by Sheema Khan

During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, I remember the stories emanating from France of young Muslim schoolgirls expelled for wearing the Hijab.

While many of the young sisters were permitted to return to school wearing the Hijab, wider questions had been raised.

How does a purely secular public school system accommodate religious beliefs? What about the issues of freedom and oppression of women? Were these girls influenced by the “integristes” of Algeria, who were aspiring to implement an Islamic government in the former French colony?

Was this another example of “immigrants” failing to integrate into French society (a favorite theme of le Front National, a national anti-immigrant party)? Was this the beginning of the end of the strict separation between church and state?

Read All Via Oppressions To The Hijab 

Turks move to ease headscarf ban

protests against hijab

Lifting Turkey’s headscarf ban

Tajikistan: New Curbs Target Islamic Students

Prince Among Slaves, a new documentary by Unity Productions Foundation, will air nationwide on PBS on Monday, February 4, 2008, at 10 PM (check local listings at www.pbs.org).

1788. The slave ship Africa set sail from the Gambia River, its hold laden with a profitable but highly perishable cargo– hundreds of men, women and children bound in chains—headed for American shores. Eight months later, a handful of survivors found themselves for sale in Natchez, Mississippi. On the slave auction block, one of them, a 26-years-old male named Abdul Rahman Ibrahima is an African Prince.

Check via UPF 

Updated by “Brother Naim”

The years-old blockade of Gaza is at crisis point: with the humanitarian crisis growing, the southern border has been breached and 350,000 Palestinians are pouring across. The situation is out of control — the world must step in.

To prevent catastrophe and protect civilians on all sides, your voice is needed urgently: we’re running an emergency global campaign to international, European and Arab leaders, calling on them to stop the siege, oversee open borders and help broker a ceasefire. We’ll deliver the petition when we reach 150,000 signatures - please add your name below, then spread the word: via

AVAAZ.ORG

SIGN THE PETITION

Asalaamu alaikum,

As you know, I am a lawyer in private practice and on the board of directors of the Dundurn Community Legal Clinic.  Legal clinics are run by lawyers for clients with low incomes.  The lawyers at clinics get paid by the Ontario government and not from the client.

Lawyers in private practice can be very expensive for some people.  I think that it is very important for the Hamilton and surrounding Muslim communities to learn more about the various legal clinics out there, as many in our community are newcomers trying to establish themselves.   We need to promote access to justice for all in our society.

Attached you will find a promotion to become a Community Connector.  A Community Connector helps introduce our community to the services provided by the clinics.  There is an Orientation session on November 27th. at 3pm and 7pm.

If you know someone who can volunteer their time to help the community, please forward this email to them.

Shukran,

Hussein Hamdani

>>see below file for more info>>

promote-access-to-justice.pdf

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The Hamilton Spectator

I am a Muslim Girl

I am a Muslim Girl
You look at me like I’m a pest
Just because of the way I’ve dressed
I am a Muslim Girl
I like the way I’ve dressed
And it shouldn’t mean
I’m different from the rest
I am a Muslim Girl
You judge me from the clothing outside
Without looking at me deep inside
I am a Muslim Girl
I might look a little shy
But I really don’t know why
Because I walk with dignity
And when I talk I do not lie
I am a Muslim Girl
Not all of me you’ll see
But that’s the choice I made freely
I am a Muslim Girl
While you talk to me
You don’t need to slow down
Because I can speak English
Et un petit peu de francais aussi
And four more languages that you might not recognize
I am a Muslim Girl
I’m a girl just like you and I also go to school
So don’t refuse me from being your friend
Without actually knowing me for who I am
I am a Muslim Girl

– By Zaineb Niazi, Grade 8,

The problem is clear, but what can we do to protect and save our youth from dangers such as these? One possible solution which parents can start with is to make sure their computer is set up in an open area of the home. Children should access it in their parents’ presence and for limited time periods. Parents must establish open communication with their children and educate them, as well as themselves, about the dangers of the Internet. One can take it even further and contact the local FBI community service or juvenile division, the prosecutor’s office, and the local board of education to present awareness workshops at their child’s school. People from these organizations would be more than willing to come in and assist you.

Read All

Dear Sisters & Brothers,

As-salamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah.

This is a reminder for those of you who participated in the Quran Competition last week, or those whose children participated in the Competition, about the AWARD CEREMONY, WHICH WILL HELD TO HONOR THE CONTESTANTS OF ALL AGES AND THE JUDGES AS WELL.

WHAT? –> QURAN COMPETITION AWARD CEREMONY (FOR BOTH MALES & FEMALES)
WHEN? –> SUNDAY OCTOBER 7TH (NOT FRIDAY AS IT IS ON THE POSTERS)
TIME? –> APROX. 9:00 - 9:45 P.M. (DURING TARAWEEH PRAYER)
PLACE? HAMILTON DOWNTOWN MOSQUE.(96 WILSON ST)

PLEASE PASS THE MESSAGE ON TO OTHERS.

