BRANTFORD — A Rohingya refugee family has found a new home in Brantford and has been receiving a helping hand from local groups.

Anuwar Yosof and his family say they came to Canada to escape violence in their home country and to give their sons hope for a better future.

“I’m very happy to be living in Canada,” he said. “For education, for living, for studies, I think their futures will be very good.”

The year-long process was delayed by the pandemic but has now been completed. The family is now settling into Southwestern Ontario, far away from violence and discrimination that Yosof says his people face.

“The Myanmar government will killed me because the condition is not secure,” he said.

Cares in Brant along with the Muslim Association of Brantford is sponsoring the family by providing shelter, food, and clothing with costs up to roughly $30,000.

A virtual fundraiser was held for the family to raise an additional $10,000.

“The government is paying for six months of support,” said Imam Abu Noman Tarek, director of religious affairs for the association. “We are responsible to add on six months as well as initial start, set up costs.”

He adds that the fundraiser was also an opportunity for the family to meet their sponsors and other community members.

“When we have something for ourselves, we extend our kindness and support for those looking for it,” said Tarek.

The Cares in Brant group has previously sponsored a Syrian family who came to the city in 2016.

“People tend to forget that the refugee experience is so common and parallel from family to family,” said Jamie Crick of the Cares group.

All donations go directly to the family and can be made online at ICNA Relief Canada or by contacting the Brantford Mosque.

Article Courtesy By Kitchener

—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

JAMAICA, New York (December 04, 2020) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) National Election Committee announced that Dr. Mohsin Ansari has been elected as the President of ICNA for the 2021-2022 term.

Dr. Ansari has been associated with ICNA in different capacities for three decades and is currently the Vice President of Social Services. He previously served as the Chairman of ICNA Relief and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD).

He completed his pediatric residency at Metrohealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He continued to broaden his training and experience at the same institution in the capacity of a Chief Resident. Dr. Ansari then did his pediatric specialization and fellowship in Neonatology (Newborn and Premature baby care) at Metroheath Medical Center. Dr. Ansari is currently licensed to practice medicine in several states. He is also an author of mutiple research papers published both in national and international medical journals. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five sons.

The new President will be taking the oath during upcoming MGA meeting.

The Outgoing President, Mr. Javaid Siddiqi, expressed confidence in Dr. Ansari and prayed for his success in this new responsibility.

(September 8, 2020) A global pandemic with hundreds of thousands dead, mass protests with innocent people killed on the streets, natural disasters from all sides, and the largest recession in almost a century with millions left unemployed.

Sounds like a scene from an apocalyptic movie, but this is America in 2020. For once, reality is more unbelievable than the movies. Facing loss, pain, and uncertainty, so many of us are confused about what direction to take when planning for a future that looks unlike anything we’ve ever known.
Allah (God Almighty), asks us in the Quran to ask for His help in finding direction “Guide me to the straight path.” (1:6), He then also provides us with direction where He says “this is My path, which is straight, so follow it”(6:153). Allah, through Islam, has provided us with a set of tools that helps us fortify ourselves moving into an uncertain future.
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) brings you the 2020 Dawah conference – “Islam: The Solution in Times of Confusion” where world-renowned speakers will highlight how Islam presents solutions for issues facing us, and more importantly how we can equip ourselves to stand strong in times of confusion.
For more information on the conference, please visit: https://dawah.icna.org/conference

Speakers

• Javaid Siddiqi, President, ICNA
• Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Imam of America
• Sh. Omar Suleiman, Founder, Yaqeen Institute
• Ustadah Ieasha Prime, Educator and Activist
• Hamza Tzortzis, iERA, Sapience Institute
• Yusha Evans, International Dawah Specialist
• Nahela Morales, Embrace Reverts Network
• Dr. Sabeel Ahmed, GainPeace Dawah Project
• Imam Gamal Fouda, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Imam Jawad Ahmed, WhyIslam Dawah Project
• Mohammed Hijab, Podcaster, Public speaker (UK)
• Kamal Saleh, Spoken Word, Talk Islam
• Dr. Jonathan Brown, Georgetown University
• Imam Shabir Ally, Dawah Pioneer in the West
• Ali Dawah, Activist, YouTuber (UK)
• Dr. Craig Considine, Rice University
• Dr. Suzy Ismail, Founder, Cornerstone
• Noor, Mindful Muslimah Podcast
• Imam Wesley Lebron, WhyIslam Spanish Dept.
• Fahad Tasleem, iERA USA
• Imam Ahmad Maeno, Tokyo, Japan
• Prof Mostafa Hijazi, WhyIslam Field Dawah
• Eddie Redzovic, Host of Deen Show
• Kashmir Maryam, Spoken Word, Strangers
• Prof Mohammad Shareef, Black Dawah Network
• Imam Rafiq Mahdi, ICNA Relief
• Imam Gyasi McKinzie, Helping Hand, Embrace
• Imam Khalid Griggs, Message Magazine, ICNA
• Aishah Alam, Spoken Word, Strangers

By Emily Haynes
Charitable giving is a fixture at prayers and community meals during Ramadan, but this year, Islamic nonprofits had to innovate quickly to reach donors as they sheltered in place throughout the holy month. Many Islamic charities rely on donations that come in during Ramadan to fund their work for the year.

