:24

8:39

Fri

11

21/9

5:32

6:45

1:05

4:38

7:23

8:37

Sat

12

22/9

5:33

6:46

1:04

4:37

7:21

8:35

Sun

13

23/9

5:34

6:47

1:04

4:36

7:19

8:34

Mon

14

24/9

5:35

6:48

1:04

4:35

7:18

8:32

Tue

15

25/9

5:36

6:49

1:03

4:34

7:16

8:30

Wed

16

26/9

5:37

6:50

1:03

4:33

7:15

8:28

Thu

17

27/9

5:38

6:51

1:03

4:32

7:13

8:27

SOME LOCAL RAMADAN 2009 PROGRAMS Most masajid post their Ramadan program details on their website. The following Ramadan programs were submitted to the Muslim Link and are being printed here as a service to the Muslim community. Please keep your newspaper in your duas this month. -- TML

IMAM AL-KISAI INSTITUTE OF AMERICA • Stenwood Elementary School, 2620 Gallows Rd, Vienna, VA 22182. (next to Dunn LoringMerrifield Metro Statio). Isha salaat at 9:00 pm , followed by taraweeh prayers at 9:15 pm. Led by Sheikh Adam Hassan. Free ample parking.

ALEXANDRIA, VA ISLAMIC CENTER OF MD • Tarweeh Prayers at MAS Community Center, 6804 Edsall Rd. Alexandria VA 22312. Prayers • ICM , 19411 Woodfield Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. The first day of Taraweeh will be on Friday led by: Dr. Dawood Abdul-Rahman and Sh. Abdulhakeem El-Tunelli. Starting Friday August 21st, 2009; Ishaa’: 9:30 PM - Tarweeh ends 11:00 PM. Special program on weekends. Tahajjud Program during last 10 days. Your children have to be under your strict supervision at all times.

BETHESDA, MD • Taraweeh prayers will be held this Ramadan , insha Allah, at United Methodist Church of North Bethesda, 6107 Lone Oak Dr., Bethesda, MD 20817. Prayers will be led by a Hafizul Quran, and will consist of 20 rakats of prayer, preceded by ‘isha (starting at 9:15 pm) and followed by witr in congregation, insha Allah. A khatam of the Qur’an is expected to be completed on the 25-27 nights of Ramadan. We ask Allah to give us the means to fully benefit from this month of Ramadan and make the most of this opportunity. We look forward to your participation and blessings. The church is very close to exit 36 (towards Rockville) from 495 beltway. It has a large parking space.

August 21, 2009. Isha Salah will start at 9:30 pm and will be followed by eight rakah of Taraweeh.

Between Sunday and Thursday of each week, we will have a short speech by Imam Jamil right after Isha followed by twenty rakah of tarwih. On Fridays and Saturdays, we have invited guest speakers to give a 20-30 minutes speech followed by Taraweeh prayers. Children and families are welcome.

Please remember to bring an extra prayer rug with you. Additionally, we will have a Ramadan evening for youth as well as qiyam-ul-lail program during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

•

• Stonebridge Community Center located at the intersection of Stonebridge View Drive and Muddy Branch Road, N. Potomac, MD 20878 (the entrance is on Stonebridge View Drive). Tarawaeeh will begin on Friday August 21, 2009. Isha Salaat will start at 9:30 pm and will be followed by 8 Rakaat of Taraweeh. Children and families are welcome. Please bring an extra prayer rug with you.

• Hampton Inn located at 20260 Goldenrod Lane, Germantown, MD. Taraweeh will begin on Friday

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY – MSA • Marvin Center Room 406 (the Musallah). Beginning on either the night of Aug. 20 or Aug. 21.

August 21, 2009. Isha Salaat will start at 9:30 pm and will be followed by 8 Rakaat of Taraweeh.

Children and families are welcome. Please bring an extra prayer rug with you.

(exact date to be announced soon insha’Allah.) and for each night during Ramadan, taraweeh prayer will be led by Hafiz Sadath Ahmed and Hafiz Anjum Cheema insha’Allah.

ISLAMIC HERITAGE CENTER • Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Station at 248 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, VA 22027. Taraweeh on

• The MSA is preparing for the free daily iftars held Monday-Thursday each week during Ramadan.

Mondays, Thurdays and Fridays. Isha salaat begins at 9:20 pm followed by taraaweeh at 9:35 pm.

