Imagine someone as majestic as our beloved RasulAllah (saw) calling you a beautiful name “Ya Ummah” out of love, or lovingly wiping your face and eyes upon seeing you tired.  Imagine talking to our beloved Rasul (saw) before even his birth, being the first to cradle him upon birth and comforting him as a young child upon his mother’s death.  This was the very special, yet very little known of, relationship of the Rasul (saw) and Barakah (ra).
Hers is a story worth knowing, a life to be learned much from, a bond to be envied. She came from an unknown source, her roots untraced, as a child slave from Abyssinia.  She went on to become a constant companion and confidant to Aminah, the Rasul’s (saw) mother, comforting her during her husband’s absence, pregnancy, illness and death.  She cried with her and for her, burying her with her own hands upon her death.  She was instructed to then be as a mother to the young Muhammad (saw), a task she took to her heart.   She became the same for the Rasul (saw) and Khadija (ra) eventually.  She resided with them, married whom they chose and stayed with them until their deaths too.  Hers was this honor alone, to have known, served and loved the Rasul (saw) from even before his birth until his death.   She was among the first believers in the message and risked her life and faced persecution for Islam, such as when running errands to the house of Al-Arqum, a secret place where the Rasul (saw) taught his companions the teachings of the Deen.  She tended to the wounded and thirsty in the Battle of Uhud, among other expeditions she was honored to have accompanied the Rasul (saw) to.  Her husband and son were beloved to the Rasul (saw) and other muslims and were blessed martyrs in the Battle of Mutah and Hunayn, respectively.  When asked how she was doing by the Rasul (saw), her answer showed nothing short of an awe inspiring dedication: “I am well, O Messenger of Allah, so long as Islam is.”
Her life exemplifies the beauty of Islam, the true Baraka that Allah bestows on His true servants.  To go from an unknown Abyssinian girl child for sale, to someone that the most beloved messenger of our entire Ummah actually himself loved, is miraculous: her ranks raising because of her love for and dedication to the message of Islam. Imagine the Rasul (saw) telling you “You are blessed, Umm Ayman.  Surely you have a place in Paradise.”
Such was the reward for her selfless service in life and devotion to everything surrounding the Rasul Allah (saw).  ​

​By : Abida Rahmani

The family, which is the basic unit of civilization, is now disintegrating. Islam’s family system brings the rights of the husband, wife, children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. It nourishes unselfish behavior, generosity, and love in the framework of a well-organized family system. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued, and it is seen as essential for the spiritual and emotional growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families and by treasuring children.

Human being is socially bonded to many relations. First of all there are blood relations, from whom you are born or who are born from you. One of the most important bondage or relation is that of a husband and wife or spouses. Then it goes on with kinship to different levels and categories.

A family bondage is very important for the wellbeing or nurturing of a person and it’s a great trial or impossible to survive without those family ties. These family ties are adorable but trying too at certain times. One badly needs a family or relatives support in hard, trying and sensitive times. Their consolation and moral support helps a lot in building up the self-esteem and handle the grief and pain.

In Islam respect of elders and to be kind and loving with Youngers is a great part of religion. Respect for others shows great amounts of self-esteem to them. It is interesting to see how a child-orientated and religious orientated culture operates. Sacrificing own whims and desires for the benefit of family is a great part of Islamic society.

Individuals comprising any society are tied together by related group bonds. The strongest of all societal bonds is that of the family. And while it can be justifiably argued that the basic family unit is the foundation of any given human society, this holds particularly true for Muslims. As a matter of fact, the great status that Islam affords to the family system is the most important factor that so often attracts many new converts to Islam, particularly women. Family values play an integral role in the formation of Muslim society.

So, what are the particular values or traits of Islamic family life that so many are finding so appealing?

One can see that family values in Islam are one of its major attractions. These values stem from God and His guidance, through the Quran and the example and teaching of His Messenger, Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God upon him, who indicates the family unit as being one of the mainstays of religion and Islamic way of life. The importance of forming a family is underscored by a saying of the holy Prophet himself, who said:
“When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion, so let him fear God regarding the remaining half. (al-Baihaqi)

The Family is a part of the Islamic social order. The society that Islam wants to establish is a clean pure society. It establishes an ideological society, with a high level of moral awareness, strong commitment, attitude and fulfillment of an amazing human behavior. Its discipline is not an imposed discipline, but one that flows out of every individual's commitment to the values and ideals of Islam. In this society a high degree of social responsibility prevails. The entire system operates in a way that strengthens and fortifies the family and not otherwise.
Thus we can truly claim that family relations are the back bone of Muslim society, which protect it from many evils.

