Those in the DC area: The Dar Al Hijrah Food Bank is having a food drive and is urging donations in the form of rice, oil, flour, toothpaste, cereal and other non-perishable foods. When you are at the store - and can afford to do so - please pick up a little extra and donate it to the Food Bank. Please deliver all donations at the DAH Food Bank or Main Office, Monday- Friday 10AM-4PM. If you have any questions, please call 703-531-2905 or email: daralhijrahss [AT] yahoo [DOT] com

Those outside the area can donate online (select Food Bank)

For years, the Dar al Hijrah mosque was an isolated, slightly mysterious presence in Falls Church -- a stark stone building hidden behind a row of trees, rarely visited by non-Muslims in the multi-ethnic Culmore neighborhood, and known mostly for traffic jams on Leesburg Pike as worshipers arrived for Friday prayers.

These days, the mosque bustles with visitors chattering in Spanish and Vietnamese as well as Persian and Urdu. Immigrants from a dozen countries gather there each Thursday, many with toddlers and baby strollers, to pick up donated chicken, bread, fruit and vegetables.

On weekends, the doors are thrown open for community blood drives or mental health fairs. At night, mosque officials often attend meetings at nearby churches, synagogues or social agencies, including a monthly brainstorming session called Culmore Partners.

"The average person here has had no interaction with Islam. They may even think we are the enemy, especially after September 11th," said Abdulkareem Jama, a network engineer from Somalia who is president of the mosque's board. "The more we open up and interact, the more we demystify things and seem normal to each other."

Dar al Hijrah has evolved dramatically since 2001, when it came under official suspicion amid reports that a man linked to the terror attacks in New York and Washington had visited there. This year, its glossy 25th anniversary report includes congratulatory letters from a variety of private and public institutions.

The mosque's coming out also reflects the growing cooperation between area Muslim institutions and the largely non-Muslim immigrant communities that surround them. In Culmore, the trend has brought many groups together to help immigrants who struggle with poverty, discrimination and legal problems.

Father Horace Grinnell is the pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, a longtime anchor of Culmore. Until six months ago, he had never met the leaders of Dar al Hijrah. Now, they are collaborating on a health clinic and other projects.

"There has been a quantum leap in synergy and coordination," Grinnell said. "They were painted pretty harshly after 9/11, but now they are reaching out on all fronts. We can both be a resource for people, whether they are Catholic or not."

Beyond places of worship, the evolving mosaic of shops, restaurants and offices in Culmore and several other Northern Virginia areas reflects an increasingly comfortable meld of Middle Eastern cultures with the Latin American and Asian cultures that once dominated them.

On Leesburg Pike, a Pakistani dentist's waiting room has Spanish-language and Muslim-oriented newspapers; an Arab-owned travel company books trips to Central America; and an Iranian grocery owner often chats with the Salvadoran discount furniture seller next door.

"There is harmony here," said Luis Lazo, 55, as he stopped by to greet Lida Sadahjiani in her shop stuffed with Iranian delicacies. "We don't speak the same language, but we have known each other a long time."

Just across Leesburg Pike, Ali Altaf, 35, a bank employee, was eating lunch at a Middle Eastern restaurant with his wife and children. In the window were signs in Arabic, Persian and Spanish. His waitress was a Peruvian immigrant named Emiliana Navarrete, 21.

"People here seem more knowledgeable about each other's cultures now; they are getting to know each other better," Altaf said. Navarrete showed the notepad where she had written the names of Persian dishes phonetically so she could understand telephone orders.

"Baba kanush, korma sapsi," she practiced with a laugh.

Such public familiarity has not crossed the line into many personal friendships, let alone religious conversions, local leaders said. There are only a handful of Hispanic Muslims in the area, including Farhanaz Ellis, an outreach worker at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling.

Ellis, born to a Catholic family in Panama, said her mosque had held a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and presentations for emergency workers. Yet she seemed to have few personal ties to area Latinos and said much of her work involved explaining Islam to outside groups.

"Many people here have the misperception that Islam oppresses women and that Muslims see non-Muslims as infidels," she said. She does not try to change critics, she said, "just give them food for thought."

One area Muslim who has plunged into Hispanic issues is Mukit Hossain, a Bangladeshi immigrant in Herndon who co-founded a day-laborer center there for Latino workers. The center provoked a public outcry and was shut down last year.

