Volume XXX No. 30 Vol. XXII, No. 27 in this issue American In-mates’s Journey to Islam........ 2 Muhammad Ali....................................... 5 Fencing Champion................................... 7 The Nurse and the Muslim Patient............ 8 Ramadan Checklist.................................. 9 Speak Good or Remain Silent..................... 10 The Prophets Duas From The Quran........11 Involving Children in Ramadan................10 Stories Of The Sahabah - Bilal..................13 Attaining Barakah...................................14 Al-I’tikaf- The Spiritual Retreat................ 16 Muslim Contributions ............................17 The Islamic Roots of Modern Pharmacy...18 Athan ...................................................19 Super Foods...........................................19 Kids’ Corner. .........................................22 Cook’s Corner.......................................23 The Islamic Bulletin Published by the Islamic Community of Northern California A Non-Profit Organization P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186 E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Website: www.islamicbulletin.org Dear Readers, Assalamu Alaikum! Welcome to the latest edition of The Islamic Bulletin. We would like to thank you for your continued support over the years. As you know, the world has lost a most beloved and influential Muslim leader with the passing of Brother Muhammad Ali. The Editors of the Islamic Bulletin ask that you join us in making a special dua for Brother Ali, who was buried in an Islamic ceremony on Friday, June 10, 2016. Ali, who was 74 years old and had been battling Parkinson’s disease for many years, was truly a pioneer in so many respects. As Heavyweight Champion of the world, Ali was truly the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Yet, he did not allow this fame and honor to prevent him from speaking the truth and firmly standing for the issues he believed in. Whether it was proudly defending his religion, Islam, or his beliefs not to enlist in the Vietnam War, or his fight against racism and segregation, Ali was a hero of Muslims and non-Muslims throughout the globe. Once recognized as one of the most famous faces of all times, Ali is adored by both young and old. His presence and grandeur was large, but his heart and soul remained humble, possessing a beautiful quality enabling him to connect to his millions of fans worldwide. We ask that Allah (SWT) grant Muhammad Ali forgiveness for his sins and shortcomings, have mercy on his soul, make his legacy and his progeny pious Muslims, and ask Allah (SWT) that Ali be given Jannat-al-Firdous (the highest place in Paradise). Ameen In honor of Muhammad Ali, the Islamic Bulletin is publishing a touching story of his life—an inspiration to us all. Included in this issue is another beautiful story about an American Inmate’s Journey to Islam. Also inside this issue, read about Ibtihaj Muhamamd, the first hijab-wearing American Muslim woman to compete in the Olympic Games. Join us as we cheer on this trend-setting pioneer in women’s sports. We are so proud of her accomplishments and her role in inspiring other young hijabis to be whatever they want to be. Read about The Islamic Roots of Modern Pharmacy. In stories of the Sahaba we retrace the inspiring story of Bilal and his bravery in the early days of Islam. The story of Nurse Cassie, who became acquainted with Islam while caring for a sick, elderly man will touch the heartstrings of all that read it. Cook’s Corner features two delicious recipes sent in by our readers. Try them out this Ramadan and they just might become keepers to your recipe collection. We ask Allah (SWT) to accept this publication and may He (SWT) make it a source of guidance and blessings to every single reader. Please keep the Islamic Bulletin staff members and their families in your duas. Happy Ramadan!
Page 2 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 so in this self-deluded state, I was thrust into an environment that I was totally unprepared to deal with. On July 21, 1991, I arrived at my first unit of assignment, the Clemens Unit in Brazoria, Texas. This unit was nicknamed the “Burning Hell.” My first cell partner called himself Mac-T. He attempted to lay down the rules of the cell immediately: 1- take off your shoes before entering the cell, 2- clean the floor before you leave the cell, and 3- no noise when he is praying. Thinking that I was tough, I really did not try to listen to what he was saying. So needless to say, we did not stay in the cell together longer than a day. Only in later years did I learn that he was a Muslim. Soon after that, I started to assimilate into the prison culture: fighting, stealing, gangbanging, and getting drunk at every chance. Anything to try to forget my wasted life and shattered dreams. I left Clemens in December of 1991 so that I could attend college at the Hughes Unit in Gatesville, Texas. My journey was just beginning. Upon my arrival at the Hughes Unit, I immediately recognized the complete difference in the environment. Where as in Clemens everyone was about the same age as me, in this new unit most people were 15 to 20 years older than I was. My reputation preceded me to Hughes, so I was forced to live up to it. A few of the older men saw what I was doing and tried to warn me that this was not the way to do my time. Nonetheless, the cycle that I had started in Clemens came back in full swing. I fought a lot, drank a lot, and did everything I could do to break the rules of an establishment that I saw as corrupt. In 1993 when my father died, my life spiraled completely out of control. In my eyes, I had nothing to live for – my one source of stability was gone. It was during this time that I met three brothers who would have a huge impact on my life. One was named Yaqub, another Kareem, and the other Wadi. These were three of the most disciplined people I had ever met. They were devout Muslims whose sole purpose in life was to please God. Often times, they would invite me to the Islamic services, but with my gangster persona and corrupted mentality, I would decline and go on about my mischief. By this time, I considered myself an atheist. The only thing I worshipped was power; the only thing I believed in was myself. It was in that state that I was to meet a young man who would inspire me to return to the one thing that had been missing from my life for years: God. It was 1995, and I was working in the kitchen as a diet cook. My job was to ensure that the food