A Tribute to Our Sister, Aminah Assilmi

March 13, 2010

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Rafik Beekun I knew Sr. Aminah from 1979 until her death.  She was very close to my family, helping me get married to my wife, Nadiah, and being a very close friend.  Her whole life was dedicated to Islam and to representing it in the best possible way. Sr. Aminah brought many to Islam and […]

Famous Muslim Speaker and Da’ee, Aminah Assilmi, Dies in Car Accident

March 5, 2010

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Sr. Aminah Assilmi, the world famous Islamic speaker, day’ee and president of the International Union of Muslim Women was killed in a car accident yesterday night. She will, Insha Allah, be buried in Knoxville tomorrow March 6, 2010. Funeral arrangements are being made by the Islamic Center of Knoxville. Please contact them for more information […]

Posted in: Islam

Business Owners Get Burned by Sticky Fingers

March 4, 2010

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By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN Entrepreneur Barbara Wein Allen used to have so much faith in her employees that she would loan them company funds to buy homes, cars and other big expenses. But that changed in 2007 when she determined one had stolen an estimated $250,000 from her firm, Multi-Point Communications Inc., a provider of […]

Muslim scholar’s fatwa condemns terrorism

March 3, 2010

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Note from Rafik Beekun: London, England (CNN) — A Muslim [Sufi] scholar has issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, that says suicide bombers are destined for hell. Tahir ul-Qadri condemned terrorism and criticized Islamic extremists who cite their religion to justify violence. Ul-Qadri’s 600-page fatwa is “arguably the most comprehensive theological refutation of Islamist terrorism […]

Does the U.S. Produce Too Many Scientists?

February 24, 2010

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Beryl Lieff Benderly, Scientific American For years, Americans have heard blue-ribbon commissions and major industrialists bemoan a shortage of scientists caused by an inadequate education system. A lack of high-tech talent, these critics warn, so threatens the nation’s continued competitiveness that the U.S. must drastically upgrade its K-12 science and math education and import large […]

Action: Contact Abercrombie & Fitch About Hijab Firing

February 24, 2010

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Calif. Muslim employee fired for refusing to remove scarf in public (SANTA CLARA, CA, 2/24/10) – The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) is calling on Abercrombie & Fitch customers who value diversity and inclusion to contact the company to express their concerns about a Muslim employee who was […]

Study: Young Americans Less Religious Than Their Parents

February 18, 2010

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CNN CNN) — Ministering to young adults at New York’s Riverside Church, the Rev. J. Lee Hill Jr. hasn’t had much success in recruiting for Sunday morning services. But his mission trips to New Orleans, Louisiana, since Hurricane Katrina and his efforts to connect with older teens and 20-somethings — the so-called millennial generation — […]

Does Full Body Scanning Violate Islamic Religious Rulings?

February 16, 2010

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The Fiqh Council of North America (an association of Muslims who interpret Islamic law on the North American continent) issued a ruling (fatwa) earlier this week that says Muslims shouldn’t go through full body scanners since this violate Islamic rules on modesty. Nihad Awad heads the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and their purpose is to […]

Abu Dhabi Grants US$ 25 million to Global Malaria Partnership

February 12, 2010

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www.thewcmp.org FEBRUARY 11, 2010 The Government of Abu Dhabi announced today a grant of US$25 million, over five years, to support the work of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM). Specifically to scale-up malaria control worldwide and contribute to achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015. The grant from the Government of […]

Unexpected Partners: Muslims Helping in Haiti

February 7, 2010

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By WAJAHAT ALI http://www.counterpunch.org/waj01282010.html Haiti is experiencing unimaginable suffering from its devastating earthquake, with more than 150,000 dead and one to three million individuals displaced. Individuals, groups and governments from around the world have stepped in to do what they can. United by their religious tradition of charity, Muslims have emerged as effective partners in […]

Pakistan’s female fighter pilots break down barriers

February 2, 2010

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CNN ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) — Six years ago an ad in the Sunday paper changed a young Pakistani woman’s life and made aviation history. The ad read: “Pakistan Air Force recruiting females cadets.” Back then Ambreen Gul was 20-years old and living in Karachi. Her mother wanted her to be a doctor. She remembers her […]

The Proof of Allah’s Omnipotence is in His Creation

January 31, 2010

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Note from Rafik Beekun. Please click here to view an amazing document that proves that the Qur’an reflects Allah’s Perfect and Complete Knowledge and that the universe is indeed Allah’s creation. The document is 2 megabytes in length, and you must read it until the end.

