IN THIS ISSUE
Saturday, September 16, 2006: Muslim Alliance of Indiana Retreat; Please register early online at www.muslimalliancein.com.
Monday, September 25, 2006: Governor Mitch Daniels is inviting Muslim Hoosiers to 2nd Annual Iftaar at his official residence.
"Governor Daniels has stated many times that he believes one of Indiana's greatest strength can be traced to its diversity. As we progress on the Indiana comeback path, it is vital that Hoosiers continue to work together in this pursuit. We are so pleased the Hoosier Muslim community has been steadfast with our efforts to make Indiana a stronger and more vibrant place to live, work, and raise our families.
To honor the Muslim community in Indiana, as well as to celebrate Indiana's diversity, it is the Governor's privilege to host the second Indiana Governor's Iftar on Monday, September 25, 2006 at the Governor's Residence at 4750 North Meridian Street.
I would appreciate it if you could RSVP by Wednesday, September 20, 2006 by contacting Alia Shah at (317)443-7878 or email at muslimalliancein@gmail.com .
We look forward to breaking the fast on Monday, September, 25, 2006.
Sincerely,
Eric Holcomb"
Saturday, October 7, 2006: Muslim Alliance of Indiana will host Annual Iftaar at Islamic Center in Plainfield, Indiana inviting Muslim community, Community leaders from all across Indiana and Political leadership.
Saturday, November 11, 2006: Muslim Alliance of Indiana will hold 1st Annual Economic Development Conference at Holiday Inn Express in Martinsville, Indiana. The program will be released at MAI retreat.
Muslim Alliance of Indiana Retreat
Islamic Center, Plainfield, Indiana
Saturday, September 16, 2006 |
Opening Session
10:00 - 10:15 |
Welcome and Introduction - Alia Shah |
Session I
10:15 - 11:00 am |
"Indiana Muslim Economic Development Task Force"
Anwar Shah, Azher Khan, Wajid Safdar, Babar Suleman, Mariyam Khan, Ashraf Lakhaney, Dr. Abdul Basher, Dr. M. Majid, Akhter Ali Khan, Khadijah Shareef. Aliyah Al-Ghani
|
Session II
11:00 - 11:45 pm |
"Galvanizing Muslim Participation in Local Politics"
- Patrice Abdullah, City-County Councilman, District #15
"Civic Alliances-Religious, Social, Humanitarian"
- Imam Michael Saahir of Nur-Allah Islamic Center
|
| - LUNCH BREAK - |
Lunch
12:00 - 2:00 pm |
Ann DeLaney, author, Politics for Dummies
Moderator: Dr Ibad Ansari |
| 2:00 pm |
Zuhr Prayer |
Session III
2:15 - 3:30 pm |
Special FBI Agent Kyle Scheatzle
Eric Holcomb, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Paul Okeson, Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Staff
- Personal Interaction
- Formation of Muslim Delegation to Governor's Office |
Session IV
3:45 - 5:00 pm |
"American Muslim Relations with Media"
- Dr. Shahid Athar
"The Future of Indiana Muslims"
- The Honorable David Shaheed,
Marion County Superior Court Justice
|
Strategic Session
5:00 - 6:00 pm |
Muslim Alliance of Indiana--Developing a Strategic Plan Open Discussion Among Muslim Leadership |
6:15 pm
6:30 pm |
Asr Prayer
Dinner |
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00 pm |
Keynote Speaker: Professor AbdulKader Sinno,
Professor of Political Science, Indiana University, Bloomington
"Muslim Representation in U.S. Politics:
Understanding and addressing the Challenges"
|
|
Maghrib Prayer |
The RETREAT aims to bring together Muslim community leaders from around Indiana
to foster networking and dialogue about the future of the Indiana Muslim community.
Objective of the retreat is to:
- Interact with both Republican and Democratic party leaders
- Interact with Muslim leaders from across Indiana
- Learn political process in action at grassroots level
- Formulate consensus opinion with open dialogue and discussion
- MAI Agenda for the future activities
- Muslim delegation to quarterly meet with Governor's office
- Other functional committees as appropriate
- Constitution and by-laws for the future MAI officials
This is an open invitation to all Indiana Muslim Community Leadership. The Program is Free, but Registration is advised online www.muslimalliancein.com or by contacting Alia Shah at (317)443-7878 or email at muslimalliancein@gmail.com.
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson office will be attending the First Annual Muslim Alliance of Indiana Retreat to be held on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at the Islamic Center of PLainfield. Muslims Hoosiers from across the state are registering to attend this event that will help map the direction of MAI's future activities. "Registration has been going very strong and we are expecting a great deal of diversity in this important event," stated Alia Shah, Executive Director of MAI.
- Angola
- - Angola Islamic Center
- - MSA - Tri State University
- Bloomington
- - Islamic Center of Bloomington
- - MSU - Indiana University
- - The Bloomington Muslim Dialogue Group
- - IMPACT-Indiana Muslim Political Action Taskforce
- Columbus
- - Columbus Islamic Center
- Crawfordsville
- - MSA - Wabash College
- Crown Point / Merrillville
- - NW Indiana Islamic Center
- Evansville
- - Evansville Islamic Center
- - Omar Maalik Islamic Center
- - Islamic Society of Evansville
- Fort Wayne
- - Islamic Center of Fort Wayne
- - Al-Fatihah Dawah Center
- - Al-Hidayaa Center
- - Masjid Muhammad
- - MSA - Indiana University Purdue University
- Gary
- - Masjid Al-Amin
- - Gary Masjid
- - Gary Muslim Center
- Hammond
- - MSA - Purdue University Calumet
- - American Jordanian Social Center
- Highland
- - Illiana Islamic Association
- Indianapolis
- - Masjid Al Fajr
- - MSA - IUPUI
- - Masjid Al-Huda Masjid
- - Nur-Allah Islamic Center
- - Masjid Al-Mumineen
- - Masjid Al-Taqwa
- - Legacy Institute
- - New African Islamic Student Association
- - Women in Motion
- - Muslim Reentry Network of Indiana
- - Pakistan American Friendship Association
- - Islamic Association of Greater Indianapolis
- - Islamic Society of North America
- - Islamic Medical Association-Indiana Chapter
- Kokomo
- - Islamic Association of Kokomo
- Michigan City
- - Islamic Center of Michigan City
- - Muslim Center
- Muncie
- - Islamic Center of Muncie
- - MSA - Ball State University
- New Albany
- - Islamic Association of Indiana
- North Manchester
- - Manchester College Islamic Center
- South Bend / Notre Dame
- - Islamic Society of Michiana
- - Masjid Mujahideen
- - South Bend Masjid
- Terre Haute
- - MSA - Indiana State University
- - Islamic Center of Terre Haute
- Valparaiso
- - MSA - Valparaiso University
- West Lafayette
- - Islamic Center of Greater Lafayette
- - MSA - Purdue University
We believe there are many ethnic/social and professional groups/organizations that we have not explored yet. MAI will continue to make efforts to connect and network with them all.
As-salaam-u-alaikum, Brothers and Sisters of the Muslim community:
Workshop: Writing Effective Op-Eds, Letters to the Editor, and Letters to Elected Officials
Are you tired of the public's ignorance about Muslims and their Islamic way of life?
Does it frustrate you that elected officials ignore the political interests and concerns of American Muslims? Can you no longer tolerate the media's negative portrayal of Muslims as merely having an affinity for terrorism and a disregard for peace?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you should strongly consider attending this workshop!
This workshop will help you to write effective opinion articles, letters to the editor, and letters to elected officials. These are the main tools to inform the public, journalists, and elected officials about our community's interests and perspectives. Above all, this is an opportunity to get your political views published. How will they ever learn what we think if we don't effectively communicate our opinions to them?
Date, Time, & Location:
Saturday, September 23rd @ 3 pm
Islamic Center of Bloomington
1925 E. Atwater Ave.
Organized by IMPACT-Indiana Muslim Political Action Committee Taskforce.
To join or support IMPACT, contact Maryam Roohani at mroohani@hotmail.com
Owner Of Aladdin Pita Found Fatally Shot Inside Restaurant
Sep 9, 2006 10:33 pm US/Central
"Our community is on an edge, they have a tremendous amount of fear," said Ali Khan with the American Muslim Council.
(CBS) MERRILLVILLE The owner of the Aladdin Pita restaurant off U.S. Route 30 in Merrillville, Ind. was found shot to death Saturday morning inside of his restaurant.
Naseeb Mohammed was found fatally shot at the Aladdin Pita restaurant located at 3750 W. 80th Lane in Merrillville.
CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports that owner was known for his generosity. Just yesterday, Naseeb Mohammed had a celebration at his restaurant and invited many members of the Islamic community.
The shooting death of a Muslim business owner is the cause of great concern in Merrillville.
"Our community is on an edge, they have a tremendous amount of fear, and they're paralyzed with this fear and it's very important for our law enforcement community to go out and find this person," said Ali Khan with the American Muslim Council.
Sixty-year-old Naseeb Mohammed was found shot to death Saturday morning. An employee found his body inside the Aladdin Pita restaurant, which Mohammed owned.
"He's like my father, he's my American father right here and, you know, he helped everybody. He took care of his family. He'd take care of his business," said the victim's son-in-law, Jihad Darawar.
Investigators with Merrillville police and the FBI spent the day at the restaurant.
Family members say Mohammed was very well-liked and never got in trouble.
"The guy was very good, very helpful and he was the icon of the community… and he was a good entrepreneur," said a friend of the victim, Sayed Quadri.
No valuables were taken from the restaurant with the exception of just a few dollars from the cash register.
Friends of Mohammed say the portable safe wasn't even touched.
"That leads me to the conclusion that possibly this could be a hate crime. And I hope that our authorities here, who are good friends of our community, look into all the possible angles," Khan said.
Merrillville police are not confirming the shooting death was a hate crime. They say evidence points toward a robbery. Investigators with the Lake County Sheriff's Department are also involved in the investigation, along with the FBI.
The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) called on federal, state and local authorities to investigate the slaying of Naseeb Mohammed as a hate crime. "Hate crimes against Muslims is on the rise and people of faith must come together to rid our communities of hatred and prejudice," stated Alia Shah, Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana.
Northwest Indiana restaurant owner Naseeb Mohammed attended prayer services
at his mosque on Friday, where local and federal law enforcement officers
assured Muslims that they would be on guard against hate crimes as the fifth
anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approached.
Mohammed, 60, of Munster, Ind., was killed the next morning as he prepared
lentil soup in his Middle Eastern restaurant, Aladdin Pita, in Merrillville.
Employees arriving at about 10 a.m. found him dead of a gunshot wound,
police said.
Police said they do not know whether the slaying is a hate crime. They said
no evidence, such as vandalism, was found to suggest a hate crime.
But Mohammed's sons insisted hate must have been a motive because only $150
was taken from the restaurant even though more was available. They also said
it does not make sense to rob a restaurant in the morning before it opens,
when more money would be available after closing.
"This is someone who wanted to bring grief to the Muslim community, and
that's what they did," said his son Bassam Mohammed, 25.
"This is just another act of terror," said his oldest son, Ghassan Mohammed,
28.
As softly weeping women filed into the family's home Sunday afternoon,
chairs were arranged in the garage and beneath a canopy for solemn-faced
men, who were served strong black coffee in accordance with tradition. Sugar
would not be appropriate during mourning, Bassam Mohammed said.
The murder has made Muslims in northwest Indiana more wary and fearful than
ever, one community leader said.
Imam Mongy Elquesny of the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center in Merrillville,
where the meeting Friday with law enforcement was held, said he expected 60
children for Sunday school but only 20 showed up.
"They have a kind of fear for their children," he said of the reasons
parents gave for keeping their children home.
Elquesny said there have been several meetings with law enforcement since
9/11, with community members invited to ask questions.
"You try very hard to get the community involved," Elquesny said. "They
can't just sit home and complain they are afraid, that they don't want to go
into the street."
The meetings have helped ease some fears, he said. While about 150 families
were registered with the Islamic Center before 9/11, now there are about
250.