THE RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION ARE ATTACHED IN TWO DOCUMENTS Click Below and Download

males-list-results.pdf

females-list-results.pdf

My brothers & sisters in Islam,
As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.
I ask Allah that you are all in the best of your health and emaan.
As of tonight insha’Allah, we’ll be starting Tahajjud (late night) prayer & E’tikaaf (sleepover) at Downtown Mosque. It is another real good opportunity to listen to pray and listen to the recitation of the Noble Quran.

Tahajjud (Late prayer) Starts at : 3:30 A.M. Ends at: 5:30 A.M.
5:30 SUHUR meal (please bring your own LIGHT meal)
6:00 Adhaan (Call for) Fajr prayer.
6:30 Fajr(Dawn) prayer
You may stay after Taraweeh prayer at the Mosque and observe Eti’kaaf (sleep over & seclusion in mosque for purpose of worshiping Allah) which is one of the traditional practices of the our beloved prophet (SAW).

Please refer to the TEXT included below, regarding the Importance of the last 10 Night of Ramadhan, Lailatul Qadr -Night of Decree, Itikaaf….etc.

may Allah grant us all, our parents and all family members protection and salvation from the Hellfire.

Your brother,
Sayed Masood

It is narrated the Prophet (SAW) upon the approach of the last ten ( night of Ramadan) he would tighten his waste (in preparedness for long standing in prayer), and awaken his family, and keep his night alive (Standing in Prayer to Allah).

. وعن عبد الملك بن أبي سليمان، عن سعيد بن جبير أنّه كان يختم القرآن في كل ليلتين ” طبقات ابن سعد (6/275)، حلية الأولياء (4/273)، سير أعلام النبلاء (4/325)
“narrated from Abdul-Malik son of Abi Suliman, from Sa’eed son of Jubair that he used conclude the recitation of the Whole Quran in 2 nights”
وقال سلام بن أبي مطيع: كان قتادة يختم القرآن في سبع، وإذا جاء رمضان ختم في كل ثلاثٍ، فإذا جاء العشر ختم كل ليلةٍ ” سير أعلام النبلاء (5/276)
” Salam son of Abi Muti’ said: Qatada used Conclude the recitation of the Quran every 7 nights, and when Ramadan comes he would conclude it (the Quran) every 3 nights, and if the ten(last ten nights of Ramadhan) came, he would conclude it every night”
وقال الربيع بن سليمان: كان الشافعي يختم القرآن في شهر رمضان ستين ختمة، وفي كل شهر ثلاثين ختمة ” سير أعلام النبلاء (10/36، 83)).

Rabi bin Suliman said:” Shafi’ee used to conclude the (recitation of) Quran in Ramadhan 60 times, and in every other month 30 time”

Meaning of Itikaaf:
Seclusion in a mosque, for the purpose of worshiping only. While in the state of Itikaaf, one should avoid sexual relation with the spouse and should not leave the mosque except for an urgent necessity.

فقوله تعالى: {وَلاَ تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِي ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدِ} [ البقرة: 187 ].
قال السعدي: ” دلت الآية على مشروعية الاعتكاف “
Allah (SWT) said ” And approach them(your wives) not for sexual relation while you are in E’tikaaf in Mosques” Albaqarah- 187 “
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعتكف العشر الأواخر من رمضان( [2] )
narrated by Son of Omar may Allah be pleased with both of them, said:” The prophet (SAW) used do E’tikaaf in the last 10 nights of Ramadhan” Collected by BUKHARI & MUSLIM.
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعتكف العشر الأواخر من رمضان حتى توفاه الله تعالى، ثم اعتكف أزواجه من بعده( [3] ).
Narrated by Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:” The prophet (SAW) used do E’tikaaf in the last 10 nights of Ramadhan until he passed away, then his wives conintued to observe Etikaaf after him” Collected by BUKHARI & MUSLIM.
ذهب جماهير أهل العلم إلى أن الاعتكاف سنة في حق النساء كما هو سنة في حق الرجال.

ومما استدلوا به: عموم أدلة مشروعية الاعتكاف ، فهي تشمل الرجل والمرأة الشابة.

وحديث عائشة رضي الله عنها، وفيه إذنه صلى الله عليه وسلم لعائشه وحفصة رضي الله عنهما أن يعتكفا معه ، وكانتا شابتين.

The Majority of the Scholars are in support of the opinion that Etikaaf is recommended for women as it is recommended for men.
They base this opinion on the proofs (Quranic or Hadith) and the fact that women are included in those proofs. So it is for men and women.
Also, in the Hadith narrated by Aisha (RA) and part of is that the propeht (SAW) gave his wives, Aisha & Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with them) permission to observe Etikaaf with him, and they they were young. (This Hadith was collected by Bukhari)

for more information, pleas refer to:

http://198.65.147.194/English/In_Depth/Religious_Files/last10daysoframadan/index.shtml

http://www.islamweb.net/eramdan/Iitikaf%20in%20Ramadan.htm