the muslim link - january 16 2015

PG 40

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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Being a Woman Without Kids: Advice to Mothers | pg 21

PGMA Sunday School Celebrates End of Semester | pg 5

Demand Grows for Caregivers with Islamic Values | pg 5

TML Covers CATO Conference on Surveillance in Wash DC | pg 6

New Masjid Planned for Outside Beltway In Clinton MD | pg 6

Jailed and Abandoned, Abdelhaleem Ashqar Continues to Live by His PrinciplesBy Hena ZuberiMuslim Link Staff Reporter

He was offered the world in exchange for testifying a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n Muslim and Palestinian organizations. His refusal, motivated by the love of his people, his principles, and his

struggle for human rights and self-determination,

earned him an augmented jail sentence.

November 21, 2014, marked the seventh year of the imprisonment of Northern Virginia resident and Islamic activist Dr Abdelhaleem Ashqar. His charge was ‘one count of obstruction of the

administration of justice and one count of criminal contempt for his refusal to collaborate with federal grand juries, investigating the Palestinian anti-occupation

Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God | pg 21Research Shows Muslim Ameri-cans Feel Targeted | pg 16

Community Members Who Left Us Last Month | pg 25

Muharram| Safar | 25 RAbI AL-AwAAL, 1435 |Rabi Al-Thani| Jumada Al-Awwal| Jumada Al-Akhir|Rajab | Shaban | Ramadan |Shawwal|Thul-Qedah|30 Thul-Hijjah

running for the hills Charlie hebdo and Western liberalismPatience & Perseverance

>> PG 18 >> PG 20

Hocus-Pocus Hajj, Inc.In Wake of 2014 Chicago Hajj Scam, TML Talks to Victims, Agents about Lessons Learned

By Hena Zuberi Muslim Link Staff Reporter

In September 2014, Virginia resident Shazia K. Farook flew to California to

see off her parents who were headed off on the trip of a lifetime— Hajj.

They had suitcases packed and ready in their Southern California home and airline confirmations in their hands. Their passports with visas were ‘in the mail’. Then a packet arrived from the Haj j t ravel agency,

>> ashqar Pg 8

25 RaBi al-awaal - 23 RaBi al-tHani 1436 a.H. | www.MusliMlinkPaPeR.coMlike & Follow ustHe MusliM link

January 16th - February 12th , 2015 MD, Va, and Dc Metropolitan area Monthly newspaper | FRee

>> hajj Pg 10

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| 3January 16th - February 12th, 2015 INDEX

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3 Civil Rights

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21 IslamIslam

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| 5January 16th - February 12th, 2015 COMMUNITY NEWS

Nanny Service Shows Demand for Caregivers with Islamic ValuesBy Hena ZuberiMuslim Link Staff Reporter

Every other day masjid email lists have postings requesting recommendations for Muslim nannies. With more families with two income households, the demand for quality childcare rises and as does the need for a website that connects Muslim families with Muslim caregivers.

Muslimahnannies.com fills this need with an online platform for people to find Muslim care givers. The platform launched on December 27, 2014 and has registered over 500 users. The type of care providers that can register on the site are nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, housekeepers, pet sitters, child care centers, doulas and Islamic schools.

The site is open to adults above the age of 18 anywhere in the United States. A huge percentage of the users registered are from the DMV area. A sample ad from Maryland reads "I'm looking for a great helper for a 16-month-old boy while I work from home. Some light housekeeping would be helpful. Responsibilities would include meal

prep, nap time and toddler entertainment. Occasional assistance with laundry would be great. We're looking for a caregiver who likes being active outdoors. We'd like someone who enjoys playing games with our son. Looking to hire someone who encourages reading.” The business is the baby of Virginia resident, Kamilah L.* She is assisted by two marketing and support admins, Ola Oda and Shadai Davis.

Options are available for $15 a month to $50 for six months. Caregivers can post ads and get in touch with families or business looking for providers. Muslimah nannies provides background checks for an additional fee of $78, through Sterling Background Check. The check confirms the caregivers social security number, address history, checks national arrest records, sex offender registry, and searches state, county and correctional criminal record databases. Families and businesses pay $20 monthly membership fees to search for caregivers. The platform is not involved in the hiring process, but serves as a safe online

meeting place for families and providers, says the founder. “I am looking for someone to watch my children after school, pick them up from school, so the person must have a car and know how to drive,” says Honey Khan, a working mother of four. She can now post her needs on the website and get connected to a local Muslim babysitter for after school care. “Being Muslim is important as I would like her to make sure that they say their prayers when they get home,” she says. “As a Nanny, many Muslim families reached out to me asking for a nanny or similar care provider. This inspired me to start Muslimah Nannies and create a platform for Muslim families to connect with Muslim care providers,” says Kamilah.

Kamilah was raised in an environment surrounded by children. “My mom ran a daycare in our home. When I was 12, I became a certified babysitter. When I was teenager I organized and ran a summer camp for children. When I was in high school I participated in a Teacher's Preparation program and worked with

elementary school children in the inner city after school. In college I interned a local elementary school and babysat. After college I became an AmeriCorps VISTA and worked with children ages 2 - 24 in a low income community,” she said. When she became a nanny, she had the opportunity to care for children from all developmental backgrounds. “I believe children are our future, no matter how cliché that may sound. If they are exposed to a care provider that genuinely has their best interests in mind, it can serve as a foundation that has a positive impact for their future.”

Muslimahnannies has received feedback from users to help create an even better user experience and Kamilah says that she they have worked hard to implement these changes.

As the African Proverb states: "It Takes A Village To Raise A Child". If you are a care provider or a family in need of a provider visit muslimahnannies.com

*name changed for privacy

PGMA Sunday School Marks End of Semester with CeremonyOn Sunday, December 21, 2014, from 10 am to noon the students of the Sunday School at Prince George’s Muslim Association (PGMA) gathered with parents and grandparents to celebrate the end of the academic semester in a colorful ceremony. The institute has been functioning for 20 years. The keynote speaker was Dr. Ahmad Azzari, Imam and Religious Director of PGMA, who asked the students to be good examples and representatives of Islam.

Principal Mohamed Beshr along with 14 teachers, two administrators, three parent volunteers and two student volunteers run the program for the 137 students. There

are 31 part time hifzh students. Many of the teachers are PhD students from the University of Maryland. T h e S u n d a y s c h o o l u s e s t h e weekendlearning.com study materials for their Islamic studies curriculum.

Muftiat Fahm, one of the administrator of the program says that weekend school learning is a vital part of life for children who attend public school, who do not have exposure to Islamic Studies. “We need to ensure Islamic education is available to all children in the community,” she says.

Students take the stage to present some of what they learned during the past semester at the PGMA Sunday School. Photo courtesy of Muftiat Fahm. >> Pgma Pg 11

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Community News

January 16th - February 12th , 20156 | COMMUNITY NEWS

Message from DC Conference on Surveillance: Online, You Are Never Alone Muslim Link Attends CATO Institute Conference on SurveillanceBy Hena Zuberi Muslim Link Staff Reporter

In an era with more people connected to each other, Americans should assume that their online communications are being collected and monitored. This concern and its ramifications was the topic analyzed during the inaugural CATO Institute Conference on Surveillance, held on December 12, 2014 in Washington D.C.

In his opening remarks, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) discussed how the next Congress has a unique opportunity for surveillance and National Security Administration reform. He is one of the few pushing an effort in Congress to ban federal agencies from requiring companies to provide ‘backdoor’ access to their products for surveillance and to end warrantless surveillance. His

proposed amendment passed the House in a landslide victory in June 2014, but was firewalled from the “CRomnibus”

bill — a 1,600 page long legislation that covered $1.1 trillion in spending— as the year wrapped up for senators. A few days before the CATO conference Massie, along with Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif) reintroduced the measure as the Secure Data Act of 2014.

A panel d iscuss ing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 702 (FISA) and Executive Order 12333 (EO 12333) was moderated by Charlie Savage, Washington Correspondent for the New York Times and included John Napier Tye, Former Section Chief for Internet Freedom at the State Department.

Most of the public debate about NSA

>> surveillance Pg 7

New Masjid Planned In ClintonBy Muslim link staff

The Muslims in Clinton, MD have outgrown their weekly gathering space and are excited to announce the purchase of a property to build a masjid in this historical town near the southern border of Prince George's’ County. This masjid will be the first outside the beltway, aside from PGMA and will function under the Islamic Circle of North America banner.

For the last 5 years the Colony South Hotel served as the place to gather for Jummah. Around 40 families regularly attend, and worshippers also come from the Andrew Air Force base and Oxon Hill. Prior to that they met at the Lutheran Church.

Mohiuddin Mansur has worked in Clinton

for the past 17 years. His family owns the Chicken Hut that serves zabihah halal fried chicken and says that the community is in the early planning stages.

The 2.2 acre land on Piscataway Road is zoned for religious purposes and is next to a church. The community has had a close relationship with ICNA and instead of reinventing the wheel they plan to partner with ICNA and run the masjid like the rest of the ICNA masajid are run. Currently, ICNA sends an Imam to the region to lead salah. Community leaders decided that legal, architectural and fundraising issues would be tough to tackle alone so decided to work under

the ICNA umbrella. “We [thought] about larger picture,” said Mansur.

The community has raised $90,000 but will need an additional $145,000 to pay back the no interest bearing loan within 2.5 years, with a yearly payment of $60,000. Eighty percent of the population of the town of Clinton is African American. The masjid is a diverse mix of various immigrants and African Americans and everyone is involved in the process, says Mansur.

An additional amount will be needed to build the Islamic Center. An old house on the property will have to be demolished.“We are planning a lot of parking space,” says Mohiuddin. The main organizing committee meets every Monday with representatives of the community in Dr Essam Tellawi’s

office. Dr Tellawi, an internist and gastroenterologist with a practice in Clinton, is a community leader and a frequent khatib at area masajid. Some in the community want a large masjid to accommodate over a thousand worshippers, but Mohiuddin is cautious. They will initially build a modest masjid to accommodate 350 worshippers. “We can always build an addition,” he says.

The zoning is pre-approved for religious purposes. The plan will be submitted in the coming months. “[Hopefully] the plan gets approved by [the] county then we will have Eid there under the open sky,” says Mansur.

