The Islamic Bulletin Newsletter Issue No. 10

Page 1 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Issue 10 Vol . XXII, No . 27 in this issue Letters tothe Editor .......................... 2 DrugDealerAccepts Islam ................. 3 IslamicWorldNews .......................... 4 IslamicDietary Laws ........................... 6 Cook ’ sCorner .................................. 6 Women in Islam ................................. 7 The IslamicCure ................................ 8 TheMiracles of theQur ’ an . .............. 8 Why I Embraced Islam ........................ 9 Stories of the Sahabas ........................ 12 Kid ’ sCorner ..................................... 13 Sayings of the Prophet ....................... 14 Islamic Science ................................... 14 BookReview ...................................... 15 Holidays ........................................... 16 The IslamicBulletin Published by the Islamic Community of Northern California A Non-Profit Corporation P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186 E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Website: http://www.islamicbulletin.org RamadanIsHere !!! Themonth of Ramadan has once again begun. Ramadan is a very special month in aMuslim’s life. It is a time for Muslims to earn countless rewards and a time to seek forgiveness for past sins. Muslims wait all year long for the arrival of Ramadan. Although Ramadan brings the hardships of fasting, it also brings the pleasure of knowing that the fast itself is for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah. As-Siyam (Fasting) generally means “to abstain from something.” For example, a verse in the Qur’an says: “I have vowed to the Merciful to abstain - that is from speaking.” What is meant here is abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse fromdawn until sunset with the explicit intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah). On both the individual and social levels, fasting has many virtues and benefits. Of these we can mention the feeling of sympathy for the poor. After all, man’s sense of compassion springs from his feeling of pain, and fasting is a practical means to develop compassion in his spirit. In this regard, it is reported that Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was the most generous among people, and he was especially generous during Ramadan. Moreover,fastingestablishesequalityamongtherichandthepoor.Inaway,itisacompulsoryexperience of poverty in that it is meant tomake all people share an equality, not diversity, of feeling and to sympa - thize with one another through a collective sense of pain, not through a discord or diversity of desires. It is also during fasting that Muslims can really sympathize with the starving people everywhere in the world and see the hardship that they go through everyday of their lives. We, as Muslims, must unite together and sharewith the rest of theMuslimUmmah all over theworld. In thisway, onewill increase the practical aspect of the unity of Muslims and will reduce the idea of nationality and segregation. Let us all remember what the Prophet (PBUH) said in his Farewell Pilgrimage Address: “O people, listen to my words! For I do not know whether we shall meet again and perform Hajj after this year. O ye People! Allah says: “O people we created you from one male and one female andmade you into tribes and nations, so that you are known to one another. Verily in the sight of Allah, the most honored amongst you is the one who is the most God-fearing.” There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for the white over the black nor the black over the white except in piety. All mankind is the progeny of Adam and Adam was fashioned out of clay.... O people! Every Muslim is the brother of other Muslim, and all the Muslims form one brotherhood.” Sowhether aMuslim is fromSomalia, Bosnia, Palestine, Algeria, India, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Vietnam, America, or wherever, he or she is part of this Brotherhood. Fasting develops self-control and helps Muslims overcome selfishness, greed, laziness and other faults. It is an annual training program to refresh us for carrying out our duties towards Allah. Besides the feeling of hunger and thirst, fasting teaches us to control the love of comfort. Also, it helps us to keep our sexual desires within control. Hunger, comfort, and sex are three factors which must be kept under control to behave as Allah’s servants. The purpose of fasting is to make a Muslim able to control his passions, so that he becomes a person of good deeds and intentions. Anger, a common human weakness, can also be brought under control by fasting. AMuslim is expected to keep away from all bad actions during his fast. He should not lie, break a promise or do any deceitful act. Good habits are another good practice learned during Ramadan. A large quantity of good, edible food is dumped as waste daily. If it was used properly, society would have more food available to help combat famine. Those who are affluent have to learn how to cut down the consumption of foods. Allah says in the Holy Quran concerning the cutting down of food intake, in Surah Al-A’raf: “...And eat and drink but exceed not the bounds; surely Allah does not like those who exceed the bounds.” (Qur’an 7:31) The Prophet (pbuh) advised people to decrease their food and liquid consumption. In this regard he said: “ The worst thing for a person to do is to fill his stomach. It is enough for a person to have small bites to satisfy his hunger. However, if he has to eat more, then one-third for his food, one-third for his liquids and one-third for his respiration.” During the month of Ramadan, one should visit and offer prayers more frequently in the local Masjids. Ramadan is a special time for visiting friends and family and sharing meals with the less fortunate. All in all, let us try and make simple changes this Ramadan that will last throughout the year. Let us become kinder people, better neighbors, and good examples of the beautiful religion of Islam which we represent. Ramadan Mubarak!! Happy Ramadan!! -from all of us at the Islamic Bulletin and the Islamic Center.

