Detained & Tortured: A Uighur Activist's Story | Tahir Imin | ICNA CSJ
Tahir Imin was detained and tortured in a Chinese prison for months due to his activism in the country and trying to raise awareness over Chinese government’s attempts to erase Uighur culture. He joins us in this interview to tell us his story. For more, visit our website: http://www.icnacsj.org Please donate to help us continue to do this for free: http://www.icnacsj.org/donate source
School-to-Prison Pipeline | ICNA CSJ
The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished, and pushed out. “Zero-tolerance” policies criminalize minor infractions of school rules, while cops in schools lead to students being criminalized for behavior that should be handled inside the school. Students of color are especially vulnerable to push-out trends and the discriminatory application of discipline. For more info on the topic, please visit: https://www.thoughtco.com/school-to-prison-pipeline-4136170 Donate: http://www.icnacsj.org/donate source
Quranic Recitation by Sh. Ismael Essa | ICNA-MAS Convention 2019
Register for Next Convention at https://www.icnaconvention.org/register The ICNA-MAS annual convention is one of the largest gatherings of American Muslims in the U.S. Over 23,000 Muslims attended the convention in Washington, DC, in 2019, Alhamdulillah. It featured many top scholars and activists, in addition to many special events like Meals Distribution in Downtown, Mercy Bags distribution to senior homes and Street dawah near the White House. For more information: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/icna Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/icna Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/icnatv Website: https://www.icna.org Phone: 718-658-1199 Donate at https://www.icna.org/donation/ Volunteer at https://www.icna.org/joinus/ source
Welcome Message by Javaid Siddiqi | ICNA-MAS Convention 2019
Register for Next Convention at https://www.icnaconvention.org/register The ICNA-MAS annual convention is one of the largest gatherings of American Muslims in the U.S. Over 23,000 Muslims attended the convention in Washington, DC, in 2019, Alhamdulillah. It featured many top scholars and activists, in addition to many special events like Meals Distribution in Downtown, Mercy Bags distribution to senior homes and Street dawah near the White House. For more information: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/icna Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/icna Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/icnatv Website: https://www.icna.org Phone: 718-658-1199 Donate at https://www.icna.org/donation/ Volunteer at https://www.icna.org/joinus/ source
Safeguarding the Solidarity of Ummah by Imam Talib Shareef | ICNA-MAS Convention 2019
Register for Next Convention at https://www.icnaconvention.org/register The ICNA-MAS annual convention is one of the largest gatherings of American Muslims in the U.S. Over 23,000 Muslims attended the convention in Washington, DC, in 2019, Alhamdulillah. It featured many top scholars and activists, in addition to many special events like Meals Distribution in Downtown, Mercy Bags distribution to senior homes and Street dawah near the White House. For more information: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/icna Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/icna Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/icnatv Website: https://www.icna.org Phone: 718-658-1199 Donate at https://www.icna.org/donation/ Volunteer at https://www.icna.org/joinus/ source
Eid al-Adha: What it means to Muslims
By Naeem Baig | “Eid al-Adha (the Feast of the Sacrifice) is the second celebration of the year according to Islamic Calendar (called Hijri) for Muslims all over the world. This Eid comes right after the end of ‘Hajj” (the Pilgrimage). The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and is obligatory on both male and female adult Muslims who have the health and financial means to perform this important duty. According to Islamic teachings, the rituals of the Hajj and the Eid al-Adha commemorate the sacrifices made by Prophet Abraham and his family in seeking the closeness and mercy of God, Almighty. Muslims learn how Abraham who grew up in a respectable family was unhappy with the corruption in his society. Once he recognized and found God, Almighty then his whole life was served in seeking His Love and Mercy. During Hajj, men wearing only two white sheets and women dressed in simple modest clothes are seeking only the Love of God, Almighty. Rich and poor dressed the same and standing together in worship. Walking in circles around the Kaa’ba (the house of God in Makkah, Saudi Arabia) reciting His Praise with their hearts beating in rhythm with the words and the steps. A state of immense spiritual experience where the human is all alone in his conversation with His God, reciting: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la shareeka laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la shareeka lak. “I respond to Your call, O Allah I respond to Your call. I respond to Your call, You have no partner. I respond to Your call. Indeed, the praise and grace are yours as well as sovereignty. You have no partner.” On the 10th day of the last month (Zul Hijjah) of the Islamic Calendar, Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Adha. The day starts with the special Eid prayers. Imams in their sermons remind the worshippers to remember the example of Abraham. “Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to God, does good and follows the way of Abraham, the true in Faith? For God did take Abraham for a friend.” Quran (4:125) Eid is a day of sharing and caring. On this Eid, Muslims who can afford to offer a sacrifice of an animal (sheep, goat, cow or camel) are required to do it and then distribute the meat in 3 portions. One for the poor, one for the family and friends and one to keep at home. This is a lesson to be practiced throughout our lives. Seek happiness in sharing, take care of those whom you know and whom you do not know. And by doing that find what Abraham found, “friendship of God”.”
