Tsunami Relief Effort

The Islamic Center of Rochester as well as the Muslim Youth Group have hosted several fund-raising events and drives for Muslim and non-Muslim victims of the recent tsunami in Southeast Asia. Thousands of dollars have already been sent to relief agencies in the troubled regions. In addition, several young physicians from the ICR have and will be volunteering in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. They will provide general medical care as well as anesthesia and surgical support. Coupled with recent earthquakes in the region, denizens of the region are still in dire need of assistance. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Dr. Ismail Mehr (izzy025@hotmail.com). Of course, donations are still being collected at the Masjid.

Westfall Academy News Teachers Wanted: Westfall Academy is looking for two teachers, one in Islamic Studies/Quran and one in English Language Arts/Math/Science. For eligibility details, please visit the ICR website at www.rochesterislamiccenter.org, scroll down and click on the link to Westfall Academy. If you are interested, please mail or fax your application and a copy of your resume by no later than May 15th, 2005. Forms can be picked up from the ICR office, or downloaded from the website. For more information call the academy at 442-7164 by 3:00pm during the weekdays. Enrollment: Applications for enrollment in the Pre-K, K, 1st and 2nd grades are now being accepted. Seats are limited, so please enroll as soon as possible.

ICR Expansion Update

Construction work is scheduled to re-start as soon as the weather reaches a steady temperature of at least 40 degrees F. This is required to ensure the concrete and masonry work can cure properly. It is expected, Inshallah, that the building will be closed before the next winter sets in. Thus, the interior will not be exposed to the elements that can be damaging. Dr. Malik has and is working feverishly to complete the construction work as much as possible, with the lowest possible costs. Unfortunately, many of the building material costs have gone up dramatically. Let us all appreciate the work he and many other people are volunteering without asking for anything in return, except one thing-your monetary support towards the expansion. The ICR funds are tight. More is needed to complete the expansion. So, it is an earnest appeal to the community at large to donate generously to the ICR and help complete the expansion. The ICR cannot survive and continue to provide all the wonderful and timely services to our community and especially our children without your generous support.

Guidance from the Qur'anGuidance from the Qur'anGuidance from the Qur'anGuidance from the Qur'an

O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even

as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be

(against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if

ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that ye do. "Al-Quran 4:135

Newsletter of the

Islamic Center of Rochester March/April 2005 Dhu’l Hijjah / Muharram 1426

Mercy: The Stamp of Creation By, Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah

A Nawawi Foundation Paper

The explicit link between the Arabic words Islam, literally “entering into peace,” and salam, “peace” or “perfect peace,” has been frequently highlighted of late. It is mainly because of the etymological connection that many Muslims and others advance the claim that Islam is a religion of peace, just as Christianity is customarily called a religion of love. Certainly, in terms of their creed and the historical record, Muslims are no less justified in equating Islam with peace than Christians are in identifying their faith with love. From a theological perspective, however, it would be more precise to describe Islam as the religion of mercy. Islamic revelation designates the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as “the prophet of mercy,” and Islam’s scriptural sources stress that mercy –above other divine attributions—are God’s hallmark in creation and constitute his primary relation to the world from its inception through eternity, in this world and the next. Islam enjoins its followers to be merciful to themselves, to others, and the whole of creation, teaching a karma-like law of universal reciprocity by which God shows mercy to the merciful and withholds it from those who hold it back from others. The Prophet Muhammad said: “People who show mercy to others will be shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth, and He who is in heaven will be merciful to you." Because these words epitomize Islam’s fundamental ethos, it was called “the Tradition of Primacy” and, for generations of Classical Muslim teachers, constituted the first text that many of them handed down to their students and required them to commit to memory with a full chain of transmitters going back to the Prophet Muhammad.