As some experts predict giving may soon start a steep decline, fundraisers felt this year’s Ramadan giving season was even more precious.
Ramadan, which stretched from April 23 to May 23, is typically when many practicing Muslims give zakat, which is similar to a tithe but equal to 2.5 percent of an individual’s wealth. The donations usually support charities that alleviate poverty, advance human rights, or otherwise promote social justice.
In the past, charities collected zakat at community and mosque events throughout the holy month. This year, however, imams led prayers over social media while most mosques stayed closed. Instead of gathering to break the fast together, families shared evening meals over video chat.
“This really became a do-or-die situation,” said Mariya Nadeem, chief marketing officer at Helping Hand for Relief and Development, an international aid organization that relies heavily on zakat.
The charity — which reported more than $63 million in revenue for fiscal 2017, according to the most recent public tax filings — generally raises most of its fundraising revenue through banquets and speaking events during Ramadan.
“Our projections were completely different, pre-Covid,” Nadeem says. “Once Covid-19 happened, we realized that we were not going to be able to make the same impact that we had set out for ourselves. We had to come to terms with that.”
With just more than a month’s heads up, the group refocused its efforts on raising enough money to keep its existing staff and programs working worldwide.
The solution: an array of virtual events including prayer, Koran study, story time for children, and online fundraising drives.
“There is a lot of meeting up and socializing that happens during Ramadan that we really missed this time around,” Nadeem says. “We tried to give that back to our donors.”
While the final fundraising tallies are not yet available, Nadeem says the charity “did fine” this year. She does wonder, however, whether some of her group’s virtual efforts got lost in the flood of online events from mosques, scholars, and charities.
“It was really great to see everyone put so much content out there,” Nadeem says. “But at the end of the day, it started to become a lot. I started to see fatigue from donors.”
Help for Small Nonprofits
A recent survey of giving patterns during the pandemic found that donations to faith-based nonprofits were keeping pace with the pre-pandemic levels. An earlier version of the survey, released in April, found a slight uptick in the number of people who planned to give to faith-based nonprofits in the wake of Covid-19. Nearly half of respondents — 48 percent — said they planned to give, compared with 45 percent who said they made contributions to such faith-based nonprofits last year.
That’s better news than a marked decline in gifts to religious nonprofits, but it also punctures any hopes that a surplus of disaster giving is headed their way. Charities that were short on cash before the pandemic will need to keep tightening their belts.
Many of the estimated 10,000 nonprofits serving Muslim Americans have annual budgets of less than $250,000, says Muhi Khwaja, director of development and philanthropy at the American Muslim Community Foundation. Like other small nonprofits, many of these charities don’t have reliable records of their donors or fundraising staff to run a big campaign like an annual fund. Without rigorous fundraising practices, these charities don’t have much of a cushion in times of trouble.
“In a good year, maybe they had six to 10 months of reserves in their operation, but now they’re at one to three months,” Khwaja says “It was tough to see that.”
The foundation, which he co-founded in 2016, offers training to help Islamic charities across the country formalize their fundraising efforts by launching online campaigns, collecting donor data, and building lasting relationships with donors. It also awards grants to Islamic nonprofits and holds donor-advised funds.
As fear of a coming wave of nonprofit closures swirls in the nonprofit world, the American Muslim Community Foundation hoped to provide a lifeline for Islamic nonprofits that not only lost revenue because of widespread economic uncertainty but also had to cancel their biggest fundraising events of the year.
In April, the foundation opened the Covid-19 Response Fund for Nonprofits, an online crowdfunding campaign that raised $100,000 for 17 Islamic organizations and $250,000 for mosques. The grants ranged from $1,000 to $66,000.
While that money certainly helps, it may not be enough to keep the doors open at smaller faith-based nonprofits.
Mixed Results
Fatima Sadaf Saied, executive director of the Muslim Women’s Organization in Orlando, Fla., has participated in American Muslim Community Foundation trainings and applied some of what she learned to her charity’s efforts to meet its fundraising goals this Ramadan.
The nonprofit’s budget for 2019 was just over $110,000. In September it took on a big new expense when it opened an office space to host book clubs, religious counseling, and other events. Like many Islamic charities, the Muslim Women’s Organization only uses zakat to fund its mission work, but Saied had been counting on donors to make additional unrestricted contributions during Ramadan to cover its increased operating expenses.
Saied, the only paid staff member, convened volunteers virtually to make a new plan for Ramadan.
“We decided that women are overwhelmed right now with a lot of content. There’s some great content out there, and we don’t need to be adding to it right now,” Saied says. “That’s a lot of effort to put into something that people may just not need.”
Instead, the group asked itself: “What can we do that is necessary?” While nearly all Islamic nonprofits clamored for donations during the holy month, Saied says her group wanted its appeals to underscore why boosting women’s leadership was still essential.
The group collected zakat donations for its annual food drive for Ramadan and toy drive for Eid al-Fitr , the holiday that marks the close of the holy month. This year, the charity reworked volunteering at those efforts to accommodate social-distancing measures. It also canceled its interfaith iftar, the meal during Ramadan that breaks each day’s fast after sundown. And while it hosted three Facebook Live events, the charity otherwise abstained from virtual programs. It also launched a fundraising drive on Facebook but focused most of its efforts on calling past donors to ask them for continued support.
The results were mixed. The charity raised an estimated $10,000 on Facebook to fund its general operating expenses and collected roughly $36,000 in zakat contributions to provide Eid gifts for children and gift cards to grocery and halal stores, so families could purchase food that’s been processed in accordance with Islamic law.
In all, the charity raised about $50,000 during Ramadan through unrestricted donations, zakat contributions, emergency grant money and a $7,500 loan from the Paycheck Protection Program. During a typical Ramadan, the food and toy drive alone would attract more than $50,000 in zakat-eligible gifts.
The group has already seen declines in individual giving. Its donors are largely split among doctors, small business owners, and service-industry employees, Said says.
“The physicians, for the most part, are still giving, but the smaller donors and any donors that are related to [the restaurant and tourism] industries have really dropped off,” she says. “It’s been quite a challenge, with our increased expenses, to try to raise that money.”
While her charity scraped through this Ramadan, Saied worries that those who can continue to make contributions will choose to give to bigger nonprofits whose missions are more directly tied to the public-health crisis.
“It’s so important for people to support the smaller, local nonprofits because they’re doing the work on the ground in these communities that a lot of the bigger nonprofits are not,” she says. “It’s so important to make sure that you don’t forget them.”
Article Courtesy: The Chronicle of Philanthropy

by Adem Carroll, The Message International
 
The September 11th terror attack had a complex emotional, social, and economic impact on the Muslim American community, and especially upon the extensive immigrant Arab, South Asian, and African Muslim populations of New York City.