Page 2 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Page 3 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Dear Editor: Periodica Islamica is a quarterly journal produced by Berita Pub - lishing - the leading publisher of a wide range of books and magazines for the world market. As a contents journal, Periodica Islamica reproduces contents tables from a vast number of periodicals in many languages. These periodicals are selected for indexing on the basis of their relevance to scholarly issues, current affairs, history, culture, and religion. We maintain contents indexing arrangement with over 700 publishers worldwide. It is my pleasure to convey that your periodical, The Islamic Bulletin, has been selected for indexing by Periodica Islamica. This gives you an opportunity to be listed by the world’s premier journal in this field. With the journal/publisher’s logo and contents table of your publicationmaking recurring appearance, you reach to a worldwide readership. For this service, Berita levies no charge on you. Our initial plan is to commence indexing the latest issue of your periodical. In order to ensure consistency of coverage, it would be necessary for us to receive your publication on a regular basis. I, therefore, request that you please add us to your mailing list. We welcome rush copies of your issues and would be happy to accommodate any specific request that you may have. We already have added you to our mailing list. Upon publication, you will receive each issue of Periodica Islamica carrying contents from your selected publication. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter and look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Dr. Munawar A. Anees Editor-in-Chief Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Dear Editor: I am extremely happy with your newsletter because it has helped me in many ways. It is a guide for me and I look forward to every issue. This is one of the best newsletters I have read so far. I read every article. I am a young man who has repented to Allah, a sincere repentance Inshallah. But, I committed a sin prior to my repentance. I stole some money from one of my relatives and now I feel ashamed to give him back the money. What should I do? (Name and address withheld) Response: Dear Brother, First, I pray to Allah that He accepts your repentance, and that He keeps all of us firm in our repentance until the day we meet Him. Letters ToThe Editor Inshallah, Allah will forgive you for the sins which you committed prior to your repentance. Allah says in the Holy Quran: Say: “O my servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” “Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and submit to Him, before the chastisement comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.” (Quran 39:53-54) “He is the One that accepts repentance from His servants and forgives sins: and He knows all that ye do.” (Quran 42:25) On the authority of Anas (R.A.A.), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying: “Allah the Almighty has said: O son of Adam, so long as you call uponMe and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, believing inMe, and not associating anybody withMe, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as the earth is.” (Tirmizi) You should realize that Allah is Most Generous and Most Merciful and that He forgives our sins and is happy of our repentance. Yet, Allah is not harmed by one’s wrongdoing nor from one’s good deeds, but Allah loves those of us who ask for forgiveness. It is mentioned in the following hadith that Hazrat Anas bin Malik (R.A.A.), an attendant of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), reports that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has said: “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than would be one of you who were to lose his riding camel, which carries his food and drink, in barren desert and then find it suddenly.” (Bukhari and Muslim) It is also mentioned in the following hadith that Abu Musa Ash’ari (R.A.A.) relates that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said: “Allah will continue to hold out His hand at night so that he who has sinned during the day might repent, and to hold out His hand during the day so that one who has sinned at night might repent, and Allah will continue to do so till the sun rises from the West, i.e. till the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim) After your repentance, you should make your intention not to do it again. And as for the money, you have to find some way to return it to your relative. 1) You can go directly to your relative and tell him what happened. You can then explain to him that you have repented and you are returning the money. Your relative would be very happy and most likely say, “JezakAllah (May Allah reward you) and forgive you.” Or, if you are ashamed to go directly, then: 2) Put the money in an envelope. Then give the envelope to a young child and ask that child to hand it to your relative. You could include a note with it explaining what happened; that you took the money from him in the past but are now returning it. You need not include your name. And Allah knows best. Dear Editor: I was hospitalized in the San Francisco Heart Institute two weeks ago. On my way back from the hospital to the Holiday Inn, a Muslim Brother cab driver gave me a copy of your Islamic Bulletin. I must be grateful to Allah and to all the Muslim brothers and sisters in San Francisco for having been able to establish the Center. May God bless you and this establishment towards a better development of Islamic society around the world. As a token of my appreciation towards your effort, enclosed please find two volumes of my “Collection of Sermons”, which may be useful to the Center. My family and I are vacationing now in Seattle for recuperation of my heart treatment. Also, please enter my subscription for my daughters who are living in Seattle. May God Bless You Always! Sincerely yours, A.G. Nasutien Manila, Philippines Need tocontact us ? Web Address: www.islamicbulletin.org E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Editor, Islamic Bulletin P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186, USA Also, please enter my subscription for my daughters who are living in Seattle. May God Bless You Always! Sincerely yours, A.G. Nasutien Manila, Philippines Dear Editor: My name is Zack Waldman and I am thirteen years old. We have been studying world religion in school. We all picked religions to do a project on, and since I liked it best, I chose Islam. I have been very interested in Islam, reading the Koran and studying about Allah and Mohammed. I would appreciate it very much if you could send me some materials on Islam. Please do it ASAP, as I have a deadline. Thank you very much. I will be happy to pay the postage. Zack Waldman