God: The All-Merciful: The formula “In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving” (Bismi-Llahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Rahim), occurs one hundred and fourteen times in the Qur’an at the beginning of all but one chapter and twice in another. The phrase is central to Islamic ritual. In Islam, the All-Merciful (ar-Rahman) and the Mercy-Giving (ar-Rahim) may be said to be the greatest names of God after Allah. Of all his names, they are most descriptive of his relation to the world and emphasize his will in salvation history and throughout eternity to benefit creation and ultimately bring about the triumph of supreme good over evil. The Qur’an states: “It is the All-Merciful who assumed the Throne,” (20:5) meaning that God designs the world and rules the universe in his aspect as the All-Merciful. Consequently, mercy is the stamp of creation and the ontological thread that runs through everything. All that transpires—even temporal

deprivation, harm, and evil—will, in due course, fall under the rubric of cosmic mercy. The Prophet of Mercy: According to Islamic revelation, Muhammad was the last and greatest of God’s messengers, fulfilling the legacy of the Biblical and extra-Biblical prophets and confirming the teachings of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. As the All-Merciful’s chief emissary, he was fittingly called the “Prophet of mercy” (Nabiy ar-rahma). The Qur’an says of him: “We did not send you but as a special mercy to all the worlds.” (21:71) The Prophet stated: “In certainty, I was not sent to bring down curses; I was only sent as a special mercy.” (Muslim) As in English, “mercy” in Arabic is tied to compassion and closely linked with the act of forgiveness and pardon. Theologically, Islamic tradition defines mercy as the intent to bring good to others and cause them benefit. As such, being merciful implies the desire to avert evil and harm. When associated with acts of pardon and forgiveness, mercy is retroactive and after the fact. But as it relates to the intent to bring about good or avert evil, mercy assumes an elemental and proactive dimension and is often before the fact, evincing a forward-looking quality that seeks to set things right, make a break with the past, and foster new beginnings where goodness and benefit can thrive.

Conclusion: Islam’s call to mercy should not render Muslims incapable of a wise and measured response to transgression, oppression, or injustice, which in some cases can only be checked by force. Islam is not a pacifist religion, although it commands its followers to incline toward merciful solutions and seek peace, while always remaining within dignified bounds and proper parameters consistent with Islam’s overarching doctrine of mercy.

Muslim Youth Group UpdateMuslim Youth Group UpdateMuslim Youth Group UpdateMuslim Youth Group Update By, NadineBy, NadineBy, NadineBy, Nadine AnaiziAnaiziAnaiziAnaizi----------------CoCoCoCo----PresidentPresidentPresidentPresident

On Saturday, March 12, 2005 the youth group had the opportunity to have a well respected Islamic speaker, Imam Siraj Wahaj, to come and speak to them about the struggles that they may be facing as a young Muslim in America. This meeting had a phenomenal turnout Alhamdulilah! The Muslim youth was able to leave on Saturday with more knowledge about not only their religion, but about life as well. The bake sale on March 28th was a success, Alhamdulilah. Many members participated by baking delicious treats to be sold at Jummah salah. Thank you to all who donated the goodies.

Crisis of Participation: Why and How

Muslims should get involved in our greater

community. By, Br. Anwar Karim

When one examines the life of Prophet Muhammad

(PBUH), one quickly recognizes the contributions he made

to the local community as a political leader.

Now, some 1400 years later, how do we view

community involvement? How do we begin to bring clarity

and relief beyond the confines of our community for a

positive experience? What voice do Muslims have in

developing policy in the United States, state, county, or in

the township in which we live?

However, before answering the above questions,

consider this question, what effort has been given to our

participating in community-based projects or addressing

community-based issues? Examples would be attending

school, township, or county board meetings, community

clean-ups, blood drives, or interfaith group activities. More

specifically, have we expressed our opinion on issues like

Rochester City School closing(s), the ferry purchase, rising

property taxes, or the myriad of pot holes on Westfall Road

west of the Masjid. Now, the picture begins to form.

The Muslims in the United States are a minority

and being a minority we face a “crisis of participation” in a

non-Muslim society. Yet, one day, Muslims in America

will “provide some counterbalance in policy-formation.”

