United Muslim Foundation News
March 2010/ RabiulAwwal 1431

In This Issue
From the Editorial Desk
Hope Amidst Hunger
The Allentown Corner
Free DVD's on Islam!
QuickLinks

Thank You Allah
supplicate
 "Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, and be thankful to Me and (be) not ungrateful"
 Holy Quran 2:152



Thank You, Allah
for making us Muslims
with the best of blessings
bestowed upon any human being
listening and obeying to the One and Only True Being.

Thank You, Allah
for sending Rasulullah
a shining star known as Habibullah
a true hero non-comparable
guiding and teaching with his very own humble examples

Thank You, Allah
for providing us a place called earth
please protect it as it truly deserved.
A home for the future we must preserve.

Thank You, Allah
for a father and mother
a heavy responsibility they shoulder
creating a better future
for the next generation to prosper

Thank You, Allah
for the plenty foods and drinks
seldom do we think...
about our humble beginning, that is from Nothing!
Why do we still destroy and plunder just to attain that little "something"

Thank You, Allah
for we pray for JANNAH in return
and the purity of Islam we try to churn
for that matter, a better Muslim in every turn
devoted and steadfast in ibadah- as the deceitful life we try to spurn.

    by Qalamuddin


The Prophet P.B.U.H has said:
"Take benefit of five before five happen to you:

Your youth before your old age,
Your health before your sickness,
Your wealth before your poverty,
Your free-time before your preoccupation, and
Your life before your death."

UMF Scholarship
scholar

UMF is pleased to announce that we will be awarding three scholarships this year.  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!







editorial desk final

Salaam Alaykum,

          Lately, UMF has played an integral role in several events and intends to do so in the near future. However, we need the support of our dear members to help promote our aim and take an active part in the community. Our Gleaning Event with the Society of St. Andrew was a tremendous success where Muslims from several communities cooperated on a charitable venture to serve humanity. We picked an estimated amount of 9,000 lbs of citrus fruit which was enough to help feed 27,000 people! It is amazing how much impact a combined effort can have. UMF also had the opportunity to be a part of Project Downtown's feeding in Orlando and bring smiles to faces of the less fortunate. Inshallah, we hope to continue our service with the grace of Allah and your participation. We have many exciting events coming up including donating snacks to Kids House Abused Children, working with Muslim Congress on their No More Hunger Campaign, attending the Trialogue at UCF, and participating in educating others about Islam at Tent City. Additionally, we will also be holding a UMF Coffee Encounters meeting at Panera Bread, and we encourage you to come out and share with us some fresh new ideas; your input is highly valuable to us. We hope you will partake in the upcoming events and help lead UMF to endlessly surpass its goals and aspirations. Assist in fostering unity between Muslims to serve humanity for Allah's pleasure today!

Best Regards,

Zainab Somji

UMF Secretary


zainabumf
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Muslim Congress- No More Hunger Campaign

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UMF members are encouraged to participate in Muslim Congress's second event for their No More Hunger Campaign. On Friday March 26th, Muslim Congress will work witth Coalition for the Homeless to assist them in preparing meals and serving them to over 240 single women and their children! Alhamdulillah UMF has been able to donate 275$ to support MC's worthy cause.

Sign up with UMF officer Br. Munsifali Rashid at [email protected]. Also include your t-shirt size as they will be handed out at the event.

When: Friday, March 26, 2010  5:30 p.m- 7:30 p.m
Where: 639 West Central Blvd, Orlando, FL



UMF Supports Muslim Congress in March for Meals



event 2

When you participate in the Annual March for Meals event with UMF and the Muslim Congress on the beautiful Riverwalk in Sanford, you will be helping us feed more than 400 seniors a day who are unable to prepare their own meals. March for Meals is a fun 3-mile walk/run for families and people of all ages. Your support is really needed as there are more than 200 seniors on our waiting list. Breakfast is provided after the 3 mile walk.

Please sign up with Sr. Zainab Alidina [email protected] and help seniors today!

When: Saturday March 27th 2010 at 8:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m
Where: The Riverwalk in Sanford, FL



UMF Coffee Encounters

cofee

UMF has the pleasure to invite you to participate in our next meeting that will be held in Panera Bread Lake Mary, FL. The meeting will convene at 6 p.m sharp.

Please plan to participate in this meeting as your input is very important to us. Come share some fun ideas and discuss upcoming events that will help take UMF to the next level!

When: Saturday 27th March 2010 at 6:00 p.m
Where: Panera Bread, 1210 International Parkway, Lake Mary FL


Tent City UCF Da'wah Booth

event 4


Tent City UCF is a student organized, free, week long, outdoor event to promote World Peace at UCF campus where people will camp out in their tents. There will be movies, art, speakers and food. Come be a part of an awesome event where you'll get to meet new people, hear some amazing speakers, enjoy good food and have some fun in the sun!

UMF needs Muslim volunteers to help at the da'wah booth we've been offered to set up at Tent City to help provide information about Islam. If you can help for at least an hour at any time on any day during the week, please contact Masuma Virji at [email protected] to sign up with the days and times you will be available to help and your cell number where we can reach you at if the need arises. You may be asked to verify that you are able to answer simple questions relating to Da'wah to be able to volunteer at this event. If you are not a UCF student and need a parking decal (which usually runs at least $5) please let us know when you sign up and we can make arrangments to get you to campus without paying for parking, God Willing.

When: Sunday March 28th at 10:00 a.m - Friday April 2nd at 2:00 p.m
University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32816
UCF Campus (Memory Mall between the UCF Arena and Student Union)



Trialogue 2010

trial


SGA, Hillel@UCF, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) would like to invite you to the Trialogue. The Trialogue is not an argument but rather an informative discussion aimed at education and understanding between the three Abrahamic faiths. A Rabbi, Priest and Imam will be representing their respective faiths. Selected students will participate in the discussion and give an inside view to their religions. The Trialogue gives a new meaning to "interfaith" as every Abrahamic religion comes together to learn from each other and prosper in unison.

This is going to be a major event, so please come out and join us! If you have any questions, please email Amber at [email protected] or Chandler at [email protected].

When: Wednesday March 24th 2010 at 7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m

Where: Cape Florida 316AB, Student Union


Hope amidst Hunger 
Battling Hunger One Step at a Time



UMF developed a HungerTeam specifically to target the needs of those who are hungry in and around Orlando. Our HungerTeam works to obtain food from restaurants and grocery stores to send the needy and even offer volunteer opportunities to pick fruits and vegetables out in the fresh open air.


hungerhunger 2end hunger 3


Update from HungerTeam

My experience as sending the food to the homeless through the UMF HungerTeam is very fulfilling and joyful.  I love the happy look on the their faces, especially the children, when i give them food.  I deliver the food every Friday morning to the homeless shelters in Sanford.  I also deliver to the Father Fannigan's home, in Oveido,  for teenage boys and girls from the ages 13 to 17. This particular shelter takes care of teenage kids who don't have parents, are abused, or runaways that do not want to go back to their homes because of family issues and are scared.  Along with giving food to the homeless, I also go to government project houses, where families are struggling with food and money, and need any help they can get.

-Sr. Zainab Alidina

HungerTeam Coordinator

UMF Goes Gleaning!

Although it was a long drive from where the majority of people lived, we all realized it was worth-while in the end. As we hopped off our cars in the Orange Tree soccer field, a smiling face greeted us and briefed us on what the gleaning event was about and whom it was for. That person was none other than Barbara Sayles, coordinator of the end-hunger team. The focus of her organization catered to the needy and homeless who lacked the basic needs of life such as food and water.

As some of us sat on trucks and felt the breeze flush our faces, others walked under the warm sunshine toward the grove. We all had one purpose- to pick oranges for the poor. However, this turned out to be much more than expected. The sight of the orange trees was marvelous and everyone ran to call dibs on the gleaning equipment. After a moment, there was chatter, laughter and the emergence of a friendly atmosphere. People didn't even know where the time went by!

Little hands helped their moms and dads pick out the lowest oranges on the trees; brothers helped sisters, youth helped elders and vice- versa. By the end, it felt as though we were one family, not only pursuing a good opportunity to help the poor, but building cooperative networks that would strive to ensure a better future.


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gleaning 3gleaning 6
gleaning 5gleaning 4

Dear United Muslim Foundation,


              I want to express my deepest gratitude for everyone who come out to pick oranges for the hungry. We picked about
9,000 lbs between the morning and afternoon groups, enough to feed around 27,000 people! That is truly amazing! Thank you for your help in organizing everyone, it was a wonderful day and your group was a joy. Please share my thanks with all and we look forward to working with
you again.

Many blessings,


Barbara Sayles, Director
Society of St. Andrew


Snack Baskets for Abused Children

How Can You Help?

For the month of March UMF is trying to raise dry food/snack items and monetary donations to create 60 snack boxes for Kids House. We need donors to help fundraise for this project. PLEASE donate healthy snacks like granola bars, fruit snacks, chewy bars, etc. to any UMF officer or contact [email protected] to donate and help cheer up an abused child!


food basket



UMF Supports PDO With Feeding the Needy

UMF volunteers under the lead of officer Br. Mohammed Jaffer got up bright and early on Sunday morning to help Project Downtown Orlando with feeding the less fortunate. UMF also supported by donating 500 $ towards their humble cause. This event was in conjunction with the Disney Give A Day & Get A Day Program where volunteers received Disney tickets for their time and effort! As anticipated, a high volume of volunteers filled the area to help PD make their event a success! Thank You to all volunteers!

project 11project 2
project 4project 5
project 6project 3



allentown korner

UMF PA Send Health Kits to Haiti

Toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as many other items, flooded two tables on Sunday February 28th, 2010.  Members of UMF and the Al-Ahad Islamic Center worked together to collect and pack various health-related items to send to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  Asbury United Methodist Church in Allentown, PA initiated the Haiti Health kits drive.  60 health kits were put together and delivered to the Church to send to Haiti.

haiti kits 1haiti kits 2haiti kits 3

 
upcoming events

UMF PA Launches Interfaith Coalition!

UMF PA directors and officers are working hard to organize events for Interfaith Community Service Week  from April 24th to May 2nd 2010! The event will either be a hands-on project or a collection drive for the needy. Plan to come out and join hands with us as we work with others for a greater cause. Stay tuned for more information!


Malvia Walk-A-Thon!


Malv Islamic Academy to Host Walk a Thon Fundraiser
All Community Members Invited to Participate in Fundraiser on April 25, 2010
 
MALV Isla
mic Academy of Whitehall, PA proudly announces our second annual Walk-a-Thon Fundraiser to benefit the school.  Thanks to generous donations from the
caring people of our community last year, we raised over a thousand dollars to benefit the expansion program.  The children, adults, and community members who participated had a great time and enjoyed themselves very much.  In response to feedback given by participants, parents, and the community at large, we are planning an even more fun and enjoyable event for this year.  This year, the organizers have taken into consideration the needs and the vision of the new building, and we have set a goal to raise five times the amount we earned last year or more.  It is a lofty goal, but together and with your help, we can achieve this. 
 
Pictured below is the beautiful and scenic Covered Bridge Park in South Whitehall.   We have reserved a pavilion at the park especially for this event, and many walkers and their sponsors are needed to help make the event a success.  The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with registration of walkers.  The event begins at 11:00 a.m., and all who walk with us will receive a complementary lunch and drinks to enjoy at the pavilion immediately following the completion of the walk.  Come join us and support the children.  We have cleared the way to build our new school that will benefit the children greatly.   But we need your help to do it!  Please register to participate today.  We look forward to seeing many folks from the MALV and surrounding communities too. 
 
Register for the event by emailing  [email protected]  to request a registration form, or call Rose Watson at  (484) 788-4393 and request to register.   If you prefer, you can register directly by mail by just downloading/printing our registration form from the website (www.malvia.org), and mail it and your registration fee of 10 dollars per adult (age 18+) and just five dollars for kids from 4-17 to:
 
Malv Islamic Academy
1988 Schadt Ave.
Whitehall, PA 18052
Attention:  Kim Lorenc- Walk a Thon Coordinator
 
We encourage you to participate on April 25th in this event and help community children get the educational facilities they need for a great education right here in Whitehall.  


banquet
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:



dvd1

                                           
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.



  dvd2

  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.



dvd3

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.



dvd4


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.



 dvd5

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.



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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. Please send us a letter to UMF and Discover Islam with your feedback at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at (703-738-3439)
If you are interested, please e-mail [email protected] or call us at (407-233-6046)   

 
Orlando Charter Bus to MSA East Zone in Atlanta
bus
Attention UMF Orlando!

Those planning on attending the Muslim Student Association East Zone Conference in Atlanta, GA this April 2nd at 5:00 a.m to April 4th 7:00 p.m.

We have two 55 passenger buses reserved. They are one of their nicer buses, a Mercedes or a VanHool. They are equipped with reclining seats, restroom, monitors/dvd, climate control, etc.

The exact plan inshAllah is for one bus to pick up passengers from Tampa at 5 am, Friday April 2nd. The 2nd bus will pick up from Orlando at 5 am as well. The Tampa bus will then depart Tampa to Gainesville as well as the Orlando bus will depart and meet the Tampa bus in Gainesville. Gainesville is about 1.5-2 hours from both Tampa and Orlando. In Gainesville, there will then be a split into a Sister's bus and a Brother's bus. The 2 buses will then depart Gainesville and head directly to Atlanta. There will be short "break stops" in between. If there is any interest, a stop can be arranged at a rest stop along the highway that Tallahassee or Jacksonville people can meet at and board the bus from there.

Cost is solely dependent on how many people ride. If we fill both buses the rate will be super affordable, if we don't then it gets more expensive per passenger.

Please email Nadine Abu-Jubara at [email protected] if you are interested in going. In the subject line write your first and last name and the city you're riding from. put this information in the SUBJECT line of the email. JazakumAllah.

The links for other cities are:


Orlando: Orlando Charter Bus to MSA East Zone in Atlanta

Tampa: Tampa Charter Bus to MSA East Zone in Atlanta

Ft. Laud: Ft. Lauderdale Charter Bus to MSA East Zone in Atlanta

Gainesville: Gainesville Charter Bus to MSA East Zone in Atlanta

Tallahassee: Tallahassee Charter Bus to MSA East Zone in Atlanta


Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alteraton of the night and day... and in the changing of the winds and the clouds controlled for service between the heavens and the earth, surely there are signs for (the guidance of) people who understand. 2:164
United Muslim Foundation
407-233-6046
www.unitedmuslimfoundation.org
[email protected]