Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayh wa Sallam)

1. Where there are three of you in a company, two should not hold confidential talks

together till the number increases, lest the

third might feel annoyed. (Bukhari & Muslim).

2. When you enter into a bargain with some body, tell him: there should be no cheating.

(Bukhari & Muslim)

3. Do not rejoice over the troubles of your brother lest Allah the Most High might have

mercy on him and involve you in this trouble.

(Tirmidhi).

Building of the ICR GYM

By Sr. Yasmin Kabir

For the last nine months, five days a week, at around 7:45am, I have been driving into the ICR parking lot. Wintertime, it use to be dark, but still I could see the new construction site. The foundation area was covered in snow. Nothing much was happening there. When will the snow melt? I would think. It was hard to visualize the expansion, the majestic gym with the dome, the new classrooms. It was now January, snow still piled up, but higher. We need the building badly. February, March. The snow is melting, but the ground is still too hard to dig. Nothing is happening at the site. April, ah; the ground is finally ready for digging. I see some activity going on. The thermometer reads 50o. Why is there not more people working at the construction? Where are all the workers? Every morning, as I pull into the parking lot, I pause for a couple of minutes, to see if anybody was there at the construction site. Usually there are one or two lonely guys. Will this grand, magnificent building be built by two people? It was mid April, and still very little had been accomplished. I heard that there was some problem getting the steel beams or something. And then it started to happen. The walls started to go up, almost like magic, giving the steel skeleton some shape. It was getting easier to visualize now. Every morning when it is very quiet, I pause for couple of minutes in my car looking at the expansion coming up, a reality. Last week, now mid May, I see the arched dome shape taking place. Wow! This is big! How beautiful the steel curvature looks. My eyes get misty. Subhan Allah! All praise belongs to you, Oh Allah, that you have given us this Center, a place of worship, a place of learning, a place for our children to grow and play, a place to socialize. Oh Allah! Help us be the kind of community that you want us to be. Help us grow, strengthen, expand and have amongst us leaders and people who are righteous, courageous, and devout. Help us show our appreciation, our love our devotion to You.

Guidance from the Qur'anGuidance from the Qur'anGuidance from the Qur'anGuidance from the Qur'an

O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible: for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind

their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead

brother? Nay, ye would abhor it… but fear Allah: for Allah is oft Returning, Most Merciful. "Al-

Quran 49:12

Newsletter of the

Islamic Center of Rochester June 2005 Rabi-II / Jumada 1426

My child in Islamic School By Br. Anwar Karim

Our obligation as parents to provide the best education for our children is paramount, especially if we wish for our children to carry the banner if Islam in a world very different from now. All too often, Muslim children of all ages, especially our youngest ones, fall victim to some weaknesses in secular education. Our obligation as parents is to be keen, mindful and vigilant of the quality and environment in which our children receive their education; this should be held at its highest honor – and that is the one provided in an Islamic environment!

The establishment of Westfall Academy meets the growing needs of the community by providing quality education in an Islamic environment. In its inaugural year, Westfall Academy provided our children that, which:

• Meets New York State curriculum requirements

• Meets Brighton School District curriculum requirements

• Is taught by qualified and dedicated Muslim teachers

• Offers an Islamic learning environment

• Receives instruction in Islamic Studies

• Receives instruction in Arabic

• Offers us parents, a peace of mind.

It is wonderful to see our child enthused and excited of the material they are covering at the academy. (Br. Anwar Karim).

Westfall Academy - A Parent’s First Impression By Sr. Susan Al-Masri (mother of a 1st grader)

As the first and leading Islamic School in Rochester, New York, Westfall Academy emphasizes teaching around the needs of their students. Lessons are presented in ways that invite students to discover, and encourages them to elaborate on their discovery. The school environment fosters a celebration of academia above the required standards of the Public School Districts. This is achieved through individual attention, lower student/teacher ratios, more time on focussed tasks, and instilling a sense of competition. In addition, and above all, the curriculum is partnered with the child's core lifestyle and ways, which is Islam.

The teachers at Westfall Academy know that in order for our children to grow into successful, contributing adults, they need to learn and follow the ways of the Prophet Mohammad (SAWS). Memorization of the Quran is a standard for all the children, and this is in correlation with the teachings of the Sunna. On Fridays the students are encouraged to sit through the Jumma sermon and prayers. The students participate in the daily Duhr prayer. The teacher then strengthens their salat by aiding the students in making individual duaa’.

Another great aspect of the school is that the parents and the community are invited to participate in the children's education. Parents volunteer at least once a month in the classroom, which helps the parent know how well their child is doing. At the same time the children learn that their parents are interested in their future success. In addition, the school hosts Family Nights, which invites the families of students to celebrate the accomplishments of their children and the School.

Our children are naturally inquisitive. And it is great to know that there are teachers who not only know the answers to our children's questions, but will answer them in an appropriate manner.

It is wonderful to know that education for my child is more than academic. As a parent of one of the students at Westfall Academy, I am pleased with my child's accomplishments. The teachers tailored the instruction of my child according to her needs and abilities, and challenged her to take control of her own learning. The teachers used my

daughter’s potential and helped her to advance in ways I was unaware of, and for this I am very grateful.

Scientific Method: What is it? Who Invented It?Scientific Method: What is it? Who Invented It?Scientific Method: What is it? Who Invented It?Scientific Method: What is it? Who Invented It? What is the ScieWhat is the ScieWhat is the ScieWhat is the Scientific Method?ntific Method?ntific Method?ntific Method? (For our young readers) (For our young readers) (For our young readers) (For our young readers)

What do teachers always tell to include in a science experiment? They tell stuff like the purpose, hypothesis, materials, procedure, etc. These are all parts of the scientific method. The scientific method is learning science through observation and experimentation. Before the invention of the scientific method, people used to make guesses, could not prove or disprove any thing, and had vague theories. The scientific method changed all that. That is why all the various inventions are here.

The first step in the scientific method is to ask a question that you will do the experiment to solve. The next step is to gather information, which you will use to make a hypothesis. You predict what will happen in the results. Next, you do the experiment, gather data, etc. After that, you draw a conclusion out of all your work, in which you answer your question and find out if your hypothesis is correct. Lastly, you report the results so that other people may verify your results as well as get the knowledge that you learned during the whole experiment.

The difference between a hypothesis and a thesis is that a hypothesis is a possible explanation to an event or a possible solution to a problem. It is based on information gathered and is done before conducting an experiment. A thesis on the other hand is an explanation of an event or a solution to a problem formed after many repeated carefully controlled experiments' results are examined. Who Invented It?Who Invented It?Who Invented It?Who Invented It?

The credit of this important invention usually is given to Western scientists such as Roger Bacon. However, the Muslims really invented it, perfected it, and presented it to the West. Al-Biruni (d. 1050 CE), the Persian genius of the time perfected it. He conducted precise experiments on laws of gravitation, momentum, and motion. Amongst his successful experiments, were the most precise measurement of the specific gravity of precious stones and metals, mathematical calculation of earth's radius, mathematical determination of earth's solar orbit, and the measurement of the height of mountains by seconds and degrees. He also discovered the First Law of Motion.

Ibn Sina (Avincenna) (d. 1037 CE) and other Muslims of the Islamic Era relied on carefully constructed experiments to prove their theories. These developments were made at the Bayt Al-Hikmat (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad, Iraq. Ibn Sina also made an accurate description of the geological origin of mountains and was the first to construct the theory of the formation of sedimentary rock. Ar-Razi (Rhases) (d. 925 CE) used the scientific method to find out the most hygienic places in Baghdad to build hospitals by hanging chunks of meat in different places. The place where the meat decayed the least over a period of time was the place where the new hospital would be built.

