EID MUBARAK EVERYWHERE!!

Here are some pictures of Eid Ul-Fitr happening all over the world. Eid is an Islamic holiday which is a three-days and marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity" while Fiṭr means "conclusion of the fast. Everywhere the world is celebrating this wonderful holiday in their unique way. Here are some pictures of ways people celebrate Eid around the world!

(pictures are from http://muslimmatters.org/2010/09/09/update1-eid-mubarak-snapshots-eid-around-the-world/)

Karachi, Pakistan: Even 5-year-old girls love mehndi!

Karachi, Pakistan: Mannequins in a boutique display traditional Pakistani shalwar kameez

Karachi, Pakistan: Bangles and artificial jewelry sell like hot cakes wee into the night on Chaand Raat

The Stab by Yasmin Mogahed

This is by Yasmin Mogahed posted on Suhaib Webb's website links. Unquestionably a beautiful poem. http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/the-stab/

Don’t grieve at the stab.
It’s only meant to free you.
From the chains that bind you to the earth
and shackle you to the shadows of people.
The mirage of water cannot quench.
But is so beautiful to the thirsty.
I’m afraid. Of never knowing another life.
Different. So different.
If I let go, will You take me higher?
Above grief, want, loss.
Above all that I’ve ever known.
Take me higher. Unbind me from the earth.
Like a vaccine, it sickens, to make you stronger.
The stab is temporary. The freedom, eternal.

CAIR PSA Campaign Challenges Growing Islamophobia

Assalaam Alakum everyone!

CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relation) launched a new set of PSA ads this morning to challenge the growing tide of Islamophobia. Three of the new ads feature two different Muslim 9/11 first responders, and really drive home the message that "9/11 happened to us all." Please check them out and share.

CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (30-Second)
CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Firefighter (60-Second)
CAIR '9/11 Happened to Us All' PSA, Medical Responder (30-Second)

A cute way of putting a sticky situation.

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Ramadan Begins!

Let's begin with some Quran:

“Oh you who profess faith, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was those who preceded you that you may attain taqwa” (2:183).

On that note I want to welcome everyone to another year of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. For those who do not know what Ramadan is, Ramadan is a month of fasting. I thought I could explain it more in detail but I love how this article put it more:

"Fasting is an act of worship that is attained while one is awake, sleeping, and while one is busy with his daily affairs. Therefore, fasting is similar to the worship of the angels because their worship continues non-stop. When you fast, you keep it in every place and in every situation: work, school, while one is traveling and while one is at home. It is an act of worship that does not stop, but continues through the entire day and for that reason it is comparable the worship of angels. And so, this intention related to fasting is the ‘first pillar’ from the pillars of fasting."

(link for those who want to read the whole article) http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-studies/wisdoms-and-rulings-for-ramadan-part-one-sh-muhammad-al-hassan-walid-dido-al-shanqiti/

Ohlone MSA Officers - Fall 2010

Elections are finished and votes have been tallied.
The Ohlone MSA officers for Fall 2010 are:

President: Billal Hararah
Vice President: Hala Elhayek
Secretary: Aisha Sleiman
Treasurer: Kamila Wardak
Event Coordinator: Nazia Chandiwalla
Website Coordinator: Marwa Ansari

The officers from Spring 2010 are listed here

MSA General Meeting

We will be having a general meeting on Tuesday, April 27th.
Please bring any questions, suggestions, feedback, or comments you have.

Date:
Tuesday, April 27th
Time:
4:30PM-5:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 2207 (building 2, 2nd floor)
Who:
All students are welcome to come

Intro to Islam Workshop

We will be holding an Introduction to Islam Workshop on Monday, April 19th. At this event, Maryam Amir-Ebrahimi will explain the basic aspects of Islam.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Date:
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Time:
5:00PM
Where:
Ohlone College main campus room 3102
Who:
All students are welcome

Movie Night

We will be showing the film Promises at Ohlone College on April 12th.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Date:
Monday, April 12th, 2010
Time:
5:00PM-8:00PM
Where:
Ohlone College main campus room 3201
Who:
All students are welcome!
Cost:
Free! Food and refreshments will be sold for club fundraising.

MSA General Meeting

We will be having our third general meeting (for this semester) on Tuesday, April 6th.
Please bring any questions, suggestions, feedback, or comments you have.

Date:
Tuesday, April 6th
Time:
4:30PM-5:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 2207 (building 2, 2nd floor)
Who:
All students are welcome to come

MSA General Meeting

We will be having our first general meeting for Spring 2010 on Tuesday, March 2nd.
Topics to be discussed include events for this semester, fundraisers, MSA officer position elections, and future meetings.
Please bring any questions, suggestions, feedback, or comments you have.

Date:
Tuesday, March 2nd
Time:
4:30PM-5:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 2207 (building 2, 2nd floor)
Who:
All students are welcome to come

Club Days Casino

The Ohlone MSA will be hosting a table for Club Days Casino.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Date:
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Time:
11:00-1:00PM
Where:
Ohlone College main campus cafeteria (2nd floor of building 5)
Who:
All students are welcome!
More information:
Ohlone Campus Activities

Ohlone MSA Pizza & Soda Fundraiser

The Ohlone MSA will be holding a fundraiser on Wednesday, February 17th.
We will be selling pizza and cans of soda.

See you there!

Date:
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Time:
12:00-1:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College. 2nd floor of Hyman Hall
Who:
All students are welcome!

Ohlone MSA Officers - Spring 2010

Here are the MSA officers for Spring 2010:

President: Gehad Massoud
Vice President: Hala Elhayek
Secretary: Zeba Mundu
Treasurer: Manal Bejaoui
ICC Representative: Ain Mobeen
Event Coordinator: Ain Mobeen
Web Coordinator: Amil Khanzada

Interfaith Panel

Together with Crossroads (another group on campus), we will be holding an interfaith panel conference next Wednesday.
This event will focus on explaining the three Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), their similarities, and their differences. We hope to promote peace and understanding through this event.

There will be a question and answer portion as well.

Date:
Wednesday, December 2nd
Time:
4:00PM
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 2133
Speakers:
Rabbi Avi Schulman, Ustadh Ali Ataie, Mr. George Bassilios, and Mr. Anthony Aboseif
Who:
All students are welcome to come

Facebook Event Page

MSA General Meeting

We will be having our second general meeting on Monday, November 2nd.
Topics to be discussed include fund raising and our Interfaith and Abrahamic Faiths events after Thanksgiving Break.
Please bring any questions, suggestions, feedback, comments you have with you!

Date:
Monday, November 2nd
Time:
3:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 2202
Who:
All students are welcome to come

Marriage in Islam

We will be holding a lecture about marriage in Islam.

Date:
Monday, October 26th
Time:
4:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 3201
Speakers:
Maryam Ebrahimi & Omar Zarka

We look forward to seeing you there!

Facebook event page

The Final Hour

We will be holding a lecture about the life after death.

Date:
Thursday, October 22nd
Time:
6:45PM (Feel free to join us for Maghrib prayer in this room at 6:30PM.)
Where:
Ohlone College. Room 2133
Speaker:
Sheikh Yaser Birjas

Prayer Rooms

We have reserved some prayer rooms at Ohlone College.
These are for students at Ohlone College who do not want to miss their prayers.
Please note that you may need to call Campus Security at 1-510-659-6111 to unlock the prayer rooms.

Here is the schedule:

Monday and Wednesdays
-Room 6106 from 12:00-1:00PM
-Room 14A from 1:00-3:00PM
-Room 2202 from 3:00-8:00PM

Tuesdays and Fridays
-Room 14B from 12:00-8:00PM

Thursdays
-Room 14B from 12:00-2:00PM
-Room 6201 from 2:00-4:00PM
-Room 2202 from 4:00-8:00PM

MSA Meeting

We will be having our first "general" meeting next Monday. During this meeting we will be discussing our last two events, as well as giving more information on some of the events we planned for the rest of the semester. We need your help though!

1. We need some fundraising ideas

2. Some people have asked about putting together a party or something for the upcoming Eid holiday. Bring some ideas on how we can raise money for that, how much space we need, when, what time, location, etc. We didn't plan for this so if majority of you really want to do this, please bring some ideas with you to this meeting.

3. What do you all think of an "end of semester" party? Like a get-together celebration to celebrate the end of the semester?

There will be more to discuss at the meeting, but please bring your ideas with you. Hope to see you all there!

Date:
Monday, October 12th
Time:
3:30PM
Where:
Ohlone College Main Campus Room 2202