The believer is harder than a mountain, for the mountain - The World ...

Regional NewsTHE AFRICA FEDERATIONThe achievements of the local jamaats of The Africa Federation arenumerous and varied. Our local communities have been inspired tofind solutions to financial difficulties which are found so commonlythroughout the region; one such idea was the JIBA Business LoanScheme, to allow easier access to funds for local businesses. One of ourmain objectives is to facilitate the development of our local communitiesand these projects are just some of the ways by which this is being donethroughout Africa, We hope to keep going with these and all projects inall aspects of our regions needs.Editor: “Details of another money saving idea thought up in Dar esSalaam, the Mabrook card, can be found on page 7.”THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN JAMAATSThe Council of European Jamaats has always had an ecliptic range ofventures that are aimed to benefit our European locals and the globalcommunity at large. Our strength comes from the strong minded anddedicated members who work hard at a local level to achieve a greaterreward to those in more need. A prime example of this comes from thenumerous fund raising events held throughout the region, organized toraise funds for a variety of projects. This propagation of collections isn’tlimited to money but also spreads to knowledge which was delivered tothe public at the numerous interfaith events being held.Editor: “A gathering of a different kind, where the youth of Wessex‘brought a friend’ to the meet the Jamaat; read more on page 14.”North American Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim CommunitiesOrganizationOur mission at NASIMCO is to harness talents and resources availablewithin our communities for the greater good of global humanity andour communities. This has recently been demonstrated through ourexemplary initiatives such as the ongoing ‘Leadership DevelopmentProgram’. Valuable lessons for success and growth in family, community,workplace, and government spheres are professionally taught andlearned in local communities during the programs. This is one ofmany examples where the North American communities, together withNASIMCO, have demonstrated their dedication to serving. Despite thegreat number of achievements within the region, we always strive tocontinue and improve in the years to come.Editor: “Read about the ‘Out of the Cold Program’ on page 11 andsome of the other achievements from our North American communitiesthroughout this issue.”

‘M’egg a Difference Campaign for ZCSSStanmore, LondonTo help instill the importance of charity and giving inthe hearts and minds of the youth, the Shia Ithna AsheriMadressa (SIM) Cares launched the ‘M-egg A Difference’drive in June 2008. SIM Cares challenged students to fillCadbury Mini Egg tubes with £1 coins to help raise fundsfor the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme (ZCSS).The original school in Gopalpur,with its run downbuilding and furniture.Students rose to the challenge. The children came up withunique and innovative ways to raise money. Some offeredto recite surahs for the thawab of marhumeen in exchangefor a donation, while others got involved in sponsored bikerides, cake sales, car washes and penalty shoot-outs. Atthe end of four weeks of fundraising, over £3,000 GBP wascollected - a fantastic achievement.The funds raised were donated to the ZCSS’s school in Gopalpur, Bihar (India) where education was providedat no charge for children from deprived families.Bibi Fatima (AS) CampOrlando, FloridaIn June 2009, The Husseini Islamic Center of Orlando,Florida held a four day camp for the children of thecommunity. The focus of the camp was Bibi Fatima (AS).The children learned about the life of this great lady,including the story of Hadith-e-Kisa and participated inarts, crafts and crochet activities.4Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

Launch of KHOJATVReunion IslandDearborn TableeghTrip - Toronto, CanadaIn May 2008, KHOJATV (www.worldtv.com/khojatv ) was launched in Reunion Island. Cateringto individuals of all ages and backgrounds, thischannel aims to bring a wealth of knowledge andfaith into every Shia home.This channel is not a Hetizian or a satelliteclassical television channel, instead it usesinternet technology to send video files between amultimedia player box connected to both the familytelevision set and the internet. The video files thenplay one after another from the internet to the TV.KHOJATV features exclusive programmes includingQuran recitation, hadiths, majalises, marsiyas,nawhas and qasidas, lectures, duas, tales andstories, cartoons, former and recent jamaatprogrammes, madressa courses and so on.Most of the original programmes are in Urdu,Arabic, English, Farsi, and Gujrati, but all haveFrench subtitles so that every viewer canunderstand what is being said. This also givesthe opportunity to understand and practice themother-tongue of Gujrati, which is diminishing inthe new generation.KHOJATV has been described as a ‘a breath of freshair’ for the sick, the disabled and the elderly whoare bored in their homes and sometimes cannottake part in the social community life.Islamic Centre of America - Dearborn, MichiganOn 21 March 2009, the Islamic Shia IthnaAsheri Jamaat of Toronto’s (ISIJ) Tableegh Boardorganised an adventure trip to Dearborn, Michigan(USA). The purpose of this trip was to promotebrotherhood and unity with various communitiesin North America.The group comprised 336 people of all ages,ranging from toddlers to the elderly.The itinerary included visiting the Islamic Centreof America, the Arab American National Museumand watching the inspiration IMAX movie, “Journeyto Mecca”.Many community leaders travelled to Dearbornincluding Br. Gulamabbas Najafi (NASIMCO VicePresident), Br. Asgher Dhirani (ISIJ-Toronto ViceChair), Br. Mohammed Molidina (Razavi Jamaat-Hamilton Jamaat Chair), Br. Shahid Juma (ISIJTableegh Board Secretary), Sr. Shirinbai Sumar(Senior Citizens group leader) and many othersfrom the USA and Canada.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 5