Interested in donating or learning more about the project please call Dr Tellawi at 703 822 3189

Dr Essam Tellawi

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surveillance is focused on Section 215 of the Patriot Act and Section 702 of FISA, which authorizes the collection of communications of foreign targets within the U.S. According to Tye, the National Security Administration can use the EO 12333 to collect similar communications overseas. He said that there are massive constitutional violations taking place everyday that prompted him to file complaints. When his official grievances received unsatisfactory replies, he hired lawyers to protect himself from ending up in the same position as Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who leaked classified information about global surveillance systems. Tye’s attorneys make sure he knows the limits of the law and does not disclose classified information to unauthorized users.

On the panel, journalist Dr Marcy Wheeler of Emptywheel.net noted that “bulk collection for even just one topic means the collection of everything, as

counterterrorism serves as the excuse to get all phone records in the US in the phone dragnet”. Alex Joel, Civil Liberties Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, also on the panel did not dispute this. He explained that the recent Presidential Policy Directive 28 covers EO 12333 and limits the use of data that has been collected, but does not stop data collection. Further exchanges during the session between Tye and Joel highlighted the fact that a significant amount of data is still being collected.

Google President Eric Schmidt spoke at the conference on several topics of concern to users of the world’s largest search engine. Google has faced public criticism over the collection of personal data, including search history and daily activities, and over reports of information leaks to the government. He said he first learned about NSA spying on Google servers from a newspaper. Schmidt stressed that the government doesn't need a back door to get communications, because it has a front door called "warrants" and "good police work”. “The NSA’s best frenemy” as described by Cato Institute fellow

Julian Sanchez, said that “we do need to retain a certain amount of information for our systems to work, but unlike many others we make it very easy for you to delete that, mask it or avoid it entirely.” He encouraged the use of his products and the use of incognito browsing mode.

Some voices stood out at the conference, especially whistleblower John Tye, Patrick Eddington, the Cato Institute’s policy analyst on civil liberties, formerly a CIA analyst, and Christopher Soghoian, the principal technologist at the speech, privacy and technology project at the ACLU. Soghoian fact checked Schmidt on his claim that web browser Chrome keeps communications safe. “Incognito mode will do nothing to protect you from surveillance by the authorities – that is not the right technology and there are technologies like Tor that will do a much better job,” said Soghoian. Tor is a free software and open network which provides anonymity while web browsing.

Speaking on the Domestic Surveillance: Law Enforcement in the Digital Age panel, about the militarization of the domestic police force, Soghoian also

said that along with military equipment, surveillance technology is also is trickling down to local law enforcement. Of concern to many were ‘Stingrays’, small devices that mimic cell phone towers used to locate suspects by sniffing out their cellular phone signals. The devices gives police and government agencies the ability to capture people’s cellular data in real-time, including from the phones of every innocent bystander. Recently police in Chicago used this device to monitor an anti-police brutality protest leader’s phone and disrupt cell phone calls from the protest.

The best thing that could happen is for the public to stay mad about bulk collection and contact Congress -- a powerful tool if enough people do it, said CATO’s Eddington. Public pressure is the only thing that will change the status quo, echoed co-panelist Harley Geiger. He stressed the importance of actually contacting the government. “[N]ot just federal but local and state [governments] and not angry tweets because they are

surveilance >> continued from pg 6

>> surveillance ii Pg 11

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movement’ as well as other American Muslim organizations. In 2007, Judge Amy St. Eve sentenced Dr. Ashqar to 135 months in prison, more than 11 years. Dr. Ashqar, a former professor at Howard University, was an outspoken political opponent of the Israeli occupation from 1986 to 1990, and his his activism and writing against the regime made him a target. He was often detained and tortured for his activism. The Ashqars' ordeal as a couple started when the Islamic University of Gaza, where he was a lecturer and director of public relations, was closed after the First Intifada.

He received a scholarship from the University of Mississippi to complete his PhD, but was not allowed by the Israeli government to travel until the next year. “I came to the United States in 1990,” explained his wife Asmaa. “After the First Intifada, it was very unsafe in Palestine. No one could move in [Gaza]. When he got the scholarship to continue his PhD, we thought it was a good opportunity. We dreamed of a free United States. We had heard of freedom of speech and democracy— how you can go there and have liberty.” The couple thought that they could live in the United States and show the world the plight of the Palestinians.

Asmaa hadn’t slept for months from the bombing in Gaza. “I felt so safe when I came here, but that didn't last for a long time. We believed in freedom of speech, but there is no freedom of speech,” she says.

Ashqar’s wife said that upon the request of Israeli authorities, the FBI and the US Attorney General’s office in Mississippi offered her husband citizenship in exchange for testimony against HAMAS, Dar Al Hijrah, Muslim American Society (MAS), CAIR, and the Holy Land Foundation. “They were very clear [with] what they wanted him to say. They wanted to build cases against those organizations and some members to the Muslim community.”

Asmaa says Dr Ashqar refused, saying it is against his religion and his community, leading to threats from the authorities. His PhD was delayed for seven years as the FBI supposedly had a discussion with

his thesis supervisor. It wasn’t until his advisor passed away that Dr Ashqar was granted his PhD, says Asmaa.

Stanley Cohen, one of Ashqar's lawyers, documented "that Dr. Ashqar has been the victim of government harassment, intimidation and illegal surveillance for more than a decade."

“He could either join with his oppressors, reject his countrymen, forsake everything he believes, and never return to his beloved Palestine, or he could be labeled a terrorist,” notes his appeal to his sentencing memorandum.

Federal prosecutors kept trying to charge him with terrorism crimes, but without any evidence those charges did not stick. The jury did not find that Dr. Ashqar

obstructed the investigation of a federal crime of terrorism, nor did the grand jury find that Dr. Ashqar actually obstructed justice.

In 2004, under then US Attorney General Ashcroft, Dr. Ashqar was arrested and charged with criminal contempt and obstruction of justice, giving him a sentence of 11 years and three months. The maximum sentence for this crime is usually 40 months. “The judge said to my husband at his hearing that I want your community to take a lesson from you and not take you for a role model—collaborate with the government,” says Asmaa.

Dr Ashqar has spent three years under

house arrest and seven years in jail for the Palestinian cause, enduring one of the longest hunger strikes in American history. He faces immediate deportation upon his release and cannot go back to his homeland because of the occupation.

“We lost all the appeals, yet they [still say] talk to us and you will be released right now,” says Asmaa. She was going to visit

Dr Ashqar so The Muslim Link asked her to ask Dr Ashqar if he would do it again. She didn’t hesitate. “He will do it again and he will live for his principles, for the sake of Allah. He told me many times, after they jailed him all the members all the community abandoned him. They said they have nothing to do with him. He didn’t do it for them, [it was for] the sake of Allah, for what he believes in. That is what makes me keep believing.”

“He thinks about standing in front of his Lord; he is really strong and I am proud to be the wife of this man. I walk with my head held high.”

It is an American tradition to fight for beliefs and to be jailed for them, and this road is not easy. “Dr Ashqar’s refusals to testify before investigative grand juries about his work and relationships with other Palestinians — in effect to become an informer against his people and his liberation movement — was part of a long history of resistance by activists in this country to “naming names” of political associates before government investigative bodies,” writes Ashqar’s

attorney Michael E. Deutsch in the Electronic Intifada. “The District Court, ignoring the fact that Dr. Ashqar was acquitted of a terrorism conspiracy, his long history of service to his people documented in hundreds of letters and the history of non-collaboration and civil disobedience vis-a-vis grand jury inquisitions, sentenced him to more time in prison than if he had committed a violent felony.” Before his sentencing Dr Ashqar had this to say to the Muslim Link readers: “I think it’s a political case. It’s a continuation of the government’s efforts to outlaw any activities [on behalf of the Palestinian], to try to make something out of nothing. And I think that what happened today is evidence of what they have been doing all over - to create something from nothing; to make it appear that we are doing something illegal, while we are not; to outlaw any work to support our Muslim causes all over the world, and shortly it might be any Islamic work, if Muslims don’t work together and support the legal proceedings of this case and other cases.”

In his latest message to Muslim Link readers, he says: “I didn't do it for special people, I did it for Allah. Any minute and second we can die and I want to be remembered as a man of dignity and honor, not as a traitor. The message to the community is to stand up and wake up. The Muslim community will become weakened, hiding is not going to protect you. Standing up for each other will protect you. I hope they will wake up. Our problem is the leaders in our communities. If our leaders are scared how do we expect the others to react?”

His release date is June 13, 2017. Asmaa hopes that he will be released before then. “Everything is in Allah's hand. They will deport him the minute they release him- we can't go back home. For 24 years, I haven't seen my country and my family,” comments Asmaa, brushing off hopelessness. “We pray that we will find a country that will accept him. It is hard as a Palestinian; we hope Allah will eases his life after that. We pray that Muslim countries will be safe and have the freedom that they are seeking. Please keep him in your duas,” says Asmaa.

Dr Ashqar lives for his principles. He

ashqar >> continued from pg 1

....

“They were very clear [with] what they wanted him to say. They wanted to build cases against those organizations and some members to the Muslim community.”

“He will do it again and he will live for his principles, for the sake of Allah. He told me many times, after they jailed him all the members of the community abandoned him. They said they have nothing to do with him. [But] he didn’t do it for them, [it was for] the sake of Allah."

>> ashqar ii Pg 11

| 9January 16th - February 12th, 2015 ADVERTISEMENT

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informing them that their visas were not approved. Devastated, Farook’s parents —the Kamals— didn't know what to do. They called her uncle in Chicago who was supposed to leave with them, travelling with the same company.

Unfortunately, the uncle had received the same news about his own visa and was trying to get in touch with their agent, Rashid Minhas of Light Star Hajj Group. Farook’s uncle had chosen the travel package, which at that time looked like quite the deal. The travel agent was not picking up the phone or returning text messages.

A quick trip to the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles revealed that Minhas was not registered as an authorized Hajj agent. The Kamals did not even have electronic reference numbers filed for their names. In short, Minhas had never applied for their visas. When her parents finally reached Minhas and demanded an explanation, the agent became agitated and rudely told them there was nothing he could do, Farook told the Muslim Link.

News media in the Chicago area picked up the story of the man who perpetuated injustice towards the Kamals and 48 others hoping to complete a religious tenet and word spread through the American Muslim community of his arrest and charges of mail fraud of over $500, 000.

