The Message - Muslim Community Center

Vol. 46a No. 6 Shaban - Ramadan, 1436 June 2015
The Message
A Publication of The Muslim Community Center, Chicago, IL
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President's Message
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Assalaamu Alaikum,
I hope and pray that you and your families
are in good health and Imaan. I also pray
that the coming month of Ramadan brings
all the blessings and happiness for you,
your families and the whole Ummah of
Prophet Mohammad (S). We are in the
Islamic month of “Sha’baan and very soon
will be in the blessed month of Ramadan
(8th and 9th months of Islamic Calendar).
According to many Ahadith, Allah’s
beloved Prophet (S) used to fast very
often during the first half of this month.
This was in preparation for Ramadan. The
Prophet (S) said, 'Rajab is the month of
God, Sha’baan is my month, and
Ramadan is the month of my Community.”
We should be thankful to Allah (SWT) that
He is giving us another opportunity to work
hard, improve upon our shortcomings and
ask for His blessings, mercy and
repentance.
MCC Hosts Meet & Greet
MCC Board Meeting
As part of an ongoing effort to engage our
community in positive, community building
events and activities, MCC hosted a Meet
and Greet session on May 30th in MEC.
Community members, City of Chicago
District 39 Alderman Margaret Laurino,
officials from Cook County Department of
Homeland Security and a CAIR
Representative attended the program.
An MCC board meeting was held on May
17th at MCC. The main item on the
agenda was the budget approval for the
upcoming year 2015-2016. The budget
committee worked hard with the office of
the treasurer and the executive committee
to present the budget to the board. In the
absence of Br. Naseeruddin (budget
committee chair), Br. Basheeruddin
presented the budget to the board. After
going through all the committees including
both buildings, special events, executive,
and schools, the board approved the
budget. Br. Feroze Mehdi gave a
presentation of the Full Time School
budget. He went over the details including
adding a nurse, more students, new
teachers, higher insurance premiums and
curriculum updates. Alhamdullilah the
budget was approved.
I highly recommend that you attend the
special Ramadan programs that are being
arranged by our special events committee,
Dawa Committee, Religious Affairs
Committee as well as Women’s
Committee.
As I noted last month, Maulana Yousuf
Abdullah will be leading Tarawee prayers
at MEC, and Hafiz Asim Aleem will be
leading at MCC. Don’t forget to pick up the
time table from the centers as it becomes
available. Special arrangements are being
made at both locations for Ramadan. We
ask all of you for full cooperation.
Please note that due to a delay in
immigration process, the arrival of our
Imam Mufti Nazim Mangera is further
delayed. Let’s hope that he can still join us
before the month of Ramadan.
I am pleased to announce that we have
been successful in convincing the city of
Chicago to mark a pedestrian crossing on
Elston Ave from MCC parking to the
entrance. This has been possible with the
will of Allah. Alderman Laurino and her
office were very helpful in this regard. This
will reduce the safety concerns for our
children and adults while crossing the
road.
(continued on Page 3)
Community Board
Member Battles
Discrimination
MCC Secretary and board member
Masood Bijapuri was the EMC of the
program. After a beautiful recitation by
Hafiz Ikhas Ansari, Alderman Laurino
spoke about the active involvement of the
MCC community. She also announced the
approval of safety enhancements
(including the zebra crossing outside the
Masjid of Elston facility). Michael, a
representative from Cook County
homeland security, spoke about preparing
houses of worship for emergencies.
Attorney Rabia Khan of the organization
CAIR spoke about "knowing your rights."
MCC President, M. Sarwar Nasir
presented all the programs and
developments happening at MCC and
MEC facilities. The PowerPoint
presentation can be viewed on the MCC
website.
Tahera Ahmed, Northwestern University
chaplain and MCC board member,
received a lot of media attention this week
due to unfortunate discrimination.
Recalling the incident, she posted this
message to her social media page.
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Since posting this message on
Facebook, many prominent members of
the community immediately responded
and reposted their outrage. Among them
were Sheykh Omar Suleiman, Mufti
Kamani, Yasir Qadhi. Abdul Nasir
Jangda, Imam Suhaib Webb, Activist
Mohammed Zeyara, and countless
others. Tahera's unfortunate experience
has been reported on by CNN, Chicago
Tribune, People Magazine, and others.
