September 11th, 2008
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began Monday. Among many things, it is a time when Muslims are called to practice charity, or zakat, to the needy at the same time they practice fasting during daylight hours.
In the Valley and in 17 major U.S. cities today, the national Islamic Relief Foundation is hosting the Day of Dignity “to give Muslims an opportunity to fulfill their Ramadan obligation to help the needy.”
The Cultural Cup Food Bank, a Muslim-operated food bank in Phoenix, is leading the Day of Dignity effort, which actually began Friday and runs through Sunday, intentionally bridging the three days in order to be an interfaith project that can better involve Christians, Jews and Muslims whose weekend days of worship vary.
The main activities will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Human Services Campus, 1125 W. Jackson St., Phoenix, when more than 200 volunteers will distribute food, clothing, hygiene items and toys. There will be health screenings for those in need. “It brings people from different faiths and backgrounds together in a common effort to relieve the suffering of those in need,” said Zarinah Awad, founder and director of the Cultural Cup.
Awad started the food bank in her home in 2003. “I knew a lot of families, Muslim families, and immigrant Muslims that needed help with food, so I started this out of my home,” Awad said. Some of the economic problems, she said, were related to a backlash toward Muslims in wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America.
Her efforts snowballed, and she secured a small building in downtown Phoenix from which to dispense food and clothing. Then it moved into a larger building at 537 E. Osborn Road, where it barely has enough space for a food pantry, offices and a Saturday wellness clinic.
Few know a Muslim food bank exists, Awad acknowledged. There may even be the stereotype that Muslims take care of their own needy, as is especially seen in such faiths as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Muslims are just like anybody else,” she said. “We live here in the United States, and we are suffering with the economy like anybody else. It is affecting us, too.” She said Muslim refugees arrive in the Valley and may have great difficulty finding jobs.
“A lot of them are farmers who come here, and they don’t know how to do some of the things that we expect them to get into as soon as they get here … so we help them out with food, housing and every other thing,” said Awad, 60, who has four grown children.
Raised Roman Catholic in Berkeley, Calif., as Frances Marie Dromgoole, Awad said she was someone who always had lots of questions, but was told by her mother not to question her Catholic faith. “I didn’t really understand it. I wanted to know about God, and there were questions when I was sitting in the services,” she said. “They never had anyone who looked like me. I could never relate.”
In time, she would explore the Baptist faith and Buddhism. During her 20s, she worked in a radio station in San Diego, Calif., hosted a show with entertainers and scholars, and gained many contacts in the music and entertainment industry. She would serve as mistress of ceremonies for bands like Earth, Wind and Fire and party with such celebrities as comedian Richard Pryor. “It was very exciting, but a lot of bad lifestyle,” Awad said.
When she came across an Islamic newspaper, she read it and went deeper into its beliefs. Awad decided to convert in 1977 and to actively practice Islam, including visiting Muslims in prisons. In the mid-1990s, she met and married a Muslim man, who soon wanted to return to his roots in Kenya and Somalia. The family went with him. But after six months, she said, she found the culture, language and economy too much to handle. “We found it was just very difficult” and “we really couldn’t survive there,” she said, noting she also had health issues living in Somalia.
“I came back here with my family because he (her husband) refused to return back here,” she said. “I decided we needed to come home and start all over again here in America.” They settled in Phoenix partly because it had a strong Somali community. She said it felt like being Somali refugees.
“They helped me get temporary housing in the Somali village off Black Canyon Highway in Phoenix,” she said. Awad said she encountered problems getting food boxes, including foods acceptable to the Muslim diet. They must be “halal,” or permissible, including meat from animals properly slaughtered according to Islamic law. Pork is forbidden.
Awad said when she sought food boxes from agencies, she found it “not geared for everybody. Someone basically said to me, ‘Beggars can’t be choosers — take what you get.’ ”
“People should not have to go through this just because you need help,” Awad said.
In its five years, the Cup of Culture has established itself as a food bank that helps about 300 families a week. The St. Mary’s Food Bank provides two deliveries weekly, with grocery chains and food drives supplying much of the rest. At several points each week, “we are totally out of food,” Awad said. She estimates about 20 percent of families served are Muslims. So far, the operation has not received United Way allocations, but it has developed strong support in the social services network to meet some of its needs.