Farook and her family think about the warning signs. Minhas had insisted on receiving a money order, which they had sent out right after Ramadan. The materials sent by Minhas’s agency were subpar and unprofessional, says Farook. She gave him the benefit of doubt yet the odd font and folder prophesied things to come.

“If my parents had just shared the information with us before they send the money, we would have Googled him and found out about his previous [illegal activity],” says Farook. Looking back, she says she should have paid closer attention and investigated further on behalf of her aging parents.

Minhas did this before. A Facebook page dedicated to victims of VIP Travels- the

agency that Minhas ran before he started Light Star – has dozens of anguished messages from victims of the fraud. Three years ago, ABC news ‘exposed Minhas as he was facing an angry crowd of travel agency clients who had paid thousands of dollars for trips to Mecca that never happened.’

From October 2008 to March 2009, he operated a travel agency by the name of City Travel and Tours. On Nov. 21, 2013, Minhas, who previously went by the name Rashid Faridi, was charged with seven counts of mail and wire fraud, according to a complaint filed in local courts in

Chicago. According to Chicago Tribune, the indictment against Minhas alleges that he sold or helped sell about ‘$340,000 in airline tickets that were voided, resulting in losses of $293,000 to Emirates Airlines and others.’

Minhas found a loophole in the electronic payment system for paper airline tickets. He voided tickets “without notifying the customer or the airline and fraudulently retained customers' funds for his personal use."

Hajj Business in America

An estimated twelve to fifteen thousand pilgrims travel every year from America for hajj, with numbers increasing every year. Only 40 agencies in the United States are licensed with the Ministry of Hajj to arrange groups. All other agencies, branches, or partners do business with these authorized agencies directly or indirectly.

“Some people want to save money and go for good deals,” says Maqsood Ibrahim Fareed, of Royal Travels in Houston, TX. He warns about fly by night or ‘boiler room’ operations and random brothers in the masjid who are taking people on hajj.

Dealing with companies from other states can also be an issue as it is harder to assess if the company is legitimate, he says. He mentioned a story of a rogue agent from New York who absconded with half a million dollars from people wanting to make the Hajj trip from Houston.

“[T]he main points are that one must be in good standing with the [Saudi] Hajj Ministry and have a contract with a Hajj/Umrah company within Saudi Arabia,” says Mohammad Aslam of Metro International Travel Inc. The Saudi Embassy requires that travel agents provide the consulate with residence, transportation and general services contracts. According to the Ministry of Hajj this contract must include the name of the organizer, the code given to them by the Ministry of Hajj, and the number of visas they are allowed to get. Prior to the issuance of any hajj visas, they must also provide the consulate with a letter from the Ministry of Hajj office in Makkah. If any of the pieces of the puzzle are missing then a visa can be rejected, often due to the inexperience of a ‘boiler room’ travel agent.

Akila S. and her family were set to go for Hajj in 2014. Akila’s father had seen a flyer in local masjid in Chicago, Ill. The cheaper rates promised a saving for the family of six. They submitted all their paperwork, she says. She reflects on the expense of Hajj and wonders why prices are tripled during the Hajj season. Maqsood from the Texas travel agency says that during Hajj season the cost factors go up in Saudi Arabia for everything from catering to accommodations. His company makes payments to the airlines and hotels 6 to 8

hajj >> continued from pg 1

....>> hajj ii Pg 12

An estimated twelve to fifteen thousand pilgrims travel every year from America for hajj, with numbers increasing every year. Only about 40 agencies in the US are licensed with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj.


.ORG/connect/donate/volunteer/invite

She has two children in the program and she is very satisfied with their progress considering the limited number of hours.

Af te r l ive ly pe r fo rmances and presentations by students, awards were presented to the best students in knowledge and behavior. These students were nominated by teachers based on their accomplishments in both academics and character. “We try to tie the two together,” says Fahm. For the upcoming year, the school plans to roll out an Arabic Enrichment Program to help students who are struggling with reading.

“An ideal weekend school program teaches Arabic, Quran and Islamic Studies as core subjects with the goal of enabling students grow and learn as role models in their respective communities,” says Fahm.

not reading your tweets,” said Geiger, who is the Advocacy Director and Senior Counsel at Center for Democracy and Technology.

Faisal Gill, a lawyer who served in the Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush, was scheduled to speak at the all-day conference but had to cancel due to bad weather. Gill was the target of government surveillance, scrutiny he believes was account of his Islamic faith and political activism.

A highlight of the event was a live address by Edward Snowden, the computer professional who leaked thousands of classified NSA documents to media outlets in 2013. He spoke from Russia which has given him temporary asylum. The US has charged Snowden with espionage.

Snowden said he is happy average Americans are concerned and increasingly involved with issues of surveillance and privacy, citing evidence of how 39 percent of the 702 million people around the world using the internet are taking steps to avoid NSA surveillance. Snowden also echoed the ACLU’s concerns about domestic police forces, saying that ‘our

police are capable of things that other countries' spy agencies aren't capable of.” The US shares private information on many US individuals with Israel but this is frequently under reported, said the former Booz Allen Hamiliton contractor. He urged companies like Google to protect consumers in the same way Apple has by adding encryption features that protect iMessages and Facetime calls from surveillance. Snowden also criticized internet giant Amazon.com for not protecting its customers from insecure connections. Creating products that have

inherent insecurities weakens the basis of the modern economy because America relies on the internet for economic gain, he said. He drew a parallel between torture and mass spying, saying that both are harmful to security.

The well-coordinated event brought speakers from civil libertarians to public servants in one room. The day closed with a standing ovation for Edward Snowden and a practical session on techniques to secure network connections.

takes his cues from the great American heroes who used civil disobedience in support of their people. He often finds his words in the words of Martin Luther King, like in this quote from the civil rights leader: “I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.”

....

Pgma >> continued from pg 5

surveillance >> continued from pg 7

science ii >> continued from pg 7


months in advance.

A local imam, who did not have the experience or resources to fulfill the commitments the company had made in their fliers, led her hajj group. The entire group was unable to obtain visas and so never made it for Hajj.

Some pilgrims will arrive in Saudi Arabia to discover the accommodations they booked do not exist, while others will find that their whole trip is in fact a scam. Minhas did manage to send a few travellers to Jeddah but once they were there they were left to fend for themselves. Farid says a legitimate company will have contacts in Saudi Arabia who arrange accommodations, transportation, food and various other support services.

Pilgrims are urged to get everything in writing. “Always get written terms and conditions as this details your contract with the travel company. Make sure your flight details, accommodations and Hajj visa are valid. Establish an auditable paper trail and keep records of financial transactions,” suggests a national awareness campaign on Hajj fraud that ran in the United Kingdom where Hajj fraud is so common that there is a special police division for it.

Don’t send cash or checks to individuals. Most legitimate companies will have facilities with a bank to accept credit or debit cards. Fareed from Royal Travels said that travel agents can accept credit cards for airline tickets but in his experience hotel packages have to be paid by wire transfers by the agent for the whole group.

Marsin Travels Intl. refunded $30,000 to Akila’s family; they are still waiting for the remaining $10,000. “If I don't get my refund then I will file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau,” says Akila S.

“We trust too easily, we think it is Hajj and no one will commit fraud on a Hajji. We can’t be blind and have to do our research,” says Akila S. who looked up the website of the travel group after submitting payment and found it very rudimentary.

“The number of pilgrims performing Hajj each year from around the world is

increasing very rapidly. [The] government of Saudi Arabia is trying their best to keep up with the influx. Unfortunately until the planned expansion of Haramain and areas surrounding is completed, it will be difficult to manage these huge numbers,” says Shahzad Ahmad of ZamZam Travel, which is listed on Hajinformation.com, an official web portal for information about authorized Hajj agencies.

hajj ii >> continued from pg 10

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>> hajj iii Pg 14


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Principal Wantedfor Islamic Center of Maryland’s Sunday School

The ICM Sunday School is looking for a qualified and highly motivated individual with at least four years of teaching experience. Administrative leadership, academic excellence, and devel-opment skills are a must. Knowledge of public & Islamic school settings is a plus. US citizens, permanent residents and persons with work authorization only can apply. There are nearly 400 students in from kindergarten to grade 8. The administrators and teachers at ICM Sunday School are dedicated to working collaboratively to implement instructional program that adhere to the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah.

General Responsibilities The ideal candidate must be available on all Sundays during the academic year which runs from mid-August through mid-June. The candidate must be able to anticipate project needs, discern work priorities, create planning documents, and meet deadlines with little supervision, and be willing to work at least 20 hours per month. The candidate should demonstrate attention to detail, be enthusiastic and professional, and be able to communicate with students, teachers, ICM committee members, parents and volunteers.

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• Staff recruitment• School/Parent Liaison person• Establish professional development opportunities and teacher trainings• Supervision of classroom teachers as well as non-instructional support staff• In charge of day to day management of the school• Attend meetings of the school committee and implement its minutes• Facilitate collecting and maintaining records of tuition payment• Keep records of all financial transactions conducted by the school staff• Solicit volunteers to help with the school activities

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“If there is a problem with any arrangement in Saudi Arabia, the authorized agency can contact the Ministry of Hajj for intervention and resolution. Sub-agents or sub-groups are not recognized by the Ministry of Hajj and so cannot deal with the Ministry of Hajj directly. Also, if pilgrims face any trouble with their arrangements, they can hold the authorized agency accountable in front of the Ministry of Hajj. On the other hand, if a sub-group or sub-agency doesn’t deliver on its promises, there is usually not much pilgrims can do.”

Ask for references and a second opinion, says Farook. “As a community, we have to talk about a more efficient method for hajjis—we have to lead to good.”

This year the Saudi Embassy will not enter passport information manually. “You must use a passport reader,” says Ayman Ali. He runs Haj On Soft, a software solution for agents that he says allows submitted passport data, finances, tickets and required paperwork to interface seamlessly with the Ministry of Hajj's requirements. This requires passports to be scannable.“Companies must know which reader is required and how to order it. Some old passports may not be able to be scanned by the reader. Travelers should update themselves about new developments.”