Will Durant writes that the Muslim scholars "introduced precise observation, controlled experiment, and careful records." George Sarton and Max Vintejoux both describe the era of scientific achievement that started after the development of the scientific method as a miracle. (http://www.albalagh.net/kids/science/scientific_method.shtml)

Issues Within: Leadership and the Credibility Gap By, Majid Mohiuddin

‘Muslims’ and ‘terrorists’ have become synonymous words across the world despite official and unofficial pronouncements by nations’ leaders that Islam is a peaceful religion.. Many have attempted to soften the edges of this “clash of civilizations” by dialogue within interfaith groups, churches, and community centers. Yet, lectures on Islam, theology, history, or past Muslim contributions to science, literature or the arts have not put a large enough dent into the minds of the non-Muslim populations of the world. Why is it that the peaceful and productive lives of the majority of Muslims have had so little impact on the minds of those around them? I have been thinking about this question over and over in the last few years. Like you, I’ve read numerous writers’ opinions in magazines and the Internet, gone to lectures and khutbahs by our intellectuals, reached out to the greater community, and sat through long after-dinner conversations. One conclusion I’ve reached is that the rest of the world is Islamophobic. No one can doubt that as a minority group, we have certain prejudices working against us. However, the other side of the story--the issue within our community--is quite simple and different: the Muslims suffer a profound credibility gap. As a “share-holder” in the Muslim community, I am forced to admit that our “business” is faltering. Poor public relations and the lack of an outreach program to the larger community is a bad practice in any business model, simply fueling the Islamophobia around us. The only way to change this negative image of Muslims is to reappraise the global nature of our thinking and to exhibit an activist religion that betters the life of all people, regardless of creed—that is, we need to demonstrate a religion that sparks success and brings about real change. In short, we need to build a better “product” for ourselves before we bring it to the American marketplace of ideas. If we truly feel that Muslims are special and play an important role in the American cultural fabric, then we have to show how we make a positive difference to other people. In Western and other global societies today, people are largely measured by their fame and material wealth. In contrast, Muslims of the Prophet’s time were measured by their contribution to the constructive well-being of the community. Each companion of the Prophet gave of himself and played a different yet critical role in their small society—some were spiritual mendicants (Abu Huraira), some scholars who transcribed down the Qur’an (Muawiyya), some merchants who financed projects (Abu Bakr), and some were brilliant tacticians (Khalid bin Walid). The highest-valued “commodity” serving as the gold-standard of “commercial” credibility was the larger community’s sense of well-being from its collective productivity. To lead then is to give of yourself in time, energy, intellectual abilities and any other talent or resource Allah (swt) may have blessed you with, to the point of excellence. The Qur’anic example is that of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), who was ‘rewarded’ by the Pharoah by becoming the Chief Minister of Egypt. Brought out of jail, he was chosen and placed in a position of authority in the land only because he had developed unique skills to save all of the Pharoah’s people from seven years of famine. In today’s language, his credibility and unique intellectual ability make him a highly valued administrator of the national government or a natural chief executive officer. He was a leader beyond the church or mosque. Thus, while we should never beggar ourselves to outside interests, we will not transform our hearts or the people around us until we give to this nation openly and willingly. Yet, even though every sermon talks of “following in the footsteps of the Prophets,” we are the first to find fault with others, practice intolerance, and regard the trappings of this world as a measure of personal success. Our leaders are those whose memorization of the Qur’an is their singular claim to leadership. The wisdom of the Qur’an is lost in rigid literal translations. Rarely are these people able to offer intellectual leadership to the community. Economic, social, and political discourse is absent. While they can recite a litany of things you cannot do, they have no alternative solutions to the practical aspects of living. Our giving is prioritized to sustain the mediocrity of mosques rather than to build viable economic, educational

