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Inside Islam Tampa Film Premiere
What a Billion Muslims Really Think
A new documentary film from Unity Productions Foundation, explores the expertly gathered opinions of Muslims around the globe as revealed in the world's first major opinion poll, conducted by Gallup, the preeminent polling organization. Focused on the issues of Gender Justice, Terrorism, and Democracy - the film presents remarkable data deftly, challenging the popular notion that Muslims and the West are on a collision course. Like the research, the film highlights a shared relationship that is based on facts - not fear.
Tampa:Sat, Jan 16, 2010
Doors Open 5:30 PM
Program begins at 6:15 PM
Tickets: $10 for general admission, $7 for students
Partners: United Voices for America and True Talk Radio show with Ahmed & Samar and Unity Productions Foundation.
To purchase your ticket(s) visit: http://insideislam813.eventbrite.com
Event Organizer: Ahmed Bedier ALSO: Please no children UNDER 10 - Because of some graphic violent scenes in this film. With questions on partnering with this event, or to donate, please contact Laila Abdelaziz at, laila@unitedvoices.com
Orlando: Sat Jan 23, 2010
MECCA Center,1021 N. Goldenrod Road
Program:
Doors Open 7:30 PM
Program begins at 8:00 PM
Tickets:
$5.00 General Admission
RSVP:
(407) 273-8363 or mail@iscf.org
Sponsored by:
The Islamic Society of Central Florida
Center for Peace
United States Census 2010
For more information www.insideislam.tv
Keynote Speaker in Tampa and Orlando:
Alex Kronemer, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Producer of this Film and Unity Productions Foundation
UMF also has a copy of this DVD we can show at local schools, colleges or universities |
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Project Downtown Orlando
Sunday January 17th PD!
Time:
9:00am - 11:00am Location:
Masjid Al-Haqq
Description
We have a dream, that one Sunday, ...January 17th..., tons of people will come out and help prepare and serve the less fortunate of our beautiful city of Orlando. So come on out and help accomplish this dream!
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UMF Scholarship
UMF is pleased to announce that we have a donor who agreed to help us increase our scholarship program in 2010 so that we can award three scholarships instead of just one. Each scholarship grant will be for $4,000 offered to High School Seniors or University Students who are UMF members. If you wish to apply, sign up to become a UMF member today and start logging in your volunteer hours. Membership forms can be found on UMF's website. High School Students can also get their required community service hours with UMF, as officially recognized by Seminole County.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants should be high school seniors or current university students. You must be a UMF member to apply. Ranking will be based on the following weighted factors:
- GPA- 30%
- Financial Need- 30%
- UMF Volunteer Hours- 30%
- Essay- 10%
So, don't wait... become a part of a team that's making a difference today!
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Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization with the goal to address the underrepresentation of American Muslims in the fields of humanities, social sciences, liberal arts, and law by providing academic scholarships for higher education.
How to Apply
ISF's application submission system is now paperless. Please visit our website at http://islamicscholarshipfund.org/apply.asp to apply for a scholarship.
ISF will accept applications through April 16th, 2010.
Please visit us at www.islamicscholarshipfund.org for more information. You can email us at contact@islamicscholarshipfund.org or call us at 650-995-6782 (M-F 9am-6pm PST).
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REGISTRATION REQUIRED visit: http://MuslimCapitolDay.org
On March 11, we will be hosting our community's 2nd Annual Lobby/Action Day in Tallahassee, the Capital of Florida. This exciting experience will introduce you to the Florida political process, where you will have the unique opportunity of speaking directly with your elected legislators.
MAKE YOUR VOICE COUNT
Those who engage themselves in the political process determine the direction of their government. State laws impact all of our lives, but most people are not participating in shaping those laws; surrendering their voice to the political elite. This event will give you the tools to Make Your Voice Count in Tallahassee.
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| DONATE for FREE!
Donate to UMF without spending an extra cent!
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Searching online? Visit www.goodsearch.com! Just set the site as your search page and choose UMF as the charity you want to support. You'll be donating every time you use the search engine!  Shopping online? Visit www.goodshop.com! A percentage of very purchase you make at one of the many stores registered at the site can be donated to the United Muslim Foundation. Just choose UMF as the charity you want to support, and let the shopping begin! | |
| Salaam Alaikum / Peace be with you |
United Muslim Foundation and Jama Masjid are working with AMANA in helping the people of Haiti.
Jama Masjid and UMF
Are collecting food, clothing and medicine
Contact Person Imam Tariq 407 361 6666 and Brother Shabir 407 592 0733. These need to be at the Jama Masjid dropoff location, 11543 Ruby Lake Road, Orlando FL. by Tuesday Maghrib time.
UMF
Will transport to Miami the shipment for Haiti
Contact Person Atif Fareed 321 356 3058 and Naushad Virji 407 474 6555.
UMF is also printing shirts which will be ready by Monday with the print: 'Florida Muslims Helping the People Of Haiti'. If you would like to purchase these to help raise money for Haiti please contact Atif Fareed
Amana
Will store the donated items in warehouse in Miami till the Port Au Prince Port opens up, contract with shipping company to send 45 foot container. Will Provide 8 to 10 Muslim volunteers to distribute the items in Haiti.
Contact person Br. Sofian Zakkout (305) 898-9314 Brother Nawal 407 963 3235 cell 321 235 5604 home
APA is also collecting toward this Haiti relief project and JIC has pledged donations as well. Center for Peace in Fort Myers is also collecting toward this container masha-Allah!
What are YOU waiting for?
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
~Albert Einstein
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UMF NOW Hiring
Executive Director Position:
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor or other equivalent advanced degree in a related field and 3 years of increasingly responsible administrative experience. Must have excellent personal skills and excellent Islamic manners.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned:
Responsible for overall leadership in the development and implementation of short and long range plans and policies and other activities.
Responsible the development and implementation of the annual budget
Assists Board of Directors in setting goals and direction
Responsible for liaison and developing relationship with other Muslim and inter faith organizations,
Responsible for support of all activities associated with the Board of Directors, including staffing for all Board and Committee meetings, meeting schedules, locations, development of agenda, and meeting materials.
Responsible for administration of overall operation of the corporation, including: reviewing and evaluating the results of program activities, ensuring that continuing contractual obligations are being fulfilled; allocating resources for greater program effectiveness and efficiency; developing organizational and administrative policies and program objectives for Board consideration.
If you are interested in the position and meet the above requirements please e-mail UMF at info@unitedmuslimfoundation.org with your resume and dates/ times you are available for an interview.
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UMF Community Service Report
 
 
"You Make a Living by What You Get. You Make a Life by What You Give"
In today's lifestyle it may seem impossible to find even an extra minute in a day to just breath. However I decided to take an entire month off and spend it in a third world country in attempt to make a difference. This past summer I volunteered in Arusha and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, East Africa). I was placed in hospitals, clinics, schools and orphanages through the organization The World is Our Village and Can Aid Africa (both based in Canada) as well as the NYOTA foundation in Dar es Salaam.
This experience was a big step for me. I have never traveled alone for such a prolonged time period let alone to a foreign third world country. The native language was unfamiliar to me and communication back home can be nearly impossible. This challenge gave me even more motivation to follow through and although it made my parents uneasy the benefits outweighed any negatives. The moment I stepped off the plane at the Dar es Salaam International Airport I thought I was in over my head, there was no way I could do this. I did not understand a word anyone said to me and I had no idea where to go. It was a difficult transition; the life style and environment were completely different and it took time to get use to. I felt it should have been second nature to me, considering my parents were brought up and raised in East Africa and I had heard stories and seen pictures all my life. I should have been use to this culture, but I wasn't. Words do not compare to the actual experience.
I thought it would be to my benefit to be able to see a variety of settings oppose to staying at one location my entire trip; therefore, throughout the month I rotated between different placements. In my first couple weeks I was working at clinics and hospitals. Some of the situations I was able to witness were unimaginable. There was one case I will not forget. A grandmother brought her 5-year-old grandson to the hospital. When he was born he had a little lump on his neck, as he got older, it grew and his mother abandoned him. So his grandmother saved up money to bring him into the hospital, which took five years. By then the lump was almost the size of the little child's head. Patients cannot afford to come to the doctor on a regular basis; this leads them to wait till the problem affects their daily routine. Unfortunately by then, in most cases it is not treatable. Aside from these extreme situations, which were mostly seen at government hospitals, I was surprised to see the majority of the cases in the small clinics were high cholesterol and diabetes. This was mostly a result of poor nutritional habits. At the clinic in Arusha I also noticed a good portion of the patients were pregnant women. The doctor I worked with gave me the opportunity to perform an ultrasound, which was my first hands on experience.