Lahaska, Pennsylvania Response: Dear Zack, If you are searching for the Truth, Allah will guide you. God does not look at our wealth, position, or race but scans our hearts. Take time to read about Islam. I hope these books, tapes, and pamphlets are helpful in informing you more about Islam. I have also enclosed our issues of “The Islamic Bulletin”. If you have any other questions, please write me or give me a call. Good Luck and may Allah guide you. --Editor Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalamu Alaikum! The Brothers here at Masjid Muhammad pray that all the Muslims there are being blessed with good health and prosperity. We are presently incarcerated, and writing to ask for your help towards our dahwa efforts here. We are seeking whatever help you may be able to offer, such as, volunteers to come into this institution, books and literature, and contacts with Muslims willing to correspond with Brothers here. Our greatest need is that of volunteers to come in and help us in our spiritual development. We have no Imam or any other Muslim free person coming in. All praises due to Allah (SWT), we are doing the best we can on our own, however, the presence of knowledgeable and grounded Muslims would greatly enhance our efforts. We need Muslims to teach at our Jumu’ah and taleem services, and guide us in our strives to become good Muslims. Our Ummah consists of about 35 Brothers. We have proper accom - modations for our Masjid, Holy Qur’ans and Hadith, and a relaxed environment. If someone was to volunteer, the conditions would be conducive to teaching and learning, Inshallah. Anyone interested should write us so we can discuss the necessary procedures, or call our sponsor, Ms. Rohrbach, at (209) 984-5291 ext. 5205. As mentioned, we are in need of any type of assistance you can offer. If you can provide us with literature, or direct us to other possible sources, we would greatly appreciate it. In any case, Inshallah, we would like to maintain communication with you and any other willing Muslims; just having contact with the world community would be of great inspiration to the Brothers here. Inshallah, we hope to hear from you soon, and we pray that Allah (SWT) continues to bless us all. Faithfully, Anthony Faulk Islamic Clerk, E-06583 Sierra Conservation Center P.O. Box 497 Jamestown, CA 95327 Attn: N. Rohrbach, Islamic Sponsor Oakland, CA On the authority of Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), narrated to us: “Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s belly for forty days in the form of seed, then he is a clot of blood for a like period, then a morsel of flesh for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows the breath of life into him and who is commanded about four matters: to write down his means of livelihood, his life span, his actions, and whether happy or unhappy. By Allah, other than Whom there is no God, verily one of you behaves like the people of Paradise until there is but an arm’s length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he behaves like the people of Hell-fire and thus he enters it; and one of you behaves like the people of Hell-fire until there is but an arm’s length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he behaves like the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.” Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim When one reads the above hadith and then the story below, one will clearly see how the remarkable life story of Jacques Baston is the perfect example of the above hadith and a time to ponder about one’s life. Jacques Baston was born on August 31, 1970 in Oakland, California to John and Myrna Baston. His early education was nurtured and developed in the parochial and public school systems in Oakland. He attended junior high school at Wentworth Military academy in Lexington, Missouri, where he graduated. After completing his high school in Nevada, Jacques returned to Oakland where his life took a turn for the worse. Although Jacques had good parents and was raised a Christian, he began getting involved with the wrong crowd and eventually started selling drugs. Then in May of 1991, Jacques Baston was shot in the knees and chest with a 9 millimeter handgun by some gang member. It was during this time when Jacques was hospitalized that he began reading the Holy Quran. A Muslim brother came to visit Jacques in the hospital and brought him the Quran to read. It was from this time that Jacques began to analyze his life and the purpose of it. He realized that he was caught up with drugs and wanted a way out. After his release from the hospital, Jacques would come to the mosque. He attended Jumha prayers on a regular basis and it was during this time that he learned how to make salat (prayer). And although Jacques had not accepted Islam yet, he wanted to learn how to pray. The shooting had left Jacques with a slight handicap but he still insisted on praying, even though he felt slight pain when bending to his knees. Another Muslim brother, named Tashiri, used to speak to Jacques about Islam. Tashiri used to give Dahwa (invitation to Islam) and talk about the Akhira (after-life) and explain how this life was only a temporary life. Jacques would exclaim that he believes in his heart that he was a Muslim and that Islam was the true religion. He used to say, “I know I am a Muslim. I know Islam is the truth. Islam is real!” But he felt that he was too caught up in selling drugs to become a Muslim. He believed that he had to give up selling drugs before he could accept Islam. But it was during this time that he began telling his friends that he wanted to quit selling drugs and become a Muslim. Also, it was after being shot that Jacques realized that it was no coincidence that the Brother had visited him in the hospital and gave him the Quran to read. He realized how Allah was giving him a second chance to live, change his lifestyle, and become a Muslim. He knew that Allah must be extremely Merciful to give him another chance. DrugDealerAccepts Islam

