Turn south onto State Highway 195 (cross routes 32 and 44) to the campus.
After entering campus, continue to bottom of hill and turn right onto North Eagleville Road (you will find a big white church on your right at the intersection).
The Islamic Center is the second building on your right.
When Muslims protested these cartoons, the offenders claimed it is their right to "freedom of expression". This explanation doesn't make any sense, not only for Muslims, but also for any rational person.
Absolute freedom is nothing but a myth. Truly free people know that freedom begets responsibility.
With responsibility, I'm not free to do everything that I can do. I'm not free to cross a railroad whenever I wish. I'm not free to endanger others' lives. I'm not free to steal. I'm not free to cheat.
Freedom is simply bound at least by morals and pragmatism.
Muslims hence enjoy a kind of freedom that is often overlooked; the freedom from the compulsion of desires; which is particularly priceless when the consequences of following desires are unacceptable.
Considering the easily predictable sad consequences of publishing the cartoons, "freedom" do very little to explain the "choice". the offenders can't deny their responsibilities.
The sad reality is that the offenders never tried to know whom they were portraying, or how those billion Muslims out there think.
I generally agree with the points made above, but would like to stress the condemnation of violence and harm against innocent Dansih or other European citizens. In addition to what has been said in point 8, at the onset of a boycott, the goods have already been imported are perfectly valid for consumption. But end-customers have very little ability to identify which item was imported before- and which was imported after the boycott started. I think that here comes the role of governments. Governments should handle such cases with proper labeling or distribution of goods already in stock. That's if governments are ready to do anything!
Point 11 mentioned how this incidence should be used to improve the following of the teachings of the Prophet PBUH in Muslim communities. It has to be added that Muslims should use this incidence to open dialouges with non-Muslims who must be wondering now about the reality of the Prophet PBUH and the reality of Islam. In my view, this is another unique opportunity to spread the truth. The following link is a great start. http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/topic04.shtml
Another comment on point 12. Boycotting Denmark already sent a very strong message to all other EU countries and the world. I hope that this peaceful boycott will teach impolite countries to behave themselves and respect Muslim feelings.
Following is a translation of a message that I received in Arabic and found very useful. May Allah guide us with His Wisdom.
All praise to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and mercy and peace be on the most honorable of the messengers.
Following are some checkpoints for those of us who can't bear to see the messenger of Allah, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, insulted. I pray to Allah that they be useful.
The worldwide response to defend the name of our honorable prophet, peace be upon him, indicates that the ummah's heart is still beating with faith. Actions including lectures, Friday speeches, discussion forums, and the campaign to boycott Danish and Norwegian products are praised and rewardable inshaa Allah.
During such incidences and the consequent complications, people need a trustworthy reference to guide them towards achieving the noble goals, avoiding sinful and harmful actions. It is unacceptable that people be guided by messages exchanged through SMS or email, as in that case they might be carried away by anger to commit violations of Islamic law, as will be shown shortly.
A Muslim must verify news and avoid hasty reactions. We need to analyze every message that we receive, find published on the web, or hear from others. 1) For example, for a product that is candidate for boycott, we have to know by what ratio that specific product is Danish. Otherwise, we might harm some Muslims or non-Muslims who are not targetted by the boycott. 2) Sometimes this information changes with time, so we have to make sure the information we have is recent. 3) In some cases, the product is entirely produced in a Muslim land by a factory licensed by the boycotted country. In this case, the boycott will punish the owner of the factory rather than the licensing country, which is not the goal of the boycott. 4) Lacking thoughtful actions, we migh violate Islamic teachings unintentionally, for example by calling people to fast a certain specific day or to unify prayers at a certain time, or even to forward messages from people who claim to have seen the prophet PBUH in a vision telling him some advices and asking to forward to that many persons and expect some reward in that many days, etc. Also unthoughtful outrage might lead to harming innocent people just because they are from Denmark, which is not permitted in Islam. 5) We must verify the sources of news and make sure of its authenticity before spreading it. 6) We have to be analytical and rational, rather than being caried out by emotion and outrage, so we have to treat differently those who reprint the cartoons to insult the prophet PBUH, and those who are just transmitting news (although we don't accept that either, but it is still a milder crime)
Our boycott must have clear goals and specific demands. It has to be clear when this boycott is supposed to end. Is it enough that the cartoonists or the journal apologizes? Or must the government apologize? Or do we ask for a trial of the cartoonists and editor? Or do we ask for handing them to a Muslim country to be tried there?
We shouldn't suppress people's wills or weaken their enthausiasm by claiming that the boycott is useless, or by questioning why wasn't there a boycott when the pages of the Quraan were insulted. First of all, the boycott has already bear its fruit; the Danish economy has already been affected and they were forced to change their tone. Second, our failure to defend the Quraan earlier, doesn't mean that we don't have to defend the prophet PBUH now.