or political institutions that will provide means for the community to become a more robust partner in the towns and cities that we live in. The lack of progressive ideas and the self-serving attitudes of mosque leadership is in itself a deterrent to the whole-hearted giving that should be the Muslim’s chief ambition in life. People will give if they see that their giving transforms the environment around them. If their giving ends in a black hole with no impact on their children’s lives, they lose interest and remain tight-fisted. We appear backwards, and when we try to explain ourselves, we are often more misunderstood. The fundamental reason why leadership devolves to the prototype individual outlined above is that Muslims have become intellectually lazy over the last several hundred years. Our current Imams are eloquent but they demand very little that is worthwhile from us. We cannot afford this situation any longer. The first step is for Muslims to reassign “leadership” and recognize the need for a different approach to electing our “imams.” The way to implement change is not to look at the “leaders” who present themselves for election at the shura board functions. Leadership must be in the hands of people who have analytical ability, awareness of current events, an historical perspective on the past, and a vision for the future. They must be trained in problem solving and know how to implement strategic decisions. As community builders, they have to be adept at dealing with mainstream American society. There are many such individuals who are established leaders in academia, industry, business and professional organizations and are recognized by their peers in society. Finding those individuals who are also God-fearing and entrusting them to lead the community is an imperative. In finding real solutions for day-to-day issues, they are the ones who know how to improve the community’s environment, causing ripples from the Muslim community into the surrounding society. Like the rightly-guided Caliphs before them, these leaders rarely ask for additional positions of authority because they understand the burden of responsibility--physically and spiritually. The real leaders need to be co-opted from outside to undertake this responsibility, as many are either too humble or are reluctant because they perceive a total lack of discipline in the Muslim Ummah. Unfortunately, most mosque politics lead to differences of view that result in personality conflicts. Often, decision making is based on the lowest denominator that appeases the most people. Hard choices, risk assessment, and future goal oriented strategies are hardly on the radar screen in this setting. Power is sequestered to the few out of touch with the many—often, to the mosque elders who fear relinquishing control and discount the innovative ideas of the younger generation. Women, who serve as the backbone of the community, become quickly disenfranchised as second class citizens. Once the proper leaders are in place, committed to change, what will shorten the Muslim credibility gap? “Nothing breeds success like success,” goes the aphorism. We need to make leaders accountable to us and have structured means to measure their progress. Institutional policies need to be drawn up, implemented, and vigorously enacted to ensure that community members have a way to address problems and issues. Formal rules to mosque governance with clear responsibilities have to be delineated and delegated. Lackadaisical leadership based on a few burnt out volunteers is no longer feasible long-term. “Business practices” need to be fixed. Once we find new leaders, we need to follow them with discipline and professionalism, much the way we would at the office with our own bosses. Viable Islam is a movement that gathers steam when it demonstrates success. Many others will willingly join the bandwagon. Currently, our programs do not emanate this vibe of confidence or success. Lastly, we need to rid ourselves of the persecution or victim complex. Yes, the world may be against us, but we have contributed to this environment by becoming weak, unfocused, self-serving, and arrogant. Rather than contributing to modern civilization, we appear parasitic: we chase after our own material well-being without giving back. Rather than being innovators and guardians of the planet, we become co-exploiters. Worse, at times we adopt a holier-than-thou attitude, holding our scriptures as proof. In effect, what is needed is a paradigm shift in our goals, our thinking, our behavior, and our commitment. Leadership outside the mosque in industry, business, science and discovery (based on the ideals of the Qur’an) are what help humanity and make us a relevant force in society.

Make the Quran the Spring of Our Hearts By, Hamza Yusuf (From the Zaytuna Seasons Journal)

As the world turns and seasons change, our lives move inexorably toward their fated ends. Our minutes become hours, our hours days, our days weeks, our weeks years, and our years make up the totality of our lives. In these days of great imbalance, we are in greater need of connecting to the natural order that surrounds us. Each planet knows its course and each tree its cycle: “And the stars and the trees submit in prostration.” The stars ornament the sky, and the trees the earth, and between the two realms resides man who is made up of both terrestrial and celestial elements, spiritual and bodily, willful and appetitive, angelic and bestial, light and dark. Each resides in us, at times compelling us to wrongs, and at others to rights. In these latter days, it appears as if the bestial aspect of our natures is waxing, and the spiritual is waning. Wordsworth reminded us of this when he wrote: The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

In spite of the insanity of this country’s recent attacks on Iraq that began on March 20th, 2003, the next day the sun crossed the equator on its apparent path North to initiate a new Spring. That evening, I went out

and gazed up at old Orion, known to the Iraqis as al-Jabbar, and sure enough, there he was in all his glory, right where I expected him to be. The trees outside my home were blooming, and nature’s order was so palpable, I realized that no matter how disorderly man becomes, God’s order in His Divine creation is there to constantly remind us: “Come back, come back, a thousand times come back.”