Hossain said area Muslims, most of whom came to the U.S. legally, traditionally had little interest in the problems of illegal or Latino immigrants. After the terror attacks of 2001, however, they began to face public hostility and find common cause with other immigrant groups.

"What happened on 9/11 was a wake-up call for all of us," Hossain said. To those who question why he would help Hispanic laborers, he retorted, "Do they think I am a terrorist here to convert people?"

Immigration is a "human rights issue," he said. "No one from any country should be treated like an animal."

It was the threat of a crackdown on illegal immigrants that first brought Dar al Hijrah into close contact with advocacy groups. A meeting was called in Culmore to discuss how to help families in cases of raids or arrests, and mosque officials offered their premises.

"We were blown away by their hospitality. They even bought us all pizza," said Cindy Brown of Hogar Hispano, a nonprofit aid agency for Latinos on Leesburg Pike.

Mosque officials say they have no desire to push their religion on other immigrants, only to inform them about it. At community events, they set up a booth with brochures in Spanish, including a booklet on the history of Islam, women's rights and "common misinterpretations" about their faith.

"We are one community of many cultures and faiths, and we want to break down the barriers that divide us," said Mohammed Abdelilah, a manager at Dar al Hijrah. "This is nothing magic. It's not for political gain. It is for the sake of God."

At a recent food distribution in the mosque, families from Morocco, Iran, El Salvador, Vietnam, Korea, Guatemala, Pakistan and Ethiopia waited their turn. Although clustered together by language groups, they greeted each other with smiles.

Carlos Moreno, 71, an immigrant from El Salvador, said that with food prices climbing, he and his wife were grateful for the assistance and felt comfortable visiting the mosque.

"The Bible says there should be no divisions between human beings, no racism and no prejudice," Moreno said. "When we die, we all look the same. Rich or poor, black or white, we all go to the same place."

Pictures of our teams are on facebook group

Class Teaches New Muslims About Faith's Practices
by Jamie Tarabay NPR News
All Things Considered, March 25, 2008

It may be one of the fastest growing religions in the world, but in the U.S., it's a challenge for converts to Islam to learn about their new faith. Muslims are a minority here, with estimates of the population ranging from 2 million to 6 million, and they often come together in small groups to learn what they can and cannot do as practicing Muslims.

Some of the questions new Muslims have can be as complex as the "meaning of life" or as simple as owning a dog or hanging a photo in their home. Many Muslims regard dogs as unclean, and there are rules about whether you can own one. Whether Muslims can hang a picture depends on if it has any spiritual meaning.

Imam Johari Abdul Malik is the outreach director for a mosque in Falls Church, Va. He heads a meeting at Howard University for a half-dozen men who come every week looking for answers Muslims in other countries would normally get from their sheik or spiritual adviser.

Group Sessions

It's raining outside but inside it's warm. The men have brought their dinner with them. There's chicken, rice, vegetable curry, all bought from places where the food served is known to be "halal" – ritually fit for Muslims to eat. One of the converts, Lakye Franklin, asks how he can be sure takeaway food from a nearby wannabe KFC, is halal. The imam tells him it's run by Muslims, so that makes it OK.

Most of these men have been coming to this weekly class for the past four years or so. Still, they are full of questions on all sorts of subjects, basic and complicated. Many mosques in the United States have classes like this, a sort of Islam 101, to help new Muslims figure things out. During this meeting the men look for more answers in a slim book on Islam and monotheism. One of them reads out a hadith, a saying of the Prophet Mohammed and his companions.

"Fear Allah wherever you are and follow a bad deed with a good one, and it will wipe it out. And behave well toward other people," he reads.

Imam Johari discusses the passage, drawing on anecdotes and other stories that are relevant to the reading, but also relevant to today. The men deliberate on the words in between mouthfuls of bread and chicken. They listen and chuckle. They've adapted to many aspects of living as a Muslim — giving up pork, fasting — but there's one issue that keeps coming up: women.

Most of these men aren't married, and to be Muslim is to be celibate until marriage. Islam also tells men not to give attractive women more than one fleeting glance. And here, in this society, that's hard, as Imam Johari well knows.

"You're a man. You walk down the street, back in the day, right? A lady walks down the street and her dress blows up, right? Now, the lady's dress blows up and the other dudes look at you and say, 'Man, what's wrong with you?'" he says.

