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contents

foreword 4

message from our imam 6

suratul ‘asr 8

the honourable nizam baksh message 10

nafeesa mohammed greetings 11

the mayor dr navi muradali greetings 12

dr mansoor ibrahim greetings 13

from asJa boys’ College greetings 14

maulana shafayat mohammed greetings 15

Past 16

short PhysiCal history of the masJid 18

inside the male seCtion of the masJid 20

the role of the Jama masJid in the

Community of believers 22

the imams and assistant imams

of the san fernando Jama masJid 1913-2013 24

male Jamaat members Profiles 32

female Jamaat members Profiles 38

diy Crafts 44

guiding the young ones 46

san fernando’s asJa Colleges 50

hand in hand 54

ywma arChives 58

growing uP in the masJid 62

tribute to the san fernando masJid 70

the hour glass 71

the blessed mango tree 72

memories 73

Present 74

initiatives of the 100th year anniversary 76

role of the san fernando Jama masJid today 82

a renewal of faith 86

100th anniversary babies 92

ibn toP 8 Countdown 92

Future 94

our vision for the san fernando Jama masJid 96

future vision 100

Featured Articles 102

health after ramadan 104

it’s time to talk about ‘time’ 110

realities of the hiJab and beard in the workPlaCe 116

Confessions of a veggie smuggler 120

walking the tight roPe 124

wearing the hiJab 130

redisCovering muhammad through

the CelebratemerCy webCast 136

the neCessity of JustiCe 138

muslims going green 142

Crossword Puzzle 148

Editors: Skye Hernandez and Abdul Waheed Majid

Design and Layout: / Daryl Nagil

Production Coordinators: Sumayyah Gorib and Hafsa Khan

Advertising Sales: Rashieda Abdool and Abdul Waheed Majid

Contributing Photographers: Aliyyah Baksh, Haseeb Majid, Daryl Nagil, Images from the Michael Goldberg Postcard Collection courtesy UWI Library, Digital Services, Marcus and Yaisa Tangwell, YWMA and members of the Jamaat

San Fernando Jama maSJid celebrating 100 yearS

Contributing Writers: Ruqayyah Abdullah, Ash Ahmed, Aliyyah Baksh, Natasha Dabiedeen, Khadija Hasnain, Skye Hernandez, Dr Amanda Jones, Hafsa Khan, Imran Khan, Nadeira Khan, Abdul Waheed Majid, Denise Mohammed, Hamzad Mohammed, Nadia Mulchan, Maulana Siddiq Ahmad Nasir, Khalid Rahaman, Mehrun Rahaman, SFJM Da’wah Committee, SFJM Youth Group, YWMA, Maliha Khan - CelebrateMercy

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contributors

Ruqayyah Abdullah is an Environmental Consultant whose 11-year environmental career has revolved around Biodiversity and Ecology, Environmental Regulatory Compliance, Environmental Impact Assessment, Project Management, Environmental Awareness and Education. She is a UWI Graduate with a passion for all things nerdy and scientific, and thoroughly believes in the power of one person making a difference.

Dr Amanda Jones is a true true Trini now residing in England. She is passionate about wellness education and hopes to transform our culture to one where individuals take responsibility for their own wellness. She believes that behaviour change leans not only on knowledge but requires confidence, clarity, motivation and accountability

Denise Mansingh-Mohammed is an independent philanthropist, marriage counsellor and lecturer at ASWJI, and a former Human Resource Manager. She is an MBA Graduate from the Arthur Lok Jack School of Graduate Studies.

Skye Hernandez is a writer and editor with many years’ experience working as a journalist in local media. She is a former editor of Caribbean Beat inflight magazine and MACO Caribbean Living. Her connection to the Masjid is through her former colleague at MACO, Sumayyah Gorib.

Disclaimer

San Fernando Jama Masjid – Celebrating 100 Years endeavours to confirm the veracity of articles in this publication to the best of our ability by referring to primary sources, but cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the articles published. We value our community and history and invite you, our readers, to advise us if you notice any factual errors.

http://www.sanfernandojamamasjid.org/

https://www.facebook.com/sanfernandojamamasjid

about the cover

In choosing the images that depict the evolution of the Masjid over the 100 years, the one constant is the Mihrab — that semi circular prayer niche in the Qibla wall of the Masjid — which emphasises our steadfastness in ‘Ibadah (worship)

SA

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SJID C

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SAN FERNANDO JAMA MASJIDC E L E B R A T I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S

1 9 1 3 - 2 0 1 3SAN FERNANDO JAMA MASJID

C E L E B R A T I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S1 9 1 3 - 2 0 1 3

Masjid Board: Imam: Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed Sulaimani

President: Haji Abdul Waheed Majid

Vice President: Haji Naeem Hasnain

Secretary: Haji Imran Khan

Assistant Secretary: Haji Haseeb Mohammed

Treasurer: Haji Shahamad Ali

Committee Members: Haji Shafeyei Mohammed Shah, Haji Asaad Baksh, Anwar Wajadali, Haji Nick Azam Mohammed, Shair Shah Ali, Haji Azard Mohammed

Trustees: Haji Nazir Ali, Haji Shaheed Baksh

Alhamdulillah! All Praise is due to Allah , the Lord and Cherisher of all the Worlds.

Peace and Blessings be upon our Noble Prophet Muhammad , the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.You have in your hands the culmination of months of dedicated research by members of the 100th Anniversary Magazine Committee, contributing writers and Sr. Skye Hernandez. It is dedicated to the Muqtadees of the San Fernando Jama Masjid who over the past One Hundred Years have ensured that this landmark institution remained relevant, inspirational and a beacon for all who pass through this House of Allah. From the erudite Hafiz Yacoob Ali, his blood brothers — Kurban, Sakawat and Reasat, his brothers in Islam — Asgarali Syne, Sheikh Bahadur Ali, Osman Ghany and Maulana Hassan, as well as their offspring and other notable Muslims, the command to be numbered among the righteous servants of Allah who maintain and visit His House, has indeed been fulfilled.The Masjid has also been blessed by visits of internationally recognized Scholars (Ulema) who have provided the correct dosage of ‘Ilm (knowledge) at the right time to steer us along that path of Al ‘Aqabah. From the spiritual influences of Maulanas Shah Mohammed Hassan, Nazir Ahmad Simab, Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, Fazlur Rahman Ansari, Professor Syed Ali Ashraf and Abdul Wahab Siddiqi, to the continued work of their students and progeny, the foundations laid by the aforementioned pioneers have blossomed into an Institution that is proud to celebrate 100 years! Indeed, the influence of these Murshideen continue even today with the pivotal role played by the Aleemiyah Institute students of Dr Fazlur Rahman Ansari — Imran Hosein, Waffie Mohammed, Ali Mustafa and Siddiq Ahmad Nasir. We have also

been fortunate to have Missionaries such as Moulvi Ahmed Saied Piprawala and Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed Sulaimani serve as Imams.The philanthropic nature of the Ali, Ghany and Jaleel clans cannot be ignored, neither can their physical defense of this Masjid. Indeed, as guardians of our ‘Aqidah they withstood onslaughts from the Ahmadiyya movement and even the Canadian Missionaries. Scenes of S.M. Jaleel standing guard outside his residence across the road during the Butler riots or distributing pamphlets denouncing the beliefs of Ameer Ali come readily to mind. Their generosity continues even at present and Insha Allah, into the future!Over the years, some of the families who lived within walking distance of the Jama Masjid have migrated elsewhere but their attachment to the Masjid remains strong. When they journey back, they steadfastly attend regular daily Salaah, monthly Moulood, Milad-un-Nabi and Miraj-un-Nabi functions, filling the Haji Shafik Islamic Centre to capacity. They are also present for both Eids, bringing Nūr and warmth to this Jama Masjid. The brotherhood and love among the Jamaat is strengthened as they choose to attend this Masjid, rather than one which is physically closer to their home in San Juan, Marabella and Gulf View, just to name a few. Their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.Time changes everything! But constant here at the San Fernando Jama Masjid is the remembrance of Allah by His servants who seek only His pleasure. We pray that this magazine will educate us about our past, encapsulate the present and help us envision the future, Insha Allah. It is our fervent hope that we be counted among those with whom Allah is well pleased, and that He Guide and Bless us all!

Foreword

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“Our Lord! Do not make our hearts deviate after thou hast guided us aright and grant us from thy mercy; surely thou art the most liberal giver.” [Qur’an 3:8]Praise be to Almighty Allah who, through His infinite mercy, has blessed the San Fernando Jamaat with the patience and diligence to continue His cause. On the occasion of the 100th birthday of the San Fernando Jama Masjid its members should be rightly proud for making this truly a wonderful place to worship and for the remarkable achievements of all the Imams and Jamaat members over the past 100 years.Alhamdulillah! Today the San Fernando Jamaat is the heart of the city — a vibrant and flourishing Jamaat in Trinidad. Its Imams and members work to promote communal harmony. It has addressed itself to the relevant issues that are pertinent to any Jamaat where Muslims find themselves in a minority. What appealed to me most is that to be able to preserve their identity, our community has remained united and continues to strive to inculcate the beautiful teachings of Islam within themselves in their daily lives.We all know the value and importance of uniting the membership of our Jamaat. We have read and heard the famous verse of Surah-Al-Imran “ . . . and hold fast all together by the rope which Allah stretches out for you and be not divided among yourselves, and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour on you; for you were enemies and He joined your heart in love so that by His grace you became brothers.”Alhamdulillah! We have an almost new Masjid, more spacious, pleasant and comfortable. All this has been made possible because of each and every one of you, your generous contributions and Allah’s guidance.

May Allah continue to guide and grant us the means and desire to sacrifice our lives and our goods in the path of Allah: assured are we of success in the hereafter with continuous striving! We should feel a measure of pride and joy in this our achievement. Let us now continue to make our contribution towards the building and advancements of our knowledge, participation in our religion, and in our Jamaat activities.Ever since Allah blessed me with the opportunity to serve in my humble capacity as Imam, my family and I have received love and affection not only from the members of San Fernando Jamaat but outside of the Jamaat. For this, I say Jazaak Allah, May Allah reward you immensely. Your encouragement and support has enabled me to attempt to carry out my duties with all the zest and enthusiasm possible and I look forward to your continuing support and encouragement in the coming year, Insha Allah.Islam is in itself a very practical religion that demands service in ALL aspects of life. Serving must be sincere and continuous. To every moral aspect of life there must be a spiritual aspect as well, so that a normal balance and a healthy situation can be achieved. During the coming months, it is my hope to see greater attendance at Salaah at the Masjid and particularly, to see a greater number of youths attending not only Salaah, but all other functions.In conclusion, I wish all members of this Jamaat especially, and Muslim sisters and brothers of Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere, a very happy and joyous “Eid Mubarak.” May Allah shower His choicest blessing and mercy on us all and give us the opportunity to witness many more Holy months of Ramadan and joyous days of Eid in the future, Ameen!

Maulana Mushtaq ahMed sulaiManiMessage FroM our iMaM

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This can be found on YouTube by Sheikh Nouman Ali Khan in a kinetic display: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=547B7XbTicI. It has been roughly transcribed here:

Imagine two things: 1) you are drowning 2) you are unconscious.

Do you have a lot of time (to save yourself) if you are both drowning and unconscious? No, you don’t. This means that your time is running out!

In Arabic the literal word used for when time is running out is Al ‘Asr. It’s the last part of the day when the day is running out. It is the time for ‘Asr prayer. ‘Asr comes from the word ‘Asir, or “juice that is squeezed out”. It’s likened to time that is being squeezed out of your hand.

‘Asir afilba shows another use of the word. If you take a cloth that is fully drenched with water and you wring it, all the water comes out. ‘Asr is used as a verb in this meaning.

So Allah talks about these: You are: Drowning; Unconscious and Time is running out.

What’s the first thing you need to do to survive when you are in that position? Wake up!

If you remain unconscious then you are finished. Even if you were in the most wonderful dream enjoying the greatest success, like those commercials where you are driving a Ferrari with the top dropped off, on the hills, with water off to the side and you are just cruising along the highway.

But when you wake up you realise you are drowning, underwater. The first thing to do remains to wake up. If when you wake up you say, “Aww, man, this

is a nasty reality and I was enjoying such a good dream I should go back to sleep,” then you would be either insane or someone with no courage to accept reality. If you decided that reality was going to be difficult and you wanted to go back to sleep, and if you drowned can you blame anyone else? No. Only the one who never woke up and drowned can’t be blamed.

Now let’s imagine you did wake up and knew you were drowning. What would you have to do next?

Even if you don’t know how to swim, wouldn’t you make every effort to go to the surface with only those movements that will assist you? Imagine though that as you finally got to the surface and gasped for air, you got pulled back down because you’ve got a chain tied to your foot and it’s attached to a sleeping relative. So now you are drowning because of your sleeping cousin. Wouldn’t you have to wake him (even if you don’t like him) not only to save him but also to save yourself? If he wanted to go back to sleep, you would have to convince him that he had to wake up. Then if you both make it to the surface together you both get pulled back down because of a chain attached to your grandmother/aunt/neighbour/son . . .

Doesn’t the process continue? It’s a multi part process where everyone has to:

1) Wake up themselves 2) Swim and 3) Tell other people that they are tied to about the TRUTH even if you have to help through picking them up, carrying them and walking them through it just to survive together.

Looking back at the Surah what does Allah say?:

suratul ‘asr

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1. Wal ‘Asr: “Time is running out.”

2. Innal insaana lafee khusr (in): “Human beings are drowned in a state of loss.”

3. Illal latheena āmanu: “EXCEPT those who believe” — (and He didn’t say those who believe in the angels, the previous holy books, and the day of judgement etc.; in this context it refers to belief that they are in a state of loss) — that they are drowning.

And if they correct their Imaan, then they would learn to SWIM and move upwards, as explained by:

• Wa āmilus al salihaati: “Doing good things to reconcile/correct the situation” (comes from the word salihaat) But because they were tied to other people, what do they have to do?

• Wa tawasawbil Haq: They have to “tell others about the truth”. Tawa even has repetition in it, saying over and over, “this is the truth”, even if their friends go back to sleep every time and start drowning again. You may even get impatient. And then here Allah says,

• Wa tawasaw Bi(l)sabri: Over and over again, but “with patience” — Sabr — and consistency, as without patience, you can still drown.

In summary, there are four critical conditions that ALL need to be satisfied TO SURVIVE:

Having IMAAN and Doing GOOD DEEDS, Telling of THE TRUTH and Bearing with SABR

The imagery shared here will help you understand the larger concept of Suratul ‘Asr.

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Assalaamu AlaikumI am very honoured to be not only a witness, but an actual contributor to the wondrous and historic occasion of the Centennial, or 100-year celebration of the San Fernando Jama Masjid.To say that this is a milestone is, indeed, an understatement, as so few institutions in today’s world are fortunate to not only survive, but prosper for such a long period.This achievement is directly attributable to the active role that the brothers and sisters who frequent the mosque — many of whom I have known throughout the years — play in this organization. To you all, I say Jazakumullahu khaira.During my address at these celebrations I emphasized the importance of encouraging and fostering a sense of togetherness, but more so, involvement in the local Islamic community so that we can follow the Ummah of the Holy Prophet Mohammed collectively.I reminded my brothers and sisters of the many blessings which Allah bestowed upon the Muslim Ummah by making the earth pure and making it a Masjid, where Allah is worshipped in every single corner, whether in the Masjids, the markets, on the streets, at schools and universities, in houses, or on the frontiers. Allah , tells us that the whole earth is a Masjid, as indicated by the hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim that the Messenger of Allah said, “I have been granted five things which were not granted to any other Prophet before me: one of them is that the whole earth has been made a Masjid pure for me, so whenever the time of prayer comes for anyone of you, he should pray wherever he is.”The Messenger of Allah also encouraged the building of Masjids, such as the San Fernando Jama Masjid which has been nurtured to greatness by dedicated generations over the last century. He

made this very appealing to Muslims, stressing the reward that such an act brings. Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “He who builds a Masjid for the sake of Allah, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Allah would reward him with a dwelling in Heaven.” Another narration reported by Imam Ahmad says, “Whosoever shares in building a Masjid for Allah, even if it is as small as a bird’s nest, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”Today brothers and sisters, the San Fernando Masjid stands as a beacon to all Muslims in our twin-island state, as they have not only built a Jamaat, but have successfully sustained it for an entire century. I encourage the San Fernando Jama Masjid to continue its broad spectrum of activities and initiatives for which it has become admirably famous.I must single out one such initiative which took place shortly before the Centennial Celebrations, which was the visit of Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali, who astounded every one present with his Naats in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad at the Haji Ralph Khan Auditorium. I must also commend the hard working delegation of the San Fernando Jama such as your president, Mr Abdul Waheed Majid and your dear Imam Mushtaq Sulaimani for their hard work and stewardship during their current term.In closing, I want to encourage all brothers and sisters of not only the San Fernando Jamaat, but all over the country, to continue building the lives of Muslims in your community by engaging them in activities fuelled by the Masjid and Jamaat, as guided by the Holy Qur’an.Was Salaam.Hon. Nizam BakshMinister of Public Utilities

the honourable nizaM bakshMessage

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Assalaamu AlaikumIt is, indeed, an honour for me to have been asked to contribute to this magazine as members of the San Fernando Jama Masjid commemorate their 100th-year Anniversary as a Jamaat.As the history of the Muslim community in Trinidad and Tobago continues to be written and recorded, the San Fernando Jama Masjid will stand out as a beacon of light and a flagship for other Jamaats to follow.With all the ideological differences and diversity within the Muslim community, this Jamaat has been steadfast in upholding and propagating those traditions and practices handed down to us by our forefathers who started this Jamaat 100 years ago.These traditions have been sanctioned by the most learned and pious scholars of Islam, and continue to be practiced throughout the Muslim World.So many of us have been able to develop and maintain powerful bonds with the San Fernando Jama Masjid over several decades as a result of the propagation of these traditions and customs.The recognition of the role of women in the family and in the community has been, for me, the most encouraging aspect of the tireless work and selfless service of members of this Jamaat. As a member of the San Juan Muslim Ladies Association, we share a common history and struggle.I extend congratulations and best wishes to all members of the San Fernando Jama Masjid, especially those who have been giving of their time to ensure that this milestone achievement of 100 years is appropriately observed and celebrated.We give thanks to Almighty Allah for all His mercies and blessings. We pray that all those who have contributed towards the development of this Jamaat, both past and present, be rewarded.We also ask Allah to guide us all the way, and we

pray that our children and the generations to come continue to strive to achieve unity through peaceful coexistence, and help to build a better and stronger Trinidad and Tobago.

Was Salaam

Nafeesa MohammedAttorney at Law

naFeesa MohaMMedgreetings

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Assalaamu Alaikum. May the Peace and Blessing of Almighty Allah be with you.

As Mayor of the City of San Fernando, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the San Fernando Jama Masjid on their 100th-year anniversary and also the publication of their commemorative magazine.

This milestone celebrates the impact and importance of the San Fernando Jama Masjid in the San Fernando community and the nation at large. As such, this magazine will effectively highlight the accomplishments of the Masjid throughout the years, and its various contributions to the development of the city and its people.

Together with the San Fernando City Council, I would like to commend the San Fernando Jama Masjid on an outstanding publication and wish them continued success in their endeavours.

the Mayor dr navi Muradaligreetings

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the Mayor dr navi Muradali

I feel most humbled to be asked to bring greetings on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary Celebrations of the Jama Masjid, San Fernando.From my early childhood days to the present time as Imam Emeritus of this Masjid (according to Maulana Mushtaq Sulaimani), this Masjid has been, and will continue to be very dear to me. As a small boy in “short-pants”, I accompanied my dear and beloved father, Mahroom Haji Mohamed Ibrahim as he frequented San Fernando and environs to do Islamic work and to visit the homes of fellow Islamic workers; a memory which will remain indelibly written in my heart. Some of these workers included luminaries and distinguished people such as Osman Ghany (one of the foundation members and philanthropists of the Masjid), S.M. Hosein (the first President General of the ASJA), M.H. Shah (distinguished attorney) former president and executive committee member of this Masjid Committee, and S.M. Jaleel (philanthropist and Islamic worker). In later years I would spend many weeks of college vacation in San Fernando, and witnessed the noble efforts of two illustrious

brothers and Islamic workers, Haji Shafik M.S. Rahaman and Haji Fazloo Rahaman. It was during this period that I was privileged to be taught at the Sunday school of the Masjid by the late renowned Gool Aziz.This cadre of Islamic workers played no small part in motivating me to live as they did, to be involved in Islamic work, and to thereafter mirror, albeit a shade, their commitment and excellence. We pray that Our Merciful Creator will continue to bless them for their recommitment to Islamic work, and that the present crop of Islamic workers, ourselves included, will strive with might and main to follow in their footsteps and be true Ibadur Rahman (Slaves of the Merciful Lord) with respect to their Munfikeen — spending their time, talent, health and wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and Allah Alone, Ameen.I pray that the San Fernando Masjid will continue to serve the needs of the community and to be a source of inspiration for those who visit it. And may we all grow in Imaan, Ameen.

dr Mansoor ibrahiMgreetings

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asJa boys’ collegegreetings

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Alhamdulillaah! All Praise and thanks are due to Allah for giving me the opportunity to send congratulatory greetings to the Imam, President and members of San Fernando Jama Masjid (SFJM) on your 100th-year anniversary.I pray that these 100 years of success will be an inspiration for many more years of achievement in the future, Insha Allah.The San Fernando Jama Masjid has long served as an important and respected landmark in Trinidad and Tobago. As one of the oldest Jamaats, with some of the most prominent Muslim leaders, San Fernando Jama Masjid has made many years of contributions towards the growth and success of Islam and Muslims in the country. SFJM serves as a powerful example of Islamic leadership in Trinidad, as the home of Muslims who have led many national organizations, and as a community that helped establish many Masajid and Islamic Centres. SFJM members have also been known to be active in many social services that have benefited the good of all communities.It is once more my great privilege to congratulate you on this 100th-year anniversary, Insha Allah.

Shafayat MohamedPrincipal of Darul Uloom Institute, Florida, USA

Maulana shaFayat MohaMMedgreetings FroM ForMer iMaM

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Past

The early daysAllah is the best of planners. Alhamdulillah, it was through the efforts of Maulana Hassan that a plan to start the current Jamaat was born. He got together with Brothers Asgarali Syne, Sheikh Bahadur Ali, Osman Ghanny and Hafiz Yacoob Ali and they raised over $1,400 and from it purchased, for $150, the parcel of land on which the San Fernando Jama Masjid now stands. The original parcel of land measured 50 feet by 100 feet.The year was 1913. They started in earnest and laid the foundation. When the structure was nearly completed, it was decided that a second entrance was needed on the southern side. Hafiz Yacoob

short Physical history oF the MasJid

Ali, who owned the adjacent land, donated a piece of it, and it is on this land that a second entrance was built. Haji Asgarali Syne was able to overcome foundation problems in the northern side of the building through his engineering skill and expertise.In 1940, the Masjid was further extended westwards through the generous donations of Brother S.M. Jaleel. Following this, modifications and beautifications were undertaken by the Masjid Committee, at the Jamaat’s expense. Brother Bennet Mohammed, one of the hard workers of the Masjid, had designed and built metal gates to the property.Our first Muezzin was brother Shahadath Khan,

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followed by Mohammed Sulaiman, Salamat Ali and Mayudeen Meah.Brother Salamat Ali was blessed with a most powerful and melodious tenor voice. His Adhān, atop the Masjid, could be heard as far as around Faralon Rock in the Gulf of Paria, about two miles away, westward, for the Fajr Salaah. In the early days, the Adhān was called from the rooftop of the Masjid, accessed through a trap door, reached by a narrow concrete stairway built on the inside of the southern wall. This stairway is now blocked off, and the Adhān is now called atop the steps at the men’s southern entrance. For a short time, however, the Adhān was called from an area in the western side of the building, which was an uncovered porch at the time, but is now part of the Salaah area. The Jinnah Memorial Hall was constructed in 1946. It was an annex connected to the Masjid by a passageway at the first floor level. Situated to the west of the Masjid, it was a simple two-storey concrete building in which the first floor was an auditorium used for Maktab and Sunday School classes, and had a seating capacity of 120 persons. Many famous religious debates had taken place there, training many of the outstanding past and present members in Deen. This area was also used for Salaah when the crowds were larger than usual, as in Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha and for those public holidays that coincided with Jumu’ah. In 1970 the Jinnah Memorial Hall was further renovated.On the ground floor are located the men’s toilet and facilities for Wudhu; this area was previously the Muezzin’s quarters. In 1981 the adjacent kitchen was refurbished, together with the entire complex at a cost of $36,000. Brother Ralphie Baljoe, an accomplished craftsman, built the cupboards in the kitchen.

Post 1983The year 1985 was the first time Iftar and dinner were held at the Masjid every day of Ramadan.On April 12, 1987, a grand Khatam ul Qur’an was held under tents in the cleared property on Gomez Street. The flooring was made of wooden planks.On September 2, 1991, the Pre-school began in the room under the Jinnah Memorial Hall, on the ground floor. It moved to the ground floor of the newly constructed building on the Gomez Street property in 1993. The Jinnah Memorial Hall has since given way to the expansion of the ladies’ Salaah area, which is to the rear of the men’s section. The Haji Shafik Islamic Centre that replaced it was constructed in 1995 and became fully air conditioned in 2002.The remaining piece of land, once owned by Hafiz Yacoob Ali, was acquired from the Rahaman family in 2004 and now houses the southern car park where there is a dedicated parking spot for the Imam. There is also a basketball hoop that is heavily used by the Youth Group on “games night”.In 2006, the ladies’ Wudhu and washroom facilities were built upstairs as an annex on the northern side. A gentle slope for wheelchair access was added on the southern side of the men’s prayer area.The Imam’s Office and the Main Library on the ground floor of the original Masjid structure were renovated in 2007.Extensive flooring, ceiling and roof repairs were completed in time for Ramadaan 2013.