was up to dietary standards and that each person on the approved list received their tray during mealtime. My assistant was a young man named Haywood. He was a Muslim and went by the name Mustafa. We were good friends and would talk about everything: politics, education, and even religion. And so one day, while he was studying, I asked him what he was reading. He replied, “This does not have anything to do with drinking or killing – you wouldn’t be interested.” I bothered him until he finally let me see what it was that he was studying: he was teaching himself Arabic. When he asked if I knew what it was and I said yes, he didn’t believe me. I told him that I had seen it when I was introduced to Islam in 1984. I told him that I could even learn it if he taught me the letters. He said, “NO WAY!” so I tried to bet him that I could learn it, but he told me that Muslims do not gamble. Physically Confined but Spiritually Free In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful. You hear many times about men entering prison and accepting the religion of Islam. Some say that it is a unique phenomenon particular to the black inmate population, male as well as female. The truth of the matter is that many prisoners of diverse backgrounds make the reversion to Islam. My story is only one of many. It is written not to draw attention to myself; rather, it is written as a testimony to what faith in Allah can do to a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I pray that my story inspires others to study the signs of the Creator so that they may recognize the Truth and live in accordance with it. I was first introduced to Islam in 1984. At that time, I was only a boy of 11 years and did not understand what exactly I was hearing. I was told that Muslims pray to only one God and do not eat pork. I was also told that Islam is a religion truly for the black race and that any other race could never really be Muslim. All of this was strange to me. I was raised in a Baptist family and was taught that the only way that I could be saved was to believe in Jesus while also recognizing that the only way that I could talk to God was by praying to Jesus. I was told that I was a sinful person by nature and that the only way that I could be purified was through the “blood of Christ.” These contradictory philosophies only served to confuse my young mind even more. So in response to this mental onslaught, I chose to ignore both. During my teenage years I attended neither church, mosque, nor any other type of religious institution. Instead, I devoted myself to preparing for my worldly future: I dedicated myself to my country. I entered the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) program at my high school and excelled. I was told that there was no greater calling than to stand up and fight for one’s country. To this ideal, I put forth all of my efforts. It was also during this time that I started to fall prey to street life. I soon gained a reputation as a tough guy, and while it earned me a lot of respect from others on the streets, it also led to my downfall. On August 26, 1990 I was arrested and charged with “aggravated assault with a deadly weapon” as well as “accessory to murder.” Being highly publicized, my case sent shockwaves through the community. Most of my co-defendants were good students who were expected to succeed in whatever they chose to do. Thus, many people were baffled as to how all of this happened. In September of that year, our charges were upgraded to “organized crime conspiracy to commit murder” and “organized crime murder.” I was then placed in solitary confinement because I was considered a threat to the security of the institution. In April 1991, I was formally sentenced to 20 years in prison for the part I played in those crimes. I would like to think that I was a man at that time; but in reality, I was still a boy trying to act like a man. And An American Inmate’s Journey to Islam
Page 3 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 I resolved to learn Arabic just to prove to him that I could. He taught me the letters and around 20 minutes later, I had them memorized. The feeling of accomplishment was incredible! When he saw that I had committed them to memory, he gave me a short list of words to learn, thinking that I could do nothing with it. I really do not blame him for feeling that way – I know that I would have felt the same way about me. After learning the word list, I needed another way to study Arabic. Little did I know that my next decision would change my life forever. On a whim (or perhaps by inspiration), I decided to ask a Muslim named Faheem for a copy of the Qur’an, Islam’s sacred Book, to aid me in my study of the Arabic language. He gave me one saying, “God-willing, you will become a Muslim.” I did not think so but I thanked him anyway. My next step was to start trying to read the Arabic in the Qur’an. As I was reading, some of the injunctions and stories in the scripture caught my attention. They touched me in a way that is hard to describe, and after a few months of studying, I told Faheem that I was thinking about becoming a Muslim. He encouraged me and gave me a lot of advice. In my studies, I reflected upon the actions of Yaqub, Wadi, and Kareem. These were three brothers who had endured the brutality and hopelessness of prison life for decades and still held their heads up high with the knowledge that all things are in the hands of Allah. No matter what man tried to do to them, they maintained their faith in the doctrine that there is no might or power except the Power of the One True God, Allah. And so it was, with these thoughts in my head, that I continued my journey. The final piece fell in place on a Friday night. The next morning I was supposed to pick up a package of illegal contraband that I had been waiting for. As I sat in my housing area that night, I decided that I would read from the Qur’an. As I opened the Book, the words of a particular verse jumped out at me: Surah 3, verse 103, which reads, “And you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, thus does Allah make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way.” These words shook my very soul such that I decided not to go to my meeting the next morning. The next day, I found out that the person who I was supposed to meet had been apprehended. I was so taken aback by this that I did something that I had not done since my youth: I prayed. I prayed for forgiveness of my sins and bad conduct; I prayed for guidance and mercy from the