Ta’leef Collective and Heroes Martial Arts Present: The Foundation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Classes will provide students with the physical refinement and technical application of techniques that have made Brazilian Jiu Jitsu one of the most effective and fastest growing sports in the world today.

Heroes Martial Arts Head instructor and owner Alan “Gumby” Marques is a black belt under the legendary Ralph Gracie and is co-founder of OnTheMat.com, one of the world’s leading resources for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and Submission Grappling. Assistant instructor Adisa Banjoko holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has written about BJJ and MMA for more than a decade.

Instructor, Adisa Banjoko, will lead daily classes with two advanced classes led by Gumby twice a month. The inaugural class will be led by Gumby on July 19th.

Monday – 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Wednesday – 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Sunday – 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

$100 / month
$25 – one time registration fee

Download the .pdf flyer here.

Saturday, July 4, 2009 in Washington D.C. at the 46th Annual ISNA Convention.

Some of the attendees present at the meeting: Shaykh Muhammad Ninowy, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Naeem Muhammad (of Native Deen and Islamic Relief), Imam Johari Abdulmalik, Tariq Subhani, Altaf Hussain (ISNA), Asma Mirza, Amadou Shakur, Imam Yahya Hendi, Imam Faris (ISNA Canada) and Sidi Yusuf Islam (also known as Sidi Cat Stevens).

Source: http://www.muslimsunitedforchange.com/gallery/

I’m delighted to report to you of our recent successful endeavor involving lobbying for health reform in Washington, DC last week. As you may know, AMHP has been involved in health policy work for the last one year. And even though, we’re only a four year old organization, our output in the policy arena, specifically vis a vis health reform has become the cornerstone of our grassroots efforts.

We prepared extensively for the trip and with a eight member delegation visiting over 15 congressional offices, meeting key health policy advisors and our partner organizations, I believe we were able to effectively represent the voice of Muslims on this critical domestic issue. In that spirit, I’m now working with various national, mostly non-Muslim organizations to mobilize a wide scale grassroots effort on health reform this August when congress is in recess and reps are at home.

I have also personally undertaken the effort to highlight our Free Clinics movement. About six months ago, I organized the Muslim Free Clinics Council, an umbrella group of 27 loosely connected free clinics across the country. I spoke extensively to Congressman Keith Ellison and other representatives to work with us and advance the role of these valuable institutions. To that effect, I’m working on analysis that may lead to increased funding within the reform legislation for these free clinics.

I write to seek your support and help to make these goals possible. I believe our community has a stake in it and this is an opportune time to put our mark on the issue of health reform, a viable domestic agenda.

AMHP has now established a credible role in this field by developing expertise, issuing policy briefs, and legislative updates. Over the last one year we have published numerous blogs/Op Eds, provided training, organized seminars and now have effectively represented the voice of Muslim American community in the policy arena.

Thanks for your consideration and I hope to speak to all of you soon to lay out details of the plans for upcoming efforts. Your duas and active support as well as encouragement is essential inshallah.

wasalam,

Faisal Qazi, DO
Neurologist
Chino Hills/Upland, CA
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
President, American Muslim Health Professionals – AMHP (A national public health focused initiative. www.amhp.us)

Barakah Life is now in DC taking part in ISNA’s 46th Annual Conference and Bazaar.

The DC trip is part of a larger launch for Barakah Life, with it’s new web site due to be online this weekend as well as new products like our 2 new Childrens Poetry Posters, The posters have whimsical designs incorporating traditional calligraphy. We also have two new greeting cards with designs created by Soraya Syed and Haji Noor Deen. The 2009 “Days of Joy” kits for children are also available.

We had the wonderful privilege of working in collaboration with HajI Noor Deen on some of our new offerings. We have more products in the works so please keep checking back to see what is new.

If you are in the DC area this weekend please come visit us. You can find us in booth #140.

United For Change – Imam Zaid Shakir.

Imam Zaid Shakir, a highly respected American Muslim scholar, United For Change. After a recent trip to West Africa, Imam Zaid saw the devastating effects of malaria and decided to act. To launch United For Change, two special events have been set up to bring awareness about the deadly malaria disease and how we can help.

Spread the video across your networks. Click on ‘SHARE’ to send it out to your connections. Click on ‘EMBED’ to add it to your blog, lifestream, website. Click on ‘TWEET THIS’ below to send it via Twitter!

New organization of Islamic groups working together for the greater good. First event: raising awareness of the deadly malaria disease that afflicts many countries especially AFRICA. Working together: Al-Madina Institute, AlMaghrib Institute, Islamic Relief, ISNA, MANA, MAS, MSA National, SeekersGuidance, Zaytuna College.

Speakers for the first event include:

Dr. Fatimah Jackson

Website for UFC coming soon… insha Allah.

UPDATE July 1, 2009: Website launched – http://www.muslimsunitedforchange.com

Dear brothers and sisters, As Salamu ‘alaikum, wa rahmatuLlahi, wa barakatuH.

- 3 million refugees displaced
- 80% are women & children
- They’re hungry, cold, sick, and needy.
- DO Something!

Due to the overwhelming positive response that we’ve received online, from Australia, to California, to the UK, and the UAE, we’ve consulted with our team, and have decided to call off the upcoming relief event at Pearl Banquet Hall in Toronto on Saturday, June 27th. We’re going to aim a little higher.

We want to raise no less than $1 Million for our displaced and desperate brothers and sisters in Swat. We obviously can’t do this without your active support, promotion, involvement, and help.

The process is very simple.

I want 1,000 people to make a simple commitment:
1. Donate at least $20
2. Find 20 others to do the same.
3. Have them find only 2 others to donate the same amount. (keep track of your lists!)

Think family, coworkers, annoying siblings, cousins, classmates, teachers, Imams, friends, rich uncles, rich aunties, your local MSA, Jum’ah collections, halaqas, book clubs, zikr gatherings,.. everyone.

When we do this, and do it right, we’ll be at $800K by the end of the process. I will solicit the donations of some major donors to cover the remaining balance, insha’Allah. But we need to demonstrate some serious grassroots willingness towards this end, to encourage big donors to follow through.

(Our partner in getting these funds to the needy in Swat, is Edhi Foundation’s Canadian chapter. Their long-standing track record of non-sectarian, non-partisan, and transparent relief work across Pakistan, along with their integrity and credibility makes them an obvious choice.)

The deadline for this, is the 1st of Ramadan – Saturday August 22nd, 2009. Imagine entering Ramadan by giving $1 Million in sadaqah!

I invite you to step up to the challenge. When you do, all such challenges are easily surmountable, insha’Allah.

We will be migrating our online fund collection mechanism from Eventbrite to a service provider that is not event-based. I will update you all on that shortly. For now, your donations can still be received at http://swatrelief.eventbrite.com. (We encourage you to keep the donations online, as this will help us keep transparent records of all transfers and transactions.)

Thank you all for your support, and I look forward to more of it.

was Salam

Nader Khan
Programs Director
ReliefWorks

+1.416.294.0640
nader@relief-works.com

Messages of Support:
- Imam Tahir Anwar: http://tiny.cc/XyXRT
- Imam Afroz Ali: http://tiny.cc/kXpHG
- Imam Zaid Shakir: http://tiny.cc/iyRa9

Suggested readings on Edhi Foundation:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edhi_Foundation
- http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200406/humanitarian.to.a.nation.htm

So, my dear friend, put forth a great effort in the month of Rajab, may Allah have mercy on you. It is the season of great profits, so take advantage of your time! Whoever is spiritually sick due to their sins – know that the medicine has come.

* Know that Rajab is a virtuous month in which worship is gloriously rewarded – especially fasting and seeking repentance (istighfar).

* Also, making du’a during the eve of the first of Rajab is highly recommended. The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, said, “There are five nights in which du’a (supplication) is not rejected: the eve of Rajab, the 15th night of Sha’aban, the eve of Friday, on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr, and on the eve of Eid Al-Adha.” [Al-Suyuti in his Al-Jami'].

* On the 27th night of Rajab, the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, was taken on the Isra wa Mi’raj (The Night Journey and Ascension to the Heavens). This was a great and glorious night, as is known to most Muslims, in which the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, met his Lord and was given the commandment to perform the 5 daily prayers.

* Rajab is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Quran (the four months are : Rajab, Dhul Qi’da, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram):

{The number of months is twelve according to God, in the decree of God, on the day God created the heavens and the earth; and four of them are sacred} (9:36)

* Rajab is Allah’s month in which He pours His Mercy upon the penitent and He accepts the actions that people have done for His sake. The Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, said, “Rajab is the month of Allah, and Sha’aban is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah.” (Imam Al-Suyuti in Al-Jami).

* Scholars say: Rajab is the month of repentance (istighfar), and Sha’aban is the month of sending peace and mercy (salawat/durood shareef) upon the Prophet, and Ramadan is the month of Qur’an.

* One highly recommended act to do is say 70 times after the Fajr and ‘Isha prayers every morning and night of Rajab:

Transliteration: “Allahuma ighfir li wa Arhamni wa tub ‘alayya.”
Translation: Oh Allah forgive me, have mercy upon me, and grant me repentance.

* Sayyidna ‘Ali, may Allah be well pleased with him, used to allocate extra amounts of time for worship on four nights – the first night of Rajab, the nights before the two Eids, and the 15th night of Sha’aban.

* It is also highly recommended to say the following Prophetic prayer (known as Sayyid Al-Istighfar or the Master of Repentance) 3 times every morning and every evening in Rajab:

Transliteration: Allahuma anta rabi la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduk, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’adika ma astata’at, ‘authu bika min shar ma san’at, abu’u laka bi ni’matika ‘allaya wa abu’u bi dhanbi, faqhfir li fa’innahu la yaghfir al-dhunub ila anta.

Translation: O Allah, you are my Lord, and there is no god but you. You created me and I am your servant, and I am upon the convenant to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in you from the evil I have brought upon myself. I admit all the blessings you have given me and I admit my sins, so forgive me, for no one can forgive sins save You.

And success is from Allah

Posted via email from IslamCrunch

Our gratitude to Sidi Amjad Tarsin for compiling this post and all the other posts about the Islamic months.

On June 17, 2009, the Mayor’s office of San Francisco, the Indonesian Consulate, the California College of the Arts welcomed the batik collection of Ann Dunham, the late beloved mother of President Barack Hussein Obama.

Much thanks to the Alhadi / Usman family, we were given invites to attend this exclusive event. The photo gallery slideshow above is also on our Flickr page: Ann Dunham Batik Collection

A Lady Found a Culture in Its Cloth: Barack Obama’s Mother and Indonesian Batiks

This exhibition features 20 large fabrics and two scarves from the batik collection of Ann Dunham, President Barack Obama’s late mother. The collection has been in storage for many years and this is a valuable opportunity for the public to see it. The presentation is part of a national tour that is also passing through New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and Washington DC this summer.

Indonesia is home to the ancient tradition of batik, in which fabric is decorated using a wax-resist dyeing process. Batiks are often intricately patterned and vividly colored, and they come in a wide variety of styles, from classic to contemporary.

The San Francisco presentation of the exhibition will also feature selected works by students in the Textiles and Fashion Design programs at California College of the Arts. These works will complement Dunham’s collection and indicate some of the contemporary directions this centuries-old art has taken. (Source: California College of the Arts)

Press release link.