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Right: Hassan Khan, Hassan Voyeau Behind: Ansar Aligour, Saleem Varachhia. Aneesa and Shireen Shah Back: Sherima Aligour, Amina Hasnain, Ozair Hasnain , Salma Varachhia

Left to right front row: Tariq Rahaman, Fahd Rahaman, Shazim Mohammed. Maktab held in the Jinnah Memorial Hall

Distinguished gathering including His Eminence Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, his Secretary Dr. Fazlur Rahman Ansari, Haji Rooknudeen Meah, Mohammed H. Shah and others.

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inside the Male section oF the MasJid

Underside of the Dome of the Masjid, which originally housed oil-filled lamps. Beautiful and bright glass inlays adorn the walls.

Mimbar from where the Imam delivers his Khutbahs

Photography courtesy Yaisa Tangwell

Looking through an original arch built in 1913 at the Mimbar in the downstairs portion of the Masjid. The Main Library and the Imam’s Office are now housed here.

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One of the fancy circular hooks from earlier days from which were suspended oil lamps and huge glass globes for light

Arabic Testimony of faith, “The Shahada” expertly crafted onto the eastern walls of the men’s Salaah area

Foreground overhead arch with small pieces of multi-coloured glass inlays placed by artisans from India. In the background are two niches originally built for housing oil lamps.

Seven Arches highlighting the closest area to the Mimbar where the first two rows or “suffuf” gather for prayer

“Paper cup” type speaker units, which naturally amplified sound by channelling it to the downstairs audience when Khutbahs or sermons were being delivered from the upstairs Mimbar

Close-ups of niches originally made for housing oil lamps, ornately decorated in glass inlays by artisans from India who were specially commissioned in 1913

the role oF the JaMa MasJid in the coMMunity oF believers

In the Qur’an, Allah commands the believers to “establish the prayer (Salaah)”. The commentators on the Qur’an (mufassirun) tell us that establishment means, not merely praying as individuals according to the Sunnah of His final Messenger, but doing so in congregation and, furthermore, making all the necessary arrangements to ensure that the Salaah is observed in Jamaah. Muslims have thus always been diligent in constructing Masaajid (Mosques) wherever they may be to facilitate the “establishment’’ of the Salaah. Each village/community may have its own Masjid in which the members of that village/community perform the

Salaah daily in congregation (Jamaah). There is also a larger Masjid in the environs of the smaller village Masaajid to which the inhabitants of those villages/communities would go on Friday for the Salātul Jumu’ah. The participants in the Salātul Jumu’ah can thus be deemed a congregation of smaller congregations. That larger “Masjid” is referred to as the “Jama Masjid” for the region or area.The Jama Masjid is not only the spiritual centre of the Muslims of the region or area but also their political, educational, military and social centre. The Prophet Muhammad for example received the Christian deputation of Nazran and the

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deputation of Saqif in his Masjid in Madinah. Also, in a corner of that Masjid dwelt the Ahlus Suffah, a band of missionaries who devoted themselves exclusively to learning Islam directly from the Prophet. That constitutes the Prophetic precedent for utilization of the Masjid for the training of missionaries. The Prophet’s Masjid also served as a library and reading room. In the time of the second Khalifah, Umar bin Al Khattab , councils held their meetings in the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah. In summary, the Masjid is the community centre for all activities that can be lawfully done there.The San Fernando Jama Masjid attracts not only

residents of the area but travellers and those working in the area, not only for Salātul Jumu’ah but also for the daily Salawaat. The administration, therefore, uses the opportunity to keep those Muslims who attend the Masjid informed of local, regional and international news of interest to Muslims and of the many educational programmes and social activities of the Masjid. Residents and non-residents meet and greet each other, fostering feelings of belonging to one community which itself melds into the global Ummah, the world-wide community of some one billion believers in Allah and His final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad

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the iMaMs and assistant iMaMs oF the san Fernando JaMa MasJid 1913 - 2013

‘ O u r M a s j i d w a s b l e s s e d f r O M t h e i n c e p t i O n t O

h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d , d e d i c a t e d i M a M s . a l l b u t t w O

— M a u l a n a s h a f a y a t M O h a M M e d a n d t h e p r e s e n t

i M a M , M a u l a n a s u l a i M a n i — h a v e p a s s e d a w a y .

M a y a l l a h r e w a r d t h e M f O r t h e r O l e t h e y h a v e

p l a y e d i n e n s u r i n g t h e h e a l t h y g r O w t h O f O u r

M a s j i d a n d j a M a a t . ’

IMAMS:Hafiz Yacoob AliSheikh Kurban AliImam Sakawat AliImam S.M. OthamImam Syed Mohammed HoseinMoulvi Ahmed Saied PiprawalaMaulana Shafayat Mohammed

ASSISTANT IMAMS:Ha ji Sheik Fazloo RahamanHa ji Gool AzizHa ji Abdool Rahim BoodooHa ji Khairul Baksh

CURRENTLY SERVING:IMAM:Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed SulaimaniASSISTANT IMAM:Ha ji Adam Varachhia

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Hafiz Yacoob AliHafiz Yacoob Ali Rahmatullaah Alayh was born in San Fernando in 1875. He was the third son of Bahadur and Miriam Ali who came from India. He had three brothers, Kurban, Sakawat and Reasat. In 1888, when he was 13 years old, Hafiz Yacoob Ali left Trinidad with his brother-in-law, Moonsiji, of Princes Town, travelling to India to further his studies. He was already well versed in reading and writing Urdu, Pharsee and Arabic, and possessed a working knowledge of English. Once in India, he gained admission to a leading high school (Dar-ul-Uloom), where he studied Islamic Theology. Within the short span of 10 years he became a Hafiz and a Qari. He was the first Trinidadian Muslim to leave these shores to pursue higher Islamic studies abroad and also the first to return a fully qualified Hafiz.In 1898 he returned home to Trinidad to fulfil his only ambition — to fortify the House of Islam. The Hafiz Sahib established Maktabs and several other Islamic classes for men and women. He conducted classes in Arabic and Urdu that benefitted thousands of Muslims, and some of his students later became Imams. He was known to be extremely charitable, and bore virtually all expenses of accommodation and travel for many of his students whose families would not otherwise have been able to afford to send them to classes.Hafiz Yacoob Ali was both directly and indirectly responsible for the construction and maintenance of a few Masajid in Trinidad. In 1913, he, together with Maulana Hassan of India, was instrumental in building the SFJM, the first stage of which was completed in 1917. He was appointed Imam when the Masjid was completed.He was married to Sakina, daughter of businessman Man Mohammed Hosein of California. They had three children, though their first boy died while still a baby. Their other two sons were Sheik Fazloo Rahaman, Rahmatullaah Alayh, born in 1913, a former chairman of the RSSC of ASJA and Sheik Mohammed Shafik Rahaman, Rahmatullaah Alayh, born in 1917, a former President General of ASJA. Hafiz Yacoob Ali was the leader of the Muslim community of Trinidad and Tobago until his death on July 12, 1925.

Sheikh Kurban AliImam Kurban Ali was born around the year 1870, to Bahadur and Miriam Ali. He was the eldest child and had three brothers, Hafiz Yacoob, Sakawat and Reasat Ali. He lived at 1-3 Cipero Street, San Fernando.Kurban Ali served as Imam from around 1930 to1940 and delivered sermons in the Urdu language. He taught the children in Maktab. Margaret Jaleel fondly remembers being taught by him and says that he was very spiritual and was a Murshid or Spiritual Leader to many.From his first marriage, he had three children: Siddiq, the father of Kelvin Ali (a former Principal of ASJA Boys’ College), Ashraf, father of Zobida, and Zainab.His second marriage to Azeema produced seven children: Afrose Kamroon Nisa “Rosy Boo”, mother of Bobby Omarally; Mazie; Mahir; Shamshoon; Zoe “Boo Boo”; Budrun Nisa “Baby” and Soogra.Imam Kurban Ali lived a simple and quiet life and endeavoured to practice Islam in every breath and aspect of his life. He was well loved by those he served and has been greatly missed since 1951, when at the age of 81 years, he returned to Allah .

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Imam Sakawat AliImam Sakawat Ali was the brother of Hafiz Yacoob Ali. He was born and lived in San Fernando – first at 1 Cipero Street and then at 9 Leotaud Street. He operated his own transport business with a Cab and Horse and was affectionately called “Cabby”. He spoke some English but was able to read and write Urdu. He was one of the early Imams of the San Fernando Jama Masjid on Mucurapo Street. He was the second brother of four — Kurban, Sakawat, Hafiz Yacoob and Reasat Ali, the first three being Imams at our Masjid. Sakawat Ali was married to the late Raheman Ali and that union produced nine children. He was the grandfather of Sister Nadira Rahaman (a former Principal of ASJA Girls’ College)Imam S.M. OthamS.M. Otham came from Guyana during Ramadan and served as Imam at the SFJM for a short time. Unfortunately, no further information is available about this Imam.

Imam Syed Mohammed HoseinImam Syed Mohammed Hosein came to Trinidad from India as a young man. He became the brother-in-law of Hafiz Yacoob Ali and was fondly called “Mamoo”.Hosein was a former Imam of the San Fernando Jama Masjid and was well known for his elegant Khutbahs. He was fluent in the English, Arabic, Pharsee and Urdu languages and was an Urdu and Hindi interpreter in the courts. He was the first President General of ASJA and one of the first Muslim Divorce Officers in the country.In the 1930s many Muslims were being converted to the Ahmadiyya movement by the preaching of Moulvi Ameer Ali, something that caused tension within the Muslim community. In order to deal with this, Syed Mohammed Hosein was sent by the Anjuman Quadree (now Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat) to India to seek an Islamic scholar of repute. He chose Maulana Nazir Ahmad Simab of Lahore (now in Pakistan).The choice of Maulana Nazir Ahmad Simab proved to be a good one. The Maulana met with Muslim leaders and brought peace between them. They still exist as separate bodies but there is no bitterness. The Maulana died on December 10, 1942 in Arouca, Trinidad.Syed Mohammed Hosein had three children — Sajjad, Syed and Khairoon.He passed away in 1963.

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Taken at the side of the Masjid: A gathering of ASJA Primary School teachers and others with Maulana Ansari. Included in this picture are Zabar Baksh, Tiab Rahaman, Hamza Mohammed, Harry Narine, Hakim Shah, Sadick Ramzanally, among others.

Moulvi Ahmed Saied PiprawalaMoulvi Ahmed Saied Piprawala was born in Surat, Gujarat, India in 1917. He lost his mother at the early age of three but his step-mother took great care of him and his two sisters, and ensured they received a sound Islamic education. His father was a renowned ’Alim and was instrumental in his religious education.Moulvi Saied studied the full course of eight subjects including Fiqh, Tafseer, Seerah, Tasawwuf, Pharsee and Arabic, full-time for nine years.He qualified as a Moulvi from Dabhel Madrasah Jamaiah Islamiyah, Gujarat, with first class honours. He taught Islamic Studies for two years before he migrated to Barbados with his wife, Sakina, in 1948, and later settled in Trinidad in 1962.They had six children, three boys and three girls. The eldest son died in India while studying and his

second son died tragically in 1987 during a robbery.Moulvi Saied was appointed Imam at SFJM after the death of Imam Syed M. Hosein in 1963. Although he was not very fluent in English when he became Imam, he mastered the language enough to become an Advisor on Islamic laws for ASJA. He gave classes for Imams, taught Qur’anic recitation, Islamic Studies and Maktab classes and counselled people on personal matters.Moulvi Saied suffered a stroke at the age of 50. Even though he was partially disabled, he continued serving as Imam for another 25 years. However, he gave up the Imamat to Maulana Shafayat Mohammed in 1986. He compiled a book of Jumu’ah Khutbahs in his later years.Moulvi Ahmed Saied Piprawala died in 1992.

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This is the sod-turning ceremony for the building on Gomez Street which now houses the Pre-school and the Haji Shafik Islamic Centre. The men with the shovel are Moulvi Saied and Adam Varachhia. Looking on are Shaheed Baksh, Yacoob Ali, Shafeyei Shah, Sahad Ali and others.

Haji Gool AzizHaji Gool Aziz was born in 1911 in Lengua Village, Princes Town. He was married to Safirun and had nine children. His role as assistant Imam and Imam extended to various Masaajid, including Prince Albert Street, Princes Town, Debe and Gasparillo.He was an ardent worker for the cause of Islam, and made it his life mission to teach Arabic and Urdu to the younger generation. He conducted Maktab and Sunday school classes in many districts and was also the Imam in them. Haji Gool Aziz also taught Religious Knowledge at ASJA Primary School. He was known to have made his classes stimulating and motivating for the pupils.He published several books including one on the Life of Muhammad . He was also a Muslim Marriage Officer and conducted hundreds of Nikkahs. He served as Assistant Imam at Mucurapo Street from 1951–1981. Haji Gool Aziz passed away in 1981.

Haji Sheik Fazloo RahamanSon of Hafiz Yacoob Ali, Haji Sheik Fazloo Rahaman was appointed Assistant Imam to Moulvi Saied. He was the President of the San Fernando

Maulana Shafayat MohammedIn 1975, Maulana Shafayat went to India to study Islam at the Dar-ul-Uloom in Deoband. He was the first student from the Caribbean and North America to attend the Institute that is the largest and oldest in India.In addition to graduating as a Qari and Islamic Scholar he also studied Journalism. He established the Al Hikmat Muslim Magazine and produced many television and radio programmes in Trinidad and Florida, USA.Maulana Shafayat was appointed Imam in San Fernando in 1986. He inspired the youths to become more involved in the Jamaat and Islam in general. He was the founder of the National Muslim Sports League of Trinidad and Tobago in 1983, which established the Islamic Home for Children.Maulana Shafayat migrated to Florida, USA in 1990 where he is the Founder/Principal of the Dar-ul-Uloom Institute in Pembroke Pines. He lectures throughout the USA and worldwide on inter-faith issues and cultural diversity.

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ASSISTAnT IMAMS

branch of ASJA for 17 years, member of the ASJA Central Executive for 26 years, Chairman of the Al Huda [religious] Committee of ASJA for six years, a Muslim Marriage Officer, manager of the ASJA Girls’ and Boys’ colleges for eight years, a member of the ASJA Education Board for 25 years and a founding member of the Young Muslim Cultural League (which became the San Fernando branch of TTMYO).When San Fernando attained City status, he was given an Award of Excellence for his religious services. Haji Fazloo was very much involved in the San Fernando Jama Masjid’s activities, especially so because he lived next door. He died in 1989 at the age of 76.

Haji Imam Abdool Rahim BoodooAbdool Rahim Boodoo was born in Penal on the October 3, 1920, to Sheikh Boodoo and Muminan Boodoo, owners of the first rice mill in South Trinidad.His father taught Islam to both him and his brother Ibrahim, former Imam of the Penal Masjid.When he moved to San Fernando in 1960, he immediately involved himself in Islamic work and worked closely with the Imam Moulvi Saied. He was soon voted to the Executive of the Masjid Board. He conducted Sunday School and Maktab classes both at the Masjid and at his home in Harris Street.

When Moulvi Saied demitted office, Abdool Rahim assumed the post of Assistant Imam, doing yeoman service to the community for eight years in that capacity. He paid visits to the homes of the sick and ailing, performing 40 days’ reading at homes and counselling Muslims.He was also a Marriage Officer and taught Maktab. He was in charge of funeral services, Qur’an Khwaani and Moulood functions for the Jamaat. .He was a well respected member of the community and was fondly called “Meah Sahib”. He carried out his duties to his Islamic community while also being a well-respected member of staff at his work place TTEC, Penal where he rose to the post of supervisor. He was married to Zahora Ali — a union which produced four boys and three girls and remained revered by his family and relatives. Abdool Rahim Boodoo died in 1993.

Haji Imam Khairul E. BakshKhairul E. Baksh was born in Barrackpore on February 9, 1922. He became an Imam at the very young age of 18, following in the footsteps of his father, Dookie Meah, serving at several Masajid, including Rees Road, Barrackpore, Ste Madeleine, San Fernando and Macoon Street, San Fernando. His father was the first Imam of No.3 Masjid, Barrackpore.He was instrumental in the building of the primary

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school in Barrackpore. He was versed in the Urdu language.Imam Baksh moved to Cocoyea, San Fernando in 1961. He conducted Maktab classes in many places and had more than 100 students.He was a licensed Marriage Officer and very active in the numerous activities required by Muslims.He was married to Khatija and fathered 10 children.Haji Imam Khairul E. Baksh died on December 26, 1986, while still an Assistant Imam at San Fernando Jama Masjid.

Haji Adam Musa Varachhia Haji Adam Musa Varachhia was born in Gujarat, India. His father, Musa Adam, passed on when he was still at a tender age, leaving his mother to take care of the basic necessities of shelter, food, clothing and education on her own. Haji Adam and his mother, Fatima, both made huge sacrifices for the wellbeing of their family.

The family’s financial position made academic pursuit difficult for Haji Adam and even though he excelled academically as a young boy, he sacrificed his dream of becoming a medical doctor for the sake of his siblings. With the blessings and guidance of Allah , Haji Adam managed to gain certification to teach Mathematics and Art.In 1967, at the age of 21, he first came to Trinidad. He returned to India in 1971 and finally settled in Trinidad on January 1, 1977.He was appointed Assistant Imam in San Fernando under the Imamat of Moulvi Saied, and served along with Haji Fazloo Rahaman, Imam Khairul Baksh and Haji Boodoo.He benefited tremendously from training he received from Moulvi Saied. After Moulvi Saied’s passing he continued under Maulana Shafayat and at present under Maulana Sulaimani.Most of us know him as the Assistant Imam of the SFJM, and after 35 years of service in this position, he continues to grace us with his presence as part of our family here at Jama Masjid. His duties include attending and officiating at functions, giving Eid sermons, acting as Imam when necessary, delivering Khutbah and leading Jumu’ah Salaat. He is a licensed Marriage Officer and continues to serve the Jamaat in all ways required including serving as Imam at times.Haji Adam Musa Varacchia is married to Sr. Joy Narriman and is the father of three children.

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CuRREnTLY SERVInG AS:ASSISTAnT IMAM

Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed SulaimaniMaulana Mushtaq Ahmed Sulaimani was born on February 12, 1952 in Abbotabad, Pakistan, the second of five children of Muhammad Yusuf Sulaimani and Chanan Jan. He wrote his ‘O’ Levels in Sherwan, Peshawar, and then ‘A’ Levels and B.A. at the Islamia College, Karachi, then an M.A. in Islamic Studies at Karachi University.He is also fortunate to have studied Al Ijaza Al Aliya in Islamic Studies at the Aleemiyah Institute in Karachi, Pakistan, the institution founded in honour of His Eminence Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui and headed by Maulana Dr Fazlur Rahman Ansari. After graduating, he was invited to then-Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1977 to take up a post of Imam and Islamic Missionary; he served there for six years. He got married at age 29 in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, to Shakeela Rahaman.After Zimbabwe, Maulana Sahib accepted a position in the Seychelles as an Imam, Missionary and Advisor to the Islamic Society of Seychelles, a

post he held for four years. In 1988 he was offered a post by ASJA in Trinidad and Tobago as Imam and Islamic Missionary for the Jama Masjid, Port of Spain. He spent one year in that position and in 1990, he was asked to be the Imam and Islamic Missionary at the San Fernando Jama Masjid, a post he continues to hold up to the present.In addition to his duties as Imam, Maulana Sahib hosts both radio and television programmes, Sadaa-e-Islam, on a weekly basis and produces the Iqra News Bulletin — a yearly publication distributed on the eve of the month of Ramadhan.He is the loving father of a son, Jamil.

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CuRREnTLY SERVInG AS:IMAM

March around the Queen’s Park Savannah for Meeraj Un Nabi being led by Haji Mohammed Ibrahim and His Eminence Maulana Fazlur Rahman Ansari Rahmatullaah Alayh

Haji Sheik Mohamed Shafik Rahaman(1917–1984)Sheik Mohamed Shafik Rahaman was born on May 15, 1917. At the age of 17, he married Marjorie Ayesha Rahamut and they had seven children together, three boys and four girls.Haji Shafik was very closely associated with the San Fernando Jama Masjid, having grown up next door to the Masjid – his father, Hafiz Yacoob Ali being the Masjid’s first Imam. He was only eight years old when his father died.He was very active in ASJA, the national Muslim body, and was a member of the Central Executive for 30 years and President General for nearly 20 years. His role led to his appointment as the Director for the Caribbean and South America of the Muslim World League and also his election as Secretary General of the Islamic Conference of the Caribbean and South America in the 1970s.The Rahaman family was always very active in the Jamaat and its activities. Hajjin Ayesha Rahaman with her daughters, Rhona and Homaida, were fully involved in the YWMA. Haji Liaquat Nishtar Rahaman was President of the Masjid Board for

one term. His eldest brother Haji Azard Razai Rahaman still continues the tradition of his fore parents being a successful entrepreneur and patron to the national Community and the San Fernando Jama Masjid in particular.Haji Shafik Rahaman passed away on March 29, 1984.

Haji Abdul Majid(1920–1995)Abdul Majid was born in Princes Town on March 26, 1920, the last of four children to Abdullah Badloo Meah and Sakina Abdool. He married Zanipha Mustapha of San Juan in 1945 and was the father of nine children. Although his formative years were spent in Princes Town, he worked for a while at Texaco, Pointe-a-Pierre, started business first in Princes Town and then opened branches in San Fernando and San Juan. He moved to the town of San Fernando in July 1967, living upstairs his business place at 20 Cipero Street. He, being the son of a very respected Imam, easily became attached to the San Fernando Jama

ProFilesMale JaMaat MeMbers

In fond memory of: (Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un)

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Masjid. His brother, Abdool Sattar continued to live in Princes Town but ventured into business in San Fernando with the Carrousel Service Station in Cocoyea. They were both very active in the Deen and soon held posts in the ASJA. In 1976 Abdul Majid was elected President of the San Fernando Jama Masjid, a position he held until 1991. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, Shaheed Baksh. He was also Chairman of the ASJA Hajj Committee for a number of years.

Service to Allah as President of the SFJM was a cherished role that he passionately performed in tandem with managing his ever growing company and providing for his large family. He always seemed to have Imams close to him and at one time had five of them in his employ! Our present Imam fondly remembers him as the person who, together with his brother Abdool Sattar, requested that he be posted at the San Fernando Jama Masjid as Imam!Abdul Majid passed away on Thursday October 26, 1995, in London and was buried at Hendon Cemetary with his Janazah read after Salatul Jumu’ah at the London Central Masjid.

Haji Sheikh Hannif Aziz Mohammed(1928–2008)Haji S.H.A. Mohammed was born and grew up in Matilda Junction, Princes Town. In 1974, he moved with his family to Farah Street, San Fernando,

where he built his home. At that time, Haji Shafik Rahaman personally introduced him to the Masjid for his first Jumu’ah there. He said he felt the warmth from the members and, of course, it became his Masjid. He loved being early, in fact, between him and Haji Sahad Ali, one cannot say who would have received the early bird prize.Haji S.H.A. Mohammed and his wife, Rowaida, had six children.

Haji Ralph D. Khan(1929–2008)The late Haji Ralph D. Khan will long be remembered among many other things as a fiercely independent and forthright individual. He originated from humble beginnings, born in 1929 in then rural Diamond Village on the outskirts of San Fernando. He was the fifth of 10 children born to Baraichee and Subrattan Khan. He later married Sis. Jennifer (formerly Mohammed) of Williamsville in 1968 and they had two children together, namely Imran and Nadeira, both members of the San Fernando jamaat.In his formative years, Haji Ralph attended the Canaan Presbyterian Primary School and then went on to attend Naparima College. After that, he went on to varied spheres of employment, working at Caroni (1975) Ltd, then in the petroleum industry and finally settled in the area of insurance services where he excelled.

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Haji Ralph was the founder and Managing Director of Ralico Insurance Services Ltd, agents for several of the country’s leading insurance companies. He was able to earn membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) society which recognised excellence in the field. This led him to various travels abroad.From very early on his life Haji Ralph was involved in community work of various kinds and gave a lifetime of devoted service to Trinidad and Tobago in the areas of culture, business and religion. From reading newspapers for the village as a boy at his family’s home in Diamond to serving as Imam of the Diamond Village Masjid, service to community took root in him. He went on from there to continue to serve his community and country in a number of ways including as Public Relations Officer of ASJA, Executive Member of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), Deputy Chairman of the State-appointed Board of Social Help and Rehabilitative Efforts (SHARE), President of the Justices of the Peace Association of Trinidad and Tobago (JOPATT), Secretary/Director of the Haji Ruknuddeen Institute of Islamic Studies, Director of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama ah Institute, Executive Member of the SFJM and as a Member of the Upper House of Parliament (the Senate). He would always say to his children that “his reward lies with Allah”.Haji Ralph Khan was a real “people person” and took pride in socialising and being among people. He was known for his jokes and quick wit. People from all “walks of life” came to visit him on a daily basis and to seek assistance from him in different ways. Perhaps one of the things that Haji Ralph was best known for was as a versatile and gifted singer. He was equally adept at western classical as well as at traditional Indian and Islamic songs. He performed at Trinidad Music Festivals and also performed at many public and private functions and events throughout the country. In the field of Islam, he was well known for his melodious recitation of Qaseedahs, Naats, Salawat and the Azaan (the Islamic call to prayer). Haji Ralph departed this worldly life on February 6, 2008.

Haji Abidh Hosein(1937–2009)Haji Hosein became a member of the San Fernando Jama Masjid in 1955 at the age of 18, when he had just started working at the San Fernando City Corporation. At that time there was no other Masjid near to where he lived in La Fortune, Woodland. During his tenure at the Corporation he moved from shift work to an early morning shift which allowed him to read his Fajr prayer at this Masjid. In 1963 when he got married and moved to Penal, he continued to visit the San Fernando Jama Masjid and could be seen with his family every night during the Holy Month of Ramadan performing the Taraweeh Prayer at this Masjid. In fact, up to the night before his passing he broke his fast, and performed Maghrib, Isha and Taraweeh prayers at this Masjid. Today his wife and three of his sons still perform their Namaaz at this Masjid.