The Restrictions

And there's more required from new Muslims: prayer five times a day no matter what, disregarding the splatter and smell of bacon and eggs sizzling at a diner. Casual sex and alcohol are banned under Islamic law, but both are so freely available in this society. Some of the men chafe at the restrictions, but others find it comforting.

"You have one glance and that's it, not ogling somebody. It's just that clear you shouldn't do it and it's right there [in the book]," says Franklin, a 6-foot-3-inch Army reservist who converted to Islam four years ago while serving in Kuwait.
Franklin says he was attracted to the Muslim faith because of the challenges.

"There's no such thing as a perfect Muslim, but I strive to become better and to learn more and to try and apply the principles that are taught in Islam to my life," he says. "That's very difficult in a western society, it's very difficult."

Surrendering to Islam

It's just as difficult adapting Islamic teachings from centuries ago against today's background. This group of African-American men must grapple with terms that may be hard to confront. Words like servitude and slavery. One of the night's readings centers on Muslim men who willingly go into servitude for God. They change their names to include the word "Abd." In Arabic, that means "slave." How does Imam Johari interpret this?

He says the person is actually surrendering themselves to Islam by choice.

"The slave is a person you think of who is under the control of somebody else forcibly, who doesn't want to do it. The 'Abd' … doesn't want to do anything else."

First Fundraising Event at Dar Al-Hijrah ... More than $350 Donated

Our first fundraising event took place yesterday alhamdullah. We decided to make food and sell toys at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center Festival in Falls Church, Virginia.

Alhamdullah we were able to raise more than $350 . While that may not seem much, if you realize that millions of people around the world live on less than a dollar a day, those $350 can beithnAllah feed more than 350 people! You as well -whatever you donate after reading this post- it will beithnAllah help many many people.

There were many amazing and touching moments yesterday. Many people paid more than the value of the food or the toys when they knew that we are working to help Muslim orphans. We made a sign that said "Buy a Toy Save a Muslim Orphan" and all of a sudden people started giving $10 for a slice of pizza :)

The most amazing incident was a little girl who would come every 10 minutes or so and look into all the toys. After doing that a few times, she came back and said "This is my donation." It was a $10 bill. One of the volunteers thanked her very much and asked her to take whatever toys she wants. "Even though I like many of toys very much, I won't take any because this money is a donation," the girl said.

I ask Allah (swt) to bless her and bless all of you for your continued support. You can now donate using Paypal using your debit or credit card. You don't need to have a Paypal account to donate. The link is at the top of this page.

Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

Saturday, February, 23^rd 2008 from 12:00PM – 9:00PM as the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center.

The afternoon will feature a walking tour of the American Islamic Heritage Museum [AIHM] exhibit in the courtyard of Dar Al-Hijrah. Br Amir Muhammad, who is Director of the Museum will lead discussion about the exhibit

Also, from 7:30PM – 9:00PM, Imam Khalid Abdul-Fattah Griggs, author the new book "Islamic Party of North America" will lecture on the History of the Islamic Movement in America in the Post Malcolm X period.  Special emphasis will be placed on the role of Americans and their achievements in Washington, DC

Film Festival:  Throughout afternoon there will be are series of showings of the films:

Prince Among Slaves,  Malcolm X followed by discussions lead by Imam Johari Abdul-Malik

Please mark the date and join us

The event began with a short khatira (reminder) that emphasized the importance of giving back to the community in a continual and consistent manner and the responsibility Muslims should assume in ridding society of the hunger and poverty that exists within it. Abdel-Rahman Hamed, the MAS Youth of DC Director commented on this stating: "Islam is a realistic way of life that is relevant to our social problems today and I call on our youth throughout the DC metropolitan area to seek these opportunities and commit themselves to the mission and vision of MAS Youth of DC in order to double our efforts and create an Islamic momentum for change in our home, with our neighbors and the society at large." 

Before heading out to their workstations in the kitchen, MYDC volunteer s renewed their intentions and then were given a short briefing about DC Central Kitchen by one of its volunteer chefs. The 37 participants wore gloves and aprons and put their cooking skills to work as they chopped onions, potatoes, celery, broccoli, chicken, and various other ingredients that were to be used for the chicken-pot-pies and broccoli cheddar soup the kitchen was cooking up.  

It was a tiring but rewarding three hour event that ended when MYDC volunteers packed for distribution the chicken-pot-pies and other meals they cooked. As Hamed notes, "the satisfaction felt after serving our Creator by serving His creation cannot be described in words and one gets a sincere understanding and appreciation of the justice in Islam's social context, one which cannot be attained by just attending study circles and seminars."  

