Assalamu Alaikum! - memon organization of north america

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MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of M.O.N.A. is to act as a central organization representing the Memon community
throughout North America. On a non-profit, charitable basis, M.O.N.A. will promote and support
the advancement, unity, welfare, and well-being of all Memons and humanity.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Salim Adaya
Assalamu Alaikum!
Yusuf Tar
InshaAllah you all are well! We are at the end of another year and we would like to thank all of our
Farooq Vakil
MONA members for your continued support. We are proud to finish the year strong and could not
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
PRESIDENT:
M. Ashraf Kamdar
V I C E P R E S I D E N T:
Abdulgani Moulvi
S E C R E TA RY :
Yasmeen Ahussain
TREASURER:
have achieved all we did this year without your member donations and encouragement. This year’s
highlights include:
1: Opening Crescent Clinic, a free health access point for community in need;
2: Opening Crescent Food Pantry, providing free food to families in need;
3: Hosting two Free Health Fair, serving over 100 people at each fair;
4: Delivering 500 food boxes for Ramadan to various mosques in Southern California;
5: Celebrating our 6th Annual Eid Picnic with over 1,000 attendees; and
6: Youth gatherings of a bonfire at the beach, Ramadan Iftar, and Skyzone
Rashid Memon
Inside this newsletter are a few articles from local Memons. We hope to feature advice from experts
MEMBERS:
Mushtak Batliwala
Mohammed Hanif Dada
Rahil Jandga
within our own community in this newsletter and upcoming ones. If you have any recommendations
of people that would like to write an article that we can feature in the newsletter, please contact us.
We look forward to closing out this year and starting the New Year strong!
Soaliha Lakhani
Saleem Moosani
Iesha Wadalawala
Y O U T H R E P R E S E N TAT I V E :
Humera Moulvi
A D V I S O RY C O M M I T T E E :
Arif Merchant
Zakaria Sattar
Abdul Wahab
New Office & Crescent Clinic:
MONA Board 2014
www.memonconnect.com
A place where you can find out about community events,
2180 W. Crescent Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92801
services, youth initiatives and contact information.
[email protected]
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SIXTH ANNUAL MONA EID PICNIC
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HEALTH CORNER
MANAGING YOUR CHOLESTROL LEVELS:
Farah Lakhani, MPH
Elevated cholesterol levels can be dangerous in South Asians due to their diet and lifestyle. High cholesterol levels are
caused by a combination of genetics, a diet high in saturated fats and lack of exercise. Cholesterol is tricky because
our body makes cholesterol on its own and it also comes from the diet. If high cholesterol runs in your family, chances are
genetics are playing a role in raising it. Being of Pakistani and/or Indian origin, we are at greater risk of heart disease
mainly due to the types of food we typically eat everyday (that are high in fat because of the amount and type of oils
we use) and not exercising enough. There are two types of cholesterol, HDL and LDL; HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol and LDL is known as the “bad” cholesterol. It is very common amongst the desi population to have higher LDL levels. As a general rule, we want HDL levels to be higher than LDL because it protects us from heart disease. HDL levels
derived from blood tests should be greater than 40 mg/dL for men and greater than 50 mg/dL for women. LDL levels
should be maintained under 100 mg/dL for both men and women to maintain a healthy heart. HDL can increase and
LDL can decrease by eating more of omega 3-fatty acids in the daily diet. Omega-3 fatty acid is considered a “good
fat” that your body does not make and it is essential for proper function within the body. Omega 3-fats are in wild
caught salmon, walnuts, olive oil and avocado.
Another nutrient which helps decrease absorption of cholesterol is fiber. When fiber is consumed, it expands in our stomach and decreases the LDL cholesterol absorption in the blood. There are plenty of foods that contain fiber to help lower
cholesterol levels. Fruits and vegetables containing the peel, whole grain foods, oatmeal and beans are great sources
of fiber that are vital to your health. Lowering your cholesterol levels will increase the chances of a healthier heart and
overall healthier body. If you have any further questions regarding your cholesterol levels, consult with your physician.
In the mean time, here are some tips to help with cholesterol in your daily diet:
• Try avoiding deep fried foods. Alternative: Bake the food item with olive oil sprayed on top.
• Use more of olive oil in daily cooking versus vegetable oils to maximize health benefits. But remember, moderation is key!