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Haji Joseph Edoo (1927–2009)“Brother Joe” as Haji Joseph Edoo was affectionately known in the Jamaat, was the second of the 12 children of Kongee and Sahidan Edoo. He had an unfailing sense of duty to his family. He was also a steadfast and loyal friend to many. On the surface he appeared to be serious and daunting, but this exterior belied a warm, funny and gentle person. Following the modest education afforded him by his family’s circumstances, he spent his entire working life as an employee of the Stephens and Johnsons department store, previously known as Fogarty’s.But his true career began at retirement when he devoted himself to the Masjid. Already the Treasurer of the Masjid Board for many years, Haji Edoo took on many other duties pertaining to the wellbeing of the Jamaat and the physical upkeep of the Masjid and adjoining Islamic Centre. Finally, he was successful in realising his dream of seeing a pre-school established to meet the needs of the Muslim community in San Fernando. Very talented with his hands, the legacy he has left also includes the long-handled cloth bags and boxes for the collection of Sadaqatul Fitr and Zakaat that are still used at the congregational prayers.

Haji Haidar Rajack b. 1941Haidar Rajack was born to Zainool and Fyzah Rajack of Siparia Old Road on the June 27, 1941. His childhood, however, was spent living with his grandmother, Edan Shah. He attended Ms Wood’s Primary School, Siparia Presbyterian School and Grant School of San Fernando as a young child. Rajack later enrolled at St Michael’s Commercial College where he studied typing, shorthand and bookkeeping. After leaving school, he worked at Pereira and Company from the age of 17 to 21, when he secured a job at the Ministry of Works in Matilda Road, Princes Town, as a clerical assistant. In 1969, he held the esteemed positions of Secretary for both the San Fernando ASJA Jama Masjid as well as the ASJA Region C, where he dealt with 11 Masaajid during his tenure that ended in 1980.His contribution as a young Muslim was recognized by the Trinidad and Tobago Muslim Youth Organization in 1969, when the Imams voted him the Muslim Youth of the Year at the ripe age of 28. Currently, he resides in San Fernando, and retains the position of Executive Member for the San Fernando Jama Masjid. He is a Haji, as he made the sacred pilgrimage to Makkah in 2010. He has two sons and three daughters, as well as seven grandchildren.

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May Allah elevate their status in Barzakh and reward them all as they deserve to be rewarded.

CuRREnTLY SERVInG THE JAMAAT

Haji Haniph Mohammed Rahamanb. 1922Rahaman’s Hideout is a name synonymous in South Trinidad with quality cloth and drapery. This successful business had humble beginnings in Hermitage Village, founded by Haniph’s father, Abdul Rahaman.Haniph was born in 1922, at Hermitage, first born to his parents, Abdul and Salima. Among the last of the indentured labourers, they harboured hopes of returning to the Indian sub-continent. This was not to be, and so our Nation gained from this outstanding family.The first of six boys and one girl, Haniph completed his academic education at the Hermitage Presbyterian School. He pursued a tailoring course and assisted his father at his small shop. He became an itinerant peddler, offering his wares to village markets at Penal, Siparia and Fyzabad.Haniph recalls that as a young boy, religion was part of his daily life, and he and his family would walk to San Fernando to attend religious functions. This acknowledgment of Allah being “A Guiding Light” has been upheld throughout his life.In April 1944, he wed Zahida Omarali granddaughter of Imam Kurban Ali, and together

parented five boys and five girls. Sadly, one son died in 1980, and his wife, Zahida, passed on in 1996. When Haniph moved to Gooding Village in 1963, his business prospered, spawning other businesses, now ably managed by various of his entrepreneurial offspring.He and his family have been actively involved in the SFJM, with Haniph serving on its Masjid Committee, and he has been a member of the central Executive of ASJA Inc. Haniph Rahaman has the distinction of being the longest active member of the SFJM.Rahaman, his wife and daughter, Sophia performed the Umrah in 1984. He had performed the Hajj earlier, having visited the Holy Land in 1973 and 1978.At present, Brother Haniph is retired from business. He continues in his humble, affable and generous manner to demonstrate the title “A Custodian of Allah’s Wealth”.

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Justice Shafeyei Mohammed Shahb. 1932Justice Shafeyei Mohammed Shah has been a member of the San Fernando Jamaat since birth, and a community worker since his youth. As a Boy Scout, he served so well that he was one of 12 Scouts from Trinidad and Tobago chosen to represent this country at a Jamboree in Suriname. He is still active in Scouting and has been awarded the Badge of Thanks and the Medal of Merit by the Movement.He continued his community service in Junior Chamber winning the award for the most outstanding project: the formation of Jaycees in secondary schools. He rose through the ranks in the St John Ambulance Brigade to become a Divisional Officer and was later awarded the medal for long and meritorious service. He served for many years as the Hon. Secretary of the Home for the Aged at Broadway, San Fernando. Later, he entered into politics and was elected a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tabaquite and was chosen as one of this country’s delegates to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s meeting in Canberra, Australia. Justice Shah continues his service to the community as a teacher at the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama‘ah Institute.

Justice Shah has a distinguished career in the field of law and has won many accolades in recognition of his sterling record, including a certificate for Outstanding and Meritorious Service in the field of law from the city of his birth, San Fernando. He was the founding Secretary of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers and later, President of the Assembly. Justice Shah served two terms as a Judge of the High Court of Justice and as Chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. In between, he served as a member of the Integrity Commission for Trinidad and Tobago.Justice Shah has served the Masjid as a Sunday School teacher, member and President of the Board. He has also served the Muslim Community as President of the Young Muslim Cultural League, Chairman of the ASJA Divorce Council, member of the ASJA Executive Council, and President of the Central Muslim Youth Organisation.Justice Shah is known as a Judge, Member of Parliament, Scout, Integrity Commission member, community worker and, above all, servant of Allah

.

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His Eminence Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui addressing Muslims at the

Queen’s Park Savannah on his visit to Trinidad in 1950. Included on the platform

are Haji Mohammed Ibrahim (President of the ASJA) and N.M.Ghany

ProFilesFeMale JaMaat MeMbers

38 m a g a z i n e

Hajjin Homaida Mohammed(1956–2013)Homaida Mohamed entered the YWMA’s Executive as a committee member in 1992, but her association with this Masjid had begun long before, as a child attending Sunday school classes.In 2000, she became the Association’s Secretary. She was an excellent writer with beautiful penmanship and was also known for her excellent note-taking. An exceptional organiser, Homaida had the talent and good taste that allowed her to add finesse to our Jamaat activities.She was committed to the young people of the Masjid, and therefore kept a very close eye on the running of the pre-school and was their main advisor. For this she was well qualified as she had worked for a few years as a facilitator in early childhood education. Homaida had a good working relationship with the Masjid Board but would not hesitate to voice her displeasure when she saw or heard anything she felt to be detrimental to the well being of the Jamaat.In 2009, Homaida Mohammed was voted in, unopposed, as President of the YWMA and remained such until her passing in 2013.Her role of a caregiver was put to test for the last few years of her life, as both her aunt and mother needed extra attention due to illness. She had remarked that during the Hajj and on the Day of Arafat, in her Du’a she asked Allah to allow her to be of greater service to mankind. She didn’t think He would take her so seriously! “Midy,” as she was fondly called, was certainly one of a kind. She was a friend to many. Her kindness and generosity will not be forgotten.

Hajjin Omaida Shah Abraham BA, B.Ed(1936–2003)Omaida Shah was a member of the YWMA from its inception in 1951. She attended meetings regularly, supported and participated in the group’s various activities. Her life centred around Islam, the Masjid, family and ASJA Girls’ College. In the early 1950s, bazaars, lectures and Mouloods were among the main activities of the YWMA, and she gave her full support whenever needed.In 1956, Omaida was elected to the post of Honorary Secretary and the following year she was elected President. Activities under her leadership included lectures, needlework, candy sales, cake decoration, the making of stuffed toys and kitchen towels. During her tenure, the YWMA was able to donate money for the construction of a covering over the stairway of the hall. The number of regular meetings also increased so that for a time they were being held weekly.After her tenure as president, Omaida was elected Treasurer of the association, with her sister Momeda being elected as First Vice President.Omaida Shah Abraham remained an active member of the YWMA until her passing in 2003.

Hajjin Marjorie Ayesha Rahaman(1917–1996)Hajjin Marjorie Ayesha Rahaman was born in San Fernando on the November 17, 1917. She was the daughter of Amjad and Sapiran Rahamut, and was educated at the Bishop Anstey High School in Port of Spain. In 1935, she married Sheik Mohammed

In fond memory of: (Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un)

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Over the years the YWMA has had several stalwart members who have helped serve the Jamaat in numerous ways. Some have chosen to remain unnamed while others have graciously allowed us to capture in print, a bit of their warmth and striking personalities. We acknowledge that all rewards ultimately lie with Allah , and pray that He bestows his continued Grace and Mercy upon us all, including the Past, Present and Future executives of the YWMA.

Shafik Rahaman. She was the mother of seven children.Hajjin Ayesha was a very supportive member of the Masjid and the YWMA. It was only because of her support of her husband that she never took any formal position in the YWMA. His role as a Muslim leader and businessman involved much travelling in and out of Trinidad and she often accompanied him.She was also a trustee of ASJA Ladies Section. Hajjin Ayesha was committed to Islam and always assisted the Muslim community, especially the women, in whatever way she could.She died on September 19, 1996.

Rahzia Edoo(1927–2008)Rahzia Edoo was one of the founding members of the San Fernando Jamaat Branch of the Young Women’s Muslim Association (YWMA) and its first President. She was born in San Fernando, the daughter of the late Sahadat and Zenatoon Khan (née Jaleel). Her siblings were Molly Shah (m. Fyzul Shah) and Zainool Khan (m. Laila). She attended Naparima Girls’ High School and transferred to Naparima Boys’ to complete her advanced level certificate. Rahzia pursued studies for her Teacher’s Training Certificate from 1951–1953, after which she taught at Naparima Girls’ High School. She married George Anthony Edoo in 1954 and accompanied him to London in 1962 while he completed his law degree. At that time she was awarded a British Council scholarship in the teaching of Mathematics at the University of Hull. She returned to Trinidad and taught Mathematics at Naparima Girls’ High School for the next 17 years. Rahzia and Anthony had three children — Ahmed, Ashmead and Jennifer.She was an excellent teacher and well loved by her students. Many of her students remembered

her fondly and she was often greeted by her past students in her travels outside of Trinidad. Rahzia Edoo had a quick wit and the ability to make people feel at ease and comfortable around her.

Hajjin Khateejah Brahim (1915–2002)Khateejah Brahim was a member of the first executive of the YWMA in 1950, and a cherished stalwart of the Masjid. She was cheerful and generous and a friend to everyone — she was an elder to whom even usually reticent teenagers interacted with ease. If her smiling face didn’t greet you first, then you waited in line with pleasure to greet her after Jumu’ah. She made newcomers feel welcome and at home once they were in her company. She exuded gentleness. Her wit was second to none. In her younger days, she made Indian delicacies for functions and fundraisers. In the latter years she travelled extensively to spend time with her children who were living abroad. She was certainly a treasure in our Jamaat. She remained a contributing member until her passing.

Hajjin Rabia Jaleel(1927–2010)Rabia Jaleel was an active member of the YWMA from the very inception, and was a member of the Executive Committee for many years. She could always be counted on for her cakes: be it for sales, mouloods or tea parties. Rabia also had a beautiful singing voice and was one of the “golden girls” in the choir for our 50th Anniversary YWMA celebration. She was one member who knew almost everyone in our Jamaat. She lived very close to the Masjid on Sutton Street, and was present for all of its activities once she was in the country. She passed away peacefully in Florida and is buried there.

May Allah elevate their status in Barzakh and reward them all as they deserve to be rewarded!

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Hajjin Pearlie Zobida EdooPearlie Edoo is the widow of Haji Joseph Edoo, and in previous years was as much a stalwart of the San Fernando Jamaat as he was. Best known for her “sweet hand”, Sister Pearlie was an intrinsic part of the team that toiled every Ramadhan to prepare Iftar and dinner for the Jamaat. She embraced Islam with fervor on her marriage to Brother Joe (as her husband was popularly known), leading fellow Muslims to be incredulous that she was a “convert”. She attributes her knowledge of Islam in great part to past Imam Moulvi Ahmed Saied and his wife Hajjin Sakina and also to Haji Cassim Hosein and his wife Hajjin Hazrah, of Marabella, who she always speaks of with great fondness and respect. Before the advent of her senior years and physical limitations, she was a true livewire among the ladies and was heavily involved in the activities of the YWMA.

Hajjin Yvonne ShahLike the minarets that adorn our religious buildings, Sister Yvonne Shah’s life is beautiful from any angle. In every aspect of her association with the Ladies group she has displayed beauty as only she could give. She has been a pillar of our association and faithful in her devotion to Allah and her association with this Masjid. The tapestry of our Masjid would not have been as beautifully and strongly woven without her contributions throughout the 53 years of dedicated caring service.She joined the Young Women Muslim Association in 1960, and was elected a Committee Member in December of that same year. Soon after, in 1961, she was elected Treasurer. At the revival of our association on April 12, 1986, she was elected President. She held this post until September 1991. From 1991 to 1997 she was elected Treasurer. This was followed by her presidency from October 1999 to November 2000. She then served as Treasurer from 2000 to 2007. What dedication!

All this she accomplished while being a wife, and a mother to three children. It is hoped that our Masjid will continue to be served by women with the dedication and fortitude of Sister Yvonne Shah.

Hajjin Mehrun RahamanHajjin Mehrun Rahaman grew up in Ecclesville. She attended Rio Claro ASJA Primary School, and then Naparima Girls’ High School. She came to San Fernando in 1973 and became an active member in YWMA, holding the positions of Secretary (three times) and President twice (the first time for three terms). Mehrun married Haji Liaquat Nishtar Rahaman in 1974. In 1978, on the advice of Moulvi Saied, she was appointed by the Masjid Board to teach the Jamaat’s Sunday school. She conducted Maktab classes in San Fernando until 2009. She is an active social worker, currently Vice-Chairman of Islamic Community Services. Additionally, since 1974 she has been a valuable member of ASJA Ladies’ Section, holding various positions. She is currently First Vice President of ASJA Ladies. She studied Islam under many prominent scholars, including Moulvi Saied, Maulanas Ayyub Ali, Waffie Mohammed, Siddiq Nasir and Imran Hosein, and Sister Nelepha Tahir.Hajjin Mehrun Rahaman is a graduate of the Haji Ruknudeen Institute of Islamic Studies. She taught Religious Knowledge at ASJA Girls’ College (San Fernando) for 28 years, and also at TML Primary School from 1988, until the present. She is a mother of three children and grandmother of four.

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Sister Afrose Hasnain (“Rosa”)If home is where the heart is, then the SFJM is definitely Sister Rosa’s home. Her attachment to this Masjid started over 50 years ago, when she attended as a child. She fondly recalls walking to the Masjid with her siblings for Fajr and Tarawih during Ramadhan; attending Maktab classes there; and picking mangoes from the tree next door. She later attended secondary school (ASJA Girls’) at the same compound.Although she moved out of San Fernando after getting married, Sister Rosa continued to attend the SFJM with her family, notwithstanding the fact that there were other Masaajid in closer proximity to where she lived. Upon her return to San Fernando in the late 1980s, she became more involved in the Jamaat’s activities, and would later ensure that her children followed in her footsteps. Although she cannot explain it fully in words, her love for her Muslim sisters and children is particularly evident on Fridays, from the manner in which she serves up the sirnee after Jumu’ah. Sister Rosa is a long-standing member of the YWMA. She served on the Association’s Executive for a number of years, but insists that whether she

is on the Executive or not, her mission remains the same: to do what she can to ensure that functions at the Masjid run smoothly and that the ladies of the Jamaat are comfortable.

Hajjin Amina HasnainSubhaana Rabbiul’ala Subhaana Rabbiul’ala Subhaana Rabbiul’ala: This was the whispering of the child as she went into Sajdah in our Masjid. This was Amina Hasnain. She had learnt how to perform Salaah that week in school and was making sure that she performed it as taught! As the years went by, she could be found at her Masjid, from time to time, cleaning the windows, wiping the partitions, packing the bookshelves. No job, however menial, was a problem.In 1995, Amina graduated from Naparima Girls’ and received a National Open Scholarship. She opted to pursue a law degree at the London School of Economics. It was from Lincoln’s Inn that she was called to the Bar. The Court Page of the London Times on June 28, 2000 read: “Hasnain AM (L) in the ‘Very Competent’ section, the Highest Order of Merit for those who wrote the Inns of Court Bar Examinations.”

42 m a g a z i n e

YWMA 50th anniversary tea. A group of dedicated ladies, still young at heart, who had rehearsals for this event!

Despite her academic brilliance Amina has her feet firmly planted on the ground. She is compassionate and gives of herself. Many a struggling student from the Jamaat would testify to her readiness in helping others with their studies. She impacts positively on our younger members. Her parents, Zijah and Afrose Hasnain strove to raise their family in an Islamic environment within a western culture. Alhamdulillah, they succeeded! Amina served as president of the YWMA from 2010-2011 and recently became a mother. She is a third generation member of the Jamaat, and Insha Allah her baby will be a fourth.

Hajjin Julie Feroza MohammedJulie Feroza Mohammed was involved in the YWMA since the early 1960s and remained active in its affairs until the end of 2008. She was instrumental in reviving the YWMA in the 1980s, after a lull of 10 years. Her calming personality, kindness and her ability to listen comforted many of us. She was excellent at diffusing situations when tempers would flare. The Masjid Board has great respect for her because of the manner in which she carried out the affairs of the YWMA, and often sought her advice. Julie was a graduate of Naparima Girls’ High School, and though she was a brilliant student at math and wanted to be an accountant, she opted to go into the teaching profession and eventually retired as a school principal. She was most pleased when her daughter, Homaida Mohammed, began to take an active role in the affairs of the Masjid.Sadly Homaida passed away this year. Julie is now being cared for by her faithful and loving sister, son

and his wife, as she has been ailing with Alzheimer’s disease for over seven years. Her family has maintained the tradition of making the affairs of the Masjid a priority. Julie’s cherished son, Haseeb, is now the chairman of the Da’wah Committee, his wife Hannah is a Committee member of the YWMA executive and Julie’s sister, Sharida, is a vibrant YWMA member.

We pray that Allah would reward these sisters immensely for their service in His Path; and that He would continue to bless them with Hidayah and Tawfeeq to continue striving for excellence. We also pray that He would bless our Jamaat with more sisters like them in the years to come.

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44 m a g a z i n e

diy craFtsconcePt by nadia Mulchan For Play sMart learning

Make your own StampsYou will need:

Styrofoam plates or fruit trays

Glue

A ballpoint pen

•Cutfourorfive2-inchsquaresfromyourleftoverStyrofoam plates or fruit trays. Use glue to stack them one on top the other.

•Useaballpointpentodrawyourdesignontooneor both sides. Use enough pressure to draw the design into the foam.

•Useslightlydilutedpaintorastamppad,ormakeyour own stamp pad with sponge and diluted paint.

•Dipitintothepaintorpad,thenpressandrelease;works like a charm. Have fun!

TIP: Mix paint colours to get rainbow effect

Glitzy finger paint that turns into Play doughYou will need:

1/3 cup salt

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup water

A few drops of food colouring

Instructions

•Mixtheflourandsalt.

• Pour small amounts of water into the mixture(the paint should be thick but runny).

•Addafewdropsoffoodcolouringuntilyougetthe desired colour.

TIP: Allow your painting to air-dry overnight. Store leftover paints in the refrigerator or add some flour to the paint to make play dough.

Moon and Star Instructions:

• Trace the pictures and then stickthem onto the cardboard of a cereal box (this will help the items to last longer).

•Finishcolouringbothpages.

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Door hangers Trace along solid lines. This will give you a circular area to hang over doorknob or handle. Hang on doorknob or handle.

BadgesThe Bismillah and Alhamdulillah police make sure that their family members say Bismillah before

eating and Alhamdulillah when they sneeze. The Recycle police make sure that paper, plastic, aluminium and glass items are recycled.

TIP: After you have finished vre-enforcing your projects, cover them with contact paper so that they stay clean.

guiding the young onesby nadeira khan

46 m a g a z i n e

The Qur’an and Sunnah both encourage us to seek knowledge at all times, regardless of one’s age.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad said:“Whoever seeks a way to acquire knowledge Allah will make easy his way to Paradise.” — Sahih Muslim (2699)

Through his foresight, Brother Joseph Edoo (may Allah have mercy on his soul) had the wisdom to form the San Fernando ASJA ECCE Centre, which is at present located on the ground floor directly under the Haji Shafik Rahaman Islamic Centre of the SFJM. The school was incorporated over 21 years ago, on September 2, 1991. Our present Imam, Maulana Mushtaq Sulaimani rendered the opening prayer on that auspicious day.At that time the stalwarts of this venture were Brother Joe, as he was fondly called, Brother Hafeez Majid and Sister Homaida Mohammed (may Allah

have mercy on her soul). The principal was Sister Nadira Khan (1991–2005). Many Jamaat members supported the idea and assisted in their own way. Special mention must be made of “Uncle

Z” (Z.A.M. Khan) and “Uncle Zide” (Mohammed) who from the beginning were instrumental in teaching Arabic to the children. May they all reap the rewards of the hereafter for their unfailing support and Sadaqa.When the school was formed, there were only eight students. It has grown much larger. In the bright and airy room that now houses the school, there are 75 students, from San Fernando and environs, areas like Oropouche, and as far as Rio Claro. There are four teachers attached to the institution who lovingly teach the children and supervise their play from as early as 6.30 am until 2.30 pm every weekday — though official school hours are from 9 am to 2 pm. These “aunties” are Nazma Khan (Principal); Sabrina Ali Mohammed; Wazida Mohammed; Sharona Ali Halliday, and Aunty Chandralakha Ashoon (ancillary staff). Some former teachers who have also left indelible marks are Nafeesa Mohammed and Kimlee Chin Wing.A typical day starts with Prayer, the National Anthem and the School Pledge, followed by the basic Arabic alphabet. The atmosphere at the

47

preschool is full of love and learning. The young students enjoy a wide variety of playtime activities, including an area with a play kitchen that is used by both boys and girls. Various methods are used to educate the children so as to provide them with knowledge, as well as inspire the enjoyment of learning. Their motto is, after all, “Work with LOVE, teach through Play”.

Allah says: “But say: ‘O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge.’”The current Principal, Sister Nazma, has been involved with the school since its inception. When asked why she chose this field of work, she said the opportunity presented itself when she was seeking employment and because of her love for children, she joined the staff “many moons ago.” It was, indeed, her destiny to be a part of the children’s’ development and their lives. The children, and by extension the community, are indeed fortunate to have dedicated staff led by this congenial and inspiring teacher. May they all be rewarded generously for their Sabr and dedication.The San Fernando ASJA ECCE Centre comprises students of various ethnicities and religious backgrounds, though, of course, the majority are Muslims. The children are well taught, disciplined

and always graduate successfully. Many of the former graduates are now very successful professionals and up to this day still visit their “old school”.Among the regular activities of reading, writing, colouring, drawing, arts and crafts, there is a play park on the compound, affording the children physical exercise. At all times the youngsters are in a secure environment, with optional lessons available in swimming (off the compound), Spanish, Kung Fu, Gymnastics and Computer. Laptops are also often used as teaching tools so that the children acquire a variety of creative and technical skills. On Fridays, the children are escorted to attend the Jumu’ah Salaah in the Ladies’ section, where they sit attentively for the required time, fostering a respect of and nurturing their love for the Masjid.

We pray that Almighty Allah through His infinite mercies continue to bless all those people, both past and present, who have made this institution a success. May He protect the children and their teachers, and give them strength and courage to continue to educate the future of our country.

Allah Hafiz

‘ a M O n g t h e r e g u l a r a c t i v i t i e s O f

r e a d i n g , w r i t i n g , c O l O u r i n g , d r a w i n g ,

a r t s a n d c r a f t s , t h e r e i s a p l a y p a r k O n

t h e c O M p O u n d , a f f O r d i n g t h e c h i l d r e n

p h y s i c a l e x e r c i s e . ’

48 m a g a z i n e

49

On behalf of the first graduating class of the ASJA Pre-school, I would like to congratulate the San Fernando Jama Masjid on its 100th Anniversary. May Allah reward those who manage the affairs of the Masjid, and may He continue to bless them to perform their duties with Hikmah and Sabr. The Class of ’92 would also like to express our utmost gratitude to our teachers and principal during our time at the pre-school. They provided us with a strong, practical foundation, both in Islamic and secular education. Jazaakumullahu khairan, may Allah reward them immensely.Sincerely your brother in Islam,Fahd Rahaman.

Greeting from Pre-School GraduateAssalaamu’alaikum wa rahmatullah,

The ASJA Boys’ College in San Fernando and its counterpart Girls’ College are both well recognised as stellar institutions of learning, preparing students for success in their exams and careers and, also very importantly, adding to their lifelong foundation in religious learning and sense of community. These schools have been significant in the development of the Muslim community in San Fernando, as well as the growth in stature of the city itself.It is not as well known in the national community, however, that both these Muslim colleges were in their early history encouraged and accommodated at a building at the San Fernando Jama Masjid. They both found a home at the Masjid in their early formative period and therefore they are a cherished part of the Masjid, just as the Masjid is a cherished part of their history.It all came about because of the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA), a major Islamic organization in Trinidad and Tobago. ASJA was incorporated in 1935, with one of the organization’s objectives being the promotion of education and the building of institutions of learning, and it was ultimately responsible for the founding of both schools.

