ICJC Newsletter

IN THIS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7 J U L Y 2 0 1 5 EDITION:

Academy

 Quran Academy ICJC Library

 Summer Pro- Two years ago, who has been with the ICJC joined the Hafiz Program since gram ICJC Quran Academy started Quran Academy since he was the early start and excelled. a dedicated special Hafiz pro- eight. He joined the Hafiz Hamza is an avid cricket player  Construction gram for highly motivated and program two years ago and who also enjoys spending his Update talented Quran Academy has been a high performer time on the ICJC basketball students who demonstrated since day one. In addition to court.  Girls Scouts the ability to memo- Faseeh Chatta is a rize one page a day. fourteen-year-old ninth  Security Earlier this year, we -grader at Harmony celebrated Adam and Middle School in Over-  Eid Celebra- Ayan's graduation from land Park. He joined tions that program. This ICJC Quran School at month we are ecstatic the age of eight and has  Winning Essays to announce that we been in the Hafiz Pro- have THREE more Ha- gram since its incep- fiz who finished the tion. In addition to be- program during the ing a talented basketball blessed month of Ram- player, Faseeh is fasci- adan to bring the total num- being a Hafiz, Aasim enjoys nated by electronic games. ber of Hafiz graduating playing tennis and swimming ICJC Quran School from ICJC Quran School to and is a debate champion. congratulates the proud parents TEN as of July 2015 Syed Hamza Ali is of these fine young men and C O M I N G U P (MashaAllah) with many more a sixteen-year-old eleventh- thanks our wonderful community following on their footsteps. grader who started attending for their continued support to Aasim Hawa is a thir- ICJC Quran School at the age this masjid. teen-year-old eighth-grader of twelve. Like Aasim, he Hijab Fashions 8/8 Tutorial

Sunday School Open Registrations Eid Celebrations

Girls Scouts Regis- Open trations Eid-ul-Fitr prayer second prayer that was led was held at Blue Valley by the Imam. ICJC wants to South West High School this thank all the volunteers who year. As the crowds gath- helped in making this event ered to fill the spacious hall another successful joyous from corner to corner, occasion for our community. Contact Us Sheikh Dahee Saeed led the [email protected] Eid prayer and delivered a sermon on the mercy of prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Families that ar- rived late were given the opportunity to pray in the P A G E 2 Security

The last 60 days while some have been esca- requested to stay vigilant and have witnessed a spate of lated to the FBI anti- report all suspicious activities unusual activities ranging terrorism task force. All immediately. Per the police “no from defacing the sign to incidents were investigated amount of caution is ever Congratulations to the winners curious visits by outsiders. and closed to the satisfac- enough”. of the essay competition! All incidents have been tion of law enforcement reported to the police authorities. Members are

Winner: Syed Shadaan Topic: How Can Fasting Ele- ICJC Girls Scouts vate Your Taqwa? Does Fast- ing Signify Something More We appreciate our Scouts' registration for next registered last year please don't than Abstaining from Food Troop leaders, parents and session will start in August, forget to re-enroll this year. Moth- and Drinks? well-wishers for helping and date will be announced soon. ers and/or sisters of the girls or any supporting forming Muslim If you have girls ages 5- 14 Muslim girl and/or women are wel- Girl scouts troops at ICJC. years of age who are not a come to join as volunteer for vari- Alhamdulillah we had a won- part of Muslim girl scouts yet ous positions like Troop Treasurer, derful first year of scouting ,here is the opportunity to Co-leader, Cookie mom and more. Winner: Hazem Tariq with the blessing of Allah join the fun with Muslim girls For more information please email Topic: Maintaining the Mo- (SWT) and everyone's duas from different schools but in to ICJC Troop recruiter at mentum and support. ICJC Girl same troops . Those who [email protected].

Construction Update The precast erec- At this point sealing of the 151st street is being explored tion for the building exterior the building to protect the with the city in an attempt to walls started on July 9th but structure is a top priority. Roof secure the campus and provide could not progress to com- aesthetic privacy. pletion due to a combination The support of the com- of scheduling/logistic and munity in the night of Khatm-ul weather issues. The erection Quran with pledges totaling over is expected to resume on $800,000 has infused a new life in August 3rd InshAllah and the the construction plans, Alham- precast company has com- dulillah. mitted that the crews would Donations can be made not leave until the job gets by visiting icjc.org or dropping a complete: weather cooperat- check at the Masjid with ing. installation and doors & win- “construction” in the memo line. dows would follow immediate- Remember, all donations are tax ly. The option of a berm along deductible.

ICJC NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7 P A G E 3 ICJC Library

During , ICJC Li- incentives, each reader received an Eid enough to draw lessons from. If I brary hosted activities that engaged present from the library. It was such a could publish them all, I would. The our children and youth in a very hit! library wishes to extend our appreci- meaningful and productive way. The The Ramadan Essay Writing Contest ation and thanks to the following Ramadan Reading sparked love for attracted youth from ages 12 to judges: Inas Younis, Humaira Mirza, Islamic books among our young and 18. The competition brought in 21 Amani Hasian, Nahid Suleman, and not so young readers. This activity beautifully written Ramadan reflection Brett Cooper. yielded over 20 reading logs with essays, pieces beautiful enough to grace summaries from eager participants. As any Islamic magazine and meaningful

2015 Summer Program The 2015 ICJC Sum- The first week was all about School Supplies’ drive as part mer Program is well underway Eid! The kids learned about Eid, made of learning and collected supplies with one week left in August crafts, exchanged gifts and had a fun for metro area kids that are in need. InshaAllah. This year, in addition Thursday playing traditional Eid Our field trip was for the Peace Pavil- to Quran, and games. They were also encouraged ion in Independence MO and the little Art, we are very excited about to dress up in traditional clothes and ones visited the Deana Rose Farm- adding STEM (Science, Technolo- were asked to deliver short presen- stead in Overland Park. gy, Engineering and Math) as a tations highlighting the Eid celebra- The final week will be about full class for all ages. The children tions that reflected their heritage. the importance of knowledge in all performed several scientific ex- The second week revolved fields. We will also have our 2015 periments (age appropriate), around charitable giving and sharing. ICJC Summer Program Grand Finale used their imagination to com- The children learned about the im- Bash InshaAllah! Stay tuned for up- pete on building structures and portance of sharing and giving for dates in the next issue of this news- solve problems in a fun, safe, and good causes. We had a ‘Back To letter. well-supervised environment. P A G E 4

How Can Fasting Elevate Your Taqwa? By Syed Shadaan

Winning Essays Ramadan is the month chief which we achieve by Although, fasting is a shield of fasting where we abstain taqwa. One way we can get against evil thoughts and acts. Just from eating and drinking for and elevate our taqwa is keeping away from food and drink Winner: Syed Shadaan the whole day. What do we through fasting. will not make our fast accepted or really get by starving our- Allah gave us body is effective in purifying our soul. Topic: How Can Fasting Ele- selves throughout the day? and a soul. Body is physical; it With giving up food and drink, it is vate Your Taqwa? Does Fast- Why does Allah ask us to requires maintenance which important that the fasting person ing Signify Something More fast? What is the benefit? In we get from eating and drink- should also restrict himself from all than Abstaining from Food Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah tells ing. Soul is a spirit without wrong & evil and perform all duties and Drinks? us "O you who believe, fasting any physical aspect; it re- told by Allah and His Prophet has been prescribed upon you quires maintenance that is (SAW). Prophet (SAW) made it as it has been prescribed upon spiritual. Every day, we listen very clear in more than one of his those before you so that you to our body’s desire and con- sayings that, “Whoever does not may learn self-restraint.- stantly eats and drinks. We give up vain speech and evil actions, (Taqwa")[1]” This verse of focus more on body than on Allah is not in need of his fasting”, Winner: Hazem Tariq the Quran is saying that by soul and as a result body that is, Allah will not accept their fasting we learn self-control. grows and takes space of the fasting. In another , Prophet Topic: Maintaining the Mo- Taqwa gener- soul. That's why in Ramadan, (SAW) warned “How many people mentum ally means “God Conscious- Allah restricts our focus from fast and get nothing out of their ness” which is a combination body and ask us to limit our fasting except hunger and thirst and of fear and love for Allah. eating and drinking, which in how many people pray at night and Ubay Bin Ka’ab (RA) defined turn gives room for soul to get nothing out of it except sleep- taqwa to Umar bin al Khattab grow and become strong lessness.” This and many more (RA) as, “Taqwa means to be again. If our soul is strong it tells us that a fasting just careful of your deen while will act as a shield against the does not include keeping away you pass by things that can evil thought, and a mean to from food and drink it includes all harm your deen. You have to protect us from the hell- those things which is harmful to us pass by the temptations the fire. When we fast we get and our soul such as excessive talk- way you pass by a thorny hungry and feel like eating, ing, backbiting, lying. valley while protecting your- our body screams out like a This is the essence of Rama- self and your clothes.” This child for food, but it's our dan, to help give strength to our means that taqwa helps us soul that says no to food. souls and build constant remem- avoid temptations or anything Even though we could hide brance of Allah (SWT). Through that can harm our deen. Es- from people & eat we don’t fasting we gain spirituality, taqwa sentially, if one person has because we know that Allah and it makes an emotional attach- taqwa, it can help them in the is watching us and we contin- ment to Allah (SWT) to the point hereafter. A verse in surah Al ue to fast. When we get hun- of love. This is why we should all -Qasas tells us, “That home of gry and want food, we re- enjoy Ramadan, because we get to the Hereafter we shall give to member we're fasting for reconnect with the one we love, those who intend not high- Allah say no and continue to Allah, the Almighty. If we gain this handedness or mischief on fast. When we continuously understanding and make proper earth: and the end is (best) for do this, we are constantly use of this knowledge, we can ex- the Righteous (Muttaqeen)”. remembering Allah in our perience Ramadan as a soul purify- This ayah is saying that to actions, and we train our- ing process to attain taqwa, and not enter Jannah we need to be selves to continuously re- just an experience of hunger and righteous, perform good member Allah. This is how thirst. deeds, and not to create mis- we develop Taqwa by fasting.

