For those in the Maryland area, come meet with Learn About Islam volunteers this coming Saturday, September 5th at the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival. It’s from 10:30am to 4pm, and we will be there to meet people and answer questions about Islam. Hope to see you!
Muslims worldwide are currently observing Ramadan, a month of fasting. This month is also a time of spiritual reflection and internal growth for Muslims, a time to shed unwanted habits and reinforce positive values. One could describe it as a month-long spiritual retreat.
Here are some photos of Ramadan around the world.
And here is a series of 30 articles about dates, traditionally used to break one’s fast during Ramadan. Each article includes a recipe that incorporates dates. Enjoy!
Join this workshop to learn about death, funeral preparations, washing the body, shrouding and burial. Hands-on practical workshop using real-size, real-weight dummies. All participants will get a chance to do a mock washing and shrouding.
All volunteers for Help the Hungry, our monthly soup kitchen service activity, need to print and fill out a waiver form prior to volunteering. This is a new procedure from the soup kitchen where we volunteer. Any questions please contact us.
Volunteers under 18 must bring a completed form signed by their parent the first time they volunteer. If you do not have the waiver form with you, you will not be able to volunteer.
Volunteers 18 and over can bring a completed form with them or fill one out on-site.
If you’d like to plan ahead, here is a calendar of our upcoming classes and events. All dates and activities subject to change. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date with the latest news.
Part 2/2:
Did Obama’s trip to Turkey help Muslims here at home? It depends on how you view my headscarf.
Last month, as I was watching the news coverage of President Obama‘s visit to Turkey, I thought back to an awkward experience I had as an undergraduate student applying for a job at my university. When I handed the receptionist at the student union my Social Security card, a required form of identification, she told me she needed my passport as well.
Surprised, I questioned the need for it. She brought over her supervisor, who glanced at my hijab—a headscarf worn by many Muslim women—and asked, “Aren’t you an international student?” “No,” I said. “I’m an American citizen. I was born in New Jersey.” Her mouth dropped open and she stammered, “Oh, you’re not a foreigner?”
It was not a new experience for me, as a Muslim growing up in this country. Before people learned my name, saw me run at a track meet or heard me debate an argument, they assumed they knew who I am.That’s why Obama’s decision to visit a Muslim country within the first 100 days of his presidency was such a significant moment for me. Hearing his unwavering, unapologetic message to the Turkish Parliament filled me with pride: yes, he told the world, Muslim Americans exist, and our existence has enriched—not impoverished—American culture. His words mirrored what I have long sought to convey to other Americans: that you can be both a devout Muslim and a patriotic American. Read more…
Part 1/2:
An interesting news item about Islam and Judaism’s ancient – yet very modern – food quality standards.
Kosher and halal foods — as defined by the sacred dietary laws of Jews and Muslims, respectively — must be produced and processed according to standards that far exceed those imposed by the U.S. government.
“U.S. consumers who are not followers of Judaism or Islam are largely unaware of the specific qualities that distinguish kosher and halal from conventional foods,” says Packaged Facts Publisher Tatjana Meerman. “However, factors related to safety, quality, and ‘truth in labeling’ should prompt these mainstream consumers to seek out kosher/halal more often.”
Many volunteers came out on Saturday – jazaakumullahu khayran to all! A note from the local district councilmember:
“I’m still amazed at how many volunteers we got out for the event, and the whole area looks much better as a result of it. Please pass on my sincere gratitude to all of the volunteers who came out to help Saturday morning.”
A few photos from the event:
Cleanup supplies
Recent Comments