Like our fellow Americans and like much of the world, we Muslims felt sorrow and anger to be attacked in this way—grief for family, friends, and neighbors lost in the towers and on the hijacked plans, as well as shame and consternation at seeing our religion hijacked for evil ends, distorted and degraded by the actions of Al-Qaeda.
We also felt increasing apprehension about the impending attack on Afghanistan and then Iraq, as well as insecurity about our own positions here at home—would we be targeted by hate crimes and detentions? Little did we realize how many of us would be affected over the subsequent years.

In fact many New Yorkers recall the spirit of unity that prevailed in New York City after the disaster, so different from the polarized and frequently hateful atmosphere in the nation today. Nonetheless, interfaith and intercultural cooperation has continued to flourish.

Beginning two or three days after 9/11, I worked at ICNA Relief USA to assist in disaster relief and recovery. With its long history of providing disaster relief and crisis mitigation services, ICNA was able to collect monies to assist victims, organize volunteers, and plan interfaith charitable projects. In the weeks and years following the 9/11 tragedy, I coordinated direct and indirect financial and legal assistance to hundreds of detainees in addition to assisting Muslim and non-Muslim families who had lost someone in the attack. During the five years I worked at ICNA Relief with my dear colleagues Br. Tariq Rahman and Br. Abdulsalaam Musa and others, I was grateful to receive at various times the civil liberties assistance of Nicole Woods and Malika Rushdan and (in our Red Cross Program) such hard working caseworkers as Br. Hasan Raza and Sister Rasheeda al-Hakeem, who departed this world two months ago, may God be pleased with her. Our ICNA Relief USA team could not always solve all problems, but we could certainly lighten the load in many cases, with the help of Allah.
Though the number of Muslim families directly affected by 9/11 is relatively small (no one knows the exact count, but it is under 50), ICNA assisted almost half of them to varying degrees. Much time has passed, and these families—African, Arab, Turkish, Greek, Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani—have for the most part scattered across the nation and around the world. I recall many moments with them as we looked for disaster assistance and being touched in so many ways by their deep sorrow and, just as compelling, their profound patience and courage. May Allah make it easy for them all! Two of these families exemplify the suffering as well as the courage typical of these families and it is fitting that we take a moment to remember them, one known to the ICNA community and one to the world.
The suffering, patience, and courage
Tariq Amanullah went to work at the World Trade Center on 9/11 and simply never returned. He is often identified as an assistant vice president of Fiduciary Trust. However, few people know that Amanullah, a Muslim by faith, was also one of the founding members of 877-Why-Islam. He was also the treasurer of ICNA-NJ, organizer of Muslim Day at Six Flags and core member of ICNA.org website team.
ICNA team members remember Amanullah for his humility, his devoted nature, and his selfless work. “The mere mention of Br. Tariq Amanullah’s name evokes a range of feelings within me; from a sense of loss to profound admiration for his contribution to the cause of Islam,” expressed Musaddique Thange.
“Br. Tariq was a very humble man. He had a unique smile and was soft spoken in nature. He had a down-to-earth personality and was very meticulous in his work. He was a valuable team member and was loved by everyone,” reminisced Saeed Khan.
Most team members’ last memories of Amanullah are associated with the Great Muslim Adventure Day, which was held at Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey, two days before 9/11 and where they met him last. “How can I forget Br. Tariq Amanullah? I still remember my last talk with him at the Six Flag Park Arena after a tiring day. I still see his smiling face from that day,” recalled Mohiuddin Syed.
Ten years have passed since that tragic day. Speaking with his widow, Sr. Mehr, three weeks before the upcoming anniversary, she told me how grateful she was to all the well-wishers for their support over the last few years. Still, she is glad to have moved to the West Coast away from all the 9/11-related hype in the media that still exists in New York. Their son has now graduated college and seems to be following in his father’s footsteps as he pursues a career in Information Systems Management. Their daughter is in the third year of her university studies. “She was only nine years old when it happened, and as she realized her loss more fully over the next few years, she became very quiet. Thank God she is now moving on with her life.” Sr. Mehr says that it has been a challenge for the whole family, adding, “With all the attacks on Muslims in the USA, I also have felt at times that I was considered an enemy as well as a victim.” Sr. Mehr is active with the ICNA Sisters’ Wing in her area.
Mohammed Salman Hamdani, a 23-year old Pakistani-born paramedic rushed to the World Trade Centre to help victims after the first plane hit one of the towers. In After the Fall: New Yorkers Remember September 2001 by Catherine Ellis and Stephen Drury Smith, Mohammed’s mother Talat recalled how she first heard the news after she left a class she was teaching in a New York City public school just around the time the second tower collapsed. She and her husband, who were from Karachi but had lived in New York since 1978, could not reach him but were hopeful that this was because he was helping others and because of cell phone system overload. She volunteered to watch the students that day until the parents could manage to pick them up from school. But in the following days, with no word from their son, as they made the round of hospitals and visited the rescue workers at Ground Zero, they began to hope he had been detained with the hundreds of other Muslim men rounded up in New York in the first days after 9/11. Soon they were hearing his name and reputation smeared in the New York tabloids, with the NY Post headline “Missing or Hiding?” and other articles insinuating he was one of the terrorists. Such stories continued for a long time, even after his remains were found under Tower Two.
For Talat, her husband Saleem, and their two other sons, the personal had become public. And soon the public became personal as well, as Talat Hamdani fought to clear her son’s name and to reclaim their unsullied identity as a Muslim American family. She was gratified that her son, ultimately, was named as a hero in the U.S. Patriot Act, in a governmental gesture of inclusion, but was shocked to find out what human and civil rights restrictions were contained in these new laws. She opposed the Patriot Act and joined 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows and has been active as a spokeswoman for this pro-peace group of 9/11 family survivors. Among many other activities, Talat Hamdani actively joined the demonstrations supporting Park 51, the campaign to include Muslim input in the 9/11 Commission Report, and the campaign against keeping Guantanamo open; she has travelled to Guantánamo to observe the 9/11 defendants’ military commissions proceedings there.
When the Peter King hearings on the radicalization of Muslims were announced in spring 2011, Talat and I met with the editorial board of Newsday, the daily newspaper serving Mr. King’s district. She also spoke out to other media at the “I am a Muslim Too” rally in Times Square. When Congressman Keith Ellison was allowed to “provide balance” at the King hearings, it was Salman Hamdani’s sacrifice that he spoke of in a memorable and politically effective speech.
Despite her husband’s death and some recent health challenges, Talat has also established a new award to honor her son by financially aiding a graduating college senior who has been accepted to medical school, preferably a student connected to Pakistani heritage and/or in need of financial assistance. In May, Anam Ahmed became the first recipient of the new Salman Hamdani Memorial Award, which is administered by the Queens College Foundation.
“Just as Salman Hamdani helped his fellow Americans selflessly on 9/11, not caring about their beliefs but just seeing human beings, I want to be able to do the same one day,” said the Queens College graduating senior. And as Talat said of her son, “This is his legacy. He gave his life. They tried to take away his dignity in death and they cannot do it.”
Community challenges and peace-building
There is no denying a marked increase in public anti-Muslim sentiment linked to the meteoric rise of the political Right in this country. And since spring 2010, “Ground Zero” has continued to be a highly politicized issue, manipulated especially by Islamophobic opponents of the Park 51 project, which they falsely term a “victory mosque,” due to its size and location several blocks from the World Trade Center site, where the “Liberty” tower now rises at long last.