“I like helping people out,” said Tabib Baraka, a volunteer for 2 1/2 years at the food bank. He said he finds families “feeling good about themselves” after going home with groceries. “It is one way people feel good. When they get a package, they say, ‘God bless you.’ People have tears in their eyes,” he said.
The food bank’s volunteer chairman, who goes simply by Mini’imah, said Awad has worked hard to start the food bank from scratch and is now developing grant proposals and working on building designs for a larger center if funding can be found.
“I do wardrobes for women for job interviews, and when they come back, they let us know that they have been successful in their job interviews,” said Mini’imah, who has done community work for 44 years.
Job training, finding house goods and directing people to other social services are other efforts offered at the Cultural Cup, she said. “We have to show people why we are here,” Awad said. “We do it because we want to help.”
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/124985
August 31st, 2008
As Salamu Alaikum, Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Allah 
, Most High, tells us in Qur’an:
“Ramadan is the (month) in which the Qur’an was sent down, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…” Qur’an (2:185)
On the occasion of our annual spiritual retreat, I ask Allah to bless you, your loved ones, and all the Muslims of the world. May Allah accept our fast and grant us emancipation from the fire.
Among other things, Ramadan reminds us that taqwa and iman are priorities in the life of the Muslim. Fasting during this month provides a purification that reinforces the keen awareness that our ultimate success in this world and the next depends, in good measure, on the strength of our taqwa and the sincerity of our iman.
Our endeavors to establish any Islamic institution requires hard work and commitment but even more it requires that our intentions are sincere and our hearts are pure. Ramadan is our workshop to re-shape ourselves–to chisel out our faults and bad habits and to plaster in the Islamic akhlaq (character), so beautifully exemplified by our Prophet Muhammad 
(may Allah ’s peace and blessings be upon him).
Prophet Muhammad , (PBUH) said, “The best one among you, is he who is most useful to his community”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Let us engage this blessed month to strengthen our taqwa and increase our iman so that we might be more perfect instruments in the hands of Allah , working to establish the vibrant presence of Islam in America.
Your brother in faith,
Imam Siraj Wahhaj
August 12th, 2008
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
From: Sheik Yusuf Estes - U.S.A.
Salam alaykum:
Ramadan is coming upon us quickly - and we know it is the month of the Quran. So, I want to share Islam and rewards with you by helping people know about Allah ’s Quran. Please join me.
Here is my special request for you - to help me in one of our many projects for www.ShareIslam.com. As I am sure you are aware, ever since the debate between Ahmad Deedat and Jimmy Swaggart, there has been a keen interest for non-Muslims to try to disprove or discredit Allahs Quran and to put down Islam.
We have some very good pages to clear up the misconceptions and wrong impressions being circulated about the Quran on new websites. We have already done all the work and paid the money for these sites. It is all ready to go.
So my question to you is, will you help me? (say, ‘Yes’)
OK, just please read this small collection of information - let your family read it - check it out and make sure you understand it. Then we are all better prepared to answer these attacks against Allah ’s Quran, His Religion and His prophet, OK? Please?
May Allah Always Accept from you and all of us, ameen. Jazakallah khair was salam alaykum,
Yusuf Estes
Director of www.ShareIslam.com <> www.WhatsIslam.com <> www.AllahsQuran.com
=============
Now please, I know everyone is busy - so am I - but please, take a moment to copy and paste this whole email - in a new email and send to anyone - and everyone you can.
- Who Wrote Allah ’s Quran? -
Is there real proof Allah ’s Quran is from God and Muhammad is His Messenger?
Find out What’s Islam - and ShareIslam.com and Allah ’s Quran
- What is Allah ’s Quran? -
The Qur’an (”Kur-aan”) is a Message from Allah (Subhannah wa Ta’ala) to humanity.
The word means “Recitation” and it represents The Recitation from Almighty God to Gabriel (Jibreel in Arabic) to Muhammad, peace be upon him.
NOTICE: Allah ’s Quran DOESE NOT RELY on written works or books from human beings for its authenticity.
It is only considered “Allah ’s Quran” when it is Recited in Arabic language as it was revealed 1,400 years ago - Anything else is man-made.
- How Did We Receive Allah ’s Quran? -
Quran was transmitted to us through a chain of people narrating what they heard, exactly as they heard it.
The chain starts with Almighty God Himself to the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad , peace be upon him.
Then his companions learned it from him word for word and letter for letter, by heart, memorizing and then passing it on to the next generations until today.
- How Was the Revelation and Language of Allah ’s Quran? -
This message was given to the Prophet, peace be upon him, in pieces over a period spanning approximately 23 years (610 CE to 632 CE).
The Prophet (saw) was 40 years old when the Qur’an began to be revealed to him, and he was 63 when the revelation was completed.
The language of the original message was Arabic, but it has been translated into many other languages.
- What is Goes with Allah ’s Quran? -
The Qur’an and Hadeeth form the foundation of daily life of a practicing Muslim.
Allah ’s Qur’an is always the First of the two sources which form the basis of Islam.
The second source is the Sunnah (or way) of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
The prophet’s Sunnah includes his sayings, deeds, lifestyle, and decisions on many subjects.
These actions and sayings are called Hadeeth (narrations or stories) and these are preserved in both oral and written format.
These Hadeeth have always been memorized, taught and preserved in seperate compilations and never mixed with Allah ’s Quran.
- What the Difference Between Hadeeth and Allah ’s Quran? -
The major difference between Allah ’s Quran and the Sunnah is primarily the form.
Allah ’s Quran is preserved in the minds and hearts of over 20,000,000 human beings exactly as it was recited since the beginning over 1,400 years ago.
Allah ’s Quran is recited in worship rituals, only in the original Arabic language, word for word and letter for letter just as it was transmitted from the beginning.
The Sunnah is preserved in Hadeeth as stories narrated from one person to another, in a similar manner, but not
Prophet’s Sunnah is transmitted in Hadeeth (mouth to ear) but never as an attachment or part of the Quran.
Sayings, actions and teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him, are always kept in seperate collections and narrations (Hadeeth) apart from the Quran.
The Qur’an is literally the Word of Allah - Preserved in total by Allah - in Arabic,until the Day of Judgment.
However, the Sunnah is preserved in Hadeeth or narrations of the companions of the prophet, peace be upon him.
- How Does Sunnah Compare to Allah ’s Quran? -
The Sunnah was definitely inspired by Allah to His prophet, peace be upon him, but the wording and actions are from the prophet, peace be upon him.
The Hadeeth (stories passed on regarding the Sunnah of the prophet, peace be upon him) are established in the Quran.
The Qur’an has not been expressed using any human’s words. Its wording is letter for letter exactly fixed and preserved only by Allah .
- Who Protects Allah ’s Quran? -
Prophet Muhammad , peace be upon him, was the last Messenger of Allah to humanity, and therefore the Qur’an is the last Message which Allah has sent to us.
Before the Quran, Allah had sent other messengers with other revelations, including Torah (Old Testment), Zabur (Psalms) and Enjil (Gospel).
It is up to each one of us by our choice when we hear the Qur’an and about Islam to investigate it and evaluate it for ourselves.
Allah ’s Quran is guaranteed to be protected by Allah Himself and He will protect His Qur’an from human tampering.
Today we can hear the exact same recitation all over the world.
The Qur’an of today is the same as the Qur’an revealed to Muhammad 1400 years ago.
- What’s the Language of Allah ’s Quran? -
The Qur’an was revealed in pure Arabic to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over a period of twenty-three years ending in 632 A.D., the year he passed away.
The first revelation was only five verses, the first five verses of Chapter 96.
Among the very early revelations are Surah 73, 74, 80 and 97.
The revelations were sent by Allah , Subhanahu wa Ta’ala (SWT), the creator and sustainer of the universe, and transmitted to him by the Archangel Jibril (as) (Gabriel).
The revelations he received were sometimes a few verses, a part of a chapter or the whole chapter.
Some revelations came down in response to an inquiry by the nonbelievers.
The ordering of the Qur’an is not the same as the revelations.
Archangel Jibril (as) taught the ordering of Ayat and Surahs (refer to Surah 75) as he transmitted the revelations to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
- Why the Word “We” in Allah ’s Quran? -
The Qur’an speaks in the authority of Allah , by Allah Himself - speaking to all of us and offering Allah ’s commandments to His creation.
