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Muslim Personalities
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Bint al-Huda was an Iraqi educator and political activist who was executed by Saddam Hussein along with her brother, Ayatullah Sayyid Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr, in 1980.
Also called Aminah Haidar as-Sadr, Bint al-Huda was born in 1938 in Kazimiyah, Baghdad where she would eventually establish several religious schools for girls. Bint al-Huda played a significant role in creating Islamic awareness among the Muslim women of Iraq. She was in her twenties when she began writing articles in al-Adwaa, the Islamic magazine printed by the religious intellectuals of Najaf, Iraq in 1959. She was also well known for her participation in the Safar Uprising in 1977.
Bint al-Huda grew up with a serious love of learning. She soon became aware of what she perceived to be the Muslim women's sufferings and the great disasters which were damaging Islamic ideology in her country.
In 1980, the religious leader Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr and his sister, Bint-al-Huda, were arrested and later executed by the Iraqi regime. The regime never returned her body, and her burial site is still unknown.
To read more, click here.
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Islam in the News
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On a Friday evening in May, Zainab Al-Suwaij stood in front of her hotel mirror using jet-black Pakistani kohl to line her eyes. In an hour, she would represent the American Islamic Congress, one of the most progressive Muslim organizations in the United States, at a Washington Institute for Near East Policy conference on "Navigating the New 'New Middle East.' " For Suwaij, this also means navigating the deeply divided Muslim groups in this country: The social and political tensions that have gripped the Middle East are also evident in this country.
Suwaij spritzed on Christian Dior perfume and a saffron-scented Arabic fragrance that she had mixed at a souk in Kuwait - an assertion, she said, of her Muslim-Western identity. A tall, raven-haired woman who favors designer head scarves, Suwaij, 41, is co-founder and director of the American Islamic Congress (AIC), a nonprofit civil rights group that is headquartered in Washington and has bureaus in Boston; Basra, Iraq; Baghdad; Tunis; and Cairo.
To read more, click here.
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Salaam Alaykum!
As part of its vision and mission, the NASIMCO Post serves as a tool by which to bind our community together and promote a unified and caring environment for all. If you have anything you would like to include in this newsletter, contact us at info@nasimco.org.
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Roundtable Discussions at NASIMCO Conference
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Day after the NASIMCO Conference last month, a roundtable discussion was held with participation from Madaris all over North America. The objectives of the roundtable were:- To provide an opportunity for dialogue between NASIMCO and Islamic Schools
- To communicate ideas among the various Islamic Schools
- To identify ways in which NASIMCO can assist with the advancement of our institutions
The discussions were moderated by Br Mujtaba Datoo who engaged various Madrasah representatives on each of the objectives. He teased out best practices, areas of betterment and ideas for improvement. Each represented Madrasah was given a voice as well as a chance to learn. The roundtable came to a conclusion with Br Naushad Mehrali, Head of MCE, elaborating on the Madrasah Center of Excellence workstreams and the way in which they tackle many of the issues raised during the discussion.
Overall, the Madrasah Roundtable was well-received and achieved its aims and goals. NASIMCO wishies to thank all participants and especially the IJA Miami Madrasah for hosting the session.
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Ramadhan Relief 1433
|  'Exert yourselves (in doing good deeds) for verily in this month...is a night wherein the good deeds performed equal the deeds of a thousand months.' - Imam Jaffer Sadiq (AS)
Last year, the Ramadhan Relief campaign touched the lives of 117,000 people. This Ramadhan, with your help, we can reach over 120,000 people.
The Ramadhan Relief Fund helps struggling families by providing them with food rations, iftaars, debt clearance and other essentials to make the Holy month of Ramadhan a little easier. Too many people, young and old, are already suffering. Your donation assists families who desperately need respite from the hardship of their lives.
NASIMCO, in partnership with the World Federation, is once again striving to help those who are less fortunate during the holy month of Ramadhan. One iftaar basket can feed a family of four for one month and costs only $30. Countries where the food baskets will be delivered include: Bangladesh, Bosnia, Haiti, India, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
Help to make difficult lives a little easier this Holy Ramadhan.
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| NASIMCO Youth Leadership Retreat | |
 The Capacity Building Program under NASIMCO aims to unlock the potential of participants to serve the community and humanity. The program includes the Leadership Development Program and the NASIMCO Youth Retreat. This year NASIMCO is pleased to announce that the 2012 Youth Leadership Retreat will be held in Minnesota.
The topic of the retreat will be "Thinking Outside the Box". It is targeted for youths between the ages of 18 and 25. The retreat will be held over the Labor Day weekend (Aug 31 - Sept 3) at the Dunrovin Retreat Center by the scenic St. Croix River. The retreat will include workshops on Emotional Intelligence, Giving and Receiving Feedback and Qualities of a Leader, among others. Prominent guest speakers have been invited to impart their experience.
Visit our website to find out more. Application deadline is July 23rd, 2012. Sign up now to avoid disappointment!