Daily iftar at IHC Main Center, 262 A-3 Cedar Lane SE, Vienna, VA 22180. Please visit us on the web at www.ihcproject.com or contact us at 703-206-9056 for the beginning of Ramadan.

If you would like to sponsor an iftar or make a contribution to our fundraising efforts, please email gwmsavp@gmail.com. If you would like to sign up to help setup, serve food, and/or cleanup please email msa@gwu.edu.

• The MSA is planning its first Fast-a-thon to be held this Ramadan on September 18th! During a fast-a-thon, non-Muslims pledge to fast for a day and for each student that pledges to fast, businesses pledge to make a contribution to a local charity chosen by the MSA. The funds raised by our fast-athon will go to a DC-area soup kitchen. We need business sponsors, so if you’d like more information on how to be a part of the GW MSA’s first fast-a-thon, please email gwmsavp@gmail.com.

• Kilmer Middle School at 8100 Wolf Trap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182. Taraweeh on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Isha salaat begins at 9:20 pm followed by taraaweeh at 9:35 pm. Daily iftar at IHC Main Center, 262 A-3 Cedar Lane SE, Vienna, VA 22180.

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

24 | EDITOR’S DESK

EDITORS DESK Editor-in-Chief: Minhaj Hasan Office Manager : Jann McClary News Desk: Rashad Mulla Layout & Design: Fadlullah Firman Staff Writers: Farkhunda Ali Farha Marfani Rashad Mulla Maryam bint DawudMussallihullah Sharia Advisors: Sheikh Salah as-Sawi Imam Safi Khan The Muslim Link (TML) is published on the first Friday of every Islamic month (Hijri calendar) 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.

Letter to the Editor To Whom It May Concern: I understand that Muslim Link is an up and coming newspaper, still figuring out the steps necessary to establish themselves as a credible news agency. I also understand that freedom of speech is mandatory to ensure credibility but some type of filtration system of what can and cannot be published has to be established.

Weekly I read the newspaper my father brings home from the masjid and I attempt to overlook the grammatical flaws and spelling errors I see constantly to get to the deeper meaning of the articles, but the most recent letter to the editor (July 24, 2009 issue, “Are NonMuslims Infiltrating Muslim Groups?”) was appalling and it would be ideal to the population of Muslim and nonMuslim readers with a active conscious who read Muslim Link to avoid the type of judgmental and needlessly

The Muslim Link 5301 Edgewood Road College Park, MD 20740 Phone : (301) 982-1020 Fax: 240-209-0702 editor@muslimlinkpaper.com Advertising: 301-982-1020 or email us at ads@muslimlinkpaper.com The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2009

Muslim Link, being one of the public faces of Islam as a religion and Muslims should take into consideration it’s heavy responsibility and act responsibility.

And maybe hire a proofreader or two.

Wided Rihana Khadraoui Virginia -----Assalamu’alykum Wided. Thanks for your email and for being a regular reader. The Muslim Link stays away from confrontational content, especially with regard to our sister

Islamic organizations.

However, the Progressive Muslim Network (PMN) is an exceptional case. We feel the organization negatively portrays the Muslim community and brazenly misrepresents Islam. PMN is a relatively active and media savvy organization, so we feel its necessary for Muslims to make it clear that PMN does not represent Muslims or Islam. PMN is “anyone’s Islam”, and promotes understanding the Qur’an independent of scholarship, bound only by the limits of “free thought”. Taking this approach to Islam, we are left with something hardly recognizable. Islam accommodates different views and outlooks, but within the framework of the Qur’an and Sunnah. PMN wants to remove that framework and still claim the “Muslim” name. That’s not fair to Islam or Muslims. -- TML

SUHOOR: PAJAMA PARTY FOR 8 AND UNDER! The Muslim Link would like to salute those children in the community who fasted part or all of Ramadhan this year. If your child is 8 years old or younger, send their full name, age, city and state of residence, and the number of fasts they completed and a picture (Optional) to editor@muslimlinkpaper.com. Or, call 301-982-1020 to give us that information. Submit all information by 5pm on September 22nd, 2009

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

confrontational type of writing. More importantly instead of negatively critiquing attempts of individuals whose backgrounds, ideas and convictions are not clear to anyone but God, the writer should go out and organize events by himself, maybe in his basement with other blasé and limited minds who can deal out judgment as they see fit.

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As much as we would like to, we are unable to honor requests for free subscriptions at this time.

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THE MUSLIM LINK IN YOUR AREA If you would like to earn blessings from Allah and help the Muslim Link, consider helping us with our distribution. To learn more, email office@muslimlinkpaper.com or call 301-982-1020

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

25

Marketplace

Your Guide to Products and Services for Your Muslim Lifestyle

THE LIL’ ITALIAN CAFE WITH THE

BIG TASTE PG 34

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

26 | MP - TML Coupons

The Muslim Link

Coupons

• All existing customers who have an ad half page or larger in either the Main section or Marketplace section get a FREE coupon in each issue their ad runs.

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

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

• You tell us the deal you are offering, and the expiration date • The section will be promoted on the front page of the newspaper, directing readers to the actual coupon page inside.

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

LIL’ ITALIAN CAFE

KOSHER SUBWAY OF BALTIMORE

McLearen Shopping Center, 3065-R Centreville Rd, Herndon, VA 20171

703-904-0023

706 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21209 410-653-5782

Mon-Fri 9am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 10pm

Very Unique Subway - Local Handmade Meats, Even Fries and Baked Potatoes, Meat Pizza, Soy Cheese and Lots More.

ENJOY 25% OFF ENTIRE CHECK For Dine-In only (4pm -10pm Mon-Fri) Exp. Date: Aug. 21, 2009 brought to you by��Musl mL nk

KAMAL NAWASH, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW 1050 17th St., N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036 202-776-7191 kamal@kamalnawash.com Call for appointment

$100 off Minor Cases, $250 off Major Cases, With this coupon Exp. Date: Aug. 8, 2009 brought to you by��Musl mL nk

SARA BEAUTY AND SKIN CARE SERVICES

709-945-8229 www.sarabeauty.com $5 off Facials, $2 off Henna

Located in Annandale, VA. Exp. date: Sept. 30, 2009

5% off all Non-Sale Items With this Ad. Details at www.koshersubs.com Exp. Date: Sept. 30, 2009 brought to you by��Musl mL nk

SILVER SPOON RESTAURANT

18530 Woodfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 301-990-6868

Open 7 Days 10:30am to 10:00pm

BUY 1-GET 1 FREE!

Order 1 entree at regular price, get 2nd of equal or lesser value free.

Dine-in or Carry-out.

One coupon per customer. Exp. date: Sept. 25, 2009 brought to you by

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O’S PLACE

KHAN EL KHALILI

MAURYA KEBABS & CURRIES (INDIAN CUISINE)

SISTERS SHOPPING DAY Each First Saturday of the Month

11444 Cherry Hill Road, Beltsville, MD 20705 301-937-2690

On all ladies fashions & accessories www.khanelkhaliliusa.com

Buy one at regular price, receive second entrée at ½ price. Equal or lesser value.

10% off on $25-$50 order

The Largest Islamic Department Store on the East Coast

20% discount W/ COUPON

5826-A Seminary Road, Falls Church, VA 22041 Ph: 703-671-1286 Exp. Date: Sept.6, 2009 brought to you by��Musl mL nk

216 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707

1136 W Broad St., Falls Church VA 22046

301-604-6980

Mon - Fri 10am to 7pm; Sat 10am to 6pm; Sun 10am to 5pm

$10 with this coupon, (Regular Hair Cut) We Cut All Types of Hair!

Exp. Date: Sept. 25, 2009 brought to you by��Musl mL nk

HAIR SYSTEMS

5214 RANDOLPH RD, ROCKVILLE

Bring our ad and get 10% Off

$3 Off Haircut

brought to you by��Musl mL nk

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MOHAMMED TAE KWON DO

301-881-0338

Private room for sisters in hijab!

(Men’s haircut $15, Womens’ haircut $20). Get Hair Cur Free with full hair color or full highlight. With coupon only Exp. date: Sept. 30, 2009

(703)-629-9077 www.MOHTKD.com All Classes on Sundays. Knee-High Ninjas (3 - 6 yrs) - 3:00 PM; Juniors (7 - 15 yrs) - 3:45 PM; Adults (16 yrs +) - 4:30 PM.

Bring this coupon for a FREE one week trial!!

