November 6th is a special day for Muslims all around the world. Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice is one of the major Muslim holidays. It comes right after the fifth pillar of Islam called the Hajj or pilgrimage. The Hajj commemorates the life and trials of Prophet Abraham’s family, upon them peace and blessings. Once in a lifetime, every adult Muslim who has the physical and financial ability is required to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, home of the Ka’bah, which Muslims believe was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, upon them be peace.

Read the rest of Fedwa’s piece here.

“Not to know is bad, not to wish to know is much worse.”
–Nigerian proverb.

A couple of years ago, I was in a training session in Edina.  The instructor, who was from Texas, went out of his way to be nice to me during the session.  Every now and then, he would pause as though he wanted to ask me a question that wasn’t training-related, but he would change his mind.

Toward the end of the session, he found the courage and came to where I was sitting to ask me what was on his mind.  I pointed to my hijab, as I thought he was going to ask why I wear the hijab.  So I prepared myself to answer that question.  I was a bit surprised when he blurted out: “Are Muslims trying to take over America?”

I discussed the matter with him, but he kept mentioning Qur’anic teachings he’d heard that tell Muslims to dominate non Muslims wherever they are.

Later, I exchanged emails with him and promised to email him with information to help clarify his concerns, particularly his belief that the Qur’an teaches hatred and violence.

Below are the email exchanges between us.  Information that might point to his identity has been removed, and I also changed his name to John.

“Hi John, I am the Muslim woman in one of the …training…You asked regarding Muslims and coexistence and I told you then I would send you an article regarding the issue.
 
I got busy as my father recently passed away and I just saw the note regarding emailing you the document.
 
It is attached and may answer questions you have.  I am also a board member for the Islamic Resource Group.
 
If you are ever in need of a speaker for a group locally – we can send a speaker or we can refer you to someone in Texas to answer questions.   Coexistence requires dialogue.
 
You can also check out www.zaytuna.org for further information.”

“Please accept my sympathies for the passing of your father.
 
Thank you so much for remembering me and the information.
 
It might be interesting for you to read a paperback by Mark Steyn (I think) called America Alone. Lots of statistics and his prediction of the growth of Islam in Europe. He has received a lot of negative press, but there is probably some truth in everything.
 
Thanks again, and I hope to see you in another class some day. –John”

   
“John,
 
Thanks for your kind words regarding my father.
 
If you check Steyn’s website – it is very self-promoting.  In times like these, a lot of people rise up and pretend to be heroes wanting to save the world or their group from whoever.  They throw some truths here and there and voila – they prophecy doom and destruction and incite fear and hatred – and they are superman, if only people will listen.
 
My faith teaches me, that if the day of judgment arrives, the believers are building trees.
Because truth is not bits there and here, but a light that allows us to listen and understand reality one layer at a time when we are emotionally and mentally centered and not incited.

Why not stop at a Muslim center and engage Muslims instead face to face and drink some tea and coffee and discuss your fears or concerns if you have any?”

I have been battling migraines and extremely tired to write much, so there is a backlog of articles that I will wrap up this next two weeks regarding Ramadan. We had quite a few events within the Twin Cities during Ramadan where Muslims struggled to reach out to the best of their ability to be a mercy and in the service of others.

One such case I want to highlight is that of Dr. Bushra Dar. Dr. Dar is a Family Medicine physician at Allina Medical Clinic in Maple Grove, MN. She has lived with her family in Eden Prairie for 25 years. When Dr. Dar learned of the catastrophic monsoon floods that hit the northern regions of Pakistan – She didn’t think twice on how to react. Immediately, she started organizing a fundraising event with Human Development Foundation, which took place on August 27th, at Mounds View community Center.

I asked Dr. Dar to explain her motivation and quick thinking during Ramadan for this event.

Wazwaz: People usually are busy hosting family and friends dinner parties. To organize such an event in so little time is quite amazing. What were you thinking and how did you convince others to participate immediately.

Dr. Dar: Many people may not realize that when Muslims observe the daily fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, they do more than just refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset. The Qur’an states:

“Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribedfor you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety.[2:183]“

In this verse, piety refers to God-consciousness. Removing worldly distractions such as food and other petty affairs allows the believer to spend their time immersed in remembrance, thankfulness, and repentance before God. Likewise, during this time Muslims strive harder than usual to do good deeds, as the reward for righteous acts is multiplied many times over in Ramadan, through God’s mercy.