A strong family is a great asset to value.

May Allah Accept (The fast and worship) from us and from you

Assalamualikum Warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

Dear Sisters

Let us invoke Allah’s blessings and Maghfirah in these last days of Ramadan and make the approaching ‘Eid ul Fitr’ a moment of blessing for every muslim. It is truly a joyous day as it combines a believer’s faith, gratitude,acts of worship,brotherhood, and celebration all in one big moment.

Sisters, in this moment of joy let us remember the teachings of Quran that we journeyed through the whole month As we celebrate though. An important note to emphasize is to avoid anything displeasing to Allah, be it in our dress, our type of gathering, wasting of food, etc. as we do not want to invoke Allah’s wrath after the blessed nights of forgiveness.

While this is time of happiness and joy it is also upon us to think about the general state of our Ummah and the sufferings of millions of muslim brother, sisters, and especially children around the world. As you all dress in your best attire, feast on delicious food, and exchange gifts on this blessed day, please remember to open your hearts to those who are unable to enjoy these blessings. We should open our hearts, homes, and purses to make their lives as normal as we can, otherwise I fear Allah will take us away and replace us with better people.

May Allah swt bless our households, our Muslim Community, our organization and our Muslim Ummah with lots and lots of Khair and Barakah. May this Eid bring happiness and goodness from Allah (swt) for our Muslim Ummah. (Ameen)

Eid Mubarak to you all from ICNA Sisters

Abeer Sher
President ICNA Sisters.

​By Javeria Salman

Ayesha Shahnaz

A Different Age

We, as Muslim American women, live in different times today; these are not the blissful days of the eighties that my mother often mentions, in which she and my aunt attended a public high school in full hijab and jilbab without facing any prejudice or malice. These are not the days of my own care-free youth in the 90s, back before a magnifying glass was held to our communities to see if we really are the upstanding, dedicated citizens we claim to be.

We live in an age now, where politicians openly play hockey with our faith, defaming it to rise to power. We live in an age now, where Islam stands perpetually on trial in the media, as negative commentary infiltrates the hearts of average citizens. We live in an age now, where Muslims, and especially Muslim women, who are visibly representative of Islam, may face the brunt of bigotry and Islamophobia.

Yet there is hope, and there are those who stand with us and for us; we, as Muslim American women are immensely grateful for these souls for their love, support, and commitment to justice. As we work together towards a future of tolerance and peace in our country, we must simultaneously equip ourselves with the knowledge to keep ourselves and those around us safe, so that we too can stand for justice for the marginalized both within our own community and those outside of it. Recent events such as the passing of Sr. Hassaneen, the attack on three men in Portland who were defending two Muslim women, and others, have made it necessary for us to educate our ourselves on bystander intervention when witnessing a hate crime.

Nabra Hassaneen’s Tragic Passing

“Did you hear what happened in Virginia?” asked my sister in law as we sat at the ICNA donation table during Ramadan at our local masjid, which is a large bustling community center with nearly 6,000 attendees. “No?” I answered in confusion. As we conversed, the masjid board was making a special announcement before taraweeh would begin, urging parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children, especially those that were milling around outside during salah time. It would have been any other announcement, but there was an urgent tone to the speaker’s voice, an earnest plea. “Something happened with some youth at a masjid in Virginia. I don’t know the full details myself,” my sister in law said, shaking her head slightly. I had often commented to my husband that I felt uneasy about the youth that were outside the masjid, playing basketball or walking in groups with friends, rather than praying inside. He reminded me that it was better that they were here, close to the prayer hall under security, rather than somewhere further away, involved in trouble.

The conversation with my sister in law and alarming masjid announcement slipped to the back of my mind, until later on at home, when a quick glance on social media bombarded me with a plethora of images and information. Pictures of Nabra Hassaneen flooded my newsfeed: a 17-year old Muslimah with a beautiful smile, hijab, and black rimmed hipster glasses. The details trickled in, and I soon found that Nabra had been brutally assaulted and killed after praying taraweeh at the ADAMS center masjid, while out with friends to grab a bite to eat for suhoor. She looked like she could be one of my friends, friends who I had taken IHOP suhoor trips with as well. She resembled the quirky sweet girls who were a part of my local youth group. She reminded me of a younger, exuberant version of me. I remember sitting paralyzed at the computer the following days, as accounts from her afflicted father, friends, and community members rolled in. Undeniably, the incident sent ripples of grief and shock reverberating throughout our collective Muslim American family. May Allah SWT shower her with His mercy, make her grave spacious and filled with light, and enter her into Jannatul Firdaus, ameen.