One author points out, “…Muslim participation and

empowerment within the U.S. political system is vital not

only for the sake of Muslims themselves but also for the

sake of the wider ummah world wide, and for the sake of

enriching the pluralism and global representative-ness of

American civilization.”

How is this achieved? Only through community

participation where Muslims are seen forming alliances,

assisting the needy, reaching across ethnic boundaries,

having a voice at local community meeting, or just being

positive examples of good citizens.

To learn more about how the Muslim communities

can move in this direction, two of a series of community

meetings were held at the Islamic Center of Rochester to

solicit ideas and views on political awareness and

participation in the Greater Rochester community. Other

meetings with other Muslim communities are being planned

to solicit their opinions as well. The plan is to enlist

interested brothers and sisters from the various communities

within the Greater Rochester area and to create a

consortium of individuals across ethnic, economic, and

cultural backgrounds. This group or working committee

would then synthesize the ideas and views gathered as result

of the community meetings to prioritize and form goals and

objectives in a strategic plan addressing the Muslims

community’s priorities, political awareness, and

participation; which would help provide Muslims with a

voice in the community in which we live.

If you are interested in participating please contact

Br. Anwar Karim (anwarski@netscape.net).

Current Youth Group Leaders Co-President: Subia Khan

Co-President: Nadine Anaizi

Vice-President: Sara Idrees

Treasurer: Meesha Shamsie

Secretary: Basma Eid

Advisors: Imam Shafiq, Noreen Galaria

Some conducts of Islam

Do not look at how small your sin is; consider the greatness of

whom you sinned against. Bilal ibn Saeed

Patience to faith is like the head to the body. the person who

has no patience has no faith (imaan). Ali ibn abi Talib.

It is better for one to be wrong after consultation than to be

right without having it.. Abdul Malik ibn Marwan.

O my son! Evil is not overcome with evil.. Set off 2 fires and

see if you can put off one with the other. Evil is overcome with

good like fire is put off with water. Luqman, the Wise.

Many a small deed becomes bigger because of the intention,

and many a big deed becomes smaller because of the intention.

Abdullah ibn Mubarak.

When one fears poverty, one should trade with Allah. Pay

zakah and give sadaqah (charity). Abdurrahman ibnul Jawzee.

The servant should be able to know whether his Tawbah

(repentance) is accepted or not. One must feel better after his

tawbah than before. Imam Ibnul Qayyim.

Hold yourselves accountable before you are held accountable.

Umar ibnul Khattab.

Among the things that completes one's Islam is giving up that

which does not concern him. Tirmidhi

It's not how much you accomplish in life that really counts, but

how much you give to other. It's not how high you build your

dreams that make a difference, but how high your faith can

climb. It's not how many goals you reach, but how many lives

you touch. It's not who you know that matters but who you are

inside.

Mon. – Sat. 9am – 7pm

Sunday – 10am – 5pm

1388 Norton Street

Rochester, NY 14621

Phone: (585) 342-2990

Fax: (585) 342-8173

Cell: (585) 259-9337

Email: istanbulmeats@hotmail.com

Islamica Magazine Visit us at: www.islamicamagazine.com

In the Current Issue:

Issue 12 also includes interviews with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Jumu'ah and Manal Omar who currently heads the Baghdad operations of the NGO, Women for Women International. Other contributors include Sheikh Nuh Keller, Mostafa al-Badawi, Ibrahim Kalin, Michael Wolfe, Harun Yahya, Ibrahim Kreps, Zafar Ali Khan, Jibril Hambel, Shafiq Mort

Islamica Magazine aims to broaden perspectives on traditional Islam and to provide a voice for Muslims to articulate their concerns and to establish cross-cultural relations between Muslim communities and their neighbours and co-religionists. The topics which we will cover include Religion, Sufism, Law, Politics, History, Philosophy, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Health, Education, Current Affairs, Culture, Science & Technology, Media, Literature, Poetry, Fiction, Art & Architecture. It will include Editorials, Regulars, Opinion Columns, Features, Interviews, Debates, Book Reviews and Letters to the Editor.

