The Arizona Muslim Voice www.azmuslimvoice.com
MONTHLY NEWSPAPER
Blind couple leads drive to provide free braille copies of Qur’an By Tracey Tong
A blind married couple is raising funds with the goal of making Islam accessible to blind and visually impaired people. Yadira and Nadir Thabatah aim to provide the Islamic community with free braille copies of Islamic literature in English. Yadira, who is completely blind, and Nadir, who is legally blind, started their online fundraiser in late March at www.launchgood. com/project/islam_by_touch. The fundraiser, which is scheduled to wrap up May 23, has raised nearly $18,000 of its $20,000 goal. This project will allow the Thabatahs to offer literature on Islam in braille to the blind Muslim community. The funds will go towards launching a non-profit organization called Islam By Touch which will be dedicated to producing and distributing free braille copies of the Saheeh International translations of the Holy Qur’an and other Islamic literature. Currently, there are no free braille copies of English translations of Islamic literature available to the public, according to the Thabatahs. Married for eight years with three children, Yadira said that coming to Islam “has been the biggest blessing in my life.” She said that whenever she asked to read an English translation of the holy Qur’an or books on the prophets in braille, she was told to listen to audio recordings of the information she was requesting. “Enabling the blind Muslim members of the community the opportunity to read Islamic literature in braille would allow for the same choice to be held as every sighted counterpart,” the Thabatahs stated on their fundraising website. “The availability and accessibility of Islamic texts would solidify blind Muslims as validated members of the Ummah.” The organization will start by circulating the free braille copies to mosques, Islamic centers, libraries and organizations for the blind across the United States but ultimately, this literature will be available worldwide.
MAY, 2016
VOL.21 ISSUE NO. 237
CURIOUS GEORGE GETS INQUISITIVE ABOUT RAMADAN Author hopes new children’s book will inspire more Muslim writers By Megan Smith
Curious George is back, only this time he’s helping his friend Kareem make it through his first fast, instead of getting himself wrapped up in his usual mischief. In “It’s Ramadan, Curious George,” Curious George and his new friend Kareem enjoy the month of Ramadan, from fasts, to charity, to Eid celebrations. George, an iconic and celebrated literary character, is a monkey with curious tendencies. He often gets in to trouble but his caretaker, the Man in the Yellow Hat, is not far behind to help him clean up his mess and wrap it in a well-packaged lesson. In this new story, George puts away his usual monkeying around to help Kareem make it through his first, and difficult fast by playing games when Kareem smells food cooking from the kitchen. Later in the book, at the end of the month, George stands alongside the Man in the Yellow Hat to watch for the Crescent Moon and welcome Eid. Hena Khan, a Pakistani-Amer-
ican Muslim from Maryland, authored the new book which was released on May 3, 2016. “I was happy to be approached by the publisher to write the book
about Curious George celebrating Ramadan. They had found my other Muslim-themed picture books, and ‘Night of the Moon’ that specifically focuses Continued on p. 2
TRUMP NOW ‘FLEXIBLE’ ON DENYING MUSLIM ENTRY INTO U.S.
views were just suggestions, that no decisions have yet been made and that he is not firm on the policy. He said that this would be subject to review by members of a prospective Trump administration. Trump is considered the presumptive Republican nominee after his rivals dropped out of the race.
