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Islamic Society Of Nevada (Jamia Masjid) Ramadan updates 2009

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

Salam Alaikum,
The countdown for the month of Ramadan is almost over. The moon that runs according to the laws of Allah has spoken and the first day of fasting is on August 22 and the first night of Taraweeh is on Friday, August 21, 2009 at 9:00 PM.
Here are some basic information related with the Ramadan at the Jamia Masjid.

1. Isha, Taraweeeh and Prayer times
From August 21 till September 4, the Isha will start at 9 PM immediately followed by the Taraweeh prayers at the Jamia Masjid..
Zuhr and Juma is always at 1:00 PM. at the Masjid
Asr for the first 15 days of Ramadan is at 5:30 and the second 15 days at 5 00 PM at the masjid.
Fajr is at 5:15 for the first 15 days and at 5:30 for the second 15 days of Ramadan at the Masjid.

2. Huffaz at the Jamia
Four Huffaz are the masjid to facilitate the taraweeh prayers. They are: Hafiz Musa, originally from Somalia, Hafiz Abdullah, from Thailand, Hafiz Ashraf Patel from England, originally from India and Hafiz Saqib Bukhari, from England, originally from Pakistan. We are expecting for Qari Islam Fikri to arrive from Egypt on Saturday or Sunday depending on the visa situation. We have done all paper work and now awaits for the US embassy in Cairo to issue him visa.

3. Program during the Month of Fasting
10 minutes before the Isha prayer, a short summary of the portion of the Quran being recited that night would be given by Dr. Aslam Abdullah in English.
Every day, immediately after the taraweeh prayer, Qari Ashraf Patel would be reciting the Quran for 10 minutes.
Every Friday, immediately after the taraweeh prayer, Hafiz Saqi b Bukhari will give a 10 minute talk on a subject relevant to Muslims in Las Vegas. His first topic is on Wealth as defined by Allah in the Quran.
Every Friday night after the taraweeh prayers, there will be Salat at Tasbeeh. This salat is in four units or raka and it takes about 40 minutes to complete.
Eery day huffaz are available to help anyone improve their reading of the Quran.
Every day iftar and dinner will be served at the Masjid.
masjid will remain open for 24 hours.

Our Muslim youth

by Fateen Seifullah

Every year during the Month of June, I prepare to meet an obligation that was made in 2005 with Abdul Aziz.  Abdul Aziz is a former resident of Las Vegas.  Abdal Aziz and his family  while residing in Las Vegas established a youth camp in Abiquiu, New Mexico. The camp takes place in a community known as Darl Islam, complete with a Masjid and school sitting on 1300 acres.  This village like-community was established by white converts in the 70’s.

Every year I dread going and every year I think this is my last year only to recommit after spending just a few days with our youth. 

Muslim youth, we read about and hear about their challenges.  Their uncertain about Islam, living as though on the brink of disbelief.   They discuss social challenges, like their desire to attend proms, parties and they want to know why they can’t have girlfriends and boyfriends.  These stories are so common that they make us forget the good youth. We forget to discuss and highlight our youth accomplishments.  What about their survival in public schools with their Islam in-tack. 

Stay in your lane

An interview by Dr. Akbar Ahmed

by Fateen Seifullah

Masjid As Sabur is in a unique situation, it is located in the inner-city.  We are blessed to be able to interact with so many different kinds of people from various walks of life.  There are the homeless, gang members, drug users, sincere neighbors and preachers.  If you stop to talk with them and listen they may provide you with some jewels of wisdom.  Take for example our next door neighbor Bishop R.E. Lee of Rohoboth Holliness Cathedral.  Bishop Lee and I have built a strong relationship, in fact a large part of the parking lot in front of the Masjid belongs to Bishop Lee and his Church.  We were fortunate to meet a God fearing Christian man who is friendly and kind to the Muslims.  When he walks up to me, the first thing he does is give the salam.  Bishop Lee has a slogan, a phrase that he is known by and that is "stay in your lane" . A catchy phrase right, but what does it really mean.  I've given a lot of thought to this statement over the years since the first time that I heard Bishop Lee say: Stay in your Lane.   In track and field when competing in any of the races, one of the ways to be disqualified is to cross into your opponents lane.  Staying in your lane is essential to staying in the race.  In swimming if you cross lanes you will be disqualified.  In professional drag races, crossing into another lane can be fatal.  The bishop was telling me to run my race and to stay in my lane. He was telling me not to worry about what other groups and organizations are doing.  Just Stay in My Lane!  What would our communities, Masjid /Organization be like if we just stayed in our lane.  There would be less bickering and infighting.  We would be able to support the specialty projects that are established by each community without duplicating those efforts, and without someone feeling threatened.  If we concentrated on particular projects, our communities would be more effective and productive.  I do not mean to suggest that we all can't have a food bank or a clinic or a political action group.  However, if there is an area that a Masjid or center is known for and has been successful at, first let us try to see how the whole body could work to improve that program.  Secondly, determine if that particular project is needed in your neighborhood, lastly - stay in your lane.  Support a good cause without competing against it. 