This incident is a reminder for us that
unfortunately there is still a lot of hatred
in the world towards Muslims. However,
the support and response from the
community tells us that people are
becoming less passive about these acts
of hatred. So while our deepest sorrow
goes to Tahera for having to experience
something like this, it's better that it
happened to someone who is vocal and
prominent in our community, and as she
began a much needed conversation
around our country of what we should
accept and what we should stand
against.
Ramadan and Eid
Announcements
MCC will post Ramadan and Eid
updates on the MCC website at
mccchicago.org. MCC takes moon
sighting information from the Hilal
Committee of Chicago.
Ramadan Prayer
Information
MCC (Chicago)
Fajr Iqamah is called at 30 minutes after
the end of Suhoor time. Isha Iqamah is
called at 10:00 PM and followed by 20
Rakaat Taraweeh. Taraweeh will be led
by Hafiz Asim Aleem. Iftar and dinner
are served every day. Suhoor is also
arranged for the last 10 nights of
Ramadan. Those who wish to sponsor
Iftar or Suhoor may sign up in the MCC
office by calling 773-725-9047.
Babysitting is provided. Uniformed
security personnel is assigned.
Additional parking is made available at
First Chicago Bank located at Elston
Ave and Montrose. Please do not block
the ATM drive way.
MEC (Morton Grove)
Fajr Iqamah is called at 20 minutes after
the end of Suhoor time. Isha Iqamah is
called at 10:10 PM and followed by 20
Rakaat Taraweeh. Taraweeh is led by
Hafiz Yousuf Abdullah. Tafseer of the
Quran recited is scheduled - time
permitting - on Friday and Saturday
evening after the end of 4th Rakaat of
Taraweeh.
Iftar and dinner is served every day.
Suhoor is also scheduled for the last 10
nights of Ramadan. Those who wish to
sponsor Iftar or Suhoor may sign up in
the MEC office.
Uniform security personnel are
assigned. Babysitting is provided.
Additional parking is available at the
Malloy School just north of the MEC.
Please be aware of parking restrictions
around MEC. Please donate generously
during Ramadan.
MCC Academy Hosts
Race for Education
As part of an effort to raise funds for
MCC Academy, MCCA PSG hosted a
Race for Education event this month.
Students obtained sponsored all month
to support them in their race. The races
took place in both MEC in Morton Grove
and MCC Academy in Skokie. Students
and teachers participated in the event
while parents and supporters cheered
on. The event began with a bubble-filled
entrance and ended with popsicles for
all. Alhamdullilah, the event raised
thousands of dollars for the school. We
thank MCCA PSG for their efforts.
Youth for Jordan trip
by Helping Hand
Helping Hand for Relief and
Development's "Youth Empowerment"
program is hosting their first ever Youth
for Jordan Program this summer for
students between the ages of 18-25.
The 2015 program includes:
Visit of Zaatri Camp (Syrian Refugees).
-Distribute in-kind items for families
-Spend time with Syrian orphans
-Medical Clinic
-Visit and Gift Distribution -Palestinian
Orphans
-Visit of Gaza & Souf Camps (Palestinian
Refugees)
Trip Dates:
Brothers: August 1-8, 2015
Sisters: August 9-16, 2015
Registration Deadline June 18th, 2015
Trip Fees: Registration Fee = $2,100
(Including all air fare, lodging, food and all
other accommodations)
For more information visit: http://hhrd.org/
YFJ.aspx
Standing Up To Sexual
Abuse in the Muslim
Community
On Saturday, May 2nd, the Khalil
Center, Muslim Woman's Alliance, and
the MCC Adult Education Committee
presented a program about Sexual
Abuse in the Muslim Community at the
MEC facility. The Panel of speakers
included Ustadh Ubaydullah Evans,
Sheikh Hamza Maqbool, and Dr. Sarah
Syed.
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MCC Academy Opportunities
MCC Academy Has Openings
MCC Academy is growing and thriving,
Alhamdullilah. Between our two campuses
in Skokie and Morton Grove, we have
limited openings still available for the Fall
2015 school year in grades 1st-8th and
both our boys and girls Hifdh programs.
Students in our full-time Hifdh programs
memorize Quran every day under the
tutelage of Hafiz Faez Biabani and take
classes in math and reading so that they
continue to build their skills in these core
areas.
NEW Part-Time Early Childhood
Program for 4-5year-olds
We are also pleased to announce a new
offering for parents of kids ages 4-5 yrs. old
looking for a part-time offering. We will be
starting a new dual-language early
childhood program beginning in Fall 2015
that will offer instruction in both English and
Arabic in an Islamic Environment to foster
children's spiritual growth complemented
by enriched academic instruction. This
program will run Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
and Thursdays from 10am-2pm at our
Morton Grove campus.
