Issued on: 5/24/2022
It is with great sadness that ICNA learns of the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that leaves 19 innocent children and 2 adults dead and several injured. It leaves us once again searching for answers and depressed at the collective state of our American culture. Why such mass shootings happen over and over again? What actions are our lawmakers taking to stop such atrocities other than offering “prayers” and long emotional speeches?
As investigations are underway, ICNA takes this moment to send condolences to the families who have lost near and dear ones and for those injured, a speedy recovery. No words can wipe out the tears and sadness for the loss of these innocent lives. How sad it is for parents never to see their children return from school and tell their little stories! How sad that they will not ever see their children walk the halls for their graduation! How dreams are shattered by such acts of terror.
With so much hate and hate speeches increasing by the day from political leaders, our society is simply heading in the wrong direction. So far this year almost 200 mass shootings have taken place. This is about 1.45 mass shooting per day.
ICNA calls on officials to make every effort to stop this culture of murder that is taking root in our country. Hate speeches from officials must be taken seriously and dealt with accordingly. They have direct effect on our souls of our nation. Why is there so little emphasis on the spiritually of our nation only to be substituted by hatred, bigotry, racism and arrogance?
It is hate and the accessibility of weapons that would lead an 18-year old to walk in a school and take his vengeance out on poor, little defenseless children. It is what causes a 19 year old just a matter a days before to travel several hundred miles to go to a grocery store and kill 10 people of color in Buffalo New York. How many more mass shootings in schools, places of worship, public spaces or elsewhere need to happen in our country before our lawmakers decide to take action?

Bismillah Hir Rahmanir Raheem
Assalam-u-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah,
Allah swt has gifted us moments to celebrate joy and happiness, however he also tests us in this life through hardships and tests.  An occasion to celebrate happiness and delight is fast approaching. This is an event of immense value, and we hope to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with all the joy, and passion it deserves!
Eid-ul-Fitr is the gift of Allah swt to Muslims to reward us for our endurance as well as our obedience and devotion to Him during Ramadan. We have spent an entire month in ibaadah and self control to grow closer to Allah SWT, after which Allah SWT bestows his mercy upon us by giving us Eid-ul-Fitr. It is the occasion to rejoice at our spiritual growth, to wear the best, be at our best and to eat and drink the best, but as always in Islam, all in spirit of moderation!
The month of fasting represents the responsibilities and duties of the believers in this world and Eid-ul-Fitr represents the reward given to us in this life like what we will be given in the hereafter. InshaAllah!
Those who are afflicted with poverty, ignorance, disease and other misfortunate are not to be forgotten on this day; rather we should remember them, and give extra charity. Let us pray, reflect , celebrate and stay steadfast on the Ramadan resolutions we made to become more tolerant, endure social issues jointly, and lift the burden of hunger, poverty and injustice from our societies.
May this auspicious occasion bring a lot of happiness, joy, peace, and prosperity to you, and your family.
May Allah swt Accept it from us and you.
Eid Mubarak!

By: Sana Sardar​

I remember when I came to the USA at the age of 12 from Pakistan. I came with my immediate family. We had no family or friends here. Going to school in the final semester of 7th grade was tough. The kids picked on me and my sister for the way we dressed and talked. The teachers, however, were pleased with our homework, because our dad helped us.

​Our dad was the Chief Planning Officer for the Board of Education in Pakistan, but in the USA he had to take on two full-time jobs and often fell asleep during his job or at the red light. My mom, who was so pampered in Pakistan, with many servants cooking and cleaning and handling the kids for her, now had to take on a full-time job as well.

​One day while walking home from school, some kids started throwing pebbles at me and my siblings from across the street. Being the eldest sibling, I told them to stop and they attacked me while holding my siblings’ hands behind their backs. I got punched around a few times before they ran off. That day I decided that I no longer wanted to be different. I didn’t want to be the immigrant kid in the school any more. I tried my best to speak English without an accent and blend into society.

I quickly realized, however, that there were limitations to adapting an American lifestyle, because my parents would not let me. For example, my classmates openly danced in front of the class, they had boyfriends and girlfriends,​ and spent weekends hanging out at the mall with mixed genders. This created frustration inside me. I was lost about my identity.

​When I entered college, I saw some women wearing hijab and I asked them if they were following an Arab culture or if it was part of Islam. I was reassured that Islam taught us to cover ourselves. I started thinking about my identity and what I was trying to become.

In my class, I once heard someone towards the back of the room talk about Islam and about the beauty of the Qur’an. He was saying that Surah Noor, for example, teaches us proper etiquettes of entering and leaving a house, of dressing inside and outside the house. I bought a CD of Surah Noor the same day after school and heard its translation for some time. I didn’t understand much and turned it off quickly. However, I fell in love with Qari Abdul Basit’s recitation of the Qur’an and started playing it more and more while playing games on my computer.

Another day, the same person was inviting some classmates: “let’s go and pray,” since there was a mosque right behind our college. I said I couldn’t pray because I had no scarf. He offered me his hat, and said it’s better than skipping the prayer altogether. I was alone in the women’s section and prayed peacefully. I felt so calm and loved it. I started coming to the mosque, bringing a scarf in my book bag to use during prayer. I often stayed there between periods and studied there as well.​

One day during Ramadan, after praying, I thought to keep the scarf on instead of putting it back in my bookbag. I was surprised to find that it was not a big deal and some Muslims greeted me on the streets. It was a nice feeling and it made me realize that while some people will always reject you because your identities clash (for example you are a Muslim and they are not) you can find belonging in your community instead.​

​I was once walking from one class to another and noticed a person praying underneath the college’s stairwell. I was so surprised and thought to myself, these are real Muslims. They know what’s told in the Qur’an and they offer their prayers wherever they are. Ramadan that year was a wake-up call to my identity.

I finally understood what I had to do to learn more about myself. I had to practice my religion! Next year when Ramadan came, I started wearing a hijab. I started ​offering my prayers, listening to the meaning of the Qur’an and started going to Taraweeh prayers regularly. I came to love this way of life and felt at ease in my own skin.

​Every year since that Ramadan, I feel like a reset button has come for me each Ramadan. It invites me to recenter my goals and my lifestyle to that of pleasing Allah as my priority. Each time Ramadan comes around, I buckle up. I start reciting the Qur’an more, focus on the meaning of the Qur’an, and make sure I don’t miss prayers.

I begin giving charity, try not to argue or lose my temper, and overall try to focus on the right mindset and live a healthy lifestyle. Ramadan impacts every aspect of my life inside and out. For example, I start eating very clean for suhoor, because if I don’t, I suffer during the day. If I eat oily things during suhoor, I get very thirsty during my fast. I also quit drinking tea and all caffeine before the start of Ramadan because I don’t want to have headaches during my fast. I also build my tolerance for my kids and husband because I don’t have the energy to waste on unnecessary stress. I spend most of my day in worship, rather than watching TV and wasting time. I let go of grudges and try to be sincere inside and out.

The reward of Ramadan is abundance all around us as well as inside us, by feeling the sweetness of faith, Iman. No matter how many sins we have committed and how far we have strayed from our religion, let Ramadan be your miracle reset button. Try your best for that one month to earn Allah’s pleasure and the aftereffects will last you all year long, In sha’ Allah. Ramadan is truly a miracle gifted to the believers.​

No matter how far you have drifted from Allah, no matter how few steps you have taken towards Allah, let this Ramadan be the new beginning for you. One step at a time, focus on becoming a better version of yourself. Learn daily to improve daily. Don’t beat yourself up over whatever is done and how much life has been wasted. As long as you are alive and you have this golden opportunity to earn so much more reward for each good deed you do, take advantage. In general, one good deed gives one good reward, but in Ramadan Allah gives us special sales where each good deed gives you at least 70 times the reward! Take advantage and run in this race for good deeds, earning Allah’s pleasure and taking the first step to starting over in your life. Put simply, reset!​

​(P.S. The guy who taught me about Surah Noor is now my husband, Alhamdulillah!)

By: Saima Shah ​

R​​amadan is a time where we give up many of the conveniences of our life, especially food and drink. In Ramadan we abstain from these blessings in order to strengthen our connection with Allah SWT, to focus on the soul instead of the stomach, and to comprehend the blessings Allah has bestowed upon us on a daily basis. However, for us to reap the rewards and the full potential of Ramadan, we need to be able to nourish our bodies at the right times: Suhoor and Iftar. With the right foods we can maintain energy and balance throughout our fasting days. This will allow us to feel energetic for a significant part of the day and perform our Ibadah at night without feeling the desire to fall asleep due to overeating and exhaustion. 

​When it comes to taking care of our physical needs in Ramadan, the key element to remember is to hydrate. Oftentimes, during Suhoor and Iftar we are focused more on eating than actually hydrating ourselves. Between 65 to 70% of our bodies are made up of water, and water helps to carry oxygen and other vital nutrients to our cells. Throughout the day, our body loses water through breathing, sweating, and going to the bathroom. As we lose fluids we become dehydrated, but there are several steps we can take to avoid any serious consequences from dehydration. First we need to make sure to drink plenty of water at Suhoor, Iftar, and throughout the night while awake. Water is the best way to hydrate our body. Second, eat foods with high water content such as watermelon, grapes, apples, cucumbers, and celery. Dairy such as milk and yogurt also contain lots of water. Be sure to avoid fizzy and/or sweetened drinks.

​These foods prevent your insulin levels from rising too quickly and then crashing; instead they maintain a steady stream of energy to your body because it takes longer for the body to process these foods. Examples are: eggs, meat, sweet potatoes, oats/oatmeal, whole wheat bread/roti, brown rice, quinoa, avocado, chia seeds, Greek or full fat yogurt, dates, and such. Diversify your plate so your body feels energized the rest of the day. 

​One of the benefits derived in Ramadan is controlling our bodies and our desires. This means that we learn to appreciate it and be grateful for our blessings, not that we eat to such an extent that we must roll ourselves to the musalla to pray and burp our way through the night prayers. Our bodies will make us feel like we need to eat a lot due to our day long fast, and that we must stuff ourselves to ensure our survival, but this is where we take control of our eating and eat as the Sunnah directs: slow, controlled, and with gratitude. 

Physical activity will help you feel more energized instead of sluggish. Try to incorporate either a walk (inside or outside the house) or some yoga in the early morning or a little before Iftar. Commit to just a few minutes, but get your body moving. While walking, do dhikr, recite or listen to the Qur’an, listen to a lecture or a book. Keeping ourselves active even while fasting helps pass the time and keeps us energetic throughout the day. 

​It is easy to go through Ramadan doing the bare minimum, but in this holy month we need to push ourselves to do the best in our worship. If we want to have energized fasts, spiritual qiyaams, and concentration in our recitation and understanding of the Qur’an, we need to make sure we appropriately nourish our bodies so that we can nourish our souls. 

The contribution of Muslim women in the establishment of Islam started at the time when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ peace be upon him, received prophethood may Allah SWT be pleased with all of them and they are still serving and achieving great success. Muslim women throughout the history played their role in the field of Dawah, education, government and were never afraid to shed their blood for the Deen of Allah, SWT.

They were the first to shed their blood for Islam. They facilitated the migration of the Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him, from Makkah to Madinah. They helped protect the city of Madinah from the invaders. They memorized the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet. They donated for the cause of Islam and did not fear poverty. They were scholars who taught the Quran and Hadith. They were not shy to challenge the Khalifa of the time or helped a Qadhi to correct his legal verdict. They were the first to start an Islamic University. They were the ones to send their husbands, brothers and sons to fight for Islam against the Mongols or Crusaders or others. And, they are the ones, as mothers and grandmothers teach Quran to their little ones and instill in them the love for Allah and His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, peace be upon him. They are the Jewels of Islam!​

For more information about the Women's History Month check
​https://www.icna.org/womens-history-month/

"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"  بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
​​In honor of the World Hijab Day, I took some time to reflect on what the hijab really means for us Muslim Women in America. The cliché that 'hijab is much more than a cloth we wrap around our heads' is constantly said and heard because it is a statement of modesty that encompasses the way we talk, the way we walk, and the way we think. It is a source of peace for us. We wear it with pride, and we wear it unapologetically.

Abdullah ibn Umar (RA/May God be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW/Peace be upon him) said: 
"Indeed Haya (modesty) and Iman (faith) are Companions. When one of them is lifted, the other leaves as well." 

Prophet (SAW) said: 
"Haya and Trustworthiness will be the first to go from this world; therefore keep asking Allah for them."

“Al Haya’u Kullu Khair”
'Haya in anything is good,' and this hadith (saying of the Prophet) particularly illustrates the paramount significance of having haya (modesty) and keeping your Iman (faith).

The hijab reminds us not to focus on what we look like from the outside, rather focus on our inner self. Instead of adorning our bodies, we should adorn our ruh (soul) with the obedience and worship of Allah. It does not matter what we look from the outside because true beauty is found within the relationship between the slave and the Lord.

#MyHijabMyPride
#WorldHijabDay

Today is a day of extreme sadness and loss for the Muslim Ummah. The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) sadly announces the passing away of Maulana Yusuf Islahi from this world today. 
“To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return”
We ask Allah to forgive him, have immense mercy upon him and to grant him Jannatul Firdaus. May Allah bless him with the company of the righteous, martyrs and the Prophets. May Allah accept all of his good deeds and make his lifelong work towards the Deen of Allah SWT a Sadaqah Jaariyah for him. 
Maulana Yusuf Islahi was a man of wisdom who paved the path to Jannah for hundreds and thousands across the globe.
‏إنّا لله وإنّا إليه راجعون
He was born on 9th July, 1932 in the Khyber Region in Atock, Pakistan. Early in his life, his parents sent him to Bareily, India to study the Islamic Sciences. He was educated in Islamic Studies initially from Mazaherul `Uloom, Saharanpur District and completed his Higher studies and Fazeelat from Madarsatul-Islah, Sarai Mir. During this time, he also memorized the Qur’an and also learnt Tajweed.
Maulana Yusuf spent four years under the guidance of Maulana Akhtar Ahsan Islahi and received Sanad Fazilat with distinction. He authored and published more than 60 books on various aspects of Islam. Among them are notable works, such as: 
Aadab e Zindagi (Etiquettes of Life in Islam), Asan Fiqh (Everyday Fiqh), Quraani Taleemat, Tafhimul Hadith, Guldasta-e-Hadith, Islami Muashrah, Husne Muashrat, Dai -e-Azam, Roshan Sitare and others. Many of his books are translated and published in English, Hindi and other languages. He became a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at the age of 25 years and served the organization in various key posts. He was a member of the Markazi Majlis Shura (Central Advisory Committee) for the last five terms. 
Maulana Islahi visited the US on a regular basis to give lectures and advance the Da`wah work in this part of the world. He was a notable speaker and an integral part of ICNA’s National Conventions. The entire Ummah alongside the membership of ICNA has lost a leader, mentor, murrabi and a visionary scholar. An uncountable number of Muslims and Islamic Centers across the world benefited from his knowledge and experience. 
Maulana Islahi was a very humble man, and a scholar with a very comprehensive understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith. We all pray to Allah SWT to reward him with the best place in Jannah, give Sabr to his family and his followers and guide us to continue the work which Maulana Islahi dedicated his noble life to.
Ameen.
 
Mohsin Ansari
Ameer
Islamic Circle of North American (ICNA)

​Allah SWT says in Surah An-Nisa ayah 58

​Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.

By the will of Allah (SWT) I will strive to be the best version of myself so that I may help inculcate ICNA Sisters to reach their highest potential and continue to be role models for their families and communities, In shaa Allah.

With these high expectations I urge everyone to push themselves one step further and reach new heights, challenge themselves, read more and learn something new, apply it in their life, and share it with those around them. As we are in the midst of this very long Pandemic, while fighting its challenges, we must not lose connection with the time rather equip ourselves with a constant reminder and use every moment to increase and strengthen our movement, our spirituality, and our connection with Allah (SWT).

May Allah (SWT) make us from those who achieve deep sincerity and conduct all affairs for His sake. Always remember our highest purpose and let that motivate us to reach Jannat ul Firdous ul a’la. آمين يارب العالمين

The verse is known as the ‘Verse of Radiance’, since it describes in great detail the radiance of faith, and gives an implied understanding of the darkness of disbelief, aiming to replace this darkness with light. The ayah begins with ‘Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth,’ a statement very powerful, yet beyond the ability of the human mind to fully comprehend as is.

According to Ibn Abbas RA, ‘Allah is the light of the heavens and the Earth’ means, “the Guide of the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth”. 

According to another view of Ibn Abbas and Mujahid, it means, “He is controlling their affairs and the stars and the sun and moon.” It is recorded that Ibn Abbas RA said, “When the Messenger of Allah SAW got up to pray at night, he would say: ‘O Allah, to You be praise. You are the sustainer of the heavens and the Earth and whoever is in them. To You be praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the Earth and whoever is in them.’” (AlGhazali, A Thematic Commentary of The Qur’an)

All these statements of the companions RA and the Messenger SAW point to the fact that the light mentioned in this verse is nothing like the light known to us. Instead,

​the light of Allah is incomparable to any other kind of light, just as is true for all other attributes of Allah SWT.

Allah SWT says, “The example of His light is like a niche.” A niche is the recess in a wall used to place things; in the case of this parable it is a lamp. The niche thus represents the chest of the believer and the illuminating lamp is the revelation from Allah SWT (Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

“The lamp is within a glass.” The glass represents the heart and Allah describes the glass as if it were a pearly white star, which implies that the glass combines the qualities of transparency as well as of solidity. The transparency indicates that the light has the ability to not only enter the heart, but to exit from it as well. Hence the light of emaan not only enters the heart of a believer, but radiates out from it as well, illuminating the hearts of those around it. The solidity represents being steadfast upon the truth. Unlike liquids, which take the shape and form of whatever container they are poured into, the believer’s heart is constant upon the truth. It does not change or overturn with the changing events and circumstances, as opposed to the heart of the hypocrite. (Elshinawy, M. An In-Depth commentary of The Diseases of The Heart and Their Cure)


The parable continues “…lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire.” Here the oil represents the pure fitrah; the natural light of guidance that has been inherently placed within each and every human being by Allah SWT. For this reason, Allah SWT says that this oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire – meaning that all humans have the natural tendency to be inclined towards good and to recognize the truth with the light of their pure fitrah.

​In conclusion, the niche is the chest of the believing slave, and the glass is the heart. The illuminating lamp is the revelation that descends from Allah SWT, and the pure olive oil is the sound fitrah. The oil is so pure that it glows on its own. However, when it is touched with the light of fire, it generates the most perfect light, and becomes light upon light. In a similar manner, the believing slave could almost recognize the truth on its own with the light of his fitrah, but when the light of revelation comes and coincides with it, it becomes light upon light. (Elshinawy, M. An In-Depth commentary of The Diseases of The Heart and Their Cure). Hence, light upon light represents the combination of the pure fitrah and the revelation of Allah SWT. 

​Al-‘Awfi narrated from Ibn Abbas that ‘light upon light’ means the faith and deeds of a person, (Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir) the basis of which lies within the heart. Whatever is nurtured in the heart, manifests itself through the limbs. While the fitrah has the natural tendency to incline towards the commands of Allah SWT, it is only when one actually submits to Him in obedience – making it a matter of both the heart and the limbs – that he exemplifies Light upon Light. For this reason, the companions and their students confined this parable to the heart of a believer alone; due to the fact that it is only the believer who draws benefit from the revelation, even though the pure fitrah has been granted to each and every human being. As for those who reject the revelation, they eventually end up corrupting their fitrah with their wrong doings.

By: Attiya Arif 
Excerpt From Noor Magazine - Volume 1,2021

NEW YORK, NY (September 11, 2021) – Today marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. It serves as both a reminder of one of the most traumatizing occurrences to unfold on American soil and as a testimony to the resilience of every community living here in America.
Each sector of the nation’s population was physically, emotionally, and psychologically impacted by the three-pronged coordinated attack on the United States.
Muslim Americans bore the brunt of the collective outrage of our fellow citizens as the alleged perpetrators were identified as being Muslims.
Yet, Muslims were also among the dead from the attack on the twin towers after the unprecedented attack. Among the innocent victims. more than 60 Muslim families also lost loved ones that day.
Our beloved brother Tariq Amanullah, a dedicated worker of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), lost his life on the 88th floor in the south tower of the World Trade Center on that day. He left behind a wife and two young children.
Muslims are an integral part of the fabric of American society. They have contributed tremendously to the betterment of this nation. American Muslims have, and always will, reject any domestic or foreign acts of terrorism. We are committed to striving to make the United States and the world a better place for all human beings.