Mosaic Group Interfaith EventToronto, CanadaOn 22 February 2009, the Tabligh Board of thethe Jaffari Islamic community of Toronto hostedthe Mosaic Group interfaith event. This initiativeis an opportunity for diverse communities tonetowork with one another in the Greater Torontoarea. Community members shared their strengthand history to understand justice and patience intoday’s society.In Islam, one’s spiritual growth involves workingtogether with acceptance of social responsibilitiesand collaboration. Moreover, sharing knowledgeabout Islam is a responsibility of all Muslims.The strength of all Shias is established from thesacrifices of Imam Husayn (AS) and his family.While sharing our religious history, the speakersdefined the true Islamic teachings on jihad andsacrifice. The group had the opportunity to networkto find similarities in religious teachings, andshared insight in the potency of Islamic beliefs.Several guests saw the advertisement in the localnewspaper and were drawn to come to the ISIJmosque for the first time.A thought provoking presentation by MaulanaSayyid Muhammad Rizvi provided an insightand reflection to the events of Kerbala and thesacrifices of Imam Husayn (AS), his family and hiscompanions.The Mosaic Group has been in existence foralmost 30 years and is actively involved inpromoting ‘understanding’ among various faithsin Canada, especially in Ontario. The organisationwas originally initiated by a Christian group;later, the Jewish Temple Har Zion and the JaffariIslamic Centre began participating in an activeway. Currently, there are several organisationsrepresenting Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism whopaint the complete picture of this Mosaic.Several people from the Zion Temple, the UnitedChurch and other places of worship attended thisevent.Many individuals commented, ‘We need to knowmore of Imam Husayn (AS) as a leader, man andhis stand on social justice.’While reflecting on the historical sacrifices thatestablished social justice some 1400 years ago,there was a consensus among the participantsthat in today’s society we all need connections toachieve peace and harmony.8Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

Interfaith DialogueSydney, AustraliaWelcoming RAFPeterborough, UKShaykh Arif Abdulhussein speakingto Reverand Dr. John SquiresIn continuing to foster good relationships withother faiths, the Imam Hasan Centre and the AlMahdi Institute in conjunction with Charles StuartUniversity Theology Centre organised an interfaithevent in Sydney, Australia to celebrate the birthdayof the Holy Prophet (S) of Islam in March 2009.Shaykh Arif Abdulhussein was the guest speakerand Reverand Dr. John Squires spoke on behalf theCharles Stuart University. The topic of discussionwas ‘Exploring the Humanity of Jesus and ProphetMuhammad (S)’.The event was a great success, with almost 300people in attendance.RAF servicemen and women observing hijabTo foster relationships within the community, thePeterborough Jamaat invited the Royal Air Force(RAF) servicemen and women to their centre on11 March 2009.With service in Iraq and Afghanistan still fresh intheir minds, more than 30 personnel spent anafternoon enhancing their cultural awareness andunderstanding of Islam. To add to their experience,the female personnel wore the hijab.RAF was welcomed by Mullah MuhammadKasamali, who said that the visit was an exciting andpositive opportunity, and he hoped Peterboroughwould inspire other communities by example. Hesaid, “Everyone has different opinions about thetroops being sent to Afghanistan and Iraq, but I amsure that the Government wouldn’t put their livesin danger if they didn’t feel it was necessary.”Wing Commander Roger Simon said, “The visitwas a fantastic opportunity to develop ourunderstanding of the community in which we liveand work. We are very grateful for the support wereceive from the Peterborough community”The visit was a success and strengthened the bondamong community members.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 9