Filing a Complaint

Some Muslims don’t want to file complaints because they want to be able to go to Hajj and think that complaining will flag their names on a list and their visas may be denied in the future. This makes little sense as the Saudi Ministry of Hajj has an easy portal on their website to file complaints to minimize fraud. Hajjratings.com is also a website where Hujjaj write reviews of Hajj companies after their trips.

Others are spiritually abused into silence; scared to commit gheebah (backbiting), scared that they are not practicing sabr (being patient) or that filing a complaint would be tantamount to dishonoring another Muslim. “If someone has been wronged [they] need to speak up because who knows how many Muslims may be defrauded by this process,” says Akila.

It’s a balancing act to keep hujjaj from North America happy. The biggest challenge for legitimate travel agents is the high expectations of pilgrims and how they adapt to foreign rules and culture, say travel agents. “During Hajj many pilgrims expect buses to arrive on time and all the processes involved to happen in a quick and timely fashion. However, there are millions of other pilgrims waiting to be transferred from location to location along

with us. Therefore not everything is fast during Hajj and often times we must wait for buses and hotels for hours. This is all apart of the process and some pilgrims find this hard to deal with,” said one travel agent. Some return and file complaints based on these experiences. “We prepare our Hajjis ahead of time and emphasize the need for patience. Most of these logistical setbacks are not in our control, however the bottom line is we perform all the rites and rituals of Hajj as prescribed,”

says Aslam, who is a veteran in the field.

“The best experience is du'a received from other Hajjis. If they are satisfied, then I am satisfied. I want to make sure people enjoy their time,” says Aslam of Metro Travel.

This journey of a lifetime should start with du'a and research. As the Prophet recommended: Trust in Allah but tie your camel.

hajj iii >> continued from pg 12

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By sarah Harvard Muslim Link Contributing Writer

American-Muslim feel as if they’re under attack.

There’s research to back up that claim. Dr. Maha Hilal, an expert on human rights and counter-terrorism, presented her dissertation research titled “Too Damn Muslim to be Trusted: War on Terror and the Muslim-American Response” at the Washington Peace Center on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at the Washington DC Peace Center.

Hilal found that 63 percent of Muslim-Americans believe they are targets of War on Terror policies. According to one of the study’s participants, the U.S. government's need to continually reiterate that its not targeting Muslims is itself problematic.

“It’s unfortunate that the media and the President have to keep reiterating [that they] are not anti-Muslim and [that] the war is not against Islam,” said one participant who requested anonymity. “Why do they have to say that? Then they’re obviously doing something wrong if they have to make that distinction.”

Since the start of the "war on terror", Hilal found that there has been an increase of 50% in political participation from the Muslim-American community. A participant in the study told Hilal that he believes Muslim-Americans eventually understood the need for them to exercise their first amendment rights only after the start of the "war on terror."

Hilal’s research received a positive response from those in attendance at the Washington Peace Center in Washington, D.C. Attendee Alex Dixon asked Hilal if there was anything allies of the Muslim-American community can do to bring awareness to the negative consequences of War on Terror policies. Amani Al-Khatatbeh, Editor-in-Chief of MuslimGirl.net, believes that counterterrorism efforts are dehumanizing the Muslim-American

community. “Muslim Americans are the exception. It’s not unconstitutional, because it deals with an ‘Islamic threat.’ It’s not racist, because there is a War on Terror,” said Khatatbeh. “The level

of complacency in our society is only possible by completely dehumanizing Muslims. U.S. policies since 9/11 are a proclamation that we are not people deserving of the same human and civil

rights as everyone else.”

The question and answer session soon because a discussion centered on the

Research Finds Most American Muslims Feel Targeted In Post 9/11 America

....


recent Charlie Hebdo massacre. A female audience member from the United Kingdom, who chose to be unnamed, stated that she finds a great divide among the Muslim community when it comes to issues related to free speech. “I have been to all the marches for Palestine and spoke out against policies that affect the Muslim community, but what I have noticed, at least from the Muslim community in the U.K., is that there is a free speech issue,” she said. “I feel as if you can’t choose both. I feel like if you say what happened in Paris is a free speech issue then you are outcasted from the [Muslim] community.”

Hilal responded that it’s important to take note of the other factors that led up the events at Charlie Hebdo, including the fact that Muslims in France are one of the most marginalized communities in the country. Like Muslims in France, the Muslim-American community feels as if their cultural citizenship has been diminished since the start of the Post-9/11 world, added Hilal. They feel as if the unspoken message from society is that Muslims aren’t welcome in the United States.

O you who have believed, let not a people

ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than

them; nor let women ridicule [other] women;

perhaps they may be better than them. And do

not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive]

nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience

after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent

- then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

(Quran:49:11)

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January 16th - February 12th , 201518 | HEALTH & FAMILY

Running for the Hills

Patience and PerseveranceBy Jann Mcclary

In May of 2011, Sister Jann McClary and her husband Tariq moved from the Washington DC metropolitan area to establish a new home in the mountains of Colorado, building it from the ground up as part of their plan to become free of the spiritual and physical stress of modern urban life. Sister Jann is documenting her experiences for the Muslim Link. See her earlier installments at www.muslimlinkpaper.com by searching for “Running for the Hills”. Make sure you select “Exact Phrase” in the search options. – TML

Building a house from scratch seems to have been designed for one thing, and contrary to rational thought, it is not to provide you with shelter, to impress your friends, nor to provide your bank with a legal means of extortion. It is quite simply, I believe, one way to teach you sabr. Allah subhana wa ta ‘ala is your building inspector, and you must go about your business according to his code. Yes, you have a few design options like siding and floorplan, but basically He’s calling the shots.

You see, Adam and Hawa (alaihum as-salaam) didn’t have to learn patience while building a house. All of ‘Adn was their house. There was no foundation to dig, no leveling of posts and such. No mortar to slap and tamp in between logs until their hands were sore. They got the prefabricated,

turn-key deal. No down payment or patience needed. (They had other lessons to learn. Like obedience.) So the rest of us D.I.Y.-ers have to actually get out and do it ourselves.

The number-one rule of thumb in building a house, which just about everyone who has ever nailed a couple of 2x4s together will never tire of telling you, is that it’ll take twice as long and double the money you saved. Brother, they ain’t lying. Which is why the house we began in 2011 is still not completely finished and here it is 2015.

Here’s where the patience part comes in. After a year of looking at and dreaming up our own cabin plans ‘til we couldn’t take it anymore, we whittled them down to a structure we figured we could actually put together. So out went the first plan: a hexagon cabin with a living grass roof loosely modeled after a Navajo log hogan; and the second plan, an earth-sheltered, partially underground hexagon dwelling in an open floorplan with six rooms opening out onto a central indoor fire pit. Oh yeah, we were going there. Thing is, we had to finally accept that our wallets would not take us there. Sabr has many levels, and all of them involve smacking down your nafs. So if you don’t have the

ability to hire somebody to satisfy your house nafs, then you have to have the patience to smack it down a notch and make the nafs satisfied with less. Hence, we are building a 15’x15’ simple square cabin. Old school. Traditional. Pragmatic. Do-able. Insha Allah.

We designed it with the intention of it being a workshop for me and Tariq. He does leather work and makes 100% extra virgin olive oil soaps, and I make jewelry. It was supposed to go along with another house plan we scrapped: a 30’x30’ cabin with an attached greenhouse, and dual sleeping

Building a house from scratch seems to have been designed for one thing, and contrary to rational thought, it is not to provide you with shelter, to impress your friends, nor to provide your bank with a legal means of extortion.

Photos from top to bottom: 1) Tariq and

Silvano inspect the cut. 2) Tariq and Jorge

build the gable 3) Gable and purlins up 4) Roof

planks finally on. Photos courtesy of the author.

....>> hills Pg 24


Join Us This Semester ~ Spring 1436 ~ February - June 2015

Register Today at www.ToobaUniversity.org

Learn Fiqh with Professor Abdelmoniem Elamin Abdelmoniem Elamin has over fourteen years of experience as an instructor with American Open University. He has taught Islamic belief subjects (Aqeedah), the principles of Islamic juris-prudence (Usool ul-Fiqh), and other sciences of Hadith and Fiqh in both Arabic and English. He holds a M.M.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Catholic University of America as well as a B.Sc. in Islamic Sciences from the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in America (IIASA), a satellite of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Learn Arabic with Professor Elamin Ali ShingraiElamin Ali has over twenty years of experience teaching Arabic as a second language. He holds a M.A. in Arabic Language and Religion from Punjab University in Pakistan. He also holds a B.A. in Islamic and Arabic Studies from The Imam Muhammad University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the past, he served as the Dean of Academic Affairs for the Eastern Sudan Academy.

Learn Tajweed with Professor Haroon BaqaiHaroon Baqai is the principal of Al-Huda School and director of the Hifzh School at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland. He has an Ijazah (certification) in Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim, which he received in Saudi Arabia after studying under Sheikh Muhammad Ali Haqqan. Haroon is the au-thor of “Let’s Beautify Our Recitation: A Complete Handbook of Tajweed”. He has also produced ”Ahlul Quran Gear”, an audio guide to memorizing short surahs, in addition to several CDs con-taining his Qur’an recitations.

Learn Aqeedah And Sunnah with Professor Hussein AfeefyHussein Afeefy has spent his years as a Professor at the University level. Having completed his Islamic studies and earned a B.A., Hussein Afeefy became an active member in teaching Muslims what he has learned. He has been a valuable asset to Muslim communities all over the D.C. Met-ropolitan area and is now an instructor of Qur’an Sciences at Tooba University.

....

January 16th - February 12th , 201520 | OPINION

Charlie Hebdo and Western LiberalismIslam Has Been Unfairly Criticized and Ridiculed in the West for Centuries.By Abdullah Al-Arian Al-Jazeera, January 10, 2015

Another horrific tragedy has struck a western capital in the violent murder of French journalists and cartoonists at a satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The culprits appear to have done so in response to the magazine's publication of cartoons deemed offensive to Muslims, though they were also thought to have been radicalized by the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

French society - and indeed, the global reaction - has been united in its condemnation of the attack and French authorities mobilized the full strength of the state's law enforcement agencies to track down the assailants, who were killed after a standoff with police on Friday.