By Tracey Tong
Although Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has long stood by his belief that Muslims should be banned from entering the United States, he recently softened his stance. Trump said that he’s now flexible, but that he wants and needs to examine the issue of radical Islam before he makes his final call. He called his original belief that Muslims should be prevented from entering the country “a temporary ban,” and said that he wants to get to the bottom of the issues before making a decision. He previously stated that the proposed ban on Muslim entry would be temporary,
but has never said how long that would last. The real estate developer made waves in December when he called for a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the country until the government could figure out what was happening. This was around the time tens of thousands of Syrians fled their homeland, leading to an immigration crisis in Europe. His Republican and Democratic opponents hammered him on the issue, and there was speculation that it was due to this pressure that Trump recently revised his statement on national television. Trump stated that because he has not yet been elected, his
In this issue NEWS
Many countries restrict women’s religious attire....... 03
REVIEWS
Phoenicia Café offers tasty Mediterranean meals – and a market........................ 05
OP-ED
How I learned to open the Qur’an................................... 06
OP-ED
For Mental Health Month, let’s work to end stigma in Muslim community............. 07
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MAY 2016
NEWS
CURIOUS GEORGE GETS INQUISITIVE ABOUT RAMADAN on Ramadan. It was an honor to write a book with such a beloved character, and I’m thrilled to be writing a second book featuring Curious George now.” Not only is “It’s Ramadan, Curious George” a bestseller on Amazon but has its own hashtag, #itsramadancuriousgeorge, on Twitter. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive,” Khan said. “There was a lot of buzz about the book and pre-order sales were strong, and I’ve been relieved to see wonderful reviews and excitement around the book now that people actually have it in their hands. It’s funny that the parents often seem just as excited as their kids about this book, and I often hear things like ‘I wish I had this when I was a kid.’” The story showcases a different side of Muslim practice and the various cultures that make up those who follow the faith. When George breaks his fast with Kareem, the table is full of foods from all over the world, including a hot pizza, of which George enjoys a slice. Khan intentionally had some characters
wear hijab and others not. The Our Muslim artists need to step Imam of the mosque is depicted up and answer the call, and creas playful and open, joking with ate good content.” George. Kareem gives the Man in the Yellow Hat a fez to replace his iconic yellow hat, as an Eid gift. “I would say that the book industry is ripe for more Muslim characters, but the key is to have a good story to tell,” Khan said. “I think we need more books on a variety of topics in addition to our holidays. I personally find that translating a good idea into a finished product is really hard sometimes. And I talk to so many people who tell me, ‘I have an idea,’ or ‘I’ve always wanted to write a book.’ If you have good ideas, write them! And don’t be discouraged by rejection. I’ve had my share.” Curious George has been a beloved character for many decades. The merging of this character with new experiences allows other children a glimpse into a different culture and world. “There is a growing push for diversity in literature and although it takes time, Muslims are slowly
being represented,” Khan said. “It will take a while for us to become mainstream, and not be stereotyped or ‘otherized,’ but I think we are making progress. I was thrilled to hear about Salaam Reads, the new Muslim-focused imprint by Simon & Schuster, for example, and am super excited to have a middle grade novel be-
ing published on their inaugural list next year. The decision of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to publish ‘It’s Ramadan, Curious George’ was a huge step in the right direction. And I’m hopeful that other publishers will take note of the strong sales and response and recognize that there is an important gap to be filled.
The Arizona Muslim Voice PUBLISHED MONTHLY by UNUS, LLC OWNER / PUBLISHER Wafa Unus wafa@azmuslimvoice.com FOUNDED BY Marwan Ahmad
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Megan Smith • Tracey Tong • Kent Barry • Hanna Rahman Ian Punnett • Aneesah Nadir ADVERTISEMENTS ads@azmuslimvoice.com Deadlines for submission of letters is the 24th of every month, and for advertisements by the 25th. Only letters and articles submitted on electronically or by email will be accepted for review. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse any letters, articles or advertisement or any other material. The Publisher will not be liable for more than the advertisement cost in case of an error. The Muslim Voice is not responsible for the contents of advertisements or articles nor endorses them in any way or form.
NEWS
MAY 2016
Many countries restrict women’s religious attire
By Tracey Tong
Women around the world are finding increasingly that their choices in religious attire and symbols are being banned in public places – and in many cases, more often than they are required to wear a particular type of attire. A recent study by the Pew Research Center on government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion looked at regulations involving the wearing of religious symbols by women. The study, jointly funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation, is a part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, which studies religion and its impact on societies around the world. Harassment of women over religious dress is one of the factors that was examined as a part of the creation
of the project’s annual index. Types of harassment were also logged. The study found that in the years 2012 and 2013, 50 of the 198 countries and territories studied had at least one law or policy at the national or local level which restricted women’s religious attire. Furthermore, 78 percent of these countries or territories had a law or policy limiting women’s ability to wear religious attire, and 24 percent had at least one law or policy requiring women to wear particular attire. Although many countries did not officially regulate women’s attire, women in these countries still sometimes faced public pressure to dress a certain way or conform to local customs, or suffer harassment from members of the public. The laws or policies limiting women’s ability to wear religious
attire were most commonplace in Europe, where nearly half (18 of the region’s 45 countries) had this restriction. Several countries banned specific pieces, such as face coverings, in public places like government buildings, entertainment and eating establish-
or public facilities. Other countries had rules that were comparatively lax. Surprisingly, in the conservative AsiaPacific region, laws or policies requiring women to wear religious attire were only found in 12 percent, or six of the 50 studied. In sub-Saharan Africa, Somalia was the only country studied where there were laws or policies requiring women to wear religious attire. The region with the fewest rules was North and South America. While the United States had
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Furthermore, % of these countries or territories had a law or policy limiting women’s ability to wear religious attire, ments and public transportation. Depending on the country, penalties included having to attend a citizenship class, pay a fine or serve up to seven days in jail. Several countries in the Middle East and North Africa had laws requiring women to wear religious attire and still others had policies limiting women’s ability to wear religious attire in some situations
no specific laws, its neighbor to the north, Canada, had one restriction – candidates for Canadian citizenship were required to remove any religious or cultural garment that covered their faces at their naturalization ceremony. This was so lawmakers in this multicultural country could see that the candidates were in fact reciting the oath of citizenship.
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MAY 2016
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REVIEW
Phoenicia Café offers tasty Mediterranean meals – and a market
By Kent Barry
Hungry for some Mediterranean cuisine? Need to pick up some food items from the market? Time for Asr? You’re in luck. Located in downtown Tempe, steps away from the Tempe mosque, the Phoenicia Café offers all sorts of food items from apple crepes to zatar bread within its walls. The restaurant is integrated with a small marketplace within so that you can shop after you have some tasty kabobs or scarf down a burger. Just make sure you get some freshly made baklava afterwards. When you step inside (you en-
ter through the market), the restaurant is to your left. You are promptly greeted by the hostess/waitress and told to sit anywhere. Surrounding you on the walls is a nice stretch of painting of Mediterranean scenery – the royal blue of the Mediterranean Sea and little ships floating on the water as they are being guided by a lighthouse. The wait time for the food is reasonable. My food arrived within fifteen minutes of ordering. I started my Mediterranean meal experience with a plate of dolmades (grape leaves) and hummus. The dolmades were tossed with olive oil and tasted
fresh. The hummus was plentiful and paired well with the included pita bread. Next I had the chicken kabob platter. The meat was grilled and lean, marinated and juicy. It came with a couple sides but I was too busy chomping away on the tasty chicken. I also tried the Classic Burger and Phoenicia Burger. The burgers are nearly identical except the Phoenicia Burger has green peppers in addition to the other classic toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese. The burgers were good but not great. They had a kabob taste to them, which isn’t bad at all but if you’re looking for the “traditional” burger taste, this was not it. The fries that came with the burgers were of average quality. Not the worst but certainly nothing to write home about. I had to add more salt than I would have liked to get a better taste from them. The meat was well-seasoned
MAY 2016
5
and the beef patty was charbroiled. The toppings tasted fresh and clean. Pricing is very affordable. My burger-kabob cost just under $7 and the platter a few dollars more at $13. Both were filling and with the platter I had enough to take home with me for lunch the next day. Bottom line – if you’re looking for a place that serves Mediterranean food that won’t break the bank but is also of quality and tastes good, try Phoenicia Café. It will fill your taste buds and your stomach. It also has the benefit of being next to the Tempe mosque and having a little market attached to it if you need to grab some items for the home. If Tempe is too far from you they also have a second location in Gilbert. I’d give it 4 out of 5 chicken kabob platters.
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OP-ED
MAY 2016
How I learned to open the Qur’an Deacon Ian Punnett Last week, my kid was packing up some books that he was not going to bring with him on his next move. On top of the pile was the Qur’an from an Arab studies he took as a college sophomore. I held the Qur’an, saw that it was an English translation, and asked my son if I could keep it. I studied parts of the Qur’an in a comparative religion class I took when I was in seminary, but I have never owned a complete one until now. I’ve always been interested in the commonalties between Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. I remember writing a paper in seminary suggesting that Pilgrim women would feel far more comfortable with the moderation and modesty of most modern Muslim or Orthodox Jewish women than they would most modern Christians. Conversely, except for the beer drinking (potable water was often unreliable), in dress, in family structure, in societal outlook,
a hijab-wearing Muslim woman might have blended in nicely with the religiously persecuted founders of the Plymouth Colony. But I also recalled from that same class that Muslims observed specific purifying rituals before reading the Qur’an, so I made a point to not open the book until I cleaned up. To be honest, I do not think I have ever washed my hands with intention before reading a Bible. I would think nothing of reading the Bible with dirty hands, but I do come from a Christian tradition that calls us to cleanse our minds through prayer before reading the Bible. That was all that I could recall from that religion class, though, so I decided to check the internet for what I should do next before opening the Qur’an. On a WikiHow page, How to Read the Qur’an, however, I learned that a cleansing prayer was Step #2 in Islam as well! “A’udhu Billahi Minash Shaytaanir Rajeem” (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the
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cursed). While it would be common to end my Christian prayers with “In the name of Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” this WikiHow page said that I should conclude my prayer before opening the Qur’an with Step #3, “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). But just when I thought everything about my inaugural Qur’an opening was going so smoothly, Step #4 on WikiHow threw me a curve: “Gently open the Holy Qur’an by using your right hand.” First of all, since it was an English translation and the binding was on the left, using my right hand to open the book would be awkward unless I flicked the cover up with my right thumb. Secondly, Step #4 reminded me of the confusing messages that Muslim cultures communicate about left-handedness in general. I write with my left hand, just as I would hold a fork or pass a bowl with my left hand, but I have been told by Muslim friends in the past that Allah only makes people two ways: Right-handed or Wronghanded. And then I got to wondering what the Bible had to say about
Brother Of The
Book Deacon Ian Punnett
@deaconpunnett
Rev. Ian Punnett is a PhD student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication/ASU in Phoenix, a seminary–trained deacon in The Episcopal Church, a former nationally syndicated broadcaster and author of “How to Pray When You’re Pissed at God.”
left-handedness too. So I opened my Bible (with my left hand), and I was reminded right away. In the first book, Genesis, the right hand is considered the hand of strength and the hand of fellowship; throughout the Bible, the righteous are promised the seat “on the right hand of God.” Prejudice against lefties: Just one more thing the two great religions have in common? Undeterred, I will be reading the Qur’an and sharing my insights in columns ahead. Who knows? If I keep practicing these simple steps, maybe I’ll get so good at reading the Qur’an that Donald Trump will try to deport me. I’ll keep you posted.
AMV JOB OPPORTUNITIES Managing Editor The Arizona Muslim Voice seeks a creative and motivated managing editor that can lead local news coverage. The managing editor will work with freelance writers and organize coverage of local events as well as manage general monthly newspaper content. Qualified candidates will have a degree in journalism, some newsroom management experience and a good pulse on the Greater Phoenix area. If interested please submit your résumé and cover letter to JOBS@AZMUSLIMVOICE.COM
Freelance Writers
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The Arizona Muslim Voice has immediate openings for freelance writers for multiple sections. Qualified freelance writers will have experience writing articles, conducting interviews and be able to meet deadlines. Some training will be provided. If interested please submit your résumé and cover letter to JOBS@AZMUSLIMVOICE.COM
OP-ED
FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH, LET’S WORK TO END STIGMA IN MUSLIM COMMUNITY Dr. Aneesah Nadir Imam Zaid Shakir of Zaytuna College says, “As Muslims, we often think that our community is beyond many of the everyday problems that others are grappling with. As a result, we fail to develop the resources that can assist Muslims who are struggling with very serious problems. One of these problems relates to mental health. Many Muslims are dealing with serious mental health issues, such as depression, but are left to suffer, untreated, in silence. This situation oftentimes has devastating personal and social consequences.” The rise of Islamophobia is impacting our mental health. A 2006 research study of 152 Muslim American men and women, who were immigrant Muslims, second-generation Muslims and Muslim converts of diverse ethnic backgrounds, found a significant
relationship between perceived religious discrimination and subclinical paranoid ideation in Muslim American men. Our children and youth are also experiencing identity issues, anxiety and bullying related to Islamophobia. In addition to physical pains those living with depression also experience continual sadness, tearfulness, helplessness. They often feel like they can’t go on and even like they don’t want to live. As a result, some feel so hopeless they think about taking their own life and some actually do. Dr. Mona Amer’s study of 611 Arab adults, 70% of whom were Muslim, found that 50% of the study participants had symptoms of clinical depression, compared to 20% in an average U.S. group. Many of us are experiencing spouse abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse and elder abuse. In 1993, Sharifa AlKateeb conducted
MAY 2016
the first national study on the prevalence of physical violence among Muslims in the United States, showing that 10% of Muslims were experiencing physical abuse, a figure that is comparable to national statistics and other faith groups. Living with physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse has led to post traumatic disorder or PTSD for many of us. While the birth of child is a happy occasion for most, many of our sisters are living with unresolved postpartum depression. Those around them don’t understand what they are going through or how to help. The loss of a pregnancy, a child, a spouse also leads to unresolved grief and loss. Even though alcohol and drugs are forbidden in Islam our community members are suffering from the disease of alcoholism and substance abuse as a result of hookah abuse, illegal drugs and misuse of prescription drugs. Many are also living with co-occurring disorders or a combination of mental illness and the use of illegal or prescription drugs to self-medicate. May is Mental Health Month. We ask: How can we help our community? We must end the stigma so our community members no longer suffer alone and in silence
Nadir
Notes
Dr. Aneesah Nadir Dr. Aneesah Nadir is a social worker, published author, speaker, retired social work professor and entrepreneur. She serves as the president of the Islamic Social Services Association-USA headquartered in Arizona. She is an independent associate with LegalShield. For more information contact Dr. Nadir at 480233-6547 or pnadir@legalshieldassociate.com
fearing embarrassment. Stigma prevents us from getting help. We must recognize that any one of us can have a mental illness just like any of us can have diabetes, heart disease or cancer. It does not matter how wealthy we are or what ethnic background we come from. We must realize that our degree of religious practice is not to blame for mental illness. Spiritually related therapies can be helpful. Most also need the therapeutic treatment of mental health professionals. Religious leaders and mental health professionals can and must work together for the mental health of our families and communities.
The Cultural Cup Food Bank “The ONLY Muslim run food bank in Arizona!” HELP SUPPORT THE NEEDY IN OUR COMMUNITY
HELP MUSLIMS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We need your support! Financial, food, clothing and supplies! Help us help the new refugee arrivals! Ramadan is fast approaching; they will need extra help during this time! Refugees from all over the world continue to come to America. Phoenix has been receiving hundreds of families who are in need of help. The Cultural Cup Food Bank is and has been a resource for Muslim refugees to get assistance with food, without worry of being served pork items. The last week of April we helped three large Syrian families, newly arrived, with rice, beans, lentils, cereals, bread, sweets, milk and halal meat. Our pantry is quickly dwindling of these ethnic food items. CCFB has been assisting refugees and those in need for over 13 years; but only with the help and support from the community!
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How you can help: In Order of Importance!
1. Donate monthly to support CCFB programs 2. Donate ethnic foods to CCFB so we can distribute to new arrivals 3. Donate household items, baby items
All types of donations are tax deductible!
You can donate directly to the Cultural Cup Food Bank 501 (c) (3) several ways: 1. PayPal: http://culturalcup.com/donate.html , either credit card or PayPal account. 2. Set up a monthly donation through your bank on “Bill Pay”. 3. By check to: Cultural Cup Food Bank, PO Box 17521, Phoenix, AZ 85011 4. Also in need of food, clothing, and household donations to CCFB during business hours.
REVIEWS