Interfaith Husayn DayStanmore, London• Struggle for justice• Is there anyone to help us?• Masaaib of Ali Asghar (AS)On 22 February 2010, the Hujjat Jamaat inStanmore held their 2nd Annual Interfaith HusaynDay. The success of last year’s event was reflectedin the increased turnout with over 900 people inthe audience and a further 200 listeners online.The theme selected for the programme wascentered around Imam Husayn’s (AS) final wordsin Karbala, “Hal min nasirin yansuruna” (Is thereanyone to help us?). The need for Muslims toanswer this call to humanity was discussed asa means to combat four of the most pertinentcontemporary problems facing the world today:• Moral Depravity• Education Poverty• Emotional Poverty• Spiritual emptinessMany dignitaries participated in the event includingIran’s ambassador to the UK - His ExcellencyRassul Movahedian, the representative ofAyatullah Sistani - Syed Murtadha Kashmiri, theMP for Harrow East - Tony McNulty, and the leaderof Harrow Council – Councillor Ashton.“Many, many thanks to you all at the Husaini Centrefor the wonderful Husayn Day Programme. I waswrapped up in all the presentations and panelsfrom which you could learn so much. The “goodie”bag provided much excellent in-depth reading andinformation to follow the programme and I amvery grateful to you, as ever, for all the knowledgeand inspiration. Then on top of that was thetremendously friendly welcome and hospitality.You must be the best hostesses in London, nay inthe UK.”With greetings of peace,Pat Stevens“Congratulations on an ABSOLUTELY brilliantevent!! I can say that without a shadow of doubt,this WAS the most effective and BEST event thatI have attended in the 45 years that I have livedin the UK. I say this with great sincerity and prayto the Almighty to shower his rewards in this lifeand the hereafter upon all those in the Jamaatwho worked so hard to make the Husayn Day thesuccess it was. ILTIMAAS DUA.”Hashim Nawrozzadeh,The Imam Hussein FoundationInterfaith Husayn Day comprised of the following:• Recitation of the Holy Quran• Welcome address by Jamaat President,Al-Hajj Kamruddin Khaki• Introduction to Imam Husayn (AS)• Human rights10Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

Gaza Fund CollectionBirmingham, UKIn an effort to raise funds for the victims of the Gaza conflict the Abbasi Youth Committee of the KSIMCBirmingham in conjunction with The World Federation of KSIMC and The Council of European Jamaatsorganised the Birmingham Street Collection held on 28 February and 1 March 2009.A group of 89 eager volunteers took the streets with simple buckets to reach a goal of £5,000 for victims ofthe Gaza conflict in order to provide them with much needed food and medicine supplies.It was heart-warming to see that children were among those who donated the most in the donation tinsprovided. Even the homeless, who were also out on the streets selling their magazines gave all that theycould.The youth raised a grand total of £6,900 over two days. The money collected was sent to Gaza through TheWorld Federation, working with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide relief to thepeople of the region.Out of the ColdToronto, CanadaFor the tenth consecutive year, the ISI Jamaat ofToronto organised the ‘Out of the Cold Programme’,catering to the homeless of the Greater TorontoArea.Year after year, several volunteers dedicate theirtime to provide hot meals and sleeping facilitiesduring the extreme cold winter season.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 11

Leadership Development ProgrammeLos Angeles, CaliforniaOn the weekend of 2 to 4 January 2009, theShia Ithna-Asheri Islamic Jamaat of Los Angeles(SIIJLA) hosted an enlightening LeadershipDevelopment Programme (LDP) at their centre inPico Rivera. The Programme was co-sponsoredby The World Federation of KSIMC and The NorthAmerican Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim CommunitiesOrganization (NASIMCO). The Programme wasdesigned to help participants grow mentally,emotionally, and spiritually through a three-dayintensive educational experience.16 participants (ages 24 to 70) took part in theworkshop, with seven of the participants fromSIIJLA Jamaat. The programme was led by twofacilitators from England, Dr. Akber Mohamedaliand Br. Yasin Rahim, as well as one facilitatorin-training,Sr. Tahera Rashid. The facilitatorsencouraged the attendees to:• Look deep inside themselves, and appreciatetheir own “fitra” (a gift from God), as well as thefitra of others.• Obtain a deeper understanding of themselves,as well as the people around them.Islamic FestivitiesToronto, CanadaTo give the public a chance to experience thevarious holidays celebrated by different faithgroups, the York Regional Police (YRP) held its 4thAnnual Holidays event on 6 December 2009. TheTableegh Committee of the ISI Jamaat of Torontowas invited to take part in the event.The lessons learned in the LDP are valuable forthe success and growth in many different spheresincluding family, community, workplace, andgovernment.The workshop generated a positive energy in allof the participants where some were inspired toundertake important projects in the community.Nazneen Nathani-Mirza, Mazaher Sivjee andMinhal Kalyan agreed upon the importance oforganising charitable volunteer activities for theLos Angeles Jamaat. Other participants had morepersonal moments of enlightenment, ranging froma confirmation of faith and spirituality, a drive tostop procrastinating, and an urge to balanceboth head and heart. Whatever the discovery, asDr. Akber and Br. Yasin frequently reminded thegroup, “When the student is ready, the teacher willappear.”As Muslims were soon to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha,it was the perfect opportunity to put up a displayon Hajj and its significance. The basis of Hajj wasexplained, starting with Prophet Abraham (AS), thefather of the 3 Abrahamic faiths: Islam, Judaismand Christianity. A Shia Adhan clock, a beautifulpicture depicting the congregation of millions ofMuslims during Hajj, a miniature Rozo and severalcolourful tasbihs were among the items displayed.The event was very much appreciated by all,especially by the York Regional Police. The Chief ofPolice, Chief Armand La Barge was interviewed, andexpressed his sincere gratitude and appreciationfor all of the Committee’s efforts. He also thankedthe Jaffari Islamic Centre and presented the Tablighteam with a certificate of participation.Along with the Vishnu Temple, the followers of theKWANZA principles, and the Jewish Community,the Jaffari Islamic Centre presented a display onEid. One of the tables showcased how a Muslimfamily celebrates.12Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