With a death toll in the thousands, a mass of land larger than the size of the United Kingdom submerged under water, millions of people displaced, and deadly disease outbreak on the horizon, Pakistan’s people are crying out desperately for help. To swiftly answer their call is nothing short of my obligation.

Islam already mandates that we aid the downtrodden and give generously to the needy to the furthest extent that we are able, no matter what time of the year it may be. But in Ramadan, when we experience hunger during the day in order to detach from the materialistic world and then gather at sunset to give thanks for God’s provision, failing to lend a helping hand to the flood victims would be missing the point of the month entirely.

Every year, some of my friends and I host a dinner party for family and friends to break their fast together and enjoy one other’s company over a festive meal. This time around, we called our guests to bring with them a small donation to support the Human Development Foundation’s relief in the wake of what has been deemed a more destructive natural disaster than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and last year’s Haiti earthquake combined.

–

If anyone wishes to help the people of Pakistan, contact a charity organization you trust, or you can contact Human Development Foundation. I am also aware that Islamic Relief is also reaching out to the people of Pakistan. If you can or cannot donate, please kindly remember them in your prayers as well.

Ramadan Mubarak (Blessed Ramadan)

Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic Calendar. Because Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, it rotates through the seasons, moving back around eleven days each year. Last year, Ramadan started in August 22nd and this year, the Islamic Society of North America, declared Ramadan to begin on August 11th, 2010.

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When trials and tribulations hit, many people struggle in search for meaning while others fall in despair or seek means of escapism.

Many faiths offer counseling on how to deal with trials and tribulations.  In Islam – trials and tribulations are expected to hit as a test of faith and growth, and in face of them, Muslims are to remind themselves and each other that: “Allah suffices us, and is the best to rely on.” (Qur’an 3:173)

The recent earthquake in Haiti is one such example.  The earthquake has destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure, and the Haitian government has now confirmed a death toll of 170,000 and estimated over 300,000 injured.  To add to the disaster, the rescue and relief efforts are severely limited by a shortage of resources.

In light of such large-scale destruction, many are left asking how this could happen and are now searching for answers.  Where is the Divine Mercy in all of this?  Where is justice? Where is the Divine Wisdom? Many atheists are now using this as another example that God does not exist.   Sheikh Nuh Keller will offer a reply in a free online event on Sunnipath.com

Event timing

This event will be on Saturday, February 13th, at 10am.  Registration is required.  Register here.

The event is free and open to the public.

Who is Sheikh Nuh Keller?

Sheikh Nuh Keller is an American-Muslim master of Islamic spirituality, specialist in Islamic Law, and translator. Born in 1954 in the north-western United States, he was educated in philosophy and Arabic at the University of Chicago and UCLA. He became Muslim in 1977 at al-Azhar in Cairo, and later studied the traditional Islamic Sciences in Syria and Jordan, where he has lived since 1980.

EID MUBARAK (BLESSED EID)

 Eid ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice is one of the major Muslim holidays.  It comes right after the fifth pillar of Islam called the Hajj or pilgrimage.  The Hajj commemorates the life and trials of Prophet Abraham’s family, upon them peace and blessings.  Once in a lifetime, every adult Muslim who has the physical and financial ability is required to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, home of the Ka’bah, which Muslims believe was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael.

The Hajj pilgrimage is an extremely communal event as over two million Muslims, men and women of varied ethnicities and nationalities, dressed in simple white clothing symbolizing the equality of all people, perform identical rituals.

Eid ul-Adha celebrations are similar to Eid ul-Fitr with the addition of sacrificing a lamb, goat or cow to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, who Muslims believe was miraculously replaced by a lamb, similar to the Biblical story.  People share the meat of the scarified animal with the poor and needy, relatives and friends.

The day begins with a special congregational prayer followed by a short sermon.  People are dressed in their best clothing, and children traditionally receive new clothing as well as other gifts.  Food, holiday congratulations, and festivities such as rides, balloons, and other fun activities for children follow the prayers.  The holiday lasts for four days during which people usually visit or invite each other.

We wish everyone in all places at all times a blessed Eid Mubarak. May Allah accept your good deeds and all your efforts during the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah. 

IT’S TIME FOR EID

EID MUBARAK (BLESSED EID)

We wish everyone in all places at all times a blessed Eid Mubarak. May Allah accept your good deeds and all your efforts during the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah.