Week 24: Obama. Lease. Well-Being. Hijab Criteria. Ottawa Muslim Women’s Fashion Show. Fitna? or Fitrah? Know Your Body

Host: Omar (GreenKufi) and Ahmed Khalil

Quran

An-Noor [ch. 24 v. 1-32 | Recited by Abdullah Basfar -عبد الله بن علي بصفر ]

Discussion

Barack Obama Excerpt from popular speech in Cairo
WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THIS? Write to us with your comments at …

Dr. Tariq Ramadan’s take on this. [tariqramada.com]

Lectures – Husain Abdul Sattar – Lease on Life A lease on life
A great lecture on squeezing every opportunity to do good and reap rewards.

Br. Shabir – Health and Well Being interview on CTS show “Let the Quran Speak” (9 minutes)

Br Shabir explains why the bodies and minds we have need to be kept healthy and clean. He analyzes Islamic resources that focus upon physical and mental conditions and why it is an important practice within the religion.

Zakir Naik – Hijab-Critera & Reason (2:44 minutes)

Quick explanation of hijab from Quran and Sahih hadeeth

Zakir Naik on Sonia Mirza and how to respond to questions from the media.

Nasheed

The Veil
The Crazy Spots I’ve Prayed
Wisdom and Tea

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Upcoming Action

For Sisters By Sisters Fashion Show
Fashion Show A shocking number of Muslim sisters in Ottawa are unaware of the many locations throughout the city where they can buy Islamic clothing. An opportunity will arise June 20 for Ottawa’s Muslimaat to attend a fashion show which will showcase Islamic wear from shops around the city.
For Sisters By Sisters Fashion Show will take place at Jim Durrell Complex, 1265 Walkley Road, from 3-6 pm, June 20. We ask that only Muslim women attend, meaning no children under the age of fourteen.

There will be door prizes and refreshments offered, and tickets are $10.

Please call sister Fatimah at 613-225-4528 for more information or for advance tickets.

Know Your Body Info Session Come and learn the miracles and mysteries of one of Allah’s most incredible creations………YOU! KNOW YOUR BODY The Female Reproductive System Information Session By Yumna Rashid (B. HSc.) Sunday, June 21st from 12-4pm at University of Ottawa Morissette 205 Tickets: $10 only (Information booklet and refreshments included) (Sisters aged 17 and older unless accompanied by guardian.)

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Week 14 – Is Sara Mohamed Fake? + Habitat for Humanity + What’s happening with George Galloway? + Are you ready for this…?

Host: Omar (Green Kufi)

Quran:

Qaf [ch. 50 v. 1-6 | Recited by Abdullah Basfar -عبد الله بن علي بصفر ]

Discussion:

Sara Mohamed may not be real. But does it really matter?

We have heard from some that Sarah Mohamed may not even be a real person. Jennifer Green, senior writer of the Ottawa Citizen, said the paper had come to that conclusion and Sarah has never stepped forward to refute that allegation. This may simply be a result of “Sarah” being concern to identify herself publicly. While others have said that in fact she is a real person and may be simply hiding her identity.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t really matter either way. Going to the citizen was not the best choice, nor the wisest. But then again we are talking about a “distressed youth”.
So my question is; what to do now? We either accept what is in place, and live with it until things get better over time and people get into comfort zones, and things run smoothly. But is that fair? What about these youth who feel left out? How long do they have to wait to be heard and how long until they feel some connection to the mosque? How long until the antics and unilateral decision a few will affect the community at large?
As we said yesterday Muslims should be taking action. For the benefit of our community, our youth, and our responsibility of being a powerful voice for the Canadian Muslim across the country. Vote if you have the opportunity, become a member of the OMA, and don’t just complain. Pick up a pen to vote, right an email, or start painting the walls. But don’t sit back and whine.