Second Annual Reverts ConferenceBrampton, OntarioThe second annual International RevertConference was held at the Masumeen IslamicCentre in Brampton, Ontario on the 11th and 12thof October 2009.The Revert Muslim Association (RMA) has beengrowing since 2005. The organization endeavoursto serve people who adopt Islam as their religion,not just online but in the physical world as well.Its website and forums are among the top searchengine hits for issues related to reversion toIslam.A diverse audience of men, women and childrenattended the conference. A few hundred born andrevert Shia Muslims from Canada, the US, theUK, and various other locales joined together forthe sake of God to socialize, pray together, anddiscuss topics ranging as widely as prejudice andGhusl Mayyit (ablution of the dead body).Many reverts to Shia Islam feel isolated from thelarger Shia community, and many do not survive.Statistics suggest as much as half of reverts toShia Islam eventually leave the religion, with someof the primary reasons being lack of resources andsocial support. The intent of the conference was tobring together reverts and born Muslims in orderto help create the belonging and unity as well asthe knowledge and inspiration necessary for all toprosper spiritually.The two-day event included lectures from notedscholars such as Brother Hassanain Rajabali,Shaikh Saleem Bhimji, Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi,and Shaikh Hasnain Kassamali, as well as otherengaging speakers, many of them reverts, such asBrother Ulrick Vieux, a trained Harvard psychologistoriginally from Haiti who spoke about addictionand psychology of the Islamic community, BrotherRobert Virdeen, a financial consultant who spokeabout Islamic financial investments, Brother JoeRamagali, who spoke about his master’s thesison Islamic Liberation Theology, and Sister RoshniHafeez, a vision-impaired revert who spoke aboutMuslims with disabilities as well as media andactivism.Other topics included Qur’an, Fiqh of Salat, SpiritualReality of Food, Meditation in Islam, Fatima Zahra(AS) as a Role Model, Breaking the Cycle of Abuse,Hijab, Thawab of a Muslimah, Sexual Etiquette,Divorced With Children, Prejudice, Tribalism,Parenting, Social Networking, Hajj, Striving forExcellence in Our Institutions, Witnesses to OurActions, Taqlid, Youth’s Role in Society, a GhuslMayyit demonstration, and a Question and Answersession with scholars and speakers.The social networking aspect of the conferencewas extremely important. One of the greatestbenefits of the event was that it allowed people tomeet others with similar beliefs in a Western worldwhere they may be few and far between. Manyof the attendees may have non-Muslim familyand have a strong need to make connectionswith other Shias. As people travelled home fromthe event, all did so having made new friends tohelp one another strive in the way of Allah. Withinhours of the event’s end, people were adding theirnew friends online on Facebook, posting photos,sending messages in e-mail groups and forums,and all making plans to reach out to one another,support one another on the path of Islam, andextend the benefits of the conference well beyondthe confines of the two-day event.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 13

Living as Muslims in BritainPeterborough, UKMore than a 100 visitors attended an open house heldat the Husaini Islamic Centre in Peterborough. The eventtook place on 29 June 2008 and followed the previousyear’s theme: ‘Living as Muslims in Britain’ with the aimof providing the locals an insight into the Mosque and thecentre.The purpose of this event was to foster greater intercommunaldialogue and help dispel myths about Muslims.Resident Aalim, Mullah Muhammad Kassamali said, “In aperiod where the word Islam is only associated with terrorismand repression of women, we felt that this Open Day helpedpeople to understand more about true Islam and also witness the positive contributions Muslims make tothe local community. The ladies of our community demonstrated that it is possible to play a dynamic part insociety whilst maintaining their Hijab and dignity. Visitors were amazed to see the outstanding involvementof our members to the city of Peterborough.”The event was attended by a cross section of the community ranging from local church vicars and policeofficers to youths and children. Visitors were given guided tours of the Mosque, viewed exhibitions and aPowerPoint presentation, and had an opportunity to discuss contemporary issues about Islam and Shia’ism.This year saw the introduction of two new exhibitions: ‘Rites of Passage in Islam’ and ‘Muslim Contribution toScience through the Ages’. The visitors were gifted with a newly released book by Sheikh Shomali.Bring a Friend DayWessex, LondonTo celebrate the month of Ramadhan, youthfrom the Wessex Jamaat organised “Bring a FriendDay”. The programme, led by 12 year old AmirNasser, had over 30 teachers from local schoolsand friends of the community come to the Al MahdiCentre to break their fast.When asked why hold such a programme, Amirreplied, “There are too many distorted storiesabout Islam and Muslims and we wanted to dispelthe myths locally by sharing our faith and the truemeaning of Islam that it is a peaceful religion thathas co-existed with others for hundreds of years.”14Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

United by HolyMary - AustraliaThe main event of the day was a play based onfasting and its spiritual reasons. Young Muslimgirls gave an account of the true meaning offasting, that it is not only abstaining from food andwater but the fasting of the ears, eyes, hands andmouth.The highlight of the programme was a questionand answer session where 3 girls, Zahra Alkadhimi(13), Zahra Jaffer (15) and, Maryam Rahim (15)answered questions from friends who had come.The moderator, Mohamedabbas Jaffer began thesession by asking friends and teachers to askany questions and prefaced his remark by saying,“please park political correctness outside and askany questions to the young girls.”The range of the questions asked by the guestswas as powerful as the responses given. Onelocal teacher who attended the evening said:“Never have I seen such powerful exchange offrank dialogue where faith was presented by threeyoung girls.”Another teacher said: “We generally get ourquestions answered by men and women. Wenever get a youth perspective. This opportunityyou gave us was unique“Questions ranged from, “what is the differencebetween Shia and Sunni?” to “why do you wear thehijab and were you forced to wear one?” to “whyis there segregation between men and women asthey pray together within one faith to one God?”.To foster unity among various faiths, the ImamHasan Centre hosted the “Hills Interfaith Dialogue”on 3 September 2008. The discussion was about‘Holy Mary’ from various religious perspectives.The evening began with namaz, followed by ashared Iftaar.3 students sang a song in English and Arabic towelcome Ramadhan. Then, Mariam Asar spokeabout why she was named Mariam. Mary Bagaric,a Catholic from St. Michael’s church spokeabout Holy Mary from a very frank and personalperspective. Syeda Tahira Kharazmi gave a wellresearchedspeech about the life of Holy Mary,and how the Quran speaks about her, from herbirth, to the birth of Jesus. The evening ended witha question and answer session.One of the highlights of the evening was thepresentation of Imam Hasan Centre’s AppreciationMedals, which are normally presented inRamadhan on the celebration night of ImamHasan’s birthday. This medal was awarded to BillColebrook, whose friendship with the Imam HasanCentre began before it was even built. When theCentre was experiencing problems during its earlydays, Bill and his friends from St. Madeleine’sChurch offered the facilities of their church fortheir use. The Imam Hasan Centre is indeed verygrateful to Bill, Father Chris, Pat, and all theparishioners at St. Madeleine’s Church for makingthe community feel so welcome in Annangrove.A religious education teacher commented: “Whilstone could not help but notice that the young girlsdid not have some script in front of them that theywere reading, a thought crossed my mind: ‘Thisgeneration of Muslim girls in Wickham are not onlycomfortable in their faith but also in the societythey find themselves in’.”Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 15

The Realities of Marriage & Family LifeMontreal, CanadaOne must prepare him/herself to the best oftheir abilities for marriage. For in most instancesindividuals are able to specify that which theyseek in a mate, but do not always possess suchqualities or characteristics in themselves.The Path of Light held its seminar on ‘The Realitiesof Marriage and Family Life’ on 14 and 15 June2008. The first conference held in 2007 wasdelivered to provide support to individuals about tobe or already married in a society where marriageis ridiculed and rates of divorce are increasing.Sayed Mustafa al-Qazwini, Sheikh Saleem Bhimji,Sis Arifa Hudda and Sis Latifa Samji were the guestspeakers.The topics were addressed in the form of lectures,workshops, as well as question and answersessions. There was also a kiosk which gave healthtips for nutritious diets, pregnancy, breastfeedingand personal hygiene set up by Sister Ruba Haidar,a dietetics student in her last year.The seminar began with a short introduction andtalk by Sheikh Saleem Bhimji on the “Objectiveof Marriage in Islam and its Role in Society”. Theinstitution of marriage is highly esteemed withinthe fold of Islam, yet its primary objective does notreceive due attention. This lecture focused on theobjectives of marriage in Islam, why it is consideredto be half of our deen and the role that it plays inadvancing and protecting any given society.The eminent scholar, Sayed Mustafa al-Qazwini,from Orange County, California spoke on ‘PreparingOneself for Marriage’. In his words of guidance, henoted that akhlaaq (self-refinement and purificationof the soul) are struggles which endure a lifetime.Some specific tips for improving one’s akhlaaq tolay the foundation to be a suitable spouse werealso given to the audience. There were workshopswhich were inter-twined with the lectures. Thefirst such session consisted of three concurrentdiscussions carried out by the invited scholars.In addition, the 3-day programme saw over 25other topics for discussion in the form of lecturesand workshops, which included:1. Different sex drives – how to cope2. Post-Marital Counselling: Overcomingroadblocks and avoiding divorce3. Dealing with extended families and in-laws4. Financial responsibilitiesAll of the attendees were eager to learn about thetopics presented ranging from role of marriage insociety, spouse selection, avoiding excesses inengagements and weddings, keeping the balancein the home, avoiding monotony in marriage,relations with in-laws, domestic violence, maritalcounselling and so on. Their eagerness wasespecially clear when the audience found it difficultto choose between two to three topics that wereavailable simultaneously in the form of workshops.In such cases, husbands and wives split up to gainmaximum benefit from the scholars present.In order to boost those who were single andin search of a suitable spouse, the MarriageApplication Form Project was launched, allowingthose who are single to confidentially provide theirinformation to the Path Of Light group which has asmall committee dedicated to looking through theapplications and helping to find matches based onthe information provided on the forms.16Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