ASJA established primary schools from as early as 1953. It opened its first secondary school — ASJA Boys’ College in San Fernando — on January 3, 1960.This College had its humble beginnings at the Jinnah Memorial Hall, in a small annex at the back of the SFJM at Mucurapo Street (then named Prince Albert Street). On opening day there were 104 students and three teachers: Charles Debysingh, the Principal, Faiz Hydal, Vice-Principal (an A’ Level graduate) and James Persaud, also an A’ Level grad. In two years the school had grown to over 300 students and eight teachers, moving to new premises at Park Street, San Fernando on May 14, 1962.Until 1966, the college was a private institution. However, in that year, the school won government assistance, acquiring the status of a Government-assisted Denominational School. Thus, students received free tuition for the first time from September of that year. ASJA Boys’ began to offer an Advanced Level programme in 1989.With its present enrolment at over 600 students, and a teaching staff of about 30, the school has firmly

san Fernando’s asJa colleges an enduring l ink to the sFJM

50 m a g a z i n e

Writer Skye Hernandez

established itself as one of the first-choice secondary schools in South Trinidad for Muslim students, as well as students of other religions. Its reputation continues to grow in the academic sphere as well as in other areas like sports, especially cricket, football, volleyball and tennis, the arts, including drama, and Scouting.The Girls’ College is also very closely linked to the Masjid and to the Boys’ College. When ASJA Boys’ College vacated the Jinnah Hall at the SFJM, their sister school, ASJA Girls’ College, took up residence there. The Girls had been situated at Cipero Street before moving to the Masjid on Prince Albert Street. In 1968, the Girls’ school was moved to Todd Street, just next to the Boys’ school at Park Street. The school began with two Form One classes, with 30 girls in each, ranging from ages 12–15. In 1989, Government gave ASJA approval to offer students to sit Cambridge Advanced Level Examinations and the Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges gave joint classes for these exams until they each had sufficient students and staff to go their separate ways.Afrose Abdool Hasnain, or “Rosa” as she is known by so many at the Masjid, remembers fondly her

time at ASJA Girls, saying that her parents were so pleased when this school was established because they were confident that she would receive a good all-round education:

“My family stressed education, so they were very happy this school was available to take me. I would have gone to a secretarial school if this opportunity did not come along. My older sisters did that, and it would have been fine, but this was a good thing for me.

“It was a religious school within the secular system, with added religious studies. Imams came in on a Friday especially to lecture us on religious matters, and on Friday we had to go to Jumu’ah.”

During Rosa’s five years at the school, ASJA was in the process of acquiring the land to build the school at Todd Street. She says they did not have much space at the Masjid for sports but activities were arranged outside of the school compound, and they had their Sports Day at Skinner Park. “Also we didn’t have a science lab, but still we studied the theory. That meant we didn’t do exams in the sciences but we still learnt a lot.”

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“My memory is that the girls were very nice, most from deep South. We were Muslims, mostly, but also Hindus and some Christians. We had to be very strict in dress, in punctuality and homework-wise. Nancy Baksh, our teacher, was very strict, but also very kind to her students.”Rosa went to the UK afterwards and trained as a midwife. A senior member of the YWMA, she says she made many friends during her secondary school years at ASJA Girls’ in San Fernando and still keeps in touch with many of them.

Both ASJA Boys’ College and ASJA Girls’ College have long outgrown their temporary quarters at the SFJM, but not their connection to the Masjid. Former students and their families continue to worship there, attend events and support the Masjid in many ways as the community continues to grow and prosper. And there is always a special place in the Masjid’s history for the role it played in nurturing its young people through the support of education at these two colleges.

‘ b O t h a s j a b O y s ’ c O l l e g e a n d a s j a g i r l s ’ c O l l e g e

h a v e l O n g O u t g r O w n t h e i r t e M p O r a r y q u a r t e r s

a t t h e s f j M , b u t n O t t h e i r c O n n e c t i O n t O t h e

M a s j i d . f O r M e r s t u d e n t s a n d t h e i r f a M i l i e s

c O n t i n u e t O w O r s h i p t h e r e , a t t e n d e v e n t s

a n d s u p p O r t t h e M a s j i d i n M a n y w a y s a s t h e

c O M M u n i t y c O n t i n u e s t O g r O w a n d p r O s p e r . ’

52 m a g a z i n e

53

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54 m a g a z i n e

hand in handthe young woMen’s MusliM association ---- working to strengthen coMMunity since 1950

‘ t h e c h i e f a i M O f t h e y w M a w a s t O f O r M O n e

s t r O n g , u n i t e d b O d y f O r t h e p r O M O t i O n O f u n i t y

a n d s i s t e r h O O d a M O n g y O u n g M u s l i M w O M e n O f

t r i n i d a d a n d t O b a g O . a n d s O i t r e M a i n s t O d a y . ’

55

Many people may be surprised to learn that one of the motivations for the formation of the Young Women’s Muslim Association in 1950 was a concern that young Muslims were being tempted by the iniquities of secular society — a matter that is often thought to be solely a present-day concern.A report written by Taslima Ali, the organisation’s first Secretary, and endorsed by President Rahzia Khan, outlines the proceedings of that inaugural meeting on June 14, 1950. In it is mention of a speech given by Mehroonissa Ali, President of the national body of the YWMA. The report says that in her inspiring speech, Mrs Ali talked about the fact that “Islam is disappearing because the young people are not active in religious affairs and are just following the Western culture blindly, and forgetting Islam, the perfect religion . . . .”Current President, Sara Gillian Mohammed says the YWMA has now found itself at a similar juncture, where more effort and energy is needed from the women to help strengthen the community:“Our aim is to bring the women back to the

Masjid,” she says. “I was really surprised to find out that this was an issue in the 1950s because I thought it was a problem of nowadays. Women in Islam play a big role in guiding the family and keeping family together. The younger ones are very much influenced by the general lifestyle, so religion takes a backseat.” But she adds, “It’s a problem everywhere, not only in Islam.”The chief aim of the YWMA was to form one strong, united body for the promotion of unity and sisterhood among young Muslim women of Trinidad and Tobago. And so it remains today.In the early years, meetings were held every fortnight, after Maghrib, then changed to the first Wednesday of each month. The plan of activities for the year included lectures, Mouloods, debates, games, quizzes and concerts. There was also a junior female Moulood group that entertained the ladies at meetings and impromptu evening get-togethers.But, while the YWMA has become known as an organizer of successful fund-raisers, tea afternoons,

First Executive of the YWMA — 1950

PresidentRahzia Khan

First Vice-PresidentAmina Khan

Second Vice-PresidentKulsum Khan

SecretaryTaslima Ali

Assistant SecretaryJamelia Mohammed

TreasurerZobida Rahaman

Committee MembersSalayhar MohammedIsha RahamanKhateeja IbrahimMrs Ali Hosein

Current Executive of the YWMA

PresidentSara Gillian Mohammed

Vice PresidentRashieda Abdool

SecretarySaajidah Hana Majid

Assistant SecretaryRehaana Mohammed

TreasurerSimone Wajadali

Committee MembersYvonne ShahHannah Hallima MohammedFareeda Mohammed-RahamutAnnie Emamdee-MakshatSumayyah GoribHafsa Khan

56 m a g a z i n e

feasts at Eid-ul-Fitr and other occasions, and staunch supporters of charities, all these activities tie in with the organization’s mandate to consolidate and strengthen the community and uphold the tenets of Islam. In this way the YWMA walks hand-in-hand with the men of the Masjid’s Executive in supporting the Jamaat.YWMA Secretary Saajidah Hana Majid says that the support is mutual, “I think that since it was a man who pushed for us to start this organization, it means they were not against us.”That man was the inspirational Muslim missionary Hazrat Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Al Qaderi Rahmatullaah Alayh, of Karachi, Pakistan, who visited the country for a stretch of time in 1950 and was instrumental in encouraging the formation of the national YWMA in Port of Spain.Halima “Rose” Baksh, former President of the YWMA, is pleased with the current relationship with the Masjid. “One of the good things I’m seeing is that the ladies and the Masjid work well now. We go to their meetings and they listen to us when we have something to say. We can get their ear easier now, and understand better that everyone has a say. They are easier to accept our contribution than in the past, and don’t take offense, even if they don’t agree.”Part of the YWMA’s mandate is to encourage education, in religious studies as well as secular topics, and they are involved in setting up classes and workshops. This is something that they would like to see more of, and to get more response from the community.

Hana Majid acknowledges that a lot more needs to be done. “When I came I wanted to be convinced that it was going to be a paradigm shift, away from a tea party organization.” She says the Executive wants to encourage more new activities, and reintroduce their workshops which always drew members of other organisations, and to strengthen the charitable work, something they hope might entice the ladies to come out more.Part of the work they are doing is inspired by the late Homaida Mohammed the popular and beloved past President, who died while in office. Mohammed was President from 2007 to January 2013.“We had a serious bump with Midy’s passing,” says Gillian Mohammed, “but with the by-election we are on course now. What she wanted was for us to be a lot more active — not to come out of the box, but be more active.”Many of the former members of the YWMA continue to advise the current Executive and still keep an active role in the organisation and Jamaat. Young women and seniors work together for the benefit of their community. Past presidents Yvonne Shah and Halima “Rose” Baksh are among them.As Yvonne Shah says of herself and other veterans, “We need to help keep the women in Islam, to have a better understanding of what they need and what they would like to do. We come to Jumu’ah every Friday, we are pillars of this Masjid. We come early and talk to the ladies and find out the ways we can help them.”The YWMA currently has 40 members, 18 years and over.

57

•Rabia Jaleel became Treasurer in 1965. She was a member from the beginning and was a committee member until at least 1999. She was one of the faithful members, always at meetings, always committed to helping organise events. Rabia was in her 80s when she passed away in 2011.

•Julie Mohammed was responsible for rejuvenating the organisation during a dormant phase in the mid 1970s to 1980s. According to Rose Baksh, Julie Mohammed “got the ladies to come back again after a tireless campaign of almost 10 years.” The YWMA came back to life in 1986 and Yvonne Shah became the first President after that, and it has been going ever since.

s O M e n O t a b l e y w M a M e M b e r s , a s

r e M e M b e r e d b y t h e c u r r e n t e x e c u t i v e

•Homaida Mohammed was recent past President. Homaida passed away in January of this year. She was President from 2007 to 2012.

•Rahzia Edoo (née Khan) was the first President, from 1950–53. In 1955 she got married and moved to Port of Spain. She passed away three years ago.

•Pearlie Edoo was “Chief Cook”. She would cater for all events at the Masjid, including during Ramadan, when she would cook at the Masjid for the breaking of the fast. She still lives in San Fernando.

ywMa archives

58 m a g a z i n e

YWMA’s day out at the Islamic Home for Children in the late 1980s, Some sisters Shafeena Khan, Waheeda Majid, Fazeela Nasir, Saliman Mohammed, Zanepha Majid, Sakina Brahim, Ayesha Rahaman, Rasheeda Sattar, Shirley Khan

YWMA’s Welcome for returning Hajjins. From right, Anna Mohammed, Fareeda Chin Aleong, Rashieda Abdool and Cilla Mohammed.

Nafeesa Mohammed and Homaida Mohammed at the Masjid Hall for the YWMA’s 60th Anniversary celebration

Azima Hosein, Janice Majid and Gillian Mohammed After Eid Salaah 2011 in the Masjid Hall

Sharida Ali, Sakina Brahim, Beatty Khan, Shaheed Baksh sharing the dinner plates for Iftar downstairs Masjid in the late 1980s

Hana Majid presenting the then President Yvonne Shah with a floral arrangement at the YWMA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Dr Joan Homaida Kazim with former First Lady Zalayhar Hassanali and Rasheeda Ibrahim at our 50th Anniversary Celebration

Cover of our Cookbook printed for our 60th Anniversary.

One of our famous YWMA’s tea plates

Saleema Omar, Sharida Ali, Lira Mohammed, Yvonne Shah, Rose Baksh, Homaida Mohammed and Julie Mohammed at our 50th Anniversary Celebration in the Masjid Hall

60 m a g a z i n e

61

62 m a g a z i n e

growing uP in the MasJidWriter Imran S. Khan

63

“ i t i s f r O M h e r e t h a t M y l O v e f O r i s l a M w a s

i g n i t e d a n d M y b a s i c f O u n d a t i O n O f i s l a M i c

k n O w l e d g e l a i d . ”

64 m a g a z i n e

As far as I can remember, the San Fernando Jama Masjid has always been, for me, a place of comfort and retreat. No matter where I may have roamed, or to which Masjid I may have sojourned, my heart has always yearned to return here as my base. As the supreme place of spiritual mooring for me, there has always been that tacit connection. It is a place that has been responsible in great measure for my personality and the development of my character. At various critical junctures in my personal development, the Masjid has facilitated my exposure to many inspirational personalities, erudite scholars and towering Islamic figures from the local and international Muslim communities, who have all contributed in some way, through Allah’s mercy, to increasing my Islamic knowledge and awareness. The effect of this Insha Allah has been to make me a better Muslim.My earliest memories of the Masjid begin from around the age of four. This was at a time when Trinidad was much different and, indeed, the state of the practice of Islam in Trinidad and Tobago was not as it is today. I recall that my connection with the Masjid really began through attending Maqtab classes on a Sunday morning. More often than not, my sister Nadeira and I would be picked up and dropped back home by “Uncle Z” (Brother Z.A.M. Khan), who lived just a stone’s throw away from us. This went on for years. May Allah richly reward him for his efforts, as for this we shall be eternally grateful.

It is from here that my love for Islam was ignited and my basic foundation of Islamic knowledge laid. The maqtab was a wonderful place to be, and thinking back about the number of children who attended during those years, I do not think that the maqtab has since been able to scale those heights. Our teachers were Uncle Z, Uncle Khalid (Br. Khalid Rahaman) and Aunty Mehrun (Hajjin Mehrun Rahaman) who between them covered a wide range of aspects of Islam. We learnt Arabic, Qaseedas, Surahs of Al Qur’an, stories of the Prophet and the Sahabas, and much more. But perhaps the best parts for a child were the snacks, gifts on special occasions and the chance to play with friends. I remember almost every Sunday going to the green-painted “Chinee shop” at the corner of Sutton and Mucurapo Streets (which eventually burnt down), and later on to Ramdeo’s shop to buy “likka stik” and “penny cool”. Those were the good old days.In the days of my childhood, the Masjid was not the grand structure that it is today. However, the spirit of participation was vibrant, with large numbers of people attending functions and events throughout the year, and also during the blessed month of Ramadan. It behoves us to ask the question: what is more important in a Masjid — the structure or the participation of the people?The area of the original Masjid during the 1980s

65

was much smaller, with only the original area to the front of the Masjid and an extension blocked around partly with BRC wire. There was also the old hall (green with leaking pipes, and only downstairs) where our Maqtab classes were conducted. The crème de la crème would be romping around in the Masjid and in the hall when sponge was laid out for Ramadan. Many a wrestling match took place there, with serious moves executed like the Pile Driver (Oops, I think that was supposed to be a secret).Apart from the Maqtab classes, another very fond memory I have is of our youth group. This has had several incarnations over the years. I remember, before I was ever involved, my sister attending meetings at the home of Uncle Khalid next door, with people like Haji Rehan Abdool and others at the helm. In my time, our group comprised mainly persons who came to the Maqtab. However, it was really a sports group, because that was mostly what we did — play sports. Every Sunday, Br. Azim Edoo, one of the few with access to a vehicle, would fetch us at the Masjid in his pick-up van; we would hop into the tray and head down to Skinner Park to play either football or cricket. After that we would finish by washing it down with a “sweet drink”. On Friday nights it would be table tennis time. Again, the “good ole days”. For some reason, though, the youth group could never last. I wish our present youth group all the best in their efforts.

I must make special mention of Ramadan in the Masjid for, personally, that has always been a very special time for me. It is a time of great spiritual rejuvenation and awakening, and traditionally the Masjid is always very vibrant during Ramadan, with the maximum number of members attending. This has the effect of increasing the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie during the month.The Jamaat itself has also evolved in many ways in our observance of the month of Ramadan. I recall that as a child, only the last 10 Surahs of the Holy Qur’an would be recited by members of the Masjid, during the Tarawih prayers. Eventually, this evolved to having the entire Qur’an recited during the month by qualified Hafiz of Qur’an. This took some adjusting on our part, but Alhamdulillah was eventually embraced by the Jamaat.I also remember as a child (sometimes being part of the crew) seeing the youths liming downstairs of the Masjid during Tarawih prayers — but times have changed, so the youths who frequent the Masjid nowadays are not guilty of that offence. Also long ago, we used to eat downstairs of the Masjid using iron chairs and wooden tables on horses, but with the building of the new hall we graduated to buffet style and fancy padded chairs.As a young person growing up, I must say that I would have preferred on many an occasion to stay home and play or watch TV, but my father

“ i M u s t M a k e s p e c i a l M e n t i O n O f r a M a d a n i n

t h e M a s j i d f O r , p e r s O n a l l y , t h a t h a s a l w a y s

b e e n a v e r y s p e c i a l t i M e f O r M e . i t i s a t i M e O f

g r e a t s p i r i t u a l r e j u v e n a t i O n a n d a w a k e n i n g ,

a n d t r a d i t i O n a l l y t h e M a s j i d i s a l w a y s v e r y

v i b r a n t d u r i n g r a M a d a n , w i t h t h e M a x i M u M

n u M b e r O f M e M b e r s a t t e n d i n g . ”

66 m a g a z i n e

would never allow it, as his commitment to us learning our Islam was always paramount, and there was no doubt about it. I would conjure up all kinds of excuses why I should not go but they were generally futile. Looking back, I can have no regrets whatsoever about his approach, since it laid the foundation of Islam in me. If parents do not set in their children the priority of learning about our Deen, then where will the impetus come from?Growing from a young child to an adult, I have observed our Masjid undergo many a transformation over the years. Many friends who used to attend the Maqtab frequently are now nowhere on the scene, having very little or no contact at all with the Masjid. Sad to say, some of them have even gone outside of Islam. This reminds us of our constant duty to reach out and stay connected with our brothers and sisters in Islam, especially those from within our own Jamaat, for the Ummah is supposed to be like fingers on a hand. We must consistently review our programmes and activities to encourage maximum participation and reach.

Over the years I have also been very fortunate to have experienced the leadership of different imams. May Allah reward them all very richly for their service. Like the Muslim Ummah, though over 1,400 years, the Masjid has gone through different periods of ups and downs. There have been times of great participation, progress and enthusiasm from Jamaat members and times of members barely showing up at all for events. I recall particularly while a teenager, the tenure of Maulana Shafayat Mohammed. As a teenager, peer pressure and challenges abound. I must credit Maulana Shafayat for the knowledge imparted during this very formative time in the development of my Islamic psyche and awareness, as he had a profound impact on me. He had special abilities as a motivator and organiser. After his departure we welcomed the tenure of Maulana Mushtaq Sulaimani who brought his own unique style. Being an Islamic missionary, he not only brought his Pakistani accent and melodious Qaseedas, but his ability to reach the heart. I must also make special

Muqtadees enjoying dinner during Ramadan downstairs the Jinnah Memorial Hall during the 1980s

67

mention of Maulana Siddiq Nasir, who though never an Imam of our Masjid, has been involved in varying capacities over the years, giving Khutbahs, seminars, classes, advice, etc. He is someone for whom I have the greatest respect and who has taught me so much with his profound knowledge and sense of humility. I dare say I have not come across another scholar of his calibre among us.Across the span of time our Masjid has been transformed into one of the best physical structures in the country, with further improvements being undertaken today. Not only has the Masjid itself been expanded into a beautiful structure with all amenities for comfort, but the Haji Shafik Rahaman Hall was also constructed behind the Masjid on land that was once used as a car park. The Masjid complex itself was expanded through the acquisition of two additional plots of land to the north and south, currently serving as car parks, with the plot to the south formerly owned by Br. Khalid Rahaman and his family. This is truly a remarkable achievement, and homage must be paid

to all those stalwarts and contributors who have made it into what it is today, with San Fernando serving as an inspiration and standard-bearer in the Muslim community. With improved facilities came a higher standard of event hosting and management and, therefore, better arrangements for functions, ceremonies and, of course, Ramadan.As the saying goes, the apple does not fall far from the tree and, in keeping with our Islamic duty of service, my journey from youth to adult has resulted in me becoming involved in the running of the affairs of the Masjid. Allah has blessed me with the opportunity to serve on the Masjid Board as Secretary since the October 11, 2001, and I pray that He accepts whatever small effort I may have made. This opportunity gives me the chance to see the operations of the Jamaat from the other side of the fence and to appreciate many of the things that we may have taken for granted as Muqtadees, i.e. all the administrative responsibilities, behind-the-scenes preparations and sacrifices that persons made to ensure that the Masjid is functional and

‘ a l s O l O n g a g O , w e u s e d t O e a t d O w n s t a i r s

O f t h e M a s j i d u s i n g i r O n c h a i r s a n d w O O d e n

t a b l e s O n h O r s e s , b u t w i t h t h e b u i l d i n g O f

t h e n e w h a l l w e g r a d u a t e d t O b u f f e t s t y l e

a n d f a n c y p a d d e d c h a i r s . ’

68 m a g a z i n e

“ a s i s t e p b a c k a n d l O O k a t O u r M a s j i d t h r O u g h

a w O r l d v i e w O f i s l a M , i s a y t h a t i t i s M O r e

i M p O r t a n t n O w t h a n e v e r b e f O r e t O h a v e a

v i s i O n a s a u n i t e d j a M a a t , O f w h e r e w e w O u l d

l i k e t O g O a n d w h a t w e w a n t t O a c h i e v e ,

k e e p i n g i n M i n d w h e r e w e h a v e c O M e f r O M . ”

69

operational. May Allah reward all those Jamaat members who have gone before and who have served on various Masjid committees and may He guide others to also come forward to do Khidmat.As I step back and look at our Masjid through a worldview of Islam, I say that it is more important now than ever before to have a vision as a united Jamaat, of where we would like to go and what we want to achieve, keeping in mind where we have come from. Many stalwarts of the Masjid have passed on, and they have made outstanding contributions to bring us to where we are today. The forces of evil, however, are hard at work and now more than ever we must keep close to the Masjid and, therefore, to the rope of Allah . We must recognise

that the population of our Jamaat is an aging one and, therefore, innovative and imaginative mechanisms must be devised to encourage our young people to once again be close to the Masjid.

I pray that Allah will continue to make my heart and yours connected to the Masjid and take this opportunity to remind us of the Hadith reported by both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim where the Messenger of Allah said that seven categories of people will be in the shade of Allah on the day where there will be no shade (Day of Judgment); one of them is a man whose heart is attached to the Masjid.

Allah knows best!

Ibn Zarqala (1029-1087) was a MusliM froM

andalus, spain, known as an instruMent-Maker,

astrologer, and one of the leading astronoMers

of his tiMe. he built a “water clock”, capable of

deterMining the hours of the day and night and

indicating the days of the lunar Months. the

crater arzachel on the Moon is naMed after hiM.

At Sando Jama Masjid it’s happening,One hundred years they’re celebrating,Confetti rising and swirling in the air,Ecstasy filling cups to brim everywhere.

Leaves on trees dancing and rustling,Spiders in the dark at work web-weaving,Atop the Hill, egrets bow heads in prayer,All for the Masjid’s one hundredth year.

Roosters nearby crow a haunting melody,Which to the ears, a qaseeda rhapsody,Making the heart move to a sweet beat,What a treat! What a treat! That ‘s a treat!

Masjid’s roots were from seeds planted,By hands of gold; many fruits harvested.Their names familiar, some I can do recall,For the list goes on and on and on; it’s tall.

Tribute to the San Fernando MasjidCourtesy Hamzad Mohammed, Poetry Club, San Fernando A.S.J.A. Primary School

I can single out the lawyers, many cooks,Office clerks, authors of various books, Teachers, many a skilled technician,Just a few of the great fruits to mention.

The ship is on stream a-sailing, a-sailing,With Maulana Sulaimani on the steering,The waters rough, the weather not so fine,As silvery beads on passengers’ faces shine.

Time is of essence, so true it is as steel,Each cog its part on the Jamaat’s wheel,Taking it up the mighty Mount Arafat,Where descend Allah’s precious barakat.

Ya Allah, as clouds about their paces go,Let the Jama Masjid another century grow,Make the jamaat fly high the flag of deen,This I beg of You Ya Allah, this I do mean.

70 m a g a z i n e

the hour glass

Relentlessly seeping towards its appointed end,The sands of time wait not for kin or friend.Beginning in the comforting warmth of pitch black,Towards a cold dark night it reluctantly turns back.

Whispering reminders from the obedient hour glass,Pass by like the breeze through blades of grass.Not many take heed to these surreptitious calls,Adherence is the key to who rises, who falls.

Each emotional grain stores in the belly of time,Unredeemable by any amount of dollar or dime.A moment elapsed is a page in a developing history,The ever-decreasing sand unfolds an epic mystery.

The power to ornate the glass is in one’s hand,The paint from one’s choices colours the passing sand.Between the two points of dark lies the secret to glory,Life is making the timed sand into a colourful story.

71

Writer Ash Ahmed

72 m a g a z i n e

the blessed Mango tree

Do you remember our cherished mango tree that once graced the grounds of the San Fernando Jama Masjid for so many years?The grafted Graham mango tree was planted by Mrs Amina Jaleel and her daughter, Mrs Zobida Rahaman — truly blessed hands! This was about 65 years ago. In its time, it yielded thousands of the most luscious and tasty mangoes imaginable. They were very big and sweet with a taste out of this world. To eat it you simply cut around and wrung it off the seed. The taste was heavenly and it was not stringy. This tree grew in what is now the carpark on the southern side of the Masjid and hovered above the present entrance to the Haji Shafik Islamic Centre. In the old days this corresponded to the entrance and staircase of the Jinnah Memorial Hall, which housed the ASJA Boys’ and Girls’ College at varying times.