As with most incidents of violence involving Muslims, however, the ensuing public discussion has revolved largely around resolute vows to uphold a fundamental value of western civilization - the freedom of expression - and degenerated into recriminations about Islam's purported assault on that very freedom. As a result, the natural expressions of grief and sympathy on behalf of the victims have taken on the added quality of high-minded liberal support for the content of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons, irrespective of the publication's history of racism towards Muslims and people of color.

Hegemonic narrative

It is only by uncritically adopting the hegemonic narrative of western liberalism that one could reach the conclusion that the biggest threats to freedom of expression in the world today are Islam and North Korea. To frame these events without accounting for the broader context and power relationships at work

inhibits any sensible understanding of the deep conflicts plaguing our world at present.

By positing western liberal claims to freedom against Islam's supposedly intolerant attitude towards irreverent or serious critiques of it would be to ignore completely the history underlying the current tensions.

The reality is that for as long as there have been liberal ideals staking their claim to the various freedoms western societies have come to sacralise, there have also

been societies suffering from exploitation and subjugation at the hands of those professing these lofty principles.

Even as they were establishing the very foundations of modern liberal societies, from the tenets of freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion to the basis for democratic forms of governance, Enlightenment thinkers were nearly universal in their expression of support

for a world built on racial hierarchies and the expansion of new European empires that depended largely on the use of violence to control colonial subjects. That these philosophers developed their racist outlooks towards Jews, Muslims, and blacks on the basis of "reason" and "rationality" makes such views more abhorrent than those derived from pre-modern modes of thought.

Whether it is the racist expressions of Enlightenment philosophers or the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo, these provocative views cannot be separated

from the broader political projects at work. At the same time that western liberalism gave rise to modern states committed to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, it also saw to the continuation of slavery, the colonization and subjugation of large segments of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, and global economic exploitation and environmental degradation.

The indignities of 'empire'

Within Europe, western liberal ideals, whose proponents had never concealed their racist and exclusionary outlooks, could not avert the rise of a fascist movement in the mid-20th century that pursued the extermination of millions of people. Even after the devastation of World War II, European appetites for destruction were seemingly unsatiated, as the next two decades were marked by struggles for independence from European powers by colonized peoples in the global south.

Faced with the prospect of supporting the freedom of the Algerian people, many French liberal intellectuals instead offered enthusiastic support for the brutal suppression of the Algerian struggle in a war that featured the widespread use of torture and the death of over 150,000 Algerians.

"They are, all of them, born with raging fanaticism in their hearts, just as the Bretons and the Germans are born with blond hair. I would not be in the least bit surprised if these people would not some day become deadly to the human race."

Writing on European Jews, this quote comes not from a propagandist in Nazi Germany, but rather from Voltaire, the 18th century French philosopher whose name has been invoked frequently in recent days as a historic champion of the freedom of expression.

Voltaire's views on Islam were no more tempered, as he authored an entire play dedicated to mocking its Prophet Muhammad as "the founder of a false and barbarous sect" and "a sublime and hearty charlatan".

Opinion

>> ridiculed Pg 27

Commenting on the recent string of Islamophobic statements by Bill Maher and Sam Harris, religion scholar Karen Armstrong noted, "this is the sort of talk that led to the concentration camps."

[W]estern countries have had no qualms about setting aside their liberal values to offer full-fledged support to authoritarian regimes in the Middle East that, incidentally, create the repressive climate that has been proven to give rise to militant extremism.

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| 21January 16th - February 12th, 2015 ISLAM

On Being a Woman Without Children: Advice to Mothers and OthersBy arshe ahmed

As I sit down to write my thoughts and reflections, I pause to think, where should this story begin and how should it be told. It is an accumulation of nine years of emotions and confusion, actions and experiences, reflection and clarity, and acceptance with perspective. It’s a simple story of this chapter of my life as a married woman expecting that the next chapter would be as a mother with children. I waited month after month and year after year for this chapter to arrive. In essence, my story affirms the idea that we may plan, but God is the best of planners. It is a story that is still being lived out and only God knows what the future holds.

Why Now?

So why am I writing this piece? To put words to my experiences as a wife without kids. And also to offer a voice to many others who are living a life without kids– kids that they very much desire to have. To offer words of advice to family, friends, and random people who

encounter childless women. And, finally, to give perspective to women who share my experience in the hopes that my words offer solace and comfort knowing that they are not alone.

The statistics show that the percentage of married women ages 15-44 who are infertile is 6 percent. Some even say that 1 in 8 couples or 12 percent of married women have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Since the occurrence for infertility are

more common than one would think, you may find yourself in a position where someone comes to you distraught and feeling a sense of helplessness. They may be experiencing insensitive comments and questions from family, friends, and random people they meet. It can take quite an emotional toll on a person who is already feeling insecure about being in a state that is not in their control.

Family, Friends, and the Random People Along the Way

So what do all of the above have in common? They are all curious about the question of children. Understandably, it’s one of the most frequently asked questions of married women: Do you have kids? How many kids do you have? And in turn, also the question: Oh, so, how long have you been married? What are you waiting for? Why don’t you have kids? However worded, one or more of these questions raise a slew of emotions for someone like me — a woman dealing with infertility. Who knew a simple answer of ‘no’ would bring with it such a wave of insecurities and single-handedly ruin my day. In the early years, these questions were like darts to the heart and would dampen dinner parties or events and even led to avoidance of social gatherings altogether. As someone who wishes they could say ‘yes’ to people’s questions about having kids but cannot, it is a true test of patience and perspective.

Photo by Fulani Jabri Photography

>> woman Pg 23

Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?By eRic MetaXas

In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.

Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of

star, and a planet the right distance from

that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 27 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.

With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large,

>> science Pg 22

[T]he odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row.

....

Islam

January 16th - February 12th , 201522 | ISLAM

Salaah times for January 16th - Februrary 12th, 2015

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

---Hadith in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim

Day Date Hijri Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib IshaFri Jan 16 25/3 6:07 7:24 12:18 2:52 5:12 6:30Sat 17 26/3 6:07 7:24 12:19 2:53 5:13 6:31Sun 18 27/3 6:06 7:24 12:19 2:54 5:14 6:31Mon 19 28/3 6:06 7:23 12:19 2:55 5:15 6:32Tue 20 29/3 6:06 7:23 12:20 2:56 5:16 6:33Wed 21 1/4 6:05 7:22 12:20 2:57 5:17 6:34Thu 22 2/4 6:05 7:21 12:20 2:58 5:18 6:35Fri 23 3/4 6:04 7:21 12:20 2:59 5:19 6:36Sat 24 4/4 6:04 7:20 12:21 3:00 5:20 6:37Sun 25 5/4 6:03 7:20 12:21 3:01 5:22 6:38Mon 26 6/4 6:03 7:19 12:21 3:02 5:23 6:39Tue 27 7/4 6:02 7:18 12:21 3:03 5:24 6:40Wed 28 8/4 6:01 7:17 12:22 3:04 5:25 6:42Thu 29 9/4 6:01 7:17 12:22 3:04 5:25 6:42Fri 30 10/4 6:01 7:17 12:22 3:05 5:26 6:43Sat 31 11/4 5:59 7:15 12:22 3:07 5:29 6:45Sun Feb 1 12/4 5:59 7:14 12:22 3:08 5:30 6:46Mon 2 13/4 5:58 7:13 12:22 3:09 5:31 6:47Tue 3 14/4 5:57 7:12 12:22 3:10 5:32 6:48Wed 4 15/4 5:56 7:11 12:22 3:11 5:33 6:49Thu 5 16/4 5:55 7:10 12:23 3:12 5:34 6:50Fri 6 17/4 5:54 7:09 12:23 3:13 5:35 6:51Sat 7 18/4 5:54 7:08 12:23 3:14 5:37 6:52Sun 8 19/4 5:53 7:07 12:23 3:15 5:38 6:53Mon 9 20/4 5:52 7:06 12:23 3:16 5:39 6:54Tue 10 21/4 5:51 7:05 12:23 3:17 5:40 6:55Wed 11 22/4 5:50 7:04 12:23 3:17 5:41 6:56Thu 12 23/4 5:49 7:03 12:23 3:18 5:42 6:57

Prayer times generated from www.islamicfinder.com for the

WASHINGTON, DC area.

expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researchers have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.

What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number

of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.

Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”

As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn’t be here.

Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to

support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.

Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn’t assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?

There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing

compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.

Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-

science >> continued from pg 21

>> science ii Pg 24

....

| 23January 16th - February 12th, 2015 CONTINUED

If I can offer one piece of advice to family, friends, and the random people, it would be to have some sensitivity to those married women who do not have kids. How to do this isn’t always clear because every situation is different. But just be cognizant that a woman you are engaging with may be struggling with infertility and may be in an extremely vulnerable state. Feelings of helplessness can be overwhelming. Therefore, it is important to be compassionate and considerate when asking questions about having kids. And, to think twice before asking certain follow-up questions or statements that may make a person feel even worse, such as “Oh, what are you waiting for?” or “You’re so lucky you don’t have kids”

or “Enjoy life while you can” or “You’re so young, you have time.” And, I give this advice fully understanding that most comments are made without any bad intent, and can just be a side-remark in a conversation. But what may sound like a simple benign question or comment is anything but that to someone struggling with infertility. It’s tough to know what to say, but one thing I love to hear and is comforting is when people make a dua (supplication), even as simple as Insha’Allah (God-willing), or give me the space to talk about my feelings if I so choose.

Part of the challenge of being in social gatherings with other women is that the topic so often is about kids and child rearing. I realize that it’s a tough position for friends who may not know how to approach or manage the topic of kids with someone who does not have kids. It’s a tough situation to be in all around. It’s va learning curve for all of us. I learned over time not to feel so alienated by these conversations, and that just listening to another’s experiences is good and wholesome. And to those mothers who are interacting with women without kids, I would advise to try to keep conversations tempered with other interesting topics as well, so that everyone can contribute in

some way.

Another essential point I would like to convey is that although I may not have kids, it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be around kids or that I don’t know how to handle kids. I know this sentiment is shared by so many other women who don’t have kids and who are usually more than happy to help with their friend’s or relative’s kids. When mothers are busy running back and forth with their kids, it can feel very lonely to have nothing to do. So, unless stated otherwise, please know that we like to hold your baby, and it’s okay if they cry or kick or drool on us. We like to play and talk with your kids, it isn’t a burden. Let us decide if it’s something we’re uncomfortable with, but don’t impose these feelings and reactions on us.