• Add a small salad to your dinner meal every day, with a handful of walnuts and avocado to get more of your omega-3 fats
in for the day to help increase your HDL levels
• Marinate salmon in tandoori masala or use in curry as an alternative to white fish, which is commonly used in desi cooking
• Limit egg yolk when eating eggs. Egg yolk contains many nutrients however it also has high amounts of cholesterol. If you
already have high cholesterol levels, egg yolk sparingly. Alternative: Eliminate the egg yolk on some days and use the egg
white portion.
• Choose leaner options of chicken and beef.
References: http://www.pamf.org/southasian/healthy/screening/cholesterol.html
http://www.webmd.com/diet/fiber-health-benefits-11/fiber-heart
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FINANCIAL ADVICE
SECURING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE:
ISLAMIC LAWS OF INHERITANCE:
H a r r i s M o t e n , C PA
Firasat Tar-Bakali
Generally, our community prides itself on being able to provide for our youth,
raise them in a comfortable environment and delaying the financial burden of
“It is not permissible for any Muslim who has
earning a wage or saving for retirement until our youth complete their educa-
something to will to stay for two nights without
tion or for as late as possible. However, more than ever our youth have ambitious and lofty goals to own a house, complete graduate programs, buy invest-
having his last will and testament written and
kept ready with him." (Al-Bukhari)
ment properties or open a business, and these goals are being identified at an
earlier and earlier age. Financial responsibility used to come with adulthood,
but if we are recognizing opportunities at an earlier age, shouldn’t we also
In Islam, Muslims, upon death, are to distribute their property in a manner
begin understanding the risks at an earlier age?
consistent with and ordained by Allah in the Qur’an. However, in order
Recent studies show only 59% of young adults pay their bills on time every
to achieve this Islamically ordained plan for their property, one must plan
month, and only 50% of young adults who closely monitor their finances say
that they learned about personal finance from their parents or at home. Further,
for it in advance. In California there are an abundance of tools one can
about 34% of parents have taught their teen how to balance a checkbook,
use to empower themselves in the advanced planning of their estate.
and less than that has explained how credit card interest and fees work. These
In addition to the Islamic benefits of estate planning for Muslims, estate
statistics are staggering, but before we can commit to improving them, are we
certain that we, as parents or teachers, are properly prepared to do so? In
2014, only about 39% of adults say they have a budget and keep close track
of their spending. Even more shocking, one in three adults still do not save
any portion of their household’s income for retirement savings.
Our community is not immune to financial strife. However, generally, we do
have a strong sense of family and cohesiveness, so sometimes it feels like we
planning is also an empowering tool for so many other reasons including
the fact that the process also helps to avoid probate, which is the lengthy
and costly process by which property transfers title once the title holder
has passed.
Islamic Laws of Inheritance differ greatly from California Laws of Intestacy
have more avenues for support than the average American. With that being
said, how do we improve financial literacy amongst our youth? Based on the
(passing without a will or trust). It is important for a Muslim to create
statistics above, it appears as if we, the decision makers, providers, parents
a valid will (or trust) so that Islamic Laws are abided by. In California,
and older siblings have some work to do. Creating a monthly budget would be
the ideal start to becoming more financially responsible, and odds are you will
be surprised at how much or how little is left at the end of the month. Another
important step is to obtain your latest credit report to review for accuracy and
identify errors or fraudulent activity. Each of us have the right to a free credit
if someone passes away without a trust or will, then after debts and
expenses are paid, the spouse of the deceased inherits all community
property and typically all or half of the separate property. Also, in contrast
report every year from each of three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian
to Islamic Law, if there are children, then California law does not
and TransUnion (www.annualcreditreport.com). Finally, become organized as
distinguish the rights of a daughter or son.
money management becomes difficult with numerous bank accounts, credit
cards, loans, etc. It would be easier to manage the flow of money by having
all your accounts accessible at once without having to dig through paperwork,
account numbers or multiple online login usernames and password. This is
where a free service such as Mint.com comes in handy. Mint allows users to
track bank, credit card, investment, and loan transactions and balances
Because of the differences in distribution in Islam and in California,
it is so important that we, as Muslims begin, if we have not already, the
conversation and process of Estate Planning. We, at Rex Law, are here
to help our community get started in this important step towards protecting
through a single interface as well as make budgets and goals. It is owned by
the makers of Quicken and TurboTax, so it is as reliable and secure as any
their estate. We have combined the benefits of estate planning with the
other money management tool.
obligatory Islamic Inheritance system to offer to you a service of unprece-
For parents, the action items above can be a family activity so that children
dented value so that while empowering yourself with the benefits of
begin learning at an early age. For the youth, taking the steps noted above will
put them one step closer to opening their own business, buying their first real
estate or paying for their graduate degrees.
planning, you can protect your assets for your loved ones and can
comply with the Principles of Islamic Inheritance.