Southern Nevada Muslim Home Schoolers (SNMHS)

photo by Jan Von Holleben               

by Sakeena Mirza

Last summer, a few months before our elder son was slated to begin the first grade, our family decided to set out on the less trodden path of homeschooling.  Whereas just a few months before I had gaffed at the thought of educating my children at home, after deep reflection on the goals I had for my family and children, I became convinced that a family-centered education was the best option for our family.

After moving to Las Vegas at the end of the summer, we desperately searched for other families who had decided to tread the same road.  As a result of our search, an online group was born to help Muslim homeschooling families in the area communicate and coordinate activities.

 

What is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling encompasses many forms of non-institutionalized education.  Despite its name, homeschooling does not always take place at home.  Education takes place in diverse settings and circumstances, but remains family-based.

Moving On UP! An interview with Imam Fateen Seifullah about the C.I.P.

photo by Pungkas Nataatmaja                           

by Krisheena Malik

Moving On UP! An interview with Imam Fateen Seifullah about the C.I.P.

What is the C.I.P.? Community Investment Project. Imam Fateen mentioned in the khutbah last Friday that he needed 100 Muslims to give twenty dollars a month for the next three years to the Community Investment Project. He explained that Masjid As-Sabur is in the process of securing a non-interest loan to acquire the two neighboring properties.

So I thought, okay sounds good, but what is the plan exactly? What are the intentions of the C.I.P?  What will I be investing in and how will it benefit me or anyone else in this community? So I sat down with the Imam and let's just say he didn’t shy away from any of my inquiries. So here I will attempt to address any questions or concerns you might be having about the C.I.P. based on my interview with Fateen Seifullah, Imam of Masjid As-Sabur.

The goal of the Community Investment Project is to allow the community to establish an economic premise to function without complete reliance on the big-money donors who are depended on far too often to pull out their checkbooks for every costly project benefiting the Muslims of Las Vegas.  If each individual in the community makes a small, yet consistent investment, they develop a sense of ownership to the property or project.  The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would go on expeditions to get everyone in the ummah to contribute to the building up of the community, even if it were only one dinar, not allowing the very rich and very willing Abu Bakr to fund the entire project himself. And He is the Best of Examples.

Our Muslim brother

As salam alaykum

Dear readers:

I'm not sure if this is the best way to express my sympathy to Mike Tyson, whose daughter died recently.  However, I read an article today that was very touching and real.  It inspired me to atleast say something on this tragedy. In the sports column the writer mentioned all the horrible things that Mike Tyson has done and some of his bad decisions, but he did not stop there.  He concluded by mentioning the humane, father side of Mike Tyson and his displays of love that were witnessed for his children and all other children.  I personally remember those affections on display when Masjid As Sabur was a small building.  Mike with his entourage would fill the Jumua before a fight.  He always seemed to be more comfortable around the innocent youth even if they were asking for autographs.  He would buy ice cream for all of the children in the Masjid and all of the neighborhood kids that happen to come alone.  It is strange, that out of all the Muslim stars and superstars, no one has been more down to earth in my experience except Muhammad Ali. 