Making something Halaal or Haraam is Allah's business. So, we can't use the term Haraam to describe the Danish products or claim that it is mandatory to boycott them. What should better say that economic boycott is a very effective weapon in today's world, and hence we encourage people to use it, but we can't claim that those who don't use it are sinful.
Please, be ware not to respond to their crime by a similar crime. Insulting prophet Eissa (Jesus) is not only foolish but also a grave sin that is done only by those who don't fear Allah and His grivious punishment.
The purpose of the boycott is to impose pressure on their economy, which cannot be achieved without stopping those who import from them. Some importers who don't fear Allah will not be deterred until they see their goods boycotted in market. But those who are known to sincerely decided to stop any future imports should not be penalized by boycotting the goods they already imported. This is a case that has to be treated differently and Allah knows best.
We have to focus our boycott on Denmark and Norway, and not disperse our efforts by extending the boycott to other countries. Otherwise, the effect of the boycott will be alleviated. Only when the boycott achieves its goals we can think of pointing it towards others.
Muslims are not allowed to be a bridge for distributing these cartoons.
This incidence should be exploited inside Muslim communities and outside them. Inside Muslim communities, Muslims should be called to hold steadfast to the Sunnah (way of life) of the prophet PBUH, exchange his biography among them, acknowledge our debt towards him. In addition, the superiority of Islam over European secularism has to be pointed out and explained, and how extreme secularism allows insults to the best of mankind to go unpunished, while Islam refuses to insult even fake Gods.
This boycott happened to be against a country that is not powerful, so it is a unique chance for everyone to show their solidarity and unify their goals. This has the effect of sending a clear message to the entire world that Muslims don't accept insults to their beliefs or to prophets of God. We are a people with a message for which we live and die. This boycott is a chance to revive some self-confidence to the Muslim Ummah and counteract efforts to bury the Ummah under piles of problems, conflicts, doubts and lust.
sounds good Saleh. I understand the need not to be controversial at this time brother. however i am looking for a topic that will bring in a large group of muslims. controversy usually does that. i hope other people will give me feedback as well. i will get in touch with you on sunday night to confirm our topic for thursday, since we need a few days to prepare. i hope the effort is being appreciated by all other than yourself.
Really hot topics, Sarib. Expect a lot of controversy there (sometimes a good thing, but not sure if we are ready for this now). I personally prefer discussing feasible topics, i.e. topics that we can make use of immediately to make our lives better. A topic like "Muslims in Western societies, the pros and the cons", can bring up a lot of ideas that can be immediately employed in everyday life. Let's keep exploring more topics and then make up our minds ASAP.
For Thursday the 16th topical meeting, I'm juggling a few topics in my head. Here is a quick list:
1. The Effects of the Patriot Act on Muslims in America.
2. Islam and Hip and Hop
3. Muslims in American Politics
If you have any other ideas or have a fav from the list above please post as soon as you can. I'll will make a decision by Sunday night which will give me all week to research and more importantly delegate research to other peeps. So post or get back to me through aim or facebook as soon as possible. I'm out.
For Thursday the 16th topical meeting, I'm juggling a few topics in my head. Here is a quick list:
1. The Effects of the Patriot Act on Muslims in America.
2. Islam and Hip Hop
3. Muslims in American Politics
If you have any other ideas or have a fav from the list above please post as soon as you can. I'll will make a decision by Sunday night which will give me all week to research and more importantly delegate research to other peeps. So post or get back to me through aim or facebook as soon as possible. I'm out.
It is not only Denmark. There is a long list of countries of the EU that enjoined the attack on the Prophet Salla Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam. Norway, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the list continues to grow. I think that the EU must pass laws that forbid insulting the religion of Islam similar to the laws against anti-semitism.
Nevertheless, I think we have to continue to boycott Danish products and possible other European products until Europeans understand the difference between free speech and hate speach. The boycott should go on until there is a guarantee that no more insults can go unpunished.
Mashaa Allah, the visit was great. The visitors said it was much better than was expected. All praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
Special thanks to David Fain, who coordinated the visit. Thanks South Campus CAs for their outreach to the Muslim community. And thanks to MSA members who showed up there to welcome their colleagues from south.
The visit was fruitful and it definitely opens the door for making a habit of inviting organizations to have one of their meetings in the Islamic Center. I think it helps so much in building bridges between the Muslim community and the community at large.
We had at least 13 brothers and sisters were represented too, mashaa Allah .
Being our first meeting, the main point of discussion was the importance of Muslims getting together and feeling the warm relationship of brotherhood in Islam, and how to get more Muslims to join their fellow Muslims in this weekly meeting.