Page 4 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Page 5 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 In 1992, Jacques got married to De Jahnee Jackson and had a son named, Jacques Baston, Jr. Being married to De Jahnee and being a father to his son were some of the high points in Jacques life. He used to discuss Islam with his wife and explain to her how he believed it was the right religion. Jacques had never believed in the trinity and said that he did not want his children growing up believing in it. Even though he started reading and praying at the mosque, he did not enter into the fold of Islam as he said he had to be perfect and give up selling. He continued, however, to come for the Jumha (Friday prayers). On Friday January 8, 1993, Jacques came to the mosque in Oakland, performed the Jumha prayers and left to see some of his friends. After Jumha, Tashiri went to visit Jacques. With Jacques were three friends. Tashiri started speaking about the Akhira (after-life). He started telling the four men that if anybody does bad things in this life, eventually he must face Allah alone on the Day of Judgment. Tashiri also explained that Muslims believe in Predestination-that their time of death was already known. And, that they could leave the building that same day and be killed or die in a car accident. After a moving talk that touched their hearts, Jacques’ three friends were ready to embrace Islam. They declared their faith in the “One God, (Allah) and that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of God.” The three also chose their Muslim names--Terry chose the name Ali, Eric chose Hassan and Rodney chose Hakim. Then his friends asked Jacques what was holding him from accepting Islam. He responded that he was ready. Because Jacques was always smiling, the name S’aid (happy) was appropriate. So Jaques became S’aid Mohammed. The next day Said was killed in Richmond, California. Thanks to God, he was guided to the true religion of Islam. Tashiri went to S’aid’s family’s house and explained to the family that since Jacques had accepted Islam, he would now need to be buried Islamically. They agreed to the Islamic burial because they were accustomed to hearing about Islam from Jacques. The family only wanted to make a viewing of the body for family and friends. The Islamic funeral ceremony was arranged where S’aid Moham - med was washed and wrapped in cloth. His body was viewed by his family and friends at Fuller Funeral home in Oakland. No music nor touching of the body was allowed. Three hundred people came to the funeral home, mostly non-Muslims, including major drug dealers dressed in suits and silk shirts. Brother Tashiri opened the talk with Surah (verse) Al’Fatiha (Qur’an Surah 1). Surah Yasin (Qur’an Surah 36) was then recited. Imam Abdulmalik followed with a talk and the ceremony was closed with Surah Al’Asr: “By the time, Verily Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual enjoining of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.” (Qur’an Surah 103) A few of S’aid’s Muslim friends, who were dressed in Islamic clothing, were surrounded by police cars while they were going to the Islamic cemetery. They were taken to the police station for questioning. The funeral procession proceeded to the grave site. The Imam then started the Janaza (funeral) prayer as the Muslims were forming a straight line and were joined by the other non-Muslims and a priest who were repeating “Allah Hu Akbar”!! S’aid was carried from the casket and lowered into the grave and placed on his right side facing Qiblah (Mecca). May Allah have mercy on his soul. Editor’s Comment: The Hadith quoted at the beginning shows how a man behaves like the people of the Hell-fire and is an arm’s length between him and it; and that which has been written overtakes him and so he behaves like the people of Paradise and thus enters it. Inshallah we must all take a good look at the lifestyles we are leading. None of us have any guarantee that Paradise awaits for us. Now is the time, especially during Ramadan, to repent to Allah and begin to lead true Islamic lifestyles, Inshallah! SF Brothers visit Sri Lanka Colombo - A group of 10 Bay Area Muslims visited Sri Lanka for the purpose of dahwa work. Sri Lanka is a country consisting of 16 mil - lion people, of which 10% are Muslim, 65% Buddhist, 20% Hindu, and 5% Christian. Tradition has it that Prophet Adam’s (AS) footstep is imprinted on an area which is now covered by a mountain. The mountain, named Mount Adam, is in the city of Halton and is said to cover the footstep of Prophet Adam (AS). Sri Lanka has approximately 2,000 mosques. In small villages, 100% of the Muslims attend the five daily prayers at the local mosques. In larger cities, the Masjids are filled to 60% capacity at every prayer. The Muslims in Sri Lanka are very active and devoted to the Islam - ic cause. Although the government is not a Muslim government, Muslims are well represented. There is one speaker in Parliament, one Trade Minister, and one in Ministry of Religion and Culture. There are even official government holidays celebrating the Eid of Ramadan, the Hajj and Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birthday. The first masjid in Sri Lanka, in the city of Beruwala, was built by Yemeni merchants. There are now many Islamic centers throughout the country. In the larger Islamic centers, 5,000 Muslims attend their weekly program; in the smaller centers, there is an attendance rate of 2,000 Muslims for their weekly programs. In 1983, there was a huge Ijtimah (Islamic meeting) in which 90% of the Muslims in Sri Lanka attended. This huge success rate was due to the fact that every Muslim family was personally invited. There was a group of Muslims who went house to house visiting the Muslim families and inviting them to attend the Ijtimah. Sri Lanka also houses many Islamic schools. The #1 rated Islamic school in Sri Lanka, named Zahira, is in the city of Colombo. There is even an all-girl Muslim school, ILMA International, in Colombo. More Islamic schools are opening up to fill the demand in the in - crease of Muslim students. The S.F. Brothers had a very productive trip and the time spent in Sri Lanka was extremely beneficial. They felt accepted and the hospitality extended to them was very gracious. The Muslims in Sri Lanka are more than willing to extend their arms to foreign jamaats. While in Sri Lanka, the S.F. Brothers had two Buddhist converts to Islam. Due to the visit of the S.F. Brothers in Sri Lanka, we now have 9 Brothers from Sri Lanka visiting the Bay Area. Many of our readers will remember Noor Cassim, the gentleman who was portrayed in the June 1991 issue of the Islamic Bulletin, WHY I EMBRACED ISLAM? Noor Cassim, who is from Sri Lanka, was a priest named Father Anthony Perera O.M.I. (Order of Mary Immaculate), before accepting Islam. Brother Noor Cassim is vis - iting the Bay Area Masjids at the present time; in fact, while this issue is being written. May Allah bless Brother Cassim and the rest of the Sri Lanka Jamaat who are traveling with him and spreading the word of Allah. A Summary of the SouthAfrican Jamaat in FormerU.S.S.R. A continuation from previous article A South African Jamaat (SAJ) of four brothers left from Nizamudin, India to the former USSR. They took with them Qurans, Islamic literature, and other items such as dates, topis, and miswasks to be given as presents. Religious freedom had been restored to the people about three years ago. The prior 73 years, all Masjids and Madressas were closed or used for non-religious purposes. Learning and teaching of Quran and Islam were banned; but the spark of Iman (faith) was kept alive