The DC Central Kitchen staff was thankful for the time MYDC volunteers put into volunteering at the Kitchen as well as the positive energy that was clearly displayed by all of them. Indeed, "He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a [complete] believer." May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the source of our guidance and upon all those who follow the path of righteousness. 

To read what MYDC participants have said about this and other events, visit our blog at mydc.wordpress.com !  

MAS Youth of DC carries out various projects and activities that aim to give youth an opportunity to show their appreciation and dedication to their faith through comprehensive approaches by developing their spirituality, understanding, and overall character to become a beacon of light in our American society.

Video of the Eid Celebration at the DC Convention Center.

Plus a Photo Gallery

More photos are below and on the DAH Facebook Group

The Dar Al-Hijrah Executive Committee invites the entire community to attend its Quarterly Meeting
 
Subject: Town Hall Meeting with the Community
When: Saturday, December 1st, 2007 after Maghrib Immediately - 5:00PM
Where: Courtyard of Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center
 
Everybody is invited to share their thoughts , concerns, and ideas
 
Refreshments will be available

Please consider making a gift to support the children and families in Bangladesh whose lives have been devastated by the recent cyclone.

At UNICEF and Islamic Relief

Dar Al-Hijrah is a proud sponsor of the 'Prince Among Slaves' Premiere that will be held on December 1, 2007 at Cramton Auditorium at Howard University. Those wanting more information can go to click here

The event began with a short khatera (reminder) discussing the importance of caring for the environment and the role Muslims should play in this regard. Drawing on the motto of MAS Youth Give, "Serving the Creator by Serving His Creation", the importance of giving back to all of creation, a term inclusive to  humans, animals, trees, insects and everything else in between, was emphasized. Kay Fowler, the Executive Director of Fairfax ReLeaf, welcomed the volunteers who came despite the chilly autumn weather, and spoke about the work her organization does and the importance of their involvement. MYG volunteers watched as she planted a sample seedling, and then got to work soon after; digging holes for the tree seedlings they were going to plant.

Within two hours, MYG volunteers dug, planted, patted, mulched, watered, and smiled at the 26 trees they were able to plant in a short amount of time. The work, while tiring, left the volunteers with an amazing feeling of giving back to the environment. In a few years or more, insha'Allah, the MYG volunteers will be able to return to the park to find that the oak and sassafras trees they planted have reached 100 feet in height, adding beauty not only to Idylwood Park, but to the environment as a whole.

MAS Youth of DC carries out various projects and activities that aim to give youth an opportunity to show their appreciation and dedication to their faith through comprehensive approaches by developing their spirituality, understanding, and overall character to become a beacon of light in our American society.

Members of the Muslim American Society recently attended the Freedom Fund Dinner on October 20, 2007 in support of Loudoun County's NAACP Chapter and their outstanding initiatives.

In one of the wealthiest counties in the country, minority advocates are urging the Loudoun County School Board to redouble efforts and resources to boost achievement of black and Hispanic students to the level of their white classmates.

Members of the Loudoun chapter of the NAACP, who have monitored minority student performance for more than a decade, said they have seen only "small, inconsistent improvement" in narrowing racial and ethnic disparities.

"Given that some schools throughout the nation have eliminated the achievement gap, [we] must demand more effective and vigorous action," Reginald A. Early, the chapter's president, wrote the board recently.

State tests show large gaps in reading scores, particularly for elementary- and middle-school students. Four years ago, the passing rate for non-Hispanic white third-graders in Loudoun was 24 percentage points ahead of the rate for both black and Hispanic students. In the past school year, black students lagged by 21 points; for Hispanic students, the disparity was 29 points.

Stubborn disparities challenge educators everywhere, including those in the affluent Washington suburbs, where overall high performance can overshadow lower achievement among some groups. The typical explanations that experts cite -- including language barriers, poverty or uninvolved parents -- often do not fully explain those gaps.

Three years ago, a group of highly educated, professional African American parents in Ashburn realized that their middle-school-age sons could slip into under-achieving as they encountered low academic expectations in or out of school. The parents at Eagle Ridge Middle School, and now at Stone Hill Middle School, set up a homework club in response. They organize field trips to colleges and meet regularly to monitor their sons' performance.

[...]