As I rotated between several different hospitals and clinics, I realized they are very short handed and that they will allow volunteers to perform many task. This is the number one reason volunteering abroad in a third world country can be so beneficial. The other volunteer in my group got the pleasure of delivering a baby and I was able to assist in a circumcision while yet another volunteer was allowed to remove stitches. This is something I would never be able to do here in the states as just a volunteer that is not even completed her undergrad.
Once I had completed my hospital and clinical rotations I spent the last week visiting orphanages and schools where we handed out over 300 toothbrushes and toothpaste, donated by Colgate. As we gave them to the younger children we taught them proper brushing techniques. This was the most accomplishing but at the same time very difficult. I learned you can never have enough, there was obviously going to be a point when we ran out of supplies. This happened faster than I expected.
This experience was remarkable, I gained more than I expected and I could write about it for hours. It was a cross culture experience that has not only helped me grow as a person but also appreciate the diversity, ethnicity and pluralism. It benefited me in many ways, I have accomplished so much that no goal is unattainable anymore. It allowed me to look at situations from a completely different perspective and appreciate the little things we take for granted. I was even able to walk out of this with a little more knowledge of Swahili.
I believe every so often during the course of our lives we are given the "opportunity of a lifetime." It is a chance that does not come our way too often, and tends to result in a tremendous benefit. I owe a huge deal of the credit of making it possible for me to grasp this opportunity to the United Muslim Foundation. Their generosity went a long way by helping me help others. Buddha once said 'Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.' Currently I am a sophomore at Arcadia University with a Biology major, Public Health minor, and a Physician Assistant concentration. The program requires 200 or more hours of volunteer service. Working with the University and both organizations I was able to have this experience count towards my requirement and receive two credits. This solidified my choice of career path into the health field, I have never been more certain that this is what I want to do with my life.
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UMF Awards Students ICNA Youth Awards
United Muslim Foundation was pleased to recieve a good response to our Islam Essay Competition where 10 finalists were to be chosen to recieve $50 each towards the ICNA youth camp taking place this weekend. We'd like to share one these special reflections from our youth in this newsletter:
We Say We Are Muslims, But Do Our Actions Support What We Say?
Imagine. All of our fellow Muslims gathered together in one area. What a great feeling that would be, meeting all of your brothers and sisters. Laughing, playing, and having a great time. Each and every one believes he/she is a Muslim, and according to them it is true, however, are they pure Muslims? Did they choose to be Muslim, were they born into it, or is it because their mom said so?
Now, imagine all of us in a single line. Mashallah! The line will consist of nearly two billion people, and still increasing. Then, one person is to say an action that is promoted in Islam, and if an individual applies or has applied that specific action, then that individual will take one-step forward. On the contrary, if the individual does not apply the specific action, then he/she will remain where they stand. Let the first statement be "Believe there is no god but Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is his messenger." In response to this statement, everyone in line should take one-step forward, after all, believing this is the first step in being a Muslim.
How many people attend the Jummah Prayer? Many people would take a step forward. During Jummah, the mosques are packed, however, how many pray five times a day? The number of steps taken forward decreases significantly. Why is it that they come during Jummah Prayer, yet they do not even pray the five main prayers! One of the pillars of Islam! What about Ramadan, how many people fast and pray during the month of Ramadan? This time, more people take a step forward. How many attend the Eid Prayer? Even more step forward. Why is it that the majority attends prayers only during Ramadan? What happened to the rest of the year?
How about the simple actions that should be applied to daily life, how many people do the simple act of respecting their elders, especially their parents? Less and less step forward. The future generations depend on the present generations, and the present generations depend on the past generations. So please leave a positive impact on the younger ones, so they will grow up to be pure Muslims.
My teacher once said, "Why on Earth do parents allow their kids to go trick-or-treating to strangers' houses ONE day a year, and forbid them from taking candy from strangers the rest of the 364 days of the year?" This applies to Islam as well. Why do some parents force their children to pray during the month of Ramadan and not care the rest of the year? Parents must stay consistent, or else, the younger ones will take advantage of the inconsistency, or just get more confused about what is proper and what is not.
One of the major questions that should be asked to this group of people is "How many have always tried to speak the truth, no matter what the situation is." Unfortunately, there will only be a few people taking a step forward. Only a few out of the entire two-billion Muslim population!
Performing this simple activity can bring attention to the Muslims' actions. This activity will give them a chance to better themselves, for Allah (SWT), for their own benefits, and for their children.
Now, I am most definitely not saying that if I were in the line, I would always end up taking a step forward. I have my faults that need to be corrected and many others have theirs. We are human. We are like pencils, everything we do will leave a mark, but we can always correct our mistakes. In addition, we must learn to "undergo painful sharpening" which will make us better. So yes, we make mistakes, but we must learn to fix them, and show the correct way to our younger ones. If we are not able to correct all of our mistakes by the end of our time, at least the younger ones will be fortunate to have less to correct.
So please, if you want to be a Muslim, be one full-time, not part-time. Correct your mistakes; Allah (SWT) is most forgiving. Make a better future for your children and other Muslims as well.
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UMF Offering FREE DVD's on Islam. Hurry to get your's now!
Discover Islam has produced six documentaries on Islam. The purpose of these documentaries is to dispel the most popular misconceptions about Islam and portray it, and American Muslims, as part of the American mainstream.
UMF would like to make a set of these DVDs available to every Islamic center and student organization in North America as well as Public libraries, schools, churches and civic organizations. The format of these videos enables any Muslim community to quickly and efficiently disseminate information about Islam, with particular attention to the audience and issues being addressed.
Each film has been professionally produced (comparable to some of the good documentaries one might find on PBS or Discovery Channel) and includes interviews of well known scholars like Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, Professor John Esposito, Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick, Dr. Umar Faruk Abdallah, Sister Lisa Killinger and Imam Jowhari Abdelmalik amongst many others. Also interviewed are numerous active Muslims and a variety of church leaders across the US.
In addition to the video series, a companion booklet is being produced for every documentary and a support website designed to provide further information and closure to those who seek more than just the video and booklet. The individual documentaries (and their accompanying booklets) are as follows:
African Americans and Islam
 African Americans make up over a third of the Muslims in America. This film captures their history - starting from the time of the Prophet in Makkah to their inhumane enslavement and systematic removal of religion; touching on their struggles over the centuries, the civil rights movement and Malcolm X; and on to the present times. Just over half an hour long, this film chronicles the Islamic spirit that resides within the African American community.
Islam: An American Faith
 For many these two ideas - Islam and America are not compatible, many on both sides feel that there is a great divide and that America can never reconcile with Islam and Muslims cannot live in peace with America. This film aims to dispel that myth. Starting from a historical perspective - highlighting the fact that Muslims were already present in the New World prior to the coming of Europeans - and coming to the present post 9-11 America where some are questioning their identity, whereas others are defining their American Muslim identity. This film is about 28 minutes long.
Islam: Faith and History
 This approximately 30 minute film deals with the basics of Islam: from the Oneness of Allah to the various Prophets, especially focusing on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - his life and message; the movie also touches on the spread of Islam around the world, the various advances made my Muslims and finally deals with the present situation of Muslims - very briefly dealing with women's status and terrorism as examples of how people have deviated from the true teachings of Islam.
Islam: A Faith Hijacked
 In less than 24 minutes, the tragedy of September 11th and its impact upon Islam and
Muslims is discussed. Terms like Jihad; Holy War; Rules of Engagement; Just War;
Stereotyping; and Terrorism are dealt with thoroughly.
Christians and Islam
 This documentary explores Islam from the viewpoint of a Christian. Common aspects between the two faiths are discussed: belief in the same One God; same prophets and similar stories; Muslim belief in various previous revelations etc. Also dealt with are areas where the two faiths diverge: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Qur'an; and the belief that Jesus (peace be upon him) is a prophet and is not divine. The film is around 26 minutes long.
Women in Islam
 Apart from terrorism, Women - their status and rights in Islam are some of the most commonly raised issues by non-Muslims. This 24 minute film ably addresses the esteemed position, rights, responsibilities and roles that Muslim women have in an Islamic society.
United Muslim Foundation will be happy to send out this set of DVDs to you if you can meet two conditions:
1. Make sure that the end users are non-Muslims who will view the films (with their name, organization name and address provided to us);
2. That we can get a thank you letter plus maybe some feedback (like a recommendation letter) about the free gift.
If you are interested, please e-mail masuma@unitedmuslimfoundation.org
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