These political attacks have led many Muslims to feel disenfranchised, since the implication is that we should keep out of pubic sight despite deeply sharing in the tragedy of 9/11. Like many others, Talat Hamdani has asked: “Why are we paying the price? Why are we being ostracized? Our loved ones died…. America was founded on the grounds of religious freedom.” She says that opposition to the cultural center “is un-American. It’s unethical. And it is wrong.”
Indeed, the distortions in some of the right wing media have been remarkable, since the Park 51 project is primarily a community center that offers recreational space and social services to the whole community, as an addition to the current, modest mosque that has quietly existed on that spot for several years. And despite support for the project by Mayor Bloomberg and many civic leaders and organizations, Park 51 is still a favorite political buzzword of fear-mongering for the Tea Party. In the last elections, the issue became a major theme of local elections around the country, even at this time of economic hardship, along with the supposed threat of Sharia law. And for the 9/11 anniversary, an organization called the Christian Action Network is promoting a hateful documentary film called, Sacrificed Survivors: The Untold Story of the Ground Zero Mosque, hosted by demagogue Congressman Allen West and promoted in parks throughout New York City.
Hatred and intolerance are spreading. In the Queens Congressional district of recently disgraced Anthony Weiner, not far from ICNA offices, a Tea Party politician has been endorsed by former New York City mayors Guiliani and Koch in the September 2011 primary race. Through the use of negative videos, he is using the issue of Park 51 to run against a Jewish mainstream candidate on an anti-mosque platform in order to capture the most extreme right flank of the local Jewish vote. Divisive identity politics certainly at play here!
Thankfully other community groups are working to build bridges of understanding and peace in this post 9/11 world. The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is involved in coordinating the Shoulder to Shoulder interfaith program that promotes understanding and tolerance in the face of these attacks on religious freedom; New York Neighbors for American Values is another such coalition of over 150 civic organizations that is planning positive-minded 9/11 rallies; and Prepare NY is an interfaith group that is currently setting up over 500 “coffee hour discussions” to use the tenth anniversary as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding. (More information available at www.prepareny.org)
Peaceful Tomorrows is another such organization, founded by family members of those killed on September 11th who have united to turn their grief into action for peace. They hope to break the cycles of violence engendered by war and terrorism and have implemented many projects in the U.S., Iraq, and Afghanistan. Colleen Kelly, a New York nurse whose brother, William Kelly Jr., was killed in the 9/11 attacks, said she wrestled with feelings of revenge, and felt relief when the American military recently killed Osama bin Laden. But Kelly, who was among activists who traveled to Iraq two months before the war, said she related to and sympathized with civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq who would be killed in any war. “There are now families on the other side of the world who feel like my family,” Kelly said.”
In fact many New Yorkers recall the spirit of unity that prevailed in New York City after the disaster, so different from the polarized and frequently hateful atmosphere in the nation today. Nonetheless, interfaith and intercultural cooperation has continued to flourish. For example, the Unmet Needs Roundtable was established by a consortium of faith groups that served on the board of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS). ICNA Relief was one of the founding members, and remains a Board member of this fine organization which has managed to provide over 5 million dollars in assistance to families who had fallen through the cracks of available assistance from 9/11 funding.
Memories of those who witnessed 9/11
The following quotes are from an article in the New York Times about post-traumatic-stress-disorder resulting from 9/11.
“I worked in tower 2 and was two blocks away when the plane hit it. I still remember the pile of women’s shoes, the shaking of the ground, the glass shattering around me and the brave police officer who motioned with his arms for everyone to go. I really don’t think I have PTSD. I do believe it’s real, though. I still can smell the smell that lingered in the city for months.”
“My son was a derivatives trader at Barclays Bank on 911 and saw the events as they unfolded on that day. He apparently was unable to come to terms with the horrors of that day or with losing six of his friends who worked in the towers. After years of emotional turmoil he finally took his life in December, 2006. There are probably many similar stories, that have also gone unnoticed. I wish there was a way to also remember those who did not survive the emotions triggered by this tragedy.”
“I was standing just south of Tower 2 when it collapsed, sending a giant black cloud racing towards me and my co-worker. We ran south and east towards the FDR but were overcome by the cloud within seconds. I still remember seeing a piece of paper with a spreadsheet on it, floating above my head as dust turned day into night. ….I was lucky enough not to have seen anyone dead or jumping to their deaths that day — perhaps that would have had a more lasting impact on me. But the one thing I will never forget is the sight of dozens of people like me emerging from the dust, running away from the towers in fear of their lives, and seeing dozens of emergency responders running in the opposite direction.”
“The saddest part for me is that many who ask me about it, and wonder why I have these little fears now, actually don’t want to hear it or care about it… It is something we have to live with inside, will never go away despite all the help probably, and something we will never forget.”
“I have worked on John Street in lower Manhattan for many years. I still remember the sights, sounds and smells of Sept 11 vividly. I recall the sounds of each tower collapsing, the gray clouds of dust that rolled down John Street, the gray ash that covered everything and everyone, the gray clouds that passed by my office window, the strong horrible odors, the sounds of throngs of people screaming as they tried to out-run the gray clouds of dust and debris that were unleashed by the collapse. I never talk about this with anyone. I just recall it privately and alone, and tears well up in my eyes.”
Extending Helping Hand to those affected
In 2010 Congress finally passed the James Zadroga Act to provide treatment for 9/11 responders and downtown residents, necessary because of the significant increase in respiratory distress among people exposed to the toxic plume. Some individuals will also qualify for treatment of their psychological trauma.
It is impossible to say how many people have 9/11-related PTSD, panic disorders, depression and anxiety. Based on a registry of people exposed to the attack, New York City’s health department has estimated that 61,000 of the 409,000 in the disaster area experienced “probable” PTSD after 9/11. Experts differ as to whether some people have suffered the disorder from watching repeated television coverage of the September 11 attacks, though this has been said to be at least an aggravating factor. It is a sad case that there are some number of Muslims who worked at ground zero as chaplains and rescue workers who would qualify for free treatment and health monitoring, but who have denied that they need help at all, or think they can handle the trauma without professional assistance.
Post traumatic stress disorder can be treated with a combination of cognitive therapy (the goal is to help the client understand how certain thoughts about the trauma cause him or her stress and make the symptoms worse) medication, exposure therapy (to lessen fears about the memories of the trauma), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR, to help change how one reacts to memories of the trauma.) I myself suffered from PTSD, anxiety, and depression, sought relief through talk therapy and EMDR, and did experience notable improvement.
Those who suffered the direct trauma of 9/11 have struggled to regain a semblance of normalcy and functionality in their daily lives. And they are a small number of the countless individuals who are suffering all over the world. May Allah be merciful to us all. And may we, in turn, be merciful and caring toward all our fellow human beings. And may the Muslim narrative of suffering, patience, and courage after the tragedy of 9/11 interweave with the narratives of all affected Americans so as to create a durable and exquisite fabric of resolve — to unify our efforts in creating a tolerant, cooperative, and peaceful world.
First published by The Message International Magazine on October 18, 2011.