On the topic of doing something useful for the community:

Habitat for Humanity inter-faith build:

Back in October a Muslim family broke ground with establishing their new home with the help of Habitat for Humanity.
Well, there is some more good new on this. If you’ve ever wanted to have your try at building a house or simply wanted to give back to your community this next project is for you.
Habitat for Humanity is planing to have a faith-build where people from different faith participate to help out the needy of the community to establish a home. The beautiful thing about this is that it is a contribution of the family, the community, interested businesses, and you to help out. What’s even cooler than all of this is that the home is sold to the family at well bellow cost, and with an (brace yourself for this…) interest free loan!
That makes this home have more barakah, and be more halal than many of the homes we live in.
Out of 30 homes established in Ottawa, 5 house Muslim families.
So, rally your local Masjid to come up with the funds to send five or ten people to help build one of these homes and really contribute to building a community. If you are interested and need some guidance or help checkout salamottawa.ca/about/communityprojects/h4h/ or contact us at community_outreach [@] salamottawa.ca.

Nasheed

 

Coming Up

Anticipate: The Biggest Quran Competition in Ottawa’s History.. Qabeelat Ansar presents, AlKiraam Albararrah; Juz Tabarak Memorization & Recitation Competition… Featuring Local Talents.. Brothers and Sisters… coming April 25th in sha Allah

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Community News:

George Galloway to speak in Ottawa in spite of the ban on his entry to Canada.

Report from the Ottawa Peace Assembly
[Canadian Press] TORONTO – A court decision Monday upholding a ban on George Galloway from entering the country amid allegations he engaged in terrorist acts will see the British MP deliver speeches to Canadian audiences via a live video link from New York.
Following the Federal Court ruling, organizers of Galloway’s now aborted speaking tour said the maverick politician would not attempt to enter Canada.
“We’re not interested in doing anything illegal whatsoever,” said James Clark, a peace activist and one of the speaking tour’s organizers.
“Our expectations were such that we were already implementing Plan B, which was to make sure that he can still deliver the speech from a live broadcast.”
Galloway had been set to visit Toronto on Monday, the first of four scheduled speaking engagements in Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency advised Galloway, in a letter dated March 20, that he had been deemed inadmissible to Canada on the grounds he allegedly engaged in terrorist activities… [see link for removed text]
However, Justice Luc Martineau ruled Monday he was not in a position to allow Galloway into the country although he did say there were “serious issues to be tried” if the judicial review occurs.
“The arguments raised by the applicants are not frivolous or vexatious,” Martineau ruled. “However, a proper factual record and the benefit of full legal argument . . . are lacking at the present time.”
The decision represented a “partial victory” in that the court did recognize there was a serious issue at stake, Clark said.
“We want to pursue and examine all the questions that have come up about how and why the (border agency) preemptorily issued this ruling of inadmissibility to Mr. Galloway,” Clark said.
Supporters were also concerned about alleged political interference from Ottawa in light of comments by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, Clark said.
Kenney has said he did not ask the border agency to rule on Galloway’s admissibility, but would not use his ministerial power to overturn their decision.
Galloway planned to deliver his speeches to Toronto, Mississauga, Ont., Montreal and Ottawa this week from a studio in New York City.
In the letter to Galloway, the government said he had given $45,000 to Hamas, which is a banned terrorist organization in Canada.
Under Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act, it is an offence to knowingly participate in or contribute to any activity of a terrorist group.
His supporters say Galloway had given money to the head of the government in Gaza but not to the head of Hamas, even though they are the same person.
Canadian Jewish Congress CEO Bernie Farber said the fact Galloway would still broadcast what he had to say showed that free speech was not at stake.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gU2uqE_jfXZDlngIUha7WuKzhd3w

From georgegalloway.com

George Galloway on The Hour, Canada’s award-winning late-night TV talk show,

WORLDPRESSNETWORK – 27 March 2009
George Galloway will be on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, Canada’s award-winning late-night TV talk show, on Monday, March 30.  Ccatch the interview after it airs on The Hour [Video: http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=728665230]

From www.SpideredNews.com

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Week 10 – Why Bother Listening to the Only Muslim Radio Broadcast in Ottawa + The Hypocrisy of Free Speech + Historical Ottawa Event + Ottawa is Taking Islamic Practice to the Next Level

Host: Omar (Mafro)

Quran:

ArRa’d [ch. 13 v. 5-11 | Recited by Abdullah Basfar -عبد الله بن علي بصفر ]
“Verily Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” (3:37 – 8:24)

Discussion:

The Double Standard of Freedom of Speech when it comes to Zionism (NOT Anti-Semitism). “Call it what it is.”
Both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa have banned a poster for the Israeli Apartheid Week. The reality is, just as we’ve heard many a Rabi, an Israeli, and researcher that Zionism piggy backs on the back of Judaism in order to cowardly hide behind anti-semitism whenever the actions of the Zionist Israeli machine are criticized. [Call it what it is. | The Proud Islamist]
You don’t have to listen to Salam Ottawa. Sure we’re the only Muslim Radio Broadcast in Ottawa, but there are far more reliable sources about Islam and Muslims on the air waves.
Why bother Listening to, let alone supporting the only Muslim radio broadcast in Ottawa when you have such great options like CFRA’s Lowell Green. Such a level minded, educated, and fair talk show host, with pounds of reason at every corner of his commentary. [Radio host Lowell Green chastised for ‘abusive’ remarks about Muslims | OttawaCitizen]

Community News:

Masha’Allah, Ottawa Muslims are really getting their act together as of late:
Imam Zaid Shakir’s event was a full house, with entertainment that is worthy of a paid ticket event. And a first of its kind in Ottawa, as a collaboration between the UofO MSA, and the Revival Series from Reviving the Islamic Spirit. The Event really showcased the level of professionalism that the MSA, and quite generally, the Muslims of Ottawa are capable of. Imam Zaid Shakir rarely disappoints, and the ideas he researched and presented at the event titled, “Can We Make Islam Relevant in the 21st Century? Yes We Can!”, were brilliant and quite worthy of a 21st century intellectual discussion. A discussion which we really need to follow up with, and perhaps will be a focus of one of our shows in the near future, insh’Allah.

Joint LUL and Al-Mughrib Historic Event:
As I said, Ottawa Muslims have really taken the practice of Islam to the next level, and they’re on a roll with it. This past couple of weeks have seen a number of events that all of Ottawa’s Muslim community should be aware of. Primarily, the level of professionalism that both “Light Upon Light”, and Almaghrib Institute have risen to. We spoke with Brother Hisham Saleh, the Amir of last Friday’s L.U.L. event and intro to the Rays of Faith double-weekend-course held by Almaghrib. This is what we heard from Brother Hisham.
MAC Blood Donation Drive
Earlier in the week, in fact the day right after our last show, I headed over to the MAC Blood Drive event being held and the Canadian Blood Services Clinic on 1575 Carling Avenue. I had a chance to speak with some of the brothers and sisters who had come out to donate their blood. Brother Ryan was in charge of last Wednesday’s event: Some had come with zeal and excitement to donate their blood for those who need it, but not always does it work out:
Brother Haytham Al-Azzuni, one of the organizers and a Carleton University Student spoke to us while giving blood:

Nasheed:

With You – Vocals – Raef: Lyrics – Omar N Khan [youtube]
OLD SCHOOL: MYNA Raps – Deenin’:Lota Pani – Sunnah Back:

Brother Dash – The Meaning of Life:

☆ Green Kufi’s “Greening Muslims”

Here’s a tip that is easy, good, will save you money, save on energy, and with the right intention gain you rewards from Allah.
Unplug. Yup, unplug. I don’t mean unplug from the hectic daily life (which would also be good for you on many levels), I mean unplug your “stuff”. Do it know before he stops you. Who? The phantom of course!
You’ve got a phantom in your house. If you’ve got any electrical device in your home it is using your electricity with out you knowing it. “Duh”, you say. “It’s an electrical device. Of course it uses electricity. That’s how it works.”
I bet you didn’t know that it uses electricity even when you’re not using it. That’s right. Just having you’re devices plugged in draws electricity form the circuit. This is called “Phantom Power”. Electrical current that continuously flows through your devices even when you are not using them. Ask yourself, “how often do I use my printer, scanner, fax” (do people really still use faxes?). How about your cellphone charger you keep in the wall once you’re done charging.
“Okay, Okay, I’m guilty.” Here’s what you need to do:
☆ Use a power bar with an off switch to plug all the devices that you will not be using very frequently (e.g., cellphone charger, fax [really? Still got it?], scanner, etc) and unplug, or hit the power switch when you are not using them.
☆ Your printer, scanner, and many other devices have a master power switch, keep it turned off until you need it.
☆ As for your TV, DVD player, PVR, Cable Box, etc, or anything that stays plugged in over night (up to 10hrs/day) without every being needed or used: plug them into an electrical timer, and set it to cut off the power during the hours that you will not need or use them. E.g., over night, or while you’re at school or work, etc.
These tips will save you from the Evil Dreaded Phantom Power, and save you some dough so you can donate to Salam Ottawa. Enjoy you newly found wealth. Keeping on greening, Muslims.