In addition to the effect of pizza , I think everyone of should bring more Muslims to attend this weekly meeting. Next meeting inshaa Allah I expect at least 20 brothers to be there. The invitation is open to sisters too of course. I personally think the mixed gender setting puts more restrictions on the topics discussed and the behavior, so we can also think of separating the meetings for the guys and girls later on.
This is the "Thank You" letter sent by the visitors. Saleh
Assalamu Alykum
On behalf of the students at the Berlin Weekend Islamic School, we would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to host our youth and share with us your experience on Sunday, October January 22, 2006. Please send our thanks to all the MSA students who participated in this event.
Our students found the interaction with you very informative and enlightening. It was very enjoyable discussion.
Based on the feedback I have received from students, I found that they truly enjoyed very much the visit.
* Refreshments in the lobby + powerpoint presentation playing in the theatre
Assalaamu Alaikum,
DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, Tonight's Program 3/2/06 6-8:30pm: You MUST Know This Man has been POSTPONED.
Please check back to view new date.
JAK,
Farooq
Get Directions through MapQuest
Directions from I-84
Protests everywhere. From Indonesia to Nigeria, even in Latin America.
Over a billion humans boiling with anger. Unfortunately, it takes only a handful of violent protesters to set a Danish embassy afire.
Danish products are out of Muslim markets until further notice.
Guess what? A dozen cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad in an insulting way caused all that!
"What? That's absurd," say many, "Something must be missing"
It is the power of love.
Just imagine that someone you love so much was made a subject of humor by the media.
Not only this, but you have no doubt that your beloved is portrayed wrongfully.
Not only this, but your beloved has long died and no one can defend him but you.
How would you feel then?...
What will you do?
This is the question that every Muslim had to answer.
This is the power of love.
--Saleh
When Muslims protested these cartoons, the offenders claimed it is their right to "freedom of expression". This explanation doesn't make any sense, not only for Muslims, but also for any rational person.
Absolute freedom is nothing but a myth. Truly free people know that freedom begets responsibility.
With responsibility, I'm not free to do everything that I can do.
I'm not free to cross a railroad whenever I wish.
I'm not free to endanger others' lives.
I'm not free to steal.
I'm not free to cheat.
Freedom is simply bound at least by morals and pragmatism.
Muslims hence enjoy a kind of freedom that is often overlooked; the freedom from the compulsion of desires; which is particularly priceless when the consequences of following desires are unacceptable.
Considering the easily predictable sad consequences of publishing the cartoons, "freedom" do very little to explain the "choice". the offenders can't deny their responsibilities.
The sad reality is that the offenders never tried to know whom they were portraying, or how those billion Muslims out there think.
-- Saleh
sooo what are the products we are boycotting? is there a list?
I generally agree with the points made above, but would like to stress the condemnation of violence and harm against innocent Dansih or other European citizens. In addition to what has been said in point 8, at the onset of a boycott, the goods have already been imported are perfectly valid for consumption. But end-customers have very little ability to identify which item was imported before- and which was imported after the boycott started. I think that here comes the role of governments. Governments should handle such cases with proper labeling or distribution of goods already in stock. That's if governments are ready to do anything!
Point 11 mentioned how this incidence should be used to improve the following of the teachings of the Prophet PBUH in Muslim communities. It has to be added that Muslims should use this incidence to open dialouges with non-Muslims who must be wondering now about the reality of the Prophet PBUH and the reality of Islam. In my view, this is another unique opportunity to spread the truth. The following link is a great start. http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/topic04.shtml
Another comment on point 12. Boycotting Denmark already sent a very strong message to all other EU countries and the world. I hope that this peaceful boycott will teach impolite countries to behave themselves and respect Muslim feelings.
Saleh
Following is a translation of a message that I received in Arabic and found very useful. May Allah guide us with His Wisdom.
All praise to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and mercy and peace be on the most honorable of the messengers.
Following are some checkpoints for those of us who can't bear to see the messenger of Allah, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, insulted. I pray to Allah that they be useful.
AA
sounds good Saleh. I understand the need not to be controversial at this time brother. however i am looking for a topic that will bring in a large group of muslims. controversy usually does that. i hope other people will give me feedback as well. i will get in touch with you on sunday night to confirm our topic for thursday, since we need a few days to prepare. i hope the effort is being appreciated by all other than yourself.
Sarib
Wa Alaikum Assalam,
Really hot topics, Sarib. Expect a lot of controversy there (sometimes a good thing, but not sure if we are ready for this now). I personally prefer discussing feasible topics, i.e. topics that we can make use of immediately to make our lives better. A topic like "Muslims in Western societies, the pros and the cons", can bring up a lot of ideas that can be immediately employed in everyday life. Let's keep exploring more topics and then make up our minds ASAP.