by practicing Islam secretly in homes or underground tunnels at the risk of death or imprisonment. Thou - sands of ulema (scholars) were massacred during the beginning of the century and thereafter those that were caught teaching religion were sent to labor camps. Islam still managed to survive. The SAJ went to the former USSR to help further the revitalization of Islam. The first city the SAJ went to was Tashkent. It is the 4th largest city of the former U.S.S.R. and the capital of Uzbekistan Republic. At the Tashkent Airport, they were met by two Muslim brothers. They went directly to the masjid in the heart of old Tashkent city. The masjid is very active and there were nearly 200 people for Fajr Salat. Before its reopening, it was used as a government storeroom and in latter days as a hotel and bar. Most masjids are very large, with spacious courtyards, plenty of rooms, and central heating. The masjids are a good indication of the past days of Islam. The people were very humble, kind, and soft spoken. Visitors were held in very high esteem. In the masjid, the SAJ was given a place in the first Saff (row). Azaan is respected very greatly and is performed over a microphone in all the masjids. No one talks or walks around during Azaan. These people are lovers of the Quran and the SAJ ran short of copies to distribute. It is a custom there for people to gather for any ceremony like an Akikah, Walimah, etc. This was also one of the ways Deen was kept alive. All types of fruit, sweet meats, soups, and shish kebabs were offered. The SAJ went to several of these gatherings at which the Quran was read, Bayaan (talk) was given and the work of Dahwa (invitation) was explained. The next day the SAJ flew to Kokand. They were met at the airport by Sheikh Noaman and representatives of Mr. Yakubou Yusufjan, the mayor and an oil mill director. In Kokand there are about 180,000 Muslims of a total population of 200,000. From Kokand the SAJ went to Margillan. There are 200 Masjids there of which 46 are opened. Jumha Salat takes place in 8 Masjids. There they met Sheikh Sabir who asked them to give the Bayaan at the masjid. About 400 people sat for the Bayaan. The work of Dahwa was explained in detail. After Asr he took them to another masjid and asked them to give a Bayaan after Maghrib. The masjid was filled to capacity. Two programs were arranged for the SAJ in both the high and prima - ry schools. As they entered the school’s hall, all the students stood and recited Kalima Tayyiba: La-ilaha illallah Mohammed Rasullallah. This made the Sheikh and the SAJ cry. The Sheikh told the students how fortunate they were that in their youth, religious freedom has been granted to the country. The SAJ spoke on the Omnipotence of Allah, life after death, Jannah (paradise), and even established local volunteers in the masjid. After Asr the SAJ took a few brothers with them to the Taron Ba - zaar Masjid in the City Center for Maghrib. There the etiquette of inviting was explained. Four jammats of seven brothers were made. However when they went out, more brothers insisted on joining. Some jamaats had up to twenty brothers. The people listened very attentively. When they left the Taron Bazaar Masjid, “Riyad Al Saliheen” was given to the Imam to be read daily after salat. The next morning the SAJ left for Fargana. From Fargana, they went to Andizaan, the birthplace of Sultan Baber, founder of Mogul Empire of India. The Jumha Masjid they went to was very large. There were approximately 7000 people who prayed Jumha Salat there. The SAJ gave the Khutba (Friday talk) in Arabic. There were 10 Jumha Masjids and about 700 small masjids. Youngsters there were very keen, and enjoyed listening to the SAJ. From Fargana the SAJ went to the border of the Republic of Kirgizia, which is divided from China by a mountain range. Local people say the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet) (RA) crossed this mountain range and entered China. A local brother had organized the day’s program for the SAJ. Hundreds of people attended. Their desire for religion after 73 years of isolation made the jamaat’s Iman (faith) strong. The next morning they took a 10 hour train ride back to Tashkent. Back in Tashkent, the SAJ slept in the masjid of Qari Abid Jaan. They were amazed to see about 15 youngsters learning the Quran until 11 pm at night. These youngsters loved to wear Islamic attire, which unfortunately was not readily available. The SAJ concluded their trip by returning to Tashkent and visiting Idana-Diniya. A Quran from the time of Hazrat Osman (RA), which is written on leather, is there. The Quran had been taken away by the government and returned only three years ago. The SAJ reported that many masjids have now opened. In addition, six Islamic schools have been established. In many towns Hafiz and Quran classes have started. For many years, jamaats from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the UK have been working and their fruits could be seen. The SAJ encourages other jamaats to travel to the former USSR. SocialWorkVisit San Francisco, California - Recently, representatives of the Islamic Center were invited to speak at a Group Home for Children which is run by the City and County of San Francisco. The Home had two teen-age Muslim boys in residence and the staff wanted more information about Islam so that they could better understand the needs of their wards. After giving the staff a brief talk on Islam, the Islamic Center brothers also met briefly with the two young men. One was from Yemen, the other from Afghanistan. They were both very interested in attending prayers at the Masjid and arrangements where made to accommodate them. Islamic literature was left for the staff and the boys. The boys also asked for copies of the Holy Quran, which were given to them. This visit was very moving and points out the variety of work which the Islamic community has to do to attend to the spiritual needs of Muslims in all levels of society. There is a growing need for volun - teers to work with the Muslim youth as they try to make the very difficult adjustment of integrating into mainstream America with its very un-Islamic values. In addition to homeless or troubled Muslim youths, another growing problem is runaway teen-age girls who are rejecting traditional Islamic family values in favor of the decadent western ways. We need to identify resources in the Social services community which may be sympathetic and supportive of objectives to help our Muslim youth, males and females, protect their Islamic beliefs and values. This is particularly urgent for those youth that are receiving public assistance in any form, such as foster home care, as was the case here. If you are interested in working with Muslim youth, or if you know of social work resources which might be able to help, please contact us at 415-552-8831.