Posted in: Islam, Islam and Science

The Top 100 Universities in the World–No Muslim University Ranked

January 30, 2010

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Note from Rafik Beekun The three oldest universities in the world are Islamic universities: 859 Fes, Morocco University of Al-Karaouine Considered the oldest continuously-operating degree-granting university in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. 975 Cairo, Egypt Al-Azhar University A degree-granting jāmiʿah (“university” in Arabic) with individual faculties for a general college and […]

Islam finds a place in Haiti

January 26, 2010

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Note from Rafik Beekun Islam is blossoming in Haiti. Please click here to go to the website of Muslims in Haiti. cnn.com June 13, 2002 Posted: 6:47 PM EDT (2247 GMT) PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) — Tucked away on a corner of the Haitian capital’s dusty, congested Delmas Road, a modest white building bears a curious […]

Posted in: Islam, Positive News

In U.S., Religious Prejudice Strongest Against Muslims than Against Christians, Jews or Buddhists

January 22, 2010

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43% of Americans admit to feeling some prejudice toward followers of Islam Analysis by the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 4 in 10 Americans (43%) admit to feeling at least “a little” prejudice toward Muslims — more than twice the number who say the same about Christians (18%), Jews (15%) […]

Muslim Countries and Muslims Team Up with Other Countries and Faith-Based Communities to Help Haiti

January 17, 2010

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Turkey sends in rescuers and 10 tons of aid material to Haiti Worldbulletin.net Turkey sent Sunday 10 tons of additional aid material to Haiti hit by a devastating earthquake. A statement by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said total aid material dispatched by Turkey to Haiti has reached 50 tons. After three cargo planes […]

Posted in: Ethics & Morals, Islam

Working with Mormon Church, U.S. Muslims Fly $1 Million in Relief to Haiti

January 14, 2010

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Haiti Earthquake Emergency January 13, 2010 http://www.islamicreliefusa.org/emergencies/haiti-earthquake Haitians are in desperate need for support after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked their island nation on Tuesday. An estimated 3 million people were affected by the quake, which was the worst in the region in 200 years. “More than 100,000 are dead,” the Haitian Consul General to the […]

Muslim Cab Drivers Return Thousands of Dollars Left in Taxi

January 13, 2010

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BBC News Mukul Asadujjaman returns $21,000 A Bangladeshi taxi driver in New York City has gone out of his way to track down the person who left thousands of dollars in cash in the back of his cab. Mukul Asadujjaman, a medical student, drove nearly 80km (50 miles) to an address he found with the […]

Please help Haiti: Deaths may top 100,000

January 13, 2010

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Islamic Relief Working to Help People of Haiti  A massive earthquake has struck the Caribbean island of Haiti. Thousands are feared dead with many more seriously injured. Islamic Relief has launched an appeal for £1 million to respond to the disaster. The epicentre of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake was just 16 kilometres from the capital […]

Posted in: Islam

Good Samaritans: Malaysian Muslims Protect Churches

January 10, 2010

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Islamonline.com Muslim groups in Malaysia are offering their help to prevent any further attacks on Christian places of worship amid a spree of attacks on churches in the multi-ethnic, Muslim-majority Asian country, The Star reported on Sunday, January 10. “This is an offer of peace and goodwill,” Nadzim Johan, the executive secretary of the Muslim […]

Torture in Abu Dhabi by Royal Family Member: Guilty or Not Guilty?

January 10, 2010

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Rafik Beekun Islam is strictly against torture. Here is what a Royal Family member, Sheikh Issa Bin Zayed, did to an Afghan man because he suspected him of having overcharged him in a grain deal for about $5,000. Video 1 Video 2 Video 3–if you understand arabic For more information, please go to this site: […]

Open Season on Muslims: Increase in Profiling

January 9, 2010

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CAIR Nadia Hassan says she was the victim of profiling during a full body search at an airport. CNN’s Alina Cho reports. (CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad quoted on profiling incidents.) Muslim Fears Over Profiling Heightened Debate over Racial Profiling

Islamophobia 101: Episode 36–Mayor Koch: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Are Terrorists

January 8, 2010

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Rafik Beekun Amazing words from Mayor Koch who suddenly sounds like right wing extremists, Steve Emerson and Ann Coulter, labels “hundreds of millions” of Muslims as terrorists, and voices his support for profiling every Muslim who is flying. Should we profile every person of Jewish faith because of the past actions of the Jewish Defense […]

Mideast Water Crisis Brings Misery, Uncertainty

January 7, 2010

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NPR The Middle East is facing its worst water crisis in decades. For three summers, the annual rains have failed to come. Farmland has dried up across the region in Iraq, Syria, southeast Turkey and Lebanon. While oil was the resource that defined the last century, water and its scarcity may define this one. Experts […]