CoEJ Youths Meet Tony BlairLondon, UKA delegation of youths from the Council of EuropeanJamaats (CoEJ) attended a breakfast meeting withformer Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Al KhoeiFoundation, on 6 May 2008.The delegation included Sadiq Datoo (Chair of CoEJYouth Desk), Fatima Manji (Chair of CoEJ ExternalRelations and Media Desk), Zishan Jiwa, Fatim Kurji-Jumabhoy, Mehjabeen Rahim and Sarfraz Jeraj(Secretary of Hyderi Jamaat).The topic of discussion was “Young Muslims and Faithin Britain”. The delegation took part in a lively and broadranging discussion on issues such as the Iraq War, peacein the Middle East, preventing extremism amongst young British Muslims and Inter-Faith relations. Tony Blairoutlined his plans and aspirations for his newly formed Faiths Foundation, explaining that religion could be amajor force for good in the modern globalised world.The Chairs of CoEJ Youth and Media Desks were also part of the greeting party for the former Prime Minister.They were able to use this opportunity to briefly introduce the work of our community and of CoEJ.Religion & CarpentrySeattle, WashingtonMembers of the Ithna-asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest (IMAN) joined hands with other localMuslims, Christians and Jews to build homes for low-income families on the east side of Seattle. The7th Annual “Together We Build” project for Habitat for Humanity was scheduled at Snoqualmie Ridge inSnoqualmie, Washington October 10 to 12 and October 16 to 18, 2008.For the 7th consecutive year, Together We Build has built homes for low-income families in Seattle. The grouparose out of a Catholic prayer chain which started after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It has grown to include 10churches, mosques and synagogues.Among the volunteers was Phil Gerson, a retired Boeing employee who belongs to Bellevue’s Temple B’naiTorah, who said that volunteering has deepened his knowledge of Judaism as well as his appreciation ofother faiths. Gerson calls Kirkland’s Ithnasheri Muslim Association of the Northwest (IMAN) his “secondfavouriteplace to worship; whether it’s a church or a synagogue or a mosque, there is one God,”Farhad Ahmed said he is more familiar with Christianity than with Judaism. He did not know, for instance, thatobservant Jews, like Muslims, do not eat pork.He said that he and many other young people aren’t too keenon formal interfaith discussions, but he leaped at the chance to mix religion and carpentry.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 17

Iraq Orphan PlightToronto, OntarioRebuilding HomesHangu, PakistanOn 10 and 11 July 2008, the Tabligh Committeeof the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of Toronto(ISIJ), in cooperation with The World Federation ofKSIMC held its first ever fundraising event to raisemoney for the orphan children of Iraq. Volunteersgave their time and effort to bring awareness ofthe dire state of the orphans in Iraq. The eventtook place at both the Scarborough Civic Centreand Mel Lastman Square.Specially designed water bottles were printed withthe phrase ‘I care, therefore I give’. The bottleswere donated and were sold for $5 each. Allproceeds went to the Iraq Orphan Fund.The stalls drew much attention and visitorsoffered their support in several ways. Somedonated generously, while others took brochuresto distribute to their friends and family. Manyexpressed their compassion towards the innocentlives lost in Iraq, having come themselves from wartorn countries themselves. They quickly connectedwith the situation and had tears in their eyes.As a result of the success of this event and theimportance given to caring for orphans, this hasbecome one of ISIJ’s annual donation campaign.The World Federation of KSIMC in partnership withthe Hussaini Foundation of Pakistan have workedtogether to rebuild homes in the District of Hanguthat were either damaged or destroyed by theTaliban. After the Taliban attacked the communityin December and January 2008/2009, 27 houseswere destroyed and 74 homes were damaged.The district of Hangu is a settled area of theNorth-West Frontier Province in Pakistan locatedapproximately 150 kilometres from Islamabad.District Hangu is surrounded by Aurakzai Agency,Kurram Agency, North Waziristan Agency, TehsilTal, Parachinar and Lachi. The total population ofDistrict Hangu is nearly 0.8 million where 30% ofthe inhabitants comprise of Shia Muslims.Hangu is divided by the main highway that leadsto Parachinar. Access to Parachinar is blocked dueto the Taliban insurgency. The Muslim populationis also divided along this highway who are trappedand surrounded by the Taliban people.The World Federation contributed Rs. 3.54 millionin housing and relief programmes in Hangu throughthe Hussaini Foundation. To date, nine newhouses are under construction, and six partiallydamaged homes have been renovated and twomore restored.18Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