Perhaps one of the most touching tributes to Nabra that I watched, was one by Sheikh Omar Suleiman, and another by a woman who had been a mentor to the youth in the ADAMS center area. It was the mentor’s words of comfort for Nabra’s friends that struck a chord in particular; she reminded the youth who were with Nabra that dreadful night that what happened was not their fault and to not be drowned in remorse. The youth had run back to the masjid to inform the leaders there, and contact the police, but Nabra had been left behind to face the attacker. Ultimately, Allah SWT is the Most Great and greater than everything; His rahma is greater, His plan is greater, His knowledge is greater. The truth is, we do not know what any of us would have done in such a situation. It’s easy to sit miles away in distance and time and claim that if we were faced with a hate crime we would do this or that, but the reality is that the sheer terror of such a position can lead to circumstances we never thought possible. Nabra’s case reminded me of another recent tragedy, in which two young Muslim women were protected from their attacker, but with fatal consequences for those that intervened.


Portland: Remembering Taliesin Namkai-Meche & Ricky Best

“Tell everybody on this train that I love them,” whispered Taliesin Namkai before he died, after defending two Muslim girls from attacker and right wing extremist, Jeremy Joseph Christian. Amidst all the anti-Islam rhetoric and bigotry against Muslims these days, there are still those who manage to search for the truth, practice what they preach, and stand for justice. This is how I view Taliesin Namkai, a 23-year old college graduate, and Ricky Best, father of four, who died this summer on the MAX train in Portland, Oregon after being stabbed by Jeremy Christian.
 
News reports indicate that Christian was spewing hate speech at the Muslim women (one who was wearing a hijab) on the train; his demeanor was menacing as he threatened the girls. Namkai-Meche, Best, and Micah Fletcher (who was also stabbed but recovered from his injuries), all heroically tried to direct the attacker away from the frightened women. This sort of intervention was astoundingly brave and selfless, and we are all left humbled by their sacrifice, keeping in mind ayah 32 in Surah Al-Ma’idah that states, “And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”

I have often found myself reflecting about this tragic incident and Sr. Hasaneen’s passing, my thoughts a mixture of remorse and trepidation. What is the best way to respond if (May Allah protect us all) we happen to find ourselves in a similar situation, witnessing a hate crime unfold? Is it better to run to contact authorities first, as Nabra’s friends had done, or should we step in ourselves, as Namkai-Meche and Ricy Best did? What if, when witnessing a hate crime, we don’t do enough and regret it later, or perhaps take action, but endanger ourselves and our loved ones as well?


Bystander Intervention Training for Hate Crimes

Neither I or Noor Magazine are experts or professionals when it comes the best course of action to take when witnessing a hate crime or being attacked oneself. This is why I highly encourage you to reach out to your local masjid, community center, CAIR branch, etc, to offer professional defense classes and non-violent bystander-intervention training for both sisters and brothers. My masjid recently held a “Bystander Intervention Training” workshop, along with CAIR, the Council of American Islamic Relations, on what to do when witnessing a hate crime. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but there is another “De-Escalation and Self-Defense Training workshop” coming up soon that I would love to sign up for. Although we hope to never be placed in such a dreadful situation, the stark reality is that Muslims, and visibly Muslim sisters in particular, in today’s climate, must err on the side of caution.

In regards to practical tips that one may use when it comes to such situations, please find some points below; sadly, many of these instructions were compiled by various sources with the spike in hate crimes after the most recent U.S. presidential election and approval of Brexit.
​
From the “Huffington Post”

The picture to my left, an illustration by a 22-year old artist named Marie Yener, depicts four simple ways to create a ‘safe space’ for someone being harassed:

1. Engage in Conversation with the Victim
2. Pick a Random Subject & Start Discussing It
3. Keep Building the Safe Space (Don’t Acknowledge the Attacker)
4. Continue the Conversation until the Attacker Leaves (Escort the individual to a safe space if necessary)

From UC Berkley
One of the nation’s top college systems, the University of California’s Berkley campus, has issued useful tips to students:

1. Make Sure You are Safe
2. Get Medical Attention if necessary
3. Preserve Evidence
4. Take Care of Yourself
5. Report the Incident
6. Consider Contacting a Counselor
7. Do Not Blame Yourself

From “The Guardian”

‘The Guardian,’ another prominent news agency, recently published some practical guidelines on what do when witnessing a racial attack as well:

1. Take it seriously
2. Say something
3. Be safe
4. Report the abuse to the police
5. Film it

I pray that no one who reads this article is placed in or has to witness such a horrendous hate crime, but the need for us to equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools on how to act in such a situation can save lives. Together we can make a difference. We can sign up for self-defense and non-violent intervention training classes, raise awareness, and be a beacon of support for fellow Muslim sisters, as well as other marginalized groups, such as refugees or immigrants. We can work towards a more tolerant, peaceful, and loving world, where hatred and bigotry have no room to take root. We are compelled to do so by the radiant smile of Nabra Hassaneen, and the honorable sacrifices of Taliesin Namkai and Ricky Best

Resources:
Huffington Post. Web Article. Artist Illustrates What To Do If You Witness Hate Speech Or Harassment.

UC Berkley. Web Article. What if I become the target of, or witness, a hate crime or hate-motivated act?

The Guardian. Web Article. How do I respond when I see racial abuse in public? ​
ere to edit.

Dear sisters in Islam
Assalaamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Alhamdulillah, by the grace and mercy of Allah subhan wa ta'ala we are blessed with another beautiful Eid to enjoy and share with our loved ones. This day is a blessing in multiple ways. It is a gift for those who spent their days in abstaining from worldly desires and nights in worship and prayer to seek the pleasure of Allah subhan wa ta'ala. It is a day that creates beautiful memories and reunions with friends and family. It is a day spent in declaring the Greatness of our Almighty Lord and praising Him.

The day of Eid is also a day of reflection and this is closely tied to the blessings brought forth by this day. For those of us who failed to take advantage of this beautiful and unique opportunity of gaining Allah's forgiveness and pleasure, this day should be filled with sincere concern over our loss. We were handed a platter full of good deeds and we chose to abandon it. We should reflect over this grave loss and strive to prepare ourselves for the next entire year to reap the fruits of next Ramadan while begging the most Merciful to grace us with many more such opportunities.

When we celebrate this day with our loved ones, we should also reflect upon the plight of those brothers and sisters who don't have anyone to share their laughter and hugs with on Eid. There could be a brother who lost his entire family while escaping from a war torn land. There might be a sister who was banished from her house upon embracing Islam. We should especially make an effort to make this day a source of happiness and gratitude for such brothers and sisters.

The Takbeeraat of Eid should also compel us to reflect upon whether our hearts have truly surrendered to our Creator's greatness or is it just the Ramadan hype that got us in the zone. As we recite the Takbeeraat, we should make a solemn pledge to continue with our efforts of seeking Allah's pleasure throughout the year as we did in this month. His Greatness is not limited to this month alone and neither is His Mercy and Compassion. The empty prayer halls in masajids after Ramadan and the Mushafs locked away in cabinets after this month of Quran passes, will bear witness against us on the Day of Judgment. They will speak of our negligence in accepting the Greatness of our Lord. Lets make a sincere promise that we will call each other towards Allah's pleasure throughout the year just as we sent reminders about Tilawah and Ibadah during Ramadan.

May Allah subhan wa ta'ala adorn our lives with many more Ramadans and increase us all in faith, knowledge, and action, Aameen.

Eid Mubarak to you all from ICNA Sisters’ wing
Wassalam
Sadia Salman
​President ICNA Sisters’Wing

By Umaymah Shahid

    Midday, in the middle of the street, an officer shoots an unarmed young man. Twelve shots. The officer was not indicted and a segment of the community felt a blow of betrayal and a slap of injustice. This incident did not happen at the checkpoint in Palestine and it did not happen in Afghanistan by the Taliban. It happened on American soil to an American individual. What makes this story almost unbelievable is the fact that America has always claimed to be the land of the free and home of the brave. This motto is sung in the national anthem and in the pledge, where we pledge allegiance to a nation that supports liberty and justice for all. However, the America we live in today falls short of that ideal. Within the last half century, America has dealt with civil rights issues in the African American community, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, and now in the Muslim community. However, the tragedy is that Muslims will be found in every Palestinian rally and every Syrian rally, but only a sprinkle of Muslims will be found in domestic rallies about domestic issues. The Muslim body is one, and that is why one finds waves of Muslims in protests about foreign issues. However, the same Muslims that come out to protest against American support of Israel, are also citizens of the United States. However, they do not involve themselves in the issues plaguing their country, whether it be gun violence, terrorism, black lives matter, or even unjust local and national legislations. Yet, everyone knows a Muslim who says, “Man, how can Trump be President?! How could America allow this to happen?!” The reason why Muslims are put on the back shelf when it comes to legislation and even simple support of the people is because we seldom stir from our political Facebook statuses and reposts to the actual battleground. 

By Sarah Siddiqui