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TIP OF THE MONTH
FRAUD PROTECTION:
Yasmeen Ahussain,City National Bank
Account Fraud —Account fraud happens when someone—anyone—uses your credit card or bank account
information without your consent. It can happen if a card is lost or stolen, when a card statement or a
“pre-approved” credit card offer falls into the wrong hands or if a credit number is stolen and used on its
own or to make counterfeit cards. While it may be challenging to detect, most banks and credit card
companies have numerous safeguards in place to help protect consumers and limit their liability to pay for
unauthorized charges to their accounts.
Identity Theft (“ID Theft”)—With ID theft, a thief gets access to highly sensitive personal information (like a Social
Security Number (SSN) or a driver’s license) and uses this information to open accounts, take out loans or create a new identity in your name. In some cases the thief actually uses the information to create a new identity—opening new checking or credit card accounts, starting cell phone service, even taking out a mortgage,
or renting an apartment. In other cases, the thief uses the information to access your existing accounts.
How does it happen?
Among the pieces of personal information that can be used to commit ID theft and fraud are your name, SSN,
birth date, mother’s maiden name, credit report, driver’s license, and credit card and bank account numbers.
Thieves may obtain this information in basic ways, like stealing your wallet or rifling through trash or by more
sophisticated means, such as skimming machines or online scams.
Some of the “offline” methods used for stealing personal information include:
Theft of a Purse or Wallet—Stealing wallets and purses containing your driver’s license or ID card,
Social Security card, credit cards, ATM cards, or other personal information
Mail Theft—Thieves target unattended mailboxes to steal bank and credit card statements, preapproved credit offers, new checks, tax or medical information, or fill out a “change of address’’ form to
divert your mail to another location.
“Dumpster Diving”—By rummaging through garbage cans, trash bins and dumpsters, thieves can get
access to important data about you from discarded copies of checks, bank or credit card statements,
or other records that typically show your name, address, or even your telephone number.
Skimming—Thieves use small devices, known as “skimmers,” to capture and store credit and debit card
information on a magnetic strip. Whether it’s someone using a handheld device or a fake ATM slot—the
card is often first swiped through the legitimate machine, but then it is also secretly swiped through a
separate device that captures the card number. The collected card numbers are then sold and are
ultimately made into fraudulent credit or debit cards.
“Shoulder surfing”—In this scenario, criminals watch you from a nearby location as you enter your ATM
code or punch in an account number or listen in on your telephone call as you give your credit card
number over the phone.
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YOUTH EVENTS
SKYZONE OUTTING:
Salam to all the youthful Memons!
I hope everyone is in the best state of health and iman. I want to take the time and thank you all for making our Skyzone
event on November 14th, it was so much fun! I hope everyone had as great of a time as I did! MashaAllah, with 70 youth
in attendance, MONA definitely took over Skyzone and got sky high (on trampolines!) For those that weren’t able to make it
out that night, you guys definitely missed a night to remember! And of course your presence was missed too during the
jumping, dunking, dodge ball and volleyball! I look forward to having us all get together once again. For our next event, we
are considering ice skating, and a brown bag event for the needy, inshaAllah. If any of you have comments or suggestions,
please feel free to contact me with ideas of what you would like to do with your fellow MONA youth! Speaking of youth reps,
if you think you have time and dedication to take a position as a youth represent holla at us and we can make that happen!
Jazakallah once again and for those of you taking finals: Good luck and may Allah swt make it easy for you!
Humera Moulvi, MONA Youth Representative
PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY!
Alhamdulillah, we have been able to provide the community with services they need and we can continue to do so with your support.
Please donate generously. Your financial support allows us to serve more people with FREE health services via Crescent Clinic, to provide
more FREE food from the Crescent Food Pantry, to provide FREE Family Counseling Services, host FREE health fairs, provide burial
services, and so much more. The more you give, the more services we can provide, meaning the more people in need we serve.
Crescent Clinic is open every Saturday from 9:00AM – 2:00PM. If you would like to make an appointment,
please contact the clinic at (714) 399 – 4575.
The Crescent Food Pantr y is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00AM – 1:00PM
Crescent Counseling Family Ser vices are open Saturday sand Sundays from 10:00AM – 5:00PM.
“The best among you is the one who is the most beneficial to others.”(The Prophet Muhammad PBUH)
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