Elquesny said the increase is because of the good reputation the area has
for being safe and welcoming for Muslims.
After the community meeting on Friday, two FBI officials went with Elquesny
to Mohammed's restaurant for a meal, said Elquesny and FBI Special Agent
Wendy Osborne
Now, the FBI is helping with the murder investigation, Osborne said. The
Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force has brought together investigators
from more than a dozen jurisdictions.
"The Arab community is part of our community," said Detective Jeff White, a
member of the task force. "As such, we take this crime, as well as any
crime, very seriously."
White would not comment about the factors that make Mohammed's sons think
hate motivated the murder. But he said those factors have been considered by
investigators, who are still unwilling to say that the murder is a hate
crime.
"They don't want the Muslim community to be angry," Bassam Mohammed said of
comments by police. "We have a pretty decent-size community, and for them to
be angered, it's not in their best interest."
On Sunday afternoon, the restaurateur's sons greeted visitors who came to
offer condolences at Mohammed's home.
Naseeb Mohammed left his native Palestine shortly after high school,
spending about a year in Kuwait before coming to the United States.
"He had to support his family," said Bassam Mohammed of his father's reason
for leaving Palestine. "There were no jobs there. You cannot support a
family in Palestine."
Gesturing about the home in the upscale subdivision, the son added, "He
wanted to support his family comfortably and, as you can tell, he
succeeded."
It was hard work, achieving the American dream. "He worked as a cook,"
Bassam Mohammed said. "He worked as a dishwasher. He worked as a stock boy."
Bassam Mohammed said that in the years since 9/11, he and his family have
suffered varying degrees of racism and mistrust.
"I was born and raised and went to college here," he said. "I'm as American
as any American. For someone to tell me to go back to my country, it doesn't
make sense. This is my country. But I've had that happen to me in college.
And in the restaurant. And in the bowling alley."
Services for his father, who leaves a wife and seven children, will be on
Monday.
"The horrible day that it is," Bassam Mohammed said. "It's going to be sad
because of what happened to the twin towers on Sept. 11, and for me it will
be even worse because it will be the day we bury my dad."
Anyone with information is asked to call Merrillville police at
219-769-3531. Callers may remain anonymous.
By Ian Brimacombe
BBC News, Chicago
Monday, 4 September 2006, 11:08 GMT 12:08 UK
The sessions at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention had a little something for everyone. Some people came to ask questions about Islamic banking, others wanted tips on Muslim dating.
It was billed as the biggest gathering of Muslims in North America, and tens of thousands of delegates turned up to the three-day event, which was held over the weekend near Chicago.
"It's been opportunity for us to fulfill some of our aspirations as Muslims and learn some new things that are going on with our religion," said Abdul Fatai Adisa, a delegate from Merrillville, Indiana.
Many of the sessions touched on issues related to women in Islam and in American society. On the eve of the convention, Ingrid Mattson, a Canadian convert to Islam, was elected as ISNA's new president, making her the first woman to hold the role.
"The election has huge symbolic importance," said Edina Lekovic, a delegate based in Los Angeles with the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
"It opens doors for communities who would otherwise not consider having women in leadership positions and I think it sends an important message to those more conservative elements within the American Muslim community.
"It's a signal to the establishment."
Focus on the media
On the first day of the convention, Ms Mattson held a news conference in which she criticised President George W Bush's use of the term "Islamic fascism" when describing the enemy in the "war on terror".
The criticism of the way in which Muslims are portrayed in the American media was also an important theme at the convention.
"Media Islam is the result of a one-sided understanding of Islam that is represented to us in a solitary, cliched and vicious way," said former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami in a keynote speech.
"There are websites and pundits and commentators which disseminate misinformation about Islam, and they're becoming very sophisticated and very savvy and they give an air of credibility that they don't deserve," he said.
But Firas Ahmad, senior editor with the Islamic magazine, Islamica, said the Muslim community also needed do better at selling itself to the US public.
"We don't value the idea of communicating properly," he said.
"We have stories to tell that can connect with mainstream Americans. If they knew them, we'd become a little more human instead of the dehumanising effect of terrorism.
"We need to tell our story in a way that is compelling and only when we do that will these perceptions of the Muslim communities be diminished and a more accurate portrayal be available."
But not everyone was downbeat.
Ann Siddique from Albany, New York, had a more optimistic take on things. The 25-year-old converted to Islam a few years ago after becoming interested in the religion.
"The main things I get from non-Muslim people are questions," she said.
"Just sheer curiosity, and so it's fortunate that a lot of people want to learn and are willing to ask questions - and seek the truth."
Monday September 04, 2006
By KEN KUSMER
Associated Press Writer
MERRILLVILLE, Indiana. (AP) Ali Khan sits in Imam Mongy Elquesny's office after Friday prayers, discussing the long list of public events where they and others from their mosque need to appear in the coming weeks as Ramadan begins.
They must coordinate benefits at their mosque, the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center, during Islam's holiest month. On Sept. 30, they'll host civic leaders for a night of appreciation.
"The positives are the great relationships that have been built as a result," said Khan, who is also the executive director of the Chicago-based American Muslim Council. "After Sept. 11, real meaningful dialogue has taken place."
The attacks five years ago put Indiana Muslims under a cloud of suspicion and prejudice, making them targets of hate crimes and terrorist profiling. But those dark days also opened opportunities for them to build bridges with non-Muslims and carried them closer to the American mainstream.
Like many mosques across America, the Islamic center tucked among subdivisions just off the Lincoln Highway commercial strip in northwest Indiana received a threatening telephone call on the day of the attacks. But it also received a visit from the police chief to reassure the community it would be safe.
Three days later, the Egyptian-born Elquesny, who had arrived at the mosque three months earlier from Brooklyn, went with three other members to a church for an interfaith prayer service.
Elquesny and others interviewed for this story condemned the extremist beliefs of the Sept. 11 attackers as an aberrant distillation of true Islam, which abhors violence.
"We are not going to let anybody interpret the Quran for us," said Elquesny.
Vandals damaged a flagpole two weeks after Sept. 11, and someone fired two bullets into the mosque three months later. Instead of dwelling on the sporadic outbursts of hate, however, the community of 200 families moved forward, opening a school two years ago that now enrolls more than 40 students from Lake and Porter counties. It has plans to develop its own subdivision of homes for Muslim families.
The mosque also partnered with Hammond's First United Methodist Church in a project called Children of Abraham to send medical supplies to Iraq. (Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam revers Abraham as one of its prophets.) It has hosted conferences on other religions and joined a pro-diversity campaign in northwest Indiana called United for a Purpose.
"All of these positive things, it is no comparison to the negative," Elquesny said.
Marion Superior Court Judge David Shaheed, a black who converted to Islam, liken Muslims today to Roman Catholics and Jews in the first half of the last century. Members of those two faith groups also found themselves marginalized by the Protestant mainstream but overcame suspicion, proved their loyalties to the U.S. and gained acceptance.
"It took time for these other faiths to become part of the fabric of America," said Shaheed, of Indianapolis. He added, "Muslims are no longer the invisible population."
Mary Ann Fadae of Carmel, a convert to a mystic Sufi tradition of Islam, pointed out most Muslims share many social values with most Americans, especially conservatives. But suspicion remains, fueled by stereotypes on television and in other media that portray Muslims as enemies of America.
"Islam is the new communism. It's the face of terrorism in this country. It's sad, but it's true," said Fadae, a lecturer who's frequently invited to speak about Islam.
Unlike Shaheed or Fadae, Dr. Shahid Athar, an endocrinologist in Indianapolis, was not born in America but rather in India. He emigrated here 37 years ago and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1978. His many writings include his most recent book, "Healing the Wounds of Sept. 11, 2001.""
"There has been more interest in learning the true nature of Islam," said Athar, who said he had given about 100 talks on Islam since that day.
But he remains wary of the suspicion he and other Muslims face. One of the tenets of Islam calls for praying five times a day, but if he does that now in airports or on planes, it will alarm others who don't know him.
