Learn About Islam @ Islamic Information Center

Haiti Earthquake Relief

metrodawah — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:58:52 +0000

LearnAboutIslam.org is encouraging donations to Dar-us-Salaam’s Haiti Earthquake Relief drive. All donations will go to Islamic Relief USA, which is working with various other aid groups to help the survivors.

Posted in Get Involved

Islam Growing in Haiti

metrodawah — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:06:51 +0000

Islam is growing rapidly in Haiti, with about 5000 Muslims living in the earthquake-devastated nation among a population of 8 million.
Read more…

Posted in News Bytes

Why Niqab?

metrodawah — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:15:24 +0000

Many people are curious about the niqab (pronounced “knee-cob”), or face veil, worn by some Muslim women. Women who wear the niqab get a range of reactions, from simple stares of curiosity to the occasional derogatory remark. Through the following links we explore a few reasons why some women choose to cover their face.

Video: “Ask Me Anything!“

In this TV clip, a niqabi sister at a mall in Canada answers everyday questions about her clothing choice.

1. Why do you dress like that?

A brief introduction to women’s modest dress in Islam.

2. On Veiling…

A more in-depth discussion of issues related to the Islamic style of modest dress.

3. Understanding the Face Veil

A discussion of the question of face-veiling by Muslim women. What is the basis of this practice? What motivates women to conceal themselves so completely?

Style Gallery

People are diverse, and choose different ways to veil. Here are examples of a few common styles.

Posted in About Islam

How Muslim Inventors Changed the World

metrodawah — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:28:26 +0000

Did you know that the modern check comes from the Arabic saqq, a written vow to pay for goods when they were delivered, to avoid money having to be transported across dangerous terrain? In the 9th century, a Muslim businessman could cash a check in China drawn on his bank in Baghdad. This innovative idea, and many other everyday modern conveniences originated in the Muslim world. Discover the forgotten history of this and many other inventions at 1001Inventions.com.

Source: article in The Independent about Muslim inventions.

Posted in About Islam

Hajj Photos, Thoughts

metrodawah — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:23:29 +0000

Sharing a few beautiful pictures and some articles on this year’s annual pilgrimage to Makkah, known as “hajj”. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and is a rite that is required of all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of it. The rituals of hajj bring together Muslims from around the world in worship of God, who is called “Allah” in Arabic. Through these actions we are also reminded of Abraham (known as “Ibrahim” in Arabic), who built the first house of worship to Allah, which is the Kaaba in Makkah. The Kaaba is a square stone structure covered with a black cloth. It is a direction point for Muslims worldwide when they pray, and to walk around this house of worship is part of the rituals of hajj. The rite of walking around the Kaaba is one of the well-known images of hajj.

Posted in About Islam

Help the Hungry, Directions to soup kitchen’s new location

metrodawah — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:17:32 +0000

For those who are volunteering today at the Thrive DC soup kitchen as part of our Help the Hungry program, below is the address and info on how to get to the new location.

By metro:
It’s at the Columbia Heights metro stop on the green line.

Metrorail map:
http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm

By car:
The address is: 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington DC, 20001.

Driving directions from the church’s website: http://www.saintstephensdc.org/directions.html

Posted in Get Involved

Hajj Workshop 2009 files

metrodawah — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:43:19 +0000

Here are the files for this year’s hajj workshop, available in two parts as pdf files.

Hajj slides pdf part 1

Hajj slides pdf part 2

Posted in Hajj Workshop

Hajj Workshop

metrodawah — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:20:04 +0000

Dar-us-Salaam’s Hajj Workshop is next Saturday, November 7th from 10am to 6pm at PGMA, taught by Br. Safi Khan. The workshop is free. For directions to PGMA, see www.pgmamd.org. The address is 9150 Lanham Severn Rd., Lanham, MD 20706.

This class covers pre-hajj preparations, what to do (and not do!) during hajj, and tips to enhance one’s hajj. To register, contact us with your name and email address, and state that you are registering for the Hajj Workshop.

Posted in Hajj Workshop

Let Stereotype Go

metrodawah — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:24:33 +0000

Came across the following article on the USA Today Opinion section, sharing with all.

Let stereotype go

By Harris Zafar

Close your eyes and picture this: A jet with 111 passengers and crewmembers is about to land when a religious fanatic stands up and declares that he has a bomb.

Now open your eyes. Was your first thought anger that Muslim terrorists were at it again? Or perhaps you wondered why Muslims do this so often? Or maybe you’re frustrated that we haven’t done enough to stop these Arab terrorists from hijacking jets?

But this time, the alleged hijacker wasn’t a Muslim. Or even an Arab. The suspect in the Sept. 9 Aeromexico Flight 576 incident is José Flores, 44, a Bible-carrying Christian who was overheard saying, “Christ is coming soon.”

As an American Muslim, I cringed when I first heard of this hijacking. “Not another radical Muslim,” I thought to myself.

And there, I suppose, is the lesson. Though like my fellow Americans, I’ve unfortunately grown accustomed to hearing about acts of religious fundamentalists around the world, I know Islam and understand that this strain of violence is not my faith.

Even so, the post-9/11 construct of “us against them” subconsciously defines “them” as Muslims.

Perhaps only time will release us from this stereotype, but I ask my fellow citizens to make a deliberate attempt to leave this suspicion behind. After all, does the Ku Klux Klan represent all whites? Or did the Irish Republican Army terrorists represent all Catholics? Of course not.

Many Muslims actively preach and believe in the message of peace, love and tolerance for people of all faiths, races and ethnicities.

If you open your eyes, you’ll see that peaceful Muslims are the majority, and like you, we have nothing but disdain for the radical few who have tried to hijack our faith.

Harris Zafar is a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore.

Posted at 12:15 AM/ET, September 21, 2009 in Forum commentary, Race Issues/Civil rights

Let stereotype go

By Harris ZafarClose your eyes and picture this: A jet with 111 passengers and crewmembers is about to land when a religious fanatic stands up and declares that he has a bomb.

Now open your eyes. Was your first thought anger that Muslim terrorists were at it again? Or perhaps you wondered why Muslims do this so often? Or maybe you’re frustrated that we haven’t done enough to stop these Arab terrorists from hijacking jets?

Posted in About Islam, News Bytes

Islam 101 Class on 11/7

metrodawah — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:56:31 +0000

We are holding an Islam 101 class at Dar-us-Salaam / Al Huda School in College Park, MD on Saturday, November 7th, 11am – 1pm. (This is a date change; previously advertised for 10/25.) Basic beliefs of Muslims and current topics will be covered, such as women in Islam, and whether violence is a part of Islam. (Short answer: no!) All are welcome.

Light refreshments served.

RSVP on our contact page, to help us plan, but even if you don’t get a chance to RSVP, still come!

Posted in Classes