Abraham inspired Eid’s sacrifices
By Saulat Pervez | Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice inspired the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, and exemplifies the worship of the One God, belief in His prophets and righteous living. This weekend, Muslims across North America and the rest of the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Eid-ul-Adha commemorates the legacy of Prophet Abraham and his son, Prophet Ishmael. According to the Quran, the book Muslims revere as God’s revealed word, God commanded Abraham to take his wife, Hagar, and their son, Ishmael, to the valley of Mecca and leave them there. During one of his visits, Abraham dreamed that he was offering Ishmael as a sacrifice to God; he interpreted it as a divine command. Both father and son submitted themselves to God’s will and prepared for the sacrifice. God, however, was only testing their obedience, and they were instead directed to sacrifice a ram. In the same spirit, Muslims around the globe will be sacrificing an animal (a goat, sheep, cow or camel) as a spiritual act of devotion to God. In the Quran, God says, “It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God but your piety” (22:37). In His Mercy, God instructs Muslims to share one-third of the meat with the needy, one-third with one’s relatives, and keep the rest for one’s own family. In many parts of the world, Eid-ul-Adha affords the poor a rare occasion to have free access to meat. Hence, the underprivileged become recipients of the material benefit of this spiritual sacrifice. Eid-ul-Adha falls during the days of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage millions of Muslims undertake to Mecca and its surrounding areas. Completing this journey is mandatory for Muslims at least once in their lifetime, so long as they are physically and financially able. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Other pillars include testimony of faith (that God is One and Muhammad is His prophet), prayer, charity and fasting. Full CircleAbraham and Ishmael went on to build the first house of God in Mecca, the Ka’aba, and enacted the first pilgrimage, as mentioned in the Quran (22:26-27). Muhammad, a descendant of Ishmael, was born in Mecca in 570 C.E. By then, Mecca was a pagan city and the Ka’aba was filled with idols. According to Islam, God chose Prophet Muhammad to revive His original message: to worship the One God, to believe in His prophets and to live righteously. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the final messenger of God in the long chain of prophets, who include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, among many others. God constantly references them in the Quran. Islam maintains that all the prophets, starting from Adam up until Muhammad, came with the same core message; the practice of religion kept evolving, but the central message itself never changed. Abraham best exemplifies this idea. He is mutually revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Although the actual practice of religion was different back then, he subscribed to the intrinsic belief in submission to the One God — this is what binds each faith to him. Muslims simply extend this metaphor to encompass all the prophets, including Moses and Jesus. Indeed, Muhammad inspired his fellow people to embrace their Abrahamic origins, which Muslims of all races and ethnicities continue to honor to this day. So, this Eid-ul-Adha, let us celebrate the spirit of sacrifice and reflect upon the common thread that unites all of us: submission to the One God. Have a blessed Eid! Saulat Pervez is Content Editor for WhyIslam, a project of ICNA, dedicated to providing accurate information about Islam, dispelling common misconceptions and promoting peaceful co-existence. Contact her at saulat@whyislam.org. For more information, call 877-WHY-ISLAM or click www.whyislam.org. Article Courtesy: mycentraljersey.com
Virtues of the First 10 Days of “Dhul-Hijja”
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adha”. It was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for Jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari Allah blessed the nation of Muhammad with opportunities to reap rewards and blessings every day of the year. The last ten nights of Ramadan (the month of fasting) are among the most blessed nights of the year; in particular Laylatul-Qadr (the night of power) is extremely sacred. Similarly, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja (the 12th Islamic calendar month) carry special status during the blessed month of “Pilgrimage.” The above Hadith of the Prophet spells out the importance of these ten days in the sight of Allah and the amplified reward for all good deeds during this blessed season. Just like the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best ten nights out of the year, these first ten days of Dhul-Hijja are the best days of the year and the most beloved to Allah as they combine acts of worship in a way unlike any other time. So, the questions we should be asking ourselves are, “How do we make the most of this season of blessings?”, “What deeds can I perform to attain His pleasure?”. The following are some examples of the acts of worship that will help us gain His pleasure InshaAllah. 1. Perform Hajj (Pilgrimage)Obviously, Hajj is one of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days. However for those of us who were not invited to His House this year, there are still many more ways to earn the pleasure of Allah. 