 
By Sheikh Yusuf Islahi
 
Zakah is a well-known financial obligation in an Islamic society. It is obligatory on every mentally sound and financially strong adult who has money saved for one year. This extraordinary obligation is so important that it comes after the obligation of Salah (prayer). Without this, a person cannot be considered faithful.

The Holy Quran explains that those who repented from disbelief and became faithful, establish Salah, and start paying Zakah are brothers in faith and considered part of Muslim society. “But if they repent and establish Salah and pay the Zakah, then they are your brothers in religion” (Al-Quran, 9:11).
In reality, these two obligations (Salah and Zakah) are two very important pillars of the religion. Establishment of Salah indicates that the person is serious about his obligation towards Allah (swt), and his relationship with Allah (swt) is trustworthy. Zakah is an obligation from Allah (swt) towards His creation. The establishment of Zakah indicates that the person is fully aware of his obligations towards the rights of the servants of Allah (swt); he is serious about his obligation and his relationship with others and is trustworthy. The recognition of these two rights, obligations towards Allah (swt) and obligations towards servants of Allah and fulfilling its rights, is Islam. The one whose relationship with the servants of Allah is on truth, his relationship with Allah (swt) will also be reliable because humans are the best creation of Allah (swt).
However, those individuals who separate Salah and Zakah are considered untrustworthy in their deen according to the fuqaha. Abdullah ibn Masood (r) has stated, “The one who does not pay Zakah, his Salah is unacceptable” (At Tabarani). The historical statements of Abu Bakr As Siddiq (r) are evident of this correlation between Salah and Zakah. According to the Quran, the obligation of Salah and Zakah are an open declaration of one’s following the religion of Islam; similarly, not paying Zakah is a declaration and practice of kufr and shirk. Allah says in the Quran in Surah Sajdah verses 9 and 10, “Woe to the idolaters who do not pay the Zakah and deny the Hereafter.”
Here, the Zakah is not obligatory due to the nature of the verse being revealed in Makkah, two years prior to the obligation of it. However, it was a notable practice to spend in the way of Allah (swt) during the times of the prophets, which is why not accepting this is an act of kufr and shirk.
During the time period of Abu Bakr as Siddiq (r), some Muslims had denied their obligation of Zakah. Abu Bakr had therefore considered this an act of division and dissension. This illustrates his keen insight into the seriousness of the matter, though some of the Sahabah failed to understand his reaction. Even Umar ibn Al Khattab (r) questioned, “How can you go against these people who believe in the oneness of Allah when it is evident from the sayings of the Prophet, ‘I have been directed to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah. Whoever professes it is granted full protection of his property and life except for a right cause and his (other) affairs rest with Allah?’” His immediate response to such a refutation was the warning that those who paid Zakah in the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and now were refraining from even giving a baby goat, he would wage jihad on them. Umar ibn Al Khattab and the rest of the companions were then appeased by this decision. The decision taken by these believers was acknowledged by Allah in the Quran where He recognized them as true believers. Allah (swt) says in the Quran Surah Anfal, verses 3 and 4, “Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance. Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and generous sustenance.”
Zakah in Shari’ah of the Past
The importance of Zakah in the rulings of Shari’ah and those of ibadah (worship) are illustrated in the lifetimes of the previous prophets. In Surah Anbiya, Prophet Ibrahim (a) and his son Prophet Ishaq (a) as well as grandson Prophet Yaqub (a) were referred to when Allah said in verse 73, “And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command, and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practice regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only).”
The group that makes up the largest population on earth is the group of followers of Prophet Isa (a), Christians. In their religion, Salah and Zakah are an obligation due to the fact that without Zakah their rulings of worship would be incomplete. When Prophet Isa’s mother Maryam (a) was accused during the questioning of Baby Isa, she merely pointed to the baby, who responded in Surah Maryam, verses 30 and 31: “He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live.” The importance of Zakah is to such an extent that without it no act of worship is accepted.
Consequences of Those who Refuse to Pay Zakah
The extreme desire for worldly possessions and love of wealth, miserliness, and tightfistedness are the signs of the worst form of spiritual disease. The negative effects of these signs destroy the human character. Succor from this negative cycle is Zakah and charity. Allah (swt) when speaking to the Prophet guides him by saying, “Of their goods, take alms, so you might purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily your prayers are a source of security for them: And Allah is One Who hears and knows” (Al-Quran, 9:103).
However, the unfortunate who does not heed this warning and does not pay Zakah, Allah (swt) has revealed a severe punishment and torment as another warning in the Quran. “O you who believe! There are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in Falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty. On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs—”This is the (treasure) which you buried for yourselves: taste you, then, the (treasures) you buried!” (Al-Quran, 9:34, 35).
Abdullah ibn Umar (r) was asked what the word “kanz” meant in this verse to which he replied that it is wealth on which Zakah had not been paid. After paying Zakah, the wealth that is left is good, albeit jewelry, cash, or other forms of wealth. Taking advantage of this is a favor from Allah (swt), whereas the money on which Zakah is not paid brings punishment upon punishment.
Abu Huraira (r) narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever is given wealth by God and does not pay the Zakah due thereupon shall find that on the Day of Arising it is made to appear to him as a hairless snake with two black specks, which chains him, and then seizes him by his jaw and says, ‘I am your wealth! I am your treasure!’” Then he recited the verse, “Let not those who are miserly with what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Arising” (Al-Quran, 3:180).
These clear warnings require that our Muslim society become generous, open hearted, look after the poor, facilitate aid to those in need, and be sensitive to their needs. We must ourselves be open to fulfilling the needs of our fellow human beings and encourage others to do the same. Biographers of Abu Huraira have noted that he would mention the obligation of Zakah upon seeing a group of people gathered together. You will find that many people sincerely pay close attention to their Salah, dhikr, reciting Quran, and offering of extra deeds, which is a very important factor of their lives. However, there seems be a lack of focus on their Zakah and charity, which is required by Allah (swt) and the Prophet (pbuh).
Blessings in One’s Wealth from Zakah
From the favors of Allah (swt), He has blessed us with wealth and, therefore, Zakah has become obligatory on us. He says if we spend in His way from what He gave us, there will be an increase in our blessings and wealth. We must simply trust wholeheartedly in Allah (swt) and with this trust we should spend in His SWT way. When Allah SWT is promising us such an increase, then what is there that will prevent us from giving Zakah? Allah SWT says in Surah Baqarah verse 276, “Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loves not creatures ungrateful and wicked.” With regards to this verse, that Prophet (pbuh) stated, “Giving in the way of Allah does not decrease one’s wealth, and forgiving someone does not decrease one’s status; rather, Allah raises his status. Those who are humble in the way of their Lord, He increases them in rank” (Muslim).