Subscription USA/CANADA/WORLD

Islamica Subscription, P.O. Box 21393, Los Angeles,

CA 90021, USA

Subscriptions@IslamicaMagazine.com

Upcoming Events: April 16: Seminar on Civil Rights. Speakers are Brs. Kalam Muttalib and Sareer Fazili, at the I.C.R. 7:30

PM.

April 24: Unitarian Church Visit by I.C.R. APROX. 6 Students. Contact: Abu Saeed 442-0117

April 30: Mother and Daughter Banquet at the I.C.R. COST: $5.00 DAUGHTER. Mothers, free. For

info. 461-9781 Sr. Fatima.

MAY 6: Second Anniversary of the Muslim & Catholic Alliance at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. 296

Flower City Park. Dr. Syed M. Sayeed, General Secretary, ISNA will also address the above gathering,

in addition to Jumma Khutba on the same day at the ICR. Call the I.C.R. for more information.

May 22nd

Fund-Raising BBQ at the ICR

Please join us for a BBQ at the masjid on Sunday, May 22 in the afternoon. All food sale

proceeds will be contributed to the expansion of the ICR masjid. Food will be available

for pick-up as well. Tickets are available now ($10 donation per plate); please contact Sr.

Bader Padela (387-0305) or Sr. Annie El-Amin elamintravel@hotmail.com

Upcoming Fun Fair/Garage Sale at the ICR, Upcoming Fun Fair/Garage Sale at the ICR, Upcoming Fun Fair/Garage Sale at the ICR, Upcoming Fun Fair/Garage Sale at the ICR,

sposposposponsored by the Muslim Youth Groupnsored by the Muslim Youth Groupnsored by the Muslim Youth Groupnsored by the Muslim Youth Group

Please donate gently used clothing and household items.

Planned date: August, 2005(Date to be announced).

All proceeds will be contributed to the Masjid.

If you are interested in participating or would like to help, please contact: Nadine

Anaizi (Dina82587@yahoo.com) or Noreen Galaria (ngalaria@hotmail.com).

Excerpt from Ibn Batutta: Travels in Asia and

Africa(1325-1354). Trans. and edited by H. A. R. Gibb.

A visit to a holy man in the country

During my stay at Alexandria I had heard of the pious Shaykh al-Murshidi, who bestowed gifts miraculously created at his desire. He lived in solitary retreat in a cell in the country where he was visited by princes and ministers. Parties of men in all ranks of life used to come to him every day and he would supply them all with food. Each one of them would desire to eat some flesh or fruit or sweetmeat at his cell, and to each he would give what he had suggested, though it was frequently out of season. His fame was carried from mouth to mouth far and wide, and the Sultan too had visited him several times in his retreat. I set out from Alexandria to seek this shaykh and passing through Damanhur came to Fawwa [Fua], a beautiful township, close by which, separated from it by a canal, lies the shaykh's cell. I reached this cell about mid-afternoon, and on saluting the shaykh I found that he had with him one of the sultan's aides-de-camp, who had encamped with his troops just outside. The shaykh rose and embraced me, and calling for food invited me to eat. When the hour of the afternoon prayer arrived he set me in front as prayer-leader, and did the same on every occasion when we were together at the times of prayer during my stay. When I wished to sleep he said to me "Go up to the roof of the cell and sleep there " (this was during the summer heats). I said to the officer "In the name of God," but he replied [quoting from the Koran] "There is none of us but has an appointed place." So I mounted to the roof and found there a straw mattress and a leather mat, a water vessel for ritual ablutions, a jar of water and a drinking cup, and I lay down there to sleep.

FYE

I got the strangest recording when I called the phone company the other day. It said, "You have been connected to the correct department on the first try. This is against company policy. Please hang up and redial." Caller: "Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?" Operator: "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about". Caller: "On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you give me the number for Jack?" Operator: "I think you mean the telephone point on the wall".

Islamic Center of Rochester News Letter March/April 2005

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