The branches inclined toward the steps laden with the fragrant mangoes as the students ascended the steps. One day, as it happened, the Principal, Mr Charles Debysingh, warned the students, “Do not touch the neighbours’ mangoes; you would be severely dealt with.” The following day, student Brother “Eggy” Baksh sunk his teeth into a mango — there was evidence of teeth marks. The principal said, “Didn’t I tell you not to touch the mangoes?” Eggy replied: “I did not touch it, Sir; I bit it.”My mother, Zobida Rahaman, who lived next door, planted anthuriums around the mango tree and would always pray to Allah for the tree and flowers to flourish.I believe some growing plants respond to prayer and others refuse to cooperate even though they are tended with loving care. This mango tree must have responded to my mother’s prayers because it bore fruitfully and gave pleasure to countless people.

Writer Khalid Rahaman

An encounter with the QaziIt has been reported that Sheik Kurban Ali, eldest brother of Hafiz Yacoob Ali, went up to the cart transporting indentured labourers to the La Plaissance Estate in La Romain and enquired whether there were any Muslims among the immigrants. The 28 year-old Ruknudeen Meah immediately jumped up and proudly said, “I am a Muslim, Alhamdulillah!”

Memoirs of MaktabThe wooden ruler whizzed past our heads to hit its target squarely on the back . . . “Icky!” yelled Moulvi Saied! The target fell silent, head bent, face red. Moulvi always had a problem pronouncing the letter “R”. He was also an accurate aim.Maktab was not your traditional Sunday school. It was actually on a Tuesday evening; made up of mainly teens and a few (like me) pre-teens. It certainly was a social occasion — a chance for us to mix and mingle and learn Surahs at the same time.Our breaks found us at the “parlour” at the corner of the street, sipping Coca-Cola and listening to the jukebox — “Everybody was kung-fu fighting” being at the top of the list! At the end of the session we would all pile into cars and headed to Famous Recipe fried chicken in Marabella.There was a bond between us that, even after almost 40 years, still lingers when we see each other . . .

Redspot Factory“ . . . The thrilling games of cricket in the Red Spot factory garage with Uncle Shafficul, and the atmosphere in the back yard and mosque compound — those were the days!”

Adhan“I remember they used to call Adhan on the rooftop, and it could be heard all the way to the wharf! Subhan Allah!

Fond MemoriesLyra Mohammed is over 75 years young and recalls for Hafsa Khan a few of her memories of the Masjid in the early years.Aunty Lyra fondly remembers walking to the Masjid from her home, a few blocks away on Prince Alfred Street. These were the days when Moulvi Saied was the Imam of the humble Masjid when there was no microphone and speakers. They prayed on straw mats and a green cloth used for “pardah” to separate the men and women during Salaah. Hanging from the ceiling were lovely green globe lanterns, which shone bright for night prayers. There was a collection pan near the Mimbar for Masjid funds, for the various coins of the day, six cents, 12 cents and 25 cents. Aunty also solemnly recalls the Tabūt, wooden casket, which was kept downstairs and used for many over the decades to carry their loved ones by foot for burial at the nearby cemetery.

MemoriesMeMories

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Present

76 m a g a z i n e

initiatives oF the 100th year anniversary

‘ i n c O M M e M O r a t i O n O f t h i s a u s p i c i O u s O c c a s i O n ,

t h e M a s j i d c O M M i t t e e i d e n t i f i e d a n u M b e r O f

k e y i n i t i a t i v e s t O e x e c u t e t h r O u g h O u t 2 0 1 3 .

t h e O b j e c t i v e i s t O r e M i n d O u r s e l v e s , O u r

M u s l i M b r O t h e r s a n d s i s t e r s f r O M a l l w a l k s

O f l i f e a n d O u r n O n-M u s l i M n e i g h b O u r s , O f

t h e c O n t r i b u t i O n O u r M a s j i d h a s M a d e t O O u r

s O c i e t y . t h r O u g h t h e s e i n i t i a t i v e s , w e a l s O s e e k

t O c O M M u n i c a t e O u r d u t y O f t O l e r a n c e f O r a l l

a n d O u r c O n t i n u i n g e f f O r t s t O c O n t r i b u t e t O

t h e d e v e l O p M e n t O f O u r t w i n-i s l a n d s t a t e . ’

77

Allah Calligraphy by Faheema PatelThis design was part of our auction of Islamic artwork, held in March 2013www.junoondesigns.com

78 m a g a z i n e

that this 23-year-old has dedicated much of his life to Moulood singing, i.e. composing and singing poetry in praise of The Creator and Rasulullah . Visit his website: miladrazaqadri.co.uk

Auction of Islamic artworkOver 15 pieces of art commissioned mostly by Jamaat members were auctioned via sealed bids during the performances of Mohammed Milad Raza Qadri at the venues and dates cited above. Not only did the auction increase our awareness of Islamic beauty and customs, but it also generated a very tidy sum!

Publication of a 100th year Anniversary MagazineThis high quality commemorative magazine is expected to be second to none, with expert professionals working on its publication to mark this milestone. The magazine is designed to educate us about our past, encapsulate the present and help us envision the future, Insha Allah.Readers would be able to learn about the contribution of our predecessors and the stalwarts of the Jamaat, spread the word about the services and educational programmes offered and participate in the strategic vision and plans for the future, taking into account our ever-changing and dynamic environment.Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sanfernandojamamasjid or visit our website: www.sanfernandojamamasjid.org

Visit of Qari Syed Sadaqat AliThis internationally recognized Qari is a former student of Qari Abdul Basit Abdul Samad of Egypt. He has travelled throughout the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian sub-Continent and the Americas, performing the art of recitation of the Holy Qur’an, and has earned many awards for various Qira’at competitions, including the Husn-e-Qirat competition held in Iran.This visit is in keeping with the teachings of our Sunday morning Islamic class which reminds us that not only are we commanded by Allah to recite Al Qur’an frequently, but to recite it correctly!Two live performances where this Qari not only recited Al Qur’an, but sang beautiful Naats in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustapha

were held on Saturday March 23 and Sunday March 24, 2013 at the Haji Ralph Khan Auditorium in Jordan Hill and San Fernando Jama Masjid Hall respectively.

Visit of nasheed singer Mohammed Milad Raza QadriNasheed singer Qadri performed solo at the Naparima Bowl, on the San Fernando Hill and at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) South Campus during the period March 30 to April 1, 2013. There is still an ongoing debate as to which performance was the best! They were all exceedingly inspirational.Born in Glasgow, UK, this world renowned singer began singing at the age of three, and is a huge favourite with the young people, as they enjoy his beautiful voice, meaningful lyrics, and are amazed

Colourful Tree by Aneesa KhanThis painting was part of our auction of islamic artwork, held in March 2013

Heliconia in Bloom Stage 1 by Hanifa AliThis painting, done by one of our very own Jamaat members, was also featured at our auction of Islamic artwork, held in March 2013

Milad Raza Qadri performs at the San Fernando Hill

Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali

WalkathonAs the month of Ramadan drew near, a walkathon was held to observe the 100th anniversary with the theme of educating ourselves and the wider community about the importance of this holy month. This was held on June 30. It attracted a wide cross-section of the members of the Jamaat, friends, family and well-wishers. This mirrored a march undertaken many moons ago to commemorate Meeraj un Nabi.Islam is a complete way of life, and just as we have many spiritually nourishing initiatives, so too must we have physically nourishing ones! A health fair culminated the activities on that memorable day where blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol testing, as well as eye examinations were done.

Grand Eid Dinner and Auction of Islamic ArtworkA grand Eid dinner will be held on August 17, as we mark the end of the month of Ramadan, and

where we invite you our contributors, well-wishers and members of our Masjid Insha Allah.We also plan to twin this Eid dinner with a grand auction of Islamic artwork, including Arabic calligraphy, inanimate landscapes, and Islamic jewellery from both local and foreign artists. This would provide another opportunity for our members to come together and enjoy a beautiful evening, with lawful entertainment and a sumptuous meal, as well as to support our local artists.

Khatamul Qur’anIn honour of ALL the deceased members of the San Fernando Jama Masjid the complete recitation of the Holy Qur’an will be undertaken on October 26, in one sitting, Insha Allah. This activity has in the past provided a sustainable link between the past members of the San Fernando Jama Masjid and the present group of Muqtadees.

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Surah Rahman by Islamic Art Gallery — Shafina Ali / info@islamicartgallery.co.ukThis piece was part of our online auction via Facebook.

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Salybia Bay by Shakuntala MohammedThis painting was part of our auction of Islamic artwork, held in March 2013

SFJM walkathon, held on June 30, 2013, to observe the 100th anniversary

role oF the san Fernando JaMa MasJid todayA messAge from the DA‘wAh committee of 2012/2013

‘ M a y O u r M a s j i d a n d j a M a a t M e M b e r s c O n t i n u e

t O f l O u r i s h . l e t t h e j a M a M a s j i d c O n t i n u e t O b e

a v e h i c l e f O r p r O v i d i n g c O M f O r t , i n t e l l e c t u a l

a n d s p i r i t u a l s t i M u l a t i O n a n d a s e n s e O f

b r O t h e r h O O d f O r e a c h a n d e v e r y j a M a a t M e M b e r

a n d v i s i t O r . ’

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84 m a g a z i n e

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Assalāmu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh!

It is with heartfelt humility that the Da‘wah committee of 2012/2013 has taken up the baton of our predecessors.We recognise that our Muslim community faced a crisis of survival from the time the first wave of immigrants from India arrived in Trinidad and were compelled to establish institutions such as Masajid, community centres and Islamic schools. Their leg of the race was a resounding success. Alhamdulillāh!The crisis we face today is one of relevancy. We are struggling to take the next step to ensure that our community infrastructure — social, physical, intellectual and spiritual — is strong enough to meet the demands of the current generation and, Insha Allah, the future generations. We need to remind ourselves of who we are, communicate our vision to our peers, and map the way forward, so as to engender a sense of common purpose. We need a community of individuals who work with common ideals and objectives that will restore Islam as it was established by our role model, the one perfect human being, our Prophet Muhammad .This is our mission — a mission in that we cannot, shall not and, Insha Allah, will not fail. We owe this to our forefathers, to ourselves and to the generations to come. We see this Jama Masjid as a place of solace for the soul, a centre of learning, a living example of how Islam interacts and strengthens a family, community and, by extension, a nation.The Jama Masjid is open continually to host the five daily Salawāt. There is a dedicated Muezzin, Brother

Isa, as he is fondly called, and Imam, Maulana Mushtaq Ahmed Sulaimani, who ensures that there is always a competent individual present to lead the Salaah. Throughout his tenure, our fearless Imam has vigorously defended and upheld our Madhab. For this, our Jamaat is eternally grateful. There is a monthly Moulood on the first Saturday of every month, except in the month of fasting. Here, all members of the Jamaat are invited to attend. This allows the Jamaat to recite Al Qur’an collectively, sing Qaseedas, receive timely reminders from the Imam or guest speaker, pray collectively for the Jamaat, the community and those who have gone to the great beyond, as well as participate in Maghrib and Isha compulsory prayers. After the Isha prayer, all are invited to “break bread” together, renew old ties and forge new relationships with other Jamaat members.A monthly Fiqh for Life programme was spearheaded by our esteemed Maulana Siddiq Ahmad Nasir, an eminent Muslim scholar who generously donates his time to educate members on the Jamaat’s understanding of Islam, in a practical way. This is hosted on the second Friday of every month between Maghrib and Isha salaah, save the month of Ramadan. It is open to everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This encourages Muslims to perform Salaah in the Masjid. It takes the form of a question-and-answer discussion where issues of participants are addressed. All sessions are taped and transmitted on the Islamic Broadcasting Network (IBN) in our twin-island State. Because of its relevance to current issues being experienced by Muslims, the sessions and television programme continue to grow in popularity. Masha Allah!The Jama Masjid has established a Sunday morning Islamic knowledge session for our members, hosted by our dear Maulana Siddiq Ahmad Nasir. This one-and-a-half-hour session revisits the basics of Islam, and begins after Fajr salaah. It allows Masjid members to attend Sunday Fajr and creates the

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opportunity for bonding of the participants, both male and female, and for fostering an atmosphere where “everyone knows your name”. This initiative attracts not only our Jamaat members but also Muslims from San Juan, Freeport, Siparia and Penal.In order to provide additional opportunities for our and other Jamaat members to improve our Islamic knowledge and create lasting friendships, we have created a Deen Intensive Course. This is to be hosted over five non-consecutive weekends at the Jama Masjid. It begins on Friday after Maghrib salaah and ends on Sunday after Dhuhr salaah. The broad content of the course includes Uloom al Qur’an and Uloom al Hadith.Signature events observed in the Masjid include the commemoration of the Milad un Nabi , the recount of the Mi’raj, the Eid ul Fitr and the Eid ul Adha. All of these functions include recitation of Al Qur’an, singing of Hamds and Qaseedas, intellectually and spiritually stimulating lectures, and physical nourishment of a sumptuous meal.Of significant importance this year, was the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s

birthday with 11 days of Qaseedas, skits, and poems praising and sending Darood on our beloved Prophet Muhammad between Maghrib and Isha salaah, culminating on the final day with a Khatam of Al Qur’an. In the month of Ramadan, the Qur’an in its entirety is recited in the Taraweeh salaah. The one true God has blessed our Jamaat members with the means to provide on a nightly basis, iftar at the breaking of the fast, and a nutritiously balanced dinner for all fasting Muslims. Any remaining food is boxed and distributed to the less fortunate.A group of brothers and sisters of the Jamaat regularly visit the sick members of the Jamaat. This is welcomed and appreciated by all and may Allah

reward all involved.

It is noteworthy that a member of our Masjid is involved on a daily basis providing dinner to the homeless around the town of San Fernando. This is a tangible demonstration of how the action of one person can make a difference in the community. May Allah immensely reward this member in this life and in the next, for this labour of love for his less fortunate brothers, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Members of the Jamaat are also involved in the distribution of Zakaat funds to the destitute who come to the Masjid seeking comfort, solace and currency in their time of need. These members meet all who come and ensure they are eligible to receive Zakaat. They establish the amount required, whether one-off or monthly, and then ensure the Zakaat funds are appropriately distributed. May Allah reward the members for their tireless devotion to this laudable obligation and also reward the Jamaat members who contribute.At the San Fernando Jama Masjid we seek to make Islam as conveyed to us by our beloved Nabi Muhammad relevant to the challenges faced by our Jamaat members. At this time this is done through establishing a comfortable and relaxing physical infrastructure, relevant dissemination of religious knowledge using varying formats, an active communication plan with our Jamaat members and hosting of fun events like games nights for the young and young at heart.We understand that there is much to be done and many improvements to make. May our Masjid and Jamaat members continue to flourish. Let the Jama Masjid continue to be a vehicle for providing comfort, intellectual and spiritual stimulation and a sense of brotherhood for each and every Jamaat member and visitor. May Allah bless and guide all of us to continue persevering to establish true Islam for His pleasure, Insha Allah. Ameen.

2003 — Qaseeda BurdaI still remember the first time I heard this beautiful recitation on the radio. It was a surprise that the (East Indian music) station was playing a “Muslim song”, in Arabic too, on a Sunday — it was unusual also as it was not during the holy month of Ramadhan. As the song ended, I felt emotionally charged. I listened more closely to the announcer’s explanation of the song entitled, “Qaseeda Burda”. I cried and immediately prayed for a healing of my ailments, in the same way the author of this beautiful poem was cured by “The Shroud”. The recitation was pure and simple, captivating and serene. The tune was easy to sing along to and the love in the singer’s voice touched one’s soul. I immediately phoned in my request to hear it again.I was but one drop in the ocean of listeners who felt that this singer had “something special” in his voice. Later on, the radio announcer who also happened to be an active youth member of the San Fernando

a renewal oF FaithFond MeMories oF the sFJM’s Pioneering events

by haFsa khan

Jama Masjid, spoke about the singer’s tutelage under the renowned Qari (reciter of the Qur’an) Abdul Basit ‘Abd us-Samad. This exceptional student was none other than Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali.It was the first time that Radio 90.5FM had an “Islamic” song on their list of their Top Nine Most Requested Songs. It stayed on that list for several months. “Qaseeda Burda” had touched lives. It was reported that these requests came from the general listenership and not only from Muslims.The arrangements of the San Fernando Jama Masjid in 2003 to bring Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali to our shores were divinely orchestrated. Scores of us followed the distinguished Qari to the various venues to witness his perfect recitations of Al Qur’an and soulful renditions of various Nasheeds. His performances at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando and at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain, left many sobbing, and inspired a feverish longing to visit the Holy Lands. His performances and our

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participation revived our spirits and rekindled our love and bonds to our beloved Nabi Muhammad .The elders among us said that we young people followed Qari Sahib around in the same way their generation followed the scholar of the day, Maulana Fazlur Rahman Ansari Sahib, and earlier, Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, hoping that some of their wisdom’s light would fall upon them. We realised that our souls were merely surviving, but not yet living. These efforts by the Masjid were in fact the beginning of the San Fernando Jama Masjid’s revival of our love for our beloved Prophet Muhammad .

2012 — Billion SalawatOn hearing about the Billion Salawat (or benediction for the Prophet ) through various social networking media, several members of the

Jamaat showed an interest in contributing and immediately pledged their support of this initiative. “We believe that by collectively sending tens of millions, if not billions, of Salawat on the Prophet

, the silent majority of the world’s Muslims can make an unprecedented appeal in the real theatre of power. By so doing, we will, Insha Allah, invite the direct aid of our Lord, bring about a cosmic shift that will affect the balance of worldly power and bring about a divine opening that will bring comfort and healing to the hearts of the believers.”The event was held worldwide post-Maghrib on November 4, 2012.This event allowed us to tangibly feel we were truly “holding fast to the rope” with our brethren. It was a beautiful reminder of the depth and meaning of Darood Shareef. It was an overwhelming feeling to recognise that while reading our pledged number of

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Daroods (33,100 from our Masjid) that at that very moment we were joining millions worldwide who were consciously doing this same form of ‘Ibadah, reciting Allahumma Salli ‘Alaa Muhammad. (O Allah! Bless Muhammad). The energy generated was undeniable. Subhan Allah.

2012 — The CelebrateMercy’ webcasts.Our Jamaat is very forward thinking, and Alhamdulillah we utilise the modern social media for Da’wah Initiatives, as well as to meditate with our brothers and sisters worldwide. The renowned speakers and performers carefully selected are usually those in high demand who truly rekindle our spirits.Our continued participation in the Celebrate Mercy webcasts is very exciting as it is reminiscent of being in the Holy Lands among our brothers and sisters of varying ethnicities sharing in meditation.The Celebrate Mercy live webcasts, streamed and viewed by millions, epitomize the concept of a global village, and this initiative may well be the future of a “One Ummah”. Insha Allah.

2013 — Qari Syed Sadaqat AliAlthough he has visited our shores several time since 2003, our beloved Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali once again accepted the invitation to observe the 100th year anniversary celebrations through a Qur’anic Recital at the Haji Ralph Khan Hall in the Masjid at Jordan Hill. His Qira’at is unfaltering and the might of the Holy Qur’an is unstoppable.

2013 — Art AuctionPioneering once again, this Magazine Committee commissioned art pieces from friends and family for the first silent auction ever held by a Masjid in Trinidad. We thank the Assistant Curator of the National Museum, Naimah Muwakil for her professional evaluations in helping us select 19 pieces of framed Islamic Calligraphy and landscapes in oil, mixed medium and handcrafted leather. These pieces showcased hidden talents that have now become revived. The interest among the community has been phenomenal, and the Jamaat looks forward to a bigger auction to be held post Ramadaan 2013.

The Masjid by Ayat LumsdenThis painting was part of our auction of Islamic artwork, held in March 2013

Qur’an 2: 286 by Islamic Art Gallery- Shafina Ali / info@islamicartgallery.co.ukThis piece was part of our online auction via Facebook.

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‘ w e t h a n k t h e a s s i s t a n t c u r a t O r O f t h e

n a t i O n a l M u s e u M , n a i M a h M u w a k i l f O r h e r

p r O f e s s i O n a l e v a l u a t i O n s i n h e l p i n g u s s e l e c t

1 9 p i e c e s O f f r a M e d i s l a M i c c a l l i g r a p h y

a n d l a n d s c a p e s i n O i l , M i x e d M e d i u M a n d

h a n d c r a f t e d l e a t h e r . ’

Ixora by Zobeeda B. HoseinThis painting was part of our auction of Islamic artwork, held in March 2013

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‘ O n h i s f i n a l n i g h t a t t h e n a p a s O u t h , w e w e r e

a g a i n t r e a t e d t O a M O s t b e a u t i f u l a n d i n s p i r i n g

r e c i t a t i O n f r O M M i l a d r a z a q a d r i , a n d i t i s s t i l l

a M a t t e r O f d e b a t e a s t O w h i c h O f t h e t h r e e

n i g h t s w a s t h e M O s t s p i r i t u a l l y u p l i f t i n g . ’

Milad Raza Qadri playfully points the microphone during his soundcheck session at The San Fernando Hill

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2013 — Milad Raza QadriThe visit of this young dynamic singer to our lands in acceptance of our special invitation to commemorate our 100th anniversary was well timed for the long Easter holiday weekend. Brother Milad’s aim in touring is to encourage the love for the Rasool through the rendition of Nasheeds.The recital on the opening night to hundreds at the Naparima Bowl was a gift from his heart. On his feet for two full hours, Milad Qadri stood in solemnness, at times with his head bowed or eyes closed as if he were in fact in The Holy Prophet’s presence. The fantastic acoustics and warm ambiance of the Bowl made for an unforgettable night, for, in fact, it was the first time in Trinidad that we experienced a full-fledged concert with state-of-the-art acoustics for an internationally renowned Nasheed artist. Qadri’s last song of the night was a special Darood, and though he did not ask the audience to stand

out of respect for our Holy Prophet Muhammad , on hearing the chorus of the “Tazeem”, people

instinctively rose out of their seats to stand at attention and join in on the chorus. It was only a matter of minutes before the entire audience was standing and singing loudly in unison with Qadri, who himself admitted that this was a pleasant surprise.The second performance was on a beautiful starry night at the San Fernando Hill. At that venue Qadri treated us to a hypnotising a capella performance that felt like a spiritual reawakening. The night’s cool breeze truly felt like those near the Rawdah in Madinah al Munawwarah. On his final night at the NAPA South, we were again treated to a most beautiful and inspiring recitation from Milad Raza Qadri, and it is still a matter of debate as to which of the three nights was the most spiritually uplifting.

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anniversary babies

100th

umar Ahmad MohammedD.O.B. February 2013Son of Haji Zaid Mohammed and Hajjin Amina Hasnain- Mohammed

Safaa VarachhiaD.O.B. March 2013Daughter of Haji Saleem Adam Varachhia and Hajjin Sara Varachhia

Aasir Ayman HoseinD.O.B May 2013Son of Dr Ayman Hosein and Nisa Maryam Baksh

Haadiyah Ammaarah HasnainD.O.B July 2013Daughter of Haji Naeem Hasnain and Khadija Hasnain

i.b.n. choice-blessed coMpanion - Milad raza Qadri 5.06

8. happiness - saMi yusuf 3.52

7. ya taiba - ahMad hussain 5.34

6. Madina - Milad raza Qadri 4.50

5. this worldly life - Maher zain 3.33

new: la illah illa allah - ahMed bukhatir 4.36

4. Make Me strong - saMi yusuf 3.43

3. ya nabi salaaM alaika - Milad raza Qadri 7.40

2. so soon - Maher zain 5.08

chart buster: wherever you are - saMi yusuf 4.04

recap 8-2

1. salutation - Milad raza Qadri 6.24

new song for this week- la illah illa allah

chart buster for 12th week

- wherever you are

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VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.HOSEINGROUP.CO FOR MORE INFO

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FOUNDER: HAJI RALPH D. KHAN (Incorporated since 1980)

Directors: Nadeira Y. Khan (Managing), Jennifer Khan, Imran S. Khan LL.B.(Hons.),L.E.C.

GENERAL AGENT FOR THE MARITIME FINANCIAL GROUP

(General: Liability, Motor Vehicle, Personal Accident,Marine, Aviation & Transport, Pecuniary Loss, Property)

24 Rushworth Street West, San Fernando, Trinidad, West IndiesTel/Fax: (868) 657-5088 | E-mail: ralicoinsurance@yahoo.com

Business Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Just Ask For Nadeira or Shazina)

Future

“The Masaajid of Allah shall only be visited and maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers and practice regular charity and fear none except Allah. It is they who may hope to be among the rightly-guided.” (Qur’an; 9:18)

The above verse of Al Qur’an continues to inspire those who presently serve as custodians of the San Fernando Jama Masjid as well as its Muqtadees. It initially provided some of our pioneering forefathers and well endowed families with the internal fuel to persist with their desire to construct a Jama Masjid in the heart of the growing industrial town of San Fernando during the second decade of the 20th century. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of this magnificent structure and in the absence of a completed blueprint of the agreed mission statement, vision, role, aims and objectives of this Jama Masjid, I have been given the task of articulating the essence of the strategic plan being developed by the Masjid Committee. This remains a dynamic document that undergoes frequent revisions and is subject to change at any given time, although the basic framework and foundations have remained constant.In present day management jargon we have begun to set “SMART” goals. SMART here stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Once our goals meet these criteria we can create action plans to achieve these goals. I have the honour to lead a team of dedicated, hardworking individuals who all strive to fulfil their obligations to the San Fernando Jama Masjid by actively ensuring that we continue to propagate

our vision For the san Fernando JaMa MasJidby abdul waheed MaJid

our Deen in an all-inclusive environment.We aim to ensure that our Masjid remains accessible, pleasant and convivial. It has to be cost-effective, environment friendly and sustainable; providing a wide range of activities, benefits and services to its users; being resourceful, relevant, lively, valuable and alluring to both men and women, the young and old, the rich and poor, the busy and idle, and to the exemplary and average Muslims.We aim not merely to keep the Muqtadee physically attached to the Masjid, but also spiritually and mentally in his thoughts and cravings. Indeed, a true believer’s heart always yearns for the Masjid. He feels most tranquil and contented inside the Masjid. When he leaves it, his heart is attached to it until he returns to it. Masaajid are after all the houses of Allah (buyut Allah).