The essence of this Hadith is that the result of our actions, its impact, and blessings are all in the hands of Allah (swt). Out of His wisdom and authority, He reveals the truth and brings forth the consequences and impact of one’s actions. One may see an increase in wealth due to usury, but the reality is that it is devoid of blessings. On the other hand, those who spend in the way of their Lord and feel their wealth is decreasing, in reality, it is full of blessings and Allah (swt) will increase it. The second part of this Hadith addresses the man who seeks revenge for injustice done to him solely for instilling fear in the hearts of others; however, he chooses to forgive rather than seek his revenge. Allah prefers those who forgive and also raises their status and respect.
Allah (swt) explains this point further with an example that humans experience regularly in their lives and, as a result, their hearts find peace. Allah (swt) says in Surah Baqarah, verse 261, “The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to who He pleases: And Allah cares for all and He knows all things.” A farmer sows his seeds in the ground apparently wasting them; however, he does so with complete trust as he prays to Allah for the blessings from it. Allah (swt) upon seeing the hard work of His servant blesses this man with 700 grains from the single seed planted.
The humble servant is the one who gives Zakah with the purest intention seeking Allah’s pleasure and the reward of the Hereafter. He spends happily with an open heart, does not remind others of his favor upon them, and remembers the favors of Allah on him. Allah (swt) says in Surah Rum, verse 39, “That which you lay out for increase through the property of (other) people will have no increase with Allah: but that which you lay out for charity, seeking the Countenance of Allah, (will increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.”
Those who seek the pleasure of Allah (swt) by giving Zakah and spending in His way will be the ones who receive these blessings and increases. Abu Huraira (r) narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit of the honestly-earned money—and Allah accepts only the honestly earned money—Allah takes it in His right (hand) then enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much so that it becomes as big as a mountain” (Bukhari).
Zakah: A Means of Purification and Closeness
The purpose of Zakah is to balance the economic system of society. Wealth should not circulate merely amongst the rich; instead, it should fulfill the needs of those who are disabled, poor, in hardship, and who live in poverty. The needy should receive their share of this wealth with the utmost respect and ease. Those who pay Zakah should avoid the arrogant thought that it is because of their money that these recipients are happy. If Allah (swt) had willed, He could have given the poor this wealth directly; rather, He put you in a position to bestow this favor upon them from your wealth as a blessing to you, and in it lies your test. If you pass this test, then in the eyes of Allah, you will receive a great reward; however, if you show miserliness, then instead of blessings, you will receive punishment.
There is no doubt that one’s Zakah fulfills the need of helping the poor; however, one should pay this annual due on one’s wealth with the intention to please Allah and come closer to Him. One’s heart should be clean of the love for wealth and this life. Instead, one’s heart should be content with the love of Allah. A sincere believer is one who realizes that whatever he has is from Allah and if he is able to give from this in the way of Allah, this is a blessing and mercy. One proves his/her servitude to Allah (swt) through this trust and belief in spending in His way.
Linguistically, Zakah means “cleanliness, abundance, multiplication, and fine praise.” When the servant of Allah shows zeal in paying Zakah, his heart is purified from the love of this world and wealth, which is the cause of many spiritual diseases. In return, his/her heart increases with love of Allah, which has a positive effect on their character and personality. Allah (swt) says in Surah Tawbah, verse 99, “But some of the desert Arabs believe in Allah and the Last Day and look on their payments as pious gifts bringing them nearer to Allah and obtaining the prayers of the Messenger. Aye, indeed they bring them nearer (to Him): soon will Allah admit them to His Mercy: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” Allah (swt) promises a closeness to Him and says in verse 103, “Of their goods, take alms, so that it might purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily your prayers are a source of security for them: And Allah is One Who hears and knows.”
While paying Zakah, its essence should be remembered because from this the heart is cleansed of the love of wealth, and this brings forth good character as well as personality. In Surah Layl, Allah (swt) says of those who are saved from the fire, “But those most devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it, those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification.” One should give Zakah so that his or her personality is clean before Allah (swt), which leads to protection from the fire.
Other Types of Charity
One must not believe that he/she has satisfied the responsibility towards Allah (swt) by paying the annual Zakah; this is a required act of worship upon Muslims. In the Quran, Allah (swt) has emphasized charity and spending in His way above sacrificing oneself in His way. Several verses in the Quran illustrate the preference of monetary sacrifice over self sacrifice. The concept of charity and spending in the way of Allah comes after Zakah and reveals one’s actual desire to spend with an open heart. The Prophet (pbuh) has clearly stated, “Allah has a right over one’s wealth besides Zakah.” He then recited Surah Baqarah verse 177, “It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards east or west; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Books, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.”
Zakah is the minimum due on a Muslim’s wealth, and annually paying this proves that one is a believer and part of the Muslim society. The emphasis in the Quran and Hadith is on other forms of charity as well. The companions have stated that the Prophet (pbuh) was swifter than the wind in giving charity, especially in the days of Ramadan. The companion Anas bin Malik (r) narrates that once a man came to the Prophet (pbuh) and asked for help. The Prophet (pbuh) had she-goats that could fill the whole valley, and he gave all of them away to this man. This man went back to his tribe and called upon everyone, “Bring Islam and become Muslim. Muhammad gives in such a way that he does not fear poverty.” In another Hadith, Bint Abi Bakr narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Spend in the way of Allah (swt) with an open heart and don’t count the amount. If you count, then spend in His way, then He too will count when given to you. Do not hoard your wealth for Allah (swt) will do the same with you. Therefore, wherever you can, spend in the way of your Lord” (Bukhari, Muslim).
Abu Dharr Ghaffar narrates, “I once came to the Prophet (pbuh) when he was resting in the shade of the Kaba. Upon seeing me, he said, ‘I swear by the Lord of the Kaba those people are in great loss!’ I asked “May my parents sacrifice for you; who are these people in great loss?” He replied, “Those who have money and are wealthy. Yes, only those are protected who spend to their left, right, front, and back with an open heart in the way of Allah, but these people are few” (Bukhari).
 