Call today and schedule your first class! brought to you by��Musl mL nk

LAMBCO

722 GREEN VALLEY RD, NEW WINDSOR, MD 21776

www.lambcomd.org

10% off any purchase

(must bring coupon at time of purchase)

Contact us at 443-974-0543 or lambcomd@yahoo.com Exp. date: October 31, 2009

Exp. date: Sept. 23, 2009 brought to you by��Musl mL nk

(Valid Mon-Thurs only) Exp date: Aug. 28, 2009

PHD SALON BARBER SHOP

10300 MILL RUN CIRCLE, SUITE 2142, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 (410) 998-9870 / (410) 998-9871

Entire Check, Dine-in, Carry-out. Month of Ramadhan only. Must present coupon before entering dining room. Not valid with parties

½ PRICE ENTREE

brought to you by��Musl mL nk

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TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Education | 27

If you would like the Muslim Link to be available at your establishment give us a call.

301.982.1020

28 | MP - Education

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Activity, Healthcare & Real Estate | 29

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

Najla Abdur-Rahman, M.D. Board Certified Johns Hopkins Trained Pediatrician

7001 Johnnycake Road, Suite101 Baltii more, MD 21244 (Intersection of Rolling and Johnnycake Roads near Masjid Al-Rahmah)

Phone: 410-719-0063

7658 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (Exit 32A off 695 Towards Overlea in the Beltway Shopping Plaza near Masjid An-Nur)

Phone: 410-882-6841

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301.949.7000 *)+)����(��,��"�#�����-�.��)

Silver Spring MD

12107 Heritage Park Circle

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Sadek Momayezi

Sales Associate/ Realtor® Business: (410) 730-8888 Direct: (410) 964-8844 Cell: (410) 967-6919 E-mail: smomayezi@htbrown.com www.htbrown.com H.T. Brown Real Estate, Inc.

First-time home-buyers and investors, take advantage of current low market prices! For owning your home in this buyers’ market up to 30 to 40 % below fair market value, contact me to provide the info for you.

Buying or Selling a home, I can help with all your real estate needs!

30 | MP - Professional Services

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Professional Services | 31

If you would like the Muslim Link to be available at your establishment give us a call.

301.982.1020

32 | MP - Professional Services

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

p: 709.945.8229 w: www.Sarabeauty.com e: Sadna@sarabeauty.com

SUHOOR: PAJAMA PARTY FOR 8 AND UNDER! The Muslim Link would like to salute those children in the community who fasted part or all of Ramadhan this year. If your child is 8 years old or younger, send their full name, age, city and state of residence, and the number of fasts they completed and a picture (Optional) to editor@muslimlinkpaper.com. Or, call 301-9821020 to give us that information. Submit all information by 5pm on September 22nd, 2009

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Travel | 33

Cost to you: $0.00

Cost to you: $0.00

Cost to you: $0.00

What is the

Muslim Link worth to you?

Alhumdulillah, many of ou rreaders responded to our appeal at the start of the year, donating $50,000 to keep us in operation. However, after advertising income, we still need around $80,000 to continue for the rest of 2009. If you’ve already donated, consider donating more or encouraging friends and family to donate. If you haven’t donated, please ask yourself if having a voice is important to you. Donate to this non-profit voice by sending your check or money order payable to the muslim link to: the muslim link, 5301 edgewood road, college park md 20740.

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

34 | MP - Restaurant Review

Lil’ Italian Cafe, Big Taste

By Jann McClary Muslim Link Staff Writer In the mood for something a little different, but traditional, a bit Mediterranean, but recognizable? How about with some basil and garlic, some fresh olive oil? Oh, you want a kabob maybe, instead? Br. Tahir Imran’s place, Lil’ Italian Cafe in Herndon, Virginia can give you that, too, if you want to take it back to the more familiar. As the name implies, he offers up traditional Italian food, halal and plentiful.

There are a plethora of both traditional and Italian subs; meatball parmesan, eggplant parmesean, chicken parmesean, tukey, roast beef, pastrami, Philly steak, with and without cheese. There’s the homegrown Virginia cold cut sub, the Virginia burger supreme and the intriguingly

Hot and spicy wingettes

named

Sajji

special

spicy

steak.