Why MCC Academy?
Our students learn and put into practice
their deen through daily coursework in
Islamic Studies, Arabic and Quran and via
unique classes such as Quran & Science,
Islam & Social Issues, Islamic Character
Development, Public Speaking in Jummah
Khutbah/Khatara, and through the living
example and loving care of our amazing,
fully-credentialed teachers and staff
Rigorous, secular academic program to
compete with top-performing area public
and private schools - Students consistently
(for the past 8 yrs.) score in the 88th
percentile on national standardized tests
Each year, numerous graduates are
accepted to the top Chicago-area selectiveenrollment high schools including Northside
College Prep, Lane Tech, North Ridge, etc.
For the past five years, MCCA middle
school students have qualified for and won
awards at the Illinois State Science Fair
competition
A growing roster of exciting extra-curricular
activities including Basketball, Soccer,
Fitness, Drama Club, Arabic and Urdu
Clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and much
more
To register your child or schedule a tour of
the school, please call MCC Academy at
847-470-8801.
President's Message
(continued from Page 1)
Every year, MCC board approves the annual
MCC budget during the month of May.
Alhamdulillah, the Budget Committee worked
very hard with the help of Committees,
Councils, board and the executives and the
board approved the annual budget that
exceeds $5.5 million. This includes all the full
time schools, part time schools, and whole
organization. I congratulate the budget
committee and the board for the budget
preparation and approval.
Our community is expanding, and so is our
senior community. That means more and more
people are ending their journey of this world
and going towards the permanent life in
hereafter. May Allah (SWT) bless them with
paradise. Because of the various expenses of
cemetery, burial, body wash, casket and other
expenditures, some of the families cannot
afford to pay for the funeral expenses of their
loved ones. In order to make the journey of
deceased ones smooth, we have setup an
active funeral fund that can reduce the burden
of those less fortunate during the difficult time.
Alhamdulillah, one family has already
contributed $5,000 in that fund. I ask you to
donate in the funeral fund along with other
donations.
Once again I thank you for your generous
donations of time and money throughout the
whole year. These centers are yours and we
need your time and financial help throughout.
May Allah (SWT) bless you! Ameen
Regards,
Mohammad Sarwar Nasir
President
Matrimonial Candidates
A 29-year-old brother (Pakistani Origin) who works as a Real
Estate agent is looking for a companion. He has a Bachelors
Degree and loves spending time with family and friends.
(Reference #118)
A 37-year-old brother (Indian Origin) who works as a Billing
and Accounts Executive is looking for a companion. He has a
Bachelors degree in Economics. (Reference #122)
Upcoming Community & Ramadan Events
A 22-year-old sister (Indian Origin, Hyderabadi), who has a
Bachelors Degree is looking for a companion who is well
educated and family oriented. (Reference #217)
A 25-year-old Indian sister, who has an Associate Degree in
Computer Science, is looking for a companion who has a
good family back ground, and should be well educated.
(Reference #219)
The Special Significance of Sha'ban by Imam Musa Azam (MEC)
June 2
After Maghrib Salah
Taraweeh Preparation Crash Course (MEC)
June 6
11AM-3PM
AlMaghrib Seminar "Detox: The Fiqh of Fasting & Zakah" (Chicago)
June 5-7
Welcoming Ramadan for Young People Ages 11-17 (MCC in Chicago)
June 6
3PM-7PM
Women's Committee Urdu Lecture-Ramadan (MEC)
June 13
1PM-3PM
A Fruitful Ramadan Seminar by Mufti Kamani and Maulana Mubeen (MEC)
June 14
9AM-4PM
Chair of Publication Committee:
Maryam Bozai
Contributing Editors:
Keren Mujtaba
MCC Interfaith Event at Jeremiah Temple in Northfield, IL
June 30
6:30-9PM
MCC Eid Festival-Food and Fun Fair (MEC in Morton Grove)
July 26
12PM-8PM
Obamacare Sign Up (MCC in Elston)
Every Friday
1PM-3PM
Free Computer Classes (MCC in Elston)
Every Sunday
10:30AM-12PM
For more information about any candidate, or to be featured
in the MCC matrimonial page, please contact
[email protected].
Editorial Staff
Natasha Jindani
Special Thanks to:
Hafiz Ikhlas (preperation of prayer timetable)
Mohsin Bhatty (distribution of newsletter and prayer timetable)
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