 
 
——————————————————-
Shaykh Yusuf Islahi is a world renowned scholar of Islam from India. He was educated in Islamic Studies initially from Mazaherul Oloom, Saharanpur District and Higher studies and Fazeelat from Madarsatul-Islah, Sarai Mir. After high school he went to Madrasa Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur. Later he joined Madarsatul Islah, Sarai Mir, Azamgarh. He spent four years under the guidance of Maulana Akhtar Ahsan Islahi and received Sanad Fazilat with distinction. He has been editing the popular magazine Zikra Jadeed for the last 35 years. He has authored and published more than 60 books on various aspects of Islam including the popular Etiquettes of Life in Islam and Everyday Fiqh. He became a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at the age of 25 years and has been entrusted with various key posts. He is a member of Central Advisory Committee for the last five terms. He also serves many educational and welfare institutions in advisory capacity. Article published on July 30th, 2013.

By Dr. Mohsin Ansari
 
One would imagine that a person would be dead-tired and ready to crash in his bed after a grueling, 36-hour journey from Christchurch, New Zealand to Washington, DC. And I will admit, that was the way I felt.

Yet somehow, all my somnolence vanished as soon as my head rested on my pillow and I closed my eyes to rest. A wave of recollections fell over me: memories of the survivors, the emotions they expressed, and their feelings of an uncertain future as they planned their lives after the loss of their family members. These feelings instantly took away all the desire to get rest and sleep. I sit upright now and begin writing this reflection of a once in a lifetime experience- a voyage of grief and hope to Aotearoa- land of the white cloud as the indigenous people call New Zealand.