Page 6 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Page 7 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Some food products have the labels which say ‘U’ or ‘K’. What are those letters? The use of the letter “U” inside of the letter “O” is authorized by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, more familiarly known as the Orthodox Union, for use on foods that comply with Jewish dietary laws. The letter “K” indicates that the food is Kosher-that is, it also complies with Jewish dietary laws and has been processed under the direction of a rabbi. The Hebrew word “Kosher” means permitted according to Torah Law. When you see these letters, they mean that the product does not contain anything from an animal or pork origin. But it still may contain alcohol. So please check labels. It is recommended, however, to read labels before buying food products. Read the ingredients on the food labels and understand the meaning of every ingredient. Always ask the food industries about ingredients or preservatives that are doubtful. Effort is being made by the Muslims on the East Coast to have a Halal (Muslim) letter for food products that meet Islamic requirements. What are mono-and diglycerides? It is my understanding that they come from vegetable sources and should be HALAL. Is it not the case? Monoglycerides and diglycerides or mono- and diglycerides, as they commonly appear on food labels, are a mixture of fatty substances containing glycerol and one (mono) or two (di) fatty acids. They are manufactured from the breakdown of fats and oils. They are avail - able as monoglycerides only, diglycerides only, or a mixture of both. These are widely used in the preparation of baked goods and varied food products. The consumer may also find them listed as Polysor - bates, monostearates, Tween and Span. Glycerides are processed from fatty acids, both animal and vegetable. The special qualities of these products which act as surfants, making water and oil soluble, make them invaluable components in many food items, such as margarine, shortenings, cream filings, toppings, coffee creamers (be careful with the Carnation powder brand which most people overlook) prepared cake mixes, doughnuts, and puddings. It should also be pointed out that ice cream, frozen desserts, instant mashed potatoes, peanut butter, snack pack foods, and many breakfast cereals contain di-glycerides and, therefore requires careful attention. In addition, a product whose ingredient list states ‘emulsifier’ or ‘emulsifier added’ is indicative of the use of glycerides and requires certification. Many chocolates and candies contain such glyceride emulsifiers. Many breads are made with shortenings, specially prepared dough conditioners, in which shortenings and di-glycerides are basic in - gredients. Be very careful. Commercially available mono- and diglycerides may be manufactured from vegetable oils, beef fat, LARD, or marine oils. Therefore, Muslims should stick to labels saying vegetable or marine, monoand diglycerides. Couscous Ingredients: - 1 3lb. chicken - 1 lb. lean stewing lamb - ½ lb. beef short ribs - 1 can chick peas, drained - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced - 2 turnips, peeled and sliced - 2 celery stalks, sliced - 1 onion, stuck w/ 2 cloves - 4 tomatoes, peeled & chopped - 1 large clove garlic, minced - 4 small zucchini, sliced - 1 lb. couscous* - 4 tbsp. butter, melted - ¼ cup raisins, plumped in hot water - 1 or 2 hot chili peppers - salt to taste - 1 tsp. paprika - cayenne pepper * Couscous--wheat semolina--is available in onepound packages in many markets or in bulk in stores selling Middle Eastern foods. Preparation: 1. Put meats in large pot, cover with water, and bring slowly to boiling point. 2. Skim off fat then add carrots, turnips, celery, onion, tomatoes, and garlic, bring again to boiling point. 3. Skim again, then season with salt, cover and sim - mer for 45 minutes. 4. Add chick peas and hot peppers, cover again and simmer 15 to 20 minutes longer. 5. Remove meats and keep them hot in a little of the broth. 6. Add zucchini to broth, cook 5 minutes longer, strain broth and reserve vegetables. 7. Put strained broth in the bottom part of couscous pot (couscoussiere) or in a large pot. 8. Put the top part of the couscous pot or a colander lined with cheesecloth on top. 9. Moisten couscous with a little cold water and work with your fingers to break up lumps. 10. Put couscous on top of couscous pot or in the col - ander and place over the boiling broth. 11. When the steam begins to come through the grains, remove top, put couscous on a plate and sprinkle with ½ cup cold water, stir well with a wooden spoon to break up any lumps. 12. Return top or colander to the pot and steam another 30 minutes. 13. Pour the cooked couscous in a bowl, sprinkle surface lightly with a little fat from the top of the broth and the melted butter. 14. Toss it lightly with raisins. 15. Arrange the meat and vegetables around the mound of couscous. 16. Take a cupful of the broth, stir in paprika and enough cayenne pepper to make it quite hot, and serve on the side. ENJOY IT!! Over the next several months we will attempt to focus on different topics concerning Women in Islam as evidenced by verses in the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). One of the greatest areas of misunderstanding in the western (non-Muslim) world is that of the status of women. We will attempt to rectify some of these misconceptions regarding the spiritual status of women, intellectual status of women, relations between the sexes, rights and duties of women, marriage and family in Islam, divorce, right of inheritance, and society and dress. First, let’s begin with “Spiritual Status of Women”. The Quran states categorically that men and women who practice the principles of Islam will receive equal reward for their efforts: “For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and for women who engage much in Allah’s remembrance for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.” (Quran 33:35) And God says: “Whoever works righteousness, male or female, and has Faith, Verily to him will We give a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such reward according to the best of their actions.” (Quran 16:97) Each of the Five Pillars of Islam: Belief, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Pilgrimage--is as important for women as for men, and there is no differentiation of their reward. One may also mention that one of the most famous mystics in Islam, Rabi’a al ‘Adawiyya, was a woman. Having established beyond question the spiritual equality of men and women in Islam, what of their intelligence, knowledge and education? The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The search for knowledge is duty for every Muslim (male or female).” He (pbuh) also said: “Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.” Knowledge for a Muslim is not divided into sacred and secular, and the implication of these sayings of the Prophet (pbuh), in modern terms, is that every Muslim boy or girl, man or woman, should pursue his or her education as far as it is possible, bearing in mind the words of Allah in the Holy Quran: “Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalt in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (Quran 35:28) In Islam, therefore, both men and women are credited with the capacity for learning and understanding and teaching, and one of the aims of acquiring knowledge is that of becoming more conscious of God. It is considered in Islam that the more a person, male or female, studies the creation and observes its workings, the more he or she becomes conscious of the Creator, the Power who made and sustains the creation. IslamicDietary Laws