Arusha Camp ‘09Nakuru, KenyaJIBA Loan SchemeDar-es-Salaam, TanzaniaThe 2009 Arusha Camp held in Nakuru, Kenyaeducated and inspired over 80 boys and girls fromacross the world on a number of Islamic issues.The atmosphere of the camp was nurturing, caring,educational, spiritual and fun. The camp comprisedof a combination of lectures from knowledgeablespeakers, outdoor activities and field trips.Lectures were held on the subjects of ahkaam,aqiad, akhlaq, Nahjul Balagha, fiqh, Quranictafseer, medical and sports guidance.On the auspicious occasion of Milad un Nabi, JIBATanzania announced its new partnership with theEconomic Empowerment Committee (EEC) of theKSI Jamaat of Dar es Salaam, where JIBA is nowmanaging the Business Loans Scheme.The programme offers loans to new or existingbusinesses in the amounts of Tshs 2m to Tshs20m. The loan scheme can be accessed by writingto support@jibatanzania.com.After her children returned from the camp, aparent said, ‘I have noticed tremendous changein their social, spiritual, and communal outlookand only a defining moment at the right time oftheir life can bring such transition. I am sure thiswill definitely endure to make them better andpracticing Shias.’A student said, ‘It was a worthwhile trip,educational, enjoyable and fun. We recommendto all youths not to miss such an opportunity in thefuture.’Mohamed Bhai Nanji, President of PeterboroughJamaat said: ‘Brilliant. I wish it had happenedduring my time in Tanga/Pangani in the 60’s and70’s. These are lucky children. Well done fororganising such an event.’The camp had a significant impact on the campers.The students gained a further religious awarenessand an understanding of their duties in life asMuslims.Shab-e-BaratQum, IranOn the eve of 15th Sha’baan 1426, The WorldFederation of KSIMC’s Islamic Education QumOffice in collaboration with Dar al-Zahra held aprogramme celebrating the birthday of the AwaitedSaviour (AS).The function included recitation of Dua Kumail,a lecture in English, qasidas in Arabic and Urdu,prize giving to 12 of the attendees and dinner.Around 140 men, women and children attendedthe function.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 19

Az-Zahraa Islamic AcademyVancouver, CanadaIn response to the need for Shia families inVancouver, Canada to be able to provide a safe,Islamic environment for their children’s education,The Az-Zahraa Islamic Academy opened its doorsin the fall of 2003.Previously, children either attended public schoolsor private schools run by Sunni organisations.These options had limitations. The communitythen recognised the need for combining highquality academic education with the pillars of Shiabeliefs.The school currently has close to 100 studentsenrolled from pre-school to Grade 7. In addition,after recently noting the need for quality Islamicday care, the school also provides a full day care.Small class size and an emphasis on individualachievement ensures each child is valued andtreasured. The aim is to meet our children’sreligious, academic, emotional, social, cultural,and physical needs.All teachers are fully certified by the BC College ofTeachers and participate in ongoing professionaldevelopment to remain current on best practices.In addition, the school has specialty teachers forQuran and Islamic Studies.Being brought up in Canada provides manyadvantages, especially the opportunity to be partof a multi-cultural, multi-faith society. Althougha large percentage of students attend Az-ZahraaIslamic Centre regularly, the school also educatesmany students who attend other Shia centres andthere is a growing interest from Sunni and evennon-Muslim families. Students are taught torespect each other and appreciate the diversity ofhumanity.One of the schools goals is to provide diversityin education. Joint projects with other religiousschools are frequent and mutually beneficial. Theacademy holds interfaith classroom meetings, andspecial events like the Royal Canadian Mounted20Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010