To get really back to the old country try the Lil’ Italian stuffed rolls. These are homemade rolls stuffed with mozzarella cheese and either fresh spinach or beef pepperoni. Or the classic calzone, a thick turnover with turkey ham,

mushrooms and the twin cheeses of the stretchy, stringy mozzarella you’ll love and the smooth, creamy ricotta that gives a nice contrast of textures.

But you want pizza? Oh, then you can request the usual suspects like pepperoni, or veggie lovers. But Br. Tahir, who has been making pizza for over 4 years offers Greek pizza with gyro meat, sharp feta cheese, black olives and thinly sliced tomato; Spring pizza topped with spinach, feta and garlic butter. Go for someting completely different and ditch the tomato sauce totally and try the white pizza - olive oil, garlic butter, ricotta and mozarrella. Get the feel of “that other pizza place” and savor the halal Chicagostyle deep dish, thick and chewy crust with your choice of over 15 toppings, offered in a personal 7” size, too.

Fill your plate with a dinner of tummyloving baked meat lasagna, cheese ravioli with tangy marinara, fettucini alfredo, or rich baked manicotti.

The pesto pasta alla Genovese is a huge plate of your choice of penne or linguine pasta cooked al dente and tossed gently with a little basil sauce, sundried tomato, olive oil, and sprikled lightly with pine nuts and shaved fresh parmesean. It’s a wonderfully satisfying meal, but ask for a little more basil to really enjoy that fresh pesto flavor. Keep it veggie, or order it topped with grilled or fried shrimp or grilled chicken. This is the kind of food that you’ve always wanted to get as halal. Savor every bite.

Br. Tahir explained that a traditional

PestoPasta all Genovese with Bruschetta Pakistani menu with its complex regional spices and flavors can be a little challenging, so he drew on his years of having worked in an Italian restaurant to come up with a diverse, but classic menu where most items are made from scratch right in his kitchen.

He decided to make all his meat offerings halal about a year ago, and has seen his customers i n c r e a s e Cannoli since then.

You can’t finish all this Roman deliciousness with any ‘light” or diet desserts, so just toss that notion. Carrot cake, cheesecake, baklava, cannoli and

ice cream are served here. The cannoli are little crepe-type wafers, wrapped around a cannolo form, and quickly deepfried. The ends get dipped in chocolate and then the tube-shape is pumped with a sweet and soft ricotta cream.

Cannoli’s have been known to be habit-forming.

Don’t forget to lick your lips.

Lil’ Italilan Cafe, 3065-R Centreville Rd., Herndon, VA 20171.

703-904-0223.

Open Monday – Thursday 10 am to 10 pm; Friday 10 am to 11 pm; Saturday 11 am to 11 pm; Sunday 11 am to 10 pm

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Restaurants | 35

Located in the REI Shopping center near the intersection of Rhode Island Ave. and Edgewood Road in College Park, MD. Dine-in or delivery!

CALL 301-982-2551

36 | MP - Restaurants

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Restaurants | 37

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

38 | MP - Classified Ads

Place a personal classified ad. Call us at 301-982-1020

TML Classifieds

$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 office@muslimlinkpaper.com 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.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Start your own VoIP or Calling Card Business! Investment begins at $ 5,000 Call Today 703-871-5273. bizop@ipsmarx.com 08-07-09

Full Home Warranty Included. Priced at $699,000, Reduced from $959,000. Smaller homes also available at 4000 sq ft priced in the mid 400’s. Call 301-343-5757 for more information.

08-13-09

EMPLOYMENT

MATRIMONIAL

www.WorkHalal.com A Job Site for Muslims 06-23-09 ------------------------------------------------

IN SEARCH OF MUSLIMA Sunni Muslim, 30, sincere and patient student of Islam. ISO Muslima for correspondence, laughter and marriage.

Age, race unimportant. Write: Jose Diaz, #03A1777, E.N.Y.C.F., PO Box 388, Napanoch, NY 12458-0338 06-08-09 -----------------------------------------------SEEKING A MUSLIMA Jamaican Sunni Muslim, age 32, handsome, honest and loyal, seeking an empress/Muslima between 20-45 to become one with. Ethnicity is irrelevant.

Please respond with your biography and photo, insha Allah, to: Orville Tucker, #50259-004, U.S. Penitentiary, PO Box 7000, Florence, CO 81226-7000 06-08-09 -----------------------------------------------GENTLEMAN SEEKING

DOMESTIC HELP NEEDED Experienced house keeper and cook.

