A group of volunteers from ICNA Relief have just left the North East region heading to Oklahoma where Tornadoes recently brought destruction and devastation.

Here is their press release:

JAMAICA, New York (May 20, 2013) – A powerful tornado blasted an area outside of Oklahoma City, leveling homes and killing at least 51 people. At least seven of the dead are children from Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City. According to initial reports, relief workers have difficulty in reaching to the survivors.

ICNA Relief has activated its disaster response team which is set for immediate deployment in the area.
The President of ICNA, Naeem Baig said, “We are saddened at the loss of so many lives including many children caused by this tornado. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families who have lost their loved ones in Oklahoma today.”

He also appealed to the American Muslim community to donate to ICNA Relief, whose Disaster Relief Team is already on its way to Oklahoma.

Depending on the needs in the affected area and of availability of resources, plans are underway to provide the following services:

• Information and referrals to services needed to recover
• Debris removal
• Chain saw crews
• Muck out teams
• Tarping roofs
• Emotional, spiritual, and physical care
• Case Management

ICNA Relief has responded to 18 disasters within last two years and was declared New Yorker of the Week by NY1 for outstanding services in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey. Click here to donate generously and help fellow citizens at a time of need. Click here to volunteer and get involved.

Press Contact: Umber Siddiqi
Assistant Director for Public Affairs, ICNA Relief USA
E-mail: office@icnarelief.org
www.icnarelief.org
Office: (718) 658-7028 Extension: 126
Disaster Support Hotline (888) 616-6865

The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts.
—END—

Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199

Iqbal El-Assaad is the youngest medical doctor to graduate from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) in its ten-year history. When Iqbal was a toddler, she learnt algebra by watching her older siblings study. Before El-Assaad’s fifth birthday, her favourite pastimes were reading books and solving mathematical problems.

Following her graduation, Nature Middle East spoke to Iqbal about what it’s like to be a 20-year old medical doctor and hear what she plans for the future.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?

I made the decision to be a doctor myself when I was 12 years old. Growing up as a Palestinian living in Lebanon, I saw much suffering among my people since the Palestinians in Lebanon did not have health insurance.

My family and I visited the camps and saw how harsh the conditions there were. I saw many parents who see their children suffering but they can’t help them because they don’t have the money to do that. These visits to the camps made me feel that it is my responsibility to study medicine and try to help these people. Many of them cannot even afford the medication they need.

What role did your family play in your decision to pursue medical school?

I am the youngest among my siblings and my father first noticed when I was two-and-a-half years old that I was keen to learn when he was teaching my brothers. For my dad, education is always number one – especially for a girl. He always said that the boys will eventually find work but education is a girl’s weapon in the future. We grew up on this idea and my dad always encouraged me that if I have a dream I want to pursue, my parents would always help me.

I went to a private school in Lebanon that was based on the Lebanese curriculum, not an American school. After paying my tuition for the first two years, the principal of the school gave me a full scholarship. I used to skip grades and I was always the youngest person in my class.

I graduated from high school when I was 12 and Khaled Abany, who was then the education minister in Lebanon, honoured me as the youngest student to ever finish high school. I told him that I dreamt of being a doctor and he promised to try to secure a scholarship for me. The next day he contacted Sheikha Mozah [the Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development] and she promised me a full scholarship to study at WCMC-Q.

Was it challenging being the youngest student in college?

The toughest time was when I first arrived in Qatar. I felt a lot of pressure because Qatar Foundation had given me the full scholarship without any tests. So I wanted to prove myself and prove that I was up to the trust people put in me.

The Lebanese education system prepares you very well for college so in terms of science and maths I found I was very well prepared.

I grew up with students who were always older than me so I am used to dealing with older people and I am mature enough to work with them. I always liked to study with friends in school and that carried on in college. This interaction has helped improve my way of thinking so that eventually people don’t even notice there is an age difference.

What is your next step now after graduation?

I am leaving soon for a three-year residency at the Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. After that I want to apply for a fellowship in paediatric cardiology, which will take three more years. I then want to come back to the Middle East and work between Qatar and Lebanon – to pay Qatar back. They have been sponsoring me for the past six years. I also want to go back to Lebanon to help my Palestinian people because they are the main inspiration for me to be a doctor and I would like to fulfil my childhood dream to make a difference to their lives.

Why paediatrics?

I can’t say exactly why, but I just love it. In our third year in college I found I was really happy to be able to help little kids. I also see the hardship of Palestinian children living in camps in Lebanon and that is part of the reason why I want to pursue paediatrics

Are you interested in doing any research?

I definitely want to pursue research. I did research during the summer of my second year and I fell in love with it. I even published at that time and was involved in two other studies. I really like the idea of discovering something new.