Police Junior Police Academy with attendance fromChristian, Jewish and Islamic schools. Recently,a ground breaking Muslim/Jewish basketballgame that received wide media coverage wasalso held. Extra-curricular clubs are open to allneighbourhood children both Muslim and non-Muslim. These activities strengthen the children’sda’wah program and teach children how to valueand respect everyone.The students are also actively involved in thecommunity. The intermediate students attend dailyJamaat salaat and practice serving the communityby reciting Adhaan, Iqamah, and leading ziyaratsand duas. The students also love to give shortspeeches before Juma’ and majlis.The students actively participate in a variety ofservice projects benefiting both Muslim and non-Muslims alike, such as fundraisers to alleviatehunger in their local city as well as raising funds fora community in another part of the world. Studentsrun a Black Ribbon Campaign in Muharram withfunds benefitting the Mosque. The school held atremendously successful joint fund-raiser withComfort Aid International allowing a school to bebuilt in Afghanistan. Students are keenly aware ofthe tragedies in our world and are always lookingfor ways to help. They have sponsored seniors,families, orphans and even wildlife. In addition,students look forward to local events that combinephysical fitness with philanthropy such as the TerryFox Run, Jump rope for Heart and walk-a-thons forvarious charities.Students have found a successful balance betweenreligion and community at the school, learning howto conduct their lives according to Islam as well asinteracting with the different people, religions andcultures around them.EconomicUpliftment - KenyaBilal Muslim Mission of Kenya (BMMK) has beenworking with Kenyan citizens on the EconomicUpliftment Programme. The aim of this initiative isto provide capital investment in order to create anincome for the deserving. In addition, emphasisis placed on individuals and families to save,allowing them to have capital should they need itin the future.Co-sponsored by the International Developmentand Relief Foundation (IDRF), the second moduleof the programme was held at Madrasah AhlilKisaa, Kichakamwaju Rural Centre from 23 to 27March 2009, and Madrasah Ahlil Bayt, ShimoniRural Centre from 16 to 20 March, 2009. A totalof 86 participants were in attendance.The topics covered in these sessions aimed toempower the participants with specific businessskills. These included:• Introduction to business• Profit and loss• Cash control• SWOT analysis• Marketing 6 P’s• Feasibility study• Intro to book keeping• Wages• Dividends• Business plans• Project identification• Work plans• EvaluationAll sessions were interactive and the instructorsanswered several questions. The upliftmentprogramme has had a significant impact in thelives of the people in Kenya. The number of groupmembers has increased. In addition, individual’smember savings have significantly increased.The group is now scheduled to undertake the thirdmodule of the credit training programme.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 21

Annual Ramadhan I’tikaafDar es Salaam, TanzaniaThe annual I’tikaaf organised by the Tabligh Sub-Committee of KSIJ Dar es Salaam was held from21 to 23 Ramadhan 1430. There were a total of50 participants in this year’s event.I’tikaaf in the physical sense is to stick or adhereto the Masjid for a minimum of three days in thestate of fasting, while the spiritual sense is to leavethis world full of illusions and mirages for the solepurpose of seeking the pleasure of God, by beingfully devoted to Him and Him alone. Just as onewho goes for Hajj has to leave behind everythingand divorce the world to gain proximity to theAlmighty, a Mu’takif has to do the same.I’tikaaf is like temporary death. It has the purposeof reminding individuals the reality of the daywhen everyone will be ready to sacrifice the wholeworld so that they can be saved from the promisedwrath of God to those who disbelieved. DuringI’tikaaf, all worldly communications are barred, sothat individuals are free to increase the ability toconnect with God.Day 1: 11 September /21 Ramadhan 1430This day marks the day in which the MuslimUmmah was orphaned by the martydom of our firstImam (AS) and there couldn’t have been a moremournful day to begin this journey towards God.Before Imsak, all mu’takif reached the masjid andthe Niyyah was performed in unison. Sheikh SafdarRazi eloquently described some rules, conditionsand restrictions of I’tikaaff. Groups spent time inprayers, duas, or getting physically and mentallyprepared.Day 2: 12 September/22 Ramadhan 1430By day two, participants were beginning to becomeengrossed in the atmosphere. The day continuedwith various namaaz, duas, amaals, and prayers.Rest was advised to all participants, as physicalstrength was just as important as spiritualstrength.Day 3: 13 September/ 23 RamadhanBy day three, individuals were busy reaching theirgoals, returning to God in their own ways. A debatewas also held on the subject, “Which is better -wealth or education?”At the closing ceremony, Sheikh Jabir Chandoo wasinvited as the guest of honour and he truly inspiredthe participants with his words of wisdom. Priorto departing, Salaatul Maghribain was prayed,followed by Iftaar.Alhamduillah, the particpants walked away fromthe experience spiritually uplifted and content,making the I’tikaaf a true success.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 23

Your donations make a difference!AeinullahEye ClinicsALI ASGHARWATER APPEALAutisticDay Care CentreEconomicDevelopmentIslamicEducationMuballigheenTrainingPakistanEmergencyReliefSponsor ourSeniors (SOS)Zainabiya ChildSponsorshipSchemeThe World Federation of KSIMC endeavors topromote Islamic education, health, education,relief of poverty, disaster aid, and tableeghinitiatives worldwide. However, we cannot meetthe growing needs of our communities withoutyour help. Powered by vigorous support fromfriends like you, we can continue to providethese and other innovative programmes for thebenefit of Mo’mineen across the world. Pleasesupport The World Federation’s work by makinga donation today.Zainabiyahealth centresthank you for your ongoing supportof the world federation’s programmes.please donate todayTHE WORLD FEDERATION OF KSIMCEducation | Family Affairs | Health | Islamic Education | Relief & Economic DevelopmentIslamic Centre, Wood LaneStanmore, Middlesex, UK HA7 4LQEmail: secretariat@world-federation.orgRegistered Charity in the UK, No. 282303www.world-federation.orgThe World Federation is an NGOin Special Consultative Status with theEconomic and Social Council of the United Nations.