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SPECIALIST: Dr. Freda Shamma is joined by her son as she accepts an award for her contributions to curriculum development; (far left) Safaa Zarzour calls for continued activism in developing Islamic education ___________________________________________________
quent presenter at the Forum, commented, “I see the Forum as a primary gauge for informally assessing where we are nationwide with our schools. It provides us with the pulse of Islamic education in our country. This is drawn not just from all the networking, but also the quality and scope of the workshops and how they are received.”
Expanding each year, the Forum continues to provide its attendees with a sense of unity, which Dr. Moes referred to as “a big family reunion.” As Islamic schools continue on their quest for self-betterment, the Forum’s family is sure to continue growing, invigorating educators to carry on their noble journey of teaching the next generation of Muslims in America. “Every year it gets better” remarked Kathy Jamil (principal, Universal School, Buffalo, NY) an attendee of the forum. The forum’s participants also enjoyed excursions to the bazaar, where about 50
exhibitor tables were arranged, offering a variety of Islamic educational materials and services. Muslim educators were exposed to new products such as teacher training DVDs for Arabic teachers developed by BIAE (Bureau of Islamic and Arabic Education) and up-and-coming services such as a globally recognized, online Islamic teacher certification program hosted by the University of Toronto.
_______________________________ Farheen Khan is the founder of Crescent Learning Center and the Association of Muslim Educators. Dr. Shaza Khan focuses on issues of identity and adolescent development of Muslim American youth.
who attend conventions or seminars put together by organizers who feel the need to cram in as many activities as possible. Cheating on sleep does not pay; rather, it generates potentially negative During such events, many attendees socialize and stand in consequences for one’s self, family, and community. BY S. A. RAHMAN qiyam (late night optional arch 2010 will always prayers), further depriving thembe remembered by selves of sleep. Hoping to make those who knew Amiit to work the next day, they ofnah Assilmi, the dediten start driving home late at cated and beloved Islamic worker night. Some make it home; othwho helped get the Eid stamp iners are seriously injured or killed. troduced. As reported in “Islamic The resulting tragedy affects Horizons” (May-June 2010, p. 57), many people. No one ever seems she died in a one-car accident in to think, however, that all of this Tennessee after her sleep-decould be avoided if such people Sleep deprived drivers prived son lost control of his car. would just give themselves harm themselves and Her death reminds many Musenough time to sleep or at least others. Amina Assilmi, lims in Cincinnati of a tragedy that check into a hotel or stop at a the dedicated and occurred some fifteen years ago. A rest area for a while. beloved Islamic worker family from Indianapolis was reOrganizers and Islamic organiwho helped get the Eid stamp introduced, turning home after attending a zations need to emphasize that was a recent victim. weekend seminar. The visiting Isall attendees should have 6-8 lamic worker’s twelve-year-old hours of restful sleep per night. daughter was talking about Hellfire There should be no sessions afand Jannah. As she drew a beauti- yet fully explained by science, be- passed the decree of death and ter 11 p.m., 6-8 hours should be gins. Sleep can have a major imsends the others back until an ful picture of Jannah, she did not given before the fajr prayer, and late night and social gatherings pact on the overall quality of one’s appointed term” (39:42). know that she would be traveling should be discouraged. In fact, Infants and children require there a mere twelve hours later be- life, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF; 12-16 hours of sleep per night. As organizers should feel responsicause her sleep-deprived father www.sleepfoundation.org), for it one ages, one requires at least 6- ble and accountable for any sufwould fall asleep at the wheel. rejuvenates, restores, and heals. 8 hours of restful sleep per night fering that follows their event. Such tragedies are repeated over On the average, adults need 9.5 to sustain good health. Sleeping For a start, they should insert into and over again—often after conhours of uninterrupted sleep a for long periods, however, makes their budget a day of rest for their ventions and seminars. volunteers and staff to help them night so that their bodies and one sluggish, a condition that God mentions sleep, one of His catch up on their sleep. This will minds can perform properly the leads to wasting one’s time, life, blessings for humanity, in the cost a little more; however, such next day, says the NSF. If this and productivity. Lack of sleep, Qur’an: “And among His signs is an extra expenditure is nothing does not occur, the body cannot on the other hand, makes one the sleep that you take by night when compared to the pain and confused, dizzy, and subject to and by day, and your seeking of His complete all of the necessary suffering that families will feel if passing out while walking, dribounty” (30:23). And yet many of processes needed for muscle repair, memory consolidation, and ving, or working with machinery. their loved ones or friends are seus continue to ignore its imporriously injured or killed. Consuming coffee, tea, or other tance to our continued well-being. the release of those hormones God states that He wants to A restful sleep is a precious gift that regulate growth and appetite. stimulants may keep one awake, The Qur’an describes sleep as as many college students know; make life and religion easy for which there is no substitute. however, that effect only lasts for (2:185; 94:28), so why do we try During it, one’s body and muscles temporary death, for “God takes to make it difficult for ourselves? 28-30 hours, after which sleep relax and the body’s cells are reju- the souls at the time of their will overcome the person. Unfor- _______________________ venated. While every tissue rests, death and those who do not die Dr. S. A. Rahman is a physician and an Islamic during their sleep; then He withtunately, this phenomenon has the brain becomes more active been observed in Islamic workers worker. and dreaming, a phenomenon not holds those on whom He has
You Cannot Cheat Sleep
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