Birth, growth, maturity, decay, and death: these are the cycles we see around us, and these are our own reality. We too are part of nature, and it is our task to comply with the laws of nature and nature’s God. This is submission, what we call Islam. It is not a socio- logical category of creedal belief that determines neither how we are to be classified nor a culture or civilization – although those elements are invariably there. It is a state of being. We were in that state so perfectly when we were children. We knew just what to do at each stage. We knew just what to do in our mothers’ wombs: as each stage progressed, our cells fulfilled their destinies becoming the organs and structures they were meant to be. We knew when to leave the womb, and we came into the world effortlessly, latching onto our mothers’ breast. We never overate but knew when we were satiated. We knew when to take our first steps, to walk, to run, to imagine, to play. We were following the natural order of childhood.

Then, a strange event occurs – not so suddenly but over time. We begin to learn how not to be ourselves but to be what our society expects of us. We lose that state of submission to our true nature, which is servitude to our Lord, Cherisher, and Sustainer; we begin to transgress. We learn to lie; we learn to say the opposite of what we think, feel, or believe. This new state is not arrived at effortlessly but with much pain and sorrow. Our thoughts are troubled, our actions are heavy, and our states laden with cares that are not our own.

“If you truly believed,” said our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “you would go out in the morning likes birds, hungry and return in the evening filled.” Effortless is the bird’s movement towards its predetermined sustenance, and without anxiety it seeks it. The bird is in submission. The trees that provide the bird’s home are in submission. The worm that becomes its dinner is in submission – each fulfilling its function, its purpose; each taking its place in the grand scheme of things. Only man is the odd one out, and we are the ones who suffer as we

squander our energies on pursuits not suited to our souls, on desires not healthful for our natures, on thoughts not conducive to our salvation.

Spring is here gently reminding those willing to listen: “Come back, come back, a thousand times come back.” Our Prophet, peace be upon him said, “O Allah make the Quran the Spring of my heart.” What a glorious request! If indeed the Quran was the Spring of our hearts, our hearts would be in bloom always with the freshness of nature’s newness and nature’s order: the green that cools our eyes, the fragrances that perfume our scent, the fruits that delight our taste and nurture our bodies, and the flowers that remind us of life’s bounty and delicacy.

The Quran should be the Spring of our hearts, and our Lord can make it so. Let the Spring of this season renew you once again. Let your return be to your Lord once again. Just as Spring has returned, let us return. Just as Spring has brought life to countless fields and innumerable flowers, let our hearts come back to life. May this Spring renew our hearts and our commitment to grace the world with states of submission and gratitude, peace and prosperity. May this Spring bring forth in us a desire to dedicate our lives to working toward the changes in ourselves that we demand of our leaders and our societies. May we be people of charity and concern for others. May God grant us victory over our real enemies: pride, envy, covetousness, spiritual sloth, wrath, gluttony, and lust. In conquering those, we are prepared to conquer the forces in the world that threaten humanity’s well-being. In submitting to our real enemies, we become easy prey to the forces that result in our own submission to their means of occupation. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, who have so long suffered, that light may come soon to that region. We, like our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, before us pray: “God forgive our people, for they know not what they do.”

Mon. – Sat. 9am – 7pm

Sunday – 10am – 5pm

1388 Norton Street

Rochester, NY 14621

Phone: (585) 342-2990

Fax: (585) 342-8173

Cell: (585) 259-9337

Email: istanbulmeats@hotmail.com

Upcoming Events July 11: Summer camp: Summer Camp will start on July 11, Insha Allah from

10:00AM to 2:00PM. In addition to the Al Qur’an, Arabic and Islamic Studies, there will be Math and English tutorial sessions for middle schools students and juniors. There will also be SAT tutorial sessions for high school students. Several excellent teachers have already signed up to teach and help coordinate the Summer Camp activities.

