Growing up Muslim in America By Anna Fifield

A generation of Muslim Americans has come of age in the shadow of 9/11 amid a climate of paranoia, verbal abuse and vandalism. Anna Fifield reports 318623e4-ef67-11e2-8229-00144feabdc0

Faiza Ali, community organiser for the Arab American Association, Brooklyn, New York

The sound of the muezzin calling Muslims to prayer rang out from the unassuming mosque on Fifth Avenue, the main drag in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, one recent Friday lunchtime. “Hasten to the prayer, hasten to success,” the voice intoned in Arabic.

Bearded men hurried to the mosque, which opened straight on to the street, while one woman shrouded in black from head to toe yelled into her cell phone, also in Arabic. Another, in more colourful hijab, struggled in vain to divert her children’s attention as they passed a shop whose cheap toys had spilled on to the road.

With Ramadan approaching, the local Balady market displayed signs counting down the days until the holy month of fasting began, as shoppers navigated their trolleys around towers of imported dates and olive oil. Nearby, a shop touted “fashionable Islamic clothing” and a restaurant advertised “halal Chinese” – no pork, no alcohol. The scene could almost have been one from Cairo or Damascus, except for the shops with ads for phone cards in Spanish and the fact that the buses ran on time.

Ramadan Imaan-spiration Part 1 | Success Through Sacrifice


Shahbaz Mirza

This video, wallahi, taken an immense effort to script, rehearse, make sure the content and message was accurate and approved by knowledgeable people and eventually shoot. I sincerely hope you like, share and comment. Inspirational words for all the Muslims out there.

The Ramadan Imaan-spiration “Success Through Sacrifice” series focuses in on the human flaw that whenever individuals are looking for success, yet they never achieve getting to the next level, they never look at themselves first as to why they failed.

*Video should say “Do get a bad grade”

In Ramadan Muslims have the time to ponder over themselves and think about their character, their purity and their intentions. When success does not come for us we always look towards saying; well maybe something good will come in the future.

What if it does not? What if something good never comes because we have not adjusted ourselves first, we have not looked upon our own faith and actions first.

From the Qur’an in Surah Al Nisa 4:74, Allah says “Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever evil befalls you, is from yourself ….”

In Surah Al Imran 3:165, Allay says “And was it so, when a disaster smote you, though ye had smitten (them with a disaster) twice (as great), that ye said: How is this? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): It is from yourselves. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.”

Allah swt is saying in this ayah that when the Muslims lost the Battle of Uhud they said, how is this so? When we had won the Battle of Badr? How have we now lost this battle and have been defeated? Allah swt says that it was from themselves that they had lost.
The meaning being “it is from yourselves” is because the archers disobeyed the Prophet Muhammad’s (saws) command when they were told to hold their positions. (There is a difference of opinion as to the exact reason but the main message is that the Prophet saws was disobeyed).

This is clear evidence, as it is from the Qur’an, that true success will only come in both lives when you strive to be the best Muslim you can be, but if you disobey Allah swt along your path to success then verily that path will be made more difficult for you or it may never happen.

Even if you become successful in this life – there still lies the matter of what your eternal life will be like in the next.

Jazakallah Khair.

Pondering upon who we are, what we represent, our identity and our reflection upon others is a powerful activity which all Muslims should do in Ramadan
— in Scotland, United Kingdom.

http://www.shahbazmirza.com/

Eating – A Timely Reminder During Ramadhan

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Eating: A Timely Reminder

By Altaf Husain

Another year has passed. Starting this week, Muslims around the world will begin to observe the month of Ramadhaan. An article about eating may seem ironic. Why discuss overeating at a time when Muslims should be focusing on controlling their appetites as they prepare for a month of fasting?

Here are some things to look out for and some helpful hints for a more “healthy” Ramadhaan.

 What To Look Out For?

All around the world, poverty-stricken Muslims and refugees are suffering, sometimes unable to provide even one full meal a week for their families. Despite the fact that many Muslim families face financial difficulties here in North America as well, a culture of culinary competition has apparently overtaken our community.

Given that, it may be wise for us to entertain the question, “Even if Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala has blessed some of us with wealth, is Ramadhaan really the time for increased lavishness in our eating?”

I have attended iftaars where the gracious hosts had spent a great deal of time and energy preparing no less than three different meat dishes like lamb, chicken, and fish. Add to this sumptuous offering deep fried appetizers, a salad, a rice dish, and two types of dairy-based desserts and you no longer have iftaar – what you really have is a feast. Arriving at the host’s house just in time for maghrib and trying to leave just in time to catch the Isha and Taraweeh prayers at the masjid leaves one little time to eat and relax a bit. Is partaking in a feast, with the temptation of overeating, really a proper prelude to a night of Taraweeh prayers?

For some unknown reason, people feel compelled to go overboard in preparing food for iftaar meals. If you are planning to host family and friends for iftaar, here are a few things to keep in mind. A well-balanced meal is more important than a meal that offers too much variety and takes way too much effort to prepare. This type of iftaar poses difficulties for the host as well as the guests.

    Who Bears the Burden of Iftaar Preparations?

The family of the host, who no doubt are also fasting, must exert tremendous amounts of energy in preparing the iftaar meal. Because days are now much shorter, sometimes iftaar preparations start the previous night. Not to mention the time that must be spent shopping for ingredients such as the variety of meats and vegetables.