I hope in the future I can join an academic health centre where I can treat patients and also work in research.

What advice would you have to young people who would pursue medicine?

The only advice I would have is for students to study hard and make use of the opportunities in Qatar. Having world-class universities here in the Middle East is beyond imagination. This is the most important stage in their lives and they have to work for it.

For premed students, enjoy your lives now! It is a good time especially if you have good friends and it is not really too hard so you can get the best of both worlds.

Source

When the Boston Bombings happened, there was an interfaith event organized right after to bring together the people of Boston and the nation.  Imam Suhaib Webb was the representative of the Boston Muslim community and the greater American Muslim community as well, but last minute he was replaced.  He was replaced by a person I never heard of.  I consider myself pretty active in the Muslim community in America.  I have never heard of the person’s name, Nasser Wedaddy, nor of his organization, the American Islamic Congress (AIC).  Whilst other faith groups had respected clergy and popular figures of their respective communties, the Muslims had Wedaddy.  It was very unfortunate.  We know why know why now though. Electronic Intifiada has discovered that the AIC is a front for the anti-Islam agenda.  The likes of Sheldon Adelson and Daniel Pipes have funded the AIC and promoted it. It is unfortunate that Muslims have sold themselves for a few bucks to continue the agenda of bigotry and hate.

The King Khalid Foundation has produced this ad to combat domestic abuse.

Source

From the Mosque to McDonalds
April 2013

Near the end of a recent CelebrateMercy online broadcast, someone typed in the chatroom: “Someone here just took the shahada!” At first, as the live moderator, I didn’t notice and continued with my closing remarks on webcam. I was then distracted by rapid messages of “ALHAMDULILLAH!’ and “ALLAHU AKBAR” in the chat room. I then read the amazing news: A Canadian webcast viewer decided to become Muslim at the end of the program. Holding back my tears, I congratulated him publicly as the global audience showered him with welcoming words. What’s more amazing is his personal journey to Islam and the lessons in it for all of us.

Jay’s Journey

Jay comes from an Evangelical Christian family. In fact, he mentioned that one of the reasons he began doubting his church was because he felt that they preached hate each Sunday, especially towards Muslims. Everything he believed about Jesus’ loving character was contradicted by his church’s preaching. Jay told me that his family would disown him if they knew he has now become Muslim.

Years ago, Jay decided to explore other religions. He visited a mosque in Winnipeg. Not knowing proper mosque etiquette, he walked right in without taking his shoes off. Immediately, four men noticed this and began to shout at him, one of them even calling him an idiot. Yes, an idiot. They drove him out of the mosque and since that day, he was quite scared of Muslims. They turned him off from asking the questions he had about Islam.

Jay frequents a McDonald’s in town; he often noticed a Muslim man who would do his work there on a laptop. What surprised him about this man, Dave, is that he wore a “Muslim hat” and “dressed like Jesus.” And he seemed happy all the time, always smiling. He was clearly different than the Muslims he had met at the Winnipeg mosque. Jay mustered up the courage to approach him and ask the questions he had about Islam.

Instead of simply answering Jay’s questions and continuing on with his work, Dave stood up and bought tea for Jay. He then sat with Jay and kindly addressed his questions. Jay learned that Dave was a half Swedish, half Native American convert to Islam (married to a Sudanese woman). Dave had recently heard about the upcoming CelebrateMercy webcast. So he invited Jay to his home to view it together with him. He knew that the webcast was a great learning opportunity and Jay accepted the invitation.

On the day of the webcast, Jay noticed that he was not the only invited person. Dave also invited two other non-Muslims and a Moroccan Muslim friend. As the webcast went on, video by video, Jay was very touched by what he was learning. Not only by the speakers he was hearing, but by the sense of community he felt with viewers who were watching and chatting from all over the world, united in their love of and longing for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Everything he was learning on the webcast was the exact opposite of what his church had been teaching him about Islam.

Jay was particularly impacted by Dr Tariq Ramadan who opened his eyes to the true meaning of “jihad.” Until then, Jay believed that jihad only meant “holy war,” a commandment that each Muslim must fulfill. He was also very moved by Dr. Umar Abd-Allah who spoke about the Muslim migration to Abyssinia and how they lived in peace and honored their Christian neighbors. By the end of the webcast, when he heard the talk by “that Yusuf guy” (Yusuf Islam), Jay was in tears. He felt a deep love for the Prophet Muhammad. He told Dave that he was convinced of God’s Oneness without partners “just as the Ten Commandments say.” And that Muhammad is God’s Messenger. He entered into Islam and excitedly informed the entire webcast audience in the chat room.