God I had turned my back on. I decided then and there that I wanted to dedicate my life to doing good and pleasing God. When I took this good news to Faheem, he sat me down and asked me if I was resolved on my decision. When I told him yes, he began to educate me on the basic beliefs and teachings of Islam. When other Muslims saw this, some encouraged me while others, familiar with my ways, told the brothers that they were wasting their time. I would not be denied, however. As I learned the Prayer, a whole new world opened up to me that I had never seen before. In this world was peace, contentment, and most importantly, a sense of completeness. The lessons that I was learning about Tawheed (Unity and Oneness of God) touched my soul. By the Grace of Allah, and with the help of the Muslims that were in the cellblock with me, I learned very quickly. I was ready to take my Shahadah (public declaration of faith), but I still had one piece of unfinished business: I needed to disassociate myself from my gang. By that time, I had a lot of rank and influence in my organization so I thought that there would be no problem with me walking away. I thought wrong . They say that with knowledge comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes accountability. As such, people wanted me to be held accountable for my actions, so they came up with a plan to take me out. I had decided to call a meeting of the other leaders of my organization to let them know what it was that I was doing and why. I owed no one an explanation, but I wanted to be up front with them in order to make a clean break. I was oblivious to their plotting against me, thus I naively went to the recreation yard to meet them. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah 3, verse 55: “And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners.” During the meeting, certain inmates who were trying to get rank within the organization proposed that I should be beaten and/or killed. This was all discussed while I was present! I was outraged but not shocked. Many people in prison look at Islam like it is just another gang. Thus, to the spiritually-blinded eyes of many of my former gang mates, I was changing my loyalty from one gang to another. There was one man, however, who understood the difference. His name was Willie, and he was as wild as they come. Thus, imagine my shock when he said the following words: “How can we even sit here talking about doing something to this brother just because he wants to give his life to God.” He went on to remind the members of the meeting about all of the things that I had done to help many of my fellow gang members. In the end, they recognized the truth of his words and decided to leave me unharmed. Years later, some of the same brothers would embrace Islam in much the same way that I did. Allah touches the hearts of men in ways that we do not perceive. It is only later that we comprehend and recognize the wonderful plan of the Creator. The next night, I declared my Shahadah in front of all of the community that was present at the Islamic teaching service. I can not express the feelings of love and joy that I felt when I publicly declared my belief. While I had been saying my Shahadah in my ritual prayer for weeks, it was not the same. It felt like a massive burden had been lifted off of my back. For the first time in my life, I was truly free. It was like I had been born again – returned to the natural state of my
Page 4 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 early childhood. This was a new beginning. I had little idea of where my journey was taking me, but I was nevertheless glad to be going. The next few months were spent in intense studying. I wanted to learn everything at my disposal about Islam. My studies were aided by four brothers who helped me greatly: Faheem, Shafiyq, Malk`ilm, and Ismaiyl Shareef, a.k.a. “The Minister.” These four were instrumental to my intellectual and spiritual growth as a Muslim, and I thank Allah every day that He allowed me to cross paths with them. Malk`ilm and Shareef were concerned with studying Arabic. Shafiyq was into hadeeth (Prophetic traditions), and he never passed up the chance to share something with me. Faheem was my partner, my confidant, and my biggest supporter. I started using an Arabic/English dictionary to understand the Arabic text of the Qur’an. I had been misled and duped by the translators of the Bible my whole life, so I was highly skeptical of someone else’s translation of the Holy Qur’an. My goal became to not only read and write Arabic, but also to be able to understand and translate the Book on my own. I had no instructor, but I did have determination, faith in Allah’s Power, and a will to succeed. I would spend up to 10 hours a day learning the words of Surah 2. As I familiarized myself with the words, I would commit the verses to memory. It was a hard and long process that definitely took its toll on me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I would often pray to Allah to lighten the load of my intensive studies. I did this until I came across the verse in which Allah tells the believers that He has imposed no difficulty upon them in their religion (22:78). This greatly lifted my spirits and gave me the strength to carry on. So, within six months after taking my Shahadah, I was teaching the beginning Arabic class. Al-Hamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah). As I became more spiritually aware, I began to see the value of true Islamic knowledge. It is reported in a Tradition: “Seek knowledge even as far as China.” Thus, my immediate task became to acquire all of the Islamic knowledge that I could obtain through my limited resources. I started studying the books of Hadeeth. I became familiar with the different authors of the major canonical books of Traditions. Next, I sought out a deeper and better understanding of the fundamentals of faith. I strove to recognize the spiritual meanings of the physical acts of worship that we perform everyday. I also turned my attention to the science of Qur’anic exegesis. I studied the works of Ibn Kathir and Jafar As-Saddiq in order to get a richer understanding of the different schools. I next turned my attention to Islamic history, while trying not to confine myself to a particular author or school of thought. I read the works of Ibn Atheer, Muhammad Hykal, al-Ameen al-Amilee, and Ameer Ali. The more that I learned about the “Golden Age” of Islamic history, the more my faith in the future of humanity grew. Allah the, the Most High, tells us in His Book that we must reflect on the generations that passed away before us. By studying the actions of the Ummah (Islamic nation) of the past, we see what sincerity of faith and dependence on Allah can accomplish. Similarly, I recognized what disunity can do to the Ummah. Petty hatreds and grudges can destroy the oneness of the Muslims. With this knowledge, I then sought to inspire others to open their minds to the Truth and to embrace Islam wholeheartedly, without any reservations. Soon after, I was asked to start giving lectures at our teaching services. I tried to stay away from frivolous topics and discussions so as to give a clear and correct view of Islam. My objective was to establish the basics and stay away from the different ideologies and fractionalization. Once I began to speak, Allah opened up for me many doors of knowledge and understanding. I still continued to focus on perfecting my knowledge of the Arabic language and the Islamic sciences. In July 1999, I was transferred to the Beto Unit in Palestine, Texas to attend another college. As I settled in, I began to teach Arabic once again but this time at the advanced level. The regional Islamic Chaplain, Imam Abdullah Rasheed, asked me to participate in handling the Islamic affairs, so I was appointed to the Majlis Al-Shura (decision-making council) and acted in that capacity for two years. The experience and knowledge that I gained working under Imam Rasheed and his successor, Imam Omar Rakeeb, helped me to grow not only mentally, but it also made me aware of my moral duty as a Muslim. On June 17, 2003, I was released from prison after almost 13 years of incarceration. While some say that my time in prison was a waste of life and potential, I look back on it as a blessing from a Most Merciful God. I used to ask myself, “What would have happened if I had never come to prison?” This was something that bothered me all of the time until I read in Surah 64, verse 11: “No affliction comes about but by Allah’s permission; and whoever believes in Allah, He guides aright his heart; and Allah is Cognizant of all things.” This helped me to understand that my going to prison was only a trial from Allah. It helped me to recognize my error and amend my life. And while I missed out on a portion of the life of this world, in sha’ Allah (God willing) I gained a much greater portion of the Hereafter. ASTAGHFIRULLAH for the past ALHAMDULILLAH for the present INSHALLAH for the future
Page 5 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 from the perspective of the white supremacy. He asked his mother, “Why is everything white?”, “the Angels’ food cake was the white cake and the Devil’s food cake was the chocolate cake. The president lives in a White House and Santa Claus was white. Everything bad was black, the little ugly duckling was black duck, the black cat was the bad luck and if I threaten you I’m going to blackmail you, I said ‘Mum, why don’t they call it white-mail, they lie too?” He started questioning his beliefs and while touring around the world he realized that six hundred million people were Muslims. He noted that every third person was named Muhammad. He has said that even though he had found it extremely difficult to read at a younger age, and was probably dyslexic he started reading profusely after his conversion to Islam. He read the Quran, Islamic books and research books in order to find contradictions in the Bible. He kept notes on all that he discovered in his readings and spoke profusely at various events and lectures when invited. The link between Christianity and white supremacy is what caused Ali to drift away from the Christian faith and to oppose white supremacy with all his might. After all, African Americans had been robbed of their true religion, Islam, and that is one of the reasons why he rejected the name given to him at birth and opted to be named Muhammad Ali, after the prophet. The slaves had been named after the people who had bought them and had not kept their own names. In 1964, shortly after he won the coveted title, Ali joined the Nation of Islam. It was then that he said, “Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn’t choose it and I don’t want it,” “I am Muhammad Ali, a free name – it means beloved of God, and I insist people use it when people speak to me.” Muhammad Ali is the most well known American to convert to Islam. Later on, he met Malcolm X who became his spiritual mentor at that time. During a mass conversion of the Nation into Sunni Islam in 1974, organized by the son of the founder of the Nation of Islam Elijah Muhammad, Muhammad Ali converted to Sunni Islam. Muhammad Ali ceaselessly exalted the virtues of Islam as a universal and anti-racist religion. The absoluteness of Islam is embodied in the Hajj( pilgrimage) and the spirit of brotherhood and Ali endlessly spoke about it. Ali was touched when he saw how many different cultures and races converged in one place to honor Islam. He was always warmly accepted wherever he went and was very articulate about the way Islam connected humanity; no matter what race or ethnicity they were. He once said, “You can go to any country and say, Asalaamualaikum. Walaikum salaam and you’ve got a home, you’ve got a brother.” The reason Ali chose to follow the Islamic path was because he “never saw so much love, never saw so many people hugging each other, kissing each other and praying five times a day.” Muhammad Ali was a person that most people felt deeply connected to because he was very approachable and had a wonderful way of transcending any prejudices that he encountered on his travels. We all know that racism exists worldwide and in many variations, but Ali’s graceful manner reminded the Born in Louisville, Kentucky to a Baptist mother and a Methodist father, Ali was named Cassius Clay. His father was a sign painter and his mother, Odessa Clay, was a housemaid. The American South was racially segregated at that time and the young Ali grew up with all the humiliations and restrictions that the Jim Crow laws enforced on African Americans. When Muhammed Ali was 12, his bicycle was stolen and he reported it to a local police officer. He boldly declared to Officer Joe Martin that he ‘would whip the thief’ who stole his bike when he caught him. Officer Martin, who was quite amused by this bold and resolute young man, advised young Muhammad that he had better learn to fight and invited him to come and train at the gym he owned. Muhammed Ali took him up on his offer and the legen began. He would