While some men may assist in the overall preparation of the iftaar, it is almost too common that the women of the household bear the ultimate burden.

Then, not only do the women become exhausted from the entire ordeal, but also they often must attend to children afterwards as the men folk go off to become spiritually enriched at the Masjid.

Should we then stop extending invitations for iftaar? Obviously not. But wouldn’t it be much better for everyone concerned if, instead of focusing on the eating part of the iftaar, we gave more attention to each other’s spiritual nourishment? This Ramadhaan, try inviting your family and friends for a simple, well-balanced meal. Prepare one meat or vegetable dish, one rice dish, a simple salad and serve some dates for dessert.

    Weight Gain in Ramadhaan?

Believe it or not, even though we will be fasting in Ramadhaan, it is quite possible that we will end up gaining rather than losing weight. Two important things to look out for are overeating and a decrease in physical activity.

There seems to be a myth that we have to make up for not eating all day by eating a lot at suhoor or iftaar. And, being a college student, I realize that the Ramadhaan schedule is not always conducive to late-night studying – which is even more difficult after eating big meals and Taraweeh prayers.

It is also interesting to note that the consumption of fruit and vegetables goes down, and meat consumption goes up during Ramadhaan.

Unfortunately, many college students (and others) have taken to eating big meals after Taraweeh prayers, sometimes as late as midnight, instead of waking up in time for suhoor. Among college students particularly, there is also a greater tendency to increase the intake of processed and fast foods during Ramadhaan. Hunting campus for all-night drive-thru restaurants becomes all too common. Going to bed immediately after eating big meals poses potential health risks such as heartburn. Perhaps an even bigger risk is unnecessary weight gain.

In addition, physical activity seems to decrease during Ramadhaan. There is a misconception that perhaps our bodies cannot withstand physical activity because we are fasting. In reality, during a typical winter day when suhoor may end as late as 5:45 am and Maghrib comes in around 4:45 pm, it’s more like missing lunch than it is like fasting! Since we spend most of our days in climate-controlled environments, it is rare that we will burn off many of the calories that we took in the night before. It is recommended, particularly during Ramadhaan, that we make a concerted effort to set aside time for light exercising.

Plan Ahead For This Ramadhaan

We should take heed and avoid indulging in the preparation of lavish iftaars, overeating and eating late at night; we should increase our intake of vegetables and fruit; and we should set aside some time for light exercise.

Ramadhaan is an excellent opportunity to emerge with better health and stronger emaan. It is necessary, however, to plan today in order to have a better Ramadhaan experience!

_________________________

Altaf Husain MSW, LSW is a doctoral candidate in the Howard University School of Social Work, focusing on Muslim immigrant and refugee adaptation to the United States. He served one term as President of the Muslim Students Association of the US and Canada (MSA National). Currently he serves on the Board of Advisers of MSA National and is a team member of COMPASS, the MSA National Training Program.

– See more at: http://www.theislamicemailcircle.com/discover/eating-a-timey-reminder-during-ramadhan/#sthash.sbOEUdYP.dpuf

#Jummah Mubarak…don’t forget to #read #surah #kahf… #tgif #tgij

Burma Muslims – Burma Task Force Canada

burmamuslims.org:donate-to-save-lives.php

Burma Task Force is a united effort of Muslims to stop genocide of Muslims in Burma. The following organizations are part of this coalition: Burmese Rohingya Association of North America, Free Rohingya Campaign, American Muslims for Palestine, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA NY), Islamic Council of New England (ICNE), Islamic Organization of North America (IONA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Justice For All, Majlis Shura of Atlanta, Michigan Muslim Community Council, Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Muslim Leadership Council of New York and Muslim Peace Coalition.Quran 9_60

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Burma Task Force Canada

STAYING IN THE STATE OF WUDHU

‘Ablution is half of faith.’The Prophet (SAWA) [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 80, p. 238, no. 12

‘He who renews his ablution without [the need
to do so to purify] an impurity, Allah renews his repentance without him
[needing to] asking for forgiveness.’ Imam al-Sadiq (AS) [Wasael al-Shi`aah , v. 1, p. 264, no.7

‘He who performs ablution whilst already in a
state of purity is given ten good merits.’ The Prophet (SAWA) [Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 26042

‘He who performs the ablution in the freezing cold weather is given twice the reward, and he who performs the ablution
in the extreme heat is given a single share of the reward.’ Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 26059

‘When the Muslim man performs the ablution,
mistakes committed by his hearing, his sight, his hands and his feet leave him so that when he sits, he sits forgiven.’

‘When the servant performs the ablution, his sins shed away from him just as leaves shed from a tree.’

Confessions of a Ramadan Rookie – The New Yorker

Confessions of a Ramadan Rookie

 

Posted by
Illustration by Hannah K. Lee.

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READ FULL ARTICLE- thenewyorker.com

what is your purpose? 5 Pillars - Imaan (FAITH)

Salah (صلاة‎)

is the practice of formal prayer in Islam. Its supreme importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as the second of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Zakāt (زكاة‎)

is the giving of a fixed portion of one's wealth to charity, generally to the poor and needy. It is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam.

www.1loveislam.com/zakat

Hajj (حج‎)

is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam. A religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

Sawm (صوم‎)

is an Arabic word for fasting. Meaning to abstain from eating, drinking, having sex and anything against Islamic law from dawn till dusk. The observance of Sawm during the holy month of Ramadan is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam.

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