“What do I do” you say. Unplug. It’s that simple. Plus, you could reduce your electric bill by 10 percent a year.

Muslim Global News

Imam Siraj Wahhaj Patient in the face of his affliction:
For more than 30 years Imam Siraj has traveled extensively at the invitation of other Muslim leaders and organizers in the U.S. and abroad. He freely and passionately shares his love and knowledge of Islam -often booking back-to-back speaking engagements on a weekly basis. There is no doubt that his demanding schedule factored into the development of his health condition. As such, it has become paramount for him to make important lifestyle changes, which includes taking a sabbatical from some of his responsibilities, in order to balance his life and improve his overall health.

Imam Siraj’s Letter:
As Salamu Alaikum, Dear Brothers and Sisters!

It is well known now that I have been suffering from hypertension. Al Hamdulillah, I have been working with it for a while now, and insha’Allah it’s pretty much under control. As a result of being thoroughly checked by the competent doctors in Atlanta , I have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Al Hamdulillah, inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. (All Praise is for Allah. Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.)

My diagnosis is not as bad as it sounds on the surface. Many men have been cured from prostate cancer. My doctors are very optimistic about my cure, and so am I. Insha’Allah the treatment should last about two months. But you and I know that the cure is in the Hands of Allah. If Allah heals me, I will be very grateful. If Allah doesn’t heal me, then I will be patient and happily accept my fate. This is the way of the Believers. I am looking forward to full recovery and getting back to work in the not-too-distant future, insha’Allah.

Many people will ask the question, what can we do? Don’t waste your time feeling sorry for me. Make du’a. But don’t just make du’a for me. There are a lot of Muslims, men and women, with cancer (and other diseases). Make du’a for them also. There are so many among the elderly, who need our help, make du’a for them. There are so many Muslims who have lost their jobs, lost their homes, make du’a for them! Beyond the prayers, go visit the sick, those in prison, and others in need.

Get involved more with Islamic work. Support organizations like MANA, ISNA, ICNA, MAS, CAIR, SIFCA, the community in association with Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the community of Imam Jamil Al Amin, etc. Support good brothers and sisters, like Mauri’ Saalakhan of the Peace and Justice Foundation. Support Islamic education and schools. If you want to help Imam Siraj, then help support his Masjid, Masjid At-Taqwa, in Brooklyn, New York and all the other struggling Masjids throughout America.

Every challenge we face in life presents us with many opportunities for growth. With a heightened awareness and sensitivity about health-related issues, I will feel better when we, as an ummah, learn more about our health. We have to be very careful about the foods we consume! I urge all of us to cultivate healthy appetites such that we begin to love and crave foods that are good FOR us and eliminate foods that are not. I intend with Allah’s help to share information with you in the coming weeks about our health.

On behalf of MANA, I encourage you to lend your support to our growing Organization. Every MANA project is structured to strengthen American Muslim communities. The SHARE Centers, Healthy Marriage Initiative, Community Reentry Program, and Healing and Reconciliation Project all need input and active service urgently. Please contact the MANA office to find out more and look for regular updates in our newsletters, insha’Allah.

In closing, I am humbled and very thankful for all the prayers, and well wishes of the Muslims, and am very appreciative for all the help extended to me and my family in the past. Alhamdulillah! I am also overwhelmed with gratitude that a number of you want to lend financial support, and have asked how you can do that.

Online donations can be made here, or feel free to correspond with me directly at Siraj Wahhaj, P.O. Box 312264, Atlanta, GA 31131.

Thank you kindly. May Allah guide and protect us all.
Your brother in faith,
Imam Siraj Wahhaj
Special Donation For IMAM SIRAJ WAHHAJ
please visit
MUSLIMMATTERS.ORG
TO FIND OUT HOW TO DONATE.
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