Jay later told me that for the longest time he had not been happy. He works multiple jobs and long hours to provide income for his parents and sister’s education. He even found it difficult to smile. But after embracing Islam, he was overjoyed. He’s now eager to learn more about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Islam.

What lessons can we learn from Jay’s story? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment on this note. I will share one lesson below:

Make Your Mosque an Oasis of Mercy

A non-Muslim man once entered the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque (masjid) in Medina; he entered the prayer area and began to urinate on the floor! In shock, the Prophet’s Companions were ready to physically assault this man, angry that he was disrespecting their sacred space. The Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded them to stay seated and stay calm, allowing the man to finish urinating! He then asked his Companions to clean up the mess themselves. What happened next? The Prophet ﷺ gently asked the man to sit down with him. In a few beautiful words, without any harshness or condescension, the Prophet ﷺ taught him the etiquette of the mosque. This man, struck by the light of the Prophet ﷺ and his beautiful character, became Muslim immediately.

The question for us is this: How would the attendees and leadership of your own mosque react if something similar happened? We saw what happened with Jay; he simply entered a mosque with his shoes on and was shouted at and insulted. This harsh, insulting reaction could have permanently cut him off from Islam forever. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ said: “Be gentle; for verily, gentleness is not part of something except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from something except that it disgraces it.”

We must learn to make our mosque like the Prophet’s Mosque, an oasis of mercy. Anyone who enters the mosque should feel at home there. All who entered the Prophet’s presence as seekers would leave enlightened and uplifted.

May God forever showers Jay and Dave with His Love and Mercy. May He adorn us all with Prophetic Patience and Light every single day. And may He send peace and blessings upon our Beloved Prophet Muhammad in each and every moment until the Last Day.

Tarek El-Messidi
Founding Director, CelebrateMercy

REMEMBER:
You can still register to view the recorded CelebrateMercy webcast, giving you access to all 30 videos (see flyer below). 100-hour access begins Thursday evening on April 25 (8:00 PM New York time). View the webcast trailer video at www.CelebrateMercy.com/trailer and register ASAP at www.CelebrateMercy.com/register
Support CelebrateMercy by becoming a monthly donor, contributing as little as $10 or $25 per month (less than a dollar a day). Give a one-time or monthly donation at www.CelebrateMercy.com/donate. Our target for April 2013 is to have 150 monthly donors and we are more than halfway there! Each and every dollar you contribute will help to teach the world about the Prophet Muhammad’s beautiful life and character.

Let’s Make History by Telling His Story.
www.CelebrateMercy.com

Source: Facebook Post

“Just six days ago, my village was struck by a drone, in an attack that terrified thousands of simple, poor farmers.

“The drone strike and its impact tore my heart, much as the tragic bombings in Boston last week tore your hearts and also mine.

“What radicals had previously failed to achieve in my village, one drone strike accomplished in an instant: there is now an intense anger and growing hatred of America.”

(Source)

- Farea Al-Muslimi

Video:

Meanwhile, Obama skipped the Senate hearings.

Dear friends,

I greet you, invoking God’s peace and blessings upon you:

Friday’s are special for me because at the ISBCC I get to see the fabric of our community. One of my favorites is seeing our security staff early in the morning, smiling and greeting everyone who walks in. Br. Muhammad Ubai always asks me, “Did you get that 5 mile jog in today, brother Imam?” Second, but close, is getting hugs from Sr. Malika’s granddaughters, whose smiles bring so much light to my office.

Friday’s at the ISBCC bring about the best in our community. From law enforcement, educators, medical professionals, weight loss coaches, students and the youth; all of you bring smiles and warm stories about the unique relationship between faith and life. One of the many things I learned from you is balance and patience. I hear your stories and I feel the book education I’ve received pales in the face of your rich experiences.

This Friday is not a normal Friday. I am deeply saddened and shocked by the recent events. Our city’s peace was taken away in a blink of an eye. Our faith is once again being called to suspicion. Innocent people are being hurt. What is needed now is meeting hate with love, trials with patience and fear with increased worship. Each and every one of us needs to be a shelter in this storm.

God has chosen the Boston community to be the focus, because our community is an excellent one. Our track record speaks volumes to the dedication we have to our city, our heart, Boston. Do not fear and do not waiver, for God stands with this community! Face the coming days with a sense of pride and altruism, that will grant you the dignity to swallow the pills of the shallow minded, the heart to continue to give and support our city. I remind you as our Prophet (sa) reminded Abu Bakr when things looked dire, “Do not fear, God is with us.”

It is an honor to serve you; to know you and to be with you. I love you in God’s grace.

Imam Suhaib
Imam Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center

Source: Facebook