Live in McLean, VA. 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 703851-7979 08-04-09

FOR SALE RESTAURANT FOR SALE Established business in northern Virginia. Owner moving. $95,000.

Contact Latif 703-937-7348 07-10-09 -----------------------------------------------WOMENS’ CLOTHING Gorgeous Shalwar Kameez on SALE, VERY REASONABLE PRICES. Casual/semi-formal/formal, Dresses. In Howard County. Contact 410-720-2389.

08-04-09 -----------------------------------------------AUTO FOR SALE 2004 Mercury Sable. Gray interior/ exterior. PS/PB, sunroof, PW, auto., 135K miles. Good condition. $5000 obo. Contact Shezad A. Khan 240-6190208 08-10-09 -----------------------------------------------SHARIAH COMPLIANT FINANCING Shariah Compliant Financing Available on NEW Brick Front Colonial in Greenbelt/Lanham, MD. Across from NASA Goddard. Beautiful, newly constructed brick front colonial in a new home subdivision offering 5700 sq ft of space, 6 BRs & 6 baths, fully finished walkout basement, private wooded backyard. Home is loaded w/upgrades including 3 fireplaces, GE Monogram appliances, insulated garage, high end lights & chandeliers, ceiling fans in every room, Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, Jacuzzis in all baths, 3 wet bar sinks, ceramic & porcelain tile in all baths and a 5 zone heating and cooling system. There are over $200k in upgrades.

MUSLIMA Gentleman,52 years old, Sunni Muslim, U.S. citizen. BS degree, seeking Muslim lady for marriage. 703-9315303 or 703-379-0405. 2500 N. Van Dorn St. #711 Park Place, Alexandria, VA 22314 06-08-09 -----------------------------------------------INVITING INQUIRY FOR MARRIAGE Indo Pakistani Sunni Muslim parents are inviting communication from a well educated, financially independent & secure, practicing Muslim for their 42 year-old daughter. She is divorced, independent, charming, and well educated in US with a Masters degree; she has a 18 year old, highly disciplined son who will soon be independent.

Contact with details & a recent photo: matrimonials@shah.org 06-12-09 -----------------------------------------------SEEKING MUSLIM WOMAN Handsome, smart, African-American Sunni Muslim. I’m kind-hearted, gentle and physically in shape.

Seeking Muslimah. Race, nationality unimportant. If interested, write. I have photos on standby. Amir Abdul Wali Naqib ibn Griffin, #376023, WRSP, P.O. Box 759, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 06-18-09 -----------------------------------------------SERIOUS MUSLIM SEEKING WIFE Bismillah, alhamdulillah. Striving,

studious, serious Sunni Muslim serious about deen, seeking wife. Write to Jesse Brown, #05B2118, ENYCF, P O Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458.

07-17-09 -----------------------------------------------SEEKING POSSIBLE WIFE Incarcerated Black male, 27 years old, Sunni Muslim, seeking possible wife.

Write: Jesse Williams, #04A3239, ENYCF, P O Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458-0338 07-17-09 -----------------------------------------------SEEKING MUSLIMA 40year old Arab Muslim in Maryland, looking for a Muslima. yosof120@yahoo.com , or P.O. Box 133. Hanover, MD 21076 08-07-09 -----------------------------------------------BROTHER SEEKING MARRIAGE Sunni Muslim looking for marriage to Muslima. Contact Jamel Allen, #05-A5167, Eastern Correctional Facility, P O Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458-0338.

08-13-09 -----------------------------------------------SEEKING MUSLIM WIFE Bismillah, alhamdulillah. Striving, studious Sunni Muslim, serious about deen, seeking wife. Write to Jesse Brown, #05B2118, Eastern Correctional Facility, P O Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458-0338 08-13-09 -----------------------------------------------SEARCHING FOR WIFE Incarcerated Sunni Muslim, black male, age 27, seeking possible wife.

Please write Jesse Williams, #04A3239, Eastern Correctional Facility, P O Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458-0388 08-13-09

RENTAL BASEMENT FOR RENT 1-bedroom basement located in Burtonsville. Private separate entrance, private deck opens to garden, full windows, full kitchen, fireplace.

Available immediately. Please call (301)520-1703.