Judge Not

photo by myriapod               

by Krisheena Malik

My dear parents came to visit me from Philadelphia and of course I had to take them to see the sights and the lights of the Las Vegas strip. So I prepared myself for the too close for comfort crowds, the smoky casinos, and all the haram goings-on, but I did not prepare to JUDGE NOT.  . . I was fine at first cruising from casino to casino pushing my baby stroller, wearing a colorful hijab and matching tunic. Then we landed at the Fashion Show mall food court. As my parents chowed down, my eye caught a glimpse of a scantily clad young woman laughing with her friends. All of a sudden I became fixated on this woman, clad in a purple spandex mini-dress, sparkly gold strappy platform heels, platinum gold long hair extensions, too-blue-to-be-true contact lenses, and enough make-up to paint the Sistine Chapel! My fixation quickly progressed to obsession as I thought: “Wow, she really thinks she’s cute. Ha!" “I mean she’s dressed like a two-dollar whore!” “No respectable man would be attracted to THAT!” Then I became all pious, thinking: “Poor thing, she needs Islam”. “She just doesn’t know any better. SHE IS LOST”.

Just One Night

photo by Bryan Robb               

by Fateen Seifullah

Recently I had the good fortunate and humbling experience of spending one night in a cardboard box.  This experience was arranged through the efforts of Family Promise.  Family Promise has organized for the past few years an event entitled Cardboard City.  Through this event many worshipers from various faith communities are allowed to experience homelessness for one night.  Among the faith members there are Muslims, Jews and Christians together for a cause for which we all can rally around.  The less fortunate, the downtrodden the homeless.  This event allowed us to fellowship with one another but equally as important we were able to feel some of what the homeless experience.  I emphasis some, because we had certain luxuries that the homeless are not afforded. 

My experience was shared with Naim Shah, Co-Founder of the ILM Foundation who established Humanitarian Day, the largest single day of service organized by Muslim's in this country, Muslim ran and coordinated to provide services during the last 3rd weekend in Ramadan.  We arrived at The Cross (a Church) where we were greeted warmly by Jennifer Cohen, President of Family Promise and member of Ner Tamid Synagogue.  As we walked to the designated area already covered with cardboard boxes in the desert, in the courtyard, scattered throughout the grounds, we began to prepare ourselves mentally for the night.  Terry Liederman of Family Promise and a member of the Lutheran Church helped us gather our cardboard box for the night.  Bonnie Polley an Episcopal Deacon and County Jail Religious Coordinator asked us to set up our box next to  her box.  I only mention the names and denomination to show how good people of all faiths can work together. 

This night reminded me of another night that I spent on the State Capital with Bonnie Polley and Terry Liederman, advocating for the homeless.  The difference is that it was winter time in Northern Nevada and the temperature dropped down below 20 degrees.  Allow me to share that experience.

Could you imagine the stress, day after day?  Would you survive for one night?  Imagine no bathroom, snacks, T.V. or even heavy blankets.  My experience in Reno was much more intense, as close to homelessness as I have been.  My two traveling companions Bonnie Polley, and Terry Liederman and I arrived in Reno around noon.

Love and Relationship

Imam Fateen Seifullah has shared the above short speech by the late Dr. Hasan Hathout on the topic of Love and Relationship with the blog this week. He summed it up by saying "It would take me 40 years to say what he said in those nine minutes."

The Lucifer Effect

About three weeks ago, Dr. Philip Zimbardo spoke at UNLV on the topic of "Genocide to Abu Ghraib: How Good People Turn Evil". Unfortunately, I missed his presentation because it was also Tax day and as usual I was procrastinating and trying to finish my taxes to beat the deadline. Luckily, a friend of mine found Dr. Zimbardo's presentation on the same topic online and shared it with me. I recommend watching the 1:11 min presentation above and if you are in a time crunch, a shorter 23 min (TED.com, one of my all time favorite websites) version by continuing below. Both videos contain some graphic images.

Dr. Philip George Zimbardo is a famous psychologist and a professor emeritus at Stanford University. He is known for his Stanford prison study and his authorship of introductory psychology textbooks for college students. If you have taken Psychology 101 in high school or college, then you should be familiar with Dr. Zimbardo's Stanford prison study. He is also the author of the recently published book "The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil".

... The Lucifer Effect tells, for the first time, the full story behind the Stanford Prison Experiment, a now-classic study I conducted in 1971. In that study, normal college students were randomly assigned to play the role of guard or inmate for two weeks in a simulated prison, yet the guards quickly became so brutal that the experiment had to be shut down after only six days.

How and why did this transformation take place, and what does it tell us about recent events such as the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuses in Iraq? Equally important, what does it say about the "nature of human nature," and what does it suggest about effective ways to prevent such abuses in the future?