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Islam in the News
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As Muslims celebrate Ramadan, Islam grows in Brevard
Nearly 30 years ago, being Muslim in Melbourne meant quietly gathering in the living rooms of apartments for a moment of prayer or having to explain what sounded like a foreign, exotic religion to strangers.
There were no masjids - worship centers - for children to learn Arabic or shops like those found in urban centers to buy specially prepared meats and foods. But today, there are at least three worship centers across the Space Coast, from Melbourne to Merritt Island, with nearly 4,100 Islamic adherents and a growing visibility for the faith in schools and at work.
"I enjoy living in Brevard County," said Sheikh Ahmad, a poet and charity organizer who moved from Pakistan to Pennsylvania in 1977. "When I first came here 13 years ago, there wasn't much, there was not a lot for the Muslim community. But now you see a lot more - we have the mosque in Melbourne and a lot of students.
Ahmad moved to Brevard with his family in June 2001, just months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"We are a nice community of believers. You can't let one or two people move you to judge the entire religion," he said.
This weekend, Ahmad and the county's Muslims began celebrating Ramadan, a month of fasting from food and water during the daytime hours, with prayers for Islamic unity, nightly dinners for the community and readings of Quran as revealed to Prophet Muhammad nearly 1,400 years ago. The fasting - ended nightly with a traditional helping of dates and buttermilk - is one of the five pillars of Islam that make up a Muslim's spiritual life, including praying five times a day and making a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in a person's lifetime.
The celebration also comes as demographic research shows that Islam is now the second most practiced, non-Christian religious tradition in the United States and in Florida, according to the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, a group that conducts surveys of the nation's religious groups every 10 years. The faith is the second most practiced in 20 states, including Florida, while Judaism follows Christianity in the northeast corridor, the research shows.
"It wouldn't surprise me, because religious diversity has been growing in the U.S. for a long time," said Ken Wald, a political science professor at the University of Florida. Wald points out that Muslims in America are themselves a diverse group made up of African-Americans, southeast Asians along with those from the Middle East.
"My sense is that as Americans become more familiar with Muslims, that will likely help to diminish negative feelings," Wald said.
Muzaffar Shaikh, a spokesman for the Islamic Society of Brevard mosque in south Melbourne, said the Muslim community continues to grow spiritually, economically and in outreach. More Americans are also familiar with the culture of Muslims from places like the Middle East, from the hijab coverings worn by some women to the distinctive sound of the call of prayer or Azan heard at the mosques during prayer time.
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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"A believer will never get full while his (believing) brother is hungry, or drink enough when his (believing) brother is thirsty, or wear good clothes when his (believing) brother is naked. How great are the rights of Muslims over each other!" Imam Jaffer Sadiq (as)
As we begin the blessed month of Ramadhan, preparations begin by filling up our pantries, to ensure that there is enough food to eat after we break our fast. Today, the trial and tribulations around the world do not allow those who are facing the possibility of drought in Northeast Kenya and the victims of the Typhoon in Philippines, to prepare for this holy month.
The Ramadhan Relief Fund has been created to help these and other struggling families by providing them with food rations, iftaar, water, medicine and other essential needs to make the holy month of Ramadhan a little easier. Your donation assists families who are in desperate need for some relief from the hardship of their lives.
Although any amount is welcome and greatly appreciated, $45 is the cost of a food basket that can feed a family of four for one month.
Individuals wishing to make donations can do so by visiting our website at www.nasimco.org or through their local Jamaats.
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"I was very appreciative of the fact that the NASIMCO organization was able to award me for my academic progress and other achievements throughout the past year. With the scholarship money provided to me, I was able to pay for my books and classes for the spring 2013 semester. Also, it is a great honor to be recognized by the Shia community." - CSAA Scholarship Recipient 2013
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.
Application Forms can be downloaded from www.nasimco.org.
The Application Deadline is August 1, 2014.
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Youth Alert - An excellent growth opportunity for youth to engage in a fun and interactive environment where youths are able to share ideas and perspectives with each other in a safe and supportive environment. The retreat is run by the youth, for the youth to prepare them for leadership in their personal and professional life. An excellent networking opportunity as youth from various cities across North America will be partaking at an amazing location of Pemberton, Vancouver, in beautiful British Columbia. This is to encourage the youths to register as soon as possible to secure your spot. The retreat dates are August 29 - September 1, 2014.
Register Here
To wet your appetite, here is a Trailer from last years retreat.
For more information please visit the registration page or email
retreat@nasimco.org
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Jamaats in USA
Anjuman-e-Asghari - Minnesota
Speakers: Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer
Language: English
Online Streaming: Yes
Husseini Islamic Center (HIC) - Orlando, Florida
Speakers: Sheikh Jaffer Jaffer and Syed Hadi Qazwini
Language: English
Online Streaming: Yes
Muslim Foundation Inc - New Jersey
Speakers: Syed Rizwan Rizvi
Language: English
Ithna-asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest - SeattleSpeakers: Sheikh Murtaza Bachoo (1st half of Ramadhan) Language: English Online Streaming: Yes, http://www.iman-wa.org/cms/live/
Imam Hussain Islamic Center (IHIC) - Minnesota
Speakers: Sheikh Ahmed Ali and Amumeh Aliyaa (ladies)
Language: English and Arabic
Jamaats in Canada
Islamic Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat of Toronto (ISIJ)
Speakers: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi (2nd half of Ramadhan) Language: English and Urdu Online Streaming: Yes, www.jaffari.org
Masumeen Islamic Center - Brampton (Affiliates of ISIJ of Toronto)
Speakers: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, Sheikh Jaffer Jaffer
Language: English
Online Streaming: Yes
Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Association of Ottawa (ISIA)
Speakers: Sayed Javed Jafri
Language: English and Urdu
Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Association of Edmonton (ISIA)
Speakers: Mohamed Asad Dharsi from July 3 - 12
Online Streaming: Yes, www.jammat.org/live.asp
Al Mehdi Al Muntathar Union - London, Ontario
Speakers: Sheikh Mazin Al-Ali (Arabic), Dr. Ali Jradi, Dr. Munsif Bhimani, Sayid Rudha Al-Hussaini (English)
Shia Muslim Community of British Columbia (SMCBC) -
Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre - Vancouver
Speakers: Sheikh Jaffer Ladak, Sheikh Murtaza Bachoo
Language: English
Aza-e-Hussain Association of BC - Vancouver
Speakers: Agha Mehdi Ali
Language: English, Urdu, Persian and Arabic
Shiane Haidery Islamic Association (SHIA) - Montreal
Speakers: Syed Saghir Hussain (Urdu & English), Haj. Ali Al-Najjar (English), Maulana Eniyat Shakir (Urdu)
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