Saleh
AA,
For Thursday the 16th topical meeting, I'm juggling a few topics in my head. Here is a quick list:
1. The Effects of the Patriot Act on Muslims in America.
2. Islam and Hip and Hop
3. Muslims in American Politics
If you have any other ideas or have a fav from the list above please post as soon as you can. I'll will make a decision by Sunday night which will give me all week to research and more importantly delegate research to other peeps. So post or get back to me through aim or facebook as soon as possible. I'm out.
Sarib
AA,
For Thursday the 16th topical meeting, I'm juggling a few topics in my head. Here is a quick list:
1. The Effects of the Patriot Act on Muslims in America.
2. Islam and Hip Hop
3. Muslims in American Politics
If you have any other ideas or have a fav from the list above please post as soon as you can. I'll will make a decision by Sunday night which will give me all week to research and more importantly delegate research to other peeps. So post or get back to me through aim or facebook as soon as possible. I'm out.
Sarib
It is not only Denmark. There is a long list of countries of the EU that enjoined the attack on the Prophet Salla Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam. Norway, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the list continues to grow. I think that the EU must pass laws that forbid insulting the religion of Islam similar to the laws against anti-semitism.
Nevertheless, I think we have to continue to boycott Danish products and possible other European products until Europeans understand the difference between free speech and hate speach. The boycott should go on until there is a guarantee that no more insults can go unpunished.
Saleh
Mashaa Allah, the visit was great. The visitors said it was much better than was expected. All praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
Special thanks to David Fain, who coordinated the visit. Thanks South Campus CAs for their outreach to the Muslim community. And thanks to MSA members who showed up there to welcome their colleagues from south.
The visit was fruitful and it definitely opens the door for making a habit of inviting organizations to have one of their meetings in the Islamic Center. I think it helps so much in building bridges between the Muslim community and the community at large.
Saleh
We had at least 13 brothers and sisters were represented too, mashaa Allah
.
Being our first meeting, the main point of discussion was the importance of Muslims getting together and feeling the warm relationship of brotherhood in Islam, and how to get more Muslims to join their fellow Muslims in this weekly meeting.
In addition to the effect of pizza
, I think everyone of should bring more Muslims to attend this weekly meeting. Next meeting inshaa Allah I expect at least 20 brothers to be there. The invitation is open to sisters too of course. I personally think the mixed gender setting puts more restrictions on the topics discussed and the behavior, so we can also think of separating the meetings for the guys and girls later on.
Till we meet next week, peace and blessings...
Saleh
can you post the list of danish products we are boycotting?
Jazaki Allah Khair
Saleh
Assalam Alaykom Wa Rahmato Allah,
Just to let everybody know, the table is now reserved for the following days (Tuesdays) from 11am to 2pm:
Will try to reserve it for 3 more days, for a total of 6-days in the semester, which makes it a bi-weekly event inshaAllah.
-- Nancy Mahmoud
Volunteers
MSA Table Attendants
Signup Sheet Format
MSA Involvement Fair Signup Sheet 1/30/06
This is the "Thank You" letter sent by the visitors.
Saleh
Assalamu Alykum
On behalf of the students at the Berlin Weekend Islamic School, we would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to host our youth and share with us your experience on Sunday, October January 22, 2006. Please send our thanks to all the MSA students who participated in this event.
Our students found the interaction with you very informative and enlightening. It was very enjoyable discussion.
Based on the feedback I have received from students, I found that they truly enjoyed very much the visit.
Attached please find a picture from the event.
Thank you for the hospitality.
Salaam,
Ismail Orabi
First MSA Meeting – Spring ‘06
Meeting Minutes 1/20/06 2:00 PM
-Open discussion:
-Selecting new members:
Spring Events:
-Volunteers: Farooq, Saleh, Ali, Faisal, Sania, Khadijah
-Ali will make a display for our table
-We need to assign time slots for volunteers:
4:30 – 6:00 Set up at the beginning and stay at the table
6:00 – 7:30 Replace others at the table and break-down at the end
Contacting speakers:
-Farooq will contact speaker ASAP
-Ali will contact Arif from Stratford Masjid ASAP
Thursday nights (Sania will arrange for food)
8. Al-Maghrib: Fiqh of Love (has not been discussed)
9. ALL SPRING LECTURES/EVENTS (5 total) NEED TO BE CONFIRMED BY NEXT MEETING.
Actually the list of years seems to be hardcoded into the Archive.module file. I just edited the range to start from 2005 up to 2010
.
Thank you again Mr. Mos'ab. Keep it up!
MSA
Good point! I'll add this page, inshaa Allah. I think it should contain our address, email and phone number, right?
Saleh
6ish