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| CSAA Scholarship Awards |
 "I think this is a valuable program, and with it, people who are as lucky as myself can pursue their educational excellence in university and strive to pay back the community for all that it has done for us"
Each year NASIMCO awards scholarships to students for Community Service and Academic Achievement (CSAA). The awards aim to encourage the youth of North American communities to excel in their academic achievements and also to reward them for their voluntary services in their respective communities.
This year, the following TEN scholarships are available:
3 x Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation Scholarship - $3000
Marhum Sultan Davdani Scholarship - $2000
Jaffer Family Foundation Scholarship - $2000
Marhum Abbas Alloo Scholarship - $1000
Sajeda Karim-Alidina Memorial Scholarship - $1000
Marhum Mohamedali Kanji Memorial Scholarship - $1000
MP Charitable Foundation Scholarship - $1000
Marhum Roshinali and Marziabai Datoo Scholarship - $1000
Click on the poster for more information and to download the application forms
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Graduating Class of 2012
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"The worth of every man is in his attainments." - Imam Ali (AS), Nahjul Balagha
The achievements of the youth of our communities are a tremendous honor for us all because the youth are the lifeblood and future leaders of our communities. Their achievements and successes deserve to be recognized and congratulated. It is with this in mind that NASIMCO recognizes the youth of our community who have graduated or are graduating from post-secondary education every year.
Students who have graduated in North America this year, as Class of 2012, should send the following information to secretariat@nasimco.org by July 31st, 2012 so that their achievements can be recognized:
· Full name
· Email address
· Home address
· Program graduated from
· Institution from which graduating
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Ramadhan Speakers 1433 AH for North America
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Jamaats in United States:
Allentown (SIJPA) - Syed Saleh Qazwini and Shaykh Murtaza Bachoo
Boston (IMF) - Maulana Shahid Hussein, Syed Haider Alaloom and Sheikh Tabarssi
Buffalo (Jaffarya Center) - Maulana Mehdi Muslim Chawla
Los Angeles (SIJLA) - Dr. Hasnain Walji
Maryland (IMEC) - Shaykh Ahmed al-Haeri
Miami (IJA) - Maulana Mohammed Jaffer Banglori
Minnesota (IHIC) - Ayatollah Sayyed Hassan Noori and Sheikh Mohamed Mahdi Mohammadpour.
New Jersey (Masjid-e-Ali) - Moulana Syed Rizwan Rizvi and Syed Amaar Nakshwani
New York (SIJNY) - Shaykh Hasnain Kassamali and Shaykh Shahnawaz Mahdavi
Orlando (HIC) - Shaykh Ayub Rashid and Dr Akber Mithani
Seattle (IMAN) - Sayyid Sulayman Abidi and Sayed Hadi Al-Qazwini
Jamaats in Canada:
Brampton (Masumeen Islamic Center) - Syed Mohammed Rizvi and Shaykh Jaffer H. Jaffer
Edmonton (ISIA) - Dr.Usama Al Atar
Hamilton (Razavi Islamic Centre) - Maulana Shafiq Hudda
London (Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre) - Sayed Zaid Ali and Sayed Rudha Al Rohani
London (Al Mehdi Al Muntathar Union) - Shaykh Mazin Sadkhan,
Ottawa (ISIA) - Dr Javed Jaffri
Toronto (Jaffari Community Centre) - Shaykh Jaffer H. Jaffer and Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Vancouver (Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre) - Shaykh Murtaza Bachoo, Shaykh Asad Jaffri and Maulana Syed Dr. Nasir Zaidi
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| Qum Summer Camp Update |
 The Annual Madinah and Bab al-Ilm Qum Summer camps are currently underway. Participants from Africa, Europe, Dubai and North America have landed in Iran and have already settled into their accommodation in Qum.
One of the mentor's had the following to say at the airport:
"After a long and productive day of training, it was just worthwhile to witness the smiles spread across the faces of participants as they were received at the airport and their eyes caught a glimpse of the warm welcome displayed through our posters."
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| World Federation Perpetual Calendars |
 As part of its fundraising efforts, The World Federation is planning to publish a perpetual daily Islamic Desk Calendar. Each page of the calendar will carry a Hadith from the Holy Prophet or his Holy Progeny in Arabic with English translation and will highlight a key Islamic event of the day, such as the birth or death anniversary of a Masumeens (AS). The calendar will also have an attached LED digital display Gregorian calendar clock which can manually be synchronized with the Hijri Islamic calendar.
The World Federation is giving the chance to all individuals and companies to sponsor the calendar in the name of their marhumeen or on behalf of their businesses. The money raised from the calendars will be spent towards the various initiatives to eradicate poverty within our worldwide communities by providing access to education, health care, promoting economic development, securing basic rights to food, clean water and sanitation, and building spiritual and vibrant communities.
Be part of it. Click on the poster for more information.
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Election Results - Buffalo Jamaat
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The Jaffarya Center of Niagara Frontier, NY, Inc. recently held elections for their Executive Board. The elected positions for the term 2012-2013 are as below:
President: Br. Syed Faiz H Jaffri
Vice President: Br. Tanweer Jafri
Secretary: Br. Fathi Alawad
Treasurer: Br. Zulfiqar Jafri, CPA.,
Coordinating Officer: Br. Hashim Raza
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