"You cannot freely practice your faith like you did before," Athar said. "We have to be careful in a strange environment."
www.legacyin.org
Fall Semester 2006 Schedule
Inner Dimensions of Fasting (Fri Sep 8th and Fri Sep 15th, 7:00 - 9:00pm)
A look at the inner dimensions of fasting, taking from Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali's "Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship".
Reported on the authority of Sahl bin Sa'ad that the Prophet said, "Jannah has an entrance by the name of Ar-Rayyaan which is exclusively reserved for the fasting individuals. On the Day of Judgment, they will be called to pass through this entrance, after which it will be closed behind them and no one else will be allowed to use it."
Instructor: Shaykh Tewfik Choukri
Dates: 2 sessions - 9/8 and 9/15
Location: Legacy Institute (9721 Kincaid Dr. Fishers, IN)
Nightly Reflections (Each evening after Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan)
The much anticipated evening halaqahs on various topics during the month of Ramadan, including making the most of this blessed month. There will also be opportunities for Q & A during these sessions.
Instructor: Shaykh Tewfik Choukri
Dates: Every evening after Taraweeh prayers
Location: Masjid Al-Fajr (2846 Cold Spring Rd. Indianapolis, IN)
Seerah: Life of the Prophet - The Madinah Period
An analytical study of the life of the Prophet (saws). Topics and focus for this semester will include the post-Hijrah period including the establishment of Islamic civil society in Madinah and its application to our lives today.
Instructor: Shaykh Tewfik Choukri
Dates: Starting Friday October 27th
Location: Legacy Institute
Advanced Arabic
A analytical approach to the study of Arabic with focus on the Quran and classical Islamic literature. This class continues to build on the language skills learned in previous semesters of Arabic. Phonology and morphology, syntax, rules of grammar as in the Quran and the classical Islamic literature are presented in further detail.
Instructor: Shaykh Tewfik Choukri
Dates: Starting Saturday October 28th
Location: Legacy Institute
The Muslim Re-entry Network of Indiana, Inc. (MRNI) is a faith-based non-profit organization formed in 2006 to network with service providers who offer re-entry assistance to the newly released ex-offender. Through our service providers, we offer assistance in many forms to those previously incarcerated to aid them in their transition back to everyday living. The types of assistance we provide are case managment, counseling, family support, medical assistance, pre-employment preparation, referrals, clothing & personal items, and stipends. Our network of service providers cur rently includes: Indiana Association of Imams & Muslim Chaplins (IAIMC), Women N' Motion, Assisting New arrivals with Support And Re-entry (ANSAR), the Al-Haqq Foundation, and A-cellent Home Health Care. Affiliate organizations include Goodwill Industries, Veterans Affairs, and the Helping Others Prosper Economically (H.O.P.E.) Team. MRNI has had many successes since its inception in early 2006 and, with the help of its providers, is becoming an entity of positive change in the community.
MRNI
4961 Seville Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46228
Ph: 317/713-1110
E-mail: MRNI@att.net
On Tuesday, August 29, 2006, Brother Ya-sin Muwwakkil's sister and nephew were brutally stabbed in Evansville, IN. The family asks for support with medical and living expenses while struggling to recuperate from this tragedy. Inger and Robert Henderson Jr. are out of critical condition but have a long road to recovery. Anything you can do to help the family will be greatly appreciated.
You can send donations to the family at:
Charter One Bank
C/o The Henderson Family
5615 W.38th Street
Indianapolis, IN. 46254
You can reach Brother Ya-sin Ibn Muwwakkil @ (317)292-1877 or (317)591-0238 Thank you!
From Imam Michael "Mikal" Saahir: Please help them in any way that you possibly can.
MUSLIM ALLIANCE OF INDIANA is dedicated to empower Muslims through social engagement and developing awareness of public issues among Muslims and connecting 280,000 Muslim Hoosiers with the leadership.
To learn more about past activities and accomplishments, please visit at www.muslimalliancein.com
To be involved with MAI mission, please contact muslimalliancein@yahoo.com
To strengthen and disseminate the vision, please forward this message to others in Indiana or send email list to muslimalliancein@yahoo.com
This is intended for Muslim Hoosiers and friends promoting peace and harmony, mutual respect and making Indiana strong. If you want to be off this list, please advise.
Thank you.