become the greatest ever heavy weight champion, winning the title 3 times and defending it 16 times. Ali was opposed to war and refused to fight in the Vietnam War. This resulted in him been banned from boxing for nearly four years. Throughout his life his battles in and out of the ring were many as he strove for perfection in every sphere of his life. From a very young age Ali would question many aspects of the Christian faith and he challenged the idea of having to see himself as inferior because of his race and color. His mother was often bombarded by him with questions such as “Why is Jesus white with blonde hair and blue eyes?”, and “Why are all the men at the last supper white?” The fact that white people were always portrayed in a positive way and that African Americans were given subordinate positions did not miss his keen observational qualities. Muhammad Ali’s fierce fighting skills were not only put to use in his boxing matches, but also against white supremacy and social injustices. Ali could not accept that the Christian faith interpreted the bible in a way that allowed for the degradation and subordination of anyone that was not white. Having been bothered from a very young age that beauty, goodness, truth and many other virtues were seen Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) Allah is the Greatest; I am just the greatest boxer.” Ali once said he wanted to be remembered “as a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him”
Page 6 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 Muslim world that the Ummah (community) is meant to embrace the differences in race, class and culture. Muhammad Ali never considered himself as elite and saw himself as no different to anyone else. His activism was grounded in his Islamic beliefs and he believed that human beings are obliged to do good and charitable things during their short time on earth. As a child growing up in a racially segregated Louisville, it was almost impossible for him to find a place to work out and he would run to the gym or to school in order for him to stay in shape. He returned as an adult and, without ever been asked, helped many charitable causes, and built a Museum for children in order to encourage them to reach for their dreams. His belief, that by giving he was pleasing Allah and that actions were based on intentions, made him known for his generosity. Muhammad Ali is known by his trademark statement “I am the greatest!” This was not a sign of arrogance. He is still the greatest heavy weight champion of all times. He was asked by an interviewer how he balanced his humility as a Muslim with this statement and Ali replied “Allah is the Greatest; I am just the greatest boxer.” He was a pious person and showed utter humility and always gave credit to Allah for his victories. Ali is the only celebrity to have turned down the offer to have his name placed on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. He so revered the Prophet Muhammad (S), that he did not want to have people stepping on his name and thus is the only celebrity to have his star placed on the wall. Watch this video on the Walk of Fame: http://www.islamicbulletin.org/videos/clay/star/ali.mp4 Ali refused to play the role of the “submissive negro” and he attributed all his success and skill as a boxer to the Greatness of God. A Muslim fan once asked him if he was “As good a Muslim as he was a boxer, and he asserted that “No true Muslim will brag or even take a chance of saying he is good, because it is up to Allah to judge. God blesses me to be so great here, because all of the time I’ve been talking about God, pushing God, pushing religion. I’m not talking about me, how great and how much money I’ve got, I’m always giving the praise to God, so that’s why I’m as great as I am in this physical world, because I push Him first.” Muhammad Ali never let an opportunity drop and he would take any question put to him and answer in a way so as to preach about Islam and the Oneness of God. He used his fame and stature to his advantage and would make people contemplate various issues pertaining to their faith, especially about man’s existence, life after death and how to prepare to receive Allah’s Jannah (eternal place of rest). He would take any opportunity to give Dawah( preach) and always encouraged the Muslims to get closer to Allah. He praised Allah and the religion of Islam and advised young Muslims to “Stay strong, read the Quran, pray and praise Allah,” in order to ward off the pressures of secular or anti-Islamic forces. Young people, he believed, should not compromise their beliefs. In many photos of Ali before a fight we see him standing with his hands raised in dua( prayer and supplication) to Allah. Prayer and dua were an essential part of his struggle and he attributed all obstacles, difficulties and all of his successes to Allah. On his retirement, Muhammad Ali was asked how he was going to spend his time. He replied that he was going to prepare himself to meet his Maker, Allah. In interviews he often expressed that if we subtracted all the hours that we needed to sleep, watch television etc, and then he reckoned that he had about sixteen years to prepare for his death. Click here to watch his video interview: http://www.islamicbulletin.org/videos/clay/speech1977.mp4 He would remind people that the soul and spirit never die and that is why we must prepare them for heaven. His intention was to help people learn how to treat each other and he brought about peace and charitable work. He managed to do all this and more. “Islam is a religion of peace,” he would say. Muhammad Ali’s adored his family and his 2 sons and 7 daughters. They speak of what a warm and gentle father he was to them and he always had his large family around him. In an interview two of his daughters revealed that he had over a hundred hours of recordings which he had made of them speaking to him and answering his questions and he played them back to them as they grew older. ”His daughter Hanna recalls how he taught her an important lesson about modesty. She had arrived at his home dressed in a revealing outfit. Instead of admonishing her he took her aside and lovingly said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them.” He told his young daughter, “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.” When Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1979, he did not stop making himself available to charitable causes worldwide and he managed to negotiate the return of American hostages from Lebanon and Iraq.
Page 7 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 He even increased the active role in pursuing justice all over the world. With time the disease severely affected his mobility and his speech. “We as Muslims have to stand up against those who use Islam to advance their own personal gain,” – Ali has said. He remembered that though he was great, he was not The Greatest; that he was a servant of Allah (SWT). On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali returned to his Lord. He is one of the most famous, most loved and most written about public figures in the last century. He has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine 30 times. He lit the Olympic Torch in the 1996 Atlanta Games and was the first Muslim to do so. To his last breath he challenged America to live up to its promises and refused to accept the unjust imposition of class and race. The former Attorney general of the United States, Eric Holder said, “his biggest win came not in the ring, but in our courts in his fight for his beliefs.” He never ceased to be an example to all and constantly reminded the people of Allah and the Islamic faith. He spoke the truth, he was never ashamed to be pious and he felt as much at home in the palaces that he visited as he did in the humble homes of the people of his home town. He knew how to handle the pressures of fame and the obligations that fame bring. He managed to channel his fame to a good purpose and lived his life according to his faith and the principles of Islam. This ambassador to humanity always managed to practice what he preached in every sphere of his life. Muhammad Ali was buried in his home town of Louisville Kentucky. An estimated 100,000 people holding signs and chanting, “Ali!Ali!” lined up the streets as he was carried to his final resting place. His headstone was simple in keeping with Muslim tradition. Muhammed Ali was a Champion for all people and will be remembered fondly . “Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return.” (Quran 2:156) We ask Allah to have Mercy on him, forgive his sins and grant him the highest level in paradise, Jannat Al Firdous. Ameen. Ibtihaj Muhammad Fencing Champion A five-time Senior World team medalist and 2014 Senior World Team Champion, Ibtihaj Muhammad will make history in Rio de Janeiro this summer as the first U.S. woman to compete in the Olympic Game with a hijab. Ranked No. 7 in the world during the 2015-16 season, Muhammad has won both individual and team medals on the World Cup circuit. As a Muslim youth, Muhammad’s parents were in search of a sport for her to play where she could be fully covered. Growing up in New Jersey, Muhammad’s after-school schedule was a round robin of youth sports: swimming, volleyball, tennis, softball, and track. But she always seemed to stand out on the court, field or pool deck, because her religion prevented her from wearing a uniform that didn’t cover her arms, legs and head. She was teased, even harassed. Then, while driving past the local high school, she and her mother saw girls wearing fully covered uniforms. Muhammed’s mother turned to her daughter said, “I don’t know what that is, but when you get to high school, you’re doing it.” Fencing provided a unique opportunity where Muhammad could fulfill her desire to participate in a sport, while still adhere to the tenants of her faith to cover her body. She began fencing at age 13 and now at 30, Muhammad is set to be the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab. And while competitors in other sports have had to fight to be able to dress according to their religion, Muhammad deftly worked her way up the international fencing rankings without having to defend the way she dresses. Muhammad trains in New York City at the Peter Westbrook Foundation, an organization founded by Olympian Peter Westbrook to mentor inner-city kids through the sport of fencing. Westbrook said, “She has something in her that it takes in real champions, that unbelievable will to win.” Muhammad graduated from Duke University with a dual major in international relations and African studies, and a minor in Arabic. In 2014, Muhammad launched her own clothing company, Louella, which aims to bring modest fashionable clothing to the United States market. She also is a sports ambassador, where she serves on the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative. She has traveled to various countries to engage in dialogue on the importance of sports and education. The Greatest Champion Of All Times Muhammad Ali 1942-2016
Page 8 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 Women In Islam My name is Cassie and I am 23 years old. I graduated as a qualified nurse this year and was given my first position as a home nurse. My patient was an English gentleman in his early 80s who suffered from Alzheimer’s. In the first meeting, the patient was given his record and from it I could see that he was a convert to the religion of Islam, therefore he was a Muslim. I knew from this that I would need to take into account some modes of treatment that may go against his faith, and therefore try to adapt my care to meet his needs. I brought ‘halal’ meat to cook for him and ensured that there was no pork or alcohol allowed on the premises. My patient was in a very advanced stage of his condition so a lot of my colleagues could not understand why I was going through so much effort for him. But I understood that a person who commits to a faith deserves that commitment to be respected, even if they are not in a position to understand. Ater a few weeks with my patient, I began to notice some patterns of movement. At first I thought it was some copied motions he’s seen someone doing, but I saw him repeat the movement at particular time; morning, afternoon, evening. The movements were to raise his hands, bow and then put his head to the ground. I could not understand it. He was also repeating sentences in another language. I couldn’t figure out what language it was as his speech was slurred but I know the same verses were repeated daily. Also, he didnt allow me to feed him with my left hand (I am left-handed). Somehow I knew this linked to his religion but didn’t know how. One of my colleagues told me about Paltalk as a place for debates and discussions and as I did not know any Muslims except for my patient I thought it would be good to speak to someone live and ask questions. I went on the Islam section and entered the room ‘True Message’. Here I asked questions regarding the repeated movements and was told that these were the actions of prayer. I did not really believe it until someone posted a link of the Islamic prayer on youtube. I was shocked. A man who has lost all memory of his children, of his occupation, and could barely eat and drink was able to remember not only actions of prayer but verses that were in another language. This was nothing short of incredible and I knew that this man was devout in his faith, which made me want to learn more in order to care for him the best I could. I came into the Paltalk room as often as I could and was given a link to read the translation of the Quran and listen to it. The chapter of the ‘Bee’ gave me chills and I repeated it several times a day. I saved a recording of the Quran on my iPod and gave it to my patient to listen to. He was smiling and crying, and in reading the translation I could see why. I applied what I gained from paltalk to care for my patient but gradually found myself coming to the room to find answers for myself.I never really took the time to look at my life. I never knew my father, my mother died when I was 3, and my brother and I were raised by our grandparents who died 4 years ago; so it was now just the two of us. But despite all of this loss, I always thought I was happy and content. It was only after spending time with my patient that felt like I was missing something. I was missing that sense of peace and tranquility my patient, even through suffering felt. I wanted that sense of belonging and a part of something that he felt, even with no one around him. I was given a list of mosques in my area by a lady on Paltalk and went down to visit one. I watched the prayer and could not hold back my tears. I felt drawn to the mosque every day and the Imam and his wife would give me books and tapes and welcome any questions I had. Every question I asked at the mosque and on Paltalk was answered with such clarity and depth that could do nothing but accept them. I have never practiced a faith but always believed that there was a God; I just did not know how to worship Him. One evening I came on Paltalk and one of the speakers on the mic addressed me. He asked me if I have any questions, I said “no.” He asked if I was happy with the answers I was given, I said “yes.” He asked then what was stopping me accepting Islam and I could not answer. I went to the mosque to watch the dawn prayer. The Imam asked me the same question and I could not answer. The Nurse and the Muslim Patient A True Story from the United Kingdom