Infertility and Faith: Putting Things

in Perspective

Over the years, I saw how the intensity of my duas faded. And it’s something I reflect upon often, as to why I wasn’t reaching out to God with all of my heart. I don’t know, it was almost an acceptance of my state and maybe even a defense mechanism, albeit maybe not the best approach to take. But let it be known, I never stopped believing in God nor did I have a crisis of faith. But there were surely many emotional moments of sadness and confusion.

When I used to read Qur’anic passages, hadiths, or listen to lectures and sermons on the high station of mothers, such as “paradise is beneath the feet of mothers,” it used to make me feel sad since I knew that I would not be able to fulfill this role. It often left me confused, asking the question, “Why me?” But, at the same time, I tried not to forget that just because I wasn’t able to fully live through those teachings on being a mother, I could still appreciate its beauty and importance when I saw my own mom or my girl-friends with kids.

Upon further reflection, I’ve also thought about the wives of the Prophet Muhammad

Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam, of which only one, Lady Khadija (Allah be pleased with her), bore children who lived past the age of two. Otherwise, the wives were all childless. It was very comforting to know that my situation was not a unique one, that this was an experience lived by most of the Prophet’s wives as well. What I also found highly inspiring was knowing that these wives of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam were given a high station as indicated by their title in the Qur’an: Mother of the Believers. Although they may not have bore children, their impact was meaningful and special. They lived lives of virtue and contributed to their communities through social services and scholarship.

What also gave me perspective on my situation was understanding that what we are given and what we are deprived of are both tests from God. It gave me the perspective that I don’t know God’s greater plan. And that truly it is God who is in control. And through it all, to remind myself of the blessings that were present in my life and to be grateful for God’s many gifts.

How to Empathize with a Woman who has not given Birth

A friend recently reached out to me asking my advice on how to console a friend of theirs who was married but did not have kids yet. It was easy for me to relate to her situation because it is an experience that I have had and one that I continue to struggle with. I have been married for almost nine years and do not have kids. I should also note that this woman also represents many others in the community who are married but childless at this point in their life.

Here are some quick and simple tips to empathize:

1) Listen. The woman may want to vent and air her frustrations that she may be bottling up inside. As her friend, they have reached out to you to be that listening ear.

2) Validate. Affirm her struggle and help her regain control of her emotion as best

as she can. Remind her to not let other people’s insensitive comments linger for too long. And if she wants to avoid situations or places because of these people, remind her that in life there will always be people who make insensitive comments, so one has to find ways to deal with some of these people. She should try her best to let the unkind words fall away from her. And it surely is not an easy task.

3) Offer words of comfort and solace, invoking simple duas (supplications), such as “May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala make it easy for you.” To those facing anxiety, finding that connection to God’s mercy and grace can be helpful and healing.

4) Ask the person about the blessings in her life and help facilitate perspective in her life. Remind her about how each of us has different tests we face in our lives and others may be facing other trials and tribulations. All our journeys are different and unique, so to always be cognizant of that when feeling a sense of helplessness.

5) Reaffirm her self-worth. A boost in confidence goes a long way in regaining that emotional well being. Also, remind her that many great Muslim women in history may not have bore children, but their impact was meaningful and special. This includes many of the wives of the Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam who were given a high station as indicated by their title in the Qur’an: Mother of the Believers. They lived lives of virtue and contributed to their communities through social services and scholarship.

6) Know that solutions aren’t always helpful. Assess whether the person just wants to be heard at this juncture. There’s a time and place to offer solutions and treatment options for infertility.

May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala make us all compassionate, loving, kind human beings who are gentle with each other and treat others as we would like to be treated.

[Source: The Message Magazine]

woman >> continued from pg 21 If I can offer one piece of advice to family, friends, and

the random people, it would be to have some sensitivity to those married women who do not have kids.

Although I may not have kids, it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be around kids or that I don’t know how to handle kids.

....

January 16th - February 12th , 201524 | CONTINUED

Upcoming Events In Your AreaA Brief History of BengalSunday, January 18 2015, 3:00pm - 5:30pm

A Brief History of Bengal ~ Taught by Arif Kabir. Students will get a glimpse into the history of Bengal, what it made it the richest land in the Indian subcontinent until the 17th Century. Discussions will revolve around multifaceted aspects of culture, concen-trating on positive aspects. Time will be devoted to understanding present-day Ban-gladesh, its relationship with India and Pakistan, and practical steps to engaging with the larger Desi community in America. For youth between the ages of 13-24. Open to students of all backgrounds, geared towards Bangladeshi-American youth. Other adults/parents may quietly observe. Free. Location: Herndon-Sterling VA Contact: RSVP by Jan 15th, please email [email protected]

Story of Jibreel ('Alyhis salaam)Saturday, January 24 2015, 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Bayyinah Presents: The Story of Jibreel ('Alyhis salaam). The closest of Allah's angels to Him, the friend of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam) and the Prophets before him, the messenger to the messenger, and one of the most magnificent creations of Allah: Jibreel. Instructor: Sheikh Omar Suleiman. Tuition: $20 Note: This class is rec-ommended for 7 yrs and above. Fee is $20 for kids (7yrs and above) & adults. Register at: https://bayyinah.clickfunnels.com/soj01242015?inf_contact_key=78a8dc7a6ee5f2d4fd301ecbf45b4be49dd350ad7b5df574406038bb3b359d58Location: Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, 3159 Row St., Falls Church, VA 22044

AlMaghrib Class: All Around UsFriday, January 30 2015

How Close Are We to the End of Time? How many signs of the Day of Judgement have taken place already? How many of these signs do we see around us today? How many signs are yet to come? Find out answers to these questions along with many others at the next Almaghrib class coming to Qabeelat Nurayn with Shaykh Kamal El Mekki insha'Allah. All Around Us, Jan 30th - Feb 1st. Don't let financial woes stop you from seeking knowledge. For students who need financial aid, scholarship applications for "All Around Us" will be out SOON. Stay tuned!! Location: University of Maryland Contact: RSVP on Facebook Event page and invite others! #ShareTheKhayr

iMuslimah Halaqa Friday, January 30 2015, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

iMuslimah presents Fair Pair. Speaker: Br Safi Khan. There will be a potluck at the end of the program, if you would be interested to share a dish with your sisters, please email Sr Shamila at [email protected]. Arts and crafts available for kids at a nominal fee. Location: Dar-us-Salaam, Sisters' Musallah, 5301 Edgewood Road, College Park, MD 20740

Global Deaf Muslim Fundraising DinnerSaturday, January 31 2015, 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Do you know that we have translated 14 surahs into American Sign Language videos? Our next surah to translate is Surat Al-Rahman. Join us at GDM Fundraising Dinner. Speakers: Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Dr. Nassimi, and Dr. Yahya Alvi. Admission fee: $30. Dinner will be served. Buy tickets at: globaldeafmuslims.eventbrite.com Location: Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave, Herndon, VA 20170 Contact: [email protected], www.globaldeafmuslims.org

Mafiq Foundation: Essay Panel Contest 2015Saturday, February 07 2015

Are you ready for EPC 2015? Now is the time to do some research on ' Managing Conflict' (this year's theme) for background information and prepare for the upcoming EPC 2015. Essay/Poster/Multimedia Submission Deadline: January 11, 2015Location: Dar Al Taqwa, Ellicott City, Maryland Contact: For questions, please visit epc.mafiq.org or contact at [email protected]

stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row. Really?

Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”

The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014). [Source: The Wall Street Journal, December 25, 2014]

lofts for us and my daughter Atiyya. Well, after about the 44th log we had notched, drilled and pounded in place by hand, we stepped back, wiped the sweat from our brows and surveyed our handiwork. We looked at each other, then at the stack of logs still to be notched, drilled and pounded, then back at each other. And in the type of seeming-telepathy that only exists between husband and wife, we both blurted, “We could live in this, couldn’t we?” The prospect of doing this much work, again, on a house twice this size…and we’re how old?...are you kidding me?! We didn’t have that much patience. So we unintentionally became members of the Tiny House Movement.

Weather, being totally and completely beyond our control, necessitates a special kind of sabr called “laa tasta’ jil”, which means not to be in haste. We began building the cabin in August of 2011. Winter here tends to tease you a bit with a few short, light snows around the end of October. Then it sits back and waits while everybody gets fooled into forgetfulness by fabulous fall days that look like those calendar photos. Then, KA POW! From late December on, real snow every 4 or 5 days. We never had a chance. We were shut down. Sabr. Yeah, okay. Things moved like that all that first winter. And the next. And last year, too. Don’t get me wrong, we do get a few breaks and when that happens we do as much as our muscles and wallets

will allow. When we’re snowed in we devise our plan of attack and dive back in when the snow clears and mud dries. Come spring, believe it or not, it’s a repeat, but this time with rain that comes almost every day around 1 o’clock or so from late April until June. And just so you don’t think you have Allah’s schedule down, it has been known to snow in July.

On days when it’s neither raining nor snowing there are big decisions to be made. Do we want shelter or do we want to plant? We tried mightily to establish a garden our first year while we were putting up the cabin, and I’ve got the sciatica to prove it. Sabr would’ve allowed us to get a little further ahead if we’d nixed the garden in favor of throwing up some more logs. So that’s exactly what we did the next year. We only planted a few things, so you couldn’t actually term the results a harvest, but we did get the roof up, a milestone in both construction and our level of patience. Sheikh Ibn Qayyim says in his wonderful book “Patience and Gratitude”: “Religion is based on two principles: determination and perseverance (patience), which are referred to in the du‘â of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salam): “O Allâh, I ask You for perseverance in all my affairs, and I ask You for the determination to stay on the straight and narrow path.” We got the determination, and if we keep up the sabr, our cabin might just pass the Inspector’s code.

