by Dr. Aslam Abdullah
Three months ago, when he first came to Las Vegas, apparently no one knew him. This is what he claimed. But within a short span of time, he became known as one of the most pious persons of the town. He would pray five times a day in one of the five masajid of Las Vegas. People spoke of his habit of fasting for four days a week. His room mates would even report on his tahajjud (nightly) prayers. Certainly, he introduced himself as a man of God, without any interest in the worldly affairs. He claimed that he was a displaced Palestinian who was a victim of world politics. He told people about his displaced family. He told them of the persecution that his family has gone through. Later, he revealed that his Palestinian father had married with his Egyptian mother, even though some people doubt it now.
The man was unemployed and sought help. Our community came forth. Almost every masjid gave him whatever the people could afford. He took the money and told the people that he was moving to Anahiem to find a job there. Ten days later he came back. A Muslim teacher, struggling to survive, provided him temporary stay at his apartment. Another young engineer paid his cell phone bills.
Then, in the month of November, he informed the community that his brother was shot and wounded by the Israeli soldiers during their attack on Masjid Aqsa in Jerusalem. He sought help and people donated him their hard earned money. He did not have a bank account, so he asked a young Muslim whom he met in one of the masajid to deposit his checks and pay him the cash. The young Muslim even gave him his bank account so that people who wanted to help could directly deposit the money. Later, he found out that the account was misused by someone.
Three weeks before the Eid ul Adha, he hired an unemployed old man to distribute fliers on his behalf in all the masajid. The flier offered a very lucrative price for a lamb or goat sacrifice during Eid ul Adha. He offered a lamb for $160 and a goat for $150. Even though he had initially introduced himself as Abdullah, the flier was in the name of Abu Bakr. People called him and reserved animals for sacrifice. He asked for advance money. He would invite the people at any of the masajid to finalize the transaction. It is believed that he collected money for about 300 to 400 goats and lambs. Most people paid by cash. Those who paid by check were not refused. However, he asked one of his acquaintances to cash checks for him.
Three months ago, when he first came to Las Vegas, apparently no one knew him. This is what he claimed. But within a short span of time, he became known as one of the most pious persons of the town. He would pray five times a day in one of the five masajid of Las Vegas. People spoke of his habit of fasting for four days a week. His room mates would even report on his tahajjud (nightly) prayers. Certainly, he introduced himself as a man of God, without any interest in the worldly affairs. He claimed that he was a displaced Palestinian who was a victim of world politics. He told people about his displaced family. He told them of the persecution that his family has gone through. Later, he revealed that his Palestinian father had married with his Egyptian mother, even though some people doubt it now.
The man was unemployed and sought help. Our community came forth. Almost every masjid gave him whatever the people could afford. He took the money and told the people that he was moving to Anahiem to find a job there. Ten days later he came back. A Muslim teacher, struggling to survive, provided him temporary stay at his apartment. Another young engineer paid his cell phone bills.
Then, in the month of November, he informed the community that his brother was shot and wounded by the Israeli soldiers during their attack on Masjid Aqsa in Jerusalem. He sought help and people donated him their hard earned money. He did not have a bank account, so he asked a young Muslim whom he met in one of the masajid to deposit his checks and pay him the cash. The young Muslim even gave him his bank account so that people who wanted to help could directly deposit the money. Later, he found out that the account was misused by someone.
Three weeks before the Eid ul Adha, he hired an unemployed old man to distribute fliers on his behalf in all the masajid. The flier offered a very lucrative price for a lamb or goat sacrifice during Eid ul Adha. He offered a lamb for $160 and a goat for $150. Even though he had initially introduced himself as Abdullah, the flier was in the name of Abu Bakr. People called him and reserved animals for sacrifice. He asked for advance money. He would invite the people at any of the masajid to finalize the transaction. It is believed that he collected money for about 300 to 400 goats and lambs. Most people paid by cash. Those who paid by check were not refused. However, he asked one of his acquaintances to cash checks for him.