Sub-CommitteesThe present Masjid Committee views as critical the need to attract the right group of individuals with specific skills to achieve the aims and objectives of the Masjid, as set out in its Mission Statement and/or strategic plan. Indeed, an ideal Masjid structure would be one that not only serves the religious needs of the community but also provides its social services. This will help create an excellent Muslim community. We aim to increase our areas of work and/or departments (and appoint subcommittees) for the following:

Religious worship (Ibadah): Education: Pre-School, Maktab, Tajweed and Hifz Classes, Fiqh, Seerah; Seminars: Da’wah and Tarbiyyah; Family and youth

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‘ p e r M i t M e t O s e i z e t h i s O p p O r t u n i t y t O

c O M M e n d a l l t h O s e M e M b e r s O f t h e s a n

f e r n a n d O j a M a M a s j i d w h O t i r e l e s s l y a n d

v O l u n t a r i l y g a v e O f t h e i r t i M e a n d e f f O r t i n

e n s u r i n g t h a t t h e M a s j i d f u l f i l l e d i t s r O l e a s

t h e c e n t r a l h u b O f a c t i v i t y f O r t h e M u s l i M

c O M M u n i t y O f s a n f e r n a n d O a n d a p i l l a r O f

s t r e n g t h , c O M f O r t a n d s O l a c e f O r a l l ! ’

development: Community and social services; Masjid maintenance: Finance and fundraising; Administration: Ramadhan.At present our sub Committees are Da’wah, Zakaah, Building, Pre-School, Finance and Ramadhan.When choosing or appointing persons to the management committee to serve on these sub-Committees, we seek certain characteristics: Taqwa (Piety); Trustworthiness; Commitment; Knowledge; Experience and Skills. Our management committee is responsible for developing policies and procedures within the organisation and making sure they are followed. However, consulting the Muqtadees is paramount to achieving our stated objectives. When developing policies and procedures, it is important to have a process in place for their development, approval, review and revision, and for education and training. We have adopted the following guidelines for developing written policies and procedures (policy manuals).

Approval processThe Masjid management committee is responsible for the approval of written policies. Such policies are to be reviewed once every two years.Written policies and procedures are to be developed for the following:-• Constitution–RulesandRegulations• HealthandSafety• EqualOpportunities• Madrasah• ByeLaws

• PropertyandFacilities• Security• TheEnvironment

Future plansJust as our forefathers and the founding members of this Jamaat worked assiduously to provide the amenities that we have grown accustomed to in the Masjid, we, the present custodians must be forward thinking and develop and implement a comprehensive programme of activities, as well as the necessary infrastructure for successive generations. Some of the facilities envisioned are as follows:

• Dormitoryfacilitiesforvisitingscholars,campsand retreats

• Gymandfitnessspace• Audio/visualrecordingfacility• HomeworkCentre• Library• Bookshop• IslamicOnlineStoresellingCDs,DVDs,books,

magazines• SeminarHall• Enhanced facilities with state-of-the-art

equipment• CyberCafé• Computerclasses• Website;WiFi

The asTrolabe, the Most faMous and widely

used Medieval instruMent, was developed and

popularized by the arabs? in the islaMic world

(10th century), astrolabes were used to find the

tiMes of sunrise and the rising of fixed stars,

to help schedule Morning prayers, navigation,

surveying, tiMekeeping and Qibla.

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• CommunityProjects• GreenInitiative:DevelopingandMaintaininga

Green space near waterfront• Recycling• SoupKitchen• Clothing;CannedFoodsDrive• DisasterRelief• LocalStrategicPartnerships• StateAgencies• NGOs• PrivateSector• OtherMasaajid

The list is not limited to the above. Indeed, we look forward to engaging in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure that our Masjid remains relevant and fully utilised for the next 100 years and beyond! Insha Allah.Permit me to seize this opportunity to commend

all those members of the San Fernando Jama Masjid who tirelessly and voluntarily gave of their time and effort in ensuring that the Masjid fulfilled its role as the central hub of activity for the Muslim Community of San Fernando and a pillar of strength, comfort and solace for all!

May Allah Guide and Bless us all!

100 m a g a z i n e

The youth group of the San Fernando Jama Masjid was given the task of writing about the “Futuristic Representation of the Masjid.” In our opinion, it is the most difficult section as none but Allah could know the future, as He is Al-Alim (the All-Knowing). Therefore, we have decided to write our article on what we hope/believe the Masjid would be like in the year 1486 AH (circa. 2063)Physically, we envisage that the Masjid’s property will extend to the land located to the rear end of the Masjid itself, as well as the property located obliquely opposite the front of the Masjid, where the land will be developed to increase the Masjid’s facilities. The pre-school would be extended to accommodate more students and teachers as well as a larger playground and more space for their extracurricular activities. With the extension of the pre-school building, would come the extension of the Haji Shafik Islamic Centre, thus enabling the hosting of larger crowds for various Masjid events.

Future visiona Message FroM the sFJM youths

The southern carpark would be converted into a multipurpose building to facilitate rooms for Sunday school classes, sporting equipment and a guest, and Muadhin quarters. The northern car park would be converted to multi level car parking to accommodate the larger number of vehicles. This car park will be equipped with outlets to facilitate the electric-powered vehicles of the future.Trinidad and Tobago will move towards alternative energy sources and so will the San Fernando Jama Masjid, via the implementation of solar panels and wind powered generators.Also to accompany the physical growth of the Masjid, we would be able to provide more assistance, monetary and otherwise, to those in need. We, the youths, also believe that there would be a stronger bond between ALL Masjid members, that inevitably comes with a stronger sense of Imaan, Sabr and Hikmah, Insha Allah.

‘ t a k e b e n e f i t O f f i v e b e f O r e f i v e : y O u r y O u t h

b e f O r e y O u r O l d a g e , y O u r h e a l t h b e f O r e y O u r

s i c k n e s s , y O u r w e a l t h b e f O r e y O u r p O v e r t y ,

y O u r f r e e - t i M e b e f O r e y O u r p r e O c c u p a t i O n , a n d

y O u r l i f e b e f O r e y O u r d e a t h . ’

( n a r r a t e d b y i b n a b b a s ; r e p O r t e d b y a l h a k i M )

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MasJid board and ywMa’s calendar oF events 2013

NB: These events and dates are subject to change Monthly Moulood January 1st Masjid Board Meeting January 6th Ten nights of commemoration of Milad un Nabi January 13th-23rd Commemoration of Milad un Nabi and launch of 100th-year anniversary of the Masjid January 23rd Monthly Moulood February 2nd Masjid Board Meeting February 3rd Celebrating Mercy - Live podcast February 14th Fiqh for Life February 15th Beginning of Sunday morning classes February 17th Masjid Board AGM and Elections February 24th Deen Intensive February 15th-17th Monthly Moulood March 2nd Masjid Board Meeting March 3rd Fiqh for Life March 8th Deen Intensive March 15th-17th YWMA’s fund-raising lunch March 29th Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali’s visit March 19th-24th Live performances with Nasheed singer Mohammed Milad Raza Qadri March 30th -1st Monthly Moulood April 6th Masjid Board Meeting April 7th Fiqh for Life April 12th Deen Intensive April 26th-28th Monthly Moulood May 4th Masjid Board Meeting May 5th Fiqh for Life May 10th Deen Intensive May 24th-26th Monthly Moulood June 1st Masjid Board Meeting June 2nd Miraj June 6th Fiqh for Life June 14th Lecture@10 am - Mufti Khalil Abdur Rahman June 16th Lailatul Bara’ah (Shabay Bharat) June 23rd Walkathon - 100th year anniversary June 30th Monthly Moulood July 6th Masjid Board Meeting July 7th Ramadan July 10th July-8th August Eid ul Fitr August 9th Grand 100th year Eid dinner/auction - Masjid Hall August 17th Monthly Moulood September 7th Masjid Board Meeting September 8th Deen Intensive September 20th -22nd Monthly Moulood October 5th Masjid Board Meeting October 6th Fiqh for Life October 11th Eid ul Adha October 16th Culminating event of the 100th-year anniversary - Khatamul Qur’an October 26th Monthly Moulood November 2nd Masjid Board Meeting November 3rd Fiqh for Life November 8th 9th and 10th Muharram - Fasting for Ashura November 13th-14th Deen Intensive November 15th -17th YWMA AGM and Return of the Hajjins November 30th Monthly Moulood December 7th Masjid Board Meeting December 8th Deen Intensive December 13th-15th

Featured Articles

health aFter raMadanare we Pursuing good health year-round?

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Writer Dr Amanda Jones

While we know the central purpose of the Ramadan fasting is developing Taqwa or God Consciousness, (Al Qur’an 2:183), Muslims often ask if the Islamic fast conveys health benefits — and if so, what are these benefits? When the digestive system receives a rest, the entire body and brain benefit from the corresponding change of hormones. A key example is in the reduced frequency of food leading to the release of less insulin.Is this a good thing? Well, it might surprise you to know that chronically high insulin levels are a forerunner in various disorders, most famous of them being Type II diabetes! So yes, the reduced insulin levels are beneficial! (So let’s not offset this benefit by overeating at Suhoor and Iftar!)The extra time spent with the Qur’an is calming, rejuvenating to the mind and reduces stress. Researchers have demonstrated the relationship between a relaxed spirit and a greater capacity to maintain health, by looking both at prevention and handling of illness.Are Muslims, therefore, generally healthier than other people?A mischievous but useful analogy would be to ask, are Muslims generally more pious than the average human being? Even if we avoid major sins and fulfil our Fard duties, it takes real focus and effort to remain God-conscious, to restrain our tongues from venting sarcastic, suspicious or angry words when silence would be better, to avoid acting out of pride when we have been slighted or offended, to immerse ourselves in the Qur’an regularly, and to be sure that Allah direct message is guiding the steps that make up the grand construction of our short lives.Likewise, doing our best for the physical health of body and mind is easier in theory than in practice. As in spiritual matters we are distracted and forgetful.One trim, youthful looking, energetic middle-aged Imam, once said he would almost consider that actively safeguarding our health is Fard. He clearly felt that a life of eating carelessly, excessively and with little physical exercise is just not befitting of the Muslim.

Allah tells us to eat of the good things that He has provided for us (2:172) and that he who strives is not on a rank with he who sits still (9:19-20). Clearly we can maximise our striving if we maintain better health, allowing us more energy and focus!Though we live in a nation where food is abundant for most, many things get in the way of limiting our eating to the “good things.”Greed and lack of exercise account for some of the dangerous, extra pounds we carry but the extra fat can pile on quite innocently. Consider this ironic example: I have witnessed patients’ despair when they find after cutting out almost all fat from their diet (eggs, dairy, red meat, vegetable oil, avocados, nuts), their cholesterol has increased! Extreme diets are always counterproductive. Without fat, certain vitamins we need to maintain balance cannot be properly absorbed or utilized. Moderate amounts of fat help to provide calories and curb hunger. Without fat we find ourselves filling up on excessive amounts of bread, rice, snacks and even fruit. Most of these are refined carbohydrates (“bad carbs”), which in excess slow down calorie burning and promote storage of food as fat instead. And too many refined carbs increase your cholesterol!Most of the cholesterol in our bloodstreams — about 80% — is produced by the liver. We tend to forget this and focus instead on cholesterol intake from food. You may have noticed that many people who suffer high cholesterol do not indulge in full fat dairy, eggs or red meat on a regular basis but yet their cholesterol remains high.Cutting down on refined carbs, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, including fish in our weekly diet and getting regular exercise will do more than anything else to improve our overall health, energy and cholesterol levels. Why? Because these foods, together with exercise, stimulate the right responses from our liver and fat cells, whereas too many refined carbs stimulate just the opposite.So minimising sugar intake is a smart move. However, when we choose artificial sweeteners for our drinks and desserts we are enjoying the taste of sweet without the burden of the calories. But to what end? Recent research tells us that these sweeteners are not associated with weight

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loss. Worse, some are linked to weight gain! How could this be? Our bodies respond to the taste of “sweet” in anticipation of calories to come and our metabolism (the complex system by which our bodies determine how best to burn and balance energy) receives the signal to “store energy!” Similarly low-fat, low-sugar “diet foods” leave the body expecting to be satisfied by real calories. So we return to the fridge, in a craving, bingeing mode, urged on by our confused bodies.Part of our problem, therefore, is that we don’t always distinguish “good food” from “bad food”, especially under all the deceptive packaging and advertising. Three simple guidelines help us navigate a safer path amidst the food traps. One is to eat a variety of foods. Fresh herbs contain a range of phyto-nutrients. This refers to vitamins, minerals and countless other beneficial compounds found in plants. We are at the early stages of identifying phyto-nutrients and understanding their contribution to health. Don’t wait 40 years for the details to be unravelled! Be sure to use a range of fresh and dried herbs in your meal preparation.Likewise, different vegetables offer different phyto-nutrients. You may love tomatoes and cucumbers but they cannot offer you the benefits of patchoi, cabbage and string beans. Ginger, garlic and carailli will have their own range of benefits, and so on. Don’t bore your palate while undermining your health.Many of us reject red meat in favour of chicken and fish but again variety should be our guide.

Red meat is rich in certain essential minerals e.g. chromium and selenium. And these are two of the very minerals many of us lack today. Chromium is necessary for maintaining blood sugar balance and selenium is used to generate anti-oxidants. Excessive red meat consumption continues to be linked to ill health, but the link is much stronger for processed meats, so minimising sausages, burgers and deli meats is key, and beyond that, moderation rather than a complete elimination of red meat. Moderation is the second guideline. The third is to seek out food that’s fresh, minimally processed and naturally sourced. This is where knowledge collapses in the face of busy schedules and modern living! We seem to be at the mercy of the food industry and grocery retailers. Some of us no longer have time to cook our own food. This is where thought, planning, co-operation and innovation come in. It may take more than a decade of dedicated work and education (if enough of us start now), before healthy food becomes widely available again.Here in the UK there are some who are working towards this very vision. One grocery chain routinely seeks to include food sourced from farms near its branches. This grocery chain includes a cookery school for their membership (customers and staff) to promote the art and joy of good cooking. Some organizations have cropped up to promote small scale local farming and even individual gardening, arguing that this is essential for long-term food security and for reducing the energy burden caused by importing and other transport of food.Perhaps some young entrepreneurs among the

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Muslims will lead the way to making fresh, minimally processed and healthier food more available in the Caribbean and elsewhere so guideline No. 3 would be simpler to follow.While excellent nutrition is the basis of optimal health, we can never have optimal health while our bodies are starved for physical activity. Muscles that aren’t used simply shrink, and this is partly why many middle aged and elderly men and women have difficulty sitting on the ground and getting back up, even without arthritis. Shrunken muscles leave more weight to be carried by our joints, especially those of the spine, hip and knee, making injuries and arthritis more likely.Fortunately exercise at any age will benefit our muscles. They can be redeveloped.Wanting to lose weight motivates some of us to exercise. For others, the wish to reduce heart attack or diabetic risk or to lower blood pressure can drive the commitment to exercise. But those of us who don’t have these immediate or medium-term goals can be quite laissez faire about keeping active.Especially if we are young, slim and busy, exercise might take a backseat. Consequences of this error in judgement may be just around the corner. Whether or not weight creeps on, lack of exercise leads to weakened immunity and lower energy levels. Supplements, coffee and “energy drinks” cannot do

the job of the physical tune up we really need. The term “fat skinny people” describes slim people with sedentary lifestyles (too much sitting) and, therefore, have a low percentage muscle for their weight and height. This lifestyle places them at greater risk for the very same heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer typically associated with being overweight. When we increase our percentage of muscle we immediately improve our overall metabolism. Translated: our bodies become more efficient at burning energy whether we are sleeping, exercising or working at our computers. Regular exercise of any kind improves our muscle mass. There is no need to aim for the body builder look.You may have heard of Metabolic Syndrome. With Westerners sitting more and gaining more weight, even from childhood, Metabolic Syndrome is ever more common. Three of the following are enough to define the syndrome: high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low levels of good cholesterol, high blood pressure and waist circumference over the safe limit.Regular exercise steers us away from metabolic syndrome and the time to get busy is now. Have we emphasized this enough?I had a neighbour in his seventies who went for a game of tennis every morning, weekends included.

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I remember our Hajj group leader being older than all of us in the group but more energetic, too. He went swimming regularly and fasted twice a week. Being over 70 was no excuse for him. Such fitness does not occur overnight. Like Taqwa, it requires disciplined and dedicated pursuit. For those who love physical activity, keeping up with gym, football or running 5K races might come naturally, but what of the rest of us? We, too, need regular activity that we enjoy. Many start off walking with friends. Soon they find that they can walk further and faster. This is, indeed, progress but jogging and running should only be added with the correct guidance. Poor posture, hard surfaces and the wrong shoes can lead to injuries which handicap further exercise, defeating the cause.Gradually introduce more than one form of exercise since different types of activity work different muscle groups. One way to ensure all muscle groups are covered as well as cardio (the type of exercises that improve heart, vessel and lung capacity) is to join a gym.Start where it’s easy and build from there. For example, start with 15 minutes of walking, five days a week. With time, progress beyond

aerobic exercise (e.g. cardio exercises — walking, jogging, cycling, running, swimming), to include strengthening exercises (e.g. gym with weight-bearing activities, yoga, Pilates) and exercises that include stretching and relaxation.Recently, a group of middle-aged sisters decided to learn to swim. They simply arranged private swimming lessons with a female swim coach at one of our local pools, using burkhinis for modesty. Consider that starting to walk for exercise at age 60 reduces Alzheimer’s risk and improves muscle strength, reduces bone problems — so better a late start than none at all.Those with medical conditions e.g. arthritis, heart disease, amputations, can be referred by their medical professionals for professional guidance to get started.Finally, fasting twice a week (but not two consecutive days), has been in the health news recently. Though Muslims have had this prescription for 1,400 years, some medical researchers are recommending this simple approach to help with weight loss, improve blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol!Eat sensibly, exercise regularly, fast twice a week. Safeguard your health. Enough said.

44 Southern Main Road, Warrenville, Cunupia, Trinidad, West Indies.Tel: (868) 665-3336 | Fax: (868) 671-6570 | Email: sheikltd@tstt.net.tt | Website: www.sheiklisha.com

MANUFACTURERS OF:PAPER BAGS, PLASTIC BAGS, GARBAGE BAGS, PLASTIC HANDLE BAGS, SPLIT PEAS POWDER, VERMICELLI, GREASE PROOF, ETC.

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it’s tiMe to talk about ‘tiMe’

‘ i n i s l a M t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s t h a t t i M e i s

l i n e a r , h e n c e i t h a s a p O i n t O f s t a r t a n d a

p O i n t w h e r e i t e n d s , l e a d i n g t O t h e b e l i e f t h a t

t h e r e w i l l b e t h e e n d O f e x i s t e n c e . t i M e i s n O t

i n f i n i t e O r e t e r n a l , a s M a n y b e l i e v e . t h e O n l y

e t e r n i t y t h a t e x i s t s i s a l l a h , a n d h i s c r e a t i O n

i s p e r i s h a b l e . ’

110 m a g a z i n e

Writer Ash Ahmed

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Time — it’s such a vast topic but imperative to our understanding of many fields of knowledge, in this case epistemology (philosophical study of knowledge) and eschatology (the study of the end of existence).“Time” is an entity, as it is a creation of Allah thus is subservient to the Will of Allah . We can understand this because we know that nothing existed before Allah created everything;“He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing.” (Surah-Al-Hadeed – Verse 3)As Allah is Al-Khaliq (The Creator), Al-Bari (The Maker), Al Aziz (The Mighty) and Al Mutakabbir (The Majestic), all of creation is dependent on His Grace and Mercy, and this includes Time as well. And when the appointed moment comes He will end all of creation including Time, and there shall remain nothing but Him again. Some people say “Time” does not exist, and some say it is a mere perception of the mind; a clock on the wall. However, Allah swears by Time:“By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.” (Surah Al-Asr – 1-3).Man is in loss when he does not value, understand and acknowledge Time. We are a creation within a creation, and thus we are bound by its laws and rules. Our actions and perceptions depend on how Time interacts and treats us. Thus when we waste Time we lose the blessings in it, and when we acknowledge and value Time we gain from it.The secular philosophers have many differing views on what “Time” is and their thoughts have been penned on the subject for many centuries. Aristotle claimed that Time is the measure of change, thus implicating that without change Time did not exist. It was a measurement of motion. Newton, however, commented that Time and space are like an infinitely large container in which all events occur, but the container exists whether or not there is

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content in it i.e. change. He further adds by stating that these entities are not a material substance but are “like” substances that are not dependent on anything except God. Socrates also dabbled in the philosophy of Time and, like Aristotle, agreed that Time is a motion. A cyclic cosmic motion that was endless in nature and in consequence indicating a belief in reincarnation and rebirth.In Islam the understanding is that Time is linear, hence it has a point of start and a point where it ends, leading to the belief that there will be the end of existence. Time is not infinite or eternal, as many believe. The only eternity that exists is Allah, and His creation is perishable.This leads me onto how Time is influential in our lives today. I firmly believe that we live in the end Times, or in other words, “the end of Time”. When Time is destroyed, everything within it will die too and cease to exist. However, when something is dying or finishing, the process appears to speed up. This is a sign we see among the signs of Qayamah; “Time will pass quickly.”We should not take this as an alarming revelation and consider it as a panic button that we are doomed and Judgement Day is near. Nay, the belief in this has been instilled in us since the Time of the Prophet as we have been informed that Qayamah is near. It is near because no one but Allah knows its appointed Time.In the modern world, where our lives have been overwhelmed by technological advances and our minds have been distracted from our purpose by gadgets and gimmicks, we have lost the value of Time. Our understanding of Time is reflective of our nature. We complain about delays and how slow Time goes sometimes. We curse those moments because we want to interact and use that Time in a

way that keeps us preoccupied with this world. In effect, we are wasting it. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi:“Sons of Adam inveigh against [the vicissitudes of] Time, and I am Time, in My hand is the night and the day.”Allah has created Time and is beyond its realm. He is Eternal and not bound by the laws of Time. He is the One Who controls it. So when one curses Time, it is in effect abusing the creation of the Khaliq. Thus Allah tells you that do not utter ill-talk of Time as He is the One who is the Malik (Sovereign) of it. With mankind fast losing value of Time as it indulges in Dajjal’s deceptions, the end of the linear rope is in sight. Our perception of Time and its passing has changed because our view is no longer based on spiritual insight. The material world has removed the spirituality and replaced it with a physical vision of things. Science has prevailed over philosophical comprehension.To provide further evidence of Time in its entitative form, we must look at the most significant event in Islamic history that highlights its subordinate nature to the Divine Will. Many lessons about Time can be learned from the Night Journey (Isra al Mi’raj) when the beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and salutations be upon him), crossed the barriers of Creation’s limits and surpassed all boundaries set upon every atom of existence by the Almighty so that He could draw close to the Prophet in a way befitting His Majesty. The events during this journey emphasise that Time can be manipulated, travelled and surpassed by the Will of Allah. Without delving into too many details, there are certain points within the auspicious night which support this theory:

Ibn al-shaTIr (1304-1375) was an arab MusliM

astronoMer, MatheMatician, engineer and

inventor who worked as MuwaQQit (religious

tiMekeeper) at the uMayyad MosQue in

daMascus, syria. he devised a tiMekeeping device

incorporating both a universal sundial and a

Magnetic coMpass.

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• The Prophet experienced this tremendous physical journey to beyond the Farthest Boundary and returned to his point of departure in what can only be described as a short while, as traditions state that his bed was still warm on his return.

• AtMasjidAl-Aqsa, hemet and led the prayersto all prophets that had come before him. There are two points to note here. Firstly, this mosque, which had been built by Prophet Sulaiman Alayhi Salaatu Wa Salaam was in ruins during the Time of the blessed Prophet Muhammad so the prayers were led in a different dimension of Time, or rather at a different point on the linear surface of Time. Secondly, all of Allah’s messengers and prophets were present at this holy sanctuary, and they all belonged to a different era from each other. The miracle here is that, with the will of Allah, they all aligned in one specific moment of Time to meet the blessed Imam of Prophets .

•Duringthecourseoftheilluminatedtravels,AngelJibra’eel showed the inhabitants of heaven and hell to the Prophet . It is common knowledge that it is after the Day of Judgement that people will be either rewarded with heaven or punished in hell, so the implication here is that the Prophet had visited a Time beyond the present dimension. He had witnessed the events that would occur in a distant future.

My personal reflection on the subject of Time as an

entity and its relation to the Night Journey involves one of the lovers of the Holy Messenger . I believe that Time itself stopped and witnessed this miraculous event unfold before it in awe and wonder. The whole of creation came to a standstill as the most unique and spellbinding miracle took place, when the beloved met his Beloved. Subhaan Allah!As we move on to the thoughts of those who are in the shade of Awliya, some disciples of the pious knowledgeable ones have likened Time to an elastic band. As with an elastic band, it can be stretched, compressed, pulled and twisted depending on the force one applies to it. The ultimate force is with Allah, however, He has bestowed powers to His Chosen Ones that ordinary folks do not have the capacity to envisage. Through spiritual enlightenment and vehicles, the Awliya have the capability of travelling at different points of Time and dimensions. We hear several narrations of Awliya from different eras having communicated or met through spiritual encounters.In conclusion, I have provided an analysis of Time in a non-conventional and unorthodox light. The purpose of the above has been to think beyond the common perception of Time and to ponder on the deeper levels of understanding. When we recognise Time as a reality that will continue after our final moments in this realm, we will begin to value every moment we have. Time will perish when Allah chooses it to, and will not end with our final breath.

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However, we have been allotted a portion of this blessing so that we may achieve something from it that will help us in the next realm.