....

science ii >> continued from pg 22

hills >> continued from pg 18

| 25January 16th - February 12th, 2015 OBITS

Request For Duaa To Allah We Belong, and to Him is Our Return

12-16-2014 The Prince George's Mus-lim Association (PGMA) Imam, Boards, Management, and entire community in Lanham, MD extend their deepest con-dolences to Br. Karamat Syed and his family for the passing of his mother, Sr. Zubaida Syed, who has passed away. She is in the care of (Al Rahman) the Merciful one. May Allah SWT accept all her good deeds, and admit her to Jannatul Firdous; and may He grant her family patience, contentment, and ease. (Source: PGMA)

12-18-2014 Mohammad Afeefy, the young brother of Br. Hussein Afeefy, has passed away. May Allaah forgive and have mercy upon him, excuse him and pardon him, and make honorable his reception. Expand his entry, and cleanse him with water, snow, and ice, and pu-rify him of sin as a white robe is purified of filth. Exchange his home for a better home, and his family for a better fam-ily, and his spouse for a better spouse. Admit him into the Garden, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire. Ameen (Source: ISG)

12-19-2014 We are saddened to inform you that the mother of Dr. Yasmeen Ma-jeed passed. Janaza prayer was on De-cember 20, 2014 in Silver Spring, Mary-land. May Allah grant her the highest level in Jannah, ameen. (Source: MCC)

12-19-2014 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sr. Shamim Akhtar, mother of Sarfraz Malik, Sha-him Malik and Amjad Malik. The Salat ul Janaza was on December 20, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower her with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, grant her the highest ranks in paradise and give her family support and patience during this difficult time. (Source: ISB)

12-21-2014 The Prince George's Mus-lim Association extends sincere con-dolences to the family of Dr Rafik A Aboul-Nasr who has passed away. Janazah salat for Brother Rafik Aboul-Nasr was on December 22, 2014 in Prince Frederick, Maryland. May Allah SWT admit him to Jannatul Firdaus, and may HE grant the family patience and ease. (Source: PGMA)

12-21-2014 Br. Rauf Ahmad Khokhar, father of Br. Sohail Rauf (Pasha), passed away. The Janazah prayer was on De-cember 22, 2014 in Manassas, Virginia. May Allah (SWT) forgive all of his sins, may He grant him jannah-tul-firdous and give sabr to family and friends. (Source: Dar Alnoor)

12-23-2014 It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Br. Basheer Cheku, husband of Sr. Fatima, father of Sr. Sabitha and father in law of Br. Faizal. Salat Al-Janazah was on December 23, 2014 in Falls Church, Virginia. May Allah (swt) forgive all his sins, accept him in the highest of the heavens and shower HIS mercy upon him. May Allah give sabr to bare the loss. (Source: E. Baig)

12-23-2014 Mohammed Fakheruddin Ahmed (Father of Imtiaz Ahmed) has returned to Allah (swt) today. Janazah prayer was December 24, 2014 in Ster-ling, Virginia. (Source: W. Khawajhi)

12-24-2014 Father of brother Adeel Za-far (Taxwise) has passed away. Janazah prayer was on December 25, 2014 in Manassas, Virginia. (Source: Manassas Muslim Association)

12-24-2014 We are saddened to inform you that Mrs. Shirin Hossain, mother of Sr. Muna Hossain, passed away. (Source: MCC)

12-24-2014 Please pray for the Magh-

firah of Br. Zafar Iqbal, who passed away. He was the brother of Ashburn Community member, Shaukat Vohra. Br. Zafar's Salat-ul-Janazah was on December 25, 2014 in Manassas, Vir-ginia. May Allah swt grant him Jannah and patience to the family. (Source: S. Alam)

12-26-2014 The mother in law of Br. Khaled Bannout, mother of Sr. Sarah Yazbak has passed away.(Source: ISG)

12-26-2014 Sister of Brother Ashraf Ahmad passed away. We pray to Allah (SWT) to shower her with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant her the highest rank in Jannah, and give her family support and pa-tience during these difficult times, Aa-meen. (Source: Masjid Al-Falaah)

12-26-2014 The Prince George's Muslim Association (PGMA) Imam, Boards, Management, and entire com-munity in Lanham, MD extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Br. Harun Abdulmalik Green who passed away. He is now in the care of (Al Rahman) the Merciful one. Janazah prayer was on December 27, 2014 in Lanham, Maryland. May Allah SWT accept all his good deeds, and ad-mit him to Jannatul Firdous; and may He grant our community patience, con-tentment, and ease for his loss. (Source: PGMA)

12-28-2014 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of community member Sister Rabia Begum, wife of Br. Abdul War-ris Durrani, and mother of Br. Abdul Khaliq Durrani, Hamid Khan, Abdul Rahim Durrani, Abdul Waheed Durra-ni, Sr.Sabiha Hadaf, & Samina Afzali. Janazah was on December 29, 2014 in Ellicott City, Maryland. We ask Allah (SWT) to shower her with His mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and to grant her the highest ranks in para-dise, and give her family support and patience during these difficult times. (Source: Dar Al Taqwa)

12-30-2014 We are saddened to inform you that Sr. Fatumo Ibrahim Farah passed away. Her?Janaza prayer was December 30, 2014 in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Source: MCC)

01-02-2015 It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of an infant baby Sister Wafaa Touati. She was the baby of our community member Samir Touati & Sihem Sadouki. Janaza was on Janu-ary 2, 2015 in Ellicott City, Maryland. (Source: Dar Al Taqwa)

01-02-2015 It brings great sadness to mention that our dear brother Ghulam Mustafa Surmaty, has passed away. His Janazah prayer was on January 2, 2015 in Falls Church, Virginia.(Source: Peace Islamic Center)

01-03-2015 Naseem Ahmad, father of Shakeel Ahmad, has passed away. Sa-laat ul Janazah was on January 3, 2015 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. May Al-lah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and enter him into Jannat ul Firdaus, Aameen. (source: ICM)

01-04-2015 It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of Sr. Najat Mostafa Abdullah Bakr w/o Br. Abbas Abdelrahim Ali, mother of Muna Go-rashi, Sheema Abbas Ali and Ahmed Ali. Janazah prayer was on January 5, 2015 in Sterling, Virginia. (Source: E. Baig)

01-06-2015 The Prince George's Mus-lim Association extends sincere condo-lences to the family of baby Momodu Bundu (Konah) who passed away. The Janazah salat for baby Momodu was on January 7, 2015 in Lanham, Maryland. May Allah SWT admit him to Jannatul Firdaus, and may HE grant the parents, Br. Alpha Bundu and Sr. Lawrena Ko-nah and their family patience and ease. (Source: PGMA)

01-07-2015 It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of brother Tahir Mahmood Khan's sister. May Al-lah swt forgive her, have mercy on her, and grant her jannatul firdous. (Source: ICCL)

01-07-2015 The MAS DC family ex-tends its deepest sympathy and con-dolences to our dear brother Akram Elzend whose mother passed away. May Allah (SWT) be merciful with her, grant her paradise, and give her family patience. Ameen. (Source: MAS Com-munity Center)

“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)”

....

January 16th - February 12th , 201526 |

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

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

3900 king street, alexandria, Va 22302

tel: 703-647-0515Jumma Prayer only - 1:15 P.m

---------------------------------------------------------------------------IcnA VA center:

2913 woodlawn trail, alexandria, Va 22306.

tel: 703-660-1255---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Idara Dawat-o-irshad:4803 Valley st,

alexandria, Va 22312tel: 703-256-8622 | ww.irshad.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mustafa center:6844 Braddock Rd.,

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2116 s nelson st., arlington, Va, 22204,

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Zakaria Masjid26243 Gum spring Road,chantilly, Va 20152, usa

tel: 571-969-2123|www.ziacademy.orge-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Badr community center Of Dumfries:

17794 Main street, Dumfries, Va 22026

tel: 703-554-7983 www.bccd.orge-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Ul-ghuraba (Masjid Ur Rahmah):

155 Baker st., emporia, Va 23487

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3159 Rowe st., Falls church, Va 22044,

tel: 703-536-1030 | www.hijrah.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moroccan American community Organization center

5613 lessaburg Pike,#1Falls church,Va 22041

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

Islamic center Of northernVA Trust (Icnvt):

4420 shirley Gate Road, Fairfax, Va, 22030tel: 703-591-0999

www.icnvt.org | e-mail: info@icnvt.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------Dar Al-noor (Muslim Assoc. Of VA):

5404 Hoadly Rd., Manassas, Va 20112,

tel: 703-580-0808Fax: 703-221-8513www.daralnoor.org

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

12950 center entrance ct, Manassas, Va

tel: 703-257-5537---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic center Of Virginia:1241 Buford Rd.,

Richmond, Va 23235tel: 804-320-7333www.icva1.com

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

Richmond (ISGR):6324 Rigsby Road,

Richamond, Va 23226tel: 804-673-4177 | www.isgr.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al Rahman:1305 Hull st.,

Richmond, Va 23224tel: 804-232-7640

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjidullah Of Richmond:

211 north ave., Richmond, Va 23222

tel: 804-321-8864/804-647-4297---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dar-ul Huda:6666 commerce st.,

Springfield, VA 22150,tel: 703-922-0111 | www.darulhuda.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Foundation of America:

6606 electronic Drive, Springfield, VA 22151

tel: 703-914-4982---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid noor:8608 Pohick Rd,

Springfield, VA 22153tel: 703-451-7615

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Adams center:

46903 sugarland Rd, sterling,Va 20164,tel: 703-433-1325

www.adamscenter.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Heritage center (IHc):262 a-3 cedar ln., Vienna, Va 22180tel: 703-206-9056

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

14918 Jefferson Davis Hwywoodbridge, Va 22191

tel: 703-490-2220|[email protected]

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Ivy city Masjid:

2001 Galludet st. ne, washington, D.c. 20002

tel: 202-904-9668e-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Muhammad:

1519 4th st. nw, washington D.c. 20001

tel: 202-483-8832www.masjidmuhammad.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------The Islamic center:

2551 Massachusetts avenue nw washington D.c. 20008

tel: 202-332-8343www.theislamiccenter.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------First Hijra Muslim comm. center:

4324 Georgia ave, nw washington, D.c. 20011

www.firsthijrah.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al-islam:4603 Benning Rd.,

se, washington, D.c. 20019e-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------new Africa Islamic community center

of Washington. Dc.