Page 8 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 10 One of the most famous women in the history of Islam is Aisha, the Prophet’s wife. And the quality for which she is remembered primarily is that of her intelligence and outstanding memory. She is considered to be one of the most reliable sources of hadith by virtue of these qualities. More that a thousand ahadith are reported by her and she is regarded as one of the greatest teachers of the hadith. Generally speaking, in the Muslimworld of the early medieval times, there was not any bar or prohibition on women pursuing studies-- on the contrary, the religion encouraged it. As a result of this many women became famous as religious scholars, writers, poets, doctors and teachers in their own right, such as Nafisa, a descendant of Ali who was such a great authority on hadith that Imam al-Shafi’l sat in her circle in al-Fustat when he was at the height of his fame: and Shaikha Shuhda who lectured publicly in one of the principle mosques of Baghdad to large audiences on literature, rhetoric and poetry, and was one of the foremost scholars of Islam. There is therefore every encouragement for a Muslim woman to pursue studies in any field for her intellectual benefit and to make use of her academic or professional training for the good of the community, subject to certain moral and familial conditions which will be dealt with in following issues. Black Seed (Nigella Seed) It is narrated by the hadith that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘Use the black seed because it has a relief of all diseases, but death.’ Contents: Black seed has a tasty aroma and contains phosphate, iron, phos - phorate, carbohydrate, oil 28%. It contains anti-virus bacteria, carotene, anti-cancer fighting material, and hormones which give strength and activity. Benefits: There are many, many benefits of the black seed. Here we will list some of them. 1. Dizziness and ear infection: use it as a drop for the ears, for ‘infection’; and drink it in tea and rub under your cheek and at the back of your neck for dizziness. 2. For women and delivery: it is the best thing for helping with the pains of labor. Boil the black seed with honey and drink. 3. For skin diseases: mix a unit of the black seeds’ oil with a same unit of rose water and 2 units of brown flour. Before you use the mix rub the area with a cloth dipped in vinegar. Lightly apply the mix to the skin and then expose to the sun every day. 4. Rheumatism: Warm black seed oil and massage the oil into the painful areas. Also, make a drink of boiled black seed and mix with honey, drink before going to sleep; and have a lot of yaqeen (full-faith). 5. High blood pressure: Mix the black seed with hot liquids you may drink, such as coffee, tea, etc; and rub your body with the oil and have yaqeen. 6. Chest pains and colds: Add 1 tablespoon of the black seeds in boiling water and inhale the vapor and cover your head before you sleep. 7. Heart burn: add a few drops of black seed oil to a hot cup of milk and add one teaspoon of honey. Also, eat a lot of lettuce. 8. Eye pain: rub the oil around the eyes before you sleep and mix a few drops of the oil with hot drinks. 9. Ulcers: Mix 10 drops of black seed oil with a cup of honey. Eat 1 spoon of this mixture daily, every morning, before you eat or drink anything else. Follow with a glass of milk. Do this for two months. 10. Cancer: Rub the affected area with black seed oil. 3 times a day drink a mixture of a teaspoon of the oil with a glass of carrot juice. Do this for three months. 11. Laziness: Mix 10 drops of black seed oil with a glass of orange juice when waking up for 10 days. Important, do not sleep after Fajr salat. 12. For memorizing: Boil mint and mix it with honey and 7 drops of black seed oil--drink while warm any time of the day. Also, stop drinking coffee and tea. The Quran as a Precept and Discipline For Life Another remarkable feature of the Quran is that it explores and prescribes some remedies for all mankind. As a ‘remedy’ its fundamental objective is to cure any widespread corruption or deviation from pre-established moral values and ethical norms. The Quran deals with all these shortcomings and prescribes remedies for them. Far from falling short of dealing with con - temporary issues confronting mankind, it is as relevant today as when it was first revealed. However by failing to perceive the wider and more profound meanings of the Quran, man sometimes misses the remedy. There is no fundamental issue concerning man’s existence in this universe that is not inherently dealt with. The Quran is fun - damentally a discipline of worship and guidance in establishing a right way of life. Thus, when the Quran tells us to explore the earth for evidence of Allah’s greatness, or to study the universe for knowledge and enlightenment, or to toil and produce, or build and populate the earth, it is, in fact, delineating rules which should govern man’s movement within Allah’s universe. In our endeavor to achieve our goals, we must be armed with unwavering faith in Allah’s grace and infinite justice, as well as with the firm conviction that we are divinely guided subjects whose principal concern should be the fulfillment of Allah’s plan for mankind as expressed in the Quran - for Allah does not assist or reward those who ignore His decrees or stray from His path. By failing to follow Allah’s directions one should not hope to share their fruitful ends. By straying, nations lose mobility and become decadent when they diverge from Allah’s way, failing to implement His injunctions. It is unreasonable to give lip service to the directives Allah has prescribed in His message and expect His blessing and rewards. It follows that there is no action without reward, and no reward without action. This is the core and kernel of Allah’s precepts and discipline. It is this equilibrium which constitutes harmony and beauty in life and existence as a whole. Indeed, this balance would become meaningless if the industrious and the idle, the studious and the lethargic, the productive and the negligent were equally rewarded, irrespective of their effort or yield. If this became the rule, beauty and harmony would eventually disappear and be replaced by grossness and the lack of drive, motivation, ambition, ingenuity, creativity, and the desire to excel. There would be no addition to one’s cultural heritage. AnAccount of anAmerican Jewish Lady WhoAccepted Islam - MaryamJameelah Q: Would you kindly tell us how your interest in Islam began? A: I was Margaret (Peggy) Marcus. As a small child I possessed a keen interest in music and was particularly fond of the classical operas and symphonies considered high culture in the West. Music was my fa - vorite subject in school in which I always earned the highest grades. By sheer chance, I happened to hear Arabic music over the radio which so much pleased me that I was determined to hear more. I would not leave my parents in peace until my father finally took me to the Syrian section in New York City where I bought a stack of Arabic recordings. My parents, relatives and neighbors thought Arabic and its music dreadfully weird and so distressing to their ears that whenever I put on my recordings, they demanded that I close all