ICJC NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7 P A G E 5

Maintaining The Momentum by Hazem Tariq

Ramadan is an inspiring than one thousand months; which is In Ramadan, we are certainly moti- month unlike any other. Its arrival equal to 83 years. Imagine that the vated to put our best Islamic practice brings about significant changes in the blessings of worship in this one night forward; but what about the rest of the lives of Muslims around the world. are multiplied by 83 years of worship. year? What can we do to maintain this However; what is it about Ramadan How many of us can guarantee that we higher state of during every month that causes some of us to dramatically would even live to be 83 years old? of the year? To accomplish this, we change our behavior? Furthermore, Without a doubt Ramadan offers a should first strive to stay close to the why is it that some of us increase our treasure of blessings for all Muslims to Masjid. It is important to pray as many acts of worship and obedience and take advantage of. prayers as possible in the Masjid. Praying restrain our bad habits, during Rama- In addition to all the blessings in Jama’ah can help to strengthen our dan, more so than the rest of the being offered this month, Muslims also faith, and provide us more blessings. Sec- year? Although there may be many increase their acts of obedience during ondly, we can read the Quran at least explanations for this phenomenon; Ramadan because the Shayateen are one hour per day. Reading the words of some of the most significant reasons locked up. Our Prophet(pbuh) said, Allah(swt) is a beautiful practice which include how Ramadan brings with it “When Ramadan comes the doors of can heal our hearts. Allah(swt) says in increased blessings, the Shayateen are the Heavens are opened, the doors of the Quran: “We send down of the Quran locked up, and the unity in Ramadan Hell are closed, and the devils are that which is a healing and mercy for the provides an increased motivation to chained.” (Bukhari) Throughout the believers.”(Quran 17:82) strengthen our Islamic practice. year, Shaytan attempts to persuade us In addition, we should listen to Allah(swt) has said, “O you to delay our Salat, show stinginess in Quran and Islamic lectures in the car ra- who believe, decreed upon you is giving charity, and waste time by ther than music. Too much music dis- fasting as it was decreed upon those watching TV or playing video games tracts us from worship and preoccupies before you that you may attain Ta- rather than engaging in good acts like us with trivial or harmful matters. Along qwa.” (al-Baqarah:183) Allah(swt) reading the Quran. Allah(swt) has the same lines we should be careful of the states that one of the purposes of warned us about Shaytan in the Quran: shows we watch. Anything should Ramadan is for us to attain Taqwa. “Verily Satan is an enemy to you: so be avoided, and instead look for Islamic However, it is not declared that this treat him as an enemy. (Quran 35:6) programs on the internet. Rather than state of Taqwa is only intended for With the devils chained up, it being bombarded by negative media, we Ramadan. One of the first reasons is easier for many Muslims to offer all should focus on educating ourselves. We our Taqwa and Islamic practice in- their prayers including the nightly Ta- can focus on our school studies, memo- creases in Ramadan is that Ramadan raweeh, complete the entire Quran, rizing the Quran and reading Islamic offers a treasure of blessings. actively give charity, and worship in the books. The Prophet Muhammad(saws) The Prophet Muhammad Masjid more regularly. In fact, any has said: “Allah makes the way to Jannah (saws) has said, “Whoever fasts Ram- Muslim who still fails to do good deeds easy for him who treads the path in adan out of faith and in the hope of or commits other sins, can have no search of knowledge." (Muslim) reward, his previous sins will be for- one to blame, but themselves. In addi- Another recommended Ramadan given.” (Bukhari) Who wouldn’t want tion to the Shayateen being locked up, activity which we should continue year- their past sins forgiven? This reward Muslims are also spiritually uplifted by round is visiting our fellow Muslims, and alone provides a great incentive to the unity found in Ramadan. also inviting them to our homes to share worship more in Ramadan. Ramadan is a beautiful example of a meal. This will also give us less time for Another example of an unbe- not only family and community unity, counterproductive activities like cable lievable Ramadan blessing can be but also global unity. The fact that television or video games. Finally, we found within the verses of Surah Al- many of the 1.6 billion Muslims around should also strive to make more Qadr where Allah(swt) says: “We the world fast together, stand side by prayers and even strive to fast on Mon- have indeed revealed this (Message) side in Taraweeh prayer together, and days and Thursdays; which was the prac- in the night of Power. And what strive together to increase their good tice of our Prophet(saws). will explain to thee what the Night deeds is very inspiring. It is also uplift- Ramadan is a beautiful month of Power is? The Night of Power is ing to be invited by other Muslims to which helps us change our lives for the better than a thousand break fast, and share the Iftaar meal. better; but let’s take the necessary steps Months… ” (Al-Qadr Surah 97) It These small gestures of unity and gen- to maintain the wonderful spiritual mo- is an incredible gift that Allah(swt) has erosity can lift a person’s Iman in a big mentum initiated in Ramadan, for all decreed that this one night is better way. twelve month of the year, insha ‘allah.