July 22-24: Youth Conference: All High school youth from Upstate will be invited to

participate. It will be held at the Islamic Center. The Boys will stay at the Center while the girls will stay at different homes of those who have volunteered. We have contacted some excellent national youth speakers. Further announcements and details will follow soon.

Fun FairFun FairFun FairFun Fair and Community Garage Sale and Community Garage Sale and Community Garage Sale and Community Garage Sale

SSSSponsored by the Muslim Youth Groupponsored by the Muslim Youth Groupponsored by the Muslim Youth Groupponsored by the Muslim Youth Group

All Proceeds to Support the Masjid Expansion Project!

Date: September 2005(date TBD)

Planned Events:

Moon-Walk Face Painting/Mehndi

Cotton Candy Games

Popcorn Food

Please donate used clothing and items to be sold at the Fair.

Collection boxes will be located at the Islamic Center of Rochester.

If you are interested in volunteering, donating or sponsoring portions of this event please

contact Noreen Galaria (Muslim Youth Group advisor) at ngalaria@hotmail.com, or contact

any of the Muslim Youth Group members.

LAUGH WITH LAUGH WITH LAUGH WITH LAUGH WITH THE LIBRARIANSTHE LIBRARIANSTHE LIBRARIANSTHE LIBRARIANS ----TTTTRUE RUE RUE RUE PATRON QUERIESPATRON QUERIESPATRON QUERIESPATRON QUERIES

"Where is the reference desk?" This was asked of a person sitting at a desk who had hanging above her head a sign saying "REFERENCE DESK"!

I was here about three weeks ago looking at a cookbook that cost 39.95. Do you know which one it is?

Which outlets in the library are appropriate for my hairdryer?

Can you tell me why so many famous Civil War battles were fought in National Park Sites?

Do you have any books with photographs of dinosaurs?

Do you have a list of all the books written in the English language?

I need to find out Ibid's first name for my bibliography.

Why don't you have any books by Ibid? He's written a lot of important stuff.

I'm looking for information on carpal tunnel syndrome. I think I'm having trouble with it in my neck.

"Is the basement upstairs?" (Asked at First Floor Reference Desk)

I am looking for a list of laws that I can break that would send me back to jail for a couple of months.

Caller: I have a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. It's all blue with swirly stars on it. Can you tell me where I can get it appraised?

Ref.: Sir, does it say 'Metropolitan Museum of Art' on the bottom? It does? Well, what you have there is a poster that they sell in the gift shop. I think they're about $10.00.

Patron: I am looking for a globe of the earth. Ref: We have a table-top model over here. Patron: No, that's not good enough. Don't you have a life size? Ref (after a short pause): Yes, but it's in use right now!

Patron: I want information on time machines. Ref: Are you looking for H.G. Wells story The Time Machine? Patron: No, just information on time machines...like how to build them and all. Ref: Are you doing a paper for a class? What kind of information are you trying to find? Patron: We saw that movie, Back to the Future, and my husband's really good at building things, so he wanted me to get a copy of the plans so he could build one. He thinks he knows where that other guy went wrong. Ref: Aah...that wasn't real. There's no such thing. Patron: Oh. Are you sure?

The wisdom of being insuredThe wisdom of being insuredThe wisdom of being insuredThe wisdom of being insured

Three guys are fishing in the Caribbean. One guy says, "I had a terrible fire; lost everything. Now the insurance company is paying for everything and that's why I'm here."

The second guy says, "I had a terrible explosion; lost everything. Now the insurance company is paying for everything and that's why I'm here."

The third guy says, "What a coincidence. I had a terrible flood; lost everything. Now the insurance company is paying for everything and that's why I'm here."

The other guys turn to him with confusion and ask, "Flood? How do you start a flood?"

Islamic Center of Rochester News June 2005

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Rochester, NY. 14692

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