Page 9 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 I then went to tend to my patient. I was feeding him and as I looked in his eyes I just realized that he was brought to me for a reason and the only thing stopping me from accepting was fear…. not fear in the sense of something bad, but fear of accepting something good, and thinking that I was not worthy like this man. That afternoon I went to the mosque and asked the Imam if I could say my declaration of faith, the Shahadah. He helped me through it and guided me through what I would need to do next. I cannot explain the feeling I felt when I said it. It was like someone woke me up from sleep and sees everything more clearly. The feeling was overwhelming joy, clarity and most of all…. peace. The first person I told was not my brother but my patient. I went to him, and before I even opened my mouth he cried and smiled at me. I broke down in front of him, I owed him so much. I came home, logged on to Paltalk and repeated the shahadah for the room. They all helped me so much and even though I had never seen a single one of them, they felt closer to me than my own brother. I did eventually call my brother to tell him and although he wasn’t happy, he supported me and said he would be there; I couldn’t ask for any more. After my first week as a Muslim my patient passed away in his sleep while I was caring for him. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi Rajioon. He died a peaceful death and I was the only person with him. He was like the father I never had and he was my doorway to Islam. From the day of my Shahadah to this very day and for every day for as long as I live, I will pray that Allah shows mercy on him and grant him every good deed I perform in the tenfold. I loved him for the sake of Allah and I pray each night to become an atoms weight of the Muslim he was. Islam is a religion with an open door; it is there for those who want to enter it…. Verily Allah is the Most Merciful, Most Kind. *Sister Cassie passed away after giving da’wa to her brother. Allhamdulilah, he accepted Islam. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi Rajioon. We ask Allah (SWT) to have Mercy on her, forgive her sins, and grant her the highest level in Paradise, Jannat Al Firdous. Ameen Listen to her story in audio by clicking here: http://www.islamicbulletin.org/videos/Nurse_Cassie_and_her_Muslim_Patient.mp4 Dua Before Sleep Dua when Waking Up Morning & Evening Dua Dua after Prayers 12 Sunnah Rawatib: 2 before Fajir; 4 before Dhuhr; 2 after Dhuhr; 2 after Magrib; 2 after Isha; Salatul Duha Night Prayer after Taraweeh in Last Third of Night Make Dua in Last Hour of Friday before Magrib Train Tongue to do Dhikr/Forgive others & Refrain from Profanity Read Quran Make Dhikr Perform Extra Prayers Sponsor a Widow & Orphan Develop Habit of Making Regular Dua Set a Goal to Memorize Surahs Intention to Fast 6 Fasts of Shawwal Straight after Ramadan Microsoft Word Want to save your changes to Ramadan Save Don’t Save Cancel
Page 10 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 Speak a good word or remain SILENT! We should avoid speaking ill of others. We should rather remain silent unless we are seeking justice for some wrong that has been perpetrated against us. Our tongues are like double-edges swords. They can work for us and against us, both in this world and the Hereafter. We will be held accountable for what we say. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower the people by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger.” He (S) also said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” The Messenger of Allah (S) said, “If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down.” The Prophet said: “Indeed a servant will speak a word pleasing to God that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it God raises him by many degrees. And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing to God that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.” We must be vigilant not to speak falsehood. We must think about what we are saying and the possible consequences of our words before we go ahead and speak. This hadith encourages us to guard our tongues. A person who wants to speak should think upon what he is about to say before he utters it. If it then shows itself to have some benefit to it, he may speak it; otherwise he should refrain from doing so.” Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (SAW), said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent.” The importance of this Hadith… This hadith discusses some of the ways a Muslim’s faith should affect the way he relates to others. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani writes: “This hadith speaks about three matters, and in doing so it brings together everything that good manners entail with respect to both word and deed.” Whoever believes in God and the Last Day… The first condition is to either speak a good word or remain silent. Speaking a good word or remaining silent This is an encouragement to speak what is good and beneficial; at the same time it is a warning, cautioning us to be careful in what we say, lest we say something that is harmful or false. It is part of a Muslim’s faith to speak the truth and to say things that bring about benefit to others. Allah SWT says : “O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak a word that is right. He will set right for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. ” (Quran 33:70-71) “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right, or bring reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking Allah’s pleasure, then we shall grant him a great reward.” (Quran 4:114) When we have nothing beneficial to say, silence is golden. Once, Mu`âdh ibn Jabal asked the Prophet (SAW) to inform him of some good work that would admit him into Paradise and distance him from the Hellfire. The Prophet (SAW) mentioned to him the virtues of many good deeds, then said: “Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?” Muadh said: “Certainly.” The Prophet took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain yourself from this.” Muadh then asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Are we held to task for the things that we say?” The Prophet replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu`âdh! Does anything topple people headlong into the Hellfire save the harvests of their tongues?” A Little Humor A person goes to the doctor, about their spouse’s temper. The doctor asks, “ What is the problem?” The person says, ‘ Doctor, I don’t know what to do. Every day my spouse seems to get angry for no reason. It scares me.” The doctor says: I have a cure for that. When it seems that your spouse is getting angry, just take a glass of water and start swishing it in your mouth. Just swish and swish but don’t swallow it until your spouse leaves the room or calms down.” Two weeks later the person comes back to the doctor looking fresh and reborn. The person says: “Doctor that was a brilliant idea. Every time my spouse started losing it, I swished with water. I swished and swished, and my spouse calmed right down! How does a glass of water do that?” The doctor says: “The water itself does nothing, it’s keeping your mouth shut that does the trick.” The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: The Prophet (SAW) said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower the people by his strength,but the one who controls himself while in anger.”
