News from United Muslim Foundation, Inc.

Birthday Greetings from UMF on the occasion of the Birthday of our Beloved Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

April 2007

Rabi-ul-Awwal 1428

In This Issue

UMF's New Arabic Instruction Program

MSA East Zone Conference

UMF Walks America

Universal Studio's

Master of Arabic Calligraphy

CAIR Community Picnic

Humanitarian Hussein Day Project

Local Canned food and Najaf Fan Appeal

Salaam Alaikum, Peace be with you.
UMF News and Easter Thoughts

This month has been the busiest month in UMF's entire history, alhamdulil-Lah.

While our correspondence officer has been replying to numerous prisoner requests for books and information on Islam, our treasurer has been delighted at all the generous contributions pouring in from individuals who believe in UMF's cause to promote Unity, Education and Charity.

UMF representatives attended the Shia Ismaili Imami Council for a Miladun Nabi Outreach event in Tampa and met with the newly formed Florida Muslim Congress this month in Orlando.

UMF PA. volunteers visited Camelot for Children this month. They spent their time with seriously, chronically, terminally ill, handicapped and disabled children-talking and playing games. While in FL., UMF volunteered with Meals on Wheels to prepare, pack, and ship out food for the seniors in the central Orlando area. Volunteers prepared fresh fruit salad, chicken noodle soup, and chicken and corn meals. A few of the volunteers made sandwhiches and packed them, while others prepared the chicken and other meats. After a luch break, they cleaned out the kitchen and made sure that the place was spick and span before packing all the food into the transport vehicles and shipping them out. It was a great experience and everyone had a fun time!

Among all the exciting new events we have going on this month and our grand unveiling of UMF's new Arabic Instruction Program, I have had the personal pleasure of corresponding with a car salesman from a Christian family in a small Bible belt town in Missouri, who happened to be studying all the world religions and bought a copy of UMF's publication of Mir Ahmed Ali's English translation of the Holy Koran. He has been very enthusiastic about getting more information on Islam and learning how to pray the daily prayers and has been speaking to all his friends and colleagues about it. He writes: "Thank you very much for the information. I will let you know how things are going soon and thank you for all the help you are giving me. I would not know what to do without you. I thank you so much. I am grateful. peace unto you. Praise Be To Allah."

On one last note, I'd like to mention on this Easter Weekend a beautiful Quote I found on BBC's Religion and Ethics site that says "The Jesus of the Qur'an, more than any equivalent prophetic figure, is placed inside a theological argument rather than inside a narrative. He is very unlike his Gospel image. There is no Incarnation, no Ministry and no Passion. His divinity is strenuously denied either by him or by God directly. Equally denied is his crucifixion. A Christian may well ask, what can possibly be left of his significance if all these essential attributes of his image are gone?

Jesus reinterpreted by the Qur'an is singled out, again and again, as a prophet of very special significance. Uniquely among prophets he is described as a miracle of God, an aya; he is the word and spirit of God; he is the prophet of peace par excellence; and , finally it is he who predicts the coming of Muhammad (pbuh) and thus, one might say, is the harbinger of Islam."

"...it can safely be shown that Islamic culture presents us with what in quantity and quality are the richest images of Jesus in any non-Christian culture. No other world religion known to me has devoted so much loving attention to both the Jesus of history and to the Christ of eternity."

Masuma Virji

Executive Director

407-804-1504

info@unitedmuslimfoundation.org

The Holy Koran

"We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom."

Chapter 12, Verse 02.

UMF's New Arabic Instruction Program

United Muslim Foundation is pleased to announce our exciting new venture to teach children the Arabic language.

Pictured is UMF President Masuma Virji with Sisters Bernita and Carmen Mary of Carmel Convent School of Kuwait who donated Arabic Books and Curriculum for UMF's Arabic Instruction Program.

The syllabus is being formatted to fit the needs of the children by Professional Licensed Florida Teachers. Our teachers are currently under training to become proficient in the Arabic Language, so that they can in turn instruct children to the best of their ability, and best of all at no cost to the students. Visit our new Arabic Instruction page online to find out more!

MSA East Zone Conference Starts Today

"Renewing Hope: Seeking God, Serving Society"
April 6-8, 2007
Orlando, Florida
The Rosen Plaza Hotel

With confirmed speakers like Zaid Shakir, Mukhtar Magraoui, Sheikh Husain Abdul-Sattar, Hadia Mubarak, and many more...this EZ Conference is combining some of the largest Muslim leaders in America. Paired with a bazaar (boasting various vendors of Islamic merchandise) & Islamic entertainment from the Sound of Reason, Baba Ali (Ummahfilms.com), and MUCH more.

Stop by and visit our UMF booth at the Bazaar and join us at this exciting event.

For more information on the Conference, click here!

UMF Walks America

Help UMF fight against the devastating effects of 'MS' (Multiple Sclerosis) by joining us in volunteering at the Rose Garden Pavilions in Allentown, PA to make the 2007 MS Walk the most successful ever!

We need your help to get us reach our goal of just $1,000 by clicking to donate now. The money we raise helps fund research to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it. Premature birth is the #1 cause of newborn death and the biggest threat to babies' health today.

The event will take place on Sunday, May 6, 2007, from 7 am-3 pm at Rose Garden Pavilions, Honochick Rd., Allentown, PA 18104. We need volunteers to help set-up, check in walkers, provide relief at rest stops, hand out prizes, count money, cheer on participants and much more! You may come at any time and stay for as long as you like. If you have any other questions, please contact Sr. Nausheen Habib (nausheen@unitedmuslimfoundation.org).

Universal Studio's first ever "Muslim Day"

On April 8th 2007, Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure Theme Park is hosting the first ever "Muslim Day," courtesy of MSA Florida Council. To book discounted tickets for more than half off the original price (or for more information) please email our Team Universal and Advertising Chair Wafia Sayf at wafiaUCF@aol.com as soon as possible! You may also call her at (321)947-7762.

Eminent Master of Arabic Calligraphy

Stroudsburg Islamic Center in conjunction with

Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley is presenting a Workshop on Arabic and Chinese Calligraphy and Lecture on Islam in China by Haji Noor Deen.

When: April 8th, 2007 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Where: Muslim Association of Lehigh Valley. 1988 Schadt Ave. Whitehall, PA 18052 (610) 799-6223 or 6224