Dr. Laurence Brown Explains Why He Embraced Islam

January 6, 2010

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 Doctor and former military officer Laurence Brown explains why he became a Muslim Video 1 of 3 Video 2 of 3 Video 3 of 3   This is an incredible story about an Atheist who found God then tried very hard to be a Christian and you have to watch the show to find out […]

Report Recommends Ways to Discourage Muslim-American Radicalization

January 6, 2010

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010 CONTACT: Karen Kemp (Duke) (919) 613-7394 karen.kemp@duke.edu or Dee Reid (UNC) (919) 843-6339 deereid@unc.edu REPORT RECOMMENDS WAYS TO DISCOURAGE MUSLIM-AMERICAN RADICALIZATION Note to editors: A copy of the report is online at http://www.sanford.duke.edu/news/Schanzer_Kurzman_Moosa_Anti-Terror_Lessons.pdf.  (Note from Rafik Beekun: It can also be downloaded from my blog if the Duke […]

Islamophobia 101: Episode 35–Screening Must Include Religion, Ethnicity

January 5, 2010

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Rafik Beekun Steve Emerson, the self-proclaimed terrorism expert (The Jerusalem Post (9/17/94) has noted that Emerson has “close ties to Israeli intelligence.”) is at it again in this opinion piece on CNN. Screening Must Include Religion, Ethnicity By Steven Emerson, Special to CNN January 5, 2010 http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/05/emerson.profiling.smart.screening/index.html Editor’s note: Steven Emerson is the executive director […]

Posted in: Islam

Obama’s TSA Rules Amount to Profiling

January 4, 2010

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 CAIR (WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/4/2010) – A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today said new security measures announced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) amount to profiling of Muslims. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the new guidelines, under which anyone traveling from or through 13 Muslim-majority nations will be required […]

Gaza: Working in an open air prison

January 3, 2010

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Part 1 of 3 Part 2 of 3 Part 3 of 3 Israeli Navy incinerates Gaza Fishing Boats The Israeli Navy attacks several fishing boats from Gaza City port. One is riddled with machine gun fire, then shelled and set on fire. In November 2008 this boat was seized by the Israeli Navy and all […]

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Posted in: Islam

Pakistanis Fight Terrorists To Get Education

January 2, 2010

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Al Jazeera Pakistan’s government hailed its military campaign against Taliban fighters in the Swat valley as a great success. However, security forces remain on high alert with daily operations in the area. Daily life is still insecure and services, such as schools, have been disrupted by terrorist attacks and the destruction of buildings. Al Jazeera’s […]

Posted in: Education, Islam

Muslim Women’s Shelter Provides Refuge and Support

January 2, 2010

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Jamie Tarabay, NPR Please click here to listen the audio of this article. As families come together over the holidays, the victims of domestic abuse are often sequestered in shelters — a situation that’s especially difficult for Muslim women, because few facilities meet their cultural and religious needs. At one home for Muslim women in […]

Posted in: Ethics & Morals, Islam

Prophet Muhammad (s) Promise to Christians

December 30, 2009

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By Muqtedar Khan Director of Islamic Studies at the University of Delaware Muslims and Christians together constitute over 50 percent of the world. If they lived in peace, we would be half way to world peace. One small step we can take towards fostering Muslim-Christian harmony is to tell and retell positive stories and abstain […]

To profile Muslims or Not?

December 30, 2009

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Ibrahim Hooper on the O’Reilly Show CAIR-LA Comments on Airport Profiling Questions Raised on Airport Profiling The director of the Bay Area Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, Zahra Billoo, tells ABC7 when airport screeners focus on anyone who looks Middle Eastern or Muslim, the screeners may miss more important indicators. “If someone […]

War Against Poverty: Cash in Hand Program

December 29, 2009

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BBC NewsCash in Hand A two part series that explores a simple but controversial idea that cash hand-outs can lift people out of poverty. The idea is to encourage certain patterns of behaviour by giving poor families money in exchange for sending their children to school. The series begins with a Report on the example […]

Humor: Muslim While Flying

December 28, 2009

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Posted in: Humor, Islam

U.S. Right Wing Calls for Profiling of Muslims or Anyone with the Name “Abdul”

December 28, 2009

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Dr. Rafik Beekun Here we go again.  Al the right wingers are out of the closet again. Source: Think Progress The right wing’s predictable policy prescription in the aftermath of any terror incident is to impose greater ethnic profiling of Muslims. For instance, following the Ft. Hood shooting, Sarah Palin said, “profile away.” After six […]

Three Year Residential Visiting Fellowships at Brown University

December 27, 2009

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The Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University seeks several recent PhDs for three year residential visiting fellowships.  The Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University seeks several recent PhDs for three year residential visiting fellowships, beginning July 1, 2010. The mission of the Watson Institute is to pursue interdisciplinary research on pressing […]

Posted in: Career Issues, Careers

ABC Primetime: Is there Discrimination Against American Muslims?

December 16, 2009

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Rafik Beekun While some may discriminate against Muslims, many day-to-day Americans are just and decent folks, and will also stand up for and defend Muslims’ rights to practice their faith. This sense of balance and fairness among my American countrymen is what makes America such a great and welcoming country.

Guide to Religious Beliefs in the Workplace

December 16, 2009

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PersonnelToday.com, edited by the Islamic Workplace […] Christianity There are a wide variety of Christian churches and organisations. Festivals: – Christmas Day December 25th – Easter Sunday March/April (date set by lunar calendar) – A festival starting on Maundy Thursday and finishing on Easter Sunday In addition there are a number of ‘holy days of […]

Shari’ah Law: A Matter of Belief

December 16, 2009

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Georgina Fuller, PersonnelToday.com With increasing numbers of Muslims employed in the UK is it time for employers to pay more than lip service to Islamic law? Georgina Fuller reports. The furore after Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, suggested earlier this year that integrating some aspects of Shariah law into the UK legal system might […]

Christian Registrar Loses Religious Discrimination Appeal

December 16, 2009

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Kat Baker, PersonelToday.com Lillian Ladele, a Christian registrar who claimed she faced religious discrimination after she refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies, has lost her appeal. Ladele, a registrar of births, deaths and marriages for the London Borough of Islington, refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies when they were introduced in 2005, as she believed […]

Few banks serve Muslim Needs in U.S.

December 16, 2009

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CNN Please click here to watch the video clip from CNN.

Modern day child slaves–The lost children of Pakistan

December 10, 2009

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CNN.com Thousands of Pakistani brick kilns use what human rights groups call child slaves. Please click here to watch the video clip from CNN. The Silent Scream — Child Labor Pakistan — Part 1 The Silent Scream — Child Labor Pakistan — Part 2 Street Children of Karachi–The Lost Souls– Part 1 All facts and […]

Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Lost $8 billion citing Citibank Investment

December 9, 2009

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Note from Rafik Beekun: Please note that much of what Citibank does involves riba.   New York – Kingdom Holding, the Saudi group which has pumped billions of dollars into ailing Citibank, said Tuesday it had lost more than eight billion dollars in the final quarter of 2008. Run by flamboyant billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed […]

Posted in: Muslims in Business

Muslim Customer Allegedly Harassed at CitiBank for Wearing Hijab

December 9, 2009

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CAIR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CAIR-Chicago Asks Citibank to Apologize for Hijab Incident Muslim customer allegedly harassed by bank guard because of Islamic scarf (CHICAGO, IL, 12/8/09) — The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today called on Citibank to apologize to a Muslim woman who was allegedly verbally abused by a security […]

20 Air Travel Tips from Insiders

December 8, 2009

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Before you snuggle up with an airplane blanket or tie a red ribbon on your suitcase, read these tips from frequent fliers 1. Planning Know the difference between “direct” and “nonstop” flights, and always opt for the latter. Unlike nonstops, direct flights can touch down at other airports on the way to their ultimate destinations, […]

Switzerland Ban on Minarets Condemned

December 1, 2009

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“[The ban] raises concerns as to whether fundamental rights of individuals, protected by international treaties, should be subject to popular votes.” , Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary-general of Council of Europe. Al Jazeera Switzerland is facing international criticism and charges of intolerance following a shock referendum vote backing a constitutional ban on the construction of new minarets. […]

My compatriots’ vote to ban minarets is fuelled by fear

November 30, 2009

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Tariq Ramadan, the Guardian It wasn’t meant to go this way. For months we had been told that the efforts to ban the construction of minarets in Switzerland were doomed. The last surveys suggested around 34% of the Swiss population would vote for this shocking initiative. Last Friday, in a meeting organised in Lausanne, more […]

Posted in: Islam

Rape within the U.S. Military: 1 in 3 women service members sexually assaulted at least once

November 29, 2009

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By Ann Wright, New York Times OpEd News Journalists Pascale Bourgaux and Mercedes Gallego in their trips to Iraq as war correspondents were stunned to hear from military women in Iraq that they should be very careful working in military units due to sexual assault and rape. When they left Iraq they decided to investigate […]

Inside Islam: What A Billion Muslims Really Think

November 25, 2009

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Dear  Reader, How many times have you heard the following: “Islam has nothing to do with democracy,” “Muslims are violent,” “They oppress women?” In partnership with Unity Productions Foundation, the makers of a new PBS documentary “Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think,” Link TV broadcasts this prescient and important new film that reveals […]