NASIMCO Post

A Fortnightly Newsletter

July 15, 2014

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Unity in a Strange Land

Photographing New York City's Islamic Communities

Philip Montgomery calls his photographs of New York City's various Islamic communities an unfinished project, one driven by changing perspectives and questions. He began in 2009 as a new arrival from California and fresh from photographing Sufi Muslims in Kashmir. In an unfamiliar city, Mr. Montgomery, now 26, said he felt a yearning to "work my way back to the kind of connected communities I saw in Kashmir."

What he found in New York was an incredible diversity of cultures and practices: West Africans in Harlem; Indonesians in Jamaica, Queens; Palestinians in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn; large and small congregations from all over the Islamic world.

"They were all keeping the traditions of where the individuals came from," Mr. Montgomery said. "These are Americans, but this is their connection to home. I was looking at people bound together by faith but also by the city they lived in."

After a break, Mr. Montgomery returned to the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, which this year is June 28 to July 28. In 2009. many of the Muslims he encountered were still navigating the anti-Islamic sentiments that arose after the Sept. 11 attack. This year, the world event moving many of the congregants has been increasingly bloody conflict between Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza and West Bank.

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.

CIL NASIMCO and World Federation MCE Workshop

The Centre of Islamic Learning (CIL) of NASIMCO, in conjunction with the Madrasah Centre of Excellence (MCE), held a consultation workshop on the Draft Curriculum Framework for Madrassahs at the Mulla Asghar Memorial Library & Islamic Resource Centre (MARC) in Toronto on Saturday, 21st June.

There were over 40 participants representing the various madaris across North America. The CIL team was represented by Al Haj Gulamabbas Najafi, Al Haj Hasnain Walji, Siddika Jessa, Aqil Najafi and Arif Teja.

The reason for this workshop was to provide further information on the Draft Curriculum Framework books that had been sent to all madaris in May.

Book of Deeds - Jaffari Tabligh Board, Toronto

Together, we will write the Book of Deeds.

The Jaffari Tabligh Board of Toronto initiated an idea called "The Book of Deeds". This is an idea that encourages everyone to do good things for each other and the world around us. Good deeds beget good deeds.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims practice abstinence from food and drink during daylight hours. Fasting however is much more than this. It is a heightened level of consciousness - striving to become better people by both improving ourselves from within and being positive contributing members of the world around us.

During this month, we will strive as a global community to create a massive positive impact on the world around us and enumerate the good things we do in the form of a virtual book.

We will Give, Share and Inspire to the tune of 10,000 records.

How do you participate?

Like us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/bookofdeeds or Twitter - @bookofdeeds

Then, start doing good. Give of yourself in a positive manner with your time, effort or wealth.

Share your good deeds. Tell us about what you've done: you can tweet at us (@bookofdeeds), post on the Facebook page, or if you'd like, send us a private message.

Finally, inspire. By virtue of your deed and telling us about it, you will inspire hundreds more to do the same - and keep the virus spreading!

Federation Samachar

The May, 2014 issue of the Federation Samachar published by Africa Federation is now available. This 100-paged issue contains news and views from around the world including the history of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheris, the news of the World Federation tri-annual conference held in Dar-es-Salaam, individual profiles and lots more. Collect your copy today from your local Jamaat.