The Qur’an also uses the royal “We” for Allah ’s commandments, in the same way a king or queen issues edicts or declarations to their subjects.
- What’s The Subject of Allah ’s Quran? -
The subject or main theme of the Qur’an and all previous revelations has always been to make people aware of Who their Lord really is, What His purpose is for them.
He makes clear His Oneness, as the Only Creator - Only Sustainer of all that exists and He has no partners, no other gods and no parents or children.
- Who is Addressed in Allah ’s Quran? -
Allah ’s Quran speaks to all people, addressing us all in many differnt expressions and in a variety of ways depending on the context.
It says “O mankind” and “O people” in a general sense to address everyone - everywhere and at all times.
Sometimes Allah ’s Quran speaks to certain groups, individuals or even the prophet, peace be upon him.
“O mankind, have full respect and regard for your guardian Lord, Who has created you all from a single soul (Adam)”
”O believers” for those who have already accepted the message of Allah ’s Qur’an.
“O my prophet” for commanding, reminding and directing Muhammad, peace be upon him.
- What Is In Allah ’s Quran? -
Allah ;s Quran - Is Allah ’s Recitation (Speech)
The Qur’an is the direct Word of Allah and it does not contain a single letter of the alphabet from anyone, even Prophet Muhammad .
The Qur’an has never been altered or changed by even a single dot or jot since its revelation fourteen centuries ago.
Allah has promised in the Qur’an - He will preserve His Quran until the tme of the rising of the sun from where it sets.
It is also for this reason there will be no new prophet or revelation (guidance) to come to humankind.
Allah ’s Quran is read in Arabic with great emphasis on the accuracy of recitation, including the recognition of places to stop or pause while reciting.
- What’s the Meaning of Arabic Words in Allah ’s Quran? -
The Arabic word Surah is loosely translated as chapter and Ayah as verse for the English readers who are unfamiliar with Quran’s concepts.
The word ayah (plural Ayat) means a sign or proof and it is usually called a “verse” in English, however this is not really accurate enough.
Readers of Allah ’s Quran have reflected on the meanings of the word ‘ayah’ (sign or proof) say, “It is truly a sign from Allah , the Only God of the universe.”
- Who is the God in Allah ’s Quran? -
Allah is the personal name of God, the Lord of the universe, the owner of the day of judgment.
The word Allah is not subject to gender (male or female, such as god or goddess) or plurality (such as gods or goddesses).
This word is found in Semitic languages, spoken by Prophets (I’sa) Jesus and (Musa) Moses, peace be upon them both (as).
- Who’s the Man Reciting Allah ’s Quran? -
According to the Qur’an, Allah sent Numerous Nabi (prophets) and Rasool (messengers) - prophets who were also given revelations from Allah .
Among them are many that are also mentioned in the old and new testaments, and others that are specifically mentioned in the Qur’an.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came about six centuries after Prophet I’sa (Jesus, peace be upon him) and was the last prophet of Allah .
Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the last and final seal of all the Prophets of Allah .
- Who Are True Followers of Allah ’s Quran? -
The words Islam and Muslim are defined in the Qur’an, and Allah (SWT) states in the Qur’an that the religion of all Prophets was Islam and called them Muslims.
Specifically, Prophet Abraham, among others, is called a Muslim in the Qur’an.
The word Islam means total submission (to the will and commandments of Allah ).
It is derived from the root word SLM and salam (shalom in Hebrew) and in both languages it means “peace”.
A Muslim is one who submits to the will and commandments of Allah .
Finally, this important statement for us all:
- Allah ’s Quran has been sent down by Allah - Is Protected by Allah - Is only from Allah - For all the Creation of Allah
- For all people, all times and all places -
Questions?
- Yes - Where Can I Get Allah ’s Quran? -
www.Allah sQURAN.com/free
<> www.WhatsIslam.com <> www.Qtafsir.com <> www.AllahsQuran.com <> www.ScienceIslam.com <>
<> www.ChatIslam.com <> www.GodAllah.com <> www.ProphetOfIslam.com <>
<> www.BibleIslam.com <> www.911Bible.com <> www.IslamCode.com <>
<> www.ShareIslam.com <>
——- <> www.YusufEstes.com <> ——-
