NASIMCO Post

A Fortnightly Newsletter
February 15, 2015
nasimco logo

Our Links

 
View our videos on YouTube

Like us on Facebook



Charitable Donations

 

Donate Now - USA

 

Donate Now - Canada

 

 

Muslim Personalities
Fatima al-Fihri:
 Founder of Al-Qarawiyyin


 

Daughter of Mohammed al-Fihri, Fatima al-Fihri, also called Umm al Banine, 'Mother of the Boys', is known for creating the oldest academic degree-granting university in existence today, the University of Qarawiyyin.

Fatima and her family were among several families who moved from Tunisia to Morocco during the reign of the Moroccan King Idris II.


 

After her father and her brothers died, she and her sister Mariam inherited a large fortune. Both women wanted to devote their money to pious work that would benefit the community in order to receive the blessings of God. To this end, Fatima built the Al Qarawiyyin mosque, while Mariam built the Al-Andalus mosque. In 859, from the 10th to the 12th century, the Al Qarawiyyin mosque developed into a university which became an important centre of education, and one of the first Islamic and  most prestigious universities in the world.


 

Fatima Al-Fihri was a visionary lady who lived her life  for the sake of her community's improvement.  She was from a prestigious family and had inherited a fortune from her father. As a young, wealthy and well educated woman, her interest was neither in shoes or handbags, nor in any celebrity lifestyle, neither to woo any  man for marriage. Not any of the shallow stereotypes that are usually associated with young women, could be attributed to this lady of great depth, whose vision was cultivated and allowed to grow because of the encouragement from the  Islamic society in which she lived. Her vision did not remain a dream but, rather, was accomplished, and the results can still be seen today.
 

To read more, click here. 

 

Quick Links

Join Our Mailing List!

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 [email protected].  

 

NASIMCO CSAA Scholarship Awards 2014-2015

NASIMCO is pleased to announce the winners of the Community Service and Academic Achievement (CSAA) 2014-15 Scholarships. 


 
 

Mohsin and Fauzia Jaffer Foundation Scholarship Award ($3,000)

~ Shahin Fatemah Teja ~
Toronto

Jaffer Family Foundation Scholarship Award ($2,000)
~ Malikah Ibrahim 
~
Brampton 

Marhum Sultan Davdani Scholarship Award ($2,000)
~ Shaan Ali Jessa ~
Toronto

Marhum Mohamedali Kanji Memorial Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Zahra Mohammed Khaku ~
Allentown

Haj Hussein Rajabali Bhimani Memorial Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Amin G. Aaser ~
Minnesota 

Islamic Shia Ithnasheri Jamaat of Toronto
Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Ali Al-Samak ~
Vancouver
 
Sajeda Karim-Alidina Memorial Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Maryam Zhian ~
Minnesota 

Write 2 Read Foundation Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Zainab Amir Hassoun ~
Los Angeles 

The Minnesota Jamaat Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Mohammedmehdi Walji ~
Allentown

Left side:  

Imam Hussain Islamic Center of Minnesota
Scholarship Award ($1,000)

~ Zahra Zakir Dhanji ~

Orlando

 

Top right side:
                                                                                                                        

Marhum Roshanali and Marziabai Datoo Scholarship Award ($1,000)

~ Fattimah Ahmad Hamam ~

London, ON

 

Marhum Abbas Alloo Scholarship Award ($1,000)

~ Ali Abbas Rawji ~

Toronto

 

Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Association of Edmonton
Scholarship Award ($1,000)
~ Abbas Nazarali Ali Okera ~
Toronto 

NASIMCO Youth Leadership Retreat 2015

Once again the planning for the annual NASIMCO Youth Leadership Retreat has begun!  This year the retreat will be hosted by Shia Ithnaasheri Islamic Jamat of Los Angeles, a NASIMCO member jamat in California at the Pali Retreat Center, from September 4th to September 7th, 2015.  "SAVE THE DATE" on your calendars. For any queries please email: [email protected]

NASIMCO Supports Free Medical Clinic

 Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, is where a team of dedicated medical professionals realized the need to assist financially stressed individuals who cannot afford health insurance for their health needs. These medical professionals volunteer their time and services to open Hadi Medical Clinic fully equipped and housed at the premises of Imam Hussain Islamic Center, a member jamaat of NASIMCO. 


 
Hadi Medical Clinic provides free primary health care on a walk-in basis. It is open to all those in need of such services regardless of race, faith or socioeconomic status.  All staff, from doctors, nurses, administration, etc. work on a voluntary basis.

 

As the number of patients being seen began to grow, Hadi Medical Clinic found the need for a better computer system.  This was brought to the attention of NASIMCO who sponsored 3 Dell Computers systems to the clinic.

Right:  NASIMCO Vice President, Shabir Karim presenting the computers on behalf of NASIMCO to Hadi Medical Clinic head volunteer, Dr. Abdulhussain Nathani. 

                                                           

 

Full-Time Preschool Director  - Orlando, Florida

Husseini Islamic Center of Orlando (HIC), a NASIMCO member jamaat, has been working towards establishing a preschool that will cater to the needs of children ages 2 to 5 years. 

 
It is envisaged that the preschool will provide an Islamic environment and use academically endorsed methods to ensure that children have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life. Professional staff will be employed on the basis of their qualifications and ability to nurture children into respectful, confident and joyful learners by combining developmentally appropriate instruction with Islamic values.
 
Some of the key benefits that the preschool will offer include:

  • Islamic education
  • Accredited curriculum
  • Qualified staff
  • Modern class rooms and equipment
  • Outdoor play area
  • Halal food

HIC is actively seeking a full-time Preschool Director to join the team. Interested individuals can see the job posting here.

 

Letter to US Attorney General 
NASIMCO joined a diverse coalition of 150 leading civil rights, faith community and civic groups, in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, urging him to open a full and rigorous federal hate crime investigation into the brutal murders of Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. 

The letter sent by Muslim Advocates and the diversity of the organizations and communities represented in the letter send a clear message that federal leadership is necessary in this case in order to send the strongest message to the public that acts of violence like these have no place in a civil society.

The killings took place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on February 10th, 2015. The three Muslim students shot were Deah Barakat, a 23-year-old dental student, his wife, Yusor Abu-Salha, 21; and her sister Razan Abu-Salha, 19.

Deah and Yusor were recently married. They had met while helping to run the Muslim Student Association at North Carolina State University before he began pursuing an advanced degree in dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Yusor, who graduated in December, planned to join her husband in dentistry school in the fall. Yusor's sister, Razan, was a young and upcoming student attending nearby North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

Click here to  read a copy of the letter to U.S. Attorney General Holder.