1628 Good Hope Road, sewashington, Dc. 20020

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

Muslim Society Of Washington, D.c.:Howard center, Room 805

(above Hu Bookstore)tel: 202-328-3236

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARYLAND

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamic Society Of Annapolis (ISA):

2635 Riva Rd. suite 110, annapolis, MD 21401

tel: 410-266-6660www.isamd.org

email: info@islamannapolis.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------Bait-Allah Masjid of Baltimore Inc

200 s. calhoun streetBaltimore, MD 21223

imam’s cell: 571-721-9938email: baitallahmasjid@yahoo.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bilal Dawah center, Inc:1910 Frederick avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223

tel: 410-945-1515---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dar ul Uloom:6334 Dogwoood Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207,

tel: 410-493-0785email: [email protected]

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

514 islamic way (wilson st. ), Baltimore, MD 21217

tel: 410-728-1363---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al-mumineen:2642 Harford Rd.,

Baltimore, MD 21218tel: 410-467-8798

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Jamaat Al-Muslimeen:

4624 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212

tel: 443-438-7986---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al-rahmah/ISB:6631 Johnnycake Rd., Baltimore, MD 21244

tel: 410-747-4869 | www.isb.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid As Saffat:1335 w. north ave., Baltimore, MD 21217

tel: 410-669-0655---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Fatima1928 Powers lane

catonsville MD, 21228Phone: 410 800 4880

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------IRHScA (Islamic Research And Hum.

Services center Of America):1 chambers ave,

capitol Heights, MDtel: 301-324-5040

www.irhsca.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Society Of Southern Pg county (ISSPGc):

P o Box 99, clinton, MD 207355410 indian Head Hwy, oxon Hill, MD 20745tel: 240 603 4618

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

Dar-us-Salaam:5301 edgewood Rd.,

college Park, MD 20740,tel: 301-982-9848

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

Islamic Society Of Easton126 Port street unit # 1

easton, MD 21601tel: 410-829 7924

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

Masjid Zamzam1510 lynch Road,

Dundalk, MD 21222tel: 410-284-2840

www.masjidzamzam.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dar al-Taqwa:10740 Rte. 108,

ellicott city, MD 21042,tel: 410-997-5711

www.taqwa.net---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maryum Islamic center (MIc)3280 Pine orchard lane

suite a ellicott city, MD 21042

tel: 443-574-5188 www.maryumcenter.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Masjid Al-Hikmah:

11064 livingston Road unit l (101) Ft. washington, MD 20744,

tel: 301 292-9009---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Society Of Frederick (ISF):1250 key Parkway,

Frederick, MD 21702tel: 301-682-6090

www.isfmd.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic center Of Maryland (IcM):

19411 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20879

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Makkah Learning center (MLc):

814 Brandy Farms ln., Gambrills, MD 21054

tel: 410-721-5880www.isamd.org

email: info@mlcmd.org----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Society Of Germantown (ISG):19900 Brandermill Rd.,

Germantown, MD 20876tel: 240-277-7758 | www.isgtown.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Ibn Taymiyyah:8000 Mlk Highway,

Glenarden MDtel: 301-322-8105

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

Western Maryland:2036 Day Rd.,

Hagerstown, MD 21740tel: 301-797-0922

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Southern Maryland

Islamic center (SMIc):1046 solomons island Rd, Huntingtown, MD, 20639

tel: 410-535-0000---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avondale Islamic center:4637 eastern ave.,

Hyattsville, MD, 20782tel: 301-779-9292

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Prince Georges Muslim Assoc.(PGMA):

9150 lanham severn Rd., lanham, MD, 20706,

tel: 301-459-4942www.pgmamd.org

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Turkish American community center

9704 Good luck Rd, lanham, MD 20706

tel: 301-459-9589 | www.taccenter.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

La Plata Masjid:111 Howard street,la Plata, MD 20646tel: 301-609-8769

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic com. center Of Laurel (IccL):

7306 contee Rd.,laurel, MD 20707

tel: 301-317-4584 | www.icclmd.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid Al-Ghurabaa:8220 washington st.,

south laurel, MD 20724.tel: 301-604-3295

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic center Of Lexington Park

22583 three notch Road, lexington Park, MD 20619

tel: 240-538-7839 or 561-414-0994 www.iclpmd.org

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic community center of Potomac

10601River Road,Potomac MD 20854

www.iccpmd.com | 301-983-0383e-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Randallstown Islamic center

9019 Marcella ave. Randallstown, MD 21133

tel: 410-971-4018www.ricbaltimore.org

e-mail: info@ricbaltimore.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------Islamic Society Of The Washington

Area (ISWA):2701 Briggs chaney Rd., silver spring, MD 20904

tel: 301-879-0930 | www.iswamd.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islamic Education Society of Maryland11504 Veirs Mills Rd,

silver spring, MD 20902tel: 301- 933-3838

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Muslim community center (Mcc):

15200 new Hampshire ave. silver spring, MD 20905

tel: 301-384-3454 | www.mccmd.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------IMAAM center (Indonesian Muslim

Association of America):9100 Georgia ave

silver spring, MD 20910tel: 301-588-0693 | www.imaam.org

email: infoimaam@gmail.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Masjid An-nur:5418 ebenezer Road,

white Marsh, MD 21162tel: 410-663-9637Fax: 410-663-9817

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

7832 Fairbrook Road, windsor Mill, MD 21244

tel: 410-298-2977

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

....

| 27January 16th - February 12th, 2015 CONTINUED

Editor-in-chief:Minhaj Hasan

Office Manager:Stephanie Benmoha

Layout:Fadlullah Firman

Staff Writers:Urooj FatimaYaman ShalabiFatimah WaseemHena Zuberi

Sharia Advisors:Sheikh Salah as-SawiImam Safi Khan

The Muslim Link (TML) is published once a month on Fridays and distributed throughout the Washington, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan Areas. TML is a non-profit publication and is based at Dar-us-Salaam in College Park, Maryland, USA. Staff and contributors are not necessarily affiliated with Dar-us-Salaam.

The views expressed in The Muslim Link do not necessarily reflect those of Dar-us-Salaam or TML management or their underwriters. Dar-us-Salaam and TML are not responsible for the accuracy of information presented by advertisers, or for the religious compliance of events, products, or services published in TML.

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

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

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

The Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved 2015

ATTENTIoN INMATES: As much as we would like to, we are unable to honor requests for free subscriptions at this time. To sub-scribe, follow the instructions above.

SUBSCRIBE To THE MUSlIM lINk! To get the Muslim Link print edition in the mail, send $5 for shipping and handling per issue using check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, 5301 Edgewood Road, College Park MD 20740. To make payments over the phone using a credit card, call the Muslim Link office at 301-982-1020.

Subscribe to the online version of the newspaper so you get it in your email inbox FREE each issue. To subscribe for free, go to muslimlinkpaper.com.

While one can defend the right of satirists, government officials, and philosophers to espouse such beliefs - the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie became a popular means of expressing solidarity with the magazine in the hours after the attack - in the face of this history, it should become clear that in the case of cultural production, context always matters. Destructive policies cannot be pursued successfully without the vocabulary and imagery of racism and hatred of the other.

Pervasive Islamophobia

One cannot attempt to comprehend the actions of mass murderer Anders Breivik or the recent report on the US government's torture of Muslim prisoners solely against the backdrop of western liberal ideals. However, when one considers the rise of a pervasive Islamophobic atmosphere as seen in prominent discourses across the US and Europe, one can understand the reason such violence becomes possible and, indeed, normalized.

The significance of the question of what can be deemed appropriate speech goes far beyond its propensity to offend Muslim minorities, to its potential to have corrosive effects on the broader society. In the same way that western governments take great care to prevent the spread of ideas and messages they consider culpable for radicalizing Muslims (all pretensions about freedom of expression

be damned), they should consider the role that anti-Muslim cultural production plays in facilitating their own abuses of human rights, and radicalizing their own citizens, as seen in the wave of anti-Muslim terrorism that has witnessed a marked rise in the past decade.

Commenting on the recent string of Islamophobic statements by Bill Maher and Sam Harris, religion scholar Karen Armstrong noted, "this is the sort of talk that led to the concentration camps". The current permissibility of dehumanizing expressions against Muslims has a legacy in the anti-Semitic tropes of a century earlier. Both stem from the same noxious logic of exclusion.

In fact, western countries have had no qualms about setting aside their liberal values to offer full-fledged support to authoritarian regimes in the Middle East that, incidentally, create the repressive climate that has been proven to give rise to militant extremism. Nor have western societies proved unwilling to abandon claims about support for free speech when the question of social cohesion arises.

France banned rallies in solidarity with Gaza during last summer's war and the state has consistently prosecuted writers, comics, and even cartoonists whose work was deemed to risk "disruption to the social order". French Prime Minister Manuel Valls commented on the state's robust record of prosecuting artists saying: "Faced with this creativity of hate, should we do nothing? Certainly not."

In 2008, Charlie Hebdo fired an artist and

writer for a column that the editors found to be anti-Semitic.

At this juncture, western Muslims remain excluded from national dialogues regarding the question of social cohesion. The historical continuity of racial discrimination, coupled with a ramped up pursuit of strategic objectives across a number of Muslim countries during the last two decades have seen to it that an atmosphere of suspicion and hostility has permeated the public sphere in the US and revived the legacy of intolerance in Europe.

To understand and counteract the violent behaviour of extremists, these tragic events should be examined in light of this context, rather than through the lens of free speech. From Voltaire and the Enlightenment to the present, modern western discourses are replete with critiques of Islam.

By contrast, the abhorrent violence by some Muslims is a recent phenomenon, and one that must be confronted by addressing the failure of western liberalism to live up to its stated ideals, not by reflexively continuing to sing its praises.

Abdullah Al-Arian is assistant professor of history at Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service in Qatar and author of Answering the Call: Popular Islamic Activism in Sadat's Egypt.

rediculed >> continued from pg 20

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| 29January 16th - February 12th, 2015

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| 53January 16th - February 12th, 2015 CLASSIfIEDS

Place a personal classified ad. Call us at 301-982-1020. [email protected] invite you to place a personal classified on the web FREE of charge at www.muslimlinkpaper.com. Classifieds in the print edition of the Muslim Link newspaper are only $1 for every 3 words. All classifieds run for a single monthly issue in the Marketplace section. Get started by emailing your exact text to [email protected] and then call in your credit card payment to 301-982-1020 or send a check or money order payable to: The Muslim Link, PO Box 596, College Park MD 20741.

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