Page 11 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXX No. 30 دُﻋَﺎء آدم ﻋﻠﻴﻪ اﻟﺴﻼم ﱠﻢْ ﺗَﻐْﻔِﺮْ ﻟَﻨَﺎ ﱠ ﻨَﺎ ﻇَﻠَﻤْﻨَﺎٓ أَﻧﻔُﺴَﻨَﺎ وَإِن ﻟ رَﺑ ﱠ ﻣِﻦَ ٱﻟْﺨَٰﴪِِﻳﻦَ وَﺗَﺮْﺣَﻤْﻨَﺎ ﻟَﻨَﻜُﻮﻧَﻦ (Quran 7:23) Rabbana thalamnaan- fusana wa-in lam taghfir lanawatarham- na lanakoonanna mina alkhasireen Our Lord, we have done wrong to our- selves. Unless You forgive us, and have mercy on us, we will be among the losers دُﻋَﺎء ﺳﻠﻴنن ﻋﻠﻴﻪ اﻟﺴﻼم ﱠﺘِﻰٓ أَﻧْﻌَﻤْﺖَ ﱢ أَوْزِﻋْﻨِﻰٓ أَنْ أَﺷْﻜُﺮَ ﻧِﻌْﻤَﺘَﻚَ ٱﻟ رَب ﱠ وَأَنْ أَﻋْﻤَﻞَ ﺻَٰﻠِﺤًﺎ ﺗَﺮْﺿَﯩٰﻪُ َﱠ وَﻋَﲆَٰ وَٰﻟِﺪَى ﻋَﲆ ََِ ﱠ ٰﻠِﺤ وَأَدْﺧِﻠْﻨِﻰ ﺑِﺮَﺣْﻤَﺘِﻚَ ﰱِ ﻋِﺒَﺎدِكَ ٱﻟﺼ (Quran 27:19) Rabbi awziAAnee an ashkuraniAAmataka allatee anAAamta AAalayya waAAala wali- dayya waan aAAmala salihan tardahu waad- khilnee birahmatika fee AAibadika alssaliheen My Lord, direct me to be thankful for the blessings you have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do good works that please You. And admit me, by Your grace, into the company of Your virtuous servants دُﻋَﺎء إﺑﺮاﻫﻴﻢ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ اﻟﺴﻼم ﱠ ﺘِﻰ ﱢ ﻳ ﱠ ﻠَﻮٰةِ وَﻣِﻦ ذُر ﱢ ٱﺟْﻌَﻠْﻨِﻰ ﻣُﻘِﻴﻢَ ٱﻟﺼ رَب َ ﻳَﻮْمَ ﻳَﻘُﻮمُ َِ ﱠ وَﻟِﻠْﻤُﺆْﻣِﻨ ﱠ ﻨَﺎ ٱﻏْﻔِﺮْ ﱃِ وَﻟِﻮَٰﻟِﺪَى رَﺑ َ ٱﻟْﺤِﺴَﺎبَُ (Quran 14:40-41) Rabbi ijAAalnee muqeema alssalati wamin thur- riyyatee rabbana wtaqabbal duAAa/-i Rabbana ighfir lee waliwalidayya walilmu/mi- neena yawma yaqoomu alhisab My Lord! Make me an establisher (of) the prayer, and from my offsprings. Our Lord! and accept my prayer. Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers (on) ".the Day will (be) established the account دُﻋَﺎء أﻳﻮب ﻋﻠﻴﻪ اﻟﺴﻼم ََِ ﱠ ٰﺣِﻤ ﱡ وَأَﻧﺖَ أَرْﺣَﻢُ ٱﻟﺮ ﱡ ﱠ ﻨِﻰَ ٱﻟﴬ ﱢ ﻣَﺴ ﱢ أَﱢ رَب (Quran 21:83) Rabbi annee massani- ya alddurru waanta arhamu alrrahimeen O My Lord: Great harm has afflicted me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful Adam (Adam) Ayyub (Job) Suleiman (Solomon) Ibrahim (Abraham) The Prophets Peace Be Upon Them اﻷﻧﺒﻴﺎء Duas (Supplications)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjQ1