MAV COMMUNITY NEWS - MAV - Muslim Association of Virginia

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
SHAWWAL/DUL-QAIDA 1435
MAV COMMUNITY NEWS
AND PROCLAIM TO THE PEOPLE THE HAJJ [PILGRIMAGE]; THEY WILL COME TO YOU ON
FOOT AND ON EVERY LEAN CAMEL; THEY WILL COME FROM EVERY DISTANT PASS –
22: 27
Why We Need to Educate our Neighbors
about Islam and Muslims
MAV kicked off a program series,
Know Your American Muslim
Neighbor, on September 6.
The bi-weekly program,
presented by Dr. Daoud Nassimi,
is designed to help non-Muslims
learn more about our faith and
move away from misconceptions
about Islam.
The first event was well-received
with about 35-40 people
attending. The next program is
September 20, 2014 from 11:00
am to 1:20 pm at Dar AlNoor
Islamic Community Center.
Brunch will be served.
Community members are
encouraged to invite their nonMuslim friends, neighbors,
classmates and colleagues.
If anyone wonders why a program like Know Your American Muslim
Neighbor is necessary, consider the incident with Bob
FitzSimmonds, Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court of Prince William
County, VA., in August.
Mr. FitzSimmonds questioned the contributions Muslim Americans
have made to the fabric of U.S. society after President Obama
praised the role Muslims’ have played “in building the very fabric of
our nation and strengthening the core of our democracy.” The
president issued the statement at the end of Ramadan, marking the
beginning of Eid ul Fitr.
“Exactly what part of our nation’s fabric was woven by Muslims?”
FitzSimmonds wrote on his Facebook wall. “What about Sikhs,
Animists, and Jainists? Should we be thanking them too?”
After seeing the post, MAV President Rafiuddin Ahmed, working
with the MAV leadership, issued an action alert requesting
community members to write to Mr. FitzSimmonds’ boss, Michele
McQuigg, Clerk of the Circuit Court, asking for his resignation.
At issue: if a Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court is making such
comments, how can Muslims or other people in the county trust that
civil and criminal court cases are being fairly administered?
Continued on page 2
AS-SALAAM ALAIKUM! WELCOME TO MAV COMMUNITY NEWS!
MAV WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCORES OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKED SO
HARD TO MAKE RAMADAN AND EID A PLEASANT AND REWARDING
EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE!
Photos by Imam Cemal Gumus
Muslim Association of Virginia
5404 Hoadly Road,
Manassas, VA 20112
Phone: (703) 580-0808
Email: [email protected]
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
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Gar-Field High School 2014 Valedictorian:
Sadiyah Faruk
Continued from page 1
Other politicians and civic leaders, some from the Republican
Party, also called for Mr. FitzSimmonds resignation. The Circuit
Court received 750 e-mails calling for Mr. FitzSimmonds
resignation prior to a meeting between Ms. McQuigg, Mr.
FitzSimmonds and Muslims leaders from northern Virginia, held at
the Dar AlNoor Islamic Community Center.
The meeting opened up a useful dialogue in which Muslim leaders
were able to inform the two officers of the court how Muslims
helped build the fabric of this nation from its early beginnings. The
outcome of the MAV and community members’ efforts was the
resignation of Bob FitzSimmonds as treasurer of the Virginia
Republican Party, although he remains the Deputy Clerk of the
Circuit Court.
Hard work and perseverance are attributes
that Sadiyah Faruk learned from her family
– her parents, brothers and sister. Building
on that foundation, Sadiyah achieved the
highest grade point average in her
graduating class, earning her place as class
valedictorian. The road to valedictorian
involved struggle – the theme of Sadiyah’s
valedictorian speech – as she worked to
master subjects such as biology and
mathematics. Sadiyah credits her sister,
Saleeha, with helping her to focus on school.
“She was a huge role model,” demonstrating
diligence. In fact in 2009, Saleeha, was her
class salutatorian, the second highest
ranking student academically. Sadiyah is
following in the footsteps of her father, an
electrical engineer. She applied and was
accepted into the University of Virginia’s
engineering program. The freshman student
has not chosen a major yet, but has an
interest in the school’s bio-medical
engineering program.
Programs such as Know Your American Muslim Neighbor can help
dispel myths and misconceptions about Islam, especially as world
events give incorrect views of our faith and what we stand for.
And, of course, we have to do our part by being living examples of
the true message of the Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad
(PBH)
The Nation of Ibrahim: Imam Gumus and Imam Nahidian of the Manassas
Mosque gave practical and spiritual insights on Hajj during a program Sept. 7
"Seek knowledge and wisdom, or whatever the vessel from which it flows, you will never be the loser."
Prophet Muhammad (PBH)
Welcome Mohamed Hussein! MAV has hired Mohamed Hussein as the new youth coordinator and an assistant
Imam. MAV Community News looks forward to talking with Brother Hussein about his vision and strategy for
expanding the role of the youth at Dar AlNoor and other youth-related issues in coming editions of the newsletter.
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
The MAV Islamic Academy Sunday
School 2014-2015 school year is now in
session. The curriculum includes Arabic,
Quran and Islamic Studies. This year,
course material for Islamic Studies have
been upgraded and more native Arabicspeaking instructors have been added,
said Dain Johnson, IAMAV principal.
Other highlights include:
 Monthly pizza/chicken party;
 Monthly 45 minute gym time;
 IAMAV dollars for good
behavior that can be used to buy
toys/treats from the school
store; collect 150 and you get a
$15 Target Gift Card.
Sister Taalibah Hassan also held a
teacher’s workshop on the first day
of school, Sept. 7.
TABASSUM REHMAN, LCSW, IS AT DAR ALNOOR EVERY 2ND AND 4TH THURSDAYS FROM 5 TO 9 PM FOR COUNSELING. SHE HAS
,
OVER 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CHILDREN, PRE-TEENS, TEENS
ADULTS, COUPLES AND FAMILIES WHO
STRUGGLE WITH A VARIETY OF ISSUES. APPOINTMENTS CAN BE SCHEDULED BY EMAILING [email protected] OR CALL
703-717-3086.
O mankind! reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like
nature, His mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; - reverence
Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for
Allah ever watches over you. – Quran. Surah Nisaa, 4:1.
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
Spirits were high during the
month of Ramadan as
community members gathered
for Taraweeh prayers led by
Imam Gumus and attended iftar
meals with family and friends.
An outpouring of support was
shown during the night of
Ramadan 27 when MAV held its
annual fundraiser and Khatam
(completion) of Quran on the.
MAV raised $77,000 in
donations and pledges. Br. Rafi
Ahmed and Imam Mahdi Bray,
seated, were among the speakers
encouraging community
members to give generously.
September Activities:
September 20:
 MAV Youth Pot Luck Dinner 4:00 pm at Dar AlNoor;
 The International Day of Prayer for Peace, an Interfaith Celebration. Dar AlNoor’s Imam Cemal Gumus is on
the program, 5-8:00 pm, at Manassas Church of the Brethren, 10047 Nokesville Rd. Manassas, VA.
September 28:
 In the Spirit of Assisi, Interfaith dialogue as women from different faiths consider messages about the family
and world peace. MAV Interfaith Committee Chairperson, Sister Taalibah Hassan, will represent Muslim
women on a panel, 6:45- 9 pm, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 18825 Fuller Heights Road, Triangle, VA.
 Eid Bazaar, 2-7 pm, Dar AlNoor (outdoors). Vendors contact: Sis. Ruksana at [email protected].
Anything to Share? Send information, comments and suggestions to: [email protected]. The October
issue is slated to come out the week of Oct. 15. Oct. 6 is the deadline for submitting articles, announcements, photos or
other materials.
MAV Community News is looking for writers or those who want to help cover or take photos of the many events and
activities at Dar AlNoor and MAV-related events around northern Virginia. Folks with editing skills are also
needed. The goal is to build a MAV Community News staff to interact with and keep the MAV community informed.
An informed community is a strong community. Contact: Rutrell Yasin @[email protected].

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