the doors and windows in my room lest they be disturbed! After I embraced Islam in 1961, I used to sit enthralled by the hour at the mosque in New York, listening to tape-recordings of Tilawat chanted by the celebrated Egyptian Qari, Abdul Basit. But on Jumha Salat (Friday Prayers), the Imam did not play the tapes. We had a special guest that day. A short, very thin and poorly-dressed black youth, who introduced himself to us as a student from Zanzibar, recited Surah ar-Rahman. I never heard such glorious Tilawat even from Abdul Basit! He possessed such a voice of gold; surely Hazrat Bilal must have sounded much like him! I traced the beginning of my interest in Islam to the age of ten. While attending a reformed Jewish Sunday school, I became fas - cinated with the historical relationship between the Jews and the Arabs. From my Jewish textbooks, I learned that Abraham was the father of the Arabs as well as the Jews. I read how centuries later when, in medieval Europe, Christian persecution made their lives intolerable, the Jews were welcomed in Muslim Spain and that it was the magnanimity of this same Arabic Islamic civilization which stimulated Hebrew culture to reach its highest peak of achievement. Totally unaware of the true nature of Zionism, I naively thought that the Jews were returning to Palestine to strengthen their close ties of kinship in religion and culture with their Semitic cousins. Together I believed that the Jews and the Arabs would cooperate to attain another Golden Age of culture in the Middle East. Despite my fascination with the study of Jewish history, I was extremely unhappy at the Sunday school. At this time I identified myself strongly with the Jewish people in Europe, then suffering a horrible fate under the Nazis and I was shocked that none of my fel - low classmates nor their parents took their religion seriously. During the services at the synagogue, the children used to read comic strips hidden in their prayer books and laugh to scorn at the rituals. The children were so noisy and disorderly that the teachers could not discipline them and found it very difficult to conduct the classes. At home the atmosphere for religious observance was scarcely more congenial. My elder sister detested the Sunday school so much that my mother literally had to drag her out of bed in the mornings and it never went without the struggle of tears and hot words. Finally my parents were exhausted and let her quit. On the Jewish High Holy Days instead of attending synagogue and fasting on Yom Kippur, my sister and I were taken out of school to attend family picnics and parties in fine restaurants. When my sister and I convinced our parents how miserable we both were at the Sunday school they joined an agnostic, humanist organization known as the Ethical Culture Movement. The Ethical Culture Movement was founded late in the 19th cen - tury by Felix Alder. While studying for rabbinate, Felix Alder grew convinced that devotion to ethical values as relative and man-made, regarding any supernaturalism or theology as irrelevant, constituted the only religion fit for the modern world. I attended the Ethical Culture Sunday School each week from the age of eleven until I graduated at fifteen. Here I grew into complete accord with the ideas of the movement and regarded all traditional, organized religions with scorn. When I was eighteen years old I became a member of the local Zionist youth movement known as the Mizrachi Hatzair. But when I found out what the nature of Zionism was, which made the hostility between Jews and Arabs irreconcilable, I left several months later in disgust. When I was twenty and a student at New York University, one of my elective courses was entitled Judaism in Islam. My professor, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Katsh, the head of the department of Hebrew Studies there, spared no efforts to convince his students--all Jews, many of whom aspired to become rabbis- -that Islam was derived from Judaism. Our textbook, written by him, took each verse from the Quran, painstakingly tracing it to its allegedly Jewish source. Although his real aim was to prove to his students the superiority of Judaism over Islam, he convinced me diametrically of the opposite. I soon discovered that Zionism was merely a combination of the racist, tribalistic aspects of Judaism. Modern secular nationalistic Zionism was further discredited in my eyes when I learned that few, if any, of the leaders of Zionism were observant Jews and that perhaps nowhere is Orthodox, traditional Judaism regarded with such intense contempt as in Israel. When I found nearly all import - ant Jewish leaders in America supporters for Zionism, who felt not the slightest twinge of conscience because of the terrible injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian Arabs, I could no longer consider myself a Jew at heart. One morning in November 1954, Professor Katsh, during his lecture, argued with irrefutable logic that the monotheism taught by Moses (peace be upon him) and the Divine Laws reveled to him were indispensable as the basis for all higher ethical values. If morals were purely man-made, as the Ethical Culture and other agnostic and atheistic philosophies taught, then they could be changed at will, according to mere whim, convenience or circum - stance. The result would be utter chaos leading to individual and collective ruin. Belief in the Hereafter, as the Rabbis in the Talmud taught, argued Professor Katsh, was not mere wishful thinking but a moral necessity. Only those, he said, who firmly believed that each of us will be summoned by God on Judgment Day to render a complete account of our life on earth and rewarded or punished accordingly, will possess the self-discipline to sacrifice transitory pleasure and endure hardships and sacrifice to attain lasting good. It was in Professor Katsh’s class that I met Zenita, the most unusual and fascinating girl I have ever met. The first time I entered Profes - sor Katsh’s class, as I looked around the room for an empty desk in which to sit, I spied two empty seats, on the arm of one, three big beautifully bound volumes of Yusuf Ali’s English translation and commentary of the Holy Quran. I sat down right there, burning with curiosity to find out to whom these volumes belonged. Just before Rabbi Katsh’s lecture was to begin, a tall, very slim girl with pale complexion framed by thick auburn hair, sat next to me. Her appearance was so distinctive, I thought she must be a foreign student from Turkey, Syria or some other Near Eastern country. Most of the other students were young men wearing the black cap of Orthodox Jewry, who wanted to become rabbis. We two were the only girls in the class. As we were leaving the library late that afternoon, she introduced herself to me. Born into an Orthodox Jewish family, her parents had migrated to America from Russia only a few years prior to the October Revolution in 1917 to es - cape persecution. I noted that my new friend spoke English with the precise care of a foreigner. She confirmed these speculations, telling me that since her family and their friends speak only Yiddish among themselves, she did not learn any English until after attending public school. She told me that her name was Zenita Liebermann but recently, in an attempt to Americanize themselves, her parents had changed their name from “Liebermann” to “Lane.” The IslamicCure Miracles of theQur ’ an Why I Embraced Islam

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