With lost baggage, long flights and too many connections, at times it seemed unlikely that my eldest son Moaz and I would make it to Jumm’ah and Janazah prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand. But Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) accepted our prayers so that we could fulfill the guidelines set by our beloved, the Prophet Muhammad subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He). We were able to fulfill one of the rights of a Muslim over the others; that when he is sick visit him, and when she dies, offer her funeral and be part of her burial.
Hagley Cricket Ground was supposed to have a cricket test match between Bangladesh and New Zealand that Friday. Commentators reckon that it would have been the final day of that test match. But the 22nd of March 2019, brought a much bigger crowd to this world-famous cricket ground than what anyone would have seen on the final day of that test match.
Officials and security directed us towards the VIP area as they wanted to pay respect to the guests who traveled all the way from the USA, Canada, and Australia. The environment of love, solidarity, and respect, coupled with the hijab-clad women standing in solidarity with Muslims in that enormous crowd, created an impact which cannot be articulated by mere words. Every single uniformed female officer was carrying their firearm while donning a hijab; creating a welcoming gesture in a rather somber and gloomy atmosphere.
I do not have the words to thank the leadership of Charity Australia and the Islamic Forum of Australian Muslims (IFAM) for providing us with logistics, facilitating meeting the families of the “shuhudaa” (martyrs) and arranging to visit those injured in the tragedy. ICNA, Helping Hand, and Charity Australia banners highlighting the slogans of “American Muslims stand in solidarity with Victims of Christchurch New Zealand” were the center of attention for thousands of local New Zealanders gathered in solidarity that day. Their hugs, sincere prayers and tearful eyes were the greatest gift that I want to share with everyone reading these reflections.
Right after Jumm’ah, the majority of the crowd attended the collective Janazah prayer of 27 of the martyrs. In those emotional moments, I met with the most courageous woman on earth, the wife of 51-year-old Shaheed Naeem and the mother of 21-year-old Talha Naeem, the two spirited souls who gave their lives to save others in the mosque that day. She is one of the strongest women I have ever met. She mentioned that her husband, Naeem, was a person who lived the life of a man of service, always ready to help others. She described Talha as an angel who was too pious and too noble to be away from Jannah too long. We heard similar feelings from Naeem’s mother (grandmother of Talha) the next day when we visited their home.

The visit to the home of New Zealand’s national soccer team player, Atta Elayyan (33), was not only emotional but also deeply inspiring. Atta lost his life and his father (the founder of Al-Noor Masjid) was severely injured during this brutal and hateful attack. There were several scholars from the United States, including Sheikh Omer Suleiman, in the visit to Atta’s home. We could offer nothing to console the brave mother of this shaheed, who greeted us with words of courage and wisdom. We had no words to accompany the tears in our eyes except prayers for the most noble young man who helped so many in coming close to Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He).
Our visits to Al-Noor Masjid and the Linwood Islamic Center were also filled with memories of love, harmony, and reverence. There was a continuous influx of hundreds of visitors, not only from New Zealand, but also from different countries including, but not limited to, Australia, Fiji, and Canada. Thousands and thousands of flower bouquets and other items of love were left by these visitors. I was really thrilled to see that local Muslims left many Qur’ans and flyers with basic concepts of Islam and addressing the common misconceptions about Islam for those visiting. I witnessed many people visiting these mosques were taking those Qur’ans and other books with them in order to learn more about Islam.
We also met Mr. Aziz, the unsung hero who repeatedly attacked the killer with different objects including an empty gun —which the killer had discarded. The terrorist fired on Aziz multiple times, but Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) not only saved him, but he also forced the killer to flee from the Linwood Islamic Center. Mr. Aziz was one of the reasons why the number of casualties in this mosque was only seven, compared to the 43 martyrs in Masjid Al-Noor. We also met certain individuals whom Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) saved miraculously. A young man showed his trousers fenestrated with holes of bullets but had no signs of injury. The husband and wife who entered the premises of the mosque and only to be showered with a burst of 26 bullets while in their car, leaving it completely destroyed. Yet Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) saved both of them while they took shelter in their vehicle.

The visit to the hospital’s ICU was simply heartbreaking but at the same time increased our resolve and commitment to help these families as much as possible. We encountered a Turkish brother who was in a coma for nine days and met his elderly parents, who spoke to us in the very little English they knew. The only thing which we could understand from their hushed voices was the request for du’a and tears of helplessness in their eyes. The 71-year-old father of a local Pakistani from Hafizabad, who had arrived two weeks ago to visit his son, was now on a ventilator fighting for his life. As a physician who has worked in ICU settings for a long time, I simply did not have enough medical reasoning which could have provided him any words of hope!! Similarly, I was not able to provide any glimmer of hope to a brother from Bangladesh whose wife will never be able to walk again and will be paralyzed for the rest of her life.
While I saw hope and felt resilience from every victim in that hospital, this hospital visit was brutally heartbreaking.
Lastly, I cannot imagine the pain, agony, and helplessness that the father of Mucad Ibrahim must feel after losing his 3-year-old son in his own arms. I gave him the longest hug possible, as he taught the whole world the meaning of Beautiful Sabr (Patience).
After seeing the devastation caused by the terrorist attack, and the work that must still be done to heal the community, Helping Hand USA, ICNA Relief Canada, and Charity Australia have formed an organization called the “Christchurch Family Support Network”. The operations have already begun, and our team is on the ground. The first group of mental health professionals with a background in Islamic Integrated counseling are set to leave to provide victims and their families immediate psychological assistance.
We ask Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) to accept our work, bring healing to the community, protect our brothers and sisters, and accept the shuhadaa’ in the highest level of Paradise.
Dr. Mohsin Ansari is the Vice President Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the Chairman of Helping Hand USA (HHRD)
Article Courtesy: Muslim Matters

(Christchurch, March 22, 2019) – Thousands of messages of love, support and solidarity keep pouring into New Zealand for the families of the victims of last week’s terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Several American Muslims including a “Solidarity Delegation” by Helping Hand for relief and Development USA and the Islamic Circle of North America is in New Zealand on behalf of all Americans, with messages of condolence, prayers, and solidarity to the distressed families and the people of New Zealand.

—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
 
NEW YORK, NY (March 20, 2019) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and Helping Hand for Relief and Development USA (HHRD) sent a delegation to Christchurch, New Zealand to personally deliver condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack last week on behalf of the Muslim community in USA.

The delegation included ICNA Secretary General Hanif Ismail, HHRD Director for International Programs, Imam Omar Suleiman and others. They were joined by other Muslim representatives from the USA, Europe and several other countries.