2. Fast all nine days and especially on the ‘Day of Arafah’The Prophet said: “Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” (Bukhari, Muslim) The Prophet used to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijja and he said: “Fasting the Day of ‘Arafah (ninth Dhul-Hijja) is an expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” (Muslim) 3. Perform Dhikr and TakbeerThe Prophet said: “There are no days on which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than on these ten days, so recite much Tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah), Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) and Tahmeed (saying Alhamdu Lillaah).” (Ahmad -Saheeh) Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah used to go out in the marketplace during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja, reciting Takbeer, and the people would recite Takbeer when they heard them. (Bukhari) Takbeer at this time is a Sunnah that has mostly been forgotten, especially during the first few days. So say it in the masjid, in your home, on the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah. Revive the Sunnah that have been virtually forgotten and earn great rewards for doing so. The Prophet said: “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” (Tirmidhi- Hasan) 4. Stand the Night in PrayerSeeking Allah’s forgiveness and humbling ourselves in front of Him in supplication and prayers during the latter part of the night is an act of worship that is very beloved to Allah . Allah Almighty calls out to His servants in the latter part of the night: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” (Bukhaari, Muslim) We should seize this opportunity and beg Him for His Divine Generosity and Mercy. We should ask Him as our Prophet taught us “Our Lord, bless us with the best of this world and the best of hereafter and save us from the fire of Hell.” 5. Make Sincere RepentanceAllah loves those who repent to Him in complete submission. The act of sincere repentance to Allah with intention to never return to His disobedience and sin is very dear to Him . Return to Allah by giving up all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes. Be regretful of your sins and disobedience and resolve to never return to sin and to firmly adhere to the path which Allah loves. Allah says, “But as for him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, then he will be among those who are successful.” [Al-Qasas 28:67] 6. Return to Book of Allah (The Quran)It is time to dust off your copy of the Quran. Establish a beautiful new relationship with the book of Allah starting in these ten days of Dhul-Hijja. Recite its verses and you will reap its blessings. Understand its message. Implement the commandments of this book in your life. This relationship with the Quran will open for you the doors of wisdom and happiness in your life. This will ultimately lead to guidance and success in this life and the Hereafter. 7. Increase in doing ALL good deedsIf you are not able to perform Hajj this year, occupy yourself during these blessed days by any and every possible good deed. Every act that is done with sincerity for the pleasure of Allah will bring you closer to Him. “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it; and whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.“[Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8] 8. Slaughter an animal and distribute the meat (Sacrifice)Ibn Umar said: “The Prophet lived in Madeenah
The Best Ten Days of the Year
The best ten days in the whole entire world are upon us, the most blessed days of the year: the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah (meaning “Owner of the Hajj”). It is truly the holiday season for us Muslims, as to us the special days are those in which we really have a reason to rejoice: our good deeds are being multiplied in number. Regardless of one’s situation, each has the ability to increase in the good deeds and sacrifice in one way or another to gain the blessings from these ten days, as good deeds do not necessarily require time. Fasting is something you can do with no extra time. Remembering of Allah (SWT) on your tongue through takbir, tahmeed, tahleel (reciting: Allahu Akbar, Alhamdulillah, La Ilaha Ila Allah ) is something so light on the tongue, and so heavy in the scales. A smile, a good word, a pleasant aura, a giving hand, all can be light in terms of effort, but they are truly heavy to the Most Gracious. It is by the Grace and Mercy of Allah (swt) that even the busy man, the busy woman, the student far from home, and the parents’ hands full with their children at home, can gain from these ten days, as even the smallest of good deeds are multiplied. We welcome the honored days of Dhul-Hijjah with a small reminder of the merits and practical steps we can take to increase the heaviness of our scales. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said about these first ten days: “The best days in the world are the ten days.” Righteous deeds on these days are more beloved to Allah than on any other days. Allah (SWT) swears by them in the Qur’an, indicating their importance. Some Important reminders: Making Thikr with your tongue Fasting the 9th day, the Day of Arafat Offering Sacrifice, For the Head of the Household Offering Takbir from Fajr on the day of Arafat until the last day of Eid Ul-Adha Any other good deeds: Charity, fasting in the first 9 days, extra prayers, joining ties between your families, being extra good to your parents, etc. We pray for the blessings to rain down on our community, for the increase in our good deeds, for Allah to accept our prayers, our praising of Allah, our sacrifices, and our good deeds, and gather us all with the Prophet Ibrahim (S) and His family in the Hereafter.