06-08-09

SERVICES HANDYMAN AVAILABLE Assalamu’alaykum! My name is Varga Syahroni. I am an experienced technician in DC/MD/VA. I offer service and repair for cooling, heating, plumbing, refrigerator, dish washers, dryer machines and much more. Call me for reliable service! Free estimates (301) 792-1004 or email varga_ syahroni@yahoo.com 08-04-09

Looking for a place for your ad?

Stop looking! try our classified section Call the muslim link now !

301.982.1020 Call Now . . . !

TML, Ramadhan 1430 | Aug 21 - Sept 17, 2009

MP - Masjid Locator | 39

Do you have additions, changes, or corrections to the event listings in the Muslim Link? Email us at events@muslimlinkpaper.com, or call us at 301-982-1020.

MASJID LOCATOR

ISLAMIC CENTER OF GREATER SOUTH EAST (FORMERLY MASJID ASH-SHURA)

MASJID UL-HAQ:

3109-B Martin Luther King Ave., S.E. Washington, DC 20032 202-506-7235

MASJID AL-ISLAM:

ISLAMIC CENTER OF MARYLAND (ICM):

4603 Benning Rd., SE, Washington, DC 20019 Tel: 202-581-1616, e-mail: imammusa@hotmail.com

19401 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg,MD 20879 Tel:301-840-9440, www.icomd.org.

MASJID AL-INSHIRAH:

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

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:

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

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):

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.

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

2635 Riva RdSuite 110Annapolis, MD 21401 Tel: 410-266-6660 www.islamannapolis.org, Email: info@islamannapolis.org

MASJID AL-RAHMAH/ISB:

DAR AL-SALAAM:

ISLAMIC SOC. OF FREDERICK (ISF):

MASJID AS SAFFAT:

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:

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.

6631 Johnny Cake Rd. Baltimore, MD 21244 Tel: 410-747-4869, www.isb.org

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:info@masjidbaitallah.org. www.masjidbaitallah.org

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

MASJID ZAMZAM 1510 Lynch Road, Dundalk, MD 21222 Phone: 410-284-2840

2036 Day Rd., Hagerstown, MD 21740 Tel: 301-797-0922.

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

IVY CITY MASJID:

MUSLIM COM. CENTER (MCC):

ISLAMIC SOC. OF WESTERN MARYLAND:

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

15200 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20904 Tel: 301-384-3454, www.mccmd.org.

LA PLATA MASJID:

MUSLIM SOC. OF WASHINGTON, D.C. (MSWDC):

2913 Woodlawn Trail, Alexandria, VA 22306.

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

Howard Center, Room 805 (Above HU Bookstore) Tel: 202-328-3236, www.mswdc.org.

IDARA DAWAT-O-IRSHAD:

MAKKAH LEARNING CENTER (MLC):

MUSTAFA CENTER:

814 Brandy Farms Ln Gambrills, MD 21054 Tel: 410-721-5880 www.mlcmd.org, Email: info@mlcmd.org

PRINCE GEORGES MUSLIM ASSOC. (PGMA):

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: fkadir@imaamnet.org.

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.

MANASSAS MOSQUE: 12950 Center Entrance Ct, Manassas, VA Tel: 703-257-5537.

MASJID AL-GHURABAA: 8220 Washington St., 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.

6844 Braddock Rd., Annandale, VA 22003.

9150 Lanham Severn Rd. Lanham, MD, 20706, Tel: 301-459-4942, www.pgmamd.org.

Imam’s Office: 301-459-1441, imam@pgmamd.org.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND ISLAMIC CENTER(SMIC): 1046 Solomons Island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639.

Tel: 410- 535-0000 THE ISLAMIC CENTER: 2551 Mass. Ave. NW Washington D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-332-8343.

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Every Saturday evening during Ramadan One of a kind embroidery , mosaics and Khan el Khalili will be hosting Islamicceramics. A translator will be available themed open houses. A different aspect of Islam from the religious to the cultural will for translations and questions. be showcased.

Browse through our home department with original hand-crafted Middle Eastern furniture and home accessories. Meet with our designers and buyers for unique pieces and special custom works.

The Evening Stroll will begin each Saturday at 7pm till midnight with tea, dates and sweets being served after iftar.

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Meet with our in-house perfumer to make your own personal perfume or special bakhour for your home.

Our private Mezzanine will host an Islamic trunk show with the most current Islamic fashions as well as traditional fashions and accessories

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Ramadan 2009 Prayer Schedule