The NAACP recommended specific strategies for helping minority students across the school system. Its suggestions include using test scores to rate teachers, dedicating more funds to outreach programs for minority parents and recruiting a more racially diverse workforce of educators. Although more than a third of Loudoun students are nonwhite, only 7 percent of teachers are minorities.

The NAACP also recommended better training for teachers in cultural competence and classroom management, with the goal of alleviating inequities in school discipline. Black and Hispanic students represented about one-fifth of the student body in 2005-06, but they made up about two-fifths of those suspended that school year.

There have been some successes, but more needs to be done. Working together we can do it

There was a free clinic in which several Muslim Doctors and I used to volunteer here in Northern Virginia. However, unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, that clinic was closed. But now as part of Dar Al Hijrah, I have asked our Social Services Department to work with Fairfax County's Faith Community Liason, Sandra Chisholm, to build a partnership in establishing another free clinic to serve the community's poor, under-insured and un-insured.

Fairfax County is looking into some sites that could be used. Since the fire at Dar Al Hijrah's Social Services building, we are considering renovating that building to serve as a community health care clinic. In addition to that the Muslim American Society's Service Corps has initiated the first pilot program in its Iowa Chapter partnering with a group called 'Mission Health' and in this initiative those who would come through our health clinic for screening would be pre-qualified and referred to participating hospital networks in the region.

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Director of Outreach at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center and former Commissioner of DC's Health Reform Commission, will be leading the negotiations with regional health care systems to recruit them to this national effort to provide health care for so many in our society who are among the millions of uninsured workers.

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Members of The Dar Al Hijrah Outreach Committee traveled to Philadelphia to the Muslim Alliance in North America Conference to show support and help in developing strategies to take on the challenges of Muslims who embrace Islam in the inner cities. We hope to have pictures and an update after the conference is over.

DAH Outreach is committed to projects such as this and it is our honor to be invited to participate in this conference

MAS Service Corps (MSC) continues its ongoing efforts to be of support to the San Diego, CA community affected by the ongoing wildfire disaster, and offers this announcement to provide additional information regarding relief efforts, and on how the community at-large can be of assistance in supporting the MSC San Diego Relief Fundraising Campaign.

MAS Service Corps has been working with various relief agencies to provide aid and assistance on the ground, among which is the American Red Cross of San Diego.

Additional information regarding The American Red Cross relief efforts can also be found at here or by dialing 858-309-1200.

Relief agencies are soliciting donations of personal hygiene items (i.e. tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, diapers, toilet paper, etc.).

Additionally MSC has launched a San Diego Relief Fundraising Campaign," stated MSC Director, Ahmed Elkhaldy.

" MSC is calling on all MAS chapters, Islamic Centers and contentious members of our great community nationwide, to donate generously to the MSC San Diego Relief Fundraising Campaign," Elkhaldy continued.

MSC has launched its campaign with a seed amount of $5,000.00.

Donations can be made online or by check/money order by mail at the following address:

MSC Office

1035 3rd. Ave. SE, Suite #111

Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

News sources report that more than 1,000 homes and business firms in San Diego County alone have been destroyed, and more than 500,000 people have fled their homes in the county.  

The Islamic Center of San Diego, Masjid Abu Bakr, has engaged in key relief efforts. Imam and Director, Taha Hussane, reports that the center has been open to evacuees since October 22, 2007 and has been of service to approximately 18 families. Services include lodging, supplies, three meals a day. Additional necessities are addressed as needed.

At present most families assisted by the Center have moved back into their houses, while others have received assistance in finding hotel accommodations.  

Several fires continue to burn in the San Diego area.

The Islamic Center of San Diego is also listed on the San Diego County Emergency Homepage as an open shelter.

MAS Service Corps is also announcing the 'MAS Service Corps Service Day' in San Diego on November 3rd.  For additional information visit MAS Service Corpsor contact Dr. Badr El Ghussein, MSC coordinator of San Diego, by dialing (619) 244-3707 or by email

So let me state again, for the record, in case someone misses it. I have no ties nor have I ever had any ties to terrorism. I speak out against it. I teach against it. I have denounced ‘terrorism and anyone of any faith’ - including Islam, that perpetrates these types of acts in name of religion. I was featured in a paid ad that was broadcast worldwide to over 8 millions viewers and made my denunciation of terrorism, suicide bombing and the 911-types on the Fox News show “The O’Reilly Factor”.

If anyone says that Johari Abdul Malik or Dar Al Hijrah supports terrorism, then I say …”liar, liar pants on fire”