The Prophet strongly emphasised that we should recognise the importance of Time and to ensure that we fully utilise our share of it in this world. To waste Time is a travesty and transgression against oneself as no benefit has been gained from it. Time does not have a free will, unlike us. We can choose to make the most of our Time, knowing it is a blessing from Allah and we have been given opportunities to do good upon good to help us

closer to our ultimate goal.

The Prophet said: “Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become preoccupied, and your life, before your death.” (Narrated by Ibn Abbas in the Mustadrak of Hakim and Musnad Imam Ahmad. Sahih) And Allah is the All Knowing, All Wise.

‘ w h e n w e r e c O g n i s e t i M e a s a r e a l i t y t h a t

w i l l c O n t i n u e a f t e r O u r f i n a l M O M e n t s i n t h i s

r e a l M , w e w i l l b e g i n t O v a l u e e v e r y M O M e n t w e

h a v e . t i M e w i l l p e r i s h w h e n a l l a h c h O O s e s i t

t O , a n d w i l l n O t e n d w i t h O u r f i n a l b r e a t h . ’

A S P A F O R Y O U R C A R

C A R W A S H , V A C U U M , S H A M P O O , E N G I N E W A S H A N D R E M O V A L O F S U R F A C E C O N T A M I N A N T S

C O R N E R W E S T W O O D A N D K N O X S T R E E T S , S A N F E R N A N D O | T E L - 6 8 0 - 9 6 7 7

realities oF the hiJab and beard in the workPlace

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Writer Khadija Hasnain

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says in the glorious Qur’an in Surah An-Nisaa, ayah 59, “O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you.” Alhamdullilah, there are many Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago striving to increase their Imaan and attain Taqwa (the love and fear a Muslim feels for Allah ) by implementing into their lives the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad . An obvious consequence of doing such is being recognised as a Muslim by your physical appearance, as is the case when men grow a beard) or when women wear the hijab (head covering).

THE HIJAB

Trinidad and Tobago, being a multi-religious and multi-cultural society, has demonstrated a general tolerance and acceptance of the wearing of the hijab by Muslim females. In fact, many Muslimah have said they have earned more respect from colleagues when wearing the hijab. Indeed, the advantages of wearing the hijab include:

1. Pleasing Allah , plus you get rewarded;2. Allah’s protection of your natural beauty;3. Purification of your heart and mind;4. Defining your femininity;5. Raising your dignity, protecting your honour

and giving you nobility.

In Government institutions employees generally have no problem in demonstrating religious practices. There are the usual few persons who cast strange looks and make comments, especially when a Muslimah whom they work with starts to wear the hijab. However, these problems do not linger, as Muslimah overcome them eventually through patience and kindness. Even in the private sector most Muslimah who started to wear the hijab said that their co-workers embraced their decision and respected their difference in dress and faith.In the manufacturing, production, petroleum and

gas industries, the safety and health codes are strictly adhered to. Section 10 clause (1)(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2004 states: “It shall be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the safety and health of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work.” One sister mentioned that in her job, where there were mechanical machines involved, she had to ensure her hijab was not long and free-flowing, of a certain material, and she had to secure it inside of her work overalls. This was accepted by the Health and Safety Officer at the factory site. With respect to the opportunity of work for Muslimah in this country, there are only a few instances where a Muslimah may be refused a job because of the hijab. These include jobs in the protective services (police, army, coast guard, and fire service) and also teaching jobs in private or Board schools. For example a Muslimah currently teaching in a Catholic denominational secondary school is not able to wear the hijab to work due to the restrictions of the Catholic Education Board. However, the Board is in its right as such practices are protected under the Equal Opportunity Act of 2000, which states in Section 5 clause 25(c) under Exemption for Religious Bodies: “This Act shall not apply to the employment of persons in any school, college or institution under the direction or control of such a body being employment of persons in a manner that conforms with the doctrines of that religion or is necessary to avoid injury to the religious susceptibilities of the adherents of that religion.”Hijabi Muslimah basically avoid applying for jobs in the local protective services though, due to the rigid uniform requirements that negatively affect the Adaab (etiquette) of wearing the hijab. However, in the United Kingdom and Canada, hijabi Muslimah serve as police officers, aircraft pilots and army personnel.

THE BEARD

It is reported by Abu Hurairah in Muslim, Hadith No. 501 that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi

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Wasallam said, “Trim closely the moustache and grow the beard.”There are an increasing number of Muslim men who are growing the beard in accordance to the Sunnah of Rasulullah . There are some, though, who keep a beard in imitation of what is in vogue rather than what is prescribed. It is reported in Tirmidhi that Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Umar used to cut that portion (which exceeds the grip of the hand) of the beard.

The scientific benefits for having a beard include:1. A beard protects the face from harmful

chemicals, and pollution in the air, which cause cell damage and increase wrinkling and bad skin.

2. The beard covers the skin, which protects the sebaceous glands from being infected by acne vulgaris bacteria, thus preventing acne/spots/pimples.

3. It keeps the face warmer and protects the chin from dangers.

4. It prevents disease of throat and gums.5. Most respiratory problems are prevented by

keeping a beard.

According to many Muslim men, sporting a beard, especially a full one, brings attention, inquisitive looks and stares. One brother explained that people in fact ask a lot more questions than if you were not to have a beard, because they identify you as a Muslim immediately. This gives the opportunity to clarify a lot of doubts and even change some misconceptions about Islam. Another brother says sometimes it becomes the centre of conversations that at times may be annoying or even insulting. He says one has to be strong and firm in faith to deal with such comments.Wearing the beard in the petroleum and gas industries, however, can be an issue. The main concern with having a beard is when there is the presence of poisonous gases. Safety issues arise when the beard prevents the proper sealing of a respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on the face. Many companies which process gas in some form or the other have a “facial hair” policy which provides guidelines for what is acceptable and what is not if your position requires you to wear a SCBA.

What directly affects the application of the policy is the role of the employee. Typically, for operators who are first responders to incidents occurring on site, there is little leeway, and they will always have to be ready to wear the SCBA. One brother who keeps the beard says he is willing to take the risk where wearing the mask over his beard does not provide an airtight seal and some oxygen mixture will be lost. His safe breathing time will be depleted but he expects it will be enough time for him to escape the dangerous gases. Most companies, both local and foreign-based, have strict policies, but employees are able to wear the beards and only have to shave if there are duties such as confined space entry where prolonged use of a SCBA is required.The protective services in Trinidad and Tobago also hinder the enrolment of Muslim men due to the firm rule on recruits being clean-shaven. According to a member of the Police Service, the strict adherence to the ban on beards has to do with the long-standing traditions of uniformity, hygiene, good order and discipline and it is in keeping with strict dress codes that require a sense of professionalism and group identity.

PERFORMAnCE OF SALAAH

Allah says in the glorious Qur’an in Surah At-Talaaq, ayah 3: “And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed, Allah has set a measure for all things.”Many Muslims may find it difficult to pray during working hours because of no prayer room at work or masjid nearby. However, according to one brother, sometimes all one needs is a little effort and Allah

makes a way possible. In the West, so we are so bludgeoned by the criticisms of Islam, that at times we are afraid to be firm and upright about what we have to do for Allah . So a person may feel the need to compromise certain things to please the image of his/her peers at work. Alternatively, Muslims need to be strong and brave in saying and doing what Allah commanded us to do.Muslims have been known to perform their Salaah in available empty offices, huddle rooms and even in parking basements next to their car. It depends on the level of privacy the person wants. The attendance of Jumu’ah Salaah is sometimes hampered when work meetings are scheduled during this time.

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This can be dealt with by informing management or superiors of the importance of attending the Friday prayer. As one brother said, if someone really wants to perform Salaah they can find a solution, Insha Allah.

May Allah guide us all on the Straight Path and may He make it easy for us in our efforts to become closer to Him. As He tells Rasulullah to say in

Surah Al ‘Imraan, ayah 31: “Say: If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”Khuda Hafiz

‘ w i t h r e s p e c t t O t h e O p p O r t u n i t y O f w O r k f O r

M u s l i M a h i n t h i s c O u n t r y , t h e r e a r e O n l y a f e w

i n s t a n c e s w h e r e a M u s l i M a h M a y b e r e f u s e d a

j O b b e c a u s e O f t h e h i j a b . ’

conFessions oF a veggie sMugglerq&a with natasha dabiedeen

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Q: Have you always had a “healthy” diet from since you were growing up?A: Not particularly, but the typical East Indian diet of roti and vegetables, and rice, beans and meat.

Q: When were you first exposed to the idea of hiding veggies in food?A: The idea first came from the local Parenting magazine. There were many kid-friendly recipes and tips on how to create healthy eaters.

Q: How many people are in your household? Do any of you have medically prescribed dietary restrictions?A: Five members including three kids. None of us has doctor’s restrictions but we try to eliminate cholesterol as much as possible.

Q: What is the reason for sneaking in vegetables? Is it because of your husband or the kids?A: Two out of three do not like to eat vegetables and they would be missing a very important part of their nourishment.

Q: Where do you find information and inspiration?A: Recipe books like The Sneaky Chef (thesneakychef.com), Deceptively Delicious and the Internet. Now I create some of my own recipes by substituting pumpkin purée for butter, adding wheat germ and flax seed to flour recipes, spinach to chocolate cookies and regular brownie recipes. I also substitute salmon and tuna in a lot of meat recipes.Three favourite/easy to prepare recipes: appetisers, main dishes, desserts

Q. What’s the easiest veggie to hide?A. It depends on the dish, but pumpkin and carrots because of their sweet and mild taste.

Q: Most difficult veggie? A: Definitely spinach; it has a very strong taste.

Q: Whats a typical “fast-cook” meal at your house?A: Tuna casserole with beans, fish and salad, or fish wraps.

Q: What’s a typical quick fix snack for the kids after school.A: After school they have their fruits — apples, watermelon — or yogurt.

Q: What do your kids have in their lunch kits for school?A: For lunch: Mini pizzas, tuna or beef burgers; once a week, rice, dhal and shrimp or chicken; pasta with pumpkin, carrots or spinach; tuna salad.Snack: chocolate cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, granola.Fruit or vegetable: pineapple, grapes, carrots, cucumber, yogurt.Savoury snack: cheese biscuits, beef cups, crackers.Water and juice (apple, grape or cranberry juice).I put one item from each category in their lunch kits.

Q: What’s your position on high fructose corn syrup and sugary foods?A: Try to avoid wherever possible. Also try to eliminate items with unnatural ingredients, MSG, high levels of sodium, hydrogenated oils.

Q: What do people say when they first hear of your hiding techniques? A: They think that it is a good idea but entails a lot of extra work. However, it becomes easy with a little planning:1. Purchase a large amount of vegetables, e.g. half a

pumpkin at a time. Boil, purée and freeze in ice-trays; then place in re-sealable plastic bags. (Each block is equivalent to 1/8 of a cup so I just follow recipes according to blocks.)

2. Prepare a full batch or two of dough and separate into smaller portions and freeze. So in the morning just take out one pack of dough and roll out accordingly.

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Here are three recipes that Natasha and her family enjoy:

CHOCOLATE DATE-nuT SQuARES

Ingredients:1 cup chopped dates1 tsp baking soda1 ½ cups boiling water 2 large eggs ½ cup puréed pumpkin1 cup granulated sugar1 ½ cups all-purpose flour¾ tsp salt¾ tsp baking soda

Method:1. Pre-heat oven to 180˚C (350˚F)2. Put the dates and the first amount of baking soda

into a large bowl. Pour in the boiling water and stir. Set this mixture aside.

3. Beat the eggs in another bowl. Stir in the puréed pumpkin and sugar. Beat until well blended. Pour into the date mixture and stir.

4. Measure the flour, salt and second amount of baking soda into the date mixture, and stir together.

5. Scrape the batter into a 22 x 33-cm (9 x 13-inch) pan.

6. Prepare topping (below).7. Bake for 50 minutes, or until done.

TOPPInG

Ingredients:¼ cup brown sugar½ cup chopped walnuts½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method:1. Stir the brown sugar, walnuts and chocolate chips

together in a bowl.2. Sprinkle over the batter.

HEART HEALTHY PAnCAKES

Ingredients:1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour1 tbsp ground flax seed or wheat germ 1 tbsp brown sugar¼ tsp salt1 egg beaten1 cup milk½ cup pumpkin purée½ tsp vanilla essence

Method:1. Mix together flour, flax seed, sugar, baking

powder and salt in a small bowl and set aside.

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2. In another bowl whisk together egg, milk, pumpkin purée and vanilla essence.

3. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork.

4. The mixture should be lumpy. If the batter is too thick, add a little more milk.

5. Heat a non-stick frying pan and lightly grease with cooking spray.

6. Pour ¼ cup of batter into the frying pan.7. When the top of the pancake is covered with

bubbles flip over cook until the other side is golden brown.

MInI PIZZA PIZZA DOuGH

Ingredients:1 envelope active dry yeast1 tsp sugar3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour¼ cup mixture of ground flax seed and wheat germ1/2 tsp salt1 ½ cups warm water1 tbsp vegetable oil

TOPPInG

2 medium tomatoes1 medium sweet pepper4–6 tbsp ketchup1–2 tbsp tomato pastePineapple (optional)Mushrooms (optional)

Method:1. Place flour, flax seed and wheat germ mixture,

yeast, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl and gently whisk together.

2. Add warm water and oil and knead for about 8–10 minutes.

3. Cover dough with a moist cloth and leave to rise for 40 minutes.

4. Punch down dough; let rise for another 20 minutes.

5. While dough is rising, preheat oven to 200˚C (400˚F) and prepare topping by placing all the ingredients except the pineapple and mushrooms into a food processor and pulse until it forms a thick paste.

6. Divide dough into 2–4 balls; roll out balls one at a time.

7. Using a cookie cutter with diameter of 3 inches, cut out circles and place on a slightly greased baking sheet.

8. Place about ½–1 tablespoon of topping, and pineapple, if using, on to circles and spread evenly.

9. Sprinkle grated vegetarian cheddar cheese and oregano.

10. Place in oven and bake for 15–18 minutes.

Mini pizza

walking the tight roPehow woMen can keeP the Faith in today’s society

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Writer Denise Mansingh-Mohammed

I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful.When one understands that our purpose in life is simply to please Allah, then everything automatically falls into place. The balance just comes, because you’re able to both give and receive peace and love, for when you can demonstrate giving and receiving of peace and love, you’ll find the balance that allows you to keep your focus and goal — The Love and Pleasure of Allah, the Most Merciful.The Qur’an and Sunnah are like an acrobat’s arms extended over a tight rope; they guide and keep us grounded on the rope of Islam, even as society throws obstacles to unbalance us.I must agree with a friend who says that it is not race, nor ethnicity, that defines her; rather it is her Islam. I agree that I am Muslim before anything else. The question is, however, whether we are

courageous enough to learn, accept and practice our Deen?Islam helped me to develop a rhythm in my life, so I could serve not just my Lord, but also humanity. It is thanks to my former CEO who encouraged his managers to work from home so they could have more family time, that I was able to also find that balance as an employee. It is obvious that there will be ups and downs but our women’s classes, Maktabs, lectures and youth groups help remind us and keep us from shifting too much to the right or left.I talk to so many sisters from different walks of life, who are seeking answers to their problems, including children and even spouses involved with pornography; emotional and physical abuse; alcoholism; drug abuse and gambling. The answers to many of their concerns can be found in the

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Qur’an and Sunnah, but this may not be evident to those who preach but do not practice. Hence I find many Muslims who, in wanting to find a more convenient rather than balanced lifestyle, judge Islam unfavourably. They may say, “I don’t have to cover my head to be a good Muslim,” or “I don’t have to pray five times a day as long as I treat people with respect, and love Allah.” Such statements usually demonstrate a soul that is uncomfortable and unsure of his/her relationship with Allah, and is searching.From my experience, sisters who struggle most with the identity of Islam are often those who are in mixed marriages (where they have married a non-Muslim). They do find it challenging, especially the upbringing of children. May Allah guide them.

Women who successfully walked the tight rope — The Four “Gold Medallists”

In Allah’s infinite wisdom He gave us four women who possess the highest code of conduct, who have achieved Jannatul Firdous (highest level in Heaven). Their life experiences, challenges and their qualities are an inspiration to every woman.• Aasiyah — wife of Pharaoh. Her husband was a disbeliever, and was also considered among the worst of men, since he thought himself to be God. He abused Aasiyah in the worst of ways, and even authorized her death. She stood up to him so that she would not displease her Lord. Even though her husband did have her killed, she was given the promise of a place in Paradise.

• Maryam — mother of Isa/Mary, mother of Jesus. Mary is identifiable both to Muslims and Christians. Recently, when my daughter entered “Convent” and her friends asked about the hijab, she simply said, “Well, Mary is one of the most pious women whom God has promised Heaven, so I want to be like her, so I dress like her, and one day I hope I can be a mother like her to demonstrate unconditional love.”

• Fatimah — daughter of the Prophet She married a brave young man who fought for Islam. She became troubled by the daily routine and chores of being a housewife. It was then that her father, the Rasool , gave her the gift of Zikr in order to have patience and to cope with the day’s activities.

• Khadijah — the first wife of the Prophet . She bore all of his children, except one, and was also the first to accept Islam from the Rasool . She was successful in business and understood the importance of hiring the right people, even someone who might be illiterate, but honest and well mannered.

Make The Choice to stay on the Tight Rope and keep your balance

There was a time when I began to be off-balance. I realized I was becoming mediocre as an employee, wife and a mother, and something had to be off-loaded. The decision to offload came when my three-and-a-half year-old began to memorize the last paragraph of Al Qur’an. His sweet voice and his chubby cheeks made me want to be with him every step of the way. My wonderful bundle of pure

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delight — my daughter — began to speak and I would stare into those bright eyes and often wonder about her future.This is when my “big bang” occurred. My motherly instincts took over and responsibilities of being an employee, a mother and a wife became a concern. It was in the quest to find that balance that I became a more faithful servant.Islam is, indeed, a natural way of life and its teachings bring a great deal of understanding. As a convert to Islam, my understanding of this deen came from the people around me, not initially from the Qur’an or the Sunnah.Fortunately, I have beautiful non-judgmental in-laws and a true believer for a husband. From their actions I began to understand Islam. Even after accepting Islam, I dressed with less than modest attire. I would often sit on my mother-in-law’s lap and hug her, and I remember running to the bedroom whenever my father-in-law’s pious or modestly dressed friends would come to visit. My mother-in-law would laugh at me.I eventually began to wear the hijab. It represented so much for me as before I would use the excuse of being inappropriately dressed to avoid going to prayer. It also made me more conscious of how I carried myself in public and forced me to think twice before I acted, in fear that my Deen would be judged. I could no longer buy the beastly cold soft drinks from a bar on my journeys to Cedros, lest someone would think I was liming in a bar. I appreciated the reminder and used it as a morality checker. I admit the hijab is at times a bit uncomfortable and troublesome, but the benefits

certainly outweigh the discomforts. I feel protected and respected by all.

You need to keep motivated by the spectators; give the front seats to those who remind you of the end goal — the Love and Pleasure of Allah.

I was once faced with the question in a Fiqh class about whether I would accept a non-Muslim to marry my son. Ironically, I said, “I don’t think so.” I felt confused and a bit ashamed at my answer. Was I a hypocrite? It gave me a new love and respect for my in-laws. I asked my mother-in-law in that class for everyone to hear, “Well, how could you have accepted me, how and why did you treat me as if I was the ‘chosen’ one?” Her response came with a smile and the most tender of words, “When I went for Hajj, on the day of Arafat, in my Dua, I saved you for last. I knew the saying of keeping what you want the most for last and felt your unconditional love and compassion.” Thank you Mummy — I love you for the pleasure of Allah.

The Better Half — treated more like a common third

As a marriage counsellor for over 20 years, I have realized that we mothers and wives must make a conscious effort to balance our time between children and spouse.But that is not all. In today’s environment where men are bombarded by nakedness and immorality,

‘ i s l a M i s , i n d e e d , a n a t u r a l w a y O f l i f e a n d i t s

t e a c h i n g s b r i n g a g r e a t d e a l O f u n d e r s t a n d i n g .

a s a c O n v e r t t O i s l a M , M y u n d e r s t a n d i n g O f

t h i s d e e n c a M e f r O M t h e p e O p l e a r O u n d M e , n O t

i n i t i a l l y f r O M t h e q u r ’ a n O r t h e s u n n a h . ’

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they need us more than ever. They need us to bring that balance, to remind them of Allah through our actions, be it awakening them to pray or asking them to go with us to feed the poor. They need us to remind them about Halal and Haram. We also need to be there for them physically, or as a learned colleague said at our last weekend retreat for Muslim couples, to be “a saint on the prayer mat and a tiger in the . . .” Join us for the next retreat and you’ll find the missing word. The work environment can sometimes be difficult. One can only imagine how thankful a man must be to get home to a well-dressed, well fragrant spouse, a clean home, with a simple and nutritious meal. You may be laughing and rolling on the floor, and some of you may even “buss” an echoing “steups”, but I must be honest. At-home wives do have a very demanding day. Sisters, all I ask is that we take the time to empathize with our men and try to please our Lord by our actions. One of the key ingredients to balance the marriage is that we should remember to have an enormous amount of fun and laughter. Learn to enjoy each other’s company even when the house payment is due or the kids are ill.

Meet me half way on the Tight RopeBrothers, you must also demonstrate an appreciation for your wife’s decision to spend time at home or when she performs righteous actions. If she greets you with a smile, reciprocate with a smile and a hug. If she cooks a delicious meal, appreciate it. When she irons your clothing, put on her hijab for her when you invite her to pray with you. When she makes Dua after Salaah, gently open her hands and wipe them over your face. As the Qur’an and Sunnah contain the most poetic language, it can show us beautiful actions to match beautiful words. Remember every act with the intention of goodness is an act of Ibadaat — an act of worship. In that same vein, every act that causes hurt and pain is also an act of worship, not to the pleasure of Allah but to the pleasure of Shaitan. May Allah

keep us mindful of Shaitan’s whisperings and remove him from us.Remember that our Lord did warn us of a time when we would not be able to find the poor and needy because of our separateness from the community, and remember paying Zakaat is meant to purify our wealth. So part of finding balance and keeping a reality check is not just paying the Zakaat to the

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‘ w e a r e t h e O n e s t O M a k e t h e w O r l d a

b e t t e r p l a c e b y O u r a c t i O n s , s O t h a t

w e c a n f i n d b a l a n c e a M O n g s t O u r a c t s

O f w O r s h i p a t h O M e , a t w O r k a n d i n

O u r c O M M u n i t y , a s w e c O n t i n u e t O

s u c c e s s f u l l y w a l k t h e t i g h t r O p e . ’

mosques but meeting the less fortunate and sitting in their homes and listening and learning from them. By doing this we can truly develop empathy. Today’s young people often lack empathy, and this is because we have tried to shelter our little ones from hurt, anger, fear, poverty, etc. Don’t do this; allow your children a broad range of experiences. Too many of them lack emotional intelligence and do not know how to feel and, therefore, how to react. They become desensitized and disconnect

themselves from society. Take them to visit children’s homes or a home for the aged and allow them to interact with less fortunate ones and the elderly.We are the ones to make the world a better place by our actions, so that we can find balance amongst our acts of worship at home, at work and in our community, as we continue to successfully walk the tight rope.

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wearing the hiJab

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Writer Aliyyah Baksh

In the Name of God the Beneficent, the Merciful, as stated in Al Qur’an, Surah Al-’Araf 7:26, “O children of Adam, we have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness — that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.”The hijab, or the covering of the head, is not only a command but also a blessing from Allah . Being a young Muslimah in these times seems to be a lot different from what the experience was 20 to 30 years ago, especially when it comes to personal choice in clothing. As time goes on, trends change and because of this many more options are now available for dressing modestly using headscarfs. Many factors contribute to the type of hijab used, and this depends on location, tradition and personal preference.There are different types of head covering. A very well known one among most of the “aunties” is the duppata or the ohrni. This is usually worn draped over the head and crossed in front as to ensure the bosom is covered. It can be worn with any outfit but is mostly seen with salwaar kameez or kurtas. These usually come a in a large array of bright colours. Another is the Al-ameera hijab, which is a two-piece headscarf that’s very popular in the western world. The inner cap makes it easy for the long scarf to stay in place without pins and is very convenient for work, sports and school, as it stays in place. An alternative, but also very fitting cover, is called the khimar, which is the Arabic word for headscarf. It is a semi circular cloth sewn up the middle, allowing a space for the head to fit. This is usually worn in solid colours, but once again it depends on personal preference.The niqab and burka are complete veils that cover the entire body including the face. The niqab allows for an opening at the eyes, whereas the burka has a grille that covers the eyes. These are usually worn in solid, dark colours. This is because they are most often worn in South and Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan, as a result of climate and traditional practices. It is also worn by other women outside of South Asia, but in these cases it is because of personal preference, not tradition.Last but not least is the very popular shayla. This is a rectangular headscarf that is either wrapped and

pinned or tucked in place. It is currently one of the most popular head coverings because there is such a wide variety of pashminas and scarves available in various colours and patterns. All these hijabs are then further accessorized with other scarves, pins and jewellery.O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful. (33:59) Modesty is key; however, “They have deserved gardens of Eden wherein rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and will wear clothes of green silk and velvet, and will rest on comfortable furnishings. What a wonderful reward; what a wonderful abode! (18:31)”God will admit those who believe and lead a righteous life into gardens with flowing streams. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk. (22:23)” Surely if the dwellers of paradise are adorned in this manner, it cannot be unrighteous to adorn ourselves in the manner which we do, when accessorizing. Allahu A’lam!When it comes to accessories we can never have enough, and strange as it may seem, the ultimate accessory is the scarf itself — the use of several different colours to give a layered effect is simply the best. Chunky beads are definitely in and these enormous shapes look very attractive against a solid-colour hijab — you can wear them just a bit longer than the bosom so they can be seen. A personal favourite is the shayla, as the styling with this rectangular headscarf is unlimited. Most use the pashmina, which made from a type of fine cashmere wool and comes in all colours, sizes and patterns. The Jersey hijab is another type of scarf used for “The Drape”. It is a very common and beloved style particularly because of the expediency; the pashmina is draped unevenly over the head; an under-cap is recommended to make it all the more easier, pinned under the chin. The significantly longer end is then passed over the bosom and draped over the head allowing the option to pin or left to drape off the shoulder. When tying the hijab, one can take the shape of the face into consideration so as to enhance one’s

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Halima”Rose” BakshRehana Razia Wajadali

Zobeeda B. Hosein Gillian Mohammed

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beauty. Oblong faces call for a wrap that frames the face and enhances the cheeks. The Turkish hijab can be used for the oval face. In this style the folded square headscarf is usually made of silk or satin material; it calls for a high bun to the back of the head with the ends wrapped very closely around the neck and frames the face superbly without much effort. Round faces require more of a loose style as to be sure your cheeks and so-called “double-chin” are not prominent. These are just a few simple suggestions to aid you: any style looks good, as long as you feel good about yourself.Being a part of this generation, you are required to keep up to date with the latest trends in society and yes, that does mean using the Internet and social media. Despite having its drawbacks, a definite benefit is the ability to connect with people from all over the globe. While surfing the web, I was blessed to have discovered a truly inspiring individual, who goes by the name “Amenakin,” another ordinary Muslimah, just like us. Her videos consist of hijab tutorials and fashion dos and don’ts, both modest and fashionable. Her tutorials are unsurpassed with

the number of styles that can be done with a simple piece of cloth. She is definitely worth watching!For me, wearing the hijab is a blessing and, I can’t deny, another accessory also! What girl can deny she loves to dress-up, be it occasionally or all the time? It is, however, important to remember when being fashionable and classy, we don’t want to make it too hard for the brothers to lower their gaze if you get what I’m saying — be modest, God willing and everything else will come with ease. Remember, it is your intention above your actions “God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but he looks into your heart and observes your deeds.” May Allah make it easy for us all and I ask that you forgive me if I have wronged you or said anything that may have offended you.

Make-up courtesy Roxanne’s Beauty Salon, Cross Crossing Shopping Centre, San Fernando

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N A D E I R A Y . K H A NAvon Independent Sales Representative

Tel : 1 868 354 9596 or 1 868 657 5088(Member: President’s Club, Honor Society, Rose

Circle, Mc Connel l Club)

A w a r d e e :Best New Performer 2009-2010

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Email: nady28@yahoo.comWebsite: www.youravon.com/nadeirakhan

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

“The Prophet Muhammad is the most successful Prophet in history; the most successful human being,” says Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, in CelebrateMercy’s The Rise and Call of Muhammad Global Webcast. Yet in spite of this esteemed status, and the declaration in the Holy Qur’an of the Prophet being a mercy to the worlds, his legacy remains shrouded in misunderstanding in some circles — both within and beyond the Muslim community.

The Messenger of Allah lives on through the hearts and the actions of millions of people around the world, and despite any misinformation, His life is cause for celebration and should be a source of unifying strength for the Ummah. The non-profit organisation CelebrateMercy was born out of this idea — to unite the Ummah in celebration of the legacy left behind by the most merciful man to grace the Earth.CelebrateMercy was founded in 2010, with the goal to instil a deeper understanding of the Prophet Muhammad , by teaching about his life and character. It also aims to respond to misinformation about him in a way that embodies his Prophetic Mercy. This mission is achieved through its interactive website, webcasts and social media outlets featuring videos of globally prominent scholars and performers.In the past, CelebrateMercy webcasts have included talks by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda; Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan; Imam Omar Suleiman; Habib Ali Al-Jiffri; Habib Umar; Imam Suhaib Webb; Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed; Ustadha Zaynab Ansari; Imam Zaid Shakir; Shaykh Hamza Yusuf; Imam Tahir Anwar; Imam Alaeddin El-Bakri; Qari

Mohamed Jebril; Shaykh Yahya Rhodus; Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah; Shaykh Faraz Rabbani; Imam Afroz Ali; Nader Khan, Sami Yusuf; Maher Zain; Yusuf Islam and many other prominent scholars and performers of our time.The organization strives, through technology, to encourage others to learn more about the Prophet Muhammad , and to follow his footsteps. Hence, it was only right that the organization’s logo would be the Prophet’s sandal. For the first time ever, Muslims and non-Muslims alike are able to tune into online webcasts discussing a part of the life of Prophet Muhammad . The first webcast discussed his birth and childhood as an orphan. The second webcast, held during Ramadan, was entitled, The Man and the Month of Mercy. The third webcast discussed the life of Prophet Muhammad from toddler to a teenager.Each webcast educates viewers with chronological events in the life of Prophet Muhammad ; almost serving as a virtual Seerah. As one webcast viewer posted in a testimonial: “The most beautiful thing about the webcast is the sense of solidarity and togetherness you feel with the Muslim Ummah. To know there is someone in Japan or Bosnia, watching at the same time, possibly going through the same emotions is uplifting . . .”

As the years have passed, CelebrateMercy’s work has grown. Along with educating others about the life of The Prophet , the organization now serves as a voice to tackle any defamation or ridiculing of the Muslim faith that may occur. For example, in 2012 CelebrateMercy organized what was called the MercyMail campaign. This campaign requested Muslims around the world to write letters of condolence for the family of

rediscovering MuhaMMad through the celebrateMercy webcast

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Writer Maliha Khan

United States Ambassador, Chris Stevens, who was slain in Libya. The idea arose from one simple question, “What would Prophet Muhammad do?” CelebrateMercy used the campaign to show non-Muslims that Islam does not encourage hatred and violence; instead it condemns it. The character of the Prophet Muhammad was so beautiful, Subhan Allah, that it was clear he would have never reacted the way many people chose to react to an awful video released on YouTube, which defamed the Prophet Muhammad .On November 4, 2012, CelebrateMercy again helped make history. It joined forces with Imam Zaid Shakir and several other groups to organize what would be known as “1 Billion Salawat Day”, where Muslims around the world would come together and send Salawat to the Beloved . Though the initiative did not reach its goal, more than one million Salawat were sent to the Messenger of Allah . Yet again, Muslims around the world felt united and connected to one another. No matter how far the actual geographical distance truly was, the hearts of Muslims around the world were joined as one. The “1 Billion Salawat Day” completely redefined Salawat and exemplified the power of the Almighty Allah . Knowing that someone else on the other side of the planet was also sending blessings to the Beloved Prophet Muhammad , brought about this feeling of oneness. To think that using the Internet and other modern technology, a degree of oneness could be accomplished is amazing in itself. Subhan Allah.

Through CelebrateMercy’s work, the Muslim world has re-discovered Prophet Muhammad , and the non-Muslim world is finally seeing what Muslims are really like; hence what Islam is all about. CelebrateMercy’s webcasts have also contributed to many individuals being inspired to taking Shahadah and converting to Islam. Alhamdulillah. Most of all, though, CelebrateMercy’s work has helped touch many individuals who were truly struggling with their faith, helping them find solace and regain their spirituality. As another webcast viewer testifies: “At a time when I was in my darkest moments since reverting to Islam in 2009, when I was on the edge, close to leaving Islam, this webcast has renewed my faith. It brought me back to the moment when I first said the Shahadah, heart full of Imaan and light.

It has made me look at the Prophet in an entirely different way then I could have ever imagined, and I must say, I am truly in love . . . This webcast has changed my life!”By utilizing modern-day technology, CelebrateMercy has been able to impact the lives of others in a positive way. With the Baraka and blessings of many, such as the San Fernando Jama Masjid, CelebrateMercy has accomplished a lot in just a short period of time. However, this is just the beginning of CelebrateMercy’s work. There is more history to be made. So as always, Let’s Make History by Telling his Story.

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the necessity oF JusticeexcerPted FroM an address by Maulana siddiq ahMad nasir in 2003

‘ w e r e M i n d O u r s e l v e s t O d a y t h a t t h e

e s t a b l i s h M e n t O f j u s t i c e ( ‘ a d l a n d Q i s t ) i s

i M p e r a t i v e O n u s , b i n d i n g i n a l l s i t u a t i O n s ; e v e n

i f O u r O w n i n t e r e s t s a r e h a r M e d t h e r e b y , w e s t i l l

h a v e t O s t r i v e f O r t h e e s t a b l i s h M e n t O f j u s t i c e . i t

i s u n c O n d i t i O n a l , u n i v e r s a l a n d a b s O l u t e . ’

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Islam upholds a basic value which should underlie our individual behaviour, and which should also underlie the social order. Justice is the value that should underlie our individual and collective behaviours. With the striving for the establishment of justice, will come the establishment of both equality and freedom in due proportion, because there is nothing like absolute freedom, or absolute equality. We need to remind ourselves that it is this value: justice that needs to inform our individual behaviour as well as our collective behaviour.

Allah tells us in Surah al-Hadeed, Chapter 57: Verse 25 in the Holy Qur an, “Verily, we did send our Messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong) that men may stand forth in justice . . .”So the establishment of justice was part of the mission for which various Messengers were sent to various peoples in this world as we are told in this verse When we look at the instructions given by Allah

for example in Surah al-Nisa 4:135, Al Qur’an and Surah al-Maidah 5:8, Al Qur’an, we see that the establishment of justice is an absolute imperative. It is an unconditional imperative. It is a universal imperative. It is binding on everyone, in every situation, regardless of all considerations. These verses are Surah al-Nisa 4:135, Al Qur’an,“O you 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 you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that you do”.And Surah al-Ma’idah 5:8, Al Qur’an, “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to justice, and let not the hatred of others for you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.”These two verses, together with other verses of the Holy Qur’an, clearly inform us that the establishment of Justice is an unconditional, universal, absolute imperative for everyone, in all places, in all situations, under all conditions, regardless of whether it is justice to the rich, or justice to the poor; justice to the wrong doer or

justice to the good person; justice to the Muslim or justice to the non-Muslim; justice to the friend or justice to the enemy.The opposite of Justice for which we have two words in the Holy Qur an, Adl and Qist, is Zulm. This term means oppression, tyranny, injustice, exploitation. Allah classifies sin as Zulm against one’s own self. Don’t we realize that the One Who created us, the One Who is All Knowing in relation to our own make-up and personalities, is the One Who has sent Guidance for our benefit? He knows what constitutes justice by ourselves to our own selves, and what constitutes injustice by ourselves to ourselves, even though we may not know this. He has given us that Guidance. The establishment of justice demands that we strive to implement the Guidance that He has given in relation to our selves. Therefore, we need to be striving to do everything that leads to the growth and development and the blossoming of the human personality in all dimensions, and at the same time, we need to be striving to refrain from anything that harms the human personality in any dimension, whether it is physically or intellectually or morally or aesthetically or spiritually. So let us examine ourselves. Are we striving to establish justice in relation to our own selves? Because justice is the value that should determine how we behave to ourselves. Then there is justice by ourselves to other than ourselves; justice to human beings; justice to the environment. It is unfortunate that instead of justice being the value that we are striving to establish in our relations with others, we are entrenching and institutionalizing Zulm, injustice and oppression and tyranny and exploitation in our relationships with others. We have to scrupulously abstain from anything that harms anyone in any dimension of his or her personality and to scrupulously abstain from doing anything that harms the Creation of Allah , i.e. the environment and so on. We see today that this is not how we human beings are behaving. We are seeing violence of the individual against himself; violence of the individual against the members of his or her family; violence of the individual in relation to others; violence of the individual in relation to the environment and so on.

Allah speaks of the Zaalimeen: the people who are guilty of Zulm, in various verses of the Holy Qur an, and we should pay attention to those verses,

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so that we can make the effort to strive to stay away from the things that number people among the Zaalimeen: the people who are guilty of Zulm. We need to have justice at the individual level and at the collective level. Collective behaviour needs to be informed by the value of striving to establish justice. In economics we have an international economic system that is manifestly founded on Zulm: on injustice, and tyranny, and oppression, and

exploitation, that leads to the siphoning off of the wealth of the poorer nations, for example, to the coffers of the wealthier nations. That leads to the creation of permanently poor and dispossessed people in this world; that leads to nations going into increasing debts, and in many cases, debts they cannot repay.We have Zulm as the basis of the economic order in the world. We need justice in politics. We find that in politics, national politics and international

‘ . . . t h e e s t a b l i s h M e n t O f j u s t i c e i s a n

u n c O n d i t i O n a l , u n i v e r s a l , a b s O l u t e i M p e r a t i v e f O r

e v e r y O n e , i n a l l p l a c e s , i n a l l s i t u a t i O n s , u n d e r

a l l c O n d i t i O n s , r e g a r d l e s s O f w h e t h e r i t i s j u s t i c e

t O t h e r i c h , O r j u s t i c e t O t h e p O O r ; j u s t i c e t O t h e

w r O n g d O e r O r j u s t i c e t O t h e g O O d p e r s O n ; j u s t i c e

t O t h e M u s l i M O r j u s t i c e t O t h e n O n - M u s l i M ;

j u s t i c e t O t h e f r i e n d O r j u s t i c e t O t h e e n e M y . ’

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politics; unfortunately, it is Zulm that is the basis of much of the behaviour in politics and international relations.Why is it in the world today, that if you are wealthy and with your wealth comes the kind of power that wealth brings, you get off freely or almost freely from major offences, but when you are poor and dispossessed you get long sentences for small crimes in many countries of the world? Why is it that there is corruption in the process and enforcement of the law? There is Zulm, not justice. And there needs to be justice in social relations. But this is not what prevails nowadays. It is Zulm (injustice, and tyranny and oppression and exploitation) that prevails.We need to examine our own selves to see what we may be doing that constitutes Zulm and how far we are actually striving to establish justice. Then we can beseech Allah to grant us the capability to remove ourselves from that, which constitutes Zulm, and the capability to strive harder to establish that which constitutes justice. We need to work for the establishment of justice at the collective level as well. We cannot sit back and say because we do not have the ability to change the society overnight or in two months or a year, therefore we will not do anything. Allah will certainly take every one of us to account in proportion to the capability that He gave us. And we are all endowed with capabilities. He will not question us as to why

we didn’t change the society overnight, as that was not the capability that He gave us. But to sit back idly and allow the perpetration of Zulm, when we have the capability to do something, is to be guilty of participating in the perpetration of Zulm.We remind ourselves today that the establishment of Justice (‘Adl and Qist) is imperative on us, binding in all situations; even if our own interests are harmed thereby, we still have to strive for the establishment of justice. It is unconditional, universal and absolute. It is an imperative of this nature, and we are to strive to stay away from Zulm. We have to strive for the establishment of justice in our individual behaviour as well as in our collective behaviour. We have to strive to do whatever we can do to remove Zulm: injustice oppression, tyranny, and exploitation in any form — whether it may be in the behaviour of individuals, groups, communities, or nations. We have to strive in accordance with the capabilities that Allah endowed us with, to remove Zulm.

May Allah Bless us with being able to strive for the establishment of justice as He has commanded, and may He keep us from being people who act on the basis of Zulm, individually as well as collectively. And may He Guide and Bless us all.

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MusliMs going greenWriter Ruqayyah Abdullah

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‘ t h e w O r l d ’ s a t t e n t i O n i s u s u a l l y h e l d b y t h e

h e a d l i n e s t h a t s h O c k u s — l i k e w a r s , c r i M e ,

h u M a n i n j u s t i c e a n d M O s t r e c e n t l y , f i n a n c i a l

c r i s e s . h O w e v e r , e n v i r O n M e n t a l t r a g e d i e s O f t e n

g O u n n O t i c e d e x c e p t f O r t h e O c c a s i O n a l r e M i n d e r

t h a t g l O b a l w a r M i n g i s i M M i n e n t . ’

We take for granted pure air and clean water, but they are becoming luxuries that many people in the world do not have. The environmental disasters of the last few decades have prompted many campaigns worldwide, but still many people either do not get involved or do not know the importance of protecting the environment. Let us consider some stark and unsettling facts: •About1%ofourtropicalforestsareclearedevery

year, which means that in less than a century, tropical nations will be devoid of natural forests.

•12–30%ofallmajorgroupsofanimalspeciesarethreatened globally.

• By 1994, 37% of the world’s population livednear coastal regions. What will happen to these people when coastal regions are lost to sea-level rise — one of the effects of global warming?

Perhaps one of the greatest victories for the planet was the campaign to create awareness of the extent of damage that can be done to our ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The resultant removal of CFCs from many products would have slowed down deleterious effects on the ozone. However, by the 2000s, the size of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica had already grown to more than three times the size of the United States.We can go on and on about the depressing state of our environment but it is futile to talk about problems without exploring solutions. What we need is action, and a dynamic environmental movement comprising professionals, academics,

volunteers, activists and lobbyists is working towards bringing about some positive change. What is perplexing, however, is that not many Muslims are part of this struggle for environmental change. This is particularly troubling since Allah has specially told us in the Qur’an that He has made us vicegerents on earth (refer to Surah Al Baqarah: 30). Shouldn’t we, therefore, be holding the banner for environmental progress?We should note that Allah didn’t just make us vicegerents, without first telling us why. In Surah An Nahl, He tells us about all He has provided to make our lives easier, from livestock to rain to crops (refer to Surah An Nahl: 5-10). He went on to say that He “causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who give thought.” (Surah An Nahl: 11). The word used for “sign” in the Qur’an is the word, Ayah. It appears numerous times when Allah speaks of His Ayaat, quite often in nature. These signs are meant for us to contemplate and not to be taken lightly or ignored. This contemplation goes to the core of our natural disposition — our Fitrah. Theologians have suggested that if children are left alone on a deserted island, and they grow up without any influence, their fitrah would lead them to contemplate about the wonders of the creation around them. They would then take the next step and suppose that this natural creation was made by God. This is no different to the path Ibrahim Alayhi Salaatu Wa Salaam took as Allah guided

him: “And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith]” (Surah An An’am: 75). He considered the wonders of creation: the sun, the moon and the stars, but thereafter declared that “Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth . . . ” (Surah An An’am: 79).Alhamdulillah, most of us have had the opportunity to experience the grandeur of the beauty of our earth, whether in the form of breath-taking majestic mountains, wind-swept beaches or plants that are the greenest of green with flowers that are the reddest of red. We have all had that moment, when we have witnessed an eclipse or watched the most beautiful of sunsets, or felt the relief of a drizzle on what seems like the hottest of days. Those are the times we have stopped to truly ponder the ayaat of Allah . But this should spur us into action, shouldn’t it? Maybe we should feel more encouraged, when Allah said: “And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favours of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful.” (Surah Ibrahim: 32). In Surah Ar Rahman, Allah vehemently reminds us about His favours — the sun, moon, stars, trees, heavens, creatures, date palms, grain, scented plants and the seas with their emergent pearls and corals — all of this accompanied by the Surah’s oft

occurring ayah: “So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?” So He has told us that He has given us everything that we could ask for and we could not possibly list His favours on us. So as Muslims, this should stir our sense of responsibility to our planet.The Prophet said in a hadith reported by Anas

, “If the Hour (the Day of Resurrection) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before the Hour is established to plant it.” (As-Silsilah as-Saheehah). Let us for a second consider what the human condition would be like as we approach the Day of Resurrection. Allah tells us in Surah Al Hajj: 2, “On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allah is severe.” Even with all this horror, fear and chaos, if we are planting a shoot, we should still plant it. The Prophet has said that there is reward for us in planting trees. He said, “If any Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, and a human, bird or animal eats from it; it shall be reckoned as charity from him.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). Are we even taking the time to plant trees now, while we are still contentedly enjoying the favours of Allah ?

‘ t h e p r O p h e t h a s s a i d t h a t t h e r e i s r e w a r d

f O r u s i n p l a n t i n g t r e e s . h e s a i d , “ i f a n y

M u s l i M p l a n t s a t r e e O r s O w s a f i e l d , a n d a

h u M a n , b i r d O r a n i M a l e a t s f r O M i t ; i t s h a l l

b e r e c k O n e d a s c h a r i t y f r O M h i M . ” ( s a h i h a l -

b u k h a r i , s a h i h M u s l i M ) . ’

144 m a g a z i n e

In another Hadith, narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al- Aas , “The Prophet passed one day by Sa d ibn Abi Waqas while he was performing Wudhu. The Prophet asked Sa d, “Why is this wastage?” Sa d replied “Is there wastage in Wudhu also?” The Prophet said, “Yes, even if you are at a flowing river.” (Ahmad). Here we are being warned against wasting our resources, though these are things we do every day without thinking. Moreover, we need to follow the example of the Prophet himself, whom after the Hijrah to Madinah, planted numerous date palm trees and established a conservation area known as a Hima or a “protected area” around Madinah, in which natural resources were to remain untouched.We rightly use the word Deen for Islam as opposed to merely “religion”. Among the many beauties of Islam lies the fact that it is an all-encompassing way of life — not simply rituals that are disconnected from the way in which we live. We have responsibilities to our neighbours, our communities and our earth as a whole, because we are Muslims. Allah has subjected “ . . . whatever is on the earth . . . ” (Surah Al Hajj: 65) to us, made us vicegerents for it and therefore it is within our inherent responsibility to protect it. We should be at the forefront of showing the world that Islam is a green deen, because with Eeman burning in our hearts, we should know and understand that this is the right our earth has over us.

So, now you ask, “What can I, as an individual and a contributor to my home, workplace and jamaat do?” Here are some good points to start with: 1. Reduce: Mass consumerism powered by the

need we all have to constantly buy new “stuff” is draining the resources of the world. The companies that make most of our “stuff” are often in Third World nations where environmental violations go unreported or unnoticed to us. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and take shorter showers. The Prophet performed Ghusl with just one Sa’a of water (less than two litres!) and he made Wudhu with one Madd of water (two handfuls!). Use less electricity — if it’s not in use, turn off. Energy efficient light bulbs and appliances also cut down on your electricity usage.

2. Reuse: Grocery bags make excellent trash bags especially since many are now biodegradable. You can also give away items that you no longer use and reap the blessings of your sadaqa.

3. Recycle: Many offices collect paper to recycle. If your office does not, you can propose one to your office manager. It’s not difficult, nor costly, to set up. There are also local companies that collect plastic and glass for recycling, either by installing bins in communities or doing pick-ups. A quick Google search will lead you on your way.

‘ i n s u r a h a r r a h M a n , a l l a h v e h e M e n t l y r e M i n d s

u s a b O u t h i s f a v O u r s — t h e s u n , M O O n , s t a r s ,

t r e e s , h e a v e n s , c r e a t u r e s , d a t e p a l M s , g r a i n ,

s c e n t e d p l a n t s a n d t h e s e a s w i t h t h e i r e M e r g e n t

p e a r l s a n d c O r a l s — a l l O f t h i s a c c O M p a n i e d b y

t h e s u r a h ’ s O f t O c c u r r i n g a y a h : ‘ s O w h i c h O f t h e

f a v O u r s O f y O u r l O r d w O u l d y O u d e n y ? ’

145

4. Plant a Tree: This can be in your own home or even with a group from the Masjid. The trees can be sourced from government institutions or even a green-thumbed neighbour. Imagine the reward of just sitting at home and getting continuous sadaqa. Who can turn that down?

5. Don’t litter: Sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how many Muslims will throw garbage from their car or on the streets. Keep your trash with you and keep a plastic bag in your car for garbage on long trips with the kids.

6. Take a walk: If the Masjid is right down the street, consider walking. Many people scoff at the idea of walking or taking the stairs at work, but these activities reduce your carbon footprint and help you lose those extra pounds you’ve been meaning to.

7. Car pool: Ever been to the Masjid and counted 20 cars in the parking lot and 20 people inside?

Try it next time. Many times we can pick up a friend or neighbour to go to the Masjid with us, especially during Ramadan. This will not only reduce carbon emissions, but will also build brotherhood and sisterhood.

Those are just a few simple things we can do. While it would seem as if making positive impacts on our environment is impossible, there is always something anyone one of us can do. If we all sat in the Masjid hall and the electricity went, most of us would just sit there and wait for the electricity to come back on. Then one person would light a match. Another person will feel motivated by that and use the light from their phone and then eventually, the entire hall will be full of light. Change is always possible; it just simply starts with one person and a spark.

‘ w e h a v e r e s p O n s i b i l i t i e s t O O u r n e i g h b O u r s ,

O u r c O M M u n i t i e s a n d O u r e a r t h a s a w h O l e ,

b e c a u s e w e a r e M u s l i M s . ’

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With the growing concern for environmental preservation, the San Fernando Jama Masjid Committee introduced some measures aimed at reducing our impact on the environment.In 201 1, a popular Facebook campaign entitled “No Styrofoam This Ramadan” was noticed by the Masjid’s President, Abdul Waheed Ma jid, who shared this idea with the Masjid committee. As a result, during Ramadan 201 1, all attempts were made to reduce/eliminate the use of Styrofoam, plastic plates and cups at the time of breaking the fast and dinner.In 2012, these efforts were intensified when the Masjid used the services of a local

company, Its Up to Me Environmental, for the collection of plastics, in particular water and soft drink bottles which were used to break the fast. This effort was an eye opener as we realised just how much plastic waste goes into dumps every day — each night we collected at least two large garbage bags filled to capacity from a gathering of roughly 200 people. Once the recycling services are available, this effort will continue.The Masjid’s ongoing refurbishments also contribute to this green effort, as the newly installed roof is fully insulated, which would reduce electricity consumption.

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DOWn ACROSS 2. The First Pillar of Islam 1. Supplication14. A Namaaz 2. A Prophet13. The Call to Prayer 3. A Famous Battle15. Our Nabi 4. Position in Salaat8. The Throne 5. First Man10. Direction faced for Salaat 6. A Caliph16. A Prophet 7. All Prophets were20. Lord 8. Pharoah’s wife18. A Namaaz 9. Arabic letter17. One of the Books a Muslim believes in 10. Recitation